Tolerance evaluation of overdosed dietary levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in growing piglets.

Forty-eight, cross-bred (GL × LW × P) piglets were used in a 42-day tolerance trial to assess the effects of feeding diets supplemented with vitamin D or increasing levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OH-D3 ). Six-week-old piglets (24 castrate males, 24 females) were used. Two replicate groups of 6 piglets were randomized by weight and allocated to four dietary treatments. The control group (T1) was supplemented with 50 µg vitamin D3 /kg feed. The experimental groups received 25-OH-D3 at the recommended dose (T2: 50 µg/kg = 1x), at 250 µg/kg (T3: 5x) or at 500 µg/kg (T4: 10x) respectively. Feed intake and daily weight gain were measured weekly, and the animals were examined by a veterinarian daily. After 42 days, body mass, blood, urine, bone and tissue samples were analysed and a pathology examination conducted. Dietary treatments had no significant effect on final body mass or daily weight gain. The 25-OH-D3 plasma concentration in T1 was 17 ± 3 ng/ml (mean ± SD) while the respective values of the experimental groups were significantly increased in T2, T3 and T4. Tissue concentrations of 25-OH-D3 were higher in liver and muscle for T3 and T4 and in skin for T4 than in T1. However, neither gross pathology nor histology, nor blood and urine characteristics, nor bone parameters were affected by dietary treatments. Weight of organs as well as dry matter, ash and calcium content of kidneys remained unaffected by dietary 25-OH-D3 intake. Furthermore, no changes were observed for general indicators of health. The results of this study demonstrated that feeding piglets with 25-OH-D3 at 5 or 10 times the recommended level had no adverse effects on any of the biological parameters measured. It was concluded that 25-OH-D3 can be regarded as a supplement with a very high safety margin when used at the recommended level.

Blisters - an unusual effect during radiotherapy.

The skin reaction to radiation is regularly monitored in order to detect enhanced radiosensitivity of the patient, unexpected interactions (e.g. with drugs) or any inadvertent overdosage. It is important to distinguish secondary disease from radiation reaction to provide adequate treatment and to avoid unnecessary discontinuation of radiotherapy. A case of bullous eruption or blisters during radiotherapy of the breast is presented. Differential diagnoses bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus vulgaris, and bullous impetigo are discussed and treatment described.

Three new metabolites from marine-derived fungi of the genera coniothyrium and microsphaeropsis

The marine sponges Ectyplasia perox and Myxilla incrustans were investigated for associated fungal strains. Among others, a Coniothyrium sp., from E. perox, and a Microsphaeropsis sp., from M. incrustans, were isolated, cultured, and investigated for their biologically active secondary metabolite contents. The new compound microsphaeropsisin (1) together with the known compounds (R)-mellein (4), (3R,4S)-hydroxymellein (5), (3R,4R)-hydroxymellein (6), and 4, 8-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-naphthalen-1-one (7) were isolated from the Microsphaeropsis sp. From culture extracts of the Coniothyrium sp., the new compounds (3S)-(3',5'-dihydroxyphenyl)butan-2-one (2) and 2-(1'(E)-propenyl)-octa-4(E),6(Z)-diene-1,2-diol (3), together with the six known metabolites (3R)-6-methoxymellein (8), (3R)-6-methoxy-7-chloromellein (9), cryptosporiopsinol (10), phenylethanol, (p-hydroxyphenyl)ethanol, and 2-(hydroxymethyl)furan, were obtained. All structures were determined using spectroscopic methods. With the exception of 3, all compounds were tested for their antimicrobial properties, and all but 10 demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity in agar diffusion assays.

MR imaging characteristics of osteoradionecrosis of the pelvis after radiation therapy on gynecological tumors.

