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Biomedical subjects

A Aeschlimann

Publications and source records attributed to A Aeschlimann.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

[Histopathological analysis of bovine livers infested by Dicrocoelium dendriticum].

The object of this study was to determine the evolution of the lesions provoked by dicrocoeliasis in hepatic tissue, as a function of the quantity of parasites. Of the 274 bovine livers taken from the slaughterhouse and autopsied for Dicrocoelium dendriticum infection, 191 demonstrated hepatic lesions that revealed a proliferation of bile ducts, modifications of the bile ducts and hepatic fibrosis lesions. The modifications of the surfaces of the bile ducts and the hepatic fibrosis lesions increased with the level of infestation from 0 to 300 D dendriticum. Above these values, 301 to 600 flukes, a decrease was observed.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Reiter's disease--a review of an interdisciplinary disease].

Over the past 20 years the term 'Reiter's disease' has been expanded from the classical triad of sterile urethritis, conjunctivitis and arthritis to include a broader range of reactive arthritides. Indeed, the classical syndrome as described by Reiter is rarely seen in its complete form, and the presence or absence of active infection in the joint is being redefined in the light of recent techniques of molecular biology. The terminology of Reiter's syndrome, reactive arthritis and seronegative spondylarthropathy are defined here using case examples.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Biology of Ixodes (Pholeoixodes) hexagonus under laboratory conditions. Part II. Effect of mating on feeding and fecundity of females.

The effect of mating on the feeding and fecundity of Ixodes (Pholeoixodes) hexagonus females was studied under controlled laboratory conditions of 22-23 degrees C and 98% relative humidity. The feeding period of mated females was 6-15 days and 11-13 days for unmated females. The mean weight of the engorged mated females was 114.84 +/- 45.89 mg, whereas, that of the engorged unmated females was significantly lower (80.61 +/- 28.84 mg). During the initial slow feeding period, the weight of mated females increased 6.6 times. At the end of the blood feeding, they had increased their initial weight 35.5 times. Unmated females never entered the rapid engorgement phase and up to 12 days of feeding period their mean weight did not increase more than 9.2 times. The pre-oviposition periods of mated and unmated females were 6-15 days and 4-12 days, respectively. The mean of the egg production efficiency was 40.26 +/- 12.47% for mated females and 35.68 +/- 12.2% for unmated females. The mean of the mass conversion efficiency was 73.6 +/- 13.7% for mated females and 66.48 +/- 16.55% for unmated females. Sixty per cent of the eggs deposited by mated females hatched whereas only 1% of the eggs deposited by unmated females hatched. These results indicate that I. hexagonus females possess some predisposition for parthenogenesis and only fertility and not fecundity depends on mating.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Pathogenicity of Steinernema carpocapsae and S. glaseri (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) to Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae).

The entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) and S. glaseri (Steiner) are pathogenic to engorged adult, blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis (Say), but not to unfed females, engorged nymphs, or engorged larvae. Nematodes apparently enter the tick through the genital pore, thus precluding infection of immature ticks. The timing of tick mortality, and overall mortality after 17 d, did not differ between infections by S. carpocapsae and S. glaseri. These nematodes typically do not complete their life cycles or produce infective juveniles in I. scapularis. However, both species successfully produced infective juveniles when the tick body was slit before nematode infection. Mortality of engorged I. scapularis females infected by S. carpocapsae was greater than uninfected controls, but did not vary significantly with nematode concentration (50-3,000 infective juveniles per 5-cm-diameter petri dish). The LC50 was 347.8 infective juveniles per petri dish (5 ticks per dish). Hatched egg masses of infected ticks weighed less than those of uninfected controls. Mortality of infected ticks was greatest between 20 and 30 degrees C, and was lower at 15 degrees C.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Comparison in the immunological properties of Borrelia burgdorferi isolates from Ixodes ricinus derived from three endemic areas in Switzerland.

Borrelia burgdorferi isolates were obtained from Ixodes ricinus from three sites in Switzerland. They were examined by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. The phenotypes, in respect of three outer surface proteins (Osp), differed between the sites of collection. In site 1, most isolates had an OspA of 31 kDa and an OspB of 34 kDa; in site 2, isolates presenting an OspA of 33 kDa dominated and in site 3, the isolates with an OspA of 32 kDa and an OspB of 35 kDa were most frequent. This distribution differed significantly. About half of the isolates from sites 1 and 3 reacted with anti-OspA monoclonal antibody H5332 compared to 29% from site 2. Site 1 isolates reacted significantly more frequently (81%) with another anti-OspA monoclonal antibody LA-31 than isolates from site 3 (P < 0.0001). These findings have implications for the epidemiology of Lyme borreliosis, for the further development of serodiagnostic reagents and for the development of a vaccine.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Infection of field-collected Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) larvae with Borrelia burgdorferi in Switzerland.

