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Biomedical subjects

G Beckmann

Publications and source records attributed to G Beckmann.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Genetic similarity of intestinal spirochetes from humans and various animal species.

The chromosomal DNA of spirochetes isolated from human, swine, dog, mouse, rat, and chicken intestine or feces was subjected to restriction enzyme analysis and hybridization with three different DNA probes, derived from a flagellin gene, a hemolysin gene, and the 16S rDNA sequence of the pathogenic swine intestinal spirochete Serpulina hyodysenteriae. This genetic analysis showed that intestinal spirochetes represent a heterogeneous but related population of bacteria. In general, unique genotypes were distinguished among isolates from the same host species; they were not present among isolates from other host species. This suggests the host specificity of some strains. An exception to this are isolates from humans and dogs suffering from gastrointestinal disorders; these isolates showed highly similar or even identical genotypes. None of them resembled any of the genotypes of isolates found in other host species without apparent disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Pneumonia diagnosis in living swine using lung lavage].

In pigs coming from fattening units with tenacious pneumonitis problems the attempt was made to find an etiological diagnosis in living pigs by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and serological examinations on antibodies against Mycoplasma hyopneumonia, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Influenza-A-virus (serotypes H1N1 and H3N2). In some cases the results of the bacteriological examinations of the BAL were compared with the post mortem findings. Both methods yield similar results. Mycoplasma hyopneumonia could neither be cultured from the BAL nor indicated the results of the serological examinations infections with M. hyopneumoniae. Pasteurella multocida was isolated from 73% of the BAL-samples. Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae was found in 4 from 90 samples. Positive antibody titers against Influenza-virus in most of the sera indicate that the clinical course of Influenza is changing from an acute epidemic to an enzootic disease in fattening units.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Hemorrhagic enteropathies in fattening swine].

It is reported on 34 fattening pigs with hemorrhagic enteropathy or blood in the intestine, which were submitted for necropsy to the Veterinary Ambulance Schwarzenbek. Only those animals were included in this study, which had lesions in the small intestine or small and large intestine. Cases of swine dysentery with the lesions being restricted to the large intestine were not considered here. No common cause of hemorrhagic enteropathy was found. In four cases there was an intestinal torsion. In one animal the blood in the intestine originated from a gastric ulcer. On 25 of the 34 pigs further examinations could be done. Of those, enteropathogenic E. coli were isolated in 13 cases, with two of the animals having a mixed infection of two serotypes each. Cl. perfringens was found in two cases and S. hyodysenteriae in four cases. In one pig S. typhimurium was isolated from the mesenteric lymph nodes and in one animal the proliferative-hemorrhagic form of the adenomatosis-complex was diagnosed. Histopathologically Campylobacter-like organisms were found in epithelial cells of crypts in the small intestine.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[The occurrence and significance of enterotoxin-producing Clostridium perfringens strains in the intestinal tract of horses].

100 faecal samples from clinically healthy horses of different age groups and feeding habits, 50 samples of faeces from horses suffering from enteropathy accompanied by diarrhoea and small and/or large intestine from 25 horses that had died after an intestinal disease were examined for the presence of Clostridium (Cl.) perfringens. The frequency with which Cl. perfringens was detected was 22% in clinically healthy horses, 32% in horses with diarrhoea and 52% in the dead horses. In two faecal samples from the horses with diarrhoea the microbial count of Cl. perfringens was ca. 10(6) cfu/g faeces. The occurrence of Cl. perfringens in clinically healthy horses was not influenced by age. In animals fed exclusively on grass silage Cl. perfringens was found more frequently. The enterotoxin of Cl. perfringens was identified in one of 36 faecal samples from horses with diarrhoea. 54 Cl. perfringens strains isolated from material examined were studied for their ability to sporulate and to produce enterotoxin. 98% of the strains formed spores. Enterotoxin production was negative in all cases. Experimental investigations with enterotoxin producing Cl. perfringens strains on four ponies did not show any signs of a possible durable colonization of the intestinal tract by this organism. The results of these investigations do not suggest any pathogenic relevance of enterotoxin producing Cl. perfringens strains to the development of enteropathy in horses.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Distribution of ADH2 and ALDH2 genotypes in different populations.

