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P Betz

Publications and source records attributed to P Betz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Immunohistochemical investigations on the course of astroglial GFAP expression following human brain injury.

The course of GFAP expression by astrocytes has been immunohistochemically investigated during the first 30 weeks after human brain injury. In order to provide reliable data for a forensic wound age estimation, a quantitative morphometric analysis was performed considering the different topographic regions of the cortex as well as of the white matter. Compared to the GFAP immunoreactivity in unaltered control tissue, significantly increased numbers of GFAP positive astroglial cells could be detected adjacent to the cortical contusion from 1 day up to 4 weeks after brain injury.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Suicide in a lions' den.

The case of a young man who committed suicide in a lions' den of a zoo is presented. Special attention is paid to the injury pattern which was characterised by numerous penetrating, stab-like wounds and lesions. The remarkable circumstances and history of this incident are most likely connected to a psychological or psychiatric disorder of the victim.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

A new pentaplex PCR system for forensic casework analysis.

In 1998 the Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany (BKA) established a central genetic database of offenders and suspects to facilitate comparisons with biological samples from future criminal offences. The five obligatory short tandem repeat (STR) loci in this database (TH01, SE33, vWA, FGA and D21S11) were co-amplified in a new PCR pentaplex analysing system together with the sex-specific locus amelogenin. Due to overlapping fragment sizes, amplification products were fluorescent dye-labelled with different colours, separated by electrophoresis and detected directly using the ABI PRISM 310 Genetic Analyzer. Reproducible and reliable results were obtained from as low as 125 pg template DNA, indicating high specificity and sensitivity of the assay. Environmental studies and enzymatic digest with DNase I revealed an excellent stability of the pentaplex system with typeable results even in cases of partially degraded DNA. Complete and reproducible DNA typing was possible in blood-stain mixtures with the minor component as low as 10%. Mean stutter peak intensities were analysed for all loci and ranged from 2.7 +/- 0.8% (TH01) to 10.6 +/- 1.6% (vWA) of the main signal intensity. Allele frequencies were determined in a North Bavarian population sample (n = 121). The combination of five systems resulted in a mean exclusion chance of 99.86% and a power of discrimination of 99.999996%. No deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium could be found.

Alleles↗
PubMed2000

The time course of the vascular response to human brain injury--an immunohistochemical study.

In a total of 104 individuals who had sustained traumatic brain injury (TBI), the time-dependent vascular response was investigated at the injured cortical area during the first 30 weeks after the trauma. The immunohistochemical staining of the cerebral blood vessels was performed with antibodies against laminin, type IV collagen, tenascin, thrombomodulin and factor VIII associated antigen. Compared to the immunoreactivity in unaltered control tissue, a significantly increased vascular expression could be detected in cortical contusions after a postinfliction interval of at least 3 h for factor VIII, after 1.6 days for tenascin or after 6.8 days for thrombomodulin, whereas the immunostaining for laminin and type IV collagen was regularly positive even in the vascular endothelium of uninjured brain tissue.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Lipid intervention and coronary heart disease in men less than 56 years of age. The Coronary Intervention Study: CIS].