PURPOSE: To describe MR imaging characteristics of osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the pelvis as a result of radiation therapy (RT) on gynecological tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Radiography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed on 9 women (mean age 67.5 years) with gynecological tumors to identify ORN. T1- and T2-weighted sequences and contrast-enhanced t1-weighted sequences with and without fat saturation were used. The patients began developing pain after the completion of RT indicating a possible ORN a which time MRI was performed. MR images were correlated with the results of clinical examinations. RESULTS: Depending on the time elapsed after RT, ORN presented with different signal intensities. The acquired images suggested that signal changes in T2-weighted images as well as the different enhancement behaviour of ORN could be dependent on the time elapsed after RT. Visualisation of the affected regions was best achieved with fat-saturated T1-weighted sequences. CT showed increased density in the affected regions corresponding to osteosclerosis. In all cases the sacroiliac joint was affected, some times bilaterally. CONCLUSION: MRI is helpful in detecting and characterizing ORN. Changes in signal intensity, based on histopathological tissue changes could make a chronological classification possible.

Blood vitamin levels in dogs with chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) may affect excretion and metabolism of vitamins but data for dogs are limited. In this study, blood vitamin levels were investigated in 19 dogs with chronic renal failure. High performance liquid chromatography was used to quantify retinol, retinyl esters, tocopherol, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate, ascorbic acid and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentrations, whereas cobalamin, folate, biotin and pantothenic acid were measured by microbiological methods. Levels of retinol, retinyl palmitate, ascorbic acid, and vitamins B1, B2 and B6 were increased compared to healthy dogs. Dogs with CKD showed decreased concentrations of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and folate. Alpha-tocopherol, biotin, pantothenate and cobalamin levels were not significantly different between controls and dogs with CKD. Whether lower vitamin D and folate concentrations in dogs with CKD justify supplementation has to be evaluated in future studies.

Blood vitamin concentrations in privately owned dogs fed non-standardized commercial diets and after intake of diets with specified vitamin concentrations.

The objective was to investigate in a survey study the blood vitamin concentrations in healthy dogs fed non-specified commercial complete diets and in an intervention study to determine the effects of defined dietary vitamin intakes on blood vitamin levels and hair and skin condition. Sixty-four privately owned dogs, aged from 1 to 8 years, without history of skin or coat problems were included. All animals were fed commercial complete diets with uncertain vitamin concentrations before enrolment. The animals were assigned, according to weight and gender, to four groups with graded vitamin intakes. The blood vitamin levels and skin and coat quality of the dogs were investigated at days 0 and day 122. Coat and hair condition was not influenced by the experimental diets. The retinol concentrations were reduced at the end of the experiment compared with the baseline levels, retinyl esters were not influenced. 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol decreased in all groups, alpha-tocopherol was constant or tended to decrease. Ascorbic acid, thiamine pyrophosphate and riboflavin concentrations were not affected by treatment, flavin adenine dinucleotide and pyridoxal-5'-phosphate were partially reduced on day 122. Cobalamin, pantothenate and biotin concentrations increased with higher dietary intakes, folate levels in tendency. In conclusion, this study gives a survey of blood vitamin concentrations in healthy dogs and provides a data base for the evaluation of the vitamin status in health and disease.

[Detection of exposure in welders by determining manganese contents of biological materials]. / Zum Expositionsnachweis bei Schweissern durch die Manganbestimmung im biologischen Material.

The contents of manganese in the biological materials urine, hair and faeces were measured atom-absorption-spectral-photometrically and compared in non-exposed and exposed welders. Significant differences between the two groups in the manganese-urine-excretions and manganese content of the hair were the result. For the industrial medical control of manganese exposed welders for the prevention of professional diseases the routine determination of manganese in the urine is recommended as exposition test.

[Osteoradionecrosis after radiotherapy for gynecologic tumors]. / Osteoradionekrose nach Strahlentherapie gynäkologischer Tumoren.

AIM: Insufficiency fractures of the pelvis are a well known but rare and frequently misinterpreted radiation sequela. The clinical features and possible risk factors were investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 71 of living 82 patients, who were treated 1986-1994 for gynecologic tumors were clinically examined. 47 patients underwent also bone scan, CT of the pelvis and 13 patients had osteodensitometry. All patients had been treated with adjuvant (n = 29) or curative intent (n = 18) by d.v. fields with 18-MV photons, with 46 Gy in 23 fractions plus brachytherapy (15-39 Gy). Median follow-up was 36 months. RESULTS: Seven patients developed pelvic insufficiency fractures 11 months (median, minimum 2 months) after treatment. All patients complained of moderate to severe pelvic pain, which resolved after 5-28 months without specific therapy in five of seven patients. At first examination all but one bone scan showed extremely increased uptake in the os sacrum and/or iliosacral joints, correlating CT scans demonstrated small fractures and bony destruction. Four of the asymptomatic 40 patients with complete radiologic examinations had medium uptake in bone scan (CT normal). Three of four examined patients with insufficiency fractures and seven of nine patients without insufficiency fractures had osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: In women who present with pelvic pain after radiotherapy for gynecologic tumors bony destruction and fractures may be indicative of a late radiation effect rather than osseous metastasis, even after early onset of symptoms.

