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Biomedical subjects

R Firsching

Publications and source records attributed to R Firsching.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Pyramidal tract lesions in comatose patients.

In 197 comatose patients transcranial magnetic evoked potentials were registered to investigate the integrity of the pyramidal tract. Findings were compared to somatosensory, visual and auditory evoked potentials. Preservation, abnormalities and absence of evoked potentials were related to survival and non-survival. Transcranial magnetic and somatosensory evoked potentials proved to be of high prognostic value. While the accuracy of prediction of a fatal outcome based on transcranial magnetic evoked potentials was close to 90%, the prediction of survival was less dependable. Transcranial magnetic evoked potentials are concluded to be a valuable adjunct to the neurophysiological assessment of the comatose patient.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[The effects of halothane and nitrous oxide on transcranial magnetic evoked potentials].

The influence of volatile anaesthetic agents on transcranial magnetic motor evoked potentials (TMEP) is not known. The effect of halothane and nitrous oxide on TMEP as recorded from hand was studied in 10 patients undergoing lumbar spinal surgery. In no case were the TMEP documented when halothane and nitrous oxide were administered. After withdrawal of both agents it took up to 29 minutes until the TMEP reappeared. It is concluded that intraoperative monitoring of TMEP is not possible if halothane and nitrous oxide are administered.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗
PubMed1991

Demonstration of elastic fibres with reagents for detection of magnesium.

Investigation of elastic fibres in various human and animal tissues with the reagents quinalizarin, magneson II, and titan yellow for the detection of magnesium revealed striking positive results. After pretreatment of skin and ligamentum flavum with elastase the tests were negative. The results support the supposition that the amount of magnesium in elastic fibres is sufficient for histochemical detection. It is speculated that the marked chelate-forming property of magnesium, or its antagonistic function to calcium, is associated with the elastic property of the fibres.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Russel bodies-containing cells in the Harderian gland of the chicken in relation to different immune conditions.

The modulation of the number of Russel bodies-containing plasma cells in the Harderian gland under different experimentally induced immune conditions is reported. The findings support the conception of an immunologic function of the Harderian gland which is similar to the function of the thymus on the one hand, and to the function of the bursa of Fabricius on the other.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Magnesium in cross bands of injured myocytes.

Magnesium was found to accumulate in cross bands of myocytes due to myofibrillar degeneration in the context of myocardial lesions and was also detected from contraction bands in injured fibres of duck feather muscles. Relevant findings were based on histochemical detection of magnesium with quinalizarin, magnesone, and titan-yellow. Amassed degenerated myofibrils and injured mitochondria were supposed to make for the substrate of magnesium. Elective staining of cross bands by Luxol Fast Blue MBS was assumed to be attributable to bondability to divalent cations.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Significance of eosinophilic granulocytes in chronic subdural hematomas.

Despite a number of studies on infiltration of eosinophilic granulocytes into the outer membrane of chronic subdural hematomas, the significance of this phenomenon is not clear. We investigated histologically the membranes of 40 patients with chronic subdural encapsulated hematoma. Infiltrations with eosinophilic leucocytes were found in the granulation tissue of the inner layer of the outer membrane, either diffuse and sporadic (12 cases) or as massive agglomerations (28 cases). Fifty percent of the patients with marked infiltrations were between 61 and 80 years old. In 5 cases Charcot-Leyden crystals were identified. The numerous functions of the eosinophils play a more important role in repair than in maintenance of fluidity of hematomas.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Multimodality evoked potentials and early prognosis in comatose patients.

In 112 comatose patients somatosensory, visual and auditory evoked potentials were registered within 36 hours after the onset of coma or admission. Main causes of coma were head injury, and intracerebral and subarachnoid haemorrhage. The initial bilateral loss of any evoked potential was associated with a mortality of 98%. Normal somatosensory evoked potentials were associated with a survival rate of 74%, while normal visual and normal auditory evoked potentials had a survival rate of 60% and 66%, respectively. It is concluded that SEPs can be valuable for the prognosis of coma after primary brain lesions.

Brain Injuries↗
PubMed1990

Clinical correlates of erythropoiesis in chronic subdural hematoma.