UNLABELLED: The CIS was undertaken with the aim to evaluate the effects of lipid modifications on angiographic progression and regression of CAD in patients with CAD and hypercholesterolemia. The design included a multicenter randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled comparison, with target and safety limits for adjusting the trial medication depending on the LDL cholesterol level (LDL-C) achieved, i.e., up to 40 mg of simvastatin (S) or placebo (P) daily, add-on medication (up to 3 x 4 g Colestyramin), and diet counselling. Male patients, average age 49 (< or = 56) years, were included with angiographic CAD and a screening total cholesterol of 207-350 mg/dl, who were not due to undergo coronary bypass surgery or PTCA, who did not suffer from serious other disease (e.g., diabetes mellitus), and who had not undergone coronary bypass surgery previously. RESULTS: All baseline variables were comparable in the treatment groups, with 129 patients taking S and 125 taking P. Of these 254 patients 217 had their final study visit and 207 underwent a second angiography after an average treatment time of 2.3 years under an average daily dose of 37 mg S. 205 pairs of films were available for analysis. Vital information was obtained of all patients until closure of the data bank, half a year after the last study angiography. Five deaths occurred within the study period, 12 through March 15, 1995 (S: 1/6, P: 4/6). 37 patients (S: 18, P: 19) discontinued trial drug and protocol. Concomitant CAD medication was comparable in both groups, except lipid-lowering add-on medication which was significantly higher in the P group (38% versus 13%). Significant changes in lipid levels, on treatment, were observed in the S group amounting to a mean difference in LDL-C of -35%, in Apo-Protein B (ApoB) of -30%, in VLDL-C of -37%, and in triglycerides (TG) of -27%, and in HDL-C of +6%, in comparison to the control group; these differences were even greater in 137 fully compliant patients: -41, -36, -39, -31, and +7%, respectively. Progression in the S group was significantly less, as defined by the two primary target criteria: 1) the minimum obstruction diameter (MOD), determined by quantitative coronary angiography (QCA), decreased about five times less in comparison to the control group (S: by -0.017; P: -0.0954 mm), and 2) the standardized visual global change score (GCS) deteriorated almost three times less in the S group (by +0.20) than in the P group (+0.58). Of the secondary target criteria, the mean lumen diameter (QCA) also developed a significant difference (S: -0.20; P: +0.23 mm; p = 0.0006) with a trend toward regression in the S group. The QCA-%-stenosis deteriorated three- to four-times less in the S group as compared to the control group (S: by 0.69%; P: by 2.73%; p = 0.0022), and the number of patients with angiographic progression was nearly halved (S: 30%; P: 56%; p < 0.0000). These differences were determined by intention to treat analysis (ITT), and they were obtained in spite of lipid lowering add-on medication in 38% of the P patients; they turned out to be more pronounced in 137 fully compliant patients, in an analysis "as treated". The mean decrease in LDL-C serum level caused by S was significantly correlated to the decrease in progression, and multivariate regression analysis of both treatment groups identified LDL-C (or ApoB) and TG as independent predictors of progression. Progression appeared to be most pronounced in low and medium sized lesions, and the beneficial effect of lipid intervention dominated in lesions with 12-56% QCA stenosis severity. A small fraction of patients who suffered from exercise-induced angina, with ST-segment-depression at the beginning of the study, experienced a significant improvement under S as compared to P treatment. Although the study was not designed to show differences in clinical events, the combined number of all major cardiovascular events tended to be less frequent in the S than in the C gr

Anticholesteremic Agents↗
PubMed1999

Population genetics of nine short tandem repeat (STR) loci - DNA typing using the AmpFlSTR profiler PCR amplification kit.

Frequency data for nine short tandem repeat (STR) loci were collected from 130 unrelated Caucasians from North Bavaria using the AmpFlSTR Profiler multiplex system. The loci D3S1358, vWA, FGA, TH01, TPOX, CSF1PO, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820 and the sex test amelogenin were investigated. Allele frequencies, rates of heterozygosity and the discrimination power of the combined systems were calculated by statistical analysis. Except for D5S818 all loci met Hardy-Weinberg expectations.

DNA↗
PubMed1999

A quantitative immunohistochemical study on the time-dependent course of acute inflammatory cellular response to human brain injury.

The time-dependent inflammatory cell reaction in human cortical contusions has been investigated during the first 30 weeks after blunt head injury. Immunohistochemical staining was carried out using CD 15 for granulocytes and LCA, CD 3 and UCHL-1 for mononuclear leucocytes. In order to provide reliable data for a forensic wound age estimation, the intensity of the cellular reaction was evaluated with a quantitative image analysis system. CD 15-labelled granulocytes were detectable earliest 10 min after brain injury, whereas significantly increased numbers of mononuclear leucocytes occurred in cortical contusions after a postinfliction interval of at least 1.1 days (LCA), 2 days (CD 3) or 3.7 days (UCHL-1), respectively.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

A contribution to a possible differentiation between SIDS and asphyxiation.

The singular and combined appearance of conjunctival petechiae, of acute pulmonary emphysema and of signs of aspiration was evaluated in resuscitated and non-resuscitated children dying of SIDS (n = 115), of other causes of natural death (n = 17), of severe head injury (n = 10) and of asphyxiation/strangulation (n = 7). Conjunctival petechiae occurred in all of the asphyxiated victims and in five out of 10 children dying of severe head injury, but were exclusively found in four resuscitated babies and one baby with questionable resuscitation trials of the SIDS-group (4%), furthermore in one resuscitated child dying of a congenital heart defect. Acute pulmonary emphysema was detected in six out of the seven children of the asphyxiation/strangulation group, in two resuscitated children with head injury and in five resuscitated babies dying of SIDS. Both parameters were observed exclusively in the asphyxiation/strangulation group (71% of the cases) but not in the control cases. Therefore, it can be concluded that the simultaneous appearance of conjunctival petechiae and of acute pulmonary emphysema strongly indicates death by asphyxiation.

