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F Wischhusen

Publications and source records attributed to F Wischhusen.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Analysis of jumping/falling distance from a height.

The kinematic motion analysis of 50 jumps from a height of 5m demonstrated distinguishable maxima of jumping distances between passive and active jumps (1.0-3.4 and 3.7-7.1 m, respectively). The variation of several parameters concerning the 'take-off' mechanism showed less influence regarding the jumping distances. The congruence of the trajectory of the 'free-flight' domains of the jumps and the simple model for the parabola of an inclined throw has been proven. Thus, a prediction of the distance range for heights up to 20 m was extrapolated.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1999

Standard liver volume in the Caucasian population.

Living donor and split-liver transplantation techniques require the calculation of a standard liver volume (SLV) as a reference point for the minimal volume necessary for the recipient. We therefore examined whether a widely used formula developed on the basis of a Japanese population sample was also adequate for the Caucasian population. The documentation of volumes of 1332 autopsy livers from a German Forensic Medicine Department was used to create a formula for an SLV for the Caucasian population. The Japanese formula estimated the Caucasian liver volume to be on average 322.6 +/- 335. 8 g (SD) less than they actually were. The following new formula for the calculation of SLV for Caucasians was established by linear regression analysis: Liver volume (mL) = 1072.8 * body surface area(m2)-345.7.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1998

Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin: diagnostic efficiency among patients with end-stage liver disease before and after liver transplantation.

We tested the diagnostic validity of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) as an indicator for relapse into elevated alcohol consumption among patients who were examined under follow-up treatment before (n = 147) and after (n = 102) orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in the outpatient-department of the University Hospital Department of Surgery in Hamburg-Eppendorf. CDT measurements were performed with two commercial kits in parallel (CDTect-RIA and CDT%-RIA). Short-term parameters of alcohol consumption (ethanol, methanol) indicated relapses into elevated alcohol consumption in 11.4% of the evaluated patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) before transplantation. Before OLT, median CDT values were determined to be elevated among patients with alcoholic as well as nonalcoholic end-stage liver diseases (NALD). Among patients with ALD, we found elevated CDT medians even in those who were successfully scheduled for OLT after long-term evidence of abstinence proved by biochemical short-term parameters and psychological tests. Both CDTect and CDT% assays had comparable low specificities in selected patient groups before transplantation. CDT% and CDTect were negatively correlated with the albumin level. Before the study ended, CDT was no longer implemented in the evaluation of whether an OLT should be administered. This was due to inconsistent results of CDT in ALD as well as NALD. After OLT, patients with ALD, as well as NALD, had statistically significant lower CDT medians than before OLT, which ranged within reference levels. We determined, according to CDT, elevated alcohol consumption subsequent to OLT in 4 of 13 patients with ALD who underwent transplantation during the study (median observation period: 10 months). CDT does not appear to be useful in evaluating patients before OLT. With regained specificity and high sensitivity in patients after OLT, CDT could be recommended as a standard instrument for quality control in patients with ALD after liver transplantation.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Frequently misinterpreted: blood alcohol concentrations in (sudden) natural and unnatural death].

The aim of our study was to gain more knowledge about the significance of acute alcoholization at the moment of death. The blood-alcohol concentrations of all sudden unexpected and nonnatural fatalities that were investigated at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Hamburg (5044 fatalities with an age below 60 years: 1177 females, 3867 males) were tested in a prospective 5-year-series (1989-1993). Measurable blood-alcohol concentrations (at least > or = 0.1 / 1000) were found in 30.2% of all deceased. Higher concentrations of > 2 / 1000 existed in 436 cases (8.6%). Alcohol prevalence and the amount of alcoholization are discussed with respect to age, sex and the manner of death (sudden natural death, accident, suicide, homicide). Alcohol as a relevant factor in sudden/unexpected death and nonnatural death seems to be underestimated. Only a small proportion of these cases are elucidated by way of routine police investigations or by the insurance companies.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Checking the identity of stored blood samples].

The Institute for Legal Medicine in Hamburg carried out a retrospective analysis for identity checks of stored blood samples. A total of 70,597 blood alcohol examinations were carried out between 1984 and 1993. Identity checks were commissioned for 187 people (0.26% of the total of all blood samples). Amongst those, 33 cases of "non-identity" were established (17.6% of all checked blood samples). The results are compared to an earlier study by Kleiber over a span of 10 years--between 1974 and 1983. While the frequency of identity checks decreased, the cases of "non-identity" increased quite drastically in comparison. In the cases where "non-identity" could be detected, it was not a matter of blood samples getting mixed up. However, it was a matter of intentional, sometimes very cunning ploys by means of other people's IDs, forged IDs and impersonations. In these cases the later checking of the blood group systems proved to be important evidence in the criminal proceedings. This evidence would not be available if there were to be no blood alcohol tests.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

HIV-1-prevalence in fatalities from Hamburg, Germany.

