Biomedical subjects

Guido Flatten

Publications and source records attributed to Guido Flatten.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Cardiovascular rhythms in the 0.15-Hz band: common origin of identical phenomena in man and dog in the reticular formation of the brain stem?

Selected examples from experiments in humans and dogs with time series of reticular neurons, respiration, arterial blood pressure and cutaneous forehead blood content fluctuations were analysed using multiscaled time-frequency distribution, post-event-scan and pointwise transinformation. We found in both experiments a "0.15-Hz rhythm" exhibiting periods of spindle waves (increasing and decreasing amplitudes), phase synchronized with respiration at 1:2 and 1:1 integer number ratios. At times of wave-epochs and n:m phase synchronization, the 0.15-Hz rhythm appeared in heart rate and arterial blood pressure. As phase synchronization of the 0.15-Hz rhythm with respiration was established at a 1:1 integer number ratio, all cardiovascular-respiratory oscillations were synchronized at 0.15 Hz. Analysis of a canine experiment supplied evidence that the emergence of the 0.15-Hz rhythm and n:m phase synchronization appears to result from a decline in the level of the general activity of the organism associated with a decline in the level of activity of reticular neurons in the lower brainstem network. These findings corroborate the notion of the 0.15-Hz rhythm as a marker of the "trophotropic mode of operation" first introduced by W.R. Hess.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

[Synergetics of hypnoid relaxation].

The Autogenic Training (AT) is a well established relaxation technique and psychotherapy tool. We report the use of nonlinear routines, the Multi-scaled Time-Frequency-Distribution (mTFD) for the graphical display of vegetative rhythms, and Post-Event-Scan (PES) for the direct visual identification of coupling between physiological subsystems. Applying these methods to time series of respiration, arterial blood pressure, and cutaneous forehead blood content fluctuations in controls (n = 11) or AT-experts (ATE, n = 11) induced psychomotor drive reduction during orthostatic stress allowed the instantaneous identification of a 0.15 Hz-rhythm. This rhythm prevailed in ATE significantly longer resulting a significantly robust 1 : 1 coupling between cutaneous blood content fluctuations and respiration. Consequently, we hypothesize that the "0.15 Hz-rhythm" in the cutaneous blood content fluctuations described previously which was associated with the subjective experience of profound psychomotor relaxation reflects an order-order transition in peripheral signals of central nervous origin. Results produced with the aid of these analytic tools support the efficacy of the AT induced, synergetic relaxation response.

Blood Pressure↗

PubMed1999

[The Aachen liaison model]

The encounter between physician and patient is impregnated by contemporary theories of disease. From the point of view of psychotherapeutic medicine, the physician-patient-relationship fuses normative and relationship-oriented thinking. The disease as the object of treatment is being supplemented by the care for the patient as a subject. The participating observation and the respective reflection are professional tools of the medical carer. The realisation of this point of view in clinical practice is exemplified using the Aachen Psychosomatic model of Liaison. The importance of this model for interdisciplinary cooperation is being discussed.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Traumatic and psychosocial distress in patients with acute tumors].

For patients, being diagnosed with cancer means being confronted with a life-threatening illness and can thus be considered a traumatic experience. This situation is compounded by the fact that having cancer is usually not an isolated event but is generally a long-term stressor. The aim of the present study was a) the assessment of psychotraumatic and comorbid distress in tumor patients both in the acute stage (T1) and over time (T2), b) the identification of possible protective factors, and c) the identification of risk factors for the development of a posttraumatic stress reaction (PTSR) following the diagnosis of a tumor. The sample consisted of 46 patients who had to undergo surgical treatment for a newly developed tumor for either diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The following psychosocial factors were examined: posttraumatic stress, dissociative reactions, anxiety, depression, cognitive-emotional distress, social support and processing the illness. More than 25 % of the patients demonstrated signs of a clinically relevant PTSR at the acute stage (T1) and almost 40 % did so four months later (T2). Significantly more women showed a PTSR at both points of measurement, but particularly at follow-up. No significant relationship could be found between the type of the tumor at T1 and the emergence of a PTSR at T2. Patients with PTSR at T2 showed higher scores for anxiety and depression. The most important predictors for the development of clinically relevant posttraumatic symptoms at the four-month follow-up examination were female sex, PTSR at T1 as well as elevated levels of depression. The results indicate the clinical relevance of psychotraumatic screening examinations in patients with acute cancer illnesses both for diagnostic as well as therapeutic investigations.

Female↗