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Biomedical subjects

H Metz

Publications and source records attributed to H Metz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Late form with psychiatric presentation of Wilson's disease, with pseudo-compulsive stereotyped movements. Neuro-radiological correlations].

Wilson's disease rarely starts after the third decade and may present with misleading psychiatric signs. We observed a 39-year-old white male who developed hysterical behaviour followed by frank delusional psychosis. Secondary neurological symptoms like astasia and dyarthria were misinterpreted as drug-induced. Despite a treatment with D-penicillamine and zinc sulfate there was further deterioration with anarthria and pseudo-compulsive stereotypies. These latter signs cleared after five months, whereas astasia and abasia remained the same and MRI imaging showed further deterioration characterized by marked bilateral putaminal cavitation. SPECT imaging could not predict the clinical evolution. Our case emphasizes that Wilson's disease can have variable initial presentations, and confirms the relationship between pseudo-compulsive stereotypies and bilateral lenticular lesions, as already described in other diseases of the basal ganglia.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Genetic variability of the CYP 2D6 gene is not a risk factor for sporadic Parkinson's disease.

Genetic studies of the frequencies of mutant alleles for coding cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase (CYP 2D6) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients have been inconsistent. We studied the mutants A and B in 80 strictly defined sporadic PD patients divided into young age onset of the disease (< 40 years, N = 20), mid age onset (40-50 years, N = 12), and older age onset (> 50 years, N = 48). They were compared with 108 controls from the same geographic area. There were no significant differences in allele or genotype frequencies between PD patients and controls. Future genetic studies in PD should focus on other alleles or other areas of the genome.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Clozapine in the treatment of mental manifestations of Parkinson disease].

BACKGROUND: Medical treatment of Parkinsonian syndromes is often complicated by psychiatric side effects such as confusional states, hallucinations and psychosis. Recent pilot studies report good clinical results with the atypical neuroleptic clozapine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report on 15 patients with Parkinsonian syndromes: 11 with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD), 3 with multiple system atrophy (MSA) and 1 with postencephalitic Parkinsonism (SPP). The mean age was 68.8 +/- 10 years; the mean duration of Parkinsonian symptoms was 6.8 +/- 5.7 years. The Hoehn & Yahr grade was: 3.5 +/- 0.8. Eleven patients were suffering from psychotic episodes, 10 from hallucinations, 8 from confusional states. Clozpine was introduced at nighttime and dosage was modified until the appearance of clinical effect or intolerable side effects. RESULTS: We report on an observed cumulative duration of clozapine treatment of 13 patient-years. The average treatment duration was 10.5 +/- 10.4 months. The mean daily dose was 33.3 +/- 30 mg (range: 6.2-100). There was at least transitory improvement of psychiatric symptoms in all patients. There was constant and complete improvement in 7 patients (46%) and satisfactory improvement in 5 patients (33.3%). The levodopa dosage was unchanged (mean dosage 563 +/- 232 mg), and the dosage of dopamine agonists was significantly increased. None of our patients experienced motor deterioration. Side effects comprised sialorrhoea, sedation, orthostatic hypotension, and delirium tremens and an epileptic seizure in one patient each. Two patients died suddenly at the 63rd and at the 86th day of treatment respectively, outside the hospital. These deaths seemed to be unrelated to the treatment. There was no agranulocytosis. CONCLUSION: Clozapine is an efficient antipsychotic drug in Parkinsonian patients with no motor side effects in the dosages used. The effective dosage is very low in comparison to psychiatric patients. However various side effects may occur and close monitoring is required.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[One hundred years of biotechnology in the chemical industry in the example of E. Merck, Darmstadt].

The purposeful use of microorganisms as producers of pure substances began about one hundred years ago with the production of lactic acid, followed by citric acid and by sorbose for the synthesis of vitamin C. The growth of pure cultures of microorganisms in a technical scale became available nearly fifty years ago by the development of the fermenter. By this it became possible to produce penicillin and other antibiotics, to transform substances in steroid syntheses and to get many enzymes, alkaloids, and other substances from microorganisms. The development of some of the older processes as basis of actual use of biotechnology at E. Merck is described, followed by some facts of the early situation in Germany and some remarks on the inclusions of biotechnology within the chemical industry.

Biotechnology↗
PubMed1991

[Occurrence of salmonellas in lakes and rivers and drinking water of southern Bavaria].

Salmonella could be isolated from nine of 596 samples from lakes and from 195 of 1,549 river water samples from South Bavaria between 1986 and 1990. In correlation with the classification of bathing waters the Salmonella occurrence ranged from 0.3% to 2.9% and 4.3% in lakes and from 1.0% to 7.8% and 23.8% in rivers with regard to water samples which were satisfactory or which were not satisfactory in respect of the guide values and the limit values as determined by the densities of faecal coliforms and total coliforms. In these studies it was seen for the first time that Salmonella enteritidis exceeded Salmonella typhimurium in frequency in 1988, increasing to 63.5% of Salmonella-positive surface water samples in 1990. Salmonella could also be isolated from six of 132 drinking water samples containing Escherichia coli as well and from three of 129 drinking water samples containing coliforms.

Colony Count, Microbial↗
PubMed1991

[Microbiologic studies of mud for human pathogenic bacteria before and after balneologic use].

To estimate the danger of infection by a mud bath, especially in group baths, 51 mud samples were analysed before and 80 after application for faecal and total coliforms (FC, GC), Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The latter two germs were not identified in any of the samples. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found in about 11% of the samples of both groups. FC and GC were also found before as well as after the bath. Besides E. coli, 9 other strains could be identified. It can be concluded from the data on FC and GC before and after bath, firstly, that a slight faecal contamination is possible, secondly, that the mud can be considerably contaminated with faecal germs even before application. The risk of faecal germs in mud baths causing an epidemic can be neglected, because the bath mud is not swallowed. Therefore, the use of a large-scale mud bath for several patients can be recommended.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1990

[Coliform bacteria in rinsed beer mugs--identification with the API 20 E system and resistance behavior].