Histologic investigation was performed in 38 out of 224 chronic subdural hematomas treated at our institution from 1978 to 1988. Nucleated red blood cells were found in 33% of the chronic subdural membranes examined. Additional sections were examined in 14 of these 38 patients, revealing erythroblasts in 57%. The clinical course and radiographic findings in the patients whose membranes contained erythroblasts were compared with those whose specimens did not. Neither history, presentation, size of hematoma, nor postoperative recovery differed from one group to the other. By comparing histologic and clinical findings, we are able to conclude that the production of erythrocytes by chronic subdural membranes is of no surgical significance.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

The brain-stem and 40 Hz middle latency auditory evoked potentials in brain death.

Bilateral recordings of brain stem auditory evoked responses were compared with the 40 Hz middle latency auditory evoked responses in 38 patients either brain dead or in coma grade IV. In 4 cases the 40 Hz auditory evoked potential was partly preserved, while the brain stem auditory evoked potential was not reproducible beyond wave II. Recording of the 40 Hz auditory evoked potential is found to be more sensitive in some rare instances.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1989

Encapsulated subdural hematoma.

In 45 out of 103 cases with chronic subdural hematoma a definite membrane was found. Membranectomy was performed in 37 cases, mostly as a secondary procedure after burr-hole evacuation and closed system drainage. The mortality rate was 6.6% and in the survivors a complete recovery was achieved in 90%. CT monitoring of the diameter of the hematoma and midline shift did not reveal any correlation of size of the hematoma with neurological findings. The indication for membranectomy can, therefore, not be based on radiological findings alone, but on the clinical course of events and with due regard to the CT findings.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Personality after head injury.

For the discussion of post-traumatic so-called full recovery, only a very limited array of injured persons were at our disposal. Two-thirds of these patients are young and their personality needs long, patient rehabilitation. However, duration of coma in young severely injured patients does not seem to mean the same as in elderly patients. Of the last third of our patients the greatest number work as craftsmen. Among the patients with a higher level of education, there were only 7% of patients with full recovery and also 7% with partial recovery, who actually went back to their original work. For the assessment of results, we have to be aware of the important differences of age and level of education. Therefore it would be probably worth-while to continue the work of Jean Brihaye in the Glossary, to define the items of post-traumatic personality, so that for a strongly restricted assessment of results, a limited but clearly defined group of patients can be compared.

Brain Damage, Chronic↗
PubMed1988

Erythropoiesis in chronic subdural haematomas.

In 41 out of 130 encapsulated chronic subdural haematomas erythroblasts were found. As there were no skull fractures and no erythroblasts were found in peripheral blood smears, it is concluded, that these colonies of erythroblasts originate from the granulation tissue during the formation of membranes. The actual output of mature erythrocytes is not known. The influence of erythroblasts on the clinical course of chronic subdural haematomas is uncertain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Acute hydrocephalus in infectious spinal disorder.

Two patients with infectious spinal disorders and increased intracranial pressure are described. One patient with spinal empyema lapsed into coma but improved after external ventricular drainage to relieve increased intracranial pressure. The second patient, who had a severe wound infection after repeated operative stabilization of a cervical spine fracture, developed increased intracranial pressure and subsequent hydrocephalus 6 months after the trauma. The pathogenesis of hydrocephalus in infectious spinal disorder is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Topochemical demonstration of zinc in meningiomas.

In agreement with the atomic absorption tests, histochemical demonstration of zinc in meningiomas using the dithizone method revealed a higher level of zinc in fibromatous meningiomas than in its meningiotheliomatous variant. Calcified psammoma bodies and vessels exhibited an intensely positive reaction on their surface. The metabolic function of zinc in the synthesis of fibre proteins, as well as in metallo-enzymes associated with mineralization, explains these findings.

Dithizone↗
PubMed1987

Contribution to the problem of giant cell astrocytomas.

Histological, immunocytochemical, and biological features of 38 giant cell gliomas were investigated. The invasion of these tumors and its giant cells by histiocytes, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and especially by eosinophilic granulocytes is viewed as an immune response, which may explain a favorable clinical course. Fifty-three percent of the patients were younger than 45 years at the time of surgery. The average postoperative survival of 27.4 months was clearly longer than in glioblastoma. These biological features suggest a differentiation from glioblastoma multiforme. The classification of this entity as "monstrocellular astrocytoma" is proposed.

Adolescent↗