Biomedical subjects

M Graw

Publications and source records attributed to M Graw.

40 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1986

An active artificial ureter with autonomous energy supply.

For long-term ureteral replacement an artificial ureter has to be able to pump against the outflow resistance into the bladder at any physiological flow rate (0.2-2.0 ml/min). This demand is satisfied only by active prostheses. The active prosthesis described in this paper is driven by the intra-abdominal pressure fluctuations caused by the respiratory movements. The comparison of in vitro results with the parameters of physiological peristalsis proves the applicability of the prosthesis at physiological conditions. Compared to active prostheses with foreign energy supply, this concept promises less burden for patients.

Artificial Organs↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Fatal child abuse (caused by physical violence) in Germany during 1 January 1985 to 2 October 1990. Results of a multicenter study].

UNLABELLED: No reliable data are available on cases of lethal child abuse (by active force) in the area of Federal Republic of Germany prior to reunification (the former West Germany). In a multicenter study we therefore examined the police and court records for such cases occurring in the period 1 January 1985 to 2 October 1990 in nearly the entire area of Federal Republic of Germany. RESULTS: The study center received information on 58 cases of lethal child abuse. Extrapolated to all institutes of legal medicine, this corresponds to 62 cases in all of West Germany in the period studied. An approximately equal number of unreported cases should be added to this figure. Including unreported cases, at least 20 cases of lethal child abuse occurred per year; thus only one in every two cases ever came to light. Almost two thirds of the victims were younger than one year old. At autopsy 59% exhibited signs of repeated abuse at autopsy. By far the most common cause of death was direct impact from a blunt object, usually to the head. Mostly, the male person to whom the victim relates most closely (father, stepfather, partner of the mother) has killed the child. Twenty-one of the 74 persons charged saw the charges against them dropped or were acquitted due to lack of evidence; 51 received sentences ranging from one year probation to life. In the remaining two cases the outcome of the trial was unknown. Signs of abuse were readily apparent at autopsy in almost all cases. The high number of unreported cases underscores the need to educate medical students and practicing physicians to be on the look-out for signs of abuse and argues for an increase in the rate of autopsy.

Autopsy↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Fatal child neglect in West Germany 1 January 1985 to 2 October 1990. Results of a multicenter study].

UNLABELLED: Up to now reliable data were available on cases of lethal child neglect in the area of the Federal Republic of Germany prior to reunification (the former West Germany). In a multicenter study we therefore examined the police and court records for such cases occurring in the period from 1 January 1985 to 2 October 1990 in nearly the entire area of Federal Republic of Germany. RESULTS: The study center received information on 19 cases of lethal child neglect. Extrapolated to all institutes of legal medicine, this corresponds to 20 cases and thus 3.5 cases a year in the whole of West Germany in the period studied. There is to be added a dark-field which cannot be limited more precisely. However, the cases of fatal child neglect might have occurred much more seldom than fatal child abuse caused by use of physical violence. Slightly more than half the victims were younger than 1 year, the oldest one was 7 10/12 years old. Most frequently the children died of starvation and thirst. Mostly the mothers/nursing mothers killed the child alone or together with the victim's father/stepfather. In the majority of the cases there was not a close affection between parents and child. Nearly 30% female/male perpetrators suffered from chronic alcohol abuse. Only 15 (= 56%) of 27 female/male perpetrators were sentenced to imprisonment (period between 7 months on probation and 10 years). Mitigation circumstances existed for nearly half the persons sentenced to imprisonment. It is true that child neglect is a rarer crime, but the experts of legal medicine always have to indicate errors made during the external inspection of the corpse (among others failures to see indications of neglect).

Cause of Death↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Determining body height by the femur and femoral fragments].

Using a forensic series of human specimens, the reliability of frequently-cited formulas applied to estimate body height on the basis of the femur was examined with regard to their accuracy. Very few proved reliable enough to render accurate results. In most cases, less than half of the actual body heights were found to have predicted within the single estimation interval. The method to be used for such estimations must therefore be selected with great care. Even with partial femur measures, it is possible to estimate reliably body height. In particular, the circumference of the diaphysis centre correlates well with body height. The regression equations calculated in the present study, however, reveal greater errors in estimates than the formulas worked out using the total femur length.

Adolescent↗