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Biomedical subjects

J Eckert

Publications and source records attributed to J Eckert.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

The morantel sustained release bolus in the control of gastro-intestinal nematodiasis of cattle in Switzerland (preliminary results).

The efficacy of the morantel sustained release bolus was evaluated in 20 first-season grazing calves and 92 cattle in two separate trials. All animals grazed contaminated pastures and were exposed at the time of spring turnout to a risk of infection from gastrointestinal nematodes. In the first study 45 bolus-treated and 47 nontreated control (second or third season) cattle grazed similar but separate communal pastures, while in the second study nine bolus-treated and 11 nontreated control cattle grazed together on a single pasture. Efficacy determinations were conducted by frequent observations throughout the grazing season on faecal worm egg output, serum pepsinogen levels and liveweight gain. In the older group of animals (Trial 1), small differences were recorded between treated and control animals in faecal worm egg output and levels of serum pepsinogen as monitored throughout the grazing season. A significant mean liveweight advantage of 20.27 kg (P less than 0.001) was observed in the bolus-treated group. However, unrecorded pregnancy could not be excluded with certainty as a factor responsible for weight differences. The use of the morantel sustained release bolus provided an adequate protection against parasitic gastroenteritis in the first season grazing calves (Trial 2) despite the fact that bolus-treated animals were co-mingled with control animals. Both the worm egg counts and serum pepsinogen values were lower in the bolus-treated group. The morantel sustained release bolus was well tolerated in both trials.

Animals↗

Efficacy of triclabendazole against Fasciola hepatica in sheep and goats.

Triclabendazole (Fasinex), a new fasciolicide of the benzimidazole group, was tested in sheep and goats. A controlled test with 24 artificially-infected sheep revealed a 100% efficacy of triclabendazole at a dose of 10 mg kg-1 body weight against Fasciola hepatica aged 4 and 13 weeks, respectively. In naturally-acquired severe subacute to chronic fascioliasis in 66 sheep and 10 goats, the drug was highly effective in three trials when applied at 10 mg kg-1 in sheep and at 5 mg kg-1 in goats. Triclabendazole was well tolerated, whereas side effects occurred in one trial with niclofolan (Bilevon-M) (3 mg kg-1) which was used for comparison.

Animals↗

Chemotherapy for larval echinococcosis in animals and humans: report of a workshop.

Mebendazole, its fluorine analogue flubendazole, and other benzimidazole derivatives are active against many gastrointestinal and tissue-stage helminths. This article reviews the published literature and proceedings of a workshop on the use of benzimidazoles against larval echinococcosis (hydatid disease). Orally administered high doses (30-50 mg/kg body weight) of mebendazole given daily for 20-90 days to rodents or sheep infected with larval Echinococcus granulosus cause damage of destruction of the cyst wall, loss of cyst fluid, and death of protoscolices. Similar treatment of rodents infected with E. multilocularis with mebendazole, flubendazole, fenbendazole, and albendazole for 60-300 days leads to reduction of weight, inhibition of growth and the metastases formation of E. multilocularis tissue, and to prolonged host survival time although the metacestodes are not killed. Mebendazole or flubendazole treatment of human patients infected with E. granulosus is followed by subjective improvement in most, and evidence of regression of cysts in some; in other patients, cysts continue to grow or have been proven viable even after several months of high-dose mebendazole therapy. In patients infected with E. Multilocularis, the progressive course of the disease appeared to be arrested, but treatment apparently did not kill the parasite. Side effects of some patients have included allergic reactions, alopecia, and reversible neutropenia. Some possible reasons for different responses to treatment include inadequate plasma drug absorption from the gut and age, condition, and location of cysts. Many remaining questions concerning the risk versus benefits of mebendazole therapy can be answered only through controlled clinical trials.

Animals↗

The production of eggs by Echinococcus multilocularis in the laboratory following in vivo and in vitro development.

Adult worms of Echinococcus multilocularis produced eggs in vitro following partial development in the definitive host for 20-21 days and maturation for 8 days in a monophasic or diphasic medium. The technique was shown to be reproducible with morphologically normal eggs produced in two separate experiments. The onset of egg production in vitro was identical to that in vivo although the number of eggs produced by each worm was less in vitro.

Animals↗

World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (W.A.A.V.P.) guidelines for evaluating the efficacy of anthelmintics in ruminants (bovine and ovine).

During the 8th International Conference of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (W.A.A.V.P.) held in Sydney, Australia, in 1977, President S. Gaafr appointed a committee to prepare international guidelines for evaluating the efficacy of anthelmintic products. The goal was to develop uniform testing standards and registration requirements to expedite the testing and approval of effective products with a minimum of labor, money, and experimental animals without sacrificing scientific validity. Achievement of such a goal would mean that data from investigators in one country could be used in registering drugs in another country. These guidelines, which were approved by the membership at the general meeting of the 9th International Conference of the W.A.A.V.P. on July 16, 1982 in Budapest, Hungary, are only a beginning in the development of uniform international methods for testing the efficacy of anthelmintics. We now propose that they be used by the scientific community recognizing that, at this time, these guidelines have not been officially reviewed or accepted by any government regulatory authority. Investigators are encouraged to evaluate this document critically and to recommend modifications promptly to the Committee so that they may be incorporated in these guidelines before the 10th International Conference to be held in Perth, Australia in 1983.

