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Introduction of durable resistance genes in crops is an important strategy to prevent yield loss caused by pathogens. The durable multi-pathogen resistance gene Lr34 originating from wheat is widely used in breeding, and is functionally transferable to barley and rice. The molecular resistance mechanism of Lr34, encoding for an adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter, is not known yet. To understand the molecular function and the defense response of durable disease resistance in cereals, the metabolic response of Lr34 was investigated in, except for the Lr34 gene, genetically identical lines of barley, rice and wheat. A broad range of compounds including primary, secondary and lipophilic metabolites were analyzed by a combination of gas (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC) mass spectrometry (MS) based methods. Data from metabolomics correlated well with transcriptomics data for plant defense responses such as the formation of anti-fungal hordatines or the components of the glyoxylate cycle. Induction of the glyoxylate cycle found in transgenic Lr34 rice grown in the greenhouse was confirmed in field-grown natural Lr34 wheat. Constitutively active plant defense responses were observed in the different cereals.

A 38-year-old previously healthy Swiss presented with acute onset of progressive weakness in his legs in the morning hours after a carbohydrate-rich meal the preceding evening. Examination on admission revealed symmetrical paresis affecting the upper and lower limbs without involvement of the respiratory muscles. Hyperthyroidism was suspected. Similar symptoms three weeks before admission had earlier resolved spontaneously.Laboratory tests revealed severe hypokalemia of 1.4 mmol/l. Hyperthyroidism, caused by Grave's disease, was confirmed and a diagnosis of hypokalemic thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) was made. TREATMENT AND FOLLOW-UP: After initiating potassium replacement paresis was observed to disappear within three hours. Symptomatic treatment with propranolol and thyrostatic treatment with carbimazole prevented further episodes of paresis.Hypokalemic thyrotoxic periodic paresis is a rare but increasingly common medical condition among people living in Western Europe. Diagnostically one's attention should turn to TPP at the presentation of acute paresis in combination with hypokalemia, especially in young men. Serious cardio-pulmonary complications can be avoided with early diagnosis and treatment.

In dieser Arbeit wurde die Evolution der Benzoxazinoid - Biosynthese in der Familie der Gräser untersucht. Durch einen groß angelegten Screen verschiedener Kultivar-, Wild- und Unkraut - Reisarten konnte das Vorkommen von Benzoxazinoiden in der Gattung Oryza weitgehend ausgeschlossen werden. Ein quantitativer Vergleich zwischen DIBOA- (2,4-Dihydroxy-2H-1,4-Benzoxazin-3(4H)-one) Gehalt und Gramin - Gehalt verschiedener Hordeum - Arten zeigte, daß sie in ähnlichen Mengen in den Keimlingen verschiedener Arten vorkommen, wobei sie sich gegenseitig ausschließen. Das Benzoxazinoid DIBOA und das Indolalkaloid Gramin übernehmen wahrscheinlich ähnliche Funktionen in der generellen Abwehr. Aus einer keimlingsspezifischen cDNA-Bank aus der Benzoxazinoid - haltigen Wildgerste H. lechleri wurden vier Cytochrom P450-Gene, HlBx2 – HlBx5, isoliert. Die Sequenzanalyse dieser Klone ergab einen hohen Grad von Homologie zu den an der DIMBOA- (2,4-Dihydroxy-7-Methoxy-2H-1,4-Benzoxazin-3(4H)-one) Biosynthese beteiligten P450-Genen Bx2 - Bx5 aus Zea mays. Durch heterologe Expression im Hefesystem konnten die Funktionen von HlBX2, HlBX4 und HlBX5 verifiziert werden. Diese Enzyme sind zu den entsprechenden BX - Enzymen aus Mais ortholog. Die Ergebnisse deuten auf einen monophyletischen Ursprung der Benzoxazinoide innerhalb der Gräser hin, wobei Genduplikationsereignisse eine entscheidende Rolle gespielt haben müssen. Da Benzoxazinoide in verschiedenen Subfamilien der Gräser auftauchen, muß die Entwicklung der Benzoxazinoid - Biosynthese in einem gemeinsamen Vorläufer erfolgt sein. Das Auftreten Benzoxazinoid - freier Gräser erklärte sich dann über den sekundären Verlust dieses Stoffwechselweges. Dieser geht in Benzoxazinoid - freien Arten der Gattung Hordeum mit dem Verlust aller an der Biosynthese beteiligten P450 - Gene einher. Die Analyse der Genome Benzoxazinoid - haltiger und Benzoxazinoid - freier Arten dieser Gattung mittels Southern Blots zeigt, daß HlBx2-HlBx5-homologe Gene in den DIBOA-produzierenden Wildgersten H. brachyantherum, H. flexuosum, H. lechleri und H. roshevitzii vorkommen, während sie in den Benzoxazinoid - freien Arten H. spontaneum sowie H. vulgare vollständig fehlen. Inhibierungsversuche an Maiskeimlingen mit dem Hemmstoff Prohexadion zeigen, daß BX6, ein noch unidentifiziertes Enzym der DIMBOA-Biosynthese in Zea mays, verantwortlich für die Hydroxylierungsreaktion an C-7, eine Dioxygenase sein muß. Main topic of this thesis is the evolution of the Benzoxazinoid-biosynthesis in the family of the grasses. A screen for benzoxazinoids in different cultivar- wild- and weed-rice species gives no evidence for the occurrence of these substances in the genus Oryza. A quantitative comparison between the contents of the benzoxazinoid DIBOA (2,4-Dihydroxy-2H-1,4-Benzoxazin-3(4H)-one) and the indolealkaloid gramine in different species shows that seedlings of different species produce either DIBOA or gramine in similar amounts. DIBOA and gramine probably share a similar function in the general defence. Four cytochrome P450-genes, HlBx2-HlBx5, were isolated from a seedling-specific cDNA-library of the wild barley Hordeum lechleri. They share a high degree of homology to the P450-genes Bx2-Bx5 from Zea mays which particitate in the biosynthesis of the benzoxazinoid DIMBOA (2,4-Dihydroxy-7-Methoxy-2H-1,4-Benzoxazin-3(4H)-one). The functions of HlBX2, HlBX4 and HlBX5 were elucidated by the heterologous expression in yeast. These genes are orthologes to the equivalent genes from maize. These results implicate a monophyletic origin of the benzoxazinoids in the grasses at which gene duplications played an important role. The occurrence of benzoxazinoids in different grass subfamilies indicate the development of the benzoxazinoid biosynthesis in a common ancestor. Species lacking these substances could be the result of a secondary loss of all the respective P450-genes. The genomes isolated from different barley species were analyzed by Southern blots. Genes homologous to HlBx2-HlBx5 were found in DIBOA containing species, e.g. H. brachyantherum, H. flexuosum, H. lechleri and H. roshevitzii. However these genes couldn´t be found in the DIBOA lacking species H. spontaneum and H. vulgare. The treatment of young maize seedlings with prohexadione indicate that BX6, a putative enzyme of the DIMBOA-biosynthesis pathway in maize, responsible for the hydroxylation reaction at C-7, is a dioxygenase.

