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B Fischer

Publications and source records attributed to B Fischer.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Intoxication, the law and criminal responsibility--a sparkling cocktail at times: the case studies of Canada and Germany.

The combination of intoxication and criminal responsibility has been a problem field for legal theory and practice for quite some time. While it has been argued in certain contexts that intoxication reduces or denies criminal responsibility, elsewhere it has been reasoned that intoxicated offenders should be held as (or even more so) legally responsible as sober ones. But even in legal systems where the criminal responsibility of intoxicated offenders is emphasized, legal theory and practice are confronted with the challenge of converting such values into workable jurisprudence, since many intoxicated offenders naturally lack one of the key premises for responsibility for a criminal act, namely mens rea. This article compares the very different legal philosophies and practices that have evolved around the issue of intoxication and criminal responsibility in Canada and Germany. While the Canadian system has long and in a variety of ways tried to reconcile the inherent tensions between the principles of legal culpability and the intent to punish intoxicated offenders in material law, the German system has produced a set of legal tools that allow for a pragmatic and ends-oriented approach. This article concludes that the evolution and profile of these legal schemes is likely linked to the cultural status of alcohol and drinking in the respective system context.

Canada↗
PubMed1998

Assessment of lung volumes using helical CT at inspiration and expiration: comparison with pulmonary function tests.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine lung volumes using inspiratory and expiratory helical CT with two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) postprocessing and to compare the accuracy of those measurements with pulmonary function test results. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy-two patients with suspected pulmonary disease underwent unenhanced helical CT (slice thickness, 8 mm; pitch, 2; increment, 8 mm) at deep inspiration and expiration. Lung volumes were determined using either a 2D approach (semiautomatic segmentation; thresholds, -1024 and -200 H) or a 3D technique (double-threshold seeded volumes of interest; thresholds, -1024 H [lower] and -900, -500, 400, -300, or -200 H [upper]). Pulmonary function tests were available for correlation in all cases. RESULTS: Using inspiratory helical CT, we underestimated total lung capacity by 12%, which had a good correlation (r = .89) with static lung volumes. Volume revealed by expiratory helical CT was equivalent to intrathoracic gas volume, which also exhibited a good correlation (r = .88). However, using expiratory helical CT, we overestimated residual volume by 850 ml with a rather good correlation (r = .77). An emphysema index revealed moderate correlation with the relative forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (inspiration, r = -.66; expiration, r = -.54), whereas the expired volume showed a moderate correlation with the absolute forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (r = .65). The 2D approach showed lower absolute volumes than the 3D technique (mean, 3.6%; r = .99). In the 3D technique, lower upper thresholds led to reduced volumes (170 ml/100 H). CONCLUSION: Inspiratory and expiratory helical CT show high correlation with static lung volumes. The 3D technique (-1024 to -200 H) is recommended for absolute estimation of lung volumes.

Female↗
PubMed1998

[Aspects of transport of pet animals].

The position of pet animal transport is discussed. The different transport situations are compared to the physical and psychological impact criteria as well as to the response of the animal to these impact factors. Comments on the transport practice of pet animals in the area of pet shops are given from the point of view of a veterinarian.

Amphibians↗
PubMed1997

The analysis of saccadic eye movements from gap and overlap paradigms.

This protocol describes the acquisition and evaluation of saccadic eye movement data for use in basic neuroscience research and clinical application. The experimental protocol requires the subject to make saccadic eye movements in response to visual stimuli presented, in random order, on consecutive trials. The gap and overlap paradigms are described together with the instruction to generate pro- or antisaccades. The protocol includes the description of saccade detection, the determination of the beginning, the end, the size, and the velocity of a saccade, the exact way of calculating the proportion of different kinds of trials, and the treatment of erratic or artifact trials. Relevant variables are defined. The results obtained from a large number (300) of subjects of different ages (8-65 years) are described and analysed with respect to their development with age. The protocol allows to test a subject's saccadic status in many different circumstances in particular with respect to diagnostic help in neurology, psychiatry and psychology.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

In vivo characterization of recombinant von Willebrand factor in dogs with von Willebrand disease.