The distribution of the human liver alcohol dehydrogenase, ADH2, and aldehyde dehydrogenase, ALDH2, genotypes in 21 different populations comprising Mongoloids, Caucasoids, and Negroids was determined by hybridization of the amplified genomic DNA with allele-specific oligonucleotide probes. Whereas the frequency of the ADH1(2) allele was found to be relatively high in the Caucasoids, Mexican Mestizos, Brazilian Indios, Swedish Lapps, Papua New Guineans and Negroids, the frequency of the ADH2(2) gene was considerably higher in the Mongoloids and Australian Aborigines. The atypical ALDH2 gene (ALDH2(2)) was found to be extremely rare in Caucasoids, Negroids, Papua New Guineans, Australian Aborigines and Aurocanians (South Chile). In contrast, this mutant gene was found to be widely prevalent among the Mongoloids. Individuals possessing the abnormal ALDH2 gene show alcohol-related sensitivity responses (e.g. facial flushing), have the tendency not to be habitual drinkers, and apparently suffer less from alcoholism and alcohol-related liver disease.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed1992

A CAMP-like phenomenon in Serpulina (Treponema) spp.

A CAMP-like phenomenon was observed in 40 Serpulina (Treponema) isolates from the intestines of pigs, dogs, mice and rats. The strains examined included reference strains of the serotypes 1-4 of Serpulina (Treponema) hyodysenteriae and Serpulina (Treponema) innocens. The possible pathogenic importance of this phenomenon is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Sensitivity in vitro of mature and immature mouse thymocytes to dexamethasone cytotoxicity and its correlation to poly ADP-ribosylation.

Mouse thymocytes were fractionated into heavy (subtype I, 79% of total cell number), medium (subtype II, 18%) and light (subtype III, 3%) ones by Percoll density centrifugation and they were identified as immature (subtype I and II) and mature (subtype III) thymocytes based on their proliferative response to mitogens. Whereas the nuclear activity of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (EC 2.4.2.30) in the subtype III was only one half that of denser subtypes, it increased two-fold upon mitogen stimulation. The sensitivity of three thymocyte subtypes to the dexamethasone cytotoxicity, as judged by the extent of the DNA cleavage, depletion of NAD and cell viability, was highest in the subtype I and lowest in the subtype III. The possible involvement of poly ADP-ribosylation in the apoptotic (programmed) cell death during intrathymic development of immature to mature thymocytes is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Lectin agglutination for the characterization of intestinal treponema isolates from different animal species].

The study presents the results of lectin-associated agglutinations of intestinal strains of treponemes isolated from pigs, dogs, mice and rats. At all 95 isolates are investigated, within the type strains for Treponema hyodysenteriae serotype 1-4 and Treponema innocens. Reactions with Concanavalin A and the Limulus-polyphemus-Lectin are often seen (twenty lectins used). Three out of four type strains for Treponema hyodysenteriae show an identical pattern of reaction, which is often seen in Treponema strains from dysentery suspected cases, too. Basing on these data a ranging in groups of lectin agglutination is proposed.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1983

[Lead and cadmium contamination of foods and feeds from selected areas of the Erfurt district. 4. Lead in vegetables grown in culture centers of the Erfurt region].

For the purpose of determining the effect of heavy metal emissions of a great town on the lead and cadmium levels of vegetables that are of relevance to food supply, we analyzed 193 samples of vegetables from the important vegetable-growing centre of Erfurt during a 3-year period. With regard to the main wind direction and the infrastructure of the town, the samples were collected at four different areas under vegetable. Apart from a single exception, the lead and cadmium contents were inferior to the maximum tolerances provided by the regulation concerning the contents of foreign substances in foods, the metal contents of leaf vegetables being higher than those of brassicaceous plants. Vegetable samples from areas with heavier emission burdens showed somewhat higher metal contents. In contrast to this, the cadmium contents did not exhibit such differences. The highest lead and cadmium contents were found in spinach. To elucidate the effect of the washing and blanching techniques used in industrial processing, 23 spinach preserves were analyzed in addition; as expected, the heavy metal contents were reduced by these techniques. In summary, our investigations evidence that the main vegetables cauliflower, white cabbage, red cabbage, savoy cabbage, as well as lettuce and spinach (grown in the district of Erfurt) contribute but little to total food contamination if we consider the amounts consumed on an average.

