A nonradioactive assay for microsomal cysteine-S-conjugate N-acetyltransferase activity by high-pressure liquid chromatography

Microsomal cysteine-S-conjugate N-acetyltransferase, an enzyme specific for S-substituted cysteines, plays an important role in the detoxicative metabolism of xenobiotics by catalyzing the N-acetylation of cysteine-S-conjugates. Cysteine-S-conjugate N-acetyl-transferase activity is generally assayed by measuring the amount of N-[14C]acetyl-S-benzyl-L-cysteine generated from the model compound S-benzyl-L-cysteine and [14C]acetyl-CoA and subsequent extraction of the product. Although sensitive, this method is costly and time consuming. For safety and environmental reasons we developed a nonradioactive assay for cysteine-S-conjugate N-acetyltransferase activity. Our method depends upon the acetylation of the uv-sensitive model compound 4-nitro-S-benzyl-L-cysteine. The test mixture is separated by HPLC, guaranteeing that no by-products interfere with the determination of product formation. Radioactive and nonradioactive methods were compared using different porcine kidney samples. With the nonradioactive test we determined values of Km and Vmax of both 4-nitro-S-benzyl-L-cysteine and acetyl-CoA. In summary, this new nonradioactive assay is sensitive, less costly, safer, less time-consuming, and less laborious than radioactive assays for cysteine-S-conjugate N-acetyltransferase.

Gastrin-releasing peptide and CCK after intraduodenal inhibition of proteases in dogs

The intraduodenal application of a potent protease inhibitor (camostate, 600 mg) causes a significant increase in basal pancreatic secretion in the manner of a negative-feedback mechanism. The integrated protein secretion during the entire study period was 9.9 +/- 1.8 g in 120 min. The iv application of anti-GRP immunoglobulin caused a significant reduction to 5.0 +/- g in 120 min. No significant changes in the plasma concentrations of GRP and CCK were detectable. The increased secretion occurring after the administration of the protease inhibitor could be mediated by neural GRP-dependent mechanisms. These may also be relevant for CCK-dependent factors, which are only briefly mentioned.

The helminth fauna from the common seal (Phoca vitulina vitulina, Linné, 1758) of the Wadden Sea in Lower Saxony. Part 2: Nematodes

During the seal epidemic in 1988 and the beginning of 1989, 115 common seals found dead on the shores of the Wadden Sea of Lower Saxony were investigated for the presence of nematodes. The lungworm Otostrongylus circumlitus Railliet 1899 was found in 26.1% of the seals, the lungworm Parafilaroides gymnurus Railliet 1899 in 26.9% and the heartworm Dipetalonema spirocauda Leidy 1858 in 32.2% of the seals. In the digestive tract, two anisakid species were found, Pseudoterranova decipiens Mozgovoi 1951 in 87.8% and Contracaecum osculatum Rudolphi 1802 in 10.4% of the seals. Statistical analysis revealed a negative correlation between age of the seals and prevalence and intensity of infestation with the two lungworm species and the heartworms. Adult seals were found not to be infected with Dipetalonema spirocauda and Parafilaroides gymnurus, whereas the prevalence of the two anisakid species increased with increasing age of the seals. Pseudoterranova decipiens was found more often in autumn and winter than in summer. This parasite was more prevalent and had higher worm counts in the eastern part of the Wadden Sea than in the western part. Parafilaroides gymnurus and Dipetalonema spirocauda were found more often in seals with smaller blubber thickness than in well fed seals.

The helminth fauna of the common seal (Phoca vitulina vitulina, Linné, 1758) from the Wadden Sea in Lower Saxony. Part 1: Trematodes, cestodes and acanthocephala

Between August 1988 and January 1989 110 common seals found dead along the coast of Lower Saxony were investigated for the occurrence of trematodes, cestodes and acanthocephala. Two fluke species, Cryptocotyle lingua Creplin, 1825 and Phagicola septentrionalis Van Den Broek, 1967, two tapeworm species Diphyllobothrium cordatum Leuckart, 1863 and Diphyllobothrium elegans Krabbe, 1865, and the acanthocephala species Corynosoma strumosum Rudolphi, 1802 were found. Phagicola septentrionalis and the cestodes were always found together with Cryptocotyle lingua. The prevalence of Phagicola septentrionalis, the diphyllobothriids and the acanthocephala increased with increasing age of the pinniped host. The worm counts of all species appeared to increase with increasing age of the host. The adult male seals were more often infested with Phagicola septentrionalis and cestodes than the female adults and the younger pinnipeds. There was no correlation between blubber thickness of the seals and parasitic infection. The prevalence of the diphyllobothriids and the intensity of the infection with acanthocephala were higher in seals found in the eastern part of the Wadden Sea.

