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Biomedical subjects

F Krüger

Publications and source records attributed to F Krüger.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Spin-wave dispersion in orbitally ordered La1/2Sr3/2MnO4.

The magnon dispersion in the charge, orbital, and spin ordered phase in La1/2Sr3/2MnO4 has been studied by means of inelastic neutron scattering. We find excellent agreement with a magnetic interaction model based on the CE-type superstructure. The magnetic excitations are dominated by ferromagnetic exchange parameters revealing a nearly one-dimensional character at high energies. The strong ferromagnetic interaction in the charge or orbital ordered phase appears to be essential for the capability of manganites to switch between metallic and insulating phases.

Journal Article↗

Contamination of the alluvial plain, feeding-stuffs and foodstuffs with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) and mercury from the River Elbe in the light of the flood event in August 2002.

Meadow soils, feeding-stuffs and foodstuffs from the alluvial plain of the river Elbe were analyzed in respect of PCDD/Fs, DL-PCBs and mercury with a view to assessing the consequences of the extreme flood of August 2002. The PCDD/F concentrations in the soils range from 3 to 2100 ng WHO-TEQ/kg dm, and for the DL-PCBs the range was 0.32 to 28 ng WHO-TEQ/kg dm. On the basis of established threshold values >40% of the areas are only fit for restricted usage. Mercury concentrations range from 0.11 to 17 mg/kg dm, whereby the action value of 2 mg/kg dm is exceeded in about 50% of the soil samples. A cumulative memory effect from past floods rather than a recent contamination from August 2002 is documented. Soils taken from behind broken dykes showed significantly lower concentrations. Grass, hay and grass silage originating from pasture land in Lower Saxony were taken before and immediately after the flooding. PCDD/Fs range from 0.29 to 16 ng WHO-TEQ/kg, the maximum permitted value of 0.75 ng WHO-TEQ/kg was exceeded in about 50% of the samples. Muscle-tissue from cattle, sheep, lamb and a roe deer as well as untreated milk from individual cows returned values ranging from 0.76 to 5.9 pg WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ/g fat, and 10% of the samples returned values higher than the permitted maximum of 3 pg WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ/g fat. The action value of 2 pg WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ/g fat was exceeded in 33% of the samples. No direct connection between these results and the effects of the flood could be established. A major input path for PCDD/Fs is the tributary Mulde, which discharges contaminated sediments from its catchment area into the Elbe.

Animal Feed↗

The Elbe flood in August 2002--occurrence of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) and dioxin-like PCB in suspended particulate matter (SPM), sediment and fish.

As a result of extreme precipitation in August 2002 major flooding occurred in the catchment area of the rivers Elbe, Vltava (Moldau) and Mulde. Pollutants from industrial sites and from municipal sewage treatment works (STW) entered the Elbe and led to a serious pollution problem in the river. PCDD/F concentrations (in pg WHO-TEQ/g dw) in SPM ranged from 7-150, in sediments from 3-140; the "safe sediment value" of 20 was exceeded in 46% of the samples. 24 eels showed a wide concentration variation for these contaminants. The WHO-PCDD/F+PCB-TEQ values lay in the range from 11-56 pg/g ww, whereby the WHO-PCB-TEQ values were several times higher than the WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ values. The maximum permitted value of 4 pg WHO-PCDD/F/g ww (EU Directive No. 2375/2001) was reached or exceeded in 54% of the individuals. A statistical analysis using data from SPM and sediment samples showed that in the Czech river section the flooding activated a contamination source in the vicinity of the Spolana works. The influence of the tributary Mulde could be clearly demonstrated. Only a major clean-up of the contaminated sites in Bitterfeld can lead to a mid to long term improvement in respect of PCDD/F and dioxin-like PCB input into the Elbe.

Animals↗

Long-term observation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis in alcohol-dependent patients.

Thyroid hormone levels and thyrotrophin (TSH) were measured in 45 alcohol-dependent patients before detoxification and 8 days, 3 months and 6 months after detoxification, and compared to levels in healthy controls. Before detoxification, levels of thyroxine (T4) and thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) were significantly reduced in patients compared with healthy controls, while triiodothyronine (T3), reverse T3, and TSH levels did not differ from those in healthy controls. During the entire observation period, free T4 (fT4) and free T3 (fT3) levels were slightly elevated compared with those in healthy controls. T4 and TBG levels increased significantly during the first week of abstinence. Severity of withdrawal symptoms was negatively correlated with the total T4 levels after 8 days of abstinence. Three months after detoxification, relapsers displayed significantly lower T4 and TBG levels compared with abstinent patients. The increase in T3 levels was most pronounced between 8 days and 3 months of abstinence in both relapsing and abstinent patients. Six months after detoxification, only abstinent patients could be assessed, and they displayed increased TBG and T3 levels compared to healthy controls. Our findings suggest a different time-course for T3 and T4 levels after detoxification in alcohol-dependent patients, and indicate that T4 levels after detoxification interact with withdrawal symptoms.

Adult↗

Tracing transplanted oligodendrocytes during migration and maturation in the shiverer mouse brain.

Fragments of neural tissue from normal newborn mouse were stained with Hoechst 33342 dye before transplantation into the newborn shiverer mouse brain. Combination of this technique with immunohistochemistry demonstrated that, after transplantation, these cells are able to survive as long as unstained cells and to myelinate in the shiverer mouse host brain. Stained cells express the normal sequence of differentiation in terms of chronology of differentiation marker expression [04, galactocerebroside (GalC), myelin basic protein (MBP)], as normal cell do in situ. It has thus been possible by this technique to show the migration pathways of transplanted cells and to correlate them with the expression of specific markers: long distance migration along white matter axonal pathways occurs when cells are o4-positive, GalC-negative. By contrast, only GalC-positive cells are able to migrate across the grey matter in the absence of radial glia. Finally, it has been possible to propose a migration and differentiation sequence of these cells, suggesting that MBP-positive oligodendrocytes divide after migration in the target zone.

Animals↗

N-nitroso-bis(2-acetoxypropyl)amine as a further pancreatic carcinogen in Syrian golden hamsters.

N-Nitroso-bis(2-acetoxypropyl)amine, a possible beta metabolite of N-nitroso-di-n-propylamine, was shown to be a potent carcinogen in the Syrian golden hamster. After a single s.c. treatment, the pancreas was the most affected organ, followed by the liver, respiratory tract, and kidneys. However, repeated application resulted in a higher incidence of neoplasms of the respiratory tract than of the pancreas and kidneys. The effect of N-nitroso-bis(2-acetoxypropyl)amine on toxicity, target tissues, and carcinogenicity was similar to that of N-nitroso-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine. The assumption that these two compounds may have similar metabolic pathways was confirmed; N-nitroso-bis(2-acetoxypropyl)amine was readily deesterified to N-nitroso-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine in vivo and in vitro.

Animals↗

Induction of pancreatic neoplasms by 2,2'-dioxopropyl-N-propylnitrosamine.

A high incidence of pancreatic duct adenomas and carcinomas were induced in Syrian golden hamsters as early as 13 weeks after chronic administration of 2,2'-dioxopropyl-n-propylnitrosamine (DOPN) at a 10 mg/kg dose. In contrast to another pancreatic carcinogen, 2,2'-dihydroxy-propyl-n-propyl-nitrosamine, DOPN induced no tumors of the upper respiratory tract or kidneys, and only a few neoplasms of the lungs and liver.

Adenocarcinoma↗