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H Fuhrmann

Publications and source records attributed to H Fuhrmann.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Measurement of the kaonic hydrogen x-ray spectrum.

The DEAR (DAPhiNE exotic atom research) experiment measured the energy of x rays emitted in the transitions to the ground state of kaonic hydrogen. The measured values for the shift epsilon and the width Gamma of the 1s state due to the K(-)p strong interaction are epsilon(1s)=-193 +/- 37 (stat) +/- 6 (syst) eV and Gamma(1s)=249 +/- 111 (stat) +/- 30 (syst) eV, the most precise values yet obtained. The pattern of the kaonic hydrogen K-series lines, K(alpha), K(beta), and K(gamma), was disentangled for the first time.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

The Influence of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on total lipid fatty acid composition of a canine mastocytoma cell line.

Cutaneous mast cells are considered as key immune effectors in the pathogenesis of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD). These cells release immediate-phase and late-phase mediators of inflammation. Dietary fatty acids are incorporated in cellular membranes and seem to influence mediator production and release. A dietary intervention with n6- and n3-fatty acids is thought to alleviate clinical symptoms in atopic dogs. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of n6- and n3-fatty acids on the fatty acid composition of canine mastocytoma cells (C2) as a possible model for CAD. The C2 was cultured in a basic medium called Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DEH) or with additional 14 mum linoleate (C18:2n6, DEH-LA), gamma-linolenate (C18:3n6, DEH-GLA), arachidonate (C20:4n6, DEH-AA), alpha-linolenate (C18:3n3, DEH-LnA), eicosapentaenoate (C20:5n3, DEH-EPA) or docosahexaenoate (C22:6n3, DEH-DHA). Cell growth was examined for 11 days in all media. Cell growth increased from days 1 to 8 and decreased thereafter in all media conditions. The fatty acids supplied did not influence cell growth. The cells were harvested after 8 days for fatty acid analysis. The fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatography after extraction and trans-esterification of the lipids. The added fatty acids increased the concentration of these fatty acids in C2 differently (LA 4.9-fold, GLA 6.9-fold, AA 6-fold, LNA 9.3-fold, EPA 6.5-fold and DHA 8.4-fold). Furthermore, elongated and Delta6-desaturated products of the corresponding fatty acids were significantly elevated. However, Delta5-desaturated products were not measurable. These results let us assume that C2 has no measurable activity of the Delta5-desaturase. In case the low activity of Delta5-desaturase is one of the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of CAD, C2 seems to be an adequate model for investigations in CAD.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Pathobiochemical importance of phospholipases for the release of mast cell mediators].

We investigated the influence of polyunsaturated fatty acids on the activity of the cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) in the canine mastocytoma cell line C2 as a model for canine atopic dermatitis (CAD). Cells were cultured in a basic medium or in media supplemented with different fatty acids (14 microM) for eight days. The supplemented fatty acids were linoleic acid (18:2n6), alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n3), gamma-linolenic acid (18:3n6) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n3). We measured enriched concentrations of the added fatty acid, their delta6-desaturated and elongated products. However, delta5-desaturated products were not increased. Culturing of C2 in 18:3n3 supplemented medium reduced the cPLA2 activity. Furthermore in these cells and in C2 cultured in 22:6n3 supplemented medium decreased the cPLA2 activity after stimulation. The reduced cPLA2 activity by the changed fatty acid pattern of C2 cultured in 18:3n3 or 22:6n3 possibly explain the beneficial effects of these fatty acids in CAD because increased cPLA2 activity is accompanied by enhanced release of proinflammatory type 2 prostaglandins and type 4 leukotrienes.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Consequences of eicosapentaenoic acid (n-3) and arachidonic acid (n-6) supplementation on mast cell mediators.

