Mario Schwarzer

Curare - a curative poison: a scientometric analysis

Introduction Curare is one of the best-examined neurotoxins of the world, which has empirically been used for centuries by American Indigenes. Research on curare has been performed much later, a global scientometric analysis on curare research or its derivates does not yet exist. This bibliometric analysis is part of the global NewQis-project and should illuminate both toxic and historic issues of research on curare. Methods The ISI Web of Science was searched for data covering 1900 to 2013 using a term which included as many original articles on curare as possible. 3,867 articles were found and analyzed for common bibliometric items such as the number of citations, language of the articles or the (modified) Hirsch-Index (h-index). Results are illustrated utilizing modern density equalizing map projections (DEMP) or beam diagrams. Results Most publications were located in North America and Europe. The USA has the highest number of publications as well as the highest h-index. The number of publications overall rose until the late 1990s and later decreased. Furthermore, sudden increases of research activity are ascribable to historic events, like the first use of curare as muscle relaxant during surgery. Discussion This scientometric analysis of curare research reflects several tendencies as previously seen in other bibliometric investigations, i.e. the scientific quality standard of North America and Europe. Research on curare decreased however, due to the declining attention towards this muscle relaxant. This work exemplifies also how scientometric methods can be used to illuminate historic circumstances immediately stimulating scientific research.

Pulmonary Hypertension: Scientometric Analysis and Density-Equalizing Mapping.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by the increase of the mean pulmonary arterial pressure in the lung circulation. Despite the large number of experimental and clinical studies conducted on pulmonary hypertension, there is no comprehensive work that analyzed the global research activity on PH so far. We retrieved the bibliometric data of the publications on pulmonary hypertension for two periods from the Web of science database. Here, we set the first investigation period from 1900 to 2007 (t1) due to the cited half life of articles and the relating difficulties to interpret the citation parameters. The second evaluation period (t2) covers the time interval from 2008 onwards including the year 2015. The data were analyzed and processed to density-equalizing maps using the NewQIS platform. A total number of 18,986 publications were identified in t1 that come from 85 countries. The US published the highest number of publications (n = 7,290), followed by the UK, Germany, Japan and France. In t2 19,676 items could be found worked out by 130 countries. The raking started just the same with the USA as most publishing nation with 7,127 publications on PH, followed by the UK and Germany. Japan fell back on 6th place, whereas China came into view on the 5th position. Analyzing the average citation rate as a parameter for research quality, Mexico reached the highest value in t1 and Ireland in t2. While, the country specific h-index underlined the leading position of the US research in both evaluation periods again. The average number of international collaboration items was expanding from none in 1978 to 530 items in 2015 with the USA as the country with the highest number of collaboration articles. The present study is the first large scale density-equalizing mapping and scientometric analysis of global PH research activity. Our data draw a sketch of the global research architecture in this field, indicating a need for specific research programs in countries with a lower human development index.

Zur Selbsteinschätzung des Wasserpfeifenkonsums von Jugendlichen

OBJECTIVE The use of water pipes is an alternative to cigarette smoking. Current studies show that water pipe smoking is as hazardous as smoking cigarettes. However, rates of water pipe consumption are still high. The consumption behaviour of students was investigated within the evaluation of the school-based prevention program Rauchzeichen. METHODS Data about the water pipe use of students was collected using a specially designed questionnaire. RESULTS Water pipe user rates among students of 8th to 10th grade are still high (7.5 - 21.2 %). 13.2 % of the students, who consume water pipe regularly, state to be non smokers. DISCUSSION It seems that many adolescents do not estimate water pipe use as smoking, which might lead to an underestimation of health risks or the use of the water pipe as an alternative addictive drug.

Infektiöse Endokarditis@@@Infective endocarditis: Therapie und Prävention@@@Therapy and prevention

ZusammenfassungDie infektiöse Endokarditis ist eine potenziell tödlich verlaufende Erkrankung, die oft während des Erwerbslebens auftritt und trotz bekannter Risikofaktoren den Einzelnen meist plötzlich und ohne Vorankündigung der Tragweite erfasst. Die vorliegende Arbeit folgt auf den ersten Teil „Infektiöse Endokarditis. Grundlagen, Einteilung und Diagnose“ und bietet eine Übersicht zur Therapie und Prävention und ist eine Zusammenschau aus nationalen Leitlinien. Sie richtet sich an Ärztinnen und Ärzte ohne routinemäßigen Bezug zur Erkrankung und soll Grundlagen zum Verständnis der Erkrankung vermitteln.AbstractInfective endocarditis is a disease which potentially leads to death and often occurs during the working life. Despite known risk factors it often appears suddenly and without warning about the consequences for health. This article follows the first part “Infective endocarditis. Principles, classification and diagnosis” and gives a review of the therapy and prevention of the disease and represents a synthesis of national guidelines. It is addressed to physicians who do not regularly diagnose and treat patients with infective endocarditis and gives a basis for an understanding of the disease.

