Colostrum oligosaccharides are known to exhibit prebiotic and immunomodulatory properties. Oligosaccharide composition is species-specific, and equine colostrum has been reported to contain unique oligosaccharides. Therefore, equine oligosaccharides (EMOS) from colostrum from different horse breeds were analyzed by CE-LIF, CE-MS(n), HILIC-MS(n), and exoglycosidase degradation. Sixteen EMOS were characterized and quantified, of which half were neutral and half were acidic. EMOS showed about 63% structural overlap with human milk oligosaccharides, known for their bioactivity. Seven EMOS were not reported before in equine oligosaccharides literature: neutral Gal(β1-4)HexNAc, Gal(β1-4)Hex-Hex, β4'-galactosyllactose, and lactose-N-hexaose, as well as acidic 6'-Sialyl-Hex-Ac-HexNAc, sialyllacto-N-tetraose-a, and disialylacto-N-tetraose (isomer not further specified). In all colostrum samples, the average oligosaccharide concentration ranged from 2.12 to 4.63 g/L; with β 6'and 3'- galactosyllactose, 3'-sialyllactose, and disialyllactose as the most abundant of all oligosaccharides (27-59, 16-37, 1-8, and 1-6%, respectively). Differences in presence and in abundance of specific EMOS were evident not only between the four breeds but also within the breed.

A survey was carried out in the processing department of a paper mill, consisting of environmental and personal monitoring, a short questionnaire concerning chronic non-specific lung disease (CNSLD), spirometry, and intradermal tests. Spirometry was performed on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Exposures to paper dust regularly exceeded the Dutch Maximal Allowable Concentrations (MACs) for total and respirable dust. There were indications of a qualitatively different exposure to molds inside the mill in comparison with the outdoor air. A comparison between a group of workers exposed to paper dust and a control group showed significantly more persons with positive late and delayed intradermal test reactions in the exposed population. The analysis of the spirometric measurements after correction for differences between the groups in age, height, and smoking habits gave evidence of the existence of lower FEV1, MMEF, MEF50, and MEF25 among exposed workers with a positive immediate intradermal reaction on Friday. The same workers showed a decline in pulmonary function over the week compared with the controls. These changes suggest an obstructive airway reaction with an immunologic mechanism to dust exposure in a paper mill.

No abstract

The syntheses of the alkaloids of the ergotoxine-group z.e. ergocristine, aand bergokryptine, and ergocornine, are described. Using starting material with known stereochemistry these syntheses allowed to determine the absolute configurations also a t C-2' and C-12' in the peptide part, which could not be derived from analytical data. All crgot alkaloids of the peptide type possess t h c same stereochemical structure.Die Peptid-Mutterkornalkaloide Ergocristin, aund p-Ergokryptin und Ergocornin werden unter der Bezeichnung Ergotoxin-Gruppe zusammengefasst, weil ein isomorph kristallisierendes Gemisch dieser Alkaloide fruher fur ein einheitliches Alkaloid gehalten und als ((Ergotoxin)) bezeiclinet worden war [2] 131. Diese Alkaloide bilden auch in cheniiscli-struktureller Hinsiclit eine Gruppe, indeni sie in ihrem Peptidteil den gleichen a-Hydroxy-a-amino-saure-Baustein, namlich das a-Hydroxy-L-valin, enthalten und sich dadurch von den Alkaloiden der Ergotamin-Gruppe, denen das a-Hydroxy-L-alanin gemeinsain ist, und vom Ergostin, das als Bindeglied zwischen Lysergsaure-Rest und Peptidteil a-Hydroxy-L-a-aminobuttersaure aufweist, unterscheiden. (Vgl. allgemeine Formel A).

No abstract