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Biomedical subjects

M Ploner

Publications and source records attributed to M Ploner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Are there ethnic differences of facial movements between Europeans and Asians?

PURPOSE: Due to the widespread use of Free Functional Muscle Transplant (FFMT) around the world to reanimate the paralysed face, it is important to be aware of ethnic differences in facial movements. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Participants in this study were born in Taiwan (n=24) and Austria (n=24). Analyses were conducted applying the digitised three-dimensional video-analysis system. All 48 subjects have never undergone any treatments in the face nor did they have previous histories of craniofacial anomalies. RESULTS: In general, Europeans were observed to have larger facial movements than Asians, from 0.4 mm (e.g. 5.7%) up to 3.9 mm (e.g. 30.3%), on average 1.3 mm+/-0.82 SD (e.g. 20.6%). Particularly the eyebrow, nose and mouth regions show statistically significant larger excursions on average 1.4 mm (e.g. 19.9%), 1.3 mm (e.g. 34.6%) and 3.0 mm (e.g. 30.3%). One exception is in the eye region, where Asians have a larger excursion (1.4 mm, e.g. 15.8%) of the eyelids, due to the larger distances between the upper and lower eyelids in the rest position. CONCLUSION: Europeans have generally larger facial movements than Asians. Particularly the eyebrow, nose and mouth regions show statistically significant larger excursions; exception must be made to the eye region, where Asians have a larger excursion of the eyelids. This is the first step to gather essential information about the ethnical differences in facial movements, a factor that should be considered as FFMT is becoming more popular worldwide.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[Cortical representation of pain].

Contrary to the traditional view that the cerebral cortex is not involved in pain perception an extensive cortical network associated with pain processing has been revealed during the past decades. This network consistently includes the primary (S1) and secondary somatosensory cortices (S2), the insular cortex, and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). These cortical areas are organized in parallel and contribute to different dimensions of pain experience. The S1 cortex is mainly involved in discriminative aspects of pain, while the S2 cortex seems to have an important role in cognitive aspects of pain perception. The insula has been proposed to be involved in autonomic reactions to noxious stimuli and in pain-related learning and memory. The ACC is closely related to pain affect and may subserve the integration of general affect, cognition, and response selection. Furthermore, first pain appears to be particularly related to activation of S1 whereas second pain is closely related to ACC activation.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Three-dimensional video-analysis of facial movements in healthy volunteers.

The aim of this study was to determine the mean distances of facial movements in 24 healthy individuals aged between 22 and 70 years, using the digitised three-dimensional video-analysis system developed by Frey et al. The subjects were divided into three groups of eight. The first group consisted of individuals aged between 20 and 30 years (mean+/-s.d.=25.0+/-2.33 years). Subjects in the second group were aged between 40 and 50 years (mean+/-s.d.=46.8+/-2.53 years), and the third group consisted of subjects aged between 60 and 70 years (mean+/-s.d.=63.6+/-3.07 years). In all groups the sexes were equally represented. No subject had had treatment to the face, nor did they have paralysis, scars or diseases of the skin. Males showed larger movements of the face than females, on average by 1.40+/-0.73 mm (15.08%). Subjects aged between 60 and 70 years demonstrated the largest movements of the face. The evaluation of facial movements in 24 healthy volunteers showed that sex and age affect facial dynamics. Thus study generated three-dimensional standard values for healthy facial movements.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[Therapy of gallbladder carcinoma. Experience of a central hospital].