[The load on the spinal column in handling of burdens]

The health consequences of long-term professional activity in loading for transport were investigated in an epidemiological study. This involved determining the frequency of orthopedic diseases within a series of transport workers and comparing it with the disease frequency in a comparable group with the same age distribution. The frequency of orthopedic diseases in transport workers is about 22% higher than in the other group. Most of the findings relate to the lower lumbar spine. An increase in the number of diseases can be observed in the transport workers even after a short period of professional activity. In order to examine the possible cause for the increased frequency of disease, the load on the lower lumbar spine was determined quantitatively using biomechanical model calculations. A three-dimensional biomechanical model that allows examination of both static and dynamic load was developed for this purpose. The influence of posture, the mass of the load to be transferred, and the acceleration of the load and the body on the mechanical spinal load were examined as typical examples of load manipulation. In the assessment of load, the compressive forces calculated were compared with the strength of the spinal elements. The compression forces on the lower lumbar spine are of the same order of magnitude as the strength. The high mechanical load can therefore be regarded as a possible cause of the high frequency of disease among persons whose professional activity involves lifting heavy loads.

[Penetrating heart injury]

A report was made on a 25 year old patient with a penetrating heart injury with basic diagnosis, and treatment. A successful management was a result of good performance of the resuscitation chain, exactness of the clinical diagnosis and interdisciplinary cooperation between surgeons and anaesthetists.

Orthopaedic diseases among transport workers

Material handling tasks result in high load on the skeletal system. Long-term employment in transportation jobs may therefore cause a high frequency of orthopaedic diseases, particularly in the spinal region. An epidemiological study was performed on employees from a large company in order to test this hypothesis. The medical history of 249 male transport workers was examined by means of statistical analysis of the orthopaedic diseases documented in the record file of their company's health service. For purposes of comparison, the same data evaluation was performed for an age-matched reference group consisting of 267 persons chosen randomly from among the male employees in the same company. The proportion of persons with orthopaedic diseases amounts to 77.1% among the transport workers and 62.9% among the reference persons. It is consequently 1.22 times higher for the transport workers than for the reference persons ("rate ratio RR" = 1.22). The greatest part of all orthopaedic diseases affects the spine. Within the spine, the lumbar region is the most frequently damaged. Both for the totality of all spinal sections as well as for diseases of particular spinal sections (cervical, thoracic, lumbar spine), the proportion of the transport workers with diseases is higher than that of the reference persons (RR between 1.20 and 1.36). The proportion of persons with spinal diseases increases with age in both groups. There is no observable difference between the groups with regard to the frequency of persons with degenerative diseases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of camostat, a synthetic protease inhibitor, on endocrine and exocrine pancreas of the rat

The effects of chronic oral treatment of rats with 400 mg/kg body weight camostat, a synthetic protease inhibitor, on weight gain and both pancreatic exocrine and endocrine secretion were studied and compared with pair-fed controls. Administration of camostat was found to result in a lower weight gain than in untreated rats fed ad libitum because of reduced food intake. The pancreas of treated rats showed hypertrophy and hyperplasia with significantly higher total contents of amylase, lipase, trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen than that of pair-fed controls. The specific activity of lipase, trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen remained unchanged but the specific activity of amylase was significantly lower than in pair-fed controls. Stimulation of pancreatic enzymes with CCK 8 in treated rats resulted in a greater output of proteases, no difference in secretion of lipase and a lower secretion of amylase than in pair-fed rats. Glucose-dependent insulin secretion was also significantly lower in camostat-treated rats than in controls. This effect could be reversed by gastric inhibitory polypeptide. After termination of treatment with camostat all enzymes were normalized within 14 d. Our results on the hypertrophied pancreas of rats suggest preferential synthesis and secretion of protease at the expense of amylase and diminished sensitivity of insulin to stimulation by glucose. All effects of camostat on the pancreas were reversible.

