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Biomedical subjects

G Wirth

Publications and source records attributed to G Wirth.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Chemical investigation of hassium (element 108).

The periodic table provides a classification of the chemical properties of the elements. But for the heaviest elements, the transactinides, this role of the periodic table reaches its limits because increasingly strong relativistic effects on the valence electron shells can induce deviations from known trends in chemical properties. In the case of the first two transactinides, elements 104 and 105, relativistic effects do indeed influence their chemical properties, whereas elements 106 and 107 both behave as expected from their position within the periodic table. Here we report the chemical separation and characterization of only seven detected atoms of element 108 (hassium, Hs), which were generated as isotopes (269)Hs (refs 8, 9) and (270)Hs (ref. 10) in the fusion reaction between (26)Mg and (248)Cm. The hassium atoms are immediately oxidized to a highly volatile oxide, presumably HsO(4), for which we determine an enthalpy of adsorption on our detector surface that is comparable to the adsorption enthalpy determined under identical conditions for the osmium oxide OsO(4). These results provide evidence that the chemical properties of hassium and its lighter homologue osmium are similar, thus confirming that hassium exhibits properties as expected from its position in group 8 of the periodic table.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Palliative care in a small medical clinic in Zurich, Switzerland.

The first palliative unit in the region of Zurich was opened at the Bircher Klinik Susenberg in 1994. The 40-bed clinic specialises in internal medicine, geriatrics and rehabilitation and has given special importance to the holistic care of the patients since its foundation in 1939. In addition to symptom control and terminal care, rehabilitation was integrated into the concept of palliative care at an early stage. Most of the patients are referred from hospitals in or around Zurich, approximately 20% by the family physician. The mean age of palliative patients is around 69 years, and they stay an average of 27 days in the clinic. Close to 40% of them can return home, and the same percentage die during their stay in hospital; the rest are referred to homes for the elderly or nursing homes or to a central hospital.

Female↗
PubMed1997

A critical approach for longitudinal clinical trial of stretch PTFE aortic grafts.

Adaptation of new clinical products should be based upon thorough scientific evaluation of properties and performance in vitro and in vivo. Developmental animal research experimentation is classically carried out by the manufacturer with eventual government approval. However, objective data needs to be recorded during clinical trials including handling characteristics, bleeding, tensile strength, kinking, seamline break, dilatation, anastomotic deterioration, patency, and incorporation. Since April 1991, 1010 stretch polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) aortic grafts have been implanted at our institution and data were recorded prospectively. Six hundred and seven were for elective abdominal aortic aneurysms, 46 for symptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms, 58 for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms, 17 for elective thoracoabdominal aneurysms, 3 for ruptured thoracoabdominal aneurysms and the remainder were for various aortoiliac pathology. Average age of the patients was 69 (range: 10-95), 66% were males, 25% were diabetics. Overall operative mortality was 5.8% (2.9% in elective cases and 26.6% in emergent cases). There were 23 occlusions; 21 were revised and 2 were replaced with axillofemoral bypasses. Estimated blood loss was 784 cc in elective cases and 1918 cc in emergent cases. Grafts were followed by duplex ultrasound or CT scan every 3 months during the first year and every 6 months thereafter. There were no graft dilatations or false aneurysms in this series. There was one graft infection and no perigraft seromas or anastomotic deteriorations during this follow up. Follow up was complete in 94% of these patients. In conclusion, stretch PTFE graft has acceptable handling characteristics, no excessive bleeding at the suture line and had no anastomotic or graft dilatation. This graft material was suitable for thoracic, visceral, renal and abdominal aortic reconstructions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Video-feedback therapy with the flexible nasopharyngoscope. The potentials for modifying velopharyngeal closure and phonation deficiencies in cleft patients].

Psychological interviews with cleft palate patients have revealed why a number of these patients do not profit, or do so only on a limited basis, from conventional speech therapy. They don't control articulation by means of the auditory canal. To treat these patients the video feedback therapy with the nasopharyngoscopy (Witzel et al.) was employed as the initial step. The next step was to expand on this method by establishing indication criteria, necessary diagnostic techniques, and an efficient therapy plan. In this paper a single case study is employed to discuss this method and show the results attained by its use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[The topography of the pancreas of Monodelphis domestica (Marsupialia)].

Shape and position of the pancreas of Monodelphis domestica are described in situ after fixation of the animals with Bouin's fluid. The right lobe of the pancreas is the smallest of the three organ parts. The body of the pancreas is placed in a transverse position in the cranial area of the peritoneal cavity. Ventral access to it is relatively difficult due to the position of the greater parts of the body dorsal to the stomach. In contrast, the left lobe reaches far caudad. Typical for Monodelphis domestica, it extends into the omental veil, offering the possibility of a relatively easy surgical access to pancreas parenchyma in this species. The data are discussed in view of reports about other small laboratory animals. Some remarks are made as a proposal for the procedure of laparotomy.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

[Clinical aspects of progressive systemic scleroderma (PSS). Multicenter studies of 194 patients].

Patients from five German Departments of Dermatology (Düsseldorf, Erlangen, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg and Munich) affected with progressive systemic scleroderma (PSS) were classified and examined. The results of the clinical investigations are presented. In order to guarantee a uniform classification of all patients, the patients were divided into three groups according to the distribution of the affected skin: type I consisted of those with acrosclerosis distal to the wrist, type II had scleroderma extending along the wrist in a proximal direction, and type III had diffuse scleroderma beginning on the trunk. Altogether, 194 patients with PSS were investigated, and the following distribution was found: type I, 32%; type II, 60%; type III, 7%; 1% of the patients could not be classified. The distribution according to the patients' sex and age was in good agreement with published reference data. The incidence, significance, and localization of the major symptoms were investigated. The Raynaud symptom could be identified as being the main clinical symptom in 90% of the patients. Joint involvements (10%-73% depending in the applied parameters), dysphagia (51%), and rest dyspnea (30%) contributed to the main internal symptoms. The extensive clinical, chemical, and immunological results are summarized. In 80% of the cases, high ANA titers could be detected, but these were not correlated to the type of disease.

Adult↗