germanium and Brain-Diseases

A 51-year-old man, taking beverage containing inorganic germanium (Ge), (90-100 mg/day, total 70 g) for two years, developed body weight loss, anemia, renal dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, myopathy, autonomic dysfunctions and multiple cranial nerve palsies. Serum CK, GOT, LDH, BUN, and creatinine levels were elevated. The cerebrospinal fluid showed albumino-cytologic dissociation. Sural nerve biopsy showed axonal degeneration, and peroneal muscle biopsy showed neurogenic changes including type 2 fiber atrophy and ragged red fibers. High level of Ge content was detected from the hair and nail by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Despite discontinuation of Ge taking, the peripheral neuropathy and autonomic dysfunction progressed. The symptoms remained unchanged even in the treatment with prednisolone. These findings suggest that inorganic Ge has a serious irreversible multiple system toxicity.

Topics: Autonomic Nervous System Diseases; Beverages; Brain Diseases; Germanium; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Muscular Diseases; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases

A comparison is presented of the image quality obtained with a 70 mm Ge(Li) detector scanner and with routine techniques based on NaI (Tl) detectors. One hundred and sixty-five pairs of brain scans have been examined for which the patients have been scanned with both Ge(Li) and NaI (Tl) detectors. It is concluded that no major difficulties exist in introducing Ge(Li) scanners and that while a comparison of scans from different instruments is difficult there is evidence that improved diagnostic information may be obtained from scanners with Ge(Li) detectors.

Topics: Brain Diseases; Brain Neoplasms; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Germanium; Humans; Iodides; Radionuclide Imaging; Semiconductors