Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Tanner

Publications and source records attributed to F Tanner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Echinococcus multilocularis in Grisons: distribution in foxes and presence of potential intermediate hosts].

The southern border of the European endemic area of Echinococcus multilocularis runs along the alpine crest. This endemic transition area was analysed in the canton Grisons on a small spatial scale. A total of 543 foxes originating from 10 areas north and 4 areas south of the main alpine divide were investigated. Parasites were isolated using the sedimentation and counting technique on intestinal contents. The mean prevalence of E. multilocularis was 6.4% with significant differences between different areas. In the southern valleys, only foxes from the Val Müstair were infected (14.3%). On the northern side of the main alpine divide, prevalences varied between 0 and 40%. The predation habits of foxes on potential intermediate hosts was investigated by means of stomach content analyses (n=530). Rodents of the genera Microtus/Pitymys were found in 19.6% of fox stomachs, Clethrionomys glareolus in 8.0% and Arvicola terrestris in 0.4%. A small scale analysis based on a 10 x 10 km grid suggested that the predation rate on the genera Microtus/Pitymys significantly correlated with the prevalence of E. multilocularis in foxes (Spearman's r = 0.51). Hence, E. multilocularis appears to occur in the alpine study area on a very small spatial scale. These local sources of infection may persist for decades. This may partly explains why, during the last 34 years, some human cases of alveolar echinococcosis occurred in areas of the Canton Grisons where the parasite is presently endemic in foxes. No such human cases have been recorded in other areas free of E. multilocularis.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

In vivo gene delivery to the pulmonary circulation in rats: transgene distribution and vascular inflammatory response.

Although gene delivery to the pulmonary circulation has both experimental and therapeutic potential, the delivery methods, distribution of transgene, and subsequent inflammatory response have been poorly characterized to date. To address these issues, we utilized a 0.76-mm OD (outside diameter) end hole catheter inserted into the internal jugular vein of adult Sprague-Dawley rats, directing the tip into a pulmonary capillary wedge position. We then compared infusion of polycationic lipid:DNA complexes to replication-defective adenovirus with respect to magnitude and distribution of transgene expression using either chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) or human placental alkaline phosphatase (hpAP) reporter genes. Both lipid:DNA and adenovirus resulted in detectable transgene expression, though maximum lung CAT activity using lipid (gamma AP-DLRIE/DOPE) was approximately 2% of maximum activity using adenovirus (Ad-CAT). Further characterization of expression after transfection with 10(8) pfu (plaque forming units) of Ad-CAT demonstrated persistence of transgene for at least 14 days (lung CAT activity 27% of maximum). Alkaline phosphatase staining demonstrated that both large and small pulmonary arteries as well as the alveolar wall expressed transgene. Although little inflammatory response was detected in conduit arteries, a predominantly mononuclear cell infiltrate surrounded small pulmonary arteries as well as the alveolar spaces in transfected areas of lung. We conclude that percutaneous catheter-mediated gene delivery to the pulmonary circulation in rats using non-viral and viral vectors is feasible. Although an inflammatory response to first generation replication-defective adenovirus was detected, it appeared to be largely restricted to the distal pulmonary circulation and airspace. This technique should prove useful for investigations requiring overexpression of novel genes in the pulmonary artery wall, and could ultimately be used to develop gene-based therapies for pulmonary vascular diseases.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1996

Gene transfer approaches to the regulation of vascular cell proliferation.

Considerable progress has been made in identifying potential targets for treating vascular proliferative diseases. In this review, we discuss gene transfer approaches to regulating smooth muscle cell proliferation after vascular injury using the cell cycle specific proteins, p21, delta Rb and HSV-tk. Results from these studies suggest that replicating smooth muscle cells and macrophages are inhibited in vivo in several animal models of restenosis, including hyperlipidaemic vessels. Identification of appropriate vascular diseases and improvements in gene delivery and vectors will require careful optimization in order to develop effective molecular therapies for human vascular diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Efficacy and stability of two chlorine-containing antiseptics.

Dakin's solution and a chloroxydizer in a hypertonic sodium chloride solution were tested for bacteriological and clinical effectiveness and stability. No real difference in effectiveness was observed between the two products; however, only the chloroxydizer showed satisfactory stability at 150 days under the test storage conditions.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗
PubMed1985

[Epidemic listeriosis. Report of 25 cases in 15 months at the Vaud University Hospital Center].

25 cases (14 adults, 11 neonates) of Listeria monocytogenes infection were observed during a 15-month period (1983/1984) at the University Medical Center (CHUV) in Lausanne (Switzerland), in contrast to a mean of only 3 cases per year during the period 1974-1982. Eleven of 14 adults had neuromeningeal disease (3 meningitis, 7 meningoencephalitis, 1 encephalitis), and 3 patients had septicemia, two of whom were pregnant women. Among 8 adults with CNS parenchymal infection, 6 had involvement of the brainstem (rhombencephalitis), none of whom had an underlying disease characteristically predisposing to L. monocytogenes infection. Prominent clinical features in all patients with neuromeningeal disease included altered consciousness, headache and fever, and in 7 out of 8 patients with parenchymal CNS involvement an influenza-like illness was present prior to the development of neurological symptoms. Among the neuromeningeal cases the mortality rate was 45% (5 of 11), and 4 out of 6 survivors had severe neurological sequelae. During this 15-month period L. monocytogenes had become the leading cause of adult bacterial meningitis in this hospital. This is the first report on epidemic listeriosis in Switzerland, although sporadic cases have been described for 20 years. In contrast to previous years, analysis of the seasonal variation of the cases shows a peak of L. monocytogenes infections during the winter months of 1983/84. The high incidence of human listeriosis was not associated with an increase in animal cases. The human cases were uniformly distributed over the area, apparently in relation to population density.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1978

[Hospital infection and epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus in a regional hospital. Value of sertyping].

Staphylococcus aureus isolated from purulent material has been systematically submitted to seroagglutination by Pillet's method as from 1972 to 1976. 495 serotyped strains from 333 patients are considered in the spread of infection. Epidemiological incidence and antibiotic resistance of each serotype is evaluated. As a result a new approach has been introduced in the operating theatre and in the wards. Hospital serotypes tend to disappear and new serotypes appear less virulent.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1978

Humoral immunity conferred by the HDCS rabies vaccine Mérieux administered after exposure: 151 cases with and without specific immune globulin of human origin. Preliminary communication.

The results of the analysis of the neutralizing antibodies measured at days 30 and 90 after vaccination are described in brief. Different lots of Mérieux vaccine were used, of which two were checked separately for relative antigenic value by the Federal Public Health Service (CH). The lowest antigenic value (lot 0420 M) was 1.6 in relation to the standard NIH vaccine No.182. The inhibiting effect of immune globulin was shown to be significant with this lot, but not with the other, more powerful lots. The attention is drawn to isolated cases which did not present antibodies--or not a sufficient count--on days 30 or 90 according to the RFFI test.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

[Experiences with the ISOP (bubble or integral confinement) in surgery of the motor apparatus in Lausanne].

Use of the Celster ISOP integral enclosure method in over 200 bone and joint operations prompts the following conclusions: With ISOP contamination of the surgical field is significantly reduced and the number of discharging wounds after surgery is lower. Delicate operations such as internal fixation of the fractured acetabulum or reinsertion of the cruciate ligament pose few problems under ISOP. The use of ISOP during bone and joint surgery is an advance in the prevention of postsurgical infection.

Humans↗