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Biomedical subjects

F H Franken

Publications and source records attributed to F H Franken.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1977

[Posthepatitic cirrhosis of the liver without symptoms: observance about 22 years (author's transl)].

There are only a few studies about sufficiently documented posthepatitic cirrhosis of the liver for more than two decennaries. Therefore we report about a patient, who showed at laparoscopy in 1954 a posthepatitic cirrhosis of the liver. Since the end of the fifty years the laboratory findings had normalized and the patient worked hard and felt himself well. At a control laparoscopy with liver biopsy in 1975 a complete inactive cirrhosis of the liver was confirmed. Blood samples were normal and HBsAG seronegative. Therefore, it seems to be possible, that in some few cases cirrhosis of the liver remaining without clinical symptoms over many years - for example in late prisoners of the war, who returned home with an inactive full developed cirrhosis of the liver - but now is detected.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1977

[Etiology and management of habitual constipation (author's transl)].

Habitual constipation is present, if defecation occurs because of prolonged retention of stool in the colon less than three times per week. Motility of the intestine is increased in these cases, not decreased as has been thought for long time. Several factors of modern civilization favor habitual constipation, e.g. nutrition devoided of poorly digestible ingredients, and lack of physical exercise. The diagnosis of habitual constipation should only be made after careful exclusion of all organic causes by means of x-ray and endoscopic examination. Therapy is conservative in most cases. The diet ought to be rich in indigestible ingredients; eating and defecation habits have to be adapted to a regular pattern. Hydrophilic colloid laxatives may be used as well as in a limited extent laxatives effective on an osmotic basis. Laxatives acting more drastically or being effective upon contact with the intestinal mucosa are not suited for long-term therapy of constipation. Surgery is indicated only in a few cases.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1977

[Bed rest, diet and working capability in liver disease (author's transl)].

General views concerning bed rest, diet and working capability in liver disease have changed during the last years. Rigorous bed rest in acute viral hepatitis is necessary only for short periods of time; it is necessary in chronic liver disease only in rare cases and during the terminal stage, respectively. A liver diet does not exist. Normal palatable nutrition is completely adequate in liver disease. Restriction of protein and sodium chloride intake is indicated only in cases with incumbent coma or with ascites. Patients suffering from acute viral hepatitis are incapable of working; however, they can go back to work a few weeks after the acute stage. Estimation of disability to work in patients with chronic liver disease may be difficult; no general rules can be given; in chronic active hepatitis disability is proportional to the activity of the disease and may range from 20-100%. Fatty liver without inflammatory changes does not influence working capability.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1976

[The life of Joseph Haydn from a medical point of view (author's transl)].

Joseph Haydn (1732 to 1809) had hardly been troubled by any illness of note, apart from a chronic nasal polyp until 1799. During the composition of the oratoria "The Seasons" (1799 to 1801), the signs of cerebral arteriosclerosis with cardiac insufficiency made their appearance. Haydn's creative strength subsequently declined rapidly and he was virtually unable to compose any more after he had finished "The Seasons" until his death in 1809. The plan to compose a third oratoria "The Last Judgement" ended abortively. Haydn himself suffered acutely from the inactivity imposed on him by the illness, as documented by various sources. Hadyn remained fully conscious right up to the time of his death, which presumably resulted from cardiac failure. Haydn's grave was ransacked only a few days after the funeral and his skull was snatched. It has been finally restored to his resting place in Eisenstadt only as recently as 1954 after a protracted and devious journey.

Austria↗
PubMed1975

[Whipple's disease].

Whipple's disease is characterized morphologically by macrophages in the small intestine which store PAS-postive material, as well as coarsening and atrophy of the intestinal villi, with pseudocystic cavitations. Without treatment it ends fatally due to irreversible diarrhoea and cachexia. Until 1963, only 90 cases had been diagnosed, most of them at autopsy. Intestinal biopsy has facilitated the diagnosis in life. Treatment with antibiotics results in dramitic improvement and remission for many years. From this an at least partial bacterial cause of the disease has been deducted, but it has not been possible so far to identigy more precisely any causative bacteria. Two cases of Whple's disease with some special features are reported. Both occurred in women (previous reports were almost entirely of men). The severely ill patients were cured by tetracycline within a few weeks and have remained completely well at follow-up examinations. The morphological changes in the intestinal mucosa had partially regressed.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

[Melanosis coli(author's transl)].

Melanosis coli is caused by deposits of malanin- or lipofuscin-containing pigments in the colon mucosa; it is a conspicuous sign of long standing abuse of anthrachinonic laxatives. Melanosis coli can be easily diagnosed during rectoscopy, using morphological as well as histological criteria; nevertheless this condition is often overlooked or goes unnoticed. Abuse of laxatives, which is denied or concealed rather often by patients, does however explain in many cases otherwise unexplained abdominal complaints. Four cases are reported demonstrating the diagnostic significance of colonic melanosis.

Adult↗