Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

U Braun

Publications and source records attributed to U Braun.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Can sevoflurane save time in routine clincal use? A comparison with halothane in pediatric anesthesia].

UNLABELLED: The volatile agent sevoflurane enables a rapid emergence from anaesthesia. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of increasing turnover in pediatric anaesthetic cases by use of sevoflurane in comparison with halothane. Often short cases or day cases need rapid turnover. METHODS AND PATIENTS: The pediatric patients aged 4-14 years (ASA I) presenting for elective ophthalmic surgery were randomised to either the halothane or the sevoflurane group. Standard monitoring was applied to all patients, in addition the pEEG was used to determine comparable anaesthetic depth. Sevoflurane or halothane were titrated to a SEF 90 of 8-12 Hz. Management of the airway was done with the RLMA (reinforced laryngeal mask). All patients were under controlled ventilation. At the end of surgery and anaesthesia 3 time intervals were measured: phase I) end of anaesthetic application--start of spontaneous respiration; phase II) start of spontaneous respiration--removal of RLMA. The SEF 90 interval was also assessed. RESULTS: 18 cases were included (halo n = 8/sevo n = 10, no significant differences concerning weight, age, anaesthesia time). There is a significant advantage for the Sevoflurane group in phase II of 6.8 minutes. No differences were seen in phase I and SEF 90 interval. CONCLUSION: Sevoflurane offers the potential for shortening turnover in pediatric anaesthesia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Epidemiology of bovine virus diarrhoea in cattle on communal alpine pastures in Switzerland.

The goal of this study was to determine the influence of communal pasturing on the spread of bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD). The investigation involved 990 Swiss Braunvieh cattle from 149 different owners on seven communal pastures in the Swiss Alps. Prior to pasturing, blood samples were collected from all animals for examination for BVD antigen and antibodies. Serological examinations were also performed during and after pasturing to determine possible increases in seroprevalence and to determine whether seroprevalence was different on pastures with and without persistently infected cattle. At the start of pasturing, nine (0.9%) animals were persistently viraemic. On three alpine pastures, no persistently viraemic animals were detected. The prevalence of persistently infected cattle on the remaining four pastures varied from 0.3 to 3.9%. Of the 990 animals tested at the start of pasturing, 632 (63.3%) were seropositive. Seroprevalence differed among pastures and varied from 21.8 to 85.9%. During the summer, seroprevalence increased on all pastures surveyed, and at the end of the pasture season, 778 (80.1%) of the 971 cattle that were examined twice were seropositive. The incidence of seroconversion was significantly higher on pastures with persistently infected cattle compared with those without; it ranged from 32.7 to 100.0% in the former and from 6.0 to 22.2 in the latter. The results of this study suggest that communal alpine pasturing does play a role in the spread of BVD. The extent of this role depends on the presence of persistently infected animals.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1998

Serological, hematologic, and PCR studies of cattle in an area of Switzerland in which tick-borne fever (caused by Ehrlichia phagocytophila) is endemic.

The purpose of this study was to examine the seasonal variations in seroprevalence to Ehrlichia phagocytophila in cattle pastured during the summer months in an area where tick-borne fever is endemic. The study was performed during a 1-year period from April 1996 to March 1997 and involved 34 cows, 22 pregnant heifers, and 14 calves. Blood samples, collected from all 70 cattle once a month, were used to determine serum immunoglobulin G titers by indirect immunofluorescence. In addition, blood smears were examined for Ehrlichia organisms, and PCR amplification was performed for the molecular detection of E. phagocytophila. Prior to the pasture period, the seroprevalence was 16%. Two weeks after the start of pasturing, it was 43%, after which it progressively increased and reached a maximum of 63% in September. The seroprevalence progressively decreased after the end of pasturing to a low of 23%. The variation in antibody titers was similar to that of seroprevalence. E. phagocytophila organisms were detected in blood smears of 7 animals and by nested PCR in 12. Only four cows, which were on the pastures of endemicity for the first time, had clinical signs of ehrlichiosis. This study demonstrated marked seasonal variations in seroprevalence and in serum titers of antibody to E. phagocytophila in cattle. The incidence of clinical signs of ehrlichiosis was increased in cattle grazing on the pastures of endemicity for the first time.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[The occurrence of lumbar paralysis in goats and the appearance of Elaphostrongylus cervi in red deer in the canton Ticino].

The aim of the study was to examine the incidence of lumbar paralysis in goats and the possible role of Elaphostrongylus cervi as an agent. For this reason questionnaires concerning the clinical pictures and the incidence of lumbar paralysis were sent to 200 owners of goats and to 9 veterinarians. The study showed that the symptoms of lumbar paralysis had been observed for many years mainly during the winter. Most of the animals suffering from lumbar paralysis originated from the Valley of Leventina and Blenio. The symptoms of lumbar paralysis could be observed from 29 owners of goats. Fecal examination of 36 red deer in the autumn of 1995 was carried out for studying if deer plays a role in spreading the larvae of E. cervi. Twenty-five red deer passed the E. cervi larvae. This could be indicating that deer plays an possible role in the infection of goats with E. cervi.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Clinical findings in 50 cows with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)].