Asphyxia↗
PubMed1998

The time-related expression of p53 protein in human skin wounds--a quantitative immunohistochemical analysis.

The time-dependent expression of p53 protein during wound healing has been investigated by immunochemistry in fibroblastic cells of skin wounds ranging between a few minutes and 11 weeks old. When compared to uninjured skin, an increased expression of p53 was found earliest in a wound with a postinfliction interval of 3 days. The ratio (r) of positively stained cells in relation to the total number of fibroblastic cells in the wound area of this specimen was about 0.2. A considerable increase in the expression of p53 (r > 0.5) was first found in a wound aged 8 days and in wounds with postinfliction intervals ranging between 3 and 11 weeks, where the ratio of positive cells was between 0.40 and 0.64. Therefore, it can be calculated that r-values of at least 0.5 indicate a postinfliction interval of approximately 1 week or more. Since comparably low numbers of positively stained fibroblastic cells were found in specimens with an advanced wound duration, reliable information for a forensic wound age estimation can only be provided by positive results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Sudden death associated with myxomatous transformation of the mitral valve in an 8-year-old boy.

An 8-year-old boy suffered a cardiac arrest while playing soccer. In contrast to a similar event at the age of 5 years, resuscitation was not successful. At autopsy, the cardiac findings were of a myxomatous transformation of the mitral valve with lacerations of the posterior cusp and the left vestibular endocardium and left ventricular hypertrophy. Sudden death due to arrhythmias in association with a myxomatous mitral valve is a rare event with only about 100 cases published world-wide. To our knowledge, the present case probably reports the youngest affected individual who died of this pathological condition.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗
PubMed1998

AV nodal re-entry tachycardia in elderly patients: clinical presentation and results of radiofrequency catheter ablation therapy.

BACKGROUND: Modification of AV nodal conduction by means of radiofrequency catheter ablation has become the accepted mode of therapy for patients with symptomatic AV nodal re-entry tachycardias (AVN-RT). The published results demonstrate high success rates and a low incidence of severe complications. However, published series have primarily dealt with relatively young patient populations. Little is known about the efficacy and risks of radiofrequency catheter ablation of AVN-RT in the elderly. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed our data of 404 patients who underwent a catheter ablation therapy for AVN-RT between 1992 and June 1997. Nine patients were excluded from further analysis because of presence of more than one tachycardia mechanism. The ablation procedure was performed at the time of the diagnostic electrophysiologic study. RESULTS: The mean age of 395 patients undergoing catheter ablation for AVN-RT was 52.3 years (19-90 years); 85 patients were 65 years old or older. Compared with the younger subgroup, these elderly patients (mean age 70.4 years) more often had organic heart disease (coronary heart disease with or without myocardial infarction 19.3% versus 2.6%; P < 0.02), more often had syncopes or presyncopes with AVN-RT (43.2% versus 29.8%; P < 0.05), had more hospitalisations and emergency treatments because of their symptoms (56.8% versus 39.5%; P < 0.05) although the cycle length of the induced AVN-RT was significantly shorter in the younger patient group (325 ms versus 368 ms; P < 0.001). Slow pathway ablation was performed in 94% of the young and 82% of the elderly (P < 0.001). In 17.5% of the elderly patients versus 6.5% of the young (P < 0.05) the fast pathway approach was chosen as the first therapy or tried after an unsuccessful approach to the slow pathway. The overall success rate (96.8% in the young and 95.3% in the elderly) and the recurrence rate (5.8% in the elderly versus 4.9% in the young) were similar in both patient groups. There were no differences regarding the total procedure of fluoroscopy time, radiation exposure or the incidence of high-degree AV-block necessitating pacemaker implantation (2.3% in the elderly versus 1.6% in the young). CONCLUSIONS: In patients older than 65 years, AVN-RT may lead to severe, sometimes life-threatening symptoms, despite the fact that the tachycardia is not as fast as in younger patients. Radiofrequency catheter ablation can be performed effectively and safely and should be offered to these patients as first-choice therapy.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Fractures at the base of the skull in gunshots to the head.

