Wiener klinische Wochenschrift
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In view of the recent revival of interest in circadian biology and circadian epidemiology at the Medical University of Vienna, it seems appropriate to highlight the rich and pioneering history of circadian research in Austria. Among the forefathers of circadian research in Vienna are Otto Marburg (1874-1948), who discovered important elements of the pineal gland physiology, Robert Hofstätter (1883-1970), who used pineal gland extract in obstetrics/gynecology, and Paul Engel (1907-1997), who discovered that the pineal gland was controlled by light. More recently, Vera Lapin (1920-2007) showed that surgical removal of the pineal gland increased tumor growth, while Franz Waldhauser (*1946) investigated melatonin in conjunction with night work. ⋯ Furthermore, Vienna-born Erhard Haus (1926-2013) pioneered the discovery of the role and importance of melatonin in relation to numerous diseases. This rich pioneering contribution of scientists in Vienna or with roots in Vienna is continued today by a new generation of chronobiologists, epidemiologists and clinicians in Vienna whose new insights contribute to the rapidly developing field of circadian rhythms research. Current topics and contributions relate to the impact of circadian rhythm disruption on health, and the application of chronotherapeutic approaches in clinical and preventive settings.
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Apr 2024
Erwin Deutsch, the Eppinger Clinic and the legacy of the Second Vienna School of Medicine-Continuities of a career.
Erwin Deutsch (1917-1992) was an outstanding representative of Austrian internal medicine after World War II. Little is known about his early biography. Considered a "Jewish half-breed" under Nazi racial laws, he was subjected to harassment during his training. ⋯ Erwin Deutsch significantly contributed to continuity by vehemently calling for the unity of internal medicine after 1945, as it had been practiced in Vienna since the nineteenth century. Discrimination as a "Jewish half-breed" played a paradoxical role in this context-it delayed the start of his independent academic activity and increased his personal dependence on Eppinger; at the same time it spared him military service and enabled him to start his career after 1945 unaffected by denazification measures. Based on unpublished archival material, interviews with contemporary witnesses, and Deutsch's medical publications, this article is the first to offer an account of his early career, from his graduation in 1940, his time at the Eppinger Clinic, compulsory service in Germany during the war and the beginning of his scientific work to his appointment as Ernst Lauda's successor as director of the 1st Medical Clinic in Vienna.
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Apr 2024
25th anniversary of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at the University Medical Center Maribor: advancing hearts, changing lives : A quarter century of commitment.
In 1996, Slovenia witnessed a profound transformation in its cardiac care landscape with the establishment of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at the University Medical Centre Maribor. This momentous milestone heralded the birth of the nation's second heart surgery center revolutionizing cardiovascular care accessibility. ⋯ As the department commemorates its 25th anniversary, this article offers a reflective overview of its establishment, development, growth and future trajectory for further development in an ever-changing era of cardiovascular medicine. The article also highlights the department's active involvement in international collaborations, scientific research, medical education, and innovations in minimally invasive cardiac surgery.