[Thiocyanate--a biologically active ion of veterinary and medical relevance]. / Thiocyanat--ein biologisch aktives Ion von veterinärmedizinischer und medizinischer Relevanz.

Thiocyanate-ions are ubiquitous in living nature. They are important for the cell-function and the ongoing of vital functions. Therefore they are an essential factor in both, animal and human being. The Thiocyanate-ions are brought in alimentary but also built by the organism itself. Beneath the guarantee for many different body-functions Thiocyanate-ions are an important part of the immune response. To that belongs their involvement in H2O2-Thiocyanate Peroxidase-Systems. Furthermore Thiocyanate-ions are agents for cell-protection and for the repair-mechanism of the host in the struggle with toxic substances of germs. Therefore they also have a tumour-prophylactic effect. Thiocyanate-ions participate at physiochemical reactions which due the protein-conformation. There are hypothesis that a deficiency of Thiocyanate-ions may be a co-factor for causative agents of diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis and Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathia. References for calculations of the alimentary balance are given, if deficiency of Thiocyanate-ions occurs. From the view of an optimal animal-feeding the sufficient alimentary supply of Thiocyanate-ions and their precursors is mentioned.

[Promotion of wool growth and body weight development of sheep by alimentary supplementation with thiocyanate]. / Förderung der Wollbildung und Körpermasseentwicklung beim Schaf durch alimentäre Thiocyanatsupplementierung.

Adult sheep were administered 12 mg thiocyanate (SCN-)/kg body weight orally twice a year in altogether 16 respectively 41 single doses under conventional keeping during the period of stabling (winter) in two consecutive years. Fattening lambs got an analogous SCN- dosage with altogether 4 respectively 34 single doses under intensive keeping. Aided by this temporarily obtained balance of an alimentary SCN- deficiency the following effects were reached during conventional keeping: Significant increase of the wool mass in the greasy state and a tendency to better breading performance. During intensive fattening an increase of the wool mass and of the staple cross-section was proven statistically in the mean for all the test animals, but for the increase of the staple length it could be shown only by comparison of twins.

[Thiocyanate content in blood plasma, udder lymph and milk from healthy cows and cows with mastitis]. / Thiocyanatgehalt in Blutplasma, Euterlymphe und Milch von gesunden und euterkranken Kühen.

After storage for more than one year the SCN(-)-content of udder lymph was not changed seriously, but in blood serum and mainly in milk, there is an evident decrease. In lactational cows with healthy udders the SCN(-)-content of blood plasma is higher than in milk (in average twice). There is no difference of the SCN(-)-content of the four udder parts of healthy cows. Decrease of milk production (10. to 13. lactational month) causes an increase of the SCN(-)-content of the milk, it is not changed in subclinical mastitis. In lactational cows with healthy udders the SCN(-)-content of udder lymph is nearly triple higher in average than in milk of the corresponding quarter of the udder. The existence of a common compartment of SCN- in blood and udder lymph is assumed, which is separated from them of the milk by the blood udder barrier.

[Effect of an alimentary thiocyanate supplement on the hide characteristics of mink (Mustela vision)]. / Einfluss einer alimentären Thiocyanatergänzung auf Felleigenschaften beim Nerz (Mustela vision).

In farm minks the following effects were achieved by additional feeding of KSCN (0,9-2,6 mg SCN-/kg body weight) equivalent to twice til triple the usual SCN- intake (0,2-0,9 mg SCN-/kg body weight) during the 3. to 7. month of life: improvement of the coat structure and of length, density, and elasticity of the guard hairs, additionally to increase of body weight and length.

[Thiocyanate blood levels in roe deer, red deer, fallow deer and wild boar]. / Untersuchungen zum Thiocyanatserumspiegel bei Reh-, Rot-, Dam- und Schwarzwild.

The following serum levels of thiocyanate (SCN-) were found in game: roe 6.6 +/- 4 mg/l, red deer 5.5 +/- 3.2 mg/l, fallow-deer 5.1 +/- 2.8 mg/l, and wild boar 4.8 +/- 4.5 mg/l (variation 0.6-32.6 mg SCN-/l). These levels are distinctly higher than in domestic animals under stall-feeding with exception of mast calves which were fed milk-substitutes. The SCN- serum level of calves, sheep and horses reach at pasturing nearly the level of game. The higher SCN- serum level of cloven-hoof game resp. by pasturing of domestic animals is caused by higher alimentary SCN- intake.