Anaphylactic reactions to food containing allergens in the consumption or preparation of food are well known. However, allergy in the preparation of sausages have rarely been described. In the present study a 26-year-old butcher was investigated who had a severe anaphylactic reaction developing sneezing, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, generalised pruritus, followed by widespread urticaria, Quincke's oedema and dyspnoe after starting to prepare sausages containing red yield rice. Red yield rice is produced from polished and washed rice by means of the fungus Monascus purpureus. It was the first time that Monascus purpureus could be shown as allergic agent by means of prick-to-prick test, Cellular Antigen Stimulation Test (CAST) and different other immunoblots.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of a "barium-rice" study for diagnosis of dysphagia and oesophageal motility disorders.203 patients with oesophageal motility disorders of various aetiologies were examined by both conventional barium study and a "barium-rice" study. During the latter, oesophageal clearance of a defined mixture of barium sulfate and boiled rice was measured.The conventional barium study revealed prolonged transit time in only 15.8% (32 of 203 cases), whereas barium-rice study was pathological in 50.8% (103 to 203 cases). In 71 of 171 patients (41.5%) with a normal barium study, barium-rice passage was prolonged. In 23 patients, radiological results were confirmed by manometric measurements.Oesophageal motility disorders are detected by a barium-rice study with high sensitivity independent of the underlying disease. The barium-rice study offers a simple diagnostic tool revealing quantitative and reliable results. The barium-rice study is a suitable method for screening and follow-up of patients with dysphagia and oesophageal motility disorders.

The serological diagnosis of extraintestinal infections with E. histolytica by indirect immunofluorescence (IFAT) requires a corpuscular antigen. This is produced in our laboratory via polyxenic cultivation of E. histolytica strain HK 9 in a nutrient medium containing a simple salt mixture (Resembling the Ringer-mixture), calf serum and rice starch. It was the aim of the experiments described in this paper to search for a useful medium in which the amebae grow in high density but without substances disturbing the antigen production like debris or rice starch granules. It was shown that the cell culture media of EAGLE MEM and PARKER were easy to handle (contrary to the worldwide used DIAMOND medium TYI-S-33) and brought good results. After a period of 10 subcultures both media were suitable for the cultivation of E. histolytica for making an antigen reasonable for IFAT. As a side effect it was noticed that there was an adaptation phase during which the amebae grew slowly when the medium was changed to another which was completely different (from a cell culture medium to a Ringer-like solution).