Aerotoxisches Syndrom@@@Aerotoxic syndrome

ZusammenfassungZwischenfallBeim Landeanflug eines Passagierflugzeugs auf den Flughafen Köln/Bonn kam es zu einer starken Geruchsbelastung im Cockpit der Maschine. Beide Piloten berichteten im Anschluss über Übelkeit und zunehmende kognitive Defizite. Trotz dieser Beeinträchtigung war der Kapitän imstande, das Flugzeug zu landen. Die Bundesstelle für Fluguntersuchungen konnte in den toxikologischen Untersuchungen dieses Vorfalls keinen Nachweis für Toxine in der Kabinenluft erbringen.Aktueller BezugBerichte von Passagieren und der Flugbesatzung, die ähnliches erlebt haben, häufen sich und werden folglich als aerotoxisches Syndrom bezeichnet. Zu diesem Krankheitsbild liegen bisher ausschließlich Fallberichte vor, systematische Studien existieren bis dato nicht. Ein Zusammenhang zwischen kontaminierter Kabinenluft und gesundheitlicher Beeinträchtigung ist deshalb bisher nicht zu belegen.AbstractIncidentAn odor pollution emerged in the cockpit of a passenger airline while approaching the Köln/Bonn airport. Both pilots reported nausea and progressive cognitive deficits. However, the captain was able to land the aircraft. The German “Bundesstelle für Fluguntersuchungen” was not able to provide evidence of toxins in the cabin air based on toxicological studies of this incident.Current stateThe number of passengers and crew members reporting similar experiences continue to increase and are, thus, described as aeortoxic syndrome. Only case reports currently exist; systematic investigations are lacking. Consequently, a relationship between contaminated cabin air and adverse health effects is not proven.

Explosion in Chemiefabrik mit Freisetzung von Ethylbenzol

ZusammenfassungNach mehreren Explosionen im Juni 2014 in einem Reaktionsbehälter einer Chemiefabrik nahe der niederländischen Stadt Rotterdam stieg durch das ausgebrochene Feuer schwarzer Rauch auf, der möglicherweise ausgetretenes Ethylbenzol enthielt. Den Anwohnern wurde empfohlen, ihre Fenster geschlossen zu halten. Ethylbenzol ist ein aromatischer Kohlenwasserstoff, welcher in hohen Dosen irritativ an Schleimhäuten und Augen wirken kann. Akute oder chronische Toxizität besteht nur in sehr hohen Dosen von Ethylbenzoldämpfen, die außerhalb geschlossener Räume nur sehr unwahrscheinlich erreicht werden. Abschließend bleibt unklar, welche Substanzen bei der Explosion und dem anschließenden Brand freigesetzt wurden. Aufgrund der fehlenden weiteren Angaben zum Vorfall lässt sich spekulieren, ob die hör- und teilweise auch sichtbaren Explosionen im Werk durch ein Gemisch aus Ethylbenzol und Luft entstanden sind. Eine Gesundheitsgefährdung der umliegenden Anwohner durch Ethylbenzol ist in diesem Fall unwahrscheinlich.AbstractA reaction container of a chemical plant near the Dutch city Rotterdam exploded and ignited parts of the plant. The black smoke which rose over the surrounding area possibly contained leaked ethylbenzene. The residents were advised to keep doors and windows closed. Ethylbenzene is an aromatic hydrocarbon which may cause irritations of the mucosa or eyes if exposed to high concentrations. Acute or chronic toxicity is unlikely in this occasion, because adequately high concentrations of ethylbenzene steam can hardly be reached outside of closed rooms. Finally, it is not known which substances were released during the explosion and the subsequent fire. Because of the lack of information on this incident, it can be speculated that a mixture of ethylbenzene and air caused the explosions. Health risks for the surrounding residents due to ethylbenzene in this case are unlikely.