[Composition of the Belgian influenza vaccines for the 2015-2016 season]. / Composition des vaccins contre l'influenza commercialisés en Belgique pour la saison 2015-2016.

This article gives an update on how the composition of the influenza virus vaccine is determined, how the infection spreads, and what the consequences are of the disease. Next flu season for the first time a quadrivalent and intranasal vaccine will be available on the Belgian market. What is the difference with what we know until now? Is there an added value? How about the contraindications? Furthermore we elaborate on the composition of the influenza vaccine on the Belgian market for the season 2015-2016 and we give a reminder of the patient groups with a high risk for complications. As pharmacists we should motivate these patients to get themselves vaccinated. Finally, we discuss the reimbursement conditions of the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance INIHDII.

[Pneumococcal vaccines: different types and their use in practice]. / Vaccins anti-pneumococciques: explication des différentes sortes de vaccins et de leur utilisation dans la pratique.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is responsible for a large number of invasive infections and upper respiratory tract infections in infants, elderly and patients with high complication risk. Currently, two types of vaccine are available on the Belgian market. In the context of pharmaceutical care, it is important for pharmacists to know their specific characteristics and differences. In this article we try to explain these and to motivate their use in different patient populations. The 23-valent vaccine is different from the 13-valent vaccine, not only in number of serotypes, but also in its presentation as respectively polysaccharide- and conjugated vaccine which affects the immunogenicity. Moreover, their indication and use are also different. Finally we take a closer look at the specific use in infants and children at risk at one hand, and vaccination of eldery and adults with increased risk for severe pneumococcal infection on the other hand.

[Prevalence of caries, fissure sealants and filling materials among German children and children of migrants]. / Prävalenz von Karies, Fissurenversiegelungen und Füllungsmaterial bei deutschen Kindern und Kindern von Migranten.

The aim of this study was to collect information on dental health and dental care of German children and children of migrants for planning oral health promotion in the Rems-Murr-district. To meet this aim all first and fourth degree children in primary and special schools were examined. The dmft- and DMFT-Index, the number of fissure sealants, the filling material used and the children's nationality were recorded. The dmft of 6- and 7-year-olds was 1.50 among Germans, 4.61 among German migrants from Russia, 4.02 among Turks, 4.05 among children from former Yugoslavia, 2.35 among Italians, 1.95 among Greeks and 3.76 among children of other nationalities. At the age of 9 to 10 years Germans had an average of 0.31, German migrants from Russia 0.77, Turks 1.19, children from former Yugoslavia 1.32, Italians 0.64, Greeks 0.69 and children of other nationalities 0.57 DMF-teeth. In both age groups the proportion of caries-free children was highest among Germans and lowest among Turks. Also, more migrants than Germans were referred to a dentist for caries treatment. Compared to the Germans fewer migrants had at least one tooth sealed. The proportion of amalgam fillings to the total number of fillings was higher among 9- and 10-year-olds of Turkish, Italian or Yugoslavian origin than among other nationalities. The results of this study show that further development of oral health promotion programmes for children and parents with Turkish and Russian cultural background has the top-most priority.

[Access to oral care and attitudes to the dentist by German and Turkish parents]. / Zugang zu zahnärztlichen Leistungen und Einstellung zum Zahnarzt bei deutschen und türkischen Eltern.

The aim of this study was to collect information on the attitude to dentists and access to dental care by German and Turkish parents. To meet this aim, 829 parents attending a school medical inspection received a questionnaire. 811 (97.8%) questionnaires were returned and 778 (93.8%) could be used for analysis. Compared to German parents Turkish parents had a more negative attitude to the dentist. In particular, communication with the dentist was assessed more negatively by Turkish parents. Clearly more Turkish than German parents agreed that their dentist frequently made them feel guilty because of poor oral hygiene (31.2 vs. 5.6%). 7.7% of German but 23.9% of Turkish parents thought that their dentist did not give them enough information. Among the Turkish interviewees, language problems rather played a minor role in communication problems. 12.6% of German and 19.3% of Turkish interviewees thought they could not believe everything what the dentist said. Only 54.0% of the German and 28.9% of the Turkish parents knew that fissure sealants were paid by the statutory sickness fund. Dentists should be better trained in dealing with patients with a different social or cultural background. Also, dentists should be taught to consider health problems rather from a social than from an individual aspect. To improve cost transparency, dentists should publish the list of services not covered by the statutory sickness fund. Moreover, an independent patient consultation service should be offered.

