[The introduction of the electronic health card in Germany]. / Die Einführung der elektronischen Gesundheitskarte in Deutschland.

From 2006 onwards all members of the health insurance system in Germany will be issued an electronic health card which will replace the current health insurance card. The new health card will be technically upgraded to also include patient-related health data or provide access to such data in addition to its administrative functions. Therefore, it is evident that the health card be fitted with a microprocessor that permits authentication (electronic identity check), encryption and the electronic digital signature, thus ensuring maximum data safety and security. For easy identification of the insured person, the electronic health card will bear a photograph of the card holder.

Tobacco use in Vietnam. Prevalence, predictors, and the role of the transnational tobacco corporations.

OBJECTIVE: To describe tobacco use in Vietnam and the impact of transnational tobacco corporations there. DESIGN: In cities, a multistage cluster design; in communes, a systematic sample design, using face-to-face interviews in all sites. SETTING: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and 2 rural communes in Vietnam. PARTICIPANTS: Random samples totaling 2004 men and women aged 18 years or older. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence and correlates of tobacco smoking, amount and duration of smoking, age at initiation, quitting behavior, knowledge of health hazards of and attitudes toward smoking, and cigarette brand smoked, preferred, and recognized as most widely advertised. RESULTS: Smoking prevalence among men (n=970) was 72.8% and 4.3% among women (n=1031). Male smokers had smoked a mean of 15.5 years; the median age at initiation was 19.5 years. Among male smokers, 16% smoked non-Vietnamese cigarettes. More than twice as many (38%), however, said that they would prefer to smoke a non-Vietnamese brand if they could afford the cost. Among those who recalled any cigarette advertising (38%), 71% recalled a non-Vietnamese brand as the most commonly advertised. Male smokers who were significantly more likely to smoke non-Vietnamese brands lived in the south, were engaged in blue collar or business/service occupations, earned higher incomes, and lived in urban areas. CONCLUSIONS: Vietnam has the highest reported male smoking prevalence rate in the world. Unless forceful steps are taken to reduce smoking among men and prevent the uptake of smoking by youth and women, Vietnam will face a tremendous health and economic burden in the near future. Implementation of a comprehensive national tobacco control campaign together with international regulation will be the keys to the eradication of the tobacco epidemic in Vietnam and throughout the developing world.

Heritability of hand preference in chimpanzees (Pan).

Heritability in hand preference was examined in 76 chimpanzees by comparing strength and direction of hand preference between offspring and parents and among half-siblings reared in different environments. For two separate measures of handedness, offspring had the same hand preference as their biological parent significantly more often then would be predicted by chance. Half-siblings exhibited patterns of hand preference which significantly deviated from chance. In no instance did rearing environment account for a significant proportion of variance. These results strongly suggest a heritability component to the expression of hand preference in chimpanzees.

Behavioral laterality in captive bonobos (Pan paniscus).

Behavioral laterality was studied in a captive group of 11 bonobos (Pan paniscus). In an observational method a significant left lateral bias in carrying and a right lateral bias in leading limb were found. Direction of lateral bias in carrying and leading limb was enhanced when subjects maintained a bipedal posture. Analysis of bimanual feeding behavior revealed a significant right-hand bias for eating when subjects were holding food with their left hand. In an experimental method a significant shift toward greater right-hand use was found when subjects were required to maintain a bipedal, rather than a quadrupedal, posture. There was no evidence of lateral bias for measures of face touching, self-touching, or gestures. The results are discussed in the context of previous reports of primate laterality.

Functional translation of exercise responses during combined arm-leg ergometry.

Previous studies have shown that the absolute power output required to produce a desired training heart rate could be predicted from the power output-heart rate relationship during exercise testing. The intent of this study was to develop an equation for the functional translation of exercise responses using combined arm-leg ergometry. Volunteer subjects (n = 16) performed exercise testing and three, 20-min exercise training sessions at different intensities on the combined arm-leg ergometer. Power output during exercise testing and training were well related (r = 0.905) with a small standard error estimate (12.1 W). Cross-validation of the regression equation developed from the validation sample yielded a high correlation (r = 0.969) with no differences between predicted and observed training heart rates.

Production of Lactase by Candida pseudotropicalis Grown in Whey.

Lactase (beta-d-galactosidase) was produced by Candida pseudotropicalis grown in deproteinized whey. Maximum enzyme production in 2% whey was obtained by supplementation with 0.15% yeast extract, 0.1% (NH(4))(2)SO(4), and 0.05% KH(2)PO(4) (wt/vol). Highest enzyme values (4.35 U/mg of cells and 68 U/ml) were obtained with 10 to 12% whey, while enzyme yield was maximal in 2% whey (0.87 U/mg of whey). Optimal initial pH for cultivation was 3.5. The best conditions for extraction included 2% (wt/vol) chloroform, 10 h of treatment, pH 6.6 and higher, and 30 to 37 degrees C. Optimum pH and temperature for enzyme activity were 6.2 and 47 degrees C. The enzyme had a K(m) for O-nitrophenyl-beta-d-galactopyranoside of 3.06 x 10 M and the initial V(max) was estimated as 6.63 x 10 M per min. It hydrolized 50 and 100% of the lactose in whey and milk within 4 and 5 h, respectively, at 37 degrees C. The lyophilized enzyme retained 95% of activity for 3 months when stored at -20 degrees C.