Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
-
Robert Louis Stevenson for many years had to lead the life of an invalid. He most likely suffered from hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia rather than from tuberculosis. His illness, however, did not prevent him from writing one of the most famous horror novels: "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde". ⋯ Reflecting on Stevenson's novella, the macabre and mystical setting serves as a stage to display good and evil, light and shadow - the eternal duality of human existence. The reader senses that we all inherit a destructive force, but we long to be able to control its momentum. It dawns upon us, however, that the diabolical promise given to Adam and Eve in the biblical creation story, i. e. "you will be like God and know what is good and evil" will remain wishful thinking.
-
The German term "Schambein" (literally "shame bone") for the pubic bone, the anterior part of the pelvis, takes its name from its proximity to the sexual organs. At least the female external genitalia also carry German names built with the term "Scham" (shame). ⋯ This also applies to the German term "Schambein" - nobody needs to be ashamed of the pubic bone. We therefore suggest that it should be renamed as "Schoßbein" (literally "lap bone"), a term that is neutral and correctly describes its anatomical location.
-
Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Dec 2022
[Medicine and epidemiology require the distinction between curare and sanare].
What medicine is and what it does, both in its individual form of medical practice and in its collective form as public health and epidemiology, can only be understood if the underlying concept of nature is understood. The essential distinction is that between producing and produced nature, between natura naturans and natura naturata. ⋯ It would be necessary to consider the interaction of the natural biological development and spread dynamics of the infectious agent with the immunity of the host population and its environment. Where is a curative intervention in the imbalance of epidemic spread possible and in the sense of the medicus curat, i. e. the restoration of the natural balance, necessary and productive? Where is this not indicated in terms of Natura sanat? These questions can only be answered in view of the "nature as a whole".
-
Lipoprotein(a) - Lp(a) - is an hepatically synthesized lipoprotein, structurally similar to low-density-lipoprotein, and an important marker for cardiovascular risk. Lp(a) plasma concentrations are genetically determined and can hardly be modified by diet, exercise or oral drugs. ⋯ The current treatment for high Lp(a) is early intensive risk factor management with optimal lowering of LDL-cholesterol. Potent new RNA-targeting therapies are currently assessed in clinical trials and may be available in a couple of years.
-
Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Nov 2022
Observational Study[Disease sequelae on function in persons 70 years and older and the acceptance of a new supporting network, the NetzWerk GesundAktiv (NWGA)].
The growing need of nursing care as life expectancy increases is a problem. The Netzwerk AktivGesund (NWGA) tries to change this development in a positive way. In a pilot region of the city of Hamburg, persons 70 years and older were invited by their health insurance companies to participate in the NWGA supportive network. Results of the acceptance analysis are described here. ⋯ The results show that impairments of motoric and cognitive functions, in particular, and sociodemographic factors have impact on the acceptance of the NWGA. The recruitment for participation should be improved using approaches that are differentiated, respectively. Awareness of functional impairment as disease sequelae and pacemaker of need of nursing care, in general, might facilitate health promotion and prevention in older persons. An interest in preventative activities was remarkably frequent among the persons 70 years and older.