[Fatigue after head and neck cancer-results of a survey using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20)]. / Fatigue nach Kopf-Hals-Tumorleiden ­ Ergebnisse einer Befragung mit dem Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20).

BACKGROUND: Fatigue resulting from cancer and its treatment can lead to a reduction in quality of life. The frequency and intensity of fatigue syndrome after cancer therapy in the ENT field are largely unknown. Therefore, during follow-up consultations, the authors conducted a random survey with the help of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI 20). METHODS: During aftercare consultations, 66 patients were interviewed (average age 63 years, 21 women). All patients had received radiotherapy an average of 2 years previously (range 1-4 years). All respondents were in full remission at the time of the survey. According to recommendations, evaluation of the MFI-20 was carried out in 5 subgroups: general fatigue, physical fatigue, reduced activity, reduced motivation, and mental fatigue. For comparison with