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Biomedical subjects

W Giese

Publications and source records attributed to W Giese.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Determination of 13C/12C-ratios in rumen produced methane and CO2 of cows, sheep and camels.

Naturally produced methane shows different delta 13C-values with respect to its origin, e.g., geological or biological. Methane-production of ruminants is considered to be the dominant source from the animal kingdom. Isotopic values of rumen methane--given in literature--range between -80/1000 and -50/1000 and are related to feed composition and also sampling techniques. Keeping cows, camels and sheep under identical feed conditions and sampling rumen gases via implanted fistuale we compared delta PDB 13C-values of methane and CO2 between the species. Referring to mean values obtained from 4 or 5 samples at different times of 11 animals (n = 47) we calculated delta PDB 13C-medians resulting in small but not significant differences within and significant differences between the species for CO2 and methane. The delta PDB 13C-differences between methane and CO2 were statistically equal within and also between the species. Therefore a linear regression of methane values on CO2 is appropriate and leads to: delta PDB 13C(methane)/1000 = 1.57 * delta PDB 13C(CO2)/1000 - 47/1000 with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.87.

Animals↗

[Rapid temperature measurement by calculating the final temperature within the response time].

For the early detection of an epidemic among animals in mass production, rapid information about the temperature of the animals is important. The response time of conventional thermometers is too long to permit rapid measurement. For adequate accuracy the measuring time required is about five times the response time. Using a microcomputer and regression computation, measurement of the final temperature can be effected within the period of a single response time. In addition, several thousand data can be stored for evaluation at a later date.

Animal Husbandry↗

Effect of energy metabolism on 13C/12C-ratios in milk fat and lactose of cows.

1. The ratios of stable carbon isotopes 13C/12C in milk constituents of Holstein dairy cattle were investigated by mass spectrometry. 2. Under physiological feeding conditions the natural abundance of 13C in lactose was greater than in milk fat. 3. Reduction of energy intake diminished the abundance of 13C in lactose resulting in values similar to those of fat. 4. It is suggested that by comparing the 13C/12C ratios in milk fat and lactose the metabolic energy state of cows may be rated.

Animals↗

A pilot study of whole body hyperthermia and local irradiation for advanced non-small cell lung cancer confined to the thorax.

Six patients with Stage III non-small cell lung cancer completed therapy which consisted of 4 whole body hyperthermia (WBH) treatments during the first 2 weeks of a 6 week course of radiotherapy (60 Gy). A radiant heat system was used to deliver the 41.8 degree C WBH. To reduce the danger of transverse myelitis, the spinal cord (and therefore part of the mediastinum and contralateral hilar region) was not irradiated during the first 2 weeks of radiotherapy and concurrent WBH. Subsequent treatments (weeks 3-6) included conventional irradiation to the primary tumor, mediastinal lymph nodes and spinal cord. Areas of gross disease responded to therapy in 5/6 patients. No radiation pneumonitis was observed. In 2/6 patients, relapse (after 10 months and 6 months, respectively) occurred with malignant pericardial effusions. The mediastinum in these patients was not an area of bulky disease involvement initially. To eliminate such WBH-radiation sanctuary zones, the protocol was modified to include greater combined WBH-radiation treatment. This is accomplished by having one WBH treatment "sandwiched" between 2 radiation fractions. The preclinical basis for the revised protocol is presented.

Adult↗

Synthesis, effectiveness and metabolic fate in cows of the caesium complexing compound ammonium ferric hexacyanoferrate labelled with 14C.

Adding ammonium ferric hexacyanoferrate (AFCF) to cows' fodder produced after the Chernobyl nuclear accident prevented milk contamination by increasing the faecal elimination of 137Cs. Synthesis of ammonium ferric hexa[14C]-cyanoferrate (AF14CF) and its purification were performed for the study of the metabolic fate of this complex, and the evaluation of the possible release of cyanide. The stability of this colloidal product, tested by anaerobic incubation in rumen juice in vitro, showed no release of free cyanide from AF14CF, but hexacyanoferrate was identified in the rumen juice and 0.13% of the added radioactivity was converted to labelled CO2. AF14CF administered per os to two cows showed a nearly quantitative excretion of radioactivity in faeces during the first 3 d (91-95%). A very low but significant level of radioactivity appeared in plasma, blood cells, expired CO2 and was detected in organs taken 9 d after administration. Total cumulative radioactivity in urine and milk amounted to 0.19-0.47% and 0.068-0.071% respectively for the two cows. Labelled hexacyanoferrate and thiocyanate were identified in the urine and also in faeces. In spite of this relative instability of AFCF in the rumen of cows, the poor absorption of AF14CF degradation products showed that AFCF constitutes an efficient and safe food additive to prevent the absorption of radioactive caesium from ruminant feed and its secretion in milk.

Accidents↗

Metabolism of naturally occurring [13C]glucose given orally to horses.

In 5 horses, 13CO2/12CO2 ratios in expired air were determined using isotope mass spectroscopy to investigate metabolism of naturally occurring [13C]glucose. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were performed using maize or beet glucose. Maize has a higher 13C concentration than that of most plants. The 13CO2/12CO2 ratios after OGTT was performed using maize glucose were compared with 13CO2/12CO2 ratios in expired air after OGTT was performed using beet glucose. The ratio also was determined during the period horses were not fed. Using OGTT, all horses were glucose tolerant. The OGTT performed using beet glucose led to minimal changes in 13CO2/12CO2 ratios. The 13CO2/12CO2 ratios decreased significantly (P less than 0.01) when horses were not fed. After oral dosing with maize glucose, 13CO2/12CO2 ratios reached maximal increases 5 hours after dosing and reached baseline values 15 hours after dosing.

Animals↗

Normalization of triglycerides in type IV hyperlipoproteinemia fails to correct low levels of high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol.

High-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol protects against coronary heart disease, and ways to raise low HDL values are being sought. Cross-sectional population surveys have shown that HDL cholesterol is inversely related to plasma triglycerides, yet to our knowledge no longitudinal studies have shown that a decrease in elevated triglycerides will raise depressed HDL levels. We therefore used dietary therapy to lower the triglyceride levels of 29 men with Type IV hyperlipoproteinemia and evaluated the effects on HDL-cholesterol levels. Despite a reduction in triglyceride levels from 697 +/- 90 to 333 +/- 37 mg per deciliter (P < 0.01), initially low HDL-cholesterol values did not change (29 +/- 1 to 30 +/- 1 mg per deciliter). Even in a subgroup of 12 men whose triglyceride levels fell to normal (from 670 +/- 99 to 170 +/- 7, P < 0.01) and whose weight and triglycerides remained stable for two years, HDL cholesterol remained unchanged (29 +/- 1 vs. 32 +/- 1). The persistently low HDL-cholesterol level in the presence of normalization of triglycerides suggests that depressed HDL cholesterol may be an independent metabolic abnormality in Type IV hyperlipoproteinemia.

Adult↗