The distribution of fractures at the base of the skull was investigated in 147 victims with lethal head shot wounds caused by handguns or small calibre low-velocity rifles. In individuals without an impact of the projectile at the base of the skull, bullets lodged in the head were found up to a calibre of 7.65 mm (pistol) or .38 special (revolver), respectively. In cases with a trajectory through the cranial fossae positive results were obtained up to 9 mm (pistol) or even .45 (revolver). Fractures in anterior parts of the base of the skull were a rather frequent finding (82% of the cases) and could also be observed in victims shot by low energy guns. Fracture lines in particular in all cranial fossae, however, indicate a comparatively high energy missile and were found in victims without a direct impact of the bullet at the base of the skull after the use of guns with a calibre of at least 7.65 mm. Severe fractures leading to a hinge-like mobility of the base of the skull point also to projectiles of rather high energy. On the other hand, such fractures were also found in a victim with a contact shot by a .22 rifle. Therefore, it must be emphasized that individual factors such as the constitution of the base of the skull, the path of the bullet, technical parameters of the gun and ammunition used are of great importance if conclusions are to be drawn on an unknown gun by evaluation of fractures at the base of the skull.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Radial alveolar count as a tool for the estimation of fetal age.

A total of 53 normal fetuses with a gestational age ranging from 15 up to 39 weeks was investigated and the radial alveolar count (RAC) was estimated as a parameter for lung maturation. Values lower than 2.0 could only be found in lungs of fetuses aged less than 18 weeks. Between 18 and 25 weeks of gestation, relatively constant levels of RAC were observed but with considerable interindividual variation. In fetuses with a gestational age of more than 25 and especially 30 weeks, a slight or rapid increase in RAC occurred respectively. Values lower than 3.0 were found up to a fetal age of less than 30 weeks and a RAC of more than 4.0 was only found in lungs of fetuses aged more than 30 weeks. Values exceeding 6.0 occurred only in fetuses at near full-term birth. Since the estimation of RAC overcomes the effects of varying degrees of alveolar collapse, such an analysis also seems to be useful for the determination for fetal age in cases of advanced putrefaction.

Gestational Age↗
PubMed1997

Delayed death after attempted suicide by hanging.

In cases of hanging death usually occurs immediately after strangulation and is caused by ischemic cerebral damage due to neck compression in some cases in combination with respiratory obstruction. We report on a case of delayed death 4 days after an attempted suicide by hanging where the individual was conscious and showed no neurological abnormalities. The cause of death was a cerebral infarction following a traumatic thrombosis of the subtotally ruptured carotid arteries.

Asphyxia↗
PubMed1997

Retrospective study on skin reddenings and petechiae in the eyelids and the conjunctivae in forensic physical examinations.

Skin reddening with or without additional changes such as pinpoint intracutaneous hemorrhages and/or minute superficial scratches was observed in 165 out of 739 physical examinations (reddening with additional changes: n = 81; reddening only: n = 84). The most common site where reddening was observed was the neck region (reddening with additional changes: n = 30; reddening only: n = 34). In over 85% of the cases, the postinfliction interval (Pi) was < or = 1 day, and there were 12 and 10 cases with 1 < Pi < or = 3 days, respectively. Among these 22 cases, there were 5 cases with 2 < Pi < or = 3 days, (reddening with additional changes: n = 4; reddening only: n = 1). The maximum Pis were almost 3 days, and 2 days and 13 h, respectively. These results demonstrate that reddening of the skin with and that without additional changes (in particular petechiae) were detectable up to approximately 3 and 2 days after the event, respectively. Furthermore, in 17 out of 64 cases with reddening in the neck, petechial hemorrhages were seen in the eyelids and/or conjunctivae (reddening with additional changes: n = 10; reddening only: n = 7). The maximum Pi in which petechial hemorrhages were detectable in the eyelids and/or the palpebral conjunctivae was 1 day and 21 h. The present study indicates that physical examinations within 2 or 3 days after the event seem to be more suitable to find skin reddening and/or petechiae in the eye lids and/or the conjunctivae.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1997

Detection of cell death in human skin wounds of various ages by an in situ end labeling of nuclear DNA fragments.

The time-dependent appearance of signs of cell death was investigated in human skin wounds using in situ end labeling of DNA fragments (ISEL). In the dermal layer an average of not more than 0.3 positively stained fibroblastic cells/0.01 cm x 0.01 cm was found up to a postinfliction interval of approximately 6 h. Average numbers exceeding 1 positive cell/0.01 cm x 0.01 cm were first detectable in a skin wound after 24 h. Therefore, average numbers greater than 1 labeled cell/ 0.01 cm x 0.01 cm indicate a postinfliction interval of approximately 1 day. An increase in the average number of positively stained cells occurred with increasing wound age. Values exceeding 3 cells/0.01 cm x 0.01 cm were first detectable 19 days after wound infliction. Accordingly, values of more than 3 labeled cells indicate a postinfliction interval of approximately 3 weeks or more. Since low numbers of labeled fibroblastic cells or even negative results were found in wounds of advanced age, only positive results provide information which can be useful for a forensic age estimation of human skin wounds.

Adolescent↗