The goal of this study was to describe the clinical findings in 50 cows with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The most important abnormalities were disturbances in behaviour, sensitivity and locomotion. Of 48 cows with behavioural abnormalities, 33 were panic-stricken, 33 were fearful and 32 were restless and nervous. Other behavioural disturbances included bruxism (n = 23), salivation (n = 15), licking of the muzzle (n = 15) and flehmen (n = 8). Hypersensitivity to touching of the head and neck with a pen and reacted by throwing the head sideways, head shaking, curling the muzzle or flehmen and salivating. Hypersensitivity to sound was observed in 41 cows. Hypersensitivity to light was seen in 22 cows. disturbances in locomotion occurred in 44 cows. In 41, there was ataxia, which was generalized in 28 and restricted to the hindend in 13.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[182 offspring of cows with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Switzerland. 1. Clinical findings].

This study involved 182 calves, heifers and cows that were the first generation progeny of cows with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). All animals underwent clinical and neurological examinations. Blood, milk, urine, ruminal fluid and cerebrospinal fluid samples were examined. Each cow underwent a specific examination for BSE which included assessment of behaviour, sensitivity and locomotion. This examination was performed twice, and there was very good agreement between the results. The most common symptom was nervousness (14 animals). In the first examination, 68 animals were mildly to moderately sensitive to touching of the head, 44 animals were hypersensitive to a halogen light and 35 animals were hypersensitive to a camera flash. Twenty-four animals reacted by kicking when the hindlimbs were touched with a broom. None of the animals had disturbances in locomotion. Based on the interpretation of all findings and the comparison of the results of the first and second examinations, 173 animals were diagnosed as free of BSE. In 9 animals, the disease could not be ruled out; however, it could not be confirmed in any of them. Histological and immunohistochemical examinations of the brain of all animals were negative for BSE (see Part 2 of the study for details). The results of this study indicate that abnormal clinical findings may occur in clinically healthy cattle. However, none of the progeny of cows with BSE exhibited clinical signs typical of BSE, such as disturbances in behaviour; sensitivity and locomotion.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[182 offspring of cows with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Switzerland. 2. Epidemiology and pathological findings].

In order to detect lesions of a spongiform encephalopathy and/or accumulation of the protease resistant prion protein (PrPres), 182 offspring of cows affected with BSE were examined neuropathological and immunohistochemically. Neither spongiform encephalopathy nor PrPres accumulation were found. In seven animals other neuropathological lesions were seen, significant ones in three. Because of the small risk of exposure to contaminated feed in these animals, nearly all of which were born after the introduction of the protein feed ban for ruminants, the occurrence of spongiform encephalopathy in this series of BSE offspring would be suggestive of maternal transmission. However, the value of the study in this respect is quite limited. Only half of the animals were old enough to develop clinical and pathological evidence of the disease. If a maternal effect on the risk for the offspring is only to be expected during the last 6 months of the incubation of the dam as suggested by British investigations, only few animals in this study would fulfil the requirement of having been born during this critical period. Since it cannot be entirely excluded that the BSE agent transiently invades extraneural tissues in the early stages of infection, the above mentioned restriction to the final 6 months of the incubation time of the dam would not necessarily be applicable to all situations. We concluded that this study supports previous observations according to which maternal transmission of BSE is at best a rare event.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Mechanisms of thyroid hormone control over sensitivity and maximal contractile responsiveness to beta-adrenergic agonists in atria.

This paper discusses the mechanisms of two basic effects of thyroid hormones on atrial responses to beta-adrenergic agonists, i.e. increased inotropic sensitivity and decreased maximal contractile responsiveness. The increased sensitivity of atria to beta-adrenergic agonists under thyroid hormones appears to be related to increases in beta-adrenoceptor density and Gs/Gi protein ratio, leading to activation of Gs-mediated pathway, but suppression of Gi-mediated pathway of adenylate cyclase regulation. Therefore, the i/c concentrations of cAMP and corresponding inotropic responses achieve their maximums at lower doses of beta-adrenergic agonist. Thyroid hormones also decrease the expression of phospholamban, but increase the expression of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-pump. As a result, the basal activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-pump increases, but its beta-adrenergic activation through phosphorylation of phospholamban decreases. It is suggested that these changes are causal for decreased maximal inotropic and lusitropic responses of atria to beta-adrenergic agonists.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1997

Prion (PrPSc)-specific epitope defined by a monoclonal antibody.