In infants and children, the treatment of acute diarrhoea with glucose-based electrolyte solutions results in rehydration but does not reduce the severity and duration of diarrhoea. In german-speaking countries, rice- and carrot-based solutions have a long tradition in the treatment of diarrhoea and may also reduce stool output and the duration of diarrhoea. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of a carrot-rice-based rehydration solution (Na 57 mmol/L, n = 70) and two conventional glucose-based solutions with high or low sodium concentrations (Na 90 mmol/L, n = 48 or Na 55 mmol/L, n = 60) in a prospective study. The study subjects were Pakistani boys and girls between 3 and 48 months of age with mild or moderate dehydration. We measured duration of diarrhoea, fecal and urine output, fluid intake and serum electrolytes. The duration of diarrhoea was significantly lower (p less than 0.05) in the group receiving the carrot-rice based rehydration solution (59.5 +/- 30.9 h) than in the groups receiving the high-Na (75.5 +/- 30.5) and low-Na (74.8 +/- 32.5) glucose-electrolyte solutions. The mean fecal output (p less than 0.01) and fluid intake (p less than 0.001) were also significantly lower in the infants and children receiving the carrot-rice-based rehydration solution. No major electrolyte imbalances were observed in the three groups. We conclude that the carrot-rice-based rehydration solution was safe and more effective than two conventional glucose-electrolyte solutions in the rehydration of infants and children with acute diarrhoea.

Glutelins of wheat, rye, barley, oats, rice, sorghum and maize, which remain as residual proteins after extraction of defatted flours with water, salt solution and aqueous ethanol, were successively extracted with dilute acetic acid. Protein distribution and amino acid composition differ greatly with wheat, rye, barley, oats and rice and depend on the number of extraction steps and the concentration of acid used. The glutelins of sorghum and maize are only slightly soluble in acetic acid. In the case of barley glutelin fractions with very different compositions were obtained. The solubility of wheat and maize glutelins was examined in disulfide reducing and surface active agents. Wheat glutelin but not maize glutelin is soluble in HgCl2- and 2-mercaptoethanol solutions. A mixture of 2-mercaptoethanol and sodium dodecylsulfate is an excellent solvent for both glutelins.

Survival of C. miyabeanus in irrigated soils of rice fields was higher in infected rice straw (70 days) than in infected rice leaves (40 days). The fungus survived longer in soil depth of 30 cm as in a depth of 15 cm. Between the survival of the fungus and the destruction of infected plant material exist a correlation. In infected rice seeds survived the fungus longer by 5--8 degrees C than by 26--33 degrees C.

The influence of calcium-cyanamide upon the microbiological activity was tested in pot experiments under controlled conditions in two Portuguese soils (sandy and loamy) after the addition of rice or wheat straw (rice straw 0.275% N, wheat straw 0.307% N). The amount of straw was equalled to 100 dz/ha, the application of calcium-cyanamide to 25, 50 and 100 kg N/ha. In the containers treated with straw the total amount of microorganisms (Koch-method) was higher in sandy than in loamy soil after 30 days, but after 70 days it was higher in loamy soil. The content of active nitrogen (NH4 + NO3) increased, when calcium-cyanamide was added, but decreased after the application of straw. After 70 days sandy soil again showed an increase of active nitrogen. Straw increased the rates of CO2-production considerably, wheat straw was superior to rice straw. Calcium-cyanamide increased the CO2-production more in sandy than in loamy soil or German loess, which was also used for this experiment. Only in the case of rice straw higher doses of calcium-cyanamide had a positive effect. After 70 days the CO2-production rose only when rice straw was applied. The dehydrogenase-activity was increased in both soils, but a superiority of wheat straw occurred in sandy soil only. The microbiological activity in the pots with straw was higher in sandy than in loamy soil, the addition of calcium-cyanamide accelerated it. Doses of 25-50 kg N/ha are sufficient generally. The period of the formation of insoluble organic N-compounds, usually connected with the application of organic matter with a wide N:C-ratio, seems to be reduced by the addition of calcium-cyanamide.

The tryptophan contents of the albumin, globulin, prolamine and glutelin fractions from wheat, rye, barley, oat, sorghum, rice and maize were estimated by HPLC after alkaline hydrolysis. Complete amino acid compositions, including the amide contents, are given for all these protein fractions.

Information which is more extensive than the unspecific value of the granulocytophagocytosis could not be found out by the simultaneous investigations of the granulocytophagocytosis and the granulocytomigration. The application of AHLG and tumor-associated antigens in the migration test system did not show specific results for the oncology. The granulocytomigration in a home-made modified Boyden chamber did not show any sexual distinctions. No statistical reliable relations could be found out between the rate of migration and ingestion of the granulocytes. The granulocytophagocytosis does not obtain a higher value for practice by the simultaneous definition of the migration.