Endothelium-dependent control of vascular tone: effects of age, hypertension and lipids.

As a source of several vasoactive factors, the endothelium takes part in the regulation of vascular tone. The most important endothelium-derived vasoactive substances are nitric oxide, prostacyclin, endothelin-1 and contracting factors requiring the activity of cyclooxygenase. The endothelium is an obvious target organ of cardiovascular risk factors.

Different activation of L-arginine pathway by bradykinin, serotonin, and clonidine in coronary arteries.

Endothelial cells release nitric oxide from L-arginine, and this pathway can be inhibited by the analogue of L-arginine, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). The effect of L-NMMA on endothelium-dependent relaxation of epicardial porcine coronary arteries was studied in isolated blood vessels suspended in organ chambers for isometric tension recording. Endothelium-dependent relaxations to bradykinin, serotonin, and the alpha 2-adrenergic agonist clonidine were evaluated in the presence and absence of L-NMMA (10(-5)-10(-3) M).

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.

[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.

[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.

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.

[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.