Animals↗

Treatment of human echinococcosis with mebendazole. Preliminary observations in 28 patients.

Preliminary results of a long-term, prospective therapeutic trial with mebendazole in 28 patients mainly with inoperable echinococcosis are reported. The course of disease was monitored closely and plasma mebendazole levels were checked regularly. A major problem is the lack of reliable methods for defining and measuring early success or failure of therapy. Most of the patients improved clinically. No marked change of parasitic lesions was observed except in one patient with constantly low plasma mebendazole levels who deteriorated. No serious side effects occurred. The preliminary results are encouraging and suggest that mebendazole has a "parasitostatic" effect on larval growth.

Adult↗

[The dependence of psychiatric diagnosis on the function of the diagnostician in relation to his patient (author's transl)].

At the admittance of patients to a psychiatric clinic, the diagnostic judgement of physicians with different functions was investigated. There was a great variability of statements on the severity, the consequences of the disease, and the social behaviour of the patients, dependent on the functions of the respective physicians who always tended to observe and judge first of all those sides of the disease that concerned their special fields of responsibility.

Adult↗

Chemotherapy of alveolar echinococcosis. Comparison of plasma mebendazole concentrations in animals and man.

High oral doses of mebendazole have been only partly effective in the treatment of patients with alveolar or cystic echinococcosis. In order to improve therapeutic results the pharmacology of mebendazole has been investigated. Jirds experimentally infected with larval Echinococcus multilocularis were given food containing mebendazole 100 to 1000 ppm. Drug plasma concentrations above 0.25 mumol/l were associated with a reduction in parasite weight to 1 to 10% of that in untreated controls. In treated animals parasite weight was negatively correlated with the plasma mebendazole concentration and with the duration of therapy. In patients on long term therapy with similar doses of mebendazole (16 to 48 mg/kg per day), plasma concentrations were much lower than in jirds. Only 19% of fasting plasma concentrations exceeded 0.25 mumol/l. Plasma concentrations 4 h after the morning dose did not exceed this value in 48% of cases. The results can be explained by the irregular drug absorption and short plasma half life observed in 7 hospitalized patients. It is likely that better results would be obtained if doses of mebendazole were adjusted to produce peak plasma levels exceeding 0.25 mumol/l.

Adult↗

Cytotoxicity of Echinococcus granulosus cyst fluid in vitro.

In a cytotoxicity assay, using rat spleen cells as target cells, Echinococcus granulosus cyst fluid from cattle exerted a marked degree of cytotoxicity in vitro. When trypan blue exclusion or [3H]thymidine incorporation by concanavalin A stimulated spleen cells was used as a measure of cell viability, dialyzed cyst fluid showed maximum cell destruction up to a 1:8 dilution. The effect was dose and time dependent, cells being affected by 24 h after exposure to cyst fluid. The components responsible for cytotoxicity of cyst fluid were heat stable and could be recovered using gel chromatography on Sephadex G 50 and G 15 as a single low molecular weight fraction. It is assumed that the toxic products released by the living parasite can readily penetrate through the cyst wall into the surrounding host tissue. The interference of such substances with immunocompetent cells might account for the long-term survival of the parasite in the intermediate host.

Animals↗

[Indication for client-centered therapy (author's transl)].

Ways to come to an indication for Client-centered Therapy are described. Client-centered Therapy is defined as a psychotherapeutic method. The present state of empirical knowledge is summarized and discussed including aspects of differential indication for psychotherapy. The article includes some comments about the interaction of the problem of psychotherapy-indication and the social status of psychologists within the traditional medical health system of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Humans↗

Light and electron microscopic studies on the effect of praziquantel on Schistosoma mansoni, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, and Fasciola hepatica (Trematoda) in vitro.

The fine structure of the tegument of three trematode species, Schistosoma mansoni, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, and Fasciola hepatica, was studied by means of light scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) after in vitro exposure to 0, 1, 10, and 100 micrograms/ml of the anthelmintic praziquantel for 5, 15, 30, and 60 min. In S. mansoni and D. dendriticum the resulting vacuolization of the tegument was confined to numerous small areas scattered all over the surface of the parasites and this finally led to the disruption of the apical tegumental layer. No changes were found in the tegument of F. hepatica after treatment with praziquantel.

Animals↗

Aerococcus viridans as a causative agent of infectious endocarditis.

Identification and properties of Aerococcus viridans isolated from the blood of a patient with infectious endocarditis are described. The role of this agent in the pathogenesis of this disease was demonstrated by repeated cultivations as well as by high titres of specific antibodies in the patient's serum. Pathogenicity of this strain for experimental animals was not demonstrated.

Animals↗