Low Sensitivity of Simtomax Point of Care Test in Detection of Celiac Disease in a Prospective Multicenter Study.

Background & Aims: Point of care tests (POCTs) might be used to identify patients with undiagnosed celiac disease who require further evaluation. We performed a large multicenter study to determine the performance of a POCT for celiac disease and assessed celiac disease prevalence in endoscopy centers.

Methods: We performed a prospective study of 1055 patients (888 adults; median age, 48 yrs and 167 children; median age, 10 yrs) referred to 8 endoscopy centers in Germany, for various indications, from January 2016 through June 2017.

Checklist of earthworms (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) from Germany.

A checklist of the German earthworm fauna (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) is presented, including published data, data from reports, diploma- and PhD- theses as well as unpublished data from museum collections, research institutions and private persons. Overall, 16,000 datasets were analyzed to produce the first German checklist of Lumbricidae. The checklist comprises 46 earthworm species from 15 genera and provides ecological information, zoogeographical distribution type and information on the species distribution in Germany.

Molecular structural studies of lichen substances with antimicrobial, antiproliferative, and cytotoxic effects from Parmelia subrudecta.

Lecanoric acid (1), orsellinic acid methyl ester (2), orcinol (3), and usnic acid (4) were isolated from the lichen Parmelia subrudecta, collected on Palma of the Canary Islands, Spain. Compounds 1, 2, 3, and 4 were purified by solvent extraction, silica gel column chromatography, and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) consecutively. The structures of the four compounds were elucidated by one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments and mass spectrometric investigations.

Diphenylether and macrotriolides occurring in a fungal isolate from the antarctic lichen Neuropogon.

The fungus, Tritirachium sp. HKI 0317, was isolated from the Antarctic lichen Neuropogon sp. Fermentation of this strain, extraction of the culture broth, and preparative separation of produced compounds furnished 4-carboxy-5,5'-dihydroxy-3,3'-dimethyldiphenylether (1), macrosphelide A (2), and macrosphelide J (3).

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of herbal medicinal products.

The use of herbs for treating various ailments dates back several centuries. Usually, herbal medicine has relied on tradition that may or may not be supported by empirical data. The belief that natural medicines are much safer than synthetic drugs has gained popularity in recent years and led to tremendous growth of phytopharmaceutical usage.

Sedation assessment in critically ill patients with bispectral index.

Background And Objective: Clinical sedation assessment becomes insufficient in deeply sedated patients. Bispectral index as a processed electroencephalogram parameter provides a continuous and observer-independent value reported to change with sedation. The aim of this prospective observational study was to determine the reliability and possible confounding factors of the bispectral index to assess sedation in surgical intensive care patients.

[Homocysteine and its metabolites in chronic renal insufficiency and the effect of a vitamin replacement].

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia has been increasingly recognized as an important risk factor for elevated atherosclerotic vascular disease in chronic renal failure. We measured in patients with chronic renal failure homocysteine and metabolites of its 2 metabolic pathways, transulfuration (cystathionine, cysteine) and remethylation (methionine, methylmalonic acid, 2-methylcitric acid).

Patients And Methods: Eleven patients on conservative treatment (creatinine clearance 10 to 30 ml/min) and 50 chronic uremic subjects on regular hemodialysis were included in the study.

Hyperhomocysteinemia and the risk for vascular disease in hemodialysis patients.

The objective of this study was to examine if hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with occlusive vascular disease in hemodialysis patients. The study design included risk factor analysis and determination of serum homocysteine in hemodialysis patients. Fifty chronic uremic patients on regular hemodialysis treatment were studied.

Isolation of an ultrafilterable Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor from the plasma of uraemic patients.

1. Calcium concentration and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity under basal conditions and after maximal stimulation with calmodulin were measured in erythrocytes from 32 patients with end-stage renal failure on haemodialysis and from 27 healthy subjects. 2.

[Long-term results following kidney transplantation. An empirical analysis of 467 allogeneic kidney transplants concerning the effect of clinical and immunological variables on graft function].

In a homogeneous group of 467 cadaver kidney transplants performed within one single center between 1979 and 1987, we analysed the influence of main risk factors on long-term survival up to 72 months. Calculating survival rates by Kaplan-Meier actuarial methods the overall graft survival exceeded 71%. The corresponding patient survival was higher than 90%.

[Griseochelin methyl ester, a new polyether derivative with antiviral activity].

The methylester of griseochelin (1) is a new chemically-made antiviral derivate of the antibiotic griseochelin isolated from fermentations of Streptomyces griseus. It belongs to the polyether group and possesses antiviral activity against enveloped RNA and DNA viruses cultivated in chicken embryo cells (CEC), namely influenzavirus A/WSN, vesicularstomatitis virus (Indiana), vaccinia virus (Lister) and herpes simplex hominis virus type 1 (Kupka). The methylester of griseochelin failed to show virucidal effects on extracellular influenza vacciniavirus particles or to influence virus adsorption and penetration processes.

[Incidence of conjunctival and corneal changes in dialysis patients].

Deposits of calcium salts in the conjunctivas and corneas of 72 patients showed a statistically significant correlation to the duration of hemodialysis. The deposition of calcium salts is not influenced by other signs of disturbed calcium metabolism (Ca-PO4 product, alkalic phosphatase) or the patient's age.

[Hemodynamic and metabolic aspects of bicarbonate dialysis].

After a historical review of the dialytic technics for correction of acidosis, the advantages of bicarbonate dialysis are stressed specially as regards the greater hemodynamic stability that it secures when short but highly efficient dialysis are performed and as regards its lowering effect on the blood triglycerides levels.