653 11 beer mugs rinsed mechanically by conveyor belt dishwashing machines and 182 mugs cleaned in open vats were investigated for their content of faecal and total coliforms. Ten and more faecal coliform germs could be detected in 4.7% of the mechanically rinsed tankards and in 12.1% of those cleaned in open vats. Respectively, ten and more total coliforms were found in 30.3% and in 67.6%. Altogether 213 coliform strains as defined by the German drinking water regulation were characterised biochemically by the API 20 E-system and by their susceptibility to 15 antimicrobial agents. A total of 19 different species from eight genera could be differentiated, whereas 12 strains were unidentifiable by the applied system. Klebsiella oxytoca was the most frequently encountered germ, followed by Enterobacter cloacae, K. pneumoniae and Ent. sakazakii. 59 of the 213 strains were fully susceptible to all antibiotics used. 44 strains, however, revealed complete or moderate resistance against three and more agents. These results indicate that unhygienic dishwashing procedures may play a decisive role in the epidemiology of clinically relevant and multiresistant germs.

Beer↗
PubMed1989

Hierarchy of characteristics associated with depressive symptoms in an urban elderly sample.

In contrast to the uncertainty about the prevalence and importance of late-life depressive disorders, a consistent pattern of risk factors for depressive symptoms has been shown by studies using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The authors surveyed a representative sample of 2,137 elderly community residents with the CES-D and found a hierarchy of characteristics associated with substantial levels of depressive symptoms: illness, disability, isolation, bereavement, and poverty. If these findings are confirmed by prospective studies, addressing modifiable factors in the emergence, persistence, and remission of depressive symptoms might extend the independent survival of older adults.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1989

[Bacteria of the Flexibacter/Sporocytophaga group and violet-pigmented bacteria as indicators for hygienically doubtful drinking water].

Bacteria of the Flexibacter/Sporocytophaga group indicate, that drinking water is deficiently protected by the soil covering or may be infiltrated by surface waters. In South Bavaria those germs could be demonstrated in 1225 of 3743 samples from central water supplies and in 951 of 1714 samples from decentralized water supplies. F/Sp-bacteria could be isolated to a much greater extend from samples which were likewise polluted with Escherichia coli, coliforms and colony counts in excess. Over the year, bacteria of the F/Sp group are constantly distributed in contrast to E.coli or coliforms and will therefore constitute an useful indicator germ for hygienic hazardous drinking water supplies. In agreement with that violet-colored bacteria could also be isolated to a greater extend from polluted drinking water samples.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1984

[Bacteriological studies of dental units in conservative dentistry as well as requirements and recommendations for hygiene in dental practice].

Four different dental units (Sirona 2000, Sirodont S, Sirona 2000 and Siro I) used in conservative dentistry were investigated bacteriologically by analysing water samples from the tumblers, the assistant's spray, micromotors, hand sprays at the units and from the scalers. The results of the analysis (shown in Table 2-5) reveal that micro-organisms of the Pseudomonas group were mainly found in the turbines and also in the micromotors. In other areas of the equipment micro-organisms of the acinetobacter species were frequently identified. The germ counts were very high, especially in the morning, and not infrequently reach levels as high as 50,000 germs/ml. For disinfection isopropyl alcohol and Tego 103 S were used; the latter was found to produce a good disinfecting action following prolonged exposure. Further requirements and recommendations for hygiene in the dental practice are briefly discussed.

1-Propanol↗
PubMed1984

[The significance of Chlamydia trachomatis in chronic infectious urethro-adnexitis in the male].

The causative significance of chlamydia trachomatis in chronic urethra-prostatitis can be assumed because of the high incidence in non-gonorrheal and post-gonorrheal urethritis and epididymitis. 158 men with chronic inflammatory urethro-prostatitis were reviewed. In 32.3% the urethral smear and in 29.7% the prostatic fluid were positive for chlamydia trachomatis. Simultaneously leucocyte count and pH of the prostatic fluid as well as the immunoelectrophoresis of the ejaculate were investigated. The correlation of these results with positive chlamydia trachomatis findings demonstrates the significant role of chlamydia trachomatis in chronic inflammatory processes of the urethra and prostate.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Isolation and characterization of glycerol dehydrogenase from bacillus megaterium].

Glycerol dehydrogenase of high purity was isolated from Bacillus megaterium. The enzyme has a pH optimum of 9 and dehydrogenizes in presence of NAD+ glycerol as well as 1,2-propanediol and, to a smaller extent, erythritol. The Michaelis constant for glycerol is 1.4 X 10(-3)M and for NAD+ 3 X 10(-4)M. With the application of different methods (density gradient centrifugation, gel electrophoresis and gel chromatography) relative molecular masses of 156 000-160 000 were ascertained. In the dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis we found a molecular mass of 38 000 per subunit, so that the native enzyme is existent in the tetrameric form. By means of fluorescence titration one NADH binding site per subunit could be estimated. The amino-acid composition was determined. The enzyme is stable only in the presence of high thiol concentrations. Heavy metal ions and chelating agents inhibit the activity of the enzyme. Zinc, presumably, is the natural heavy metal in the active center, but other divalent metal ions can also activate the apoenzyme. With the help of chemical modification reactions, the probable presence of one essential thiol group and one essential tyrosine residue per subunit could be demonstrated.

Amino Acids↗