PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Wolfensberger

Publications and source records attributed to C Wolfensberger.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Retrovirus infections in non-domestic felids: serological studies and attempts to isolate a lentivirus.

An African lioness from the Zoo of Zurich had to be euthanized because of an inoperable tumor. The serum tested negative for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) p27 antigen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) but was strongly positive for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antibodies by ELISA and Western blot. When her only offspring and mate were tested for FIV, high antibody titers to FIV were also found in their serum. Lymphocytes were prepared from these two lions on different occasions and co-cultivated with specific pathogen free (SPF) cat lymphocytes in the presence of concanavalin A and recombinant human interleukin-2 (IL-2) for 6 weeks. The cell culture supernatants tested negative for Mg(2+)-dependent reverse transcriptase and FIV p24 by a double antibody sandwich ELISA throughout the culture period. Whole blood and buffy coat cells collected from these two lions were transmitted by intraperitoneal injection into two SPF cats. The two cats did not seroconvert for a period of 11 months nor could reverse transcriptase activity and FIV p24 antigen be demonstrated in the supernatant of several lymphocyte cultures. To determine the importance of lentivirus infections in zoo-kept wild felids, 124 serum samples were obtained from African lions, Indian and Siberian tigers, snow leopards, panthers, cheetahs and other wild cats from nine European zoos. In addition, serum samples collected from 12 Asiatic lions originating from Gir forest in the Indian State of Gujarat were included in this study. The sera were tested for antibodies to FIV, FeLV and feline syncytium-forming virus (FeSFV) by ELISA and Western blot using the respective viruses after gradient purification. In addition, some of the sera were also tested for antibodies to equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) and Visna-Maedi virus (VMV). Antibodies to FIV were found in 30/53 (57%) of African lions, one of 18 tigers and one of four panthers. All other sera including those collected from the 12 Asiatic lions were negative for FIV antibodies. Some of the FIV positive lion sera had high antibody titers producing strong bands on Western blot strips even in dilutions of >> 1:1000. The Western blot pattern of the lion sera differed from that of domestic cats in that primarily p24 and to a lesser degree p17 was recognized. Antibodies to FeSFV were found in 14 animals (seven with strong, seven with intermediate, reaction). No correlation was found between FIV and FeSFV infection. Antibodies to FeLV were found in two cheetahs which later turned out to have been vaccinated with Leukocell, a FeLV vaccine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Vaccination of cats experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus, using a recombinant feline leukemia virus vaccine.

A group of 15 cats experimentally infected with a Swiss isolate of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and a group of 15 FIV-negative control cats were inoculated with an FeLV vaccine containing recombinant FeLV-envelope. High ELISA antibody titer developed after vaccination in FIV-positive and FIV-negative cats. Vaccinated and nonvaccinated controls were later challenge exposed by intraperitoneal administration of virulent FeLV subtype A (Glasgow). Although 12 of 12 nonvaccinated controls became infected with FeLV (10 persistently, 2 transiently), only 1 of 18 vaccinated (9 FIV positive, 9 FIV negative) cats had persistent and 2 of 18 had transient viremia. From these data and other observations, 2 conclusions were drawn: In the early phase of FIV infection, the immune system is not depressed appreciably, and therefore, cats may be successfully immunized; a recombinant FeLV vaccine was efficacious in protecting cats against intraperitoneal challenge exposure with FeLV.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Feline immunodeficiency virus in Switzerland: clinical aspects and epidemiology in comparison with feline leukemia virus and coronaviruses].

Serum samples from 1421 domestic cats (561 healthy, 860 sick) were tested for FIV-, FeLV- and coronavirus infection. The results were stored in a computer data base and compared with epidemiologic data and clinical findings. All 3 infections were significantly more prevalent in sick than healthy cats: FIV was found in 0.7% of healthy and 3.4% of sick cats. For FeLV the prevalence was 3.0% and 13.0% and for coronavirus 21% and 36.2%, respectively. FIV-infected cats were mostly male (73%); no sex predilection was observed in FeLV- and coronavirus infection. In sick cats FIV-infection was significantly more prevalent in cats greater than 2 years of age; no age-dependence was found in FeLV- and coronavirus infections. The prevalence of FIV-infection increased significantly with the number of animals per household. In contrast, the frequency of FeLV infection decreased with the number of animals per household. Prevalence of coronavirus infection did not vary with group size or living conditions. The following clinical symptoms were associated with infection: FIV: general depression, diseases of the urinary tract; FeLV: general depression, fever, rough hair coat, lymphadenopathy, impaired functions of heart and circulation and muscle atrophy; coronavirus: lymphadenopathy and alterations in the abdomen. It was concluded that based on the clinical symptoms alone FIV-infection could not be diagnosed nor differentiated from the other 2 infections.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Anticancer activities as well as antiviral and virus-enhancing properties of aqueous fruit extracts from fifty-six European plant species.