Hereditary von Willebrand factor (vWF ) deficiency in Dutch Kooiker dogs, which have undetectable levels of vWF, causes spontaneous hemorrhage of mucosal surfaces similar to the clinical picture of von Willebrand disease in humans. Therefore, we used this canine model to study the in vivo effects of a new recombinant von Willebrand factor (rvWF ) preparation containing all species of vWF multimers compared with a rvWF fraction containing only low molecular weight multimers (LMW-rvWF ) and with a plasma-derived factor VIII/vWF concentrate (pdvWF ). In the vWF-deficient dogs, the half-life of vWF:Ag was 21.6 and 22.1 hours for rvWF, 7.7 hours for pdvWF, and 9 hours for LMW-rvWF; in vivo recovery of vWF:Ag was 59%, 64%, and 70% for rvWF, 33% for pdvWF and 92% for LMW-rvWF; in vivo recovery of RCoF was 78%, 110%, and 120% for rvWF, and 25% for pdvWF. Both rvWF and pdvWF caused increases in factor VIII, which were sustained even when vWF:Ag had decreased to nearly undetectable levels and only monomeric or dimeric species were detectable on agarose gels. At the dosages used, no effect was seen on bleeding time, but the rate of blood flow from cuticle wounds was reduced after a single bolus administration of rvWF. The rvWF was able to control a severe nose bleed in one dog.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Simplified electrophysiologically directed catheter ablation of recurrent common atrial flutter.

BACKGROUND: Despite verification of bidirectional conduction block after radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation in the inferior vena cava (IVC)-tricuspid annulus (TA) isthmus, recurrence of common atrial flutter is relatively common. Although complete linear reablation is usually performed, we evaluated a simplified electrophysiological strategy selectively targeting recovered conducting isthmus tissue. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (18 men and 3 women, age, 54+/-10 years) with a recurrence of typical atrial flutter 6+/-7 months after an apparently successful catheter ablation in the IVC-TA isthmus prospectively underwent electrophysiologically targeted reablation during flutter. Sites with narrow electrograms or fractionated electrograms interposed between adjacent sites with double potentials considered to represent gaps were ablated without movement of the catheter. Mapping showed that 18 of 21 patients had a single gap. Successful ablation required a single application in 14 patients and, in the group as a whole, a median of one application (mean, 2+/-2; range, 1 to 11) with resultant bidirectional block in 13 of 16. A single narrow electrogram (duration, 48+/-6 ms; amplitude, 0.1+/-0.05 mV) was noted at the successful site in 11, whereas a fractionated electrogram (97+/-32 ms, 0.05+/-0.04 mV, P<.05) was noted in 9. There were four additional recurrences during a follow-up at 7+/-5 months; three were similarly ablated with a median of one pulse. CONCLUSIONS: Transmural ablation lesions in the isthmus can be recognized during flutter by double potentials separated by an isoelectric interval. Postablation recurrent flutter is usually due to a single discrete recovered gap; this is represented by a single or a fractionated potential spanning the isoelectric interval of adjacent double potentials, which can be selectively targeted to minimize repeat ablation.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

On the development of voluntary and reflexive components in human saccade generation.

