Nutzung von Pflanzenextrakten zur Kontrolle der Krautfäule (P. infestans) im ökologischen Kartoffelbau

Der Befall mit dem Erreger der Kraut- und Knollenfäule (P. infestans) hat durch frühzeitigen Verlust der Assimilationsfläche regelmäßig erhebliche Ertragsverluste im Ökologischen Kartoffelbau zur Folge. Neben einer Reihe von vorbeugenden Maßnahmen, inbesondere Wahl toleranter Sorten und Vorkeimen des Pflanzgutes (KARALUS 1995, MEINCK 1999), sind zur direkten effizienten Kontrolle derzeit nur Kupferverbindungen zugelassen. Ein weitgehend unerforschtes Potential zur Kontrolle dieses Oomyceten liegt in der Nutzung von Pflanzenextrakten, diese Wirkung wurde in Feldversuchen untersucht

Effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration on stereotypy and catatonia of male adult mice

Introdução - O lipopolissacarídeo (LPS), um componente da parede celular de bactérias gram-negativas age como um pirógeno exógeno, induzindo os macrófagos a liberar citocinas como o Fator de Necrose Tumoral (TNF), e Interleucinas 1, 6 e 8, entre outras. Dentre as ações das citocinas que alteram diferentes funções do organismo e são mediadas pelo SNC citam-se a febre, as alterações neuroendócrinas, alterações no sono e outras alterações comportamentais (atividades exploratórias, sexuais e sociais). Ainda não há um entendimento definitivo de como os processos sistêmicos ativam o SNC. Algumas evidências indicam que o LPS produz lesão em sistemas dopaminérgicos centrais, envolvendo processos inflamatórios como a etiologia da doença de Parkinson. Desde que esta resulta de lesões em sistemas dopaminérgicos nigroestriatais, o presente trabalho investigou os efeitos da administração aguda de LPS em comportamentos ligados ao sistema dopaminérgico central, a estereotipia e a catatonia induzidas por anfetamina e haloperidol, respectivamente, agonistas e antagonistas dopaminérgicos centrais. Material e Métodos - Camundongos receberam 100 'mü'g/kg de LPS e foram observados em campo aberto. O comportamento estereotipado induzido por 2 mg/kg de anfetamina e a catatonia induzida pelo haloperidol (4 mg/kg) foram observadas em animais tratados ou não com LPS. Resultados - O LPS reduziu a atividade geral e a estereotipia dos de forma significantemente. Por outro lado, observou-se persistência na catatonia induzida pelo haloperidol, resultando em maior intensidade do mesmo. Conclusões - Estes dados permitiram sugerir que o processo inflamatório induzido pelo lipopolissacarídeo interfere com sistemas dopaminérgicos nigroestriais, porém estes resultados necessitam ser investigados em estudos mais aprofundadosIntroduction - The lipopolysaccharide (LPS), is a component of the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria acting as an exogenous pirogen by release from macrophage cytokines as Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), and Interleucinas 1, 6 and 8.among others. Cytokines affect different functions of the body and that are mediated by SNC is fever, neuroendocrine changes, interference in sleep and other behavioral changes (exploratory activity, sexual and social). Some evidence indicates that the LPS produces damage in central dopaminergic systems, involving inflammatory processes such as the etiology of Parkinson's disease. Since this is the result of injuries in dopaminergic nigroestriatal system, this work investigated the effects of acute administration of LPS in behaviors related to the central dopaminergic system, the stereotypy and catatonia induced by haloperidol and amphetamine, respectively, central dopaminergic agonists and antagonists. Material and Methods - Rats received 100 'mü'g/kg LPS and were observed in an open field to determine the time-curve effect. The stereotyped behavior induced by 2 mg/kg of amphetamine and catatonia induced by haloperidol (4 mg / kg) were observed in animals treated with LPS or not. Results - LPS reduced the overall activity of the animals in the open field and the stereotypy induced by amphetamine significantly. Furthermore, there was persistent in catatonia induced by haloperidol. resulting in greater intensity of it. Conclusions - These data suggest that the inflammatory process induced by LPS interferes with nigroestrial dopaminergic system

Praktikabilität, Verständlichkeit, Nützlichkeit und Akzeptanz der Selbstausfüller-Version eines hausärztlichen geriatrischen Assessments (STEP)- Ergebnisse einer Querschnittsstudie