Several plant-derived drugs are used in medical oncology today. Since only a small part of the flora has been tested for any kind of bioactivity intensive further screening may be rewarding. Fifty-six plant extracts were studied attempting to explore the feasibility of an assay that screens cytotoxic, antiviral and virus-enhancing activities in the same test. We made use of the property of an avian influenza virus replicating in a human breast cancer cell line. During the first 3 days of the test the cytotoxicity of the extracts was evaluated by phase-contrast microscopy. From the 4th day on when viral cytopathogenic effect became manifest we were able to identify antiviral and virus-enhancing activity among some of those extracts not showing cytotoxicity during the first 3 days of incubation. Aqueous extracts from the fruits of 56 plant species belonging to 22 families were screened. Twelve species exhibited cytotoxic, eight antiviral, five virus-enhancing and 31 no activity. These results show that the replication of a myxovirus in a human tumor cell offers the possibility of screening cytotoxic, antiviral and virus-enhancing activity in the same assay.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1985

[Ring injuries].

At the Clinic for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Kantonsspital Aarau eight cases of ring avulsion injuries in one woman and seven men have been treated during the period 1979-1981. Depending on the soft tissue damage, the ring injuries can be divided into four categories. Representative cases of each group and the special problems and difficulties in the reconstruction of each case are described. Microsurgical revascularisation has been particularly useful in cases of incomplete ring avulsion amputations.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Free flap-plasty in a larger soft tissue defect of the hip and gluteal region].

The purpose of this paper is to show a case in which we felt at the end, that the chosen procedure did not fulfill our expectations and in which an alternative procedure would have been preferable. In a 47 year old woman a deep, healed soft tissue defect between the left trochanter and the iliac crest was built up with a free latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap. The original plan was to suture the vessels to the gluteal vessels and the nerve to the gluteal nerve. The muscle would have been placed in such a way that the muscle fibres would run from the iliac crest to the trochanter to replace the lost gluteal muscle. This plan was proved on a cadaver dissection. In reality, however, the local vessels were not suitable in size. The flap vessels had to be attached directly to the femoral vessels in the groin area. The flap had, therefore, to be orientated in a different way. The final result gave an insufficient correction of the contour with no functional correction. It was felt in retrospect that contour correction without functional correction would probably have been better performed with an inferior rectus femoris musculocutaneous free flap.

Buttocks↗
PubMed1980

[Burkitt's lymphoma in a Swiss patient].

In summer 1978, Burkitt lymphoma was diagnosed in a 23 year old Swiss male. A brief report on this patient appears justified for the following reasons: (1) Burkitt lymphoma is very rarely diagnosed in Switzerland. (2) The tumor cells of this patient could be established as a cell line. They have now been subpassaged in vitro for over 9 months. (3) In contrast to the majority of non-African Burkitt lymphomas, these tumor cells produce small amounts of Epstein-Barr virus.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Successful replantation of a totally avulsed scalp.

A case of a totally avulsed scalp was replanted successfully by microvascular anastomosis. Though the avulsed part was heavily crushed, which resulted in a central wound, the appearance of a "necrotic" area, haematomas and persistent serous exudation after the restoration of circulation, the whole scalp survived.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

[Results of replantations, organizational and financial problems (author's transl)].

After 363 replantations of fingers, thumbs, and hands with 87.9% successful revascularizations, conditions for optimal results and reasons for failure are discussed in terms of surgical management, organization, and costs. Several case studies document the importance of preoperative handling, the time span between accident and treatment, and the postoperative control of thrombosis. Finally, microsurgery is regarded as a first step toward a future routine technique in reconstructive surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

[Antiviral activity in the serum of patients with acute myelocytic leukemia: prognostic significance. Preliminary report].

In view of suggestions that acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) may be of viral etiology, sera of 31 patients suffering from AML were investigated for antiviral activity. Fowl plague virus (FPV), vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), BT 20 mammary carcinoma cells and chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) were used as assay systems. In the FPV-BT20 system, 19 of 20 patients whose blood sample was taken when they were in complete remission showed antiviral activity in their sera. These patients stayed in complete remission for at least three months after the blood sample was taken. In the sera of 11 patients no antiviral activity could be found with the FPV-BT20 assay system. 3 of the 11 were in relapse, 5 had a relapse within 3 months and 3 stayed in remission more than 3 months after the blood sample was taken. In the FPV-CEF and in the VSV-BT20 system antiviral activity was also found. The activity in the FPV-CEF system corresponded well with the FPV-BT20 assay and the disease status, whereas the activity detected by the VSV-BT20 system did not. The nature of the antiviral activities in the sera of AML patients against FPV and VSV is not yet clear. Interferon and specific antiviral antibodies can probably be ruled out. The antiviral activity against FPV appears to be a biological index of the activity of the disease and might eventually be used to determine intensity and length of treatment.

Animals↗