[Effect of temperature on the growth of Penicillium from moldy feed].

178 Penicillium strains were isolated from moulded feedstuffs (mainly corn and wheat after ambient air drying, wheat after refrigeration, corn after treatment with propionic acid), and investigated for the effect of temperature on growth rate. Temperatures between 4 and 27 degrees C were used. 159 strains proved psychrotrophic, they were able to grow at 4 degrees C on malt extract agar (MA) as well as in wheat; the growth in wheat was indicated by the production of ergosterol.

Biogenic amines derived from tryptophan in systemic and cutaneous scleroderma.

Blood levels of serotonin (5-HT) and urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindole-acetic acid (5-HIAA), tryptamine (T), and indole-acetic acid (IAA) were determined in 39 cases of systemic scleroderma and in 7 cases of very severe cutaneous scleroderma. The T/IAA ratio was normal and serotonin elevated in mild and rather severe acrosclerosis alike, i.e.

5-Hydroxytryptamine and tryptamine pathways in scleroderma.

Levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, indoleacetic acid and total indoles were determined in the urine of 23 patients with systemic scleroderma and 7 patients with cutaneous scleroderma, before and after peroral loading with L-tryptophan (0-1 g/kg body weight). Before loading, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels were normal in nearly all cases of systemic scleroderma as well as of cutaneous scleroderma; however after loading, in nearly one half of cases there was no normal increase of this metabolite. These results suggest impaired transformation of serotonin into 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid.

Intestinal absorption of L-tryptophan in scleroderma.

The purpose of this investigation was to study the intestinal absorption of L-tryptophan and to assess the absorptive function of the intestine in scleroderma. The oral L-tryptophan loading test was performed in 31 cases of systemic scleroderma (progressive systemic sclerosis, PSS) and 3 cases of localized scleroderma. Serum levels of tryptophan and urinary excretion of indole-acetic acid (IAA) and indican (IS) were determined in order to assess intestinal absorption of tryptophan.