[Thoracic pain from the viewpoint of the gastroenterologist: diagnosis and therapy]. / Thoraxschmerzen aus der Sicht des Gastroenterologen: Diagnostik und Therapie.

Non-cardiac-chest-pain is frequently associated with esophageal diseases. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is present in 60%, esophageal motility disorder in 40-50%, tumours in 5-10% and achalasia in 5% of such cases. Diagnosis is based on endoscopy and in patients with no endoscopy findings on 24-h esophageal pH-monitoring. GERD can present with various symptoms and can best be managed with proton pump inhibitors (PPI). Considering increased mortality and morbidity operation should only be performed in special situations. Esophageal motility disorders most frequently produce retrosternal pain. Pain in achalasia may not respond to standard therapy. Motility disorders and achalasia are diagnosed by perfusion manometry and videofluoroscopy. If a tumour is suspected diagnosis is made by endoscopy (biopsy, endosonography) and radiology.

Analysis of parapoxvirus genomes.

Eight stomatitis papulosa (SP), four orf and two milker's nodes (MN) virus isolates were compared by restriction enzyme analysis. Considerable genetic heterogeneity was found not only between isolates belonging to the three different taxonomic groups but also between members of the same group. This heterogeneity precludes classification of parapoxviruses simply by comparison of their DNA cleavage patterns. Restriction maps were therefore prepared for 12 parapoxvirus DNAs. Fragments from defined regions of the genome were then selected and used as probes for cross-hybridizations to all other parapoxvirus DNAs. DNA fragments derived from an internal region of the genome hybridized strongly to all parapoxvirus isolates examined. In contrast, cross-hybridization of the end region of the DNA molecule was observed only between members of the same virus group. Molecular hybridization as a means of classifying parapoxvirus isolates is discussed.

European isolates of bovine herpesvirus 1: a comparison of restriction endonuclease sites, polypeptides, and reactivity with monoclonal antibodies.

Eleven European isolates of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1), together with two reference virus strains were compared by restriction endonuclease digestion, by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and by their reactivity with a panel of monoclonal antibodies (McAb's). Based on the cleavage pattern of viral DNA with the restriction endonuclease Hind III the strains could be assigned to one of two established major virus types. Analysis by SDS-PAGE of viral polypeptides revealed that four protein species either displayed virus type or subtype specific minor variation of migration characteristics. Of 43 McAb's tested all reacted with all type 1 strains, whereas five antibodies failed to recognize some of the type 2 viruses. The existence of type specific variations among virus specified proteins was further evidenced by the recovery of one McAb recognizing type 1 viruses only. The data show that BHV-1 isolates can be assigned to established virus types according to the SDS-PAGE profile of viral proteins or the selective reactivity with type specific McAb's.