Prions are infectious particles causing transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). They consist, at least in part, of an isoform (PrPSc) of the ubiquitous cellular prion protein (PrPC). Conformational differences between PrPC and PrPSc are evident from increased beta-sheet content and protease resistance in PrPSc. Here we describe a monoclonal antibody, 15B3, that can discriminate between the normal and disease-specific forms of PrP. Such an antibody has been long sought as it should be invaluable for characterizing the infectious particle as well as for diagnosis of TSEs such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans. 15B3 specifically precipitates bovine, murine or human PrPSc, but not PrPC, suggesting that it recognizes an epitope common to prions from different species. Using immobilized synthetic peptides, we mapped three polypeptide segments in PrP as the 15B3 epitope. In the NMR structure of recombinant mouse PrP, segments 2 and 3 of the 15B3 epitope are near neighbours in space, and segment 1 is located in a different part of the molecule. We discuss models for the PrPSc-specific epitope that ensure close spatial proximity of all three 15B3 segments, either by intermolecular contacts in oligomeric forms of the prion protein or by intramolecular rearrangement.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Ultrasonographic findings in cows with left displacement of the abomasum.

Forty-eight cows with left displacement of the abomasum (LDA) and three clinically healthy control cows were examined ultrasonographically from the 11th and 12th intercostal spaces on the left side. In the controls, the rumen was immediately adjacent to the left abdominal wall, whereas in the cows with LDA the rumen was generally immediately adjacent to the left abdominal wall ventrally, but displaced by the abomasum more dorsally. The ultrasonographic findings were generally consistent in the cows with LDA. The ingesta that were visualised ventrally in the abomasum appeared echogenic to hypoechogenic and, in a few cows, the abomasal folds were visible as elongated, echogenic, sickle-shaped structures. The dorsal abomasal gas cap was characterised by reverberation artifacts from the abomasal surface.

Abomasum↗
PubMed1997

Intrauterine infection with Ehrlichia phagocytophila in a cow.

An infection with Ehrlichia phagocytophila, the agent of tickborne fever, can cause abortion or stillbirth in cows in late pregnancy but, to the authors' knowledge, there have been no reports of intrauterine infection in cows followed by clinical signs in the calf. To study the effect of E phagocytophila on the fetus, a cow was infected experimentally after 270 days of pregnancy. It developed the clinical and haematological signs characteristic of tickborne fever six days after infection. At 287 days of pregnancy the cow gave birth to a live calf, which became ill at 13 days of age. The general condition and behaviour of the calf were only mildly affected but it had a high temperature and swollen prescapular lymph nodes. Its appetite and suck reflex remained normal. E phagocytophila inclusion bodies were visible, predominantly in neutrophils and eosinophils, for seven days. The calf seroconverted, as detected by indirect immunofluorescence, 14 days after it became ill.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Analysis of benzalkonium chloride in the effluent from European hospitals by solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography with post-column ion-pairing and fluorescence detection.

A highly reproducible and specific method for the analysis of the quaternary ammonium compound, benzalkonium chloride, in effluents from European hospitals is presented. Benzalkonium chloride was extracted with end-capped RP-18 solid-phase cartridges and was selectively eluted. The resulting solution was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). After elution from the analytical column of the HPLC system, 9,10-dimethoxyanthracene-2-sulfonate was added continuously as a fluorescence marker, forming a hydrophobic ion-pair with benzalkonium chloride. The ion-pair was analyzed by fluorescence detection. The method was applied to highly complex effluent samples from different sized European hospitals. The measured concentrations were between 0.05 and 6.03 mg/l. The amounts emitted per bed and year were 4.5-362 g and did not correlate with the size of the hospital. The total amounts were 2.6-909 kg/year.

Anthracenes↗
PubMed1997

Ultrasonographic findings in cattle with pleuropneumonia.

The clinical, ultrasonographic and radiographic findings in three cows and one bull with pleuropneumonia are described. All the animals had fever, indigestion, tachypnoea and abnormal lung sounds. Percussion of the thoracic wall elicited signs of pain and tests for foreign bodies were positive. Ultrasonographic examination revealed an accumulation of anechogenic to hypoechogenic fluid in the pleural space in the ventral thorax of all the animals. In one animal, echogenic bands of fibrin were observed between the thoracic wall and pulmonary surface. In another, parts of the right lung were not inflated because of severe bronchopneumonia. Radiographic examination revealed a pleural effusion, apparent as a horizontal fluid line, in three animals. In addition, the increased radiopacity in parts of the dorsal lung fields and increased bronchial and peribronchial markings suggested bronchopneumonia. In three animals, the radiographs revealed linear foreign bodies in the reticulum, suggesting that the pleuropneumonia was caused by the penetration of the foreign body into the thoracic cavity. A diagnosis of pleuropneumonia was made in all the animals on the basis of the clinical, ultrasonographic and radiographic findings and the analysis of the pleural fluid. The diagnosis was confirmed at slaughter in three of them; the fourth animal was treated and was clinically healthy when it was discharged.

Animals↗