Free-living larvae from natural areas in five regions in Switzerland were collected to determine the infection rate of Ixodes ricinus L. larvae by Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson. Larvae were examined for the spirochetes using direct fluorescent antibody assay. Of 652 larvae examined, spirochetes were detected in 20 (3.1%). No differences in infection rate among sites were detected. The low prevalence of B. burgdorferi in larvae, compared with higher infection rate in nymphs (12.8%) and adults (14.5%), suggests that transovarial transmission is inefficient. These results suggest that I. ricinus can serve as a reservoir for B. burgdorferi in nature. Further study is needed on the relative importance of ticks, compared with mammals and birds, as reservoirs for B. burgdorferi.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Identification of spotted fever group rickettsiae isolated from Dermacentor marginatus and Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in Switzerland.

When 155 ticks collected in different regions of Switzerland were tested by the hemolymph test, 10.3% were found to contain spotted fever group rickettsiae. Six rickettsial isolates were made from Dermacentor marginatus ticks and three were made from Ixodes ricinus ticks. The polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis showed that the Dermacentor ticks were infected with Rickettsia length polymorphism analysis showed that the Dermacentor ticks were infected with Rickettsia slovaca and the Ixodes ticks were infected with a spotted fever group rickettsia. Microimmunofluorescence serologic type, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of proteins, and Western blot assay with polyclonal mouse antisera confirmed the results and determined that the Ixodes were infected with R. helvetica, the only previously described Swiss rickettsia. However, an additional new strain that could not be isolated was detected in one I. ricinus by hemolymph test and provisionally characterized by enzymatic restriction of its amplified DNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Muscle strength training in old age].

Muscle strength decreases with increasing age. The main causes for this are intrinsic age-dependent mechanisms and hypokinesia. Immobilization and bed rest accelerate the loss of muscle strength. A number of studies show that even very old people can increase their strength, sometimes to a surprising degree. Thus, there is considerable potential for strength training in the rehabilitation of the elderly. Adaptation to strength training, the methods for improving strength and the importance of health problems related to strength training are discussed. If carefully planned and supervised, strength training is feasible even in people with chronic diseases like mild hypertension, coronary heart disease and osteoarthritis; actually, strength training may even be beneficial. Also, strength training becomes increasingly important in rehabilitation after orthopedic surgery.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

[Laboratory diagnosis of monarthritis: how much, what for, when?].

Analysis of the synovial fluid is the major investigation of monoarthritis. Appearance, viscosity (low if inflamed), cell number and differential, presence of crystals or organisms are all relevant. If septic arthritis is suspected, culture of other sites such as blood, urine, sputum etc. is essential, and may alone yield the organism. If mycobacterium is possible, synovial membrane staining and culture is usually necessary. Gonococcal may be lost in culture if the specimen is not immediately processed. Partially treated sepsis may produce sterile culture, and early work suggests that P.C.R. may diagnose these cases. Other investigations such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein indicate inflammatory activity, though they are not specific. Antibodies such as antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factors lead towards an "autoimmune" disease diagnosis, that do not alone measure activity. Specific antibodies to virus e.g. parvovirus may be diagnostic. The monoarthritis must be seen in the total patient context, where often clues e.g., asymptomatic uveitis (in juvenile chronic arthritis) and psoriasis may give the diagnosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Confirmation that Rickettsia helvetica sp. nov. is a distinct species of the spotted fever group of rickettsiae.

We propose the name Rickettsia helvetica sp. nov. for a rickettsial serotype of unknown pathogenicity isolated in 1979 in Switzerland from Ixodes ricinus ticks and designated the Swiss agent. The growth characteristics and the results of microimmunofluorescence serologic typing, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blotting (immunoblotting) with specific mice sera, and a polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis confirmed previously reported preliminary findings which suggested that this rickettsia, to which a name was given provisionally, does represent a new member of the spotted fever group of rickettsiae. The type strain is C3 (Reference Center for Rickettsioses, Marseille, France).

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Glycosylation of acute phase proteins and interleukins following hip arthroplasty. Inflammation parameters studied in 10 patients.

We analyzed changes in glycosylation and serum concentrations of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), antichymotrypsin (AC), interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and C-reactive protein (CRP) following hip arthroplasty. Glycosylation of AGP and AC showed an increased reactivity to concanavalin A between postoperative Day 2 and Day 5 and Day 10, respectively. Serum levels of AGP and AC increased at the earliest on Day 5. The AC levels returned to baseline by Day 10. AGP, however, exhibited increased values beyond Day 14. CRP levels were elevated at Day 2 and remained increased beyond Day 14. sIL2R showed increased values at Days 5, 10 and 14. IL-6 was the first parameter to increase, and it returned to baseline in less than 5 days.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1993

Ixodes ricinus immatures on birds in a focus of Lyme borreliosis.