The HIV-status of 3999 fatalities (aged 1-60 years) examined at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Hamburg from 1989-1992 was tested. Former predictions of an enormous increase of HIV-infections, especially in the risk group of IVDA (intravenous drug addicts), did not come true. HIV-screening of fatalities is an instructive additional method of gaining information about the epidemiological development of HIV-infections.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Retrospective analysis of blood collection protocols and blood alcohol analysis (Hamburg 1988)].

9,361 blood sample protocols (7,264 traffic and 2,097 criminal offences) of 1988 have been recorded and evaluated by electronic data processing under various aspects at the Institute for Legal Medicine in Hamburg. Since 1987 a slight increase of total offences was observed with a slight increase of alcohol-related traffic delinquency. Other results of the study are: The quota of women and as well of young people does not show an increasing tendency in alcoholic offences. In most cases older offenders had higher blood alcohol concentrations. More than 50% of the traffic offenders had a blood alcohol concentration above 1.3%. Altogether, criminal offenders had higher blood alcohol concentrations than traffic offenders. According to the common drinking- and leisure behaviour most of the alcohol delicts happened at weekends around midnight. In more than 50% the main traffic delict was drunken driving discovered by police control. Main criminal offences were delicts of property, bodily harm and resistance to police actions. With regard to alcohol habitation a great number of criminal offenders declares constant alcohol consumption, especially a lot of young people (under the age of 20). The medical diagnosis mostly pointed to slight or medium degree of drunkenness.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1991

[Therapeutic and toxic plasma concentrations and elimination half-lives of commonly used drugs].

For 253 frequently used drugs therapeutic and, if data were available, toxic, and fatal plasma concentrations as well as elimination half-lives were compiled in a table. To assess the significance of drug levels for the therapeutic monitoring of patients, it is essential that a collection of data is readily available. In addition, this list can assist the diagnostic assessment in case of intoxications.

Drug Therapy↗
PubMed1985

[Prognosis of preclinical cardiopulmonary resuscitation].

480 preclinical cardiopulmonary resuscitations performed at the Emergency Center of the Federal Military Hospital in Hamburg were analysed. The late success was 7.9%, i.e., 38 patients were released after initially successful resuscitation and subsequent clinical treatment. Prognostic parameters indicating late success were deduced from the data. The age of the patients, call times, and organisational course do not influence the survival rate. For this reason resuscitation should be attempted in every patient, even in those with longer transport times, and if resuscitation proves unsuccessful, the measures should be discontinued at the site. Patients with multiple injuries or craniocerebral trauma, who require resuscitation, and patients with asystole, who are older than 70 years of age, do not survive. Even in young patients, the prognosis for asystole is extremely poor. Although the prognosis for patients with ventricular fibrillation is better, we are of the opinion that the success rate of preclinical cardiopulmonary resuscitations can be improved by systematic use of antiarrhythmics; metaproterenol sulfate should no longer be administered. The prognosis of resuscitated patients with contracted pupils and gasping breath and of patients with severe tachycardia is relatively good. Cardiac arrest after drowning carries best prognosis: 4 of 7 patients survived.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Determination of the time of death by measurement of central brain temperature].

The central brain temperature was recorded in 53 human corpses, stored at constant ambient temperatures between 10 degrees and 30 degrees C. The measurements were started on average 1.6 h post mortem and continued for 8-50 h. The sigmoidal shape of the temperature curves fitted the mathematical model of Marshall and Hoare (1962). This model provides a precise description of the temperature curves. For 44 corpses, studied at temperatures between 10 degrees and 25 degrees C, the time of death was calculated using fixed values for the adaptation parameters of the model. The margins of error for the 95% tolerance limit were +/- 1.5 h up to 6.5 h post mortem, +/- 2.5 h between 6.5 and 10.5 h post mortem and +/- 3.5 h between 10.5 and 13.5 h post mortem. For the recommended practical application a "brain temperature--time of death" nomogram is presented. We found that the rate of cooling was influenced by the amount of hair. Furthermore, it has been argued that the study method could be improved further. In consequence, we expect the central brain temperature to be even more accurate in the calculation of the time of death than has been discussed and shown on the basis of the present material.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Resuscitation injuries].

This investigation is based on 140 autopsy protocols of unsuccessful resuscitation procedures (Resuscitation Center of the Army Hospital, Hamburg); injections and closed-chest cardiac massage had been performed in every case. - Most of the patients had collapsed because of cardiac shock; patients with thoracic or abdominal injury were excluded from this study. In individual cases only, the following severe complications originated from the resuscitation procedures: fracture of a chest vertebra, serial fractures of ribs resulting in an unstable thorax, bilateral haemothorax, tension pneumothorax, rupture of kidney and of spleen (but not of liver). In one case the lesions caused by the resuscitation measures must be considered as responsible for the lethal outcome. Fractures of ribs and/or sternum were found in 45.9% of all cases, the frequency increasing with age. The number of fractured ribs ranged up to 16, mainly 3-8 ribs were fractured. Fractures of rib No. 1 and 8-12 were very rare. The fractures were located between the parasternal and axillary lines.--In a comparative study the site of rib fractures after heavy blunt thoracic injuries was preferably found in the dorsal region.

Adult↗