[Thiocyanate--a pathogenetic factor in cystic fibrosis (mucoviscidosis)?]. / Thiocyanat--ein pathogenetischer Faktor bei der zystischen Fibrose (Mukoviszidose)?

Thiocyanate (SCN-) concentrations in serum samples of 32 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, 30 controls as well as 23 heterozygotes (parents of CF patients) were investigated, because SCN- influenced viscosity of secretions, membrane functions as well as nonspecific and specific defense processes. CF patients showed little smaller SCN- serum levels, but the differences were not statistically significant. There were remarkable smaller values for CF patients with most serious clinical conditions due to severe pulmonary changes.

[Protective effect of thiocyanate in the model of the septic infected mouse]. / Protektive Wirkung von Thiocyanat am Modell der septisch infizierten Maus.

On the model of the septic mouse infected with mice pathogenic Erysipelothrix strain NaSCN had a protective effect (lower and delayed lethality in the doses of 64 and 256 mg/kg, given once a day intraperitoneally prophylactically or simultaneously to the infection.

[Experimental and epidemiological studies on the interrelationship of thiocyanate and thyroid function]. / Experimentelle und epidemiologische Untersuchungen zu Wechselbeziehungen von Thiocyanat und Schilddrüsenfunktion.

The testing of a SCN- dose (32 mg NaSCN/kg oral 21 d long) which is about 100 fold above the alimentary SCN(-)-uptake on guinea pig has shown neither histologic/morphometrical nor clinical clue to thyrostatic effect. In 6 regions of the GDR (1,349 persons) has not been secured epidemiologically any relationship between SCN- serum level as well as SCN- urine level and goiter. The partly in the tendency low increase of SCN- level by patients with bland goiter was always under the levels of smokers without goiter, exceeded indeed the threshold of significance in the area of Werdau. In the industrial agglomeration areas the I(-)-SCN(-)-quotient at the most unfavourable cases ran to 3.5 (Halle, smoker, struma), was consequently close to the critical level of the goiter risk.

[Determination of thiocyanate in serum with ion-selective liquid membrane electrodes]. / Zur Thiocyanatbestimmung in Serum mittels ionenselektiver Flüssigmembranelektroden.

The manufacture of a liquid membrane type thiocyanate ion selective electrode on the basis of crystalviolet thiocyanate or methylene blue thiocyanate solved in nitrobenzene is described. This electrodes are available for the determination of the thiocyanate ion in agents with high levels on chlorid or protein, for instance in serum. Thiocyanate levels in serum from smokers and nonsmokers determinated by this electrodes differ significant from values that were obtained by the barbituric acid method, but they were in good agreement with values determinated by ion exchange chromatography. It can be assumed that its possible to ascertain the part of the dissociated thiocyanate by means of the ion selective electrodes and the ion exchange chromatography.

[The importance of the endogenous agent and environmental factor thiocyanate for nonspecific and specific resistance from the hygienic viewpoint]. / Zur Bedeutung des endogenen Wirkstoffs und Umweltfaktors Thiocyanat für die unspezifische und spezifische Resistenz aus hygienischer Sicht.

Thiocyanate (previous designation rhodanide, SCN-) is a physiological substance which is ubiquitously spread in the animate nature. As an essential constituent of cell it participates in important physiological resp. biochemical processes. From the hygienic and microbiological point of view the occurrence of SCN- as environmental factor, its alimentary significance and its vitalizing effect (stimulation of nonspecific and specific warding off, stimulation of proliferation, protective effect at toxic loading) are of interest for the fundamental and applied research.

[Promotion of hair growth with thiocyanate in guinea pigs]. / Förderung der Haarentwicklung durch Thiocyanat beim Meerschweinchen.

The advancement of growth of albino guinea pig hair has been induced by sodium thiocyanate through oral application (32 mg/kg) and more distinctly through balneological use (0.3, 5 resp. 10 g/l). The density of the hair has been increased at 6-38%, the longitudinal growth advanced at 2-14% and the phases of follicle cycle have been changed on behalf of anagenic hair at 11-39%.

[Antisepsis and disinfection: the necessity of a conceptual demarcation]. / Antiseptik und Desinfektion: Notwendigkeit einer begrifflichen Abgrenzung.

Increasing international cooperation in the areas of research, teaching, trade and healthcare has called for standardization of the terminology. In disinfection and antisepsis such efforts have been pursued for almost 20 years but without great success. This contribution to the definition of antisepsis and its clear separation from disinfection is supposed to promote international discussion. German terms for skin, mucosa and wound antisepsis are proposed which permit to restrict the term disinfection to the application of antimicrobial measures to inanimate objects and surfaces.