The infestation of birds by immature Ixodes ricinus was studied during 6 months in a Swiss woodland, where Lyme borreliosis is endemic. Thirteen passerine species were found to be parasitized by I. ricinus subadults and specially Turdus merula, T. philomelos and Erithacus rubecula. Overall, 300 larvae and 162 nymphs were collected on 95 avian hosts. Prevalence of infestation of nymphs on birds was higher in spring; larvae peaked in summer. The infection of birds by Borrelia burgdorferi was also studied using blood cultivation and examination of ticks. Motionless spirochetes were isolated from two E. rubecula. Infected ticks were removed from five species of passerines, and mainly three species of Turdidae (T. merula, T. philomelos and E. rubecula). Infection rate of larvae and nymphs by spirochetes averaged 16.3% and 21.7%, respectively. These percentages, compared to the infection rate of questing ticks collected through dragging, suggest that some Turdidae may play a role as amplifying hosts for spirochetes in the focus.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Glycosylation of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in systemic onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and acute bacterial infection: value in differential diagnosis.

Agarose based affinity immunoelectrophoresis with free concanavalin A (Con-A) as ligand was used to examine the microheterogeneity of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in sera of patients with systemic onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and acute bacterial infections. In JRA, a decreased proportion of Con-A reactive alpha 1-acid glycoprotein variants was found when compared to healthy control. In contrast, acute bacterial infection showed an increased reactivity. Investigation of glycosylation may be useful in the differential diagnosis of systemic onset JRA and acute bacterial infection.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

[Interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble interleukin-2-receptor (sIL-2R) and microheterogeneity of alpha-! acid glycoprotein (AGP): new markers of the acute-phase reaction?].

Cytokines and the different glycosylation profiles of some acute phase proteins appear to be of great value in investigating the activity of inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Using an ELISA to measure the serum concentration of sIL-2R and IL-6 and an affinity electrophoresis with Concanavalin A as a lectin to determine the microheterogenity of the alpha-1-acid-glycoprotein (AGP), we tested the sera of 63 patients with various rheumatic and infectious diseases and 17 healthy persons and compared the results with the usual markers of inflammation, e.g. erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), and with the clinical activity of the disease. ESR, CRP and sIL-2R were significantly elevated (p less than 0.001) in seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in acute bacterial infection. ESR and CRP showed a better correlation with the clinical activity of RA than sIL-2R. Marked elevation of IL-6 was found only in 30% of RA patients in the early stage of the acute phase reaction (APR). The AGP reactivity coefficient (AGP-RC) was significantly decreased in RA (p less than 0.01) but increased in bacterial infections (p less than 0.001). Our results show that there is no advantage in measuring sIL-2R in the routine diagnosis of rheumatic diseases. Raised IL-6 levels seem to indicate an early stage of APR. If ESR and CRP are elevated, the AGP-RC helps to differentiate between infection and chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗
PubMed1992

Changes in the protein profile and antigenicity of different Borrelia burgdorferi strains after reintroduction to Ixodes ricinus ticks.

Eight Swiss strains of Borrelia burgdorferi, with various protein profiles and the North-American strain B31 were artificially introduced into Ixodes ricinus ticks and reisolated 10 days later. All isolates were subsequently examined by SDS-PAGE analysis. Comparing initial isolates with the reisolates, we observed that 7 out of 9 strains changed their protein pattern with respect to the major proteins OspA, OspB and the 22 kDa protein after passage in the tick. The strains NE2, NE4 and NE83 with the initial phenotype of OspA and 22 kDa proteins changed to the phenotype of OspA and OspB, the strains B2 and NE202 with the initial phenotype of OspA acquired an additional protein of 22 kDa and the strain NE58 with the initial phenotype of OspA also acquired a protein of 22 kDa. Examination of these isolates by Western blot analysis demonstrated that the reaction with the monoclonal antibody H5332 and a monospecific polyclonal antibody PoAb/anti-22 kDa differed between the initial isolates and the reisolates.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Soluble interleukin-2 receptors in children with juvenile chronic arthritis.

Concentrations of interleukin-2 receptors were studied in sera of 81 patients with pauciarticular-, polyarticular-, and systemic-onset juvenile chronic arthritis using a double antibody "sandwich" enzyme-linked immunosorbent technique. Serum concentrations were significantly increased in all subgroups when compared with the healthy controls. Higher concentrations were found in systemic onset disease than in pauci- or polyarticular onset disease. Serum levels were found to be increased in both inactive and active disease, showing maximal values in patients with systemic features. A correlation to C-reactive protein, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, and erythrocyte sedimentation was observed. Increased sIL-2R values suggest disease activity despite the absence of clinical symptoms.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