Historical Vignette Research Articles

George N. Papanicolaou (1883-1962): The Pioneer of Cytology and Early Cancer Detection.

George N. Papanicolaou (1883-1962) is recognized as a pioneer in cytology and early cancer detection, whose groundbreaking work revolutionized women's healthcare. His development of the Pap smear, a simple yet powerful screening tool, dramatically improved the early diagnosis of cervical cancer, leading to a significant reduction in mortality rates and saving millions of lives worldwide. Born in Greece and extensively trained in medicine and biology, Papanicolaou conducted meticulous research at Cornell University, laying the foundation for modern preventive medicine. This historical vignette explores Papanicolaou's life, transformative achievements, and the innovative processes he championed. By examining his enduring contributions, we highlight his profound impact on public health and medical practice, which continues to inspire and guide healthcare professionals across generations.

Breaking Barriers: The Life and Legacy of Gerty Cori in Biochemical Research.

Gerty Theresa Cori, a remarkable and pioneering biochemist, became the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1947 for her groundbreaking research in carbohydrate metabolism. Her work, in collaboration with her husband Carl Ferdinand Cori, revolutionized the scientific understanding of carbohydrate metabolism and had a profound impact on medicine and human health. This paper offers a historical vignette of Gerty Cori's life, tracing her journey from her early years in Prague to her pivotal role in transforming biochemistry. It highlights her immense dedication to scientific research, overcoming significant gender-based challenges, and establishing a legacy that continues to inspire. Gerty Cori's contributions to science not only advanced our knowledge of metabolic processes but also paved the way for future generations of researchers, particularly women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Marie Curie (1867-1934): Twice Nobel Laureate and Her Enduring Legacy in Radiation Medicine.

Marie Curie, a distinguished physicist and chemist, profoundly transformed the fields of radiology and medicine through her pioneering research on radioactivity. As the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to win in two different scientific fields, Physics (1903) and Chemistry (1911), Curie's achievements have left an indelible mark on medical science. This historical vignette explores her groundbreaking discoveries, including the isolation of radium and polonium, and her innovative applications of radioactivity in medicine, particularly in the treatment of cancer. It also delves into her relentless pursuit of knowledge and her role as a mentor, which inspired future generations of scientists and medical professionals. By examining Curie's contributions and enduring legacy, this article underscores her pivotal role in shaping modern medical practices and highlights her lasting influence on human health. Through this exploration, we aim to celebrate the life and achievements of a true pioneer whose work continues to inspire and drive advancements in medical science today.

Pioneers of Neurosurgery in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Region: A Historical Vignette and Beyond

South Asia, consisting of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, spreads between the Himalayan base and the Indian Ocean and shares identical geophysical characteristics. With the inclusion of its newest member Afghanistan, these 8 member nations of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) share more or less a homogenous geographical, political, and historical background and cultural heritage, with a significant role in shaping the world. This densely populated area is home to around a quarter of the world's total population. From the ancient ages, the neurosurgical practice has paced relentlessly and in the last 100years, it has reached its zenith. With modern advancements, neurosurgery has developed in its diagnostic and treatment modalities along with facilities for training and education. Despite falling behind owing to economic, educational, and geopolitical constraints, the pioneers of the SAARC region have established the fields of neurosurgery in their respective countries with command. No constraint could stop them from educating and training young physicians to make competent neurosurgeons to evolve the field of neurosurgery in their countries. Their firm determination and hard work paved the way to keep this field striving and thriving, to serve a substantial volume of the world population with their neurosurgical insight and skill. However, this region needs to go a long way as the number of neurosurgeons and facilities is still insufficient. This can be achieved with the guidance and collaboration among the neurosurgeons of the SAARC region as the youth here are talented and hardworking.

A brief history of neurosurgery in Bosnia and Herzegovina: historical vignette.

The modern period of neurosurgery in Bosnia and Herzegovina began with the first neurosurgical procedure performed by Dr. Karl Bayer in 1891 on 3 patients with depressed skull fractures and epilepsy. In 1956 the Department of Surgery in Sarajevo designated several beds specifically for a neurosurgical unit. A significant milestone in the history of neurosurgery in Bosnia and Herzegovina was the establishment of the Division of Neurosurgery at the Clinical Center University of Sarajevo in 1970. The first neurosurgeon to complete his training in Bosnia and Herzegovina was Dr. Faruk Konjhodžić. The first female neurosurgeon was Dr. Nermina Iblizović. Presently, there are 7 neurosurgical departments in the country, located in Sarajevo, Tuzla, Zenica, Mostar, Banja Luka, Bihać, and Foča. The Association of Neurosurgeons in Bosnia and Herzegovina, founded in 2003, is a member of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies and the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies. The aim of this historical paper is to provide a concise chronology of important events and mention key individuals who have contributed to the development of modern neurosurgery in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Poland Syndrome: A Historical Vignette

Poland Syndrome: A Historical Vignette

The Western giants of the neuroanatomical past: an ode to yesterday - Part II.