[Prosthesis for tumor of the hip joint (indications and results)]

Between 1972 and 1982 34 tumour prostheses (23 total replacements, 11 semitotal replacements) of various designs were implanted at the State Orthopedic Clinic in Munich-Harlaching and at the University Orthopedic Clinic in Grosshadern. The indications were primary and secondary malignant tumours, potentially malignant tumours, peritrochanteric pseudarthroses, and loosening of prostheses where bone conditions were poor. Since 1977 only the "Harlaching" femoral tumour prosthesis, a locally developed model, has been used. Its distinguishing feature is the modular or kit principle, which renders it possible to adapt the prosthesis and define its length accurately during surgery. On the basis of 13 long-term observations, in some cases extending over 8 years, it was established that this tumour prosthesis need not be regarded as merely a palliative intervention (this applies also to younger patients with a longer life expectancy); the slight and transitory complications and the relatively good long-term functional results are encouraging.

The load on the spine during the transport of dustbins

Situations causing high postural stress during the transport of dustbins were determined, and the load on the spine was estimated. Electromyographical analyses revealed workload situations with high muscular activities during the transport over edges. Thus the manipulation of large dustcontainers (1100 l) is rendered difficult by kerbstones. Because smaller dustbins (110 l-240 l) are often kept in basements or backyards, stairs must frequently be climed with a heavy load. To quantify the spinal stress, a biomechanical model was developed in order to calculate the torques and forces effective at the lumbosacral joint. In the computations several parameters and transport conditions, such as kerbstone height, were varied. That entails different working postures by the dustbins men. The influence on the load on the spine was estimated. The calculated results are compared with criteria taken from the literature. Special postures were devised to keep the torques and forces as small as possible, and thereby to decrease the health risk of the skeletal system when handling heavy weights like dustbins. In the case of a container transport, only two persons should manipulate and work in well-timed co-ordination and both in special postures. Finally, all dustbins should be positioned at places guaranteeing an easy transport over flat surfaces.

[Material-specific wear of ceramic/ceramic sliding surfaces in revised hip endoprostheses--clinical and technological considerations]

After more than 8 years of "in-vivo"-experience with ceramic bearing surfaces in hip endoprostheses clinical and tribological aspects of damage-analysis in 29 cases of retrieved Al2O3 prostheses are performed. The balls and sockets are investigated in view of wear-quantification by relative metric determination and wear-quantification by SCAN-microscopy. In 2/3 of all cases the microstructure average grain standard was superelevated. As hypothesis of the destruction mechanism an avalanche-like acceleration of grain-excavations is discussed.

[Operative treatment of congenital upward displacement of the shoulder blade]

In congenital elevation of the scapula the scapulothoracic movements and the patient's cosmetical appearance are affected. The aim of a number of operative procedures is the improvement or removal of this conditions. Between 1958 and 1978 15 patients with congenital elevation of the scapula were operatively treated by resection of the supraspinous portion of the scapula with or without relocating the scapula in a more caudal position, or in the method of König. 5 cases had a Grade-3 deformity, 9 cases a Grade-2 deformity and one case a Grade-1 deformity, measured in the technique of Rigault. By resection of the supraspinous portion of the scapula with mobilization of the scapula (6 cases) a mean caudalization of 2.7 cm. and a mean improvement in shoulder abduction of 32 degrees could be achieved. The procedure of König resulted in a mean scapular caudalization of 2.9 cm. and a mean improvement in shoulder abduction of 26 degrees. No important difference in the endresult could be found between the two operative procedures because of nearly the same pre-operative grading distribution of deformity. Only the partially unsightly surgical scars were dissatisfying.

[Congenital subluxation of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb as the cause of writer's syndrome]

A 26-year-old male patient developed a writer's cramp syndrome, the underlying cause of which was shown to be a congenital subluxation of the first metacarpophalangeal joint. The clinical symptoms are presented, the indications for surgery reviewed and the operative technique in accordance with A.N. Witt described. Post-operatively, the pathological hypermobility of the first metacarpophalangeal joint has been eliminated, and global function of the hand has normalized.

[Operative therapy in patellar chondropathy]

A critical appraisal of the results of conservative and surgical treatment of chondropathia patellae revealed that it has not yet proved possible to achieve a good surgical result in excess of 75%. Findings with a new direct method of measuring retropatellar pressure distribution on human specimens, and the knowledge thus obtained, are discussed in connection with clinical results. They show that more detailed knowledge of the cause of the chondropathy is required if surgical treatment is to be successful.