Endogenous nitrate synthesis in selected infectious diseases and ulcerative colitis.

Investigations into acute and chronic diarrheal patients confirmed the results of animal experiments on the role of cytotoxic activated macrophages in endogenous formation of nitrates. Because a number of inflammatory diseases did not cause a nitrate release in urine, blood, and saliva, the general importance of nitrates to characterize the initiation and course of inflammations must be questioned.

[Nitrate and nitrite concentrations in gastric juice with regard to the physiologic condition of the gastric mucosa]. / Nitrat- und Nitritkonzentrationen im Magensaft unter Berücksichtigung des physiologischen Zustandes der Magenschleimhaut.

In a random sample comprising 101 test persons (35 without and 66 with gastric disorders) nitrate and nitrite concentrations in gastric juice were determined. It was shown that parameters like pH, physiological stage of gastric mucosa, concentrations of bacteria and fungi in gastric juice or nitrate and nitrite concentrations, fungi and bacteria in saliva do not sufficiently characterize the dynamics of nitrate and nitrite in human stomach.

[Nitrate and nitrite in the urine, saliva and blood of urologic patients]. / Nitrat und Nitrit in Urin, Speichel und Blut urologischer Patienten.

Nitrate and nitrite contents were determined in urine, saliva, and blood of 298 patients suffering from urological diseases. Crude values of nitrate and nitrite in morning urine without any correction due to density and creatinine are sufficient for epidemiological purposes. Significant correlations exist with vegetables intake and bacteriuria, but not with age, sex, disease, smoking, and medicaments. Neither nitrate nor nitrite may be considered to be general indicators of inflammatory processes in the urogenital tract. According to recent investigations nitrite formation during bacterial infections must be seen in connection with simultaneously occurring macrophage activation, as the latter one is catalyzing the formation of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds from nitrite and secondary amines.

[Nitrate and nitrite content of the saliva, urine, blood and cerebrospinal fluid in patients at an infection clinic]. / Nitrat- und Nitritgehalt in Speichel, Urin, Blut und Liquor von Patienten einer Infektionsklinik.

In 254 patients of a ward for infectious diseases the authors demonstrated that inflammatory diseases are frequently accompanied by an increase in nitrate content of the blood, urine and saliva. This effect is especially evident in gastrointestinal disorders. Correlations of nitrate with indicators of the inflammatory process are, if at all, very weak. The endogenous synthesis of nitrate may be of importance for the total nitrate load to the organism especially in children or patients with long-lasting inflammatory disease.

[Pilot study of the nitrate, nitrite and bacterial content of human saliva as a function of environmental factors]. / Pilotstudie über den Nitrat-, Nitrit- und Bakteriengehalt des menschlichen Speichels in Abhängigkeit von Umweltfaktoren.

In a random sample comprising 160 test persons nitrate (12.4 +/- 7.6 mg/l) and nitrite (5.7 +/- 4.0 mg/l) concentrations as well as bacteria counts in saliva were determined. No dependence of the values from age and sex could be detected, whereas smokers have lower concentrations of both nitrate and nitrite. Persons suffering from inflammatory diseases did not have enhanced nitrate concentrations. Role of bacteria for nitrite production is confirmed. Patients, regularly taking nitro-remedies, showed enhanced NO3--(25.8 mg/l) and NO2--(8.4 mg/l)-values.

The utilization of nitrate and nitrite by Streptococcus salivarius in the saliva.

Streptococcus salivarius BU 104 utilizes nitrate and nitrite only under anaerobic conditions and thus adds to the nitrite exposure of the human organism.