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Biomedical subjects

H Bankl

Publications and source records attributed to H Bankl.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Drugs for young Mozart. Medical treatment of Wolfgang as a child by his father Leopold Mozart].

Leopold Mozart (1719-1787), father of Wolfgang Amadé, had profound medical knowledge and was a passionate medical dilettante. As long as the young Mozart lived with his father and travelled on his concert tours with him, Leopold cared for his son in medical matters. Doctors were only consulted occasionally. In the extensive correspondence of Mozart's father drugs and treatments used for Wolfgang Amadé are reported in detail. This represents a reliable description of the pharmacological therapies of the late 18th century. The mentioned drugs are, as far as possible, viewed from todays medical perspective.

Austria↗
PubMed2001

[Dysplastic bronchial changes as etiology of sudden death. A plea for the necessity of diagnostic autopsy].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Legal regulations of cadaver examination and autopsy require fundamental changes. Regulations that result in up to 75% errors in the recorded cause of death on the death certificate make no sense. As an example, rare disease of bronchial malformation may cause sudden, unexpected death but is only detectable at autopsy with subsequent histological examination. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In an series of 17.204 autopsies (from 1980 to 1999) 894 cases of sudden, unexpected death were examined. In 28 cases (3.1%) only histological examination of the lungs provided the cause of natural death. RESULTS: Bronchial dysplasia may be clinically silent and leads to focal panazinar emphysema and atelectasis due to chronic airflow obstruction and an "air trapping" mechanism. Subsequent pulmonary hypertension results in a cor pulmonale, which may fail suddenly and unexpectedly. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic problems of natural death justifies the performance of an autopsy. This fact should be recognized legally. Using the example of bronchial malformation, it is shown that only an autopsy may reveal the exact cause of death.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Characterization of human prostate mast cells and their increase in periprostatic vein thrombosis.

Recent data suggest that mast cells (MCs) and their products are involved in the pathophysiology of thrombosis. In the present study, we analyzed the number, distribution, and phenotype of prostate MCs and periprostatic MCs in patients with unilateral periprostatic vein thrombosis (PVT) by immunohistochemical analysis and electron microscopy. MCs reacted with monoclonal antibodies to tryptase, chymase, and c-kit/CD117 and stained positively for tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase receptor (uPAR/CD87) but did not express detectable urokinase (uPA) or plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAI-1, PAI-2). We found an increase in the mean +/- SEM number of MCs in PVT compared with control (PVT, 14.36 +/- 1.57 vs control, 5.23 +/- 0.57/mm2). The majority of MCs accumulated in the adventitia of thrombosed veins and showed a decrease in chymase expression. As MCs increase in number in PVT and express a profibrinolytic phenotype, we hypothesize that MC-derived molecules have a role in endogenous fibrinolysis.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

[Dr. Nicolaas Tulp. A critical view of Rembrandt's Anatomy Lesson].

Rembrandt's painting 'The Anatomy Lesson' (1632) is revolutionary in its portrayal of members of the Anatomic Guild. It has an entirely new composition and vividly depicts the dynamics of the event and the interest of the participants. However, the structures of the dissected forearm have been taken from a copy and not from the original. The possibility of anatomic errors is discussed here. A short biography of Dr. Tulp is also included.

Anatomy, Artistic↗
PubMed2000

Comparison of conventional surgical versus Seldinger technique emergency cricothyrotomy performed by inexperienced clinicians.

BACKGROUND: Cricothyrotomy is the ultimate option for a patient with a life-threatening airway problem. METHODS: The authors compared the first-time performance of surgical (group 1) versus Seldinger technique (group 2) cricothyrotomy in cadavers. Intensive care unit physicians (n = 20) performed each procedure on two adult human cadavers. Methods were compared with regard to ease of use and anatomy of the neck of the cadaver. Times to location of the cricothyroid membrane, to tracheal puncture, and to the first ventilation were recorded. Each participant was allowed only one attempt per procedure. A pathologist dissected the neck of each patient and assessed correctness of position of the tube and any injury inflicted. Subjective assessment of technique and cadaver on a visual analog scale from 1 (easiest) to 5 (worst) was conducted by the performer. RESULTS: Age, height, and weight of the cadavers were not different. Subjective assessment of both methods (2.2 in group 1 vs. 2.4 in group 2) and anatomy of the cadavers (2.2 in group 1 vs. 2.4 in group 2) showed no statistically significant difference between both groups. Tracheal placement of the tube was achieved in 70% (n = 14) in group 1 versus 60% (n = 12) in group 2 (P value not significant). Five attempts in group 2 had to be aborted because of kinking of the guide wire. Time intervals (mean +/- SD) were from start to location of the cricothyroid membrane 7 +/- 9 s (group 1) versus 8 +/- 7s (group 2), to tracheal puncture 46 +/- 37s (group 1) versus 30 +/- 28s (group 2), and to first ventilation 102 +/- 42s (group 1) versus 100 +/- 46s (group 2) (P value not significant). CONCLUSIONS: The two methods showed equally poor performance.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[Medical documents on Goethe's death].