The saccadic performance of a large number (n = 281) of subjects of different ages (8-70 years) was studied applying two saccade tasks: the prosaccade overlap (PO) task and the antisaccade gap (AG) task. From the PO task, the mean reaction times and the percentage of express saccades were determined for each subject. From the AG task, the mean reaction time of the correct antisaccades and of the erratic prosaccades were measured. In addition, we determined the error rate and the mean correction time, i.e. the time between the end of the first erratic prosaccade and the following corrective antisaccade. These variables were measured separately for stimuli presented (in random order) at the right or left side. While strong correlations were seen between variables for the right and left sides, considerable side asymmetries were obtained from many subjects. A factor analysis revealed that the seven variables (six eye movement variables plus age) were mainly determined by only two factors, V and F. The V factor was dominated by the variables from the AG task (reaction time, correction time, error rate) the F factor by variables from the PO task (reaction time, percentage express saccades) and the reaction time of the errors (prosaccades!) from the AG task. The relationship between the percentage number of express saccades and the percentage number of errors was completely asymmetric: high numbers of express saccades were accompanied by high numbers of errors but not vice versa. Only the variables in the V factor covaried with age. A fast decrease of the antisaccade reaction time (by 50 ms), of the correction times (by 70 ms) and of the error rate (from 60 to 22%) was observed between age 9 and 15 years, followed by a further period of slower decrease until age 25 years. The mean time a subject needed to reach the side opposite to the stimulus as required by the antisaccade task decreased from approximately 350 to 250 ms until age 15 years and decreased further by 20 ms before it increased again to approximately 280 ms. At higher ages, there was a slight indication for a return development. Subjects with high error rates had long antisaccade latencies and needed a long time to reach the opposite side on error trials. The variables obtained from the PO task varied also significantly with age but by smaller amounts. The results are discussed in relation to the subsystems controlling saccade generation: a voluntary and a reflex component the latter being suppressed by active fixation. Both systems seem to develop differentially. The data offer a detailed baseline for clinical studies using the pro- and antisaccade tasks as an indication of functional impairments, circumscribed brain lesions, neurological and psychiatric diseases and cognitive deficits.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Increased expression of microtubule-associated protein 1B in the hippocampus, subiculum, and perforant path of rats treated with a high dose of pentylenetetrazole.

A single administration of the convulsant pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) initiates a complex pattern of long-term changes in microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP1B) expression across the hippocampal formation. Using Northern blot and in situ hybridization we show that the first increases in MAP1B mRNA were detected at 15 h following PTZ administration in the granule cells of the dentate gyrus and CA3 region of the hippocampus and reached a maximum at 44 h. The levels of MAP1B mRNA in the subiculum peaked at later times (5 days). At 72 h MAP1B immunoreactivity was mainly localized in the granule-cell bodies and dentate inner and midmolecular layer as well as in neuronal cell bodies and the stratum lucidum, including the mossy fiber pathway of the CA3 region. By 5-10 days the levels of MAP1B in the pyramidal cells in the CA3 region decreased to very low levels; rather, heavy staining of interneuron-like cells and "strings-of-bead" structures all over the hippocampus and at the stratum oriens/alveus border were seen. The levels of MAP1B in the hippocampus returned to control levels by 20 days after PTZ administration. MAP1B immunoreactivity in the alvear path was also evident at 5 days postinjection at the CA1/alveus border. The intensity of MAP1B staining increased gradually in the perforant path starting at 72 h and persisted at high levels until day 35. Our studies show that (i) MAP1B is a temporal and regional marker for rapid and acute epileptic seizures and (ii) long-term increases in MAP1B in the perforant path might play a role in PTZ-induced seizures.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Reaction times of vertical prosaccades and antisaccades in gap and overlap tasks.

Horizontal saccadic reaction times (SRTs) have been extensively studied over the past 3 decades, concentrating on such topics as the gap effect, express saccades, training effects, and the role of fixation and attention. This study investigates some of these topics with regard to vertical saccades. The reaction times of vertical saccades of 13 subjects were measured using the gap and the overlap paradigms in the prosaccade task (saccade to the stimulus) and the antisaccade task (saccade in the direction opposite to the stimulus). In the gap paradigm, the initial fixation point (FP) was extinguished 200 ms before stimulus onset, while, in the overlap paradigm, the FP remained on during stimulus presentation. With the prosaccade overlap task, it was found that most subjects (10/13)-whether they were previously trained making horizontal saccades or naive-had significantly faster upward saccades compared with their downward saccades. One subject was faster in the downward direction and two were symmetrical. The introduction of the gap reduced the reaction times of the prosaccades, and express saccades were obtained in some naive and most trained subjects. This gap effect was larger for saccades made to the downward target. The strength of the updown asymmetry was more pronounced in the overlap as compared to the gap paradigm. With the antisaccade task, up-down asymmetries were much reduced. Express antisaccades were absent even with the gap paradigm, but reaction times were reduced as compared to the antisaccade overlap paradigm. There was a slight tendency for a larger gap effect of downward saccades. All subjects produced a certain number of erratic prosaccades in the antitasks, more with the gap than with the overlap paradigm. There was a significantly larger gap effect for the erratic prosaccades made to the downward, as compared to the upward, target, due to increased downward SRTs in the overlap paradigm. Three subjects trained in both the horizontal and the vertical direction showed faster SRTs and more express saccades in the horizontal directions as compared to the vertical. It is concluded that different parts of the visual field are differently organized with both directional and nondirectional components in saccade preparation.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Effects of stimulus conditions on the performance of antisaccades in man.