"The history of the world is the biography of the great man. And I said: the great man always acts like a thunder. He storms the skies, while others are waiting to be stormed," said Thomas Carlyle. In this historical vignette, we study the contribution to neuroanatomy, of greats from the past. What led them to find the basis of topography and anatomical localization? How did they unravel the pathways of cerebrospinal fluid and cortical structure of the human brain? To understand this, we study the paths of Pierre Paul Broca, Richard L. Heschl, Hubert von Luschka, Carl Wernicke, Hans Chiari, Ludwig Edinger, and Carl Westphal, Korbinian Brodmann, and Walter Dandy.

A brief retrospective of the history of neurosurgery in Croatia.

The beginnings of neurosurgery in Croatia date to the end of the 19th century when Teodor Wickerhauser performed the first craniotomy in the country in 1886. Exactly 60 years later, in 1946, Danko Riessner founded a separate neurosurgical ward in Zagreb and is therefore considered the founder of Croatian neurosurgery. His main scientific contribution was a paper on the shifting of brain masses, published in 1939. The Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Zagreb was founded in 1974 as one of the first institutions of its kind in Southeast Europe. Finally, the Croatian Neurosurgical Society was founded in 1992 to promote the neurosurgical profession and science at the national level. This historical vignette aimed to provide a brief chronology of the most important events and notable people in the history of Croatian neurosurgery, as well as to commemorate its founders and highlight its development from the beginning to its current state of proficiency and expertise.

The western giants of neuroanatomical past: an ode to yesterday - Part I.

"The only history is a mere question of one's struggle inside oneself. But that is the joy of it. One need neither discover Americas nor conquer nations, and yet one has as great a work as Columbus or Alexander to do," said David H. Lawrence. In this historical vignette, we look at the lives of certain western giants of neuroanatomy from the past. To understand the origin of today's advancements and successes in neurosurgery, a strong foothold on the path taken by anatomical greats is necessary. What curiosity inspired them to search the meaning of the human nervous system? Learning this from the paths of Herophilus, Galen, Franciscus Sylvius, Thomas Willis, Alexander Monro secundus, Luigi Rolando, François Magendie, and Martin Rathke, will propel us to create a better future for our successors.

The historical adventures of Takeshi Kawase: the mountaineer who explored the "no man's land" with love for art, nature, and humankind.

The anterior petrosal approach, or Kawase's approach, is a commonly used technique in skull base surgery to access the brainstem in the posterior fossa from the middle fossa, and has the advantages of minimizing brain retraction and preserving hearing. It was first successfully performed by the legendary Japanese neurosurgeon, Takeshi Kawase, for the clipping of a basilar artery aneurysm in 1981. To date, no historical article has shed light on Kawase's intriguing personal history. In this historical vignette, the authors depict Kawase's unique background, talent, passion, as well as struggles that ultimately shaped his career. By sharing Kawase's personal story from the hospital where he first successfully performed his original approach, the authors hope to pass on to future generations Kawase's spirit and philosophy that have impacted the global neurosurgical community.

Toward the "Perfect" Shunt: Historical Vignette, Current Efforts, and Future Directions.

As a concept, drainage of excess fluid volume in the cranium has been around for more than 1000 years. Starting with the original decompression-trepanation of Abulcasis to modern programmable shunt systems, to other nonshunt-based treatments such as endoscopic third ventriculostomy and choroid plexus cauterization, we have come far as a field. However, there are still fundamental limitations that shunts have yet to overcome: namely posture-induced over- and underdrainage, the continual need for valve opening pressure especially in pediatric cases, and the failure to reinstall physiologic intracranial pressure dynamics. However, there are groups worldwide, in the clinic, in industry, and in academia, that are trying to ameliorate the current state of the technology within hydrocephalus treatment. This chapter aims to provide a historical overview of hydrocephalus, current challenges in shunt design, what members of the community have done and continue to do to address these challenges, and finally, a definition of the "perfect" shunt is provided and how the authors are working toward it.

