[Normalization of the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological tests (BRB-N) for German-speaking regions. Application in relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis patients]. / Normierung der Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRB-N) für den deutschsprachigen Raum Anwendung bei schubförmig remittierenden und sekundär progredienten Multiple-Sklerose-Patienten.

The Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRB-N) is a neuropsychological screening battery, often applied in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. It is almost exclusively administered in trials and not in the daily practice routine because of the lack of normative values. Using a stepwise linear regression analysis, the dependence of test results on age, gender, and education of 241 healthy control subjects was investigated. Z-values of -1.68 or less were considered pathological. Based on the normative values, the proportions of cognitively impaired patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS, n=43) and secondary progressive MS patients (SPMS, n=60) were calculated. The regression model explained 2.7-25.0% of the variance of test performances. Cognitive impairment occurred in 38% and in 47% of the RRMS and the SPMS groups, respectively. In both groups attention and concentration impairment was prominent, while in the SPMS group memory was also frequently affected. The proportion of cognitively impaired MS patients reflected the figures that could be found in the literature.

The Huntington's disease protein interacts with p53 and CREB-binding protein and represses transcription.

Huntington's Disease (HD) is caused by an expansion of a polyglutamine tract within the huntingtin (htt) protein. Pathogenesis in HD appears to include the cytoplasmic cleavage of htt and release of an amino-terminal fragment capable of nuclear localization. We have investigated potential consequences to nuclear function of a pathogenic amino-terminal region of htt (httex1p) including aggregation, protein-protein interactions, and transcription. httex1p was found to coaggregate with p53 in inclusions generated in cell culture and to interact with p53 in vitro and in cell culture. Expanded httex1p represses transcription of the p53-regulated promoters, p21(WAF1/CIP1) and MDR-1. httex1p was also found to interact in vitro with CREB-binding protein (CBP) and mSin3a, and CBP to localize to neuronal intranuclear inclusions in a transgenic mouse model of HD. These results raise the possibility that expanded repeat htt causes aberrant transcriptional regulation through its interaction with cellular transcription factors which may result in neuronal dysfunction and cell death in HD.

Regeneration of adsorbed and covalently immobilized antibodies on solid phases for immunoassay.

A technique for the reproducible re-use of antibody-coated solid phases for immunoassays is described. The method based on the dissociation of the antigen-antibody complexes. Two different procedures, using glycine buffer (pH 2.3) or ethanolamine, were developed. More than ten immunoassay cycles can be realized with the same antibody-coated microtitre plates. These procedures were tested with competitive and sandwich immunoassays, monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, and a commercial immunoassay kit.

[Detection of IgM rheumatoid factors using ELISA and agglutination tests with new latex]. / Zum Nachweis von IgM-Rheumafaktoren mittels ELISA und Agglutinationstesten mit neuen Latices.

An ELISA for the detection of IgM rheumatoid factors was developed. Additionally agglutination tests on the basis of polystyrene latex particles were developed. The results of these tests were compared with one another and with those of Latex-Schnelltest from SSW. A good agreement between ELISA and latex agglutination tests was found.

[Experiences with the Mikruvid methylene blue reduction test in the diagnosis of bacteriuria. A contribution to the trial of a screening procedure]. / Erfahrungen mit dem Methylenblau-Reduktionstest Mikruvid I zur Erfassung von Bakteriurien. Ein Beitrag zur Erprobung eines Screeningverfahrens.

A bacteriuria tablet test based on methyl-blue reduction was examined for its reliability as screening method for the recognition of infections of the urinary tract. 860 urine specimens of male and female patients were investigated which had been got before the beginning of an antibiotic therapy. Apart from simple handling and little expenses the tablet test distinguishes itself by a sensitivity of 99.3% in infected urines with numbers of germs = 10(5) K/ml urine and 96% in the urine specimens infected by pathogenic germs abd a number of germs of 5 X 10(4)--10(5) K/ml urine, respectively. Contamination germs are in most cases suppressed by the tablet test. The specificity in our investigation material is about 97.2%. In a positive result of the reaction it is possible to send the specimens for the differentiation of germs and for the antibiogram directly to the nearest bacteriological laboratory. This test gives the possibility systematically to control endangered groups of persons in large quantity and to begin an aimed therapy in significant bacteriuria without any greater delay according to the findings of the antibiogram.

[Acid-base status in the blood of domestic pigs during exhausting locomotor stress of small and medium intensity]. / Säuren-Basen-Status im Blut von Hausschweinen bei erschöpfenden motorischen Belastungen geringer und mittlerer Intensität.

Twenty-two fattening pigs were stressed until their rectal temperatures had reached 42 degrees C. The means of stress included walking on moving conveyor belt at ambient temperatures between 22 degrees C and 27 degrees C and relative humidities between 69 and 98%, belt speeds of 0.7 m/s, 1.3 m/s or 0.7 m/s, and stimulation by means of a forcing rod. Rectal temperature, respiratory frequency, lactic acid level in blood plasma, pH, as well as pCO2 and base excess in the blood were measured prior to, during, and after stressing. Gasping was strongly pronounced due to severe alkalisis, but it was somewhat mitigated on running on the belt with exposure to additional stress on account of lactic acid accumulation in the plasma.

[Lactic acid content of blood plasma in domestic swine of various breeds during physical exertion]. / Zur Bewertung des Milchsäuregehaltes im Blutplasma von Hausschweinen verschiedener Rassen bei körperlicher Arbeit

Lactic acid was determined by an enzymic method in plasma samples taken from 20 pigs of the German Edelschwein, German Landrace, German Saddleback and Edelschwein/Landrace crosses before, during and after being made to run on a band moving at 1.3 metres/second for ten minutes, at 10 degrees C and relative humidity of 65-75%. A special method was used to assess the degree of exertion. The lactic acid curve showed that Edelschwein and German Saddlebacks had a low regulatory capacity while German Landrace and the crossbred pigs had a large capacity. For assessing differences attributable to individuals or to breeds, the occurrence of the maximum lactic acid concentration during or after exercise was of special significance.

[ Glucose concentration in blood during exertion. 5. Use of the total distribution of blood glucose values during physical exercise or the estimation of response to exertion in various breeds of swine]. / Zur Bewertung der Glukosekonzentration im Blut bei Belastungen. 5. Gesamtstreuungsmasse des Plasmaglukosegehaltes bei körperlicher Arbeit zur Einschätzung der Belastbarkeit von Schweinen verschiedener Rassen

Blood glucose was determined by an enzymic method in 56 pigs of the German Edelschwein, German Landrace, German Saddleback breeds and Edelschwein/Landrace crosses before, during and after exercise on a belt moving at 1.3 metres/second for ten minutes, at 10 degrees C (winter) or 22-34 degrees C (summer) and relative humidity of 65-75%. Total plasma glucose was calculated from the plasma volume. Total scatter of values for blood glucose concentration and total plasma glucose was greater in Edelschwein and Saddlebacks than in Landrace and the crossbred pigs. There was a close and significant relationship between individual regulatory capacity and breed. The total scatter of blood glucose values was greater in winter than in summer.