Mast cells are important players in the pathogenesis of atopic diseases. These cells release immediate-phase and late-phase mediators of inflammation. Fatty acids are incorporated in cellular membranes and therefore seem to influence mediator production and release. A study was conducted to assess the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) on mast cell mediators in a canine mastocytoma cell line (C2). Cells were cultured in a basic medium (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium/HAM's F12 1 : 1, DEH), DEH supplemented with 14.0 microm EPA (DEH-EPA) or 14 microm AA (DEH-AA). The DEH-AA cultured cells had increased spontaneous and mastoparan-stimulated PGE2 production and histamine release. Furthermore, the tryptase activity was increased. The DEH-EPA cultured cells rendered elevated levels of PGE2 and histamine release compared with DEH only after stimulation. These levels were significantly lower in comparison to DEH-AA. The increased PGE2 production of C2 cultured in DEH-AA is the consequence of the AA enrichment, because AA is the precursor of PGE2. However, the different effects by AA and EPA on mast cell mediators possibly reflect the higher susceptibility of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to undergo lipid peroxidation, because it is known that altered cellular redox state influences mediator production and release.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Effects of essential fatty acids on mediators of mast cells in culture.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) and linoleic acid (18:2n-6) on the fatty acid composition and the activity and release of mast cell mediators in the canine mastocytoma cell line C2. Cells were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium mixed with 50% Ham's F12 (containing linoleic acid 0.14 micro M). The basic medium (DEH) was supplemented with 0.14 micro M alpha-linolenic acid. 14.0 micro M alpha-linolenic acid (DEH-n-3) or 14.0 micro M linoleic acid (DEH-n-6) was added. Eight days after culturing of C2 in DEH-n-3 we measured elevated levels of n-3 fatty acids up to 22:3. The tryptase activity and the stimulated PGE2 production and histamine release were reduced. In contrast, after culturing of C2 in DEH-n-6 we determined elevated levels of n-6 fatty acids up to 20:3, increased tryptase activity and stimulated histamine release. Thus 18:3n-3 has anti-inflammatory effects in cultured canine mastocytoma cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Cholesterol oxidase and resistance of Rhodococcus equi to peroxidative stress in vitro in the presence of cholesterol.

Rhodococcus equi is a well-characterized bacterial pathogen which lyses cell membranes with the help of cholesterol oxidase (CO). Survival in macrophages is warranted by its ability to resist reactive radicals via catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Therefore, CO production in the absence or presence of 0.1 % cholesterol and sensitivity to exogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide anion (SOA) were tested in seven strains of R. equi in vitro. When R. equi strains were grown on agar plates with cholesterol, the bacterial growth [colony-forming units (cfu)/plate] did not increase significantly in comparison with the growth on plates without cholesterol. The activity of CO increased, significantly for extracellular CO. In subsequent experiments, R. equi strains grown on cholesterol were stressed with H2O2 or SOA so that approximately 10 % of cfu/plate survived. During stress induced by SOA, membrane CO and SOD activity increased significantly. Catalase activity increased 2-fold with H2O2 and 3-fold with SOA exposure. These data suggest that the presence of cholesterol induces CO in bacteria grown on agar plates. Catalase, SOD and even membrane-bound CO respond to reactive oxygen species.

Actinomycetales Infections↗
PubMed2001

Lanthanide-mediated ligand transfer reactions--a route to late transition metal bisamido complexes.

The reaction of [[O(SiMe2Ap)2)2LnLi(thf)n] 1 (Ln = Nd, n= 2) and 2 (Ln = La, n = 3) in hexane with [(dme)NiCl2] (dme = dimethoxyethane) and [(cod)PtCl2] (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) leads to the dimeric Ni complex [[O(SiMe2Ap)2]2Ni2] (3) and the mononuclear platinum compound [O(SiMe2Ap)2Pt] (4). respectively (O(SiMe2ApH)2 = bis(4-methyl-2-pyridylamino)tetramethyldisiloxane). Compounds 3 and 4 have been characterized by X-ray crystal structure analysis. The ligand-transfer reactions probably proceed via heterobimetallic intermediates. A model complex of such an intermediate [[O(SiMe2Ap)2)2NdPdMe] (7) was isolated by reacting 1 with [(cod)PdMeCl]. Applications of complex 3 in ethylene oligomerization were investigated. Highly branched oligomers with a very narrow molecular weight distribution (Mn =230 gmol(-1) (relative to polystyrene standards), Mw/M= 1.14) are produced when Et3Al2Cl3 is employed as a co-catalyst and CH2Cl2 as the solvent (TOF = 122000 h(-1). Treatment of one equivalent of 1 or 2 with two equivalents of [(cod)CuCl] results in the formation of the polycyclic tetranuclear complex [[O(SiMe2Ap)2]2Cu4] (8). An X-ray crystal structure analysis of 8 shows channels formed by a series of fourteen-membered rings in the solid state.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and the enteroinsular axis in equines (Equus caballus).