[Tumor-associated markers as organ-specific antigens of human seminal plasma. I. Immunologic studies]. / Tumor-assoziierte Marker als organ-charakteristische Antigen des menschlichen Seminalplasmas. I. Immunologische Studien.

We could demonstrate that some constituents of the human seminal plasma must be regarded as organ-specific substances; these are known as characteristic tumor markers in connection with other subjects. Accordingly, the occurrence of the tumor markers Ca 19-9tm, CEA and Ca 12-5tm in samples of normal human seminal plasma shows that these materials must be defined in this case as organ-characteristic markers. We report on different quantitative distribution of these markers and give evidence that the Ca 19-9 antigen only occurs in persons positive with respect to Lewis' blood group.

[Tumor associated markers as organ-specific antigens of the human seminal plasma. II. Immunohistological studies]. / Tumor-assoziierte Marker als organ-charakteristische Antigene des menschlichen Seminalplasmas. II. Immunhistologische Studien.

The serologically detected and immunochemically characterized Ca 19-9 antigen of the human seminal plasma (as a glycoprotein) could now be also immunohistochemically localized in the prostate gland as well as in the seminal vesicles of the human genital tract. We conclude, therefore, that the main biosynthesis of this organ-typical glycoprotein takes place in both tissues. With respect to the quantitative expression of the antigen, there are differences not only in connection with the property of Lewis blood group but obviously also with regard to functional tissue alterations partly dependent on hormones. Possible associations with infertility, autoimmune diseases, or AIDS cannot be excluded in case of this alloantigen containing neuraminic acid.

[Radiation-induced osteonecrosis of the pelvic bones vs. bone metastases--a difficult differential diagnosis]. / Osteoradionekrose des Beckens versus knöcherne Metastasierung--eine schwierige Differential-diagnose.

BACKGROUND: Since the introduction of megavoltage radiation therapy radiation osteitis has become a rare event and may be easily mistaken for bone metastases. A case of radiation osteitis is reported and diagnostic features are discussed. CASE REPORT: A 70 year-old female patient underwent rectum resection for rectum cancer and was given standard adjuvant therapy consisting of irradiation of the tumor site and lymph nodes in the pelvis with 18 MeV photons, boxfield technique up to 50.4 Gy and chemotherapy with 5-FU. Eight months later she complained of severe lower back pain. Plain radiographs and CT revealed osteolytic lesions in the ileosacral joints and os sacrum which appeared as circumscript areas of signal loss in MRI (T1-weighted sequence). A soft tissue mass was not detected. CT-guided biopsy excluded bone metastases. CONCLUSION: Characteristic features of radiation osteitis are spongiosa destructions initially in weight-bearing bones within the radiation field, namely the ileosacral joints, and the lack of pathologic soft tissue mass. False treatment, i.e. radiation for bone metastases, should be avoidable.

Sialylated Lea blood group substances detected by the monoclonal antibody Ca 19-9 in human seminal plasma and other organs.

The glycoprotein fractions of human seminal plasma, amniotic fluid, urine, human saliva and human gastric juice have been found to contain sialyl-Lea blood group substance, an antigen and which is known to function as a tumor-marker in human pancreatic and gastrointestinal cancer (Ca 19-9). Tumor-associated carbohydrate structures may well occur in large amounts both in normal tissue and in secretions as organ-specific markers. In human seminal plasma typical variations have been found in relationship to the Lewis blood group of the donor. Accordingly, the Ca 19-9 antigen can be regarded as a marker of the main glycoprotein fraction of human seminal plasma, which could be useful as a tool for clinical investigations.