Detection of human papilloma virus (HPV) genomes by the primed in situ (PRINS) labelling technique.

Primed in situ Labelling, a technique based on primer mediated DNA synthesis, has become a useful tool in cytogenetics, especially for chromosome mapping, banding and the investigation of sequence organization in fresh metaphase preparations. Its application in the routine surgical pathology laboratory has been hampered by the fact that the technique did not work on paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed tissue. We investigated cervical biopsies (n = 20) with morphological signs of HPV infection and found that the PRINS method is at least as sensitive as a classical in situ hybridization assay for detecting HPV DNA in paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed tissue. In all investigated cases (n = 20), HPV DNA was found by both methods. The PRINS method was able to demonstrate HPV DNA not only in superficial koilocytotic squamous cells but also in non-koilocytotic cells in the deeper spinous cell layers, and even in some basal cells. We describe an economical protocol using conventional consensus HPV oligonucleotide DNA primers. The described method is rapid (approximately 3 hours) and easy to perform for screening and subtyping HPV infection in the routine surgical pathology laboratory.

[Snack breaks in primary and vocational schools of the Rems-Murr district]. / Zur Pausenverpflegung in den Grund- und Förderschulen des Rems-Murr-Kreises.

The aim of this study was to collect data on catering at break in primary schools as a basis for planning health promotion activities. To meet this aim the principals of all schools were interviewed and the snacks and drinks that were sold at break were recorded in a checklist. The results show, that in 27.4% of the schools snacks or drinks were sold that cause damage to dental health or are not recommended for general health. Moreover nutritious products as school milk, wholemeal bread and fruits were frequently not available. In 55.8% of the schools no snacks and in 37.3% of them no drinks were sold at all. In 51% of the schools the children had the opportunity to have breakfast together in the classroom. The selling of not recommended snacks and drinks should be banned from schools, because they rather make healthy choices more difficult than easier and therefore undermine the effectiveness of health education. To change eating habits continuous and long-standing activities concerning breakfast at school are recommended.

[What is the attitude of parents to dental preventive examinations in schools and kindergarten? Results of a parent survey]. / Wie stehen die Eltern zu den zahnärztlichen Vorsorgeuntersuchungen in Schulen und Kindergärten? Ergebnisse einer Elternbefragung.

The aim of this study is to explore the opinion of parents on dental screening in schools and kindergartens. A sample of 490 parents attending a school medical inspection was asked to fill in a self-administered questionnaire. The parents could express their level of agreement with five statements concerning dental screening and the recall system existing in Baden-Württemberg. The answers were conceived according to the Likert scale. The results of this study show that a large majority of the interviewees had a positive attitude towards screening and a less positive attitude towards the recall system. Compared to the Germans, the immigrants had a more positive attitude towards screening and a less positive attitude towards the recall system. Compared to the parents with lower education level, the parents with a higher educational level were more in favour of the recall system and less in favour of dental screening. The high acceptance of school dental inspections among parents should encourage the responsible authorities to expand dental screening, which is laid down in social legislation, to a greater number of schools and kindergartens.

[Use of fluorides and dental visits in elementary school students of the Rems-Murr district and conclusions for dental health--results of a parent survey (1993)]. / Anwendung von Fluoriden und Zahnarztbesuch bei Grundschülern im Rems-Murr-Kreis und Rückschlüsse auf die Zahngesundheit--Ergebnisse einer Elternbefragung (1993).