INTRODUCTION: There are various options for the treatment of gallbladder carcinoma; however, only radical resection offers a chance for prolonged survival. METHODS: The aim of this study was to analyze retrospectively patients suffering from gallbladder carcinoma in a central hospital in Austria. From 1986 to 1999, 77 patients were treated in this surgical department. The median age of the patients was 71.3 years. RESULTS: In 28 patients the cancer was resected and 22 persons underwent palliative surgery. An explorative laparotomy was performed in 16 patients. Eleven patients had no surgical therapy, 10 persons received gemcitabine or a combination chemotherapy regimen consisting of leucoverin, 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C. The median survival of patients without chemotherapy following radical resection (n = 15) was 10.7 months (one patient with metastatic cancer was excluded) and for patients with tumor remaining margins (n = 8) 3.2 months (P = 0.023). Without chemotherapy the median patient survival following palliative resection (n = 17) and explorative laparotomy (n = 15) was 1.5 months and 2.1 months. The median survival without surgical therapy was 1.6 months. Chemotherapy was administered to four of the resected patients (median survival 16.5 months), in five patients following palliative surgery and in one patient after explorative laparotomy (median survival 4.3 months) (P = 0.034). In a multivariate analysis, tumor resection (P = 0.034) and tumor-free resection margins (P = 0.025) proved to be the most important determinants for patient survival. CONCLUSION: Tumor resection is the most important factor for a prolonged patient survival. Following radical resection in an early tumor stage and combining this approach with an established chemotherapy, patient survival could be increased significantly.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Administration of proteolytic enzymes bromelain and trypsin diminish the number of CD4+ cells and the interferon-gamma response in Peyer's patches and spleen in endotoxemic balb/c mice.

Recent publications revealed that bromelain exerts a marked effect on T-cell response by inhibiting T-cell signal transduction. These experimental studies may help to explain former clinical investigations showing that Phlogenzym (PHL), a preparation consisting of the proteases bromelain and trypsin and the antioxidant rutosid, ameliorate certain diseases with an underlying inflammatory process. In this study, we showed that orally administered PHL significantly reduced lymphocyte subpopulations in Peyer's patches (PPs) of healthy and endotoxemic mice. Similarly, the number of splenic lymphocytes in endotoxin-boostered mice was significantly lowered by PHL. The effect of PHL was more pronounced on T cells than on B cells leading especially to a diminution of CD4+ cells. Moreover, PHL pretreatment decreased IFN-gamma mRNA in PPs and spleen of endotoxemic mice. These results reveal that PHL may ameliorate inflammatory process by reducing the number of CD4+ cells and by diminishing INF-gamma mRNA levels.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Serum cholinesterase activity reflects morbidity in burned patients.

Blood samples of 200 patients with thermal injuries were drawn apparently to determine the trend of the cholinesterase activity. In relation to the severity of the injury, a characteristic decrease was noted during the first days after admission. A recovery to normal values was achieved in all survivors (150 patients) after a proportionate period of time, but in the group of non-survivors (50 patients), no complete recovery to normal levels was found. Furthermore, a significant relationship between serum cholinesterase activity and the severity of morbidity was detected, the fall of the cholinesterase activity at the very beginning was significantly higher (P<0.004) in patients who died (1.3kU/l) than in patients who survived (0.7kU/l). Already 24h after admission, the mean activity was significantly lower (P<0.003) in non-survivors (2.5kU/l) than in survivors (3.2kU/l). It seems that the serum cholinesterase is a sensitive indicator for the morbidity of patients with severe burn injuries.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2002

Diltiazem during reperfusion preserves high energy phosphates by protection of mitochondrial integrity.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the effects of diltiazem administered during reperfusion on hemodynamic, metabolic, and ultrastructural postischemic outcome. METHODS: Hearts of 38 adult White New Zealand rabbits underwent 60 min of global cold ischemia followed by 40 min of reperfusion in an erythrocyte perfused isolated working heart model. Hearts were randomly assigned to four groups and received diltiazem (0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 micromol/l) during reperfusion only, or served as control. RESULTS: The postischemic time courses of heart rate, aortic flow, and external stroke work clearly reflected the dose-dependent negative chronotropic and inotropic efficacy of diltiazem in the two higher concentrations. High energy phosphates (HEP) determined from myocardial biopsies taken after 40 min of reperfusion were significantly better preserved in all treatment groups compared to control hearts. Similarly ultrastructural grading of mitochondria and myofilaments revealed a significant reduction of reperfusion injury in hearts that received diltiazem compared to control. CONCLUSIONS: Diltiazem protects mitochondrial integrity and function, thereby preserving myocardial HEP levels. Only low dose diltiazem (0.1 micromol/l) during reperfusion combines both, optimal mitochondrial preservation with minimal changes in hemodynamics.