We investigated the effect of different spatial and temporal parameters on the saccadic reaction times (SRTs) of the antisaccades and on the frequency and the SRTs of erratic prosaccades in five adult human subjects. The subjects were instructed to aim their saccades to the side opposite to where a visual go-stimulus occurred. Parameters under consideration were: the gap duration (between 0 and 600 ms, and an overlap paradigm); the stimulus size (sizes of 0.1 degrees, 0.2 degrees, and 0.4 degrees, using the gap 200-ms paradigm); and the stimulus eccentricity (1 degree, 2 degrees, 4 degrees, 8 degrees, and 12 degrees, with the gap 200-ms paradigm). A decrease in the anti SRTs and an increase in the error rate were observed with medium gap durations (200 ms, 250 ms), while the anti-SRTs were longer and the error rates lower with the shorter values (0 ms, 100 ms, and with the overlap paradigm) and with the long values (600 ms). A slight decrease in the anti-SRTs and an increase in the error frequency occurred with increasing eccentricity; the SRT distributions of the errors resembled closely those of prosaccades in corresponding prosaccade tasks with the same eccentricities. The stimulus size had only modest or no effects at all. Analysis of the distributions of the correction times of the erratic prosaccades showed that the intersaccadic intervals could be very short: in the range of express saccades, with a peak at 100 ms or in some subjects even shorter, with a peak at 40-50 ms. It is concluded that the performance of antisaccades is influenced by parameters that interact with the fixation and/or attention system of oculomotor control. Parameters supporting a disengagement of fixation at the time of stimulus onset provoke a reduction of the saccadic reaction times not only of prosaccades but also of antisaccades. Moreover, a certain state of disengagement seems to facilitate the occurrence of reflex-like errors.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium due to malignant subcarinal lymphadenopathy: CT demonstration.

A 52-year-old man had been treated for oral cancer T3 N0 M0 by radical surgery, neck dissection on the right and cervical irradiation (60 Gy). Two months after therapy he presented with dysphagia and hemoptysis. Admission chest X-ray revealed a pneumopericardium. It was caused by a bronchomediastinal fistula due to necrotic metastatic lymph nodes as shown by CT, which also revealed a concomitant pneumomediastinum. The patient died 10 days later from pneumonia. The CT findings were confirmed at autopsy. We conclude that malignant mediastinal lymphadenopathy is a potential cause of pneumopericardium and pneumomediastinum.

Bronchial Fistula↗
PubMed1997

Saccadic reaction times: a statistical analysis of multimodal distributions.

The distributions of saccadic reaction times (SRT) often deviate from unimodal normal distributions. An excess-mass procedure was used to detect peaks in 963 data sets containing 90,927 reaction times from 170 subjects. About 55% showed one, 30% two, 12% three and 3% four peaks. According to their clustering along the reaction time scale the modes could be classified into express (90-120 msec), fast regular (135-170 msec) and slow regular (200-220 msec) modes. Among the unimodal distributions 29% had peaks in the range of the express mode and 46% had peaks in the range of the fast regular mode. Therefore, 87% of the data sets support the notion of saccadic reaction time distributions being the superposition of three modes. All experimental distributions were fitted by as many gamma distributions as determined by the excess-mass test. The significance of the multimodality for saccade generation processes is discussed.

Fixation, Ocular↗
PubMed1997

Drug specific antibodies: T-cell epitope-lipopeptide conjugates are potent adjuvants for small antigens in vivo and in vitro.

