Der Risikobegriff in Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft

The formal-normative concept of risk in natural and technical sciences is oriented toward effects and damage. A complete understanding of cause and effect relationships is necessary, however, it is normally not available and uncertainties are inadequately taken into account. Risk is distinguished from safety in the formal-normative context. Safety itself can only be understood, however, in relation to uncertainty and therefore to damage. In the legal context, risk is defined by the triad of danger, risk, and residual risk. Risk in the legal context is limited to the domain between danger and residual risk. However, uncertainty has to be considered as distinct from residual risk. In social sciences risk is distinguished from danger. A difference is made between people who decide, i.e., regulators, and those who are affected by the decision. People who decide attribute consequences of the decision and the involvement of risks to their own decision. Concern, however, is grounded in decisions of others, in non-participation, and possible damage is therefore realized as danger and not as risk.     

Otolaryngologic approach to the diagnosis and management of otitis media

Otitis media is a common childhood disease caused by multiple factors. Understanding the pathogenesis of otitis media is important in the diagnosis and management of it. The mode of therapy should be chosen depending on the type and stage of the disease. Treatment options available to an otolaryngologist include antibiotics, tympanocentesis, myringotomy and tympanostomy tube insertions, adenoidectomy with or without tonsillectomy, exploratory tympanotomy, atympanoplasty, and mastoidectomy.     

Partial mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection and radiotherapy as a new treatment modality of breast cancer (I).

This is the first preliminary report among two consecutive papers. Partial mastectomy(PM), axillary lymph node dissection(AD) and radiotherapy (RT) were performed on seventeen operable breast cancer patients who had been admitted from April 1991 to March 1992 to the department of surgery, Yongdong Severance Hospital for improved cosmetic appearance and better survival rate. Of seventeen patients, 47% were T1 lesion and 76% were stage I and II. Extensive intraductal component(EIC) within or around the tumor was also analyzed. Twenty nine per cent of the patients were EIC positive. The mean number of axillary lymph nodes was 21.5 after PM with AD and 20.5 after mastectomy. For radiotherapy, 4,500 rad was delivered to the breast parenchyma and 1,600 rad of boost to the primary tumor site using the electron beam method after surgery. All patients have since been living well without any local recurrence and were satisfied with breast preservation for the one-year follow-up period. We concluded that the PM, AD and RT can be another surgical treatment modality of breast cancer. A longer follow-up data will be followed on the second paper.     

Benign osteoblastoma of the occipital bone: Case report and literature review

We present a case of benign osteoblastoma of the occipital bone. Benign osteoblastoma is an uncommon primary bone tumor, which usually involves the vertebrae and the long bones. This tumor rarely develops in the calvaria, showing a preference for the temporal and frontal bones when it does. To the best of our knowledge, this case is only the eighth reported case of benign osteoblastoma confined to the occipital bone. A 20‐year‐old male presented with a mild tender mass lesion of the occipital area, just below the lambda. Plain X‐ray films and CT scans demonstrated an osteolytic mass surrounded by the sclerotic rim within the diploic space. MRI proved to be effective for the evaluation of the intracranial and intraosseous extensions of the tumor. However, it was very difficult to formulate a differential diagnosis against other osteoblastic tumors, or osteoid osteoma, in view of its radiological appearance. The final diagnosis was obtained by careful consideration of the histopathological characteristics of the tumor combined with its clinical and radiological features. Although generally regarded as benign, a complete resection is preferred over conventional curettage as this can guard against possible recurrence and malignant transformation.     

Acute abdomen

Acute surgical abdomen is the object of urgent surgical attention. The objective of emergency operation is to interrupt a process that has a steadily worsening prognosis on a scale of hours unless effective surgical treatment is rendered. There are basically three processes to address: free or incipient sepsis and peritonitis, gastrointestinal soilage, and hemorrhage.     

Weight loss in obese subjects on a restricted diet given BRL 26830A, a new atypical beta adrenoceptor agonist

A double blind placebo controlled study was carried out in 40 subjects newly referred for treatment for obesity to determine the effects of the new thermogenic beta adrenoceptor agonist BRL 26830A. The subjects were randomised to receive either BRL 26830A, 200 mg daily for two weeks then 400 mg daily, or placebo for 18 weeks, and all were instructed to follow a 3.35 MJ diet that was low in fat and high in fibre. Weight loss was 15.4 (SD 6.6) kg in subjects given BRL 26830A compared with 10.0 (5.9) kg in those given placebo (p = 0.02). The relative weight loss was 0.93 (0.39%) a week with BRL 26830A and 0.61 (0.38)% with placebo (p = 0.02). Urinary excretion of nitrogen was similar in both groups, whereas measurements of skinfold thickness indicated a 4.1 kg difference in the amount of fat lost, suggesting that weight loss with BRL 26830A was mainly from adipose and not lean tissue. BRL 26830A had no effect on resting pulse rate or pressor effects on either diastolic or systolic blood pressure. No significant differences were found between the two groups in serum cholesterol concentration, percentage of high density lipoprotein cholesterol, plasma concentrations of glucose and insulin, the ratio of glucose to insulin, serum concentrations of triiodothyronine and thyroxine, and creatinine clearance. Short term administration of BRL 26830A to six subjects who had taken the drug for 18 weeks showed that the expenditure of energy increased by 11.6% during the second hour after administration, which suggests that BRL 26830A may enhance weight loss thermogenically. BRL 26830A may be a useful drug in the treatment of obesity.     

Morbidity in patients on l-thyroxine: a comparison of those with a normal TSH to those with a suppressed TSH

OBJECTIVE: Patients on L-thyroxine with a 'suppressed' TSH (< 0.05 mU/l) were compared to those in whom TSH was detectable but not elevated (0.05-4.0 mU/l), with regard to morbidity data. DESIGN: Biochemical data from Tayside Thyroid Register was matched to hospital admissions data obtained from Health Board Statistics. PATIENTS: The patients were identified from those registered on the computerized Tayside Register. MEASUREMENTS: Serum T4 and TSH assays, clinical assessment scores, and admission records with regard to ischaemic heart disease, overall fractures, fractured neck of femur and breast carcinoma. RESULTS: Over one year, 1180 patients on thyroxine replacement had clinical and biochemical assessment; 59% had a suppressed TSH and 38% 'normal' TSH. Patients with a suppressed TSH exhibited higher median serum thyroxine levels (146 nmol/l, range 77-252 vs 119 nmol/l, 58-224; P < 0.001). Patients under the age of 65 years on L-thyroxine had an increased risk of ischaemic heart disease compared to the general population (female 2.7 vs 0.7%, P < 0.001; male 6.4 vs 1.7%, P < 0.01), but the risk was no different between those with suppressed and normal TSH. There was no increase in risk for overall fracture, fractured neck of femur or breast carcinoma in those on thyroxine with suppressed or normal TSH. CONCLUSION: Patients under the age of 65 years on L-thyroxine had an increased risk of ischaemic heart disease. There was no excess of fractures in patients on L-thyroxine even if the TSH is suppressed.