Mit der vorliegenden Arbeit sollte untersucht werden, ob die Selbstausfüller-Version des STEP (Standardised assessment of elderly people in primary care in Europe) praktikabel und verständlich ist, ob sie von Patienten und Ärzten akzeptiert wird und ob sie nützlich ist, bisher unbekannte gesundheitliche Probleme der Patienten zu entdecken. 1007 von 1540 Patienten über 65 Jahren, die in 28 sächsische Hausarzt-praxen kamen, beantworteten die Selbstausfüller-Version des STEP. Ermittelt wurde, dass 95,8% der teilnehmenden Patienten den Fragebogen ohne Hilfe ausfüllen konnten. Die durchschnittliche Zeit zum Beantworten des Fragebogens nahm, abhängig vom Alter der Patienten, von 17 bis 25 Minuten zu. Vierzehn der 75 Fragen der Selbstausfüller-Version wurden von mehr als 9% der Patienten nicht beantwortet. Die Patienten gaben bei acht der 14 häufig nicht beantworteten Fragen Verständnisprobleme an. Bei einer Stichprobe von 257 zufällig ausgewählten Patienten wurden 281 gesundheitliche Probleme (1,1 pro Patient) entdeckt, die den Hausärzten noch nicht bekannt gewesen waren. Die Hausärzte gaben an, dass 16,4% dieser neuen Probleme eine Konsequenz hatten, vordergründig die physischen Probleme. Bemerkenswert war, dass die neu entdeckten psycho-sozialen Probleme keinerlei Konsequenzen hatten. Die Selbstausfüller-Version war praktikabel, nützlich und wurde von den meisten Patienten gut akzeptiert. Einige Fragen sollten hinsichtlich der Verständlichkeit überprüft werden. Weitere Studien müssen zeigen, warum einige neu entdeckte Probleme keine Konsequenzen hatten, ob diese Probleme gebessert werden können und ob es nötig ist, diese Probleme zu ermitteln.The study was designed to evaluate the acceptance of the self-rated version of the Standardized Assessment of Elderly People in primary care in Europe (STEP) by patients and general practitioners, as well as the feasibility, comprehensibility, and usefulness in gaining new information. In all, 1007 of 1540 patients aged 65 and above, from 28 different Saxon general practices took part. We recognized that 96% of the patients were able to fill in the questionnaire by themselves. It took them an average of approximately 20 minutes to do so. Further analysis of 257 randomly selected patients identified 281 previously unknown problems (1.1 per patient). In the practitioners’ opinion, 16% of these problems, particularly physiological and mental ones, could lead to immediate consequences. Remarkably, newly identified psychosocial problems were not followed by any consequences. Fourteen of the 75 questionnaire items were not answered by more than 9% of the participants. Eight of the 14 frequently unanswered items were marked as difficult to understand by the patients. Altogether the self-rating version of the STEP was found to be feasible and useful. It was well accepted among patients; however, some questions need further review to improve their comprehensibility. Furthermore, it should be investigated why some identified problems do not have consequences and whether there is a need to record these issues at all

Stiff man syndrome and related conditions

Copyright © 2002 Movement Disorders Society Published in Movement Disorders, 2002; 17 (5):853-866 at www.interscience.wiley.comThe stiff man syndrome (SMS) and its variants, focal SMS, stiff limb (or leg) syndrome (SLS), jerking SMS, and progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM), appear to occur more frequently than hitherto thought. A characteristic ensemble of symptoms and signs allows a tentative clinical diagnosis. Supportive ancillary findings include (1) the demonstration of continuous muscle activity in trunk and proximal limb muscles despite attempted relaxation, (2) enhanced exteroceptive reflexes, and (3) antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) in both serum and spinal fluid. Antibodies to GAD are not diagnostic or specific for SMS and the role of these autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of SMS/SLS/PERM is the subject of debate and difficult to reconcile on the basis of our present knowledge. Nevertheless, evidence is emerging to suggest that SMS/SLS/PERM are manifestations of an immune-mediated chronic encephalomyelitis and immunomodulation is an effective therapeutic approach.Hans-Michael Meinck, Philip D. Thompso

Specific phobia is a frequent non-motor feature in stiff man syndrome

Objective: To investigate systematically the rate and type of phobia in stiff man syndrome and its variants, and to compare patients with stiff man syndrome with and without phobia for sociodemographic and neurological characteristics. Methods: 43 consecutive patients with stiff man syndrome referred to a university department of neurology were assessed using the anxiety disorders interview schedule, revised (ADIS-R), a structured diagnostic interview for anxiety disorders, in addition to a full clinical neurological and psychiatric assessment. Results: 19 patients (44.2%) developed task specific phobia—that is, fear and avoidance of situations difficult to master owing to the motor symptoms of stiff man syndrome (such as crossing streets). Three further patients (7%) had subthreshold phobia—that is, phobic anxiety without avoidance. There were no significant differences between patients with and without phobia in terms of age, illness duration, type of stiff man syndrome, antibody status, or frequency of falls. Patients with phobia were more likely to present with exaggerated startle responses and to have an initial misdiagnosis of psychogenic movement disorder. Conclusions: Specific phobia is a frequent non-motor symptom of stiff man syndrome. Early recognition is an important aid to correct diagnosis. The aetiology of phobia in stiff man syndrome is unknown. There is no evidence of a direct pathogenic role of autoantibodies directed against glutamic acid decarboxylase in the development of phobia