To investigate the enteroinsular axis (EIA) in equines oral (oGTT) and intravenous (i.v.GTT) glucose tolerance tests (5.6 and 1 mmol glucose/kg BW, respectively) were performed with healthy, normal weight large horses and Shetland ponies. Plasma was analysed for concentrations of glucose, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and insulin. In all equines plasma GIP concentrations only increased significantly when glucose was administered orally. The insulin glucose ratio (IGR) was significantly higher during the oGTT than during the i.v.GTT in both races. Basal plasma glucose levels were significantly higher in large horses than in ponies in both experiments. During the oGTT maximum glucose values were significantly higher in ponies. Ponies tended to a higher insulin secretion but the IGRs were identical in both races after oral and intravenous glucose administration. One clinically inconspicuous pony showed hyperinsulinaemia and, in case of the oGTT, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and GIP hypersecretion. The results of this study indicate the existence of an EIA in equines due to the higher IGRs during the oGTT. Furthermore, the similarity of plasma GIP levels and IGRs in ponies and large horses suggest a comparable activity of the EIA in both races. Regarding the elevated plasma GIP concentrations of the insulin resistant pony the EIA appears to participate in equine hyperinsulinaemia.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2001

Effects of fat feeding and energy level on plasma metabolites and hormones in Shetland ponies.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a fat-supplemented diet compared with a carbohydrate diet on the lipid metabolism and the enteroinsular axis of Shetland ponies. The 'crossover' experiment was divided into two parts: in the first 10 weeks the diets comprised the correct number of calories according to requirements and in the following 10 weeks they were hypercaloric, in order to check the effect of a different energy content of the diets. Feeding the fat-enriched diet, independently of its energy content, led to a significant decrease in plasma triglycerides, associated with a mean 50% increase of plasma lipoprotein lipase activity. After oral glucose load the ponies on fat-enriched diets showed higher plasma glucose concentrations. Oral glucose administration after feeding the hypercaloric fat-enriched diet led to a 25-fold increase of plasma insulin levels. Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide plasma levels were increased in the animals on the fat-enriched diets. The results of this study suggest that fat feeding improves triglyceride clearance. However, the fat supplementation of the diet also led to impaired glucose tolerance. These results are important for a better understanding of the function of the enteroinsular axis. To investigate the influences of fat on lipid metabolism in relation to the aetiopathogenesis of equine hyperlipaemia further studies involving diseased animals are needed.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Finite element calculations and fabrication of cantilever sensors for nanoscale detection

Finite element analysis (FEA) is used to study the effect of geometric variations on the properties of rectangular cantilevers and U-shaped Joule-heated cantilevers. Simulations of locally thinned cantilevers as well as of cantilevers modified by the implementing of a hole or a side cut are compared with fabricated cantilevers, which are tuned by focused ion beam (FIB) milling. By locally thinning the cantilevers, the resonance frequency and the spring constant are reduced. For a hole, the internal stress is increased while for a side cut, the lateral spring constant is decreased. Good agreement between the measured and the simulated resonance frequencies is observed. Simulations of the current density and the temperature distributions attained during the passage of current through a doped silicon layer are performed to optimize the design of Joule-heated cantilevers (U-shaped) for thermal gravimetric applications. A very uniform temperature distribution over a region near the apex can be realized by slitting the U-shaped cantilever. In such a way, the heating power can be minimized by effecting only a small variation in the geometry of a U-shaped cantilever. A simple fabrication process for the fabrication of Joule-heated cantilevers is presented, which consists mainly of a uniform conductive p-doped layer.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Brain, liver and plasma unsaturated aldehydes in nutritional encephalomalacia of chicks.