To generate conventional or monoclonal antibodies for the serological detection of drugs, antibiotics, toxins and other low molecular mass substances, a suitable and effective adjuvant is needed. Lipopeptides derived from a major component of the bacterial cell wall constitute potent nontoxic and nonpyrogenic immunoadjuvants when mixed with conventional antigens. Here we demonstrate that the synthetic lipopeptide N-palmitoyl-S-[2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2R,S)-propyl]-(R)-cysteinyl- serine (P3CS) coupled to a Th-cell epitope (P3CS-Th) can efficiently enhance the specific immune response against low molecular weight compounds in different species. In the presence of the synthetic lipopeptide P3CS-Th, the peptides which are per se non-immunogenic stimulated a specific humoral immune response in mice after intraperitoneal application. Mixtures containing adjuvants without the Th sequence showed no significant antibody induction. A marked enhancement of the humoral immune response was obtained with the low molecular mass antigens Iturin AL, Herbicolin A and Microcystin (MLR) coupled to poly-l-lysin (MLR-PLL), in rabbits and in chickens. Lipopeptide-Th cell epitope conjugates also constituted adjuvants for the in vitro immunization of either human mononuclear cells or mouse B-cells with MLR-PLL; after fusion of the immunized cultures with the heteromyeloma cell lines CB-F7 or the mouse myeloma cell line SP 2/0, respectively, we observed a significantly increased yield of antibody secreting hybridomas.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1997

Charting WHO--goals for licit and illicit drugs for the year 2000: are we 'on track'?

Both on a global and a regional basis, the World Health Organization (WHO) has set prominent goals for the turn of the millennium on the reduction of harms associated with licit and illicit drugs. Gauging what the world and its different regions are doing with respect to these specific public health goals is hindered by a conceptual problem: there is no clear concept and consistent way of defining or measuring 'harm' related to drugs, licit or illicit. In many instances, 'harm' is equated with substance use prevalence. Often, especially outside the developed world, basic harm data is not even available. Globally, a conceptually clear and consistently applied scheme of harm measurement related to licit and illicit drugs is needed, acknowledging the fact that drug-related harms occur at different individual and social levels as well as over different periods of time. Harms must also be recognized as an outcome of interactions between the substance user, the drug itself, and the physical and social environment. Looking at available macro-indicators of harm, it must be concluded with, we do not seem to be 'on track' globally in reducing harms related to drugs in accordance with the WHO goals. For alcohol and tobacco, trends for increased harm are just starting to show in the developing world, and will worsen over the next couple of decades. For illicit drugs, failing drug control policies have result in dramatically negative developments for public health, especially with respect to HIV infections and drug-related deaths, in the developed as well as developing world.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1997

Differential effects of arginine vasopressin on isolated guinea pig heart function during perfusion at constant flow and constant pressure.

8-Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is a powerful coronary vasoconstrictor as well as peripheral vasoconstrictor, but AVP also is reported to have negative cardiac inotropic and chronotropic effects in vitro and in vivo. Our aim was to examine the direct effects of coronary vasoconstriction by AVP on cardiac function and metabolism in isolated guinea pig hearts perfused either at a constant perfusion pressure (CPP) of 55 mm Hg or at a constant coronary flow (CCF) equal to the initial natural flow at constant pressure. Coronary vasoconstriction was elicited by perfusing hearts with increasing concentrations of AVP in random order. Variables assessed were atrial heart rate (HR), atrioventricular (AV) conduction time, left ventricular pressure (LVP), coronary flow, inflow and outflow O2 tensions, O2 delivery (Do2), oxygen consumption (MVo2), percentage oxygen extraction (%O2E) and cardiac efficiency (HR-LVP/MVo2). We found that AVP increased coronary vascular resistance more at CCF than at CPP. The decrease in coronary flow, as a function of AVP at CPP, produced concentration-dependent decreases in heart rate, LVP, and MVo2, a decrease in Do2/MVo2, increases in AV conduction time and %O2E, and no significant change in cardiac efficiency. In contrast, the increase in perfusion pressure as a function of AVP at CCF caused no change in HR and AV conduction time, much smaller decreases in LVP and Do2/MVo2, a smaller increase in %O2E, an increase rather than a decrease in MVo2, and a decrease in cardiac efficiency. Our results indicate that larger decreases in HR, LVP, MVo2, and Do2/MVo2, and the larger increases in AV conduction time and %O2E with the AVP-induced decrease in CF at CPP are consistent with myocardial depression resulting from reduced global perfusion. However, cardiac efficiency was maintained at CPP because the decreased HR and LVP product (cardiac work) matched the decrease in MVo2. At CCF, AVP did not directly produce myocardial depression, but the small time-dependent decrease in LVP over time was not matched by the increase in MVo2, so that cardiac efficiency was not maintained. The demonstration of an increase in MVo2 despite no change or a decrease in cardiac work by coronary vasoconstriction with AVP at CCF, but not at CPP, suggests that cardiac O2 use is dependent more on maintenance of CF, despite increased resistance to perfusion, rather than on maintenance of perfusion pressure. Our data agree that Gregg's phenomenon results from a hydraulic effect to distend coronary vasculature because when flow is not allowed to decrease during vasoconstriction, MVo2 increases even though HR is unchanged and LVP is slightly decreased. This is supported by the finding that AVP does not increase coronary vascular resistance during CCF as much as during CPP, so that O2 supply is better maintained to match MVo2.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Synthetic 8-ornithine-vasopressin, a clinically used vasoconstrictor, causes cardiac effects mainly via changes in coronary flow.