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) underwent a heart attack on March 20th 1832 after suffering from a febrile infection of the airways. Two days later he died under the signs of heart failure. A detailed report is given from his physician Dr. Carl Vogel. Extracts of this document are presented and commented. The last words of Goethe remain unclear.

Famous Persons↗
PubMed1999

Mast cells are augmented in deep vein thrombosis and express a profibrinolytic phenotype.

A number of recent data suggest that mast cells (MC) and their products are involved in the pathophysiology of thrombosis. In the current study, we have evaluated the number, distribution, and phenotype of MC in patients with deep vein thrombosis of the lower limb (DVT) (n = 15). Contralateral nonthrombosed limb veins served as control (CO). MC were examined by Giemsa staining and by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against tryptase, chymase, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), urokinase (uPA), urokinase receptor (uPAR), and plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAI-1, PAI-2). We found an increase in the number of tryptase-positive MC in DVT compared with CO (DVT: 9.1+/-1.0 v CO: 4.7+/-0.6 MC/mm2, P < .05). Most of these MC appeared to accumulate in the adventitia of the thrombosed veins, in vicinity of the vasa vasorum. In both DVT and CO, MC reacted with monoclonal antibodies to c-kit, tryptase, and chymase. MC also stained positive for tPA and urokinase receptor, but did not express detectable PAI-1 or PAI-2. As compared with CO, a decreased proportion of MC in DVT was found to stain positive for chymase and tPA. Together, our results show that MC increase in number in DVT and express a profibrinolytic phenotype. We hypothesize that MC and MC-derived profibrinolytic molecules play a role in the pathophysiology of DVT.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence of preterminal pulmonary thromboembolism among patients on maintenance hemodialysis treatment before and after introduction of recombinant erythropoietin.

The prevalence of pulmonary thromboembolism at autopsy was assessed in a retrospective study of a cohort of 185 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis treatment who died in the last decade. The overall frequency of thromboembolism was 12.43% in the dialysis population, which statistically was significantly less than in a control group of 8,051 nondialysis patients (21.77%; P = 0.0023). Moreover, pulmonary thromboembolism was less frequently fatal or contributing to death in the dialysis group than in the control group (P = 0.039). The prevalence of pulmonary thromboembolism in the dialysis group remained statistically unchanged over the 10-year period and was independent of a steady increase in the percentage of patients receiving recombinant erythropoietin therapy and the average hematocrit values. The occurrence of preterminal pulmonary thromboembolism was associated with a shorter period since onset of hemodialysis treatment and with infection as cause of death (P = 0. 031; P = 0.029, respectively). No statistically significant influence of the type of basic renal disease, type of dialysis anticoagulation, or dialysis access could be found. Our data suggest that, at least in the preterminal stage, the introduction of recombinant erythropoietin within the last decade had no substantial influence on the prevalence of pulmonary thromboembolism.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[The Rokitansky morgue. Historical retrospect on the occasion of the anniversary years of Vienna pathology 1996 and 1997].

On the occasion of three anniversaries in 1996 and 1997 the historical background of the early pathology in Vienna is documented. 1796 Aloys Rudolph Vetter became the first official prosector of the "Allgemeines Krankenhaus". Since 1817, i.e., 180 years ago, continuously autopsy reports were documented, written by Rokitansky, Kundrat, Kolisko, Weichselbaum and the discoverer of blood groups Landsteiner. 1827 november 1st, Carl Rokitansky entered the old "Leichenhaus" as a practitioner without academic degree. Of this house exist three different pictures, only one of them is an authentic photograph, the others are drawings. This rare original photograph of the working room from the beginning of Viennese pathology is first published in medical literature in honour to the long tradition of autopsy-performing pathology.

Austria↗
PubMed1997

Expression of fibrinolytic antigens in redistributed cardiac mast cells in auricular thrombosis.