Vitamin E deficiency and linoleic acid-feeding lead to nutritional encephalomalacia (NE) in chicks, affecting the cerebellum exclusively. The relevance of lipid peroxidation (LPO) products to the pathogenesis of the disease was studied. Laying hens received a diet low in vitamin E. Resulting chicks were assigned to four groups fed either with linoleic (C18: 2n-6) or linolenic (C18: 3n-3) acid together with 1 or 50 p.p.m. vitamin E. Nine days post-hatching NE occurred in the vitamin E-deficient group fed linoleic acid. With each chick showing NE, a healthy one from all four groups was killed. Unsaturated aldehydes were determined in plasma, liver, cerebrum and cerebellum. Results underlined that the type of dietary fat is decisive for the aldehyde pattern. In the liver of linoleic acid-fed animals total aldehydes were increased. Diseased animals had increased aldehydes stemming from n-3 fatty acids. In plasma, vitamin E deficiency led to higher malondialdehyde and OH-nonenal concentrations. In brain, neither vitamin E deficiency nor NE were accompanied by increased aldehyde concentrations. In consequence a direct role of unsaturated aldehydes for the development of NE in the cerebellum is not probable.

Aldehydes↗
PubMed1999

Studies on equine lipid metabolism. 2. Lipolytic activities of plasma and tissue lipases in large horses and ponies.

The enzymatic fundamentals of lipid metabolism of equine have not been thoroughly investigated at this point in time. It is still unclear why ponies in contrast to horses may become hyperlipaemic when coming negative energy balance. In this study, the activities of the triglyceride-cleaving key enzymes of ponies are large bred horses were investigated in order to obtain insight into the aetiology of the syndrome. The objective of the study was to measure the activities of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) in ponies and horses in ex vivo in vitro assays. Norepinephrine (NE) stimulated pony adipocytes to release FFA in a linear fashion (4.57 +/- 2.09 nmol FFA.10(5) cells-1.min-1). This was not observed in horses. Lipolysis was significantly higher in fat cells of ponies than in horses when adenosine deaminase (ADA) and NE were added (12.71 +/- 3.12 vs. 1.96 +/- 1.22 nmol FFA.10(5) cells-1.min-1). Relative inhibition of lipolysis by the action of insulin was comparable in adipocytes of horses and ponies. However, absolute FFA release in pony fat cells was as high as the maximal NE and ADA stimulated lipolysis in horse adipocytes. Postheparin plasma lipase activities in ponies and horses did not differ between the sub-species. This finding was supported by the results obtained from measurement of LPL activity in adipose and muscle tissue showing only a tendency of increased activities in pony explants when compared to horse tissue incubations. This study further supports the hypothesis that differences in regulation of TG release from fat stores rather than clearance of TG from plasma is causative for the development of hyperlipaemia in ponies. Abbreviations used: ADA, adenosine deaminase; BW, body weight; FFA, free fatty acid; HSL, hormone-sensitive lipase; HTGL, hepatic triglyceride lipase; LPL, lipoprotein lipase; NE, norepinephrine; SDS, sodium dodecyl sulfate; TG, triglyceride; VLDL, very low density lipoprotein.

Adipocytes↗
PubMed1999

The determination of TBA-reactive substances and alkenals in the presence of antioxidants.

This study investigated the inhibitory efficiency of all-rac-alpha-tocopherol, 2,6-ditert-butyl-p-cresole (BHT), and 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-chroman-2-carbonic acid (Trolox) on determination of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and short-chain alkenals in rat liver homogenates. The concentration of TBARS was measured fluorophotometrically. Aldehydes were determined after derivatization with methylhydrazine by gas chromatography (GLC). The concentrations of alkenals and TBARS in liver homogenates were diminished when antioxidants were present during the sample preparation. It is suggested that in the absence of antioxidants the samples are autoxidized further during the preparative procedures. For the aldehyde determination all-rac-alpha-tocopherol was the most effective antioxidant to reduce the bias due to autoxidation, whereas for TBARS it was Trolox.