The life and legacy of John Robert Cobb: the man behind the angle.

In 1934, Dr. John Robert Cobb moved to New York to serve as the Gibney Orthopedic Fellow at the Hospital for the Ruptured and Crippled, now known as the Hospital for Special Surgery. In this role, Cobb was faced with a unique task that would shape not only his personal career but also the fields of scoliosis and spine care: to design the first scoliosis specialty clinic. He critically reviewed the treatment methods for scoliosis outlined by prior pioneers in spine surgery and kept his own meticulous records of diagnoses, treatments, and radiographs. Cobb's work culminated in major contributions to spine surgery that are highly relevant to this day, including the Cobb angle and the Cobb elevator. In this detailed analysis of the career and academic legacy of Dr. John R. Cobb, the authors examine in detail the historical events surrounding Cobb's great contributions to spine surgery and their lasting impact on our specialty, as well as unique aspects of his personal life. This historical vignette constitutes the first comprehensive analysis of the life, career, and academic legacy of Dr. John R. Cobb, the man behind the angle.

History and Evolution of Radiosurgery in India: A Historical Vignette.

History and Evolution of Radiosurgery in India: A Historical Vignette.

A “royal” total laryngectomy that never was

With this historical vignette, ending the series dedicated to the pioneers of total laryngectomy, published in the EuropeanAnnals of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Diseases to mark the 150th anniversary of the first description of this surgical procedure in humans, the authors recount what history called “The Crown Prince's illness”, and wonder what might have happened if the total laryngectomy proposed for Crown Prince Friedrich had finally been performed.

Warren B. Davis and the Birth of Plastic Surgery in Philadelphia: A Historical Vignette.

The field of plastic surgery, formally organized in 1931 with the founding of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, was shaped in many ways by a small practice of Philadelphia physicians. At the center of the practice was Warren B. Davis, a Philadelphia otolaryngologist and plastics pioneer whose innovations in cleft palate surgery would lead to significant improvements in functional and cosmetic outcomes in his time. In addition to his own innovations, Davis was responsible for the training of John Reese, the inventor of the Reese dermatome that changed the face of burn medicine during World War II. Aside from his contributions to surgery and the founding of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dr. Davis was also the founder and first editor of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal which to this day is the premiere, authoritative journal of plastic surgery. Lastly, Dr. Davis established a plastic surgical practice, now Jefferson Plastic Surgery. Unique in its longevity, this practice would continue to shape the field of plastic surgery and continues to improve lives today-109 years after its founding in 1913.

Themistocles Gluck and the premises of modern total laryngectomy

The aim of this historical vignette is to recall the importance of the German surgeon Themistocles Gluck in the development of total laryngectomy with primary closure of the pharyngeal orifice, a technique proposed a few years after Theodor Billroth's first total laryngectomy in 1873.

Friedrich Trendelenburg's tracheal tampon-cannula

The aim of this historical vignette is to analyze the role of Friedrich Trendelenburg's tracheal balloon cannula in the development of laryngeal surgery in the early 1870s. The purpose of this cannula was to prevent bleeding into the airway in cases of extensive laryngeal surgery requiring a tracheostomy.

Carl Gussenbauer and the first artificial larynx after total laryngectomy

The aim of this historical vignette is to delve into the description and use of the first artificial larynx, developed by Carl Gussenbauer, and used after Theodor Billroth's first total laryngectomy, performed on December 31, 1873.

Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis for Technical Communication Research

ABSTRACT I propose Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis (MCDA) as an approach for understanding the discursive and material implications of technical documents in distant sites. I provide a historical vignette of MCDA and exemplify how technical and professional communication (TPC) researchers can critically engage with distant sites through MCDA by analyzing materials about GhanaPostGPS, a geolocation technology. I conclude by discussing limitations of MCDA – access to archives – and propose the creation of crowdsourced technical documentation archives.

150 years ago: First complete removal of the larynx by Theodor Billroth

This historical vignette celebrates the first total removal of the larynx in humans, performed by Theodor Billroth 150 years ago and stresses the importance of the prior experimental study of laryngeal ablation performed in dogs by Vincent Czerny. A part of the original article, written by his assistant Carl Gussenbauer, is reproduced, to help readers immerse themselves in this operation which opened up new perspectives in the treatment of laryngeal cancer.