Recent data suggest that auricular thrombosis is associated with an increase and accumulation of mast cells (MC) in the subendothelial region of the upper endocardium. However, the molecular basis and the functional role of MC in this process are not known. In the current study, expression of fibrinolytic and antifibrinolytic antigens in human cardiac MC was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. MC were found to react with antibodies against tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase receptor (uPAR/CD87), but not with antibodies against urokinase (uPA) or plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAI-1, PAI-2). Significant changes were observed when the phenotype of accumulated MC in the upper endocardium in patients with auricular thrombosis was compared with the phenotype of myocardial MC in the same patients or with MC in normal hearts. These redistributed MC stained less intensely with antibodies against tPA and chymase but retained their staining for tryptase and uPAR. Together, these data indicate that cardiac MC are a source of fibrinolytic antigens and that accumulation of MC in auricular thrombosis is associated with phenotypic changes of MC and loss of cellular tPA. It is hypothesized that MC and their products may play a role in endogenous fibrinolysis in auricular thrombosis.

Antifibrinolytic Agents↗
PubMed1997

Sudden, unexpected death of a young marathon runner as a result of bronchial malformation.

Deaths of young athletes are mainly caused by cardiac problems. Noncardiac deaths are infrequent and related to heat stress, drugs, sickle cell trait, and asthma. Herein, we report the case of a 28-year-old man, who collapsed during a marathon race, within sight of the finish line. Despite immediate resuscitation, he died shortly after hospitalization. Autopsy findings revealed neither unambiguous cardiac nor previously published noncardiac causes. Traumatic or drug-related death was excluded as well. We did find, however, focally hyperinflated pulmonary areas adjacent to atelectasis, interstitial emphysema, and mucosal infoldings of several bronchi. Histologically, two-thirds of medium-sized bronchi presented paucity of cartilages. Hence, the resulting flaccidity of the bronchial wall might cause bronchial obstruction, which we related to the genesis of this sudden and unexpected death.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Increase and redistribution of cardiac mast cells in auricular thrombosis. Possible role of kit ligand.

BACKGROUND: The atrial appendage is a predilection site for thrombus formation. Mast cells (MC) are a rich source of mediators that may be involved in the regulation of thrombus formation. We examined number, distribution, and phenotype of MC in thrombosed versus unaffected auricles to elucidate their possible role in auricular thrombosis (AUTHR). METHODS AND RESULTS: Sections of atrial appendages (AUTHR, n = 14; controls (CO), n = 13) were analyzed for MC by Giemsa, toluidine blue, and berberine sulfate stains and by immunohistochemistry. Cardiac MC expressed CD antigens corresponding to the classic MC phenotype as well as tryptase, chymase, and heparin. Thrombosis was associated with a twofold increase in the number of MC in the total appendage (CO, 3.1 +/- 1.0 versus AUTHR, 6.4 +/- 1.1 MC/mm2, P < .01). Moreover, in AUTHR, a redistribution of MC to the upper endocardium was observed (AUTHR, 5.3 +/- 1.4 versus CO, 0.07 +/- 0.15 MC/mm2, P < .01). Mast cell growth factor (MGF) was expressed in the endothelium and subendothelial space of thrombosed appendages but not in the normal endocardium. Overexpression of MGF was accompanied by a weak or absent expression of the MGF receptor c-kit on redistributed MC in AUTHR. Patients with unilateral atrial appendage thrombosis did not exhibit a MC increase or redistribution in the unaffected contralateral appendage. No augmentation of other inflammatory cells was observed. Stimulation of isolated cardiac MC with MGF resulted in mediator release. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that AUTHR is associated with MC increase and redistribution and MGF overexpression. The role of redistributed MC and their mediators in the pathophysiology of atrial thrombosis requires further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Measurements of radiocesium incorporation in 250 deceased patients who died within a year following Chernobyl].

Two months after the nuclear accident of Chernobyl, postmortem measurement of radiocaesium (137 Cs and 134 Cs) were started in different organs to study incorporation, organ distribution, and kinetics. 250 corpses were examined between July 1986 to August 1987 in the Department of pathology, St. Pölten. Highest concentrations were found in skeletal muscles, with a median value of 2.3 pCi/g wet weight (80-90% of the total incorporated dose), followed by liver, lung, spleen, kidneys, thyroid gland, heart, blood and brain, with values between 0.8 and 1.3 pCi/g. No caesium was detectable in fatty tissue. During the observation period an increase in caesium concentration was observed in almost all organs. The concentration almost doubled within 10 months in skeletal muscles. Only the lung demonstrated a decrease in the radiocaesium concentration within the first months, which can be explained only by inhalation of radiocaesium. A statistically significantly higher caesium concentration in most organs was found in females as compared with males. A possible explanation is the known lower urinary caesium concentration in women. Statistically significant correlations were found between caesium concentration and nutritional status, presence of malignancy, and the most recent intravital serum creatinine value.

Accidents↗