Aldehydes↗
PubMed1999

[Investigations on manifestations of vitamin E and selenium deficiency in sheep and goats].

In a prospective study from 1991-1998 plasma concentrations of alpha-Tocopherole (VitE) and Selenium (Se) were analysed in 125 sheep and 32 goats with generalised motor disturbances or elevated plasma-activities of Creatine-Kinase (CK). VitE-values < 1.0 mg/l and Se-values < 0.08 mg/l were regarded as deficiency. Diagnosis of pathological manifestations was based on blood enzyme values. CK-values in plasma > 300 U/l or Aspatate-Amino-Transferase (ASAT) > 150 U/l were regarded as myopathy, Glutamat-Dehydrogenase-values > 25 U/l indicated a hepatopathy. 92 (74%) sheep and 10 (31%) goats showed VitE and/or Se deficiency. There were no principal differences in the frequencies of myopathies (67%) and hepatopathies (46%) between pure VitE deficiencies or pure Se deficiencies or combinations of both deficiencies. In VitE deficiency and in the combinations of VitE and Se deficiency the elevations of the enzyme activities were more pronounced than in Se deficiency. The lethality was significantly higher in combined VitE + Se deficiencies (73%) than in pure VitE or Se deficiencies (35%). Combined VitE + Se deficiencies occurred more frequent in lambs (53%) and was often accompanied by anaemia (29%) and hypoproteinaemia (32%). The diagnostic reliability of ASAT and GLDH for the detection of VitE and Se deficiency was better than CK. Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in flock diseases are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Two-dimensional magnetic particles

Single two-dimensional (2D) atomically thick magnetic particles of cobalt and iron with variable size and shape were fabricated by combining a mask technique with standard molecular beam epitaxy. Reduction of the lateral size of in-plane magnetized 2D cobalt films down to about 100 nanometers did not essentially modify their magnetic properties; although the separation of boundaries decreased greatly, neither domain penetrated the particle, nor was any sizable shape anisotropy observed. The mutual interaction of 2D cobalt particles was negligible, and the magnetic state of a single particle could be switched without modifying the state of the neighbors. Perpendicularly magnetized iron particles did not exhibit such responses. These results suggest that only a few atoms forming a 2D in-plane magnetized dot may provide a stable elementary bit for nanorecording.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Spontaneous pregnancy toxaemia (ketosis) in sheep and the role of insulin.

214 ewes suffering from pregnancy toxaemia (ketosis) were examined. Clinical signs during onset and course of disease and laboratory findings were compared between animals that survived and those which died. In the latter the onset of ketosis was earlier in pregnancy (day 143 +/- 7 vs. day 146 +/- 8) and duration of the disease was shorter (10 +/- 13 vs. 14 +/- 9 days). The animals that died showed more severe clinical signs and higher values of 3-hydroxy-butyrate (4.3 +/- 3.6 vs. 3.5 +/- 2.6 mmol/l) and cortisol (72 +/- 98 vs. 52 +/- 80 mmol/l) as well as lower values of insulin (37 + 12 vs. 3.5 + 2.6 mmol/l) and potassium (4.1 + 1.0 vs. 4.4 + 1.0 mmol/1) at onset of the disease than those which survived (all of differences with P < 0.05). Glucose levels did not differ between groups. Treated animals with glucose plus fructose infusions (n = 56) or with oral application of glucose precursors plus electrolytes (n = 126) had survival rates of 53.6% and 62.7%, respectively. Oral treatment with glucose precursors plus electrolytes and an additional subcutaneous insulin treatment (n = 15) led to an enhanced survival rate of 86.7% (P < 0.05). Low insulin levels in ketotic pregnant sheep and the therapeutic effect of insulin treatment support the hypothesis that insulin plays a causative role in the pathogenesis of ovine ketosis.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