Michael Hermanussen
Encyclopedia
Michael Hermanussen is a German pediatrician and professor
at the University of Kiel
. He is known for his work on growth and nutrition
.
and worked as a pediatrician at the University of Kiel from 1982 until 1989. He investigated growth
and child
development (auxology
) and first described mini growth spurts. Since 1990 he cooperates in international joint projects with scientists and also works in a general pediatric office. He organizes national and international meetings on growth and nutrition. Since 2003 he is a member of the scientific board of the German society for Anthropology
and chief editor of ”Anthropologischer Anzeiger”. He is the founder and head of the German society for auxology.
.
He developed mini-knemometry
, a new and accurate technique for growth measurement
s in children. This device determines the lower leg length at an accuracy that growth becomes measurable within a few days. In addition he developed a similar technology
for measuring growth in rats
within intervals of a few hours. This technology was important for the better understanding of the effects of growth hormone
. His investigations resulted in a significant improvement of growth hormone therapies
. For the first time, Hermanussen showed that anorexia nervosa
patients do not only stop growing they even can shrink.
Since 2002 he works in nutrition
and obesity
, with particular respect to monosodium glutamate
on appetite
regulation. During this project Hermanussen showed for the first time that convenience food
contains neurotransmitters.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the University of Kiel
University of Kiel
The University of Kiel is a university in the city of Kiel, Germany. It was founded in 1665 as the Academia Holsatorum Chiloniensis by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and has approximately 23,000 students today...
. He is known for his work on growth and nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
.
Life
Hermanussen studied medicineMedicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
and worked as a pediatrician at the University of Kiel from 1982 until 1989. He investigated growth
Human development (biology)
Human development is the process of growing to maturity. In biological terms, this entails growth from a one-celled zygote to an adult human being.- Biological development:...
and child
Child
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
development (auxology
Auxology
Auxology, sometimes called Auxanology , is a meta-term covering the study of all aspects of human physical growth...
) and first described mini growth spurts. Since 1990 he cooperates in international joint projects with scientists and also works in a general pediatric office. He organizes national and international meetings on growth and nutrition. Since 2003 he is a member of the scientific board of the German society for Anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
and chief editor of ”Anthropologischer Anzeiger”. He is the founder and head of the German society for auxology.
Scientific Work
Hermanussen developed new mathematical methods for improved diagnostics of growth disorders and a new technique for estimating final adult heightHuman height
Human height is the distance from the bottom of the feet to the top of the head in a human body standing erect.When populations share genetic background and environmental factors, average height is frequently characteristic within the group...
.
He developed mini-knemometry
Knemometry
Knemometry denotes a technical device for measuring the distance between knee and heel of a sitting child or adolescent...
, a new and accurate technique for growth measurement
Measurement
Measurement is the process or the result of determining the ratio of a physical quantity, such as a length, time, temperature etc., to a unit of measurement, such as the metre, second or degree Celsius...
s in children. This device determines the lower leg length at an accuracy that growth becomes measurable within a few days. In addition he developed a similar technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
for measuring growth in rats
RATS
RATS may refer to:* RATS , Regression Analysis of Time Series, a statistical package* Rough Auditing Tool for Security, a computer program...
within intervals of a few hours. This technology was important for the better understanding of the effects of growth hormone
Growth hormone
Growth hormone is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals. Growth hormone is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is synthesized, stored, and secreted by the somatotroph cells within the lateral wings of the anterior...
. His investigations resulted in a significant improvement of growth hormone therapies
Growth hormone treatment
Growth hormone treatment refers to the use of growth hormone in medical treatment. Growth hormone is a peptide hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that stimulates growth and cell reproduction. In the past, growth hormone was extracted from human pituitary glands. GH is now produced by...
. For the first time, Hermanussen showed that anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Although commonly called "anorexia", that term on its own denotes any symptomatic loss of appetite and is not strictly accurate...
patients do not only stop growing they even can shrink.
Since 2002 he works in nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
and obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
, with particular respect to monosodium glutamate
Monosodium glutamate
Monosodium glutamate, also known as sodium glutamate or MSG, is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, one of the most abundant naturally occurring non-essential amino acids....
on appetite
Appetite
The appetite is the desire to eat food, felt as hunger. Appetite exists in all higher life-forms, and serves to regulate adequate energy intake to maintain metabolic needs. It is regulated by a close interplay between the digestive tract, adipose tissue and the brain. Decreased desire to eat is...
regulation. During this project Hermanussen showed for the first time that convenience food
Convenience food
Convenience food, or tertiary processed food, is commercially prepared food designed for ease of consumption. Products designated as convenience foods are often prepared food stuffs that can be sold as hot, ready-to-eat dishes; as room-temperature, shelf-stable products; or as refrigerated or...
contains neurotransmitters.