BACKGROUND: 8-ornithine-vasopressin (ornipressin, POR-8) is used as a potent peripheral vasoconstrictor mainly in combination with local anaesthetics. Because ornipressin causes vasoconstriction, any myocardial depressive effects could be caused indirectly by reduced myocardial perfusion secondary to coronary vasoconstriction, or directly by effects on myocardial tissue. METHODS: On isolated guinea pig hearts, we compared direct effects of ornipressin by perfusion at constant flow with indirect effects by perfusion at constant pressure by Langendorff technique. Ornipressin concentrations tested were 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 IU/L (1 International Unit (IU) ornipressin = 2.8 micrograms) RESULTS: Coronary flow decreased significantly (P < 0.001) in concentration-dependent manner with ornipressin at constant pressure while AV conduction time and percentage O2 extraction (%O2E) increased and heart rate (HR), systolic left ventricular pressure (LVP) and myocardial O2 consumption (MVO2) decreased. Coronary perfusion pressure increased significantly with increasing ornipressin at constant coronary flow while HR and AV time were unchanged and LVP decreased only at the higher concentrations. At an identical or slightly reduced HR LVP product (RPP), MVO2 increased up to 27 +/- 6% at 1.0 IU/L ornipressin during constant flow perfusion. CONCLUSION: An increase in %O2E coupled with a decrease in coronary flow at constant pressure is consistent with myocardial depression secondary to reduced tissue perfusion. These ornipressin-induced effects are not evident at constant coronary flow except for a small but direct myocardial depressant effect on LVP at higher concentrations. The increase of MVO2 at constant flow, despite equal or even reduced work, is described as Gregg's phenomenon and it is probably due to an increase in coronary perfusion pressure during coronary vasoconstriction. Even though extrapolation of our results in humans is questionable, the current indication for use of ornipressin as vasoconstrictor may need to be reconsidered, especially in patients with reduced coronary reserve.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Platelet-derived growth factor-receptor-beta in pig and cattle blastocysts.

Presence and localization of the platelet-derived growth factor-receptor-beta (PDGF-Rbeta) was investigated in preimplantation bovine and porcine embryos. Blastocyst stages before and at the time of elongation were chosen, i.e. 9- to 13-day-old pig blastocysts and 14- to 16-day-old cattle blastocysts. Immunohistochemistry was carried out with monoclonal antibodies directed against the beta-chain of the PDGF receptor. Staining was examined by light microscopy. PDGF-Rbeta was found in all cell types of the investigated stages in both species. Staining was mainly cytoplasmatically with cell membranes most likely being positive as well. Staining was very constant in all the stages and cell types investigated, except for mesoderm cells and for trophoblast cells adjacent to the embryoblast in some pig embryos. Because PDGF-Rbeta is almost constitutively expressed in all cell types of bovine and porcine blastocysts, it is likely that PDGF participates in cellular differentiation and blastocyst elongation preceding implantation in these species.

Animals↗