Brassica↗
PubMed1981

[Contamination of foods and feeding stuffs from selected areas of the district of Erfurt with lead and cadmium. 2. Burden in agricultural products in the effective range of a lead emitter as compared to a control area].

Using the inverse voltammetric method already described (cf. Part I), the authors determined the lead and cadmium contents in 126 forage samples and 86 cereal samples from the surroundings of a lead emitter (area A) and from the control area B. To assess the heavy metal burden in forage plants at different growth stages, 33 samples of plants taken from both areas at the first stage of growth, not yet used for feeding, were analyzed. The lead burdens in the samples from area A varied with the distance from the emitter, a works which processes pure lead. 20 of the 87 forage samples from this area exhibited lead contents greater than 10 mg/kg of dry matter. 11 of the 55 cereal samples (grains) there taken contained more than 0.5 mg of lead/kg of fresh matter. As expected, there was no correlation between the cadmium values and the lead contents. These results are compared with those obtained from samples from the control area (39 forage samples and 31 cereal samples). Conclusions are drawn as to the agricultural use of land in the area of the emitter.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1981

Inhibition of renal accumulation of lysozyme (basic low molecular weight protein) by basic proteins and other basic substances.

Together the two rat kidneys accumulated a total of 31.7 +/- 1.6% of the intravenously injected amount of 7 nmoles egg-white-lysozyme (measured as iodine 125 lysozyme) within 10 min. The low molecular weight protein lysozyme and other basic substances were injected simultaneously in order to evaluate whether these basic substances can inhibit the renal lysozyme accumulation. The inhibitory effect of various basic compounds was dose-dependent with a maximal reduction of lysozyme accumulation to 11.7 +/- 0.08%. The basic substances could be divided into three groups depending upon the micromolar amount injected at which a 50% inhibition was achieved (0.3-1.2 micromoles: cytochrome C, ribonuclease; 10.9 micromoles; spermine; 501-688 micromoles: L-arginine, L-lysine). The neutral myoglobin had no effect on renal lysozyme accumulation. The inhibitory potency appeared to increase with increasing molecular weight and pI value of the substance tested. Microperfusion experiments of proximal convoluted tubules of rat kidney revealed that luminal reabsorption of the basic lysozyme can be inhibited by the basic protein cytochrome C in a dose-dependent fashion. In these experiments the perfusion solution contained 57 micromol .l-1 lysozyme, an intratubular lysozyme concentration at which the tubular lysozyme reabsorption was found to be about 80% saturated. A 50% inhibition of the tubular endocytic lysozyme reabsorption was achieved a cytochrome C concentration of 102 micromol.l-1.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

[Contamination of foods and feeding stuffs from selected areas of the Erfurt district with lead and cadmium. I. Determination of lead and cadmium in vegetable material by inverse voltammetry].

An inverse voltammetric method is used for determining the trace elements lead and cadmium in vegetable foods and feeding stuffs. The organic meterials are mineralized by nitric acid vapour and, in the second stage, with the addition of perchloric acid. The procedure is very sensitive and suited for routine work. The detection limits are: 0.66 ng/ml for lead, and 0.30 ng/ml for cadmium. The error of the method is: VPb = 20.5% and VCd = 28.6%. The respective recoveries of amounts of lead and cadmium added to the samples prior to digestion were: 102.0 +/- 10.8% and 101.6 +/- 11.4%.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1975

[Larynx lesions and sudden death (author's transl)].

Several recently observed cases of "Sudden Death" caused by larynx lesions give reason for a special discussion of this problem. At the Institute of Legal Medicine only six cases were found in 10.747 autopsies between 1949 and 1970. A brief description of the anatomical structure of the larynx is followed by a discussion of the 4 general pathological entities, which might be the etiological cause of laryngeal obstruction: 1. Abnormalities 2. Disturbances of circulation 3. Inflammations 4. Tumors Besides the question of the forensic-medical importance of such fatal cases, the difficulty of evaluating some of the patho-morphologic and histologic findings is discussed. Simultaneously attention is drawn to the frequent lack of a clinical history, so that life-supporting measures wuch as tracheotomy and others are applied very late or not at all. Finally the problem of forensic evaluation of larynx-cysts and their etiology is presented. In this context the clarification of a causal relationship with possible previous intubations of the larynx is of major importance.

Adult↗