[Mutagenicity testing in the sperm head test/mouse and mutagenic potency of 2 disinfectants on the basis of peracetic acid and phenols, respectively]. / Mutagenitätsprüfung im Spermakopf-Test/Maus und mutagene Potenz von 2 Desinfektionsmitteln auf Basis von Peressigsäure bzw. Phenolen.

For the improvement of the registration of data by assessment of mutagenic risk the analysis of sperm-head abnormalities have been rendered as a suitable at indirect evidence of mutagenic potency. The reproduction of the results is well. The sensitivity of the test is high. The quantitative evaluation of genotoxic effects is possible. By reason of comparatively low methodical expense the screening investigations of species mouse are suitable, before more expensive tests will be accomplished for the elucidation of the mutation type. At 35 day-long intraperitoneal application the double number of sperm head abnormalities was approximately induced through Wofasteril (dose refer to main agent peracetic acid 2.6 mg/kg bw/d) and about 1/3 through cyclophosphamide (dose 25 mg/kg bw/d). With a 50% reduction of Wofasteril dose the mutagenic threshold-concentration was too low. The phenolic disinfectant Wofasept caused only slight no significant increase of the rate of sperm-head abnormalities (doses refer to the content of compounds, for Chlorocresol 1.6 mg/kg bw/d, for Clorofen 0.7 mg/kg bw/d and for detergent 4.8 mg/kg bw/d).

[Research in hospital health at the Institute of General and Community Health of the Greifswald Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University]. / Krankenhaushygienische Forschung am Institut für Allgemeine und Kommunale Hygiene der Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald.

With a retrospect of the historical development of hygiene in Greifswald the essential tasks of research in hospital hygiene especially during the last two decades are shown. The problems of hospital hygiene have been treated already before the establishment of the Institute of Hygiene of the University. Friedrich Loeffler, who as a young researcher had already treated the problems of disinfection and antisepsis, has founded the systematic hygienic-microbiological-virological working direction in Greifswald. Out of this in the following years with different essential tasks and devotion the hospital hygiene has developed in Greifswald. During the process of differentiation and forming of the department and later the Institute of General and Communal Hygiene was the hospital hygiene an essential task of research work. As peculiarity to this a close research co-operation has been developed with the territorial Institute of Hygiene of District Hygiene Inspection Rostock.

[Analysis of the annual volumes from 1950-1959 and 1970-1979 of the "Zentralblatt für Gynäkologie" with reference to changes in pathogens]. / Analyse der Jahrgänge 1950-1959 und 1970-1979 des "Zentralblatt für Gynäkologie" unter dem Aspekt des Erregerwandels.

In order to analyse the germ change there have been analysed by way of comparison original articles from the "Zentralblatt für Gynäkologie" of the periods from 1950 to 1959 and 1970 to 1979. In the period from 1970 to 1979 the frequency of demonstrated anaerobic germs increased (12fold), of gram-negative germs as well (from 28% to 32%); in particular that applies to representatives of Enterobacteriaceae (especially E. coli). On the other hand the frequency of the demonstrated Mycobacterium tuberculosis decreased from 35% to 4%. At the same time a change of the character of the infections, partly with serious septic shock conditions, became evident. Information on the attack of Saccharomyces are almost exclusively available in the period from 1970 to 1979. Candida albicans dominates with 23% in the total evidence of mycobacterials. Their are mainly verbal information on an increase of the resistance of germs.

[The alimentary ingestion, analysis and biological significance of thiocyanate]. / Zur alimentären Aufnahme, Analytik und biologischen Bedeutung des Thiocyanats.

A survey is given of the alimentary ingestion, metabolization and elimination as well as of the biological significance of thiocyanate (SCN-) in the mammalian organism. SCN- is an important nutritional factor since it influences essential bodily functions, e.g. immune response. Its analytical determination in vegetable and animal foodstuffs may be considerably affected by the reversible binding of SCN- to protein molecules and by natural products, e.g. amino acids and cyanide, from glycosidic precursors, which interfere with the reaction with bromine. This will be combining paper chromatography with gas chromatography. Except Brassica species which are relatively high in SCN- in glycosidic combination, vegetable foodstuffs contain nearly 0.1-1.3 mg SCN-/kg fresh material; animal foodstuffs, e.g. beef, contains 0.5-0.7 mg SCN-/kg. Balances calculations have shown that in non-smokers the average alimentary ingestion ranges from 1.8 to 5.2 mg SCN-/d.