Adenine Nucleotides↗
PubMed2002

Long-term follow-up of surgically treated gallbladder cancer patients.

AIMS: Palliative attempts have traditionally led treatment of gallbladder cancer but resection offers the only chance for long-term survival. This study investigates the impact of surgery with curative intent in gallbladder cancer treatment and evaluates prognostic factors for survival. METHODS: Two hundred and sixty-seven patients were admitted for surgical therapy. Sixty received resection with curative intent and form the basis of this analysis. RESULTS: R0 resection (n=45) was a highly significant independent survival predictor (P<0.001). All 5-year survivors (n=10) had tumour-free resection margins. Early T stage (P=0.017) and highly differentiated cancer (P=0.008) had a significant better outcome. Nodal spreading increased by local tumour extension and lymphatic involvement decreased patient survival (P=0.018). Patients' age (>75 years) was without influence on long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term survival is possible both in elderly patients and in advanced cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Survival benefit of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in patients on the waiting list for cardiac transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) effectively reduces sudden cardiac death in patients with severe LV dysfunction. Effect of ICD therapy on total mortality in patients on the waiting list for cardiac transplantation is still uncertain. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively analyzed 854 unselected consecutive patients (ICD therapy, n=102; 11.9%) on the waiting list for cardiac transplantation between January 1992 and March 2000. Actuarial 12-month total mortality rate on the waiting list was 24.2%; sudden cardiac death was the predominant mode of death (66.7% of total deaths). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed improved survival for ICD (total mortality, 13.2%) compared with non-ICD (total mortality, 25.8%) patients (log rank, P=0.03). No event of sudden death occurred in ICD patients, whereas in non-ICD patients, 12-month sudden death rate was 20.1% (P=0.0001). Nonsudden death rates did not differ between ICD and non-ICD patients (P=0.16). A Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated that absence of an ICD was a powerful independent predictor of total mortality (P=0.02; relative risk, 2.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.16 to 4.17) and sudden cardiac death (P<0.0001; infinite relative risk) on the waiting list. CONCLUSIONS: ICD therapy, because it prevents sudden cardiac death, significantly improves survival on the waiting list for cardiac transplantation. The present study supports the use of ICDs as a bridge to transplantation in patients who are at risk of sudden cardiac death. Prospective randomized trials are needed to evaluate the potential benefit of prophylactic ICD therapy as a bridge to transplantation in all patients on cardiac transplant waiting lists.

Comorbidity↗
PubMed2001

Target vessel revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass in elderly high-risk patients.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients over 75 years is associated with high operative risk. Target vessel revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass is a promising option for highly selected, older patients. However, the outcome remains uncertain. METHODS: We investigated 44 patients over 75 years, matched for preoperative risk and left ventricular function, who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting either with or without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We analyzed patients characteristics, Parsonnet score, EuroSCORE, short as well as midterm outcome and quality of life (freedom from recurrence of angina, anti-anginal therapy, sf36 test). RESULTS: Perioperative mortality was higher in the patient group operated with CPB (15.9) as compared to patients operated without CPB (4.5%, p = 0.0226). Patients operated with cardiopulmonary bypass received more grafts (3.1 +/- 0.1) than patients operated without cardiopulmonary bypass (1.6 +/- 0.1, p = 0.0001) and and were more likely to undergo complete revascularization (with CPB 100%, without CPB 63.6%, p = 0.0010). Perioperative complications were more frequent and midterm survival was worse in the patient group operated with CPB (log rank p = 0.0228). Quality of life was comparable in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The concept of incomplete target vessel revascularization of the culprit lesion seems to be a promising option for selected high-risk patients, predominantly due to lower perioperative mortality.

Aged↗