After a dental examination at school a representative sample of 1244 schoolchildren in the Rems-Murr district received a questionnaire which had to be answered by their parents at home. The questions dealt with the use of fluorides and dental consultation of the children. Forty-nine per cent of the questionnaires were returned. The survey shows that fluoride supplementation by tablets enjoys an acceptance of more than 90% in early childhood, but loses much of its importance in later years. Eighty-eight per cent of the pupils brush teeth with a fluoridated dentifrice and ca. 39% of the households use fluorinated salt. Fluorides are frequently combined in an inappropriate way. This indicates that parents do not always know exactly how to use the products or simply confuse them with others. Dentists do not reserve topical fluoride applications for selected caries risk groups, as is fixed by law, but offer them to all their patients. More than 90% of the children see a dentist at least once and about 70% at least twice a year. Many children with untreated deciduous teeth had visited their dentist only a few weeks or months previous to the examination at school. Probably many dentists reject treatment of deciduous teeth for economic reasons. Consumers have to be instructed more intensively about the use of fluorides and should receive more specific advice adapted to their individual caries risk. To improve treatment of deciduous teeth modifications in the sickness insurance refund tariff system are necessary.

[Caries incidence, caries morbidity and degree of restoration in elementary school students of the Rems-Murr district--a comparative study after 3 years]. / Kariesbefall, Kariesmorbidität und Sanierungsgrad bei Grundschülern im Rems-Murr-Kreis--eine Vergleichsstudie nach 3 Jahren.

Based on an epidemiological caries study conducted in 1988, 1229 children of primary schools in the Rems-Murr-region were examined during autumn 1991 under identical conditions. The average DMF-T values vary from 0.2 for the children of 6 years of age to 1.7 for those of 10 years of age. Compared to 1988 and depending on age a caries reduction between 10 and 46% in permanent teeth was determined. In same period the percentage of caries-free children (df-t and DMF-T = 0) has clearly increased and the number of those who needed treatment in permanent teeth has been reduced by 50%. Especially in permanent teeth the state of treatment (MF-T:DMF-T x 100) has been improved considerably and vary now from 31 to 75% depending on age. Although different factors are responsible for the recent caries decline, the intensification of health education programmes probably plays a prominent role.

[Influence of ignorance of caries prevention on tooth health and behavior of junior high students]. / Der Einfluss von Kenntnissen über Kariesprophylaxe auf die Zahngesundheit und das Verhalten von Grundschulkindern.

Within the framework of an averaging study (clinical examination combined with written questionnaire) an attempt was made to determine the extent to which theoretical and practical knowledge of caries prophylaxis influences the behaviour and dental health of school children. Mean DF and DMF levels, it was demonstrated, are significantly reduced in children who know more; also, a higher percentage of children reported brushing their teeth more than once a day. In spite of this, a considerable discrepancy is noticed between knowledge and behaviour. Improved integration of dental hygiene instruction in the school day could improve school children's motivation to change their behaviour on a lasting basis.

[Caries epidemiological study of school children of Rems-Murr area]. / Kariesepidemiologische Untersuchungen an Schülern des Rems-Murr-Kreises.

An epidemiological study on caries in 1,091 primary school pupils in the Rems-Murr area revealed improvement in oral health as compared with results of earlier studies in the Federal Republic of Germany. For example, 31.4% of first-form pupils and 16.1% of fourth-form pupils were shown to have naturally healthy teeth (DMF-T + dmf-t = 0). The average DMF-T(S) values were between 0.39 (0.5) for six-year-olds and 2.02 (2.74) for ten-year-olds. The average percent of treated permanent teeth in six (ten)-year-old pupils was determined to be 20.5 (46.5)%. The pronounced polarisation of the individual values is, however, of of ater significance in developing programmes for caries prophylaxis than are these average values: Only 22% of the children accounted for approx. 70% of the carious, missing or filled permanent teeth. Carious defects in the permanent teeth of six and seven-year-old pupils were found almost exclusively in the fissures and pits of the six-year molars. An improvement in the oral health of the above-named age groups can only be achieved by means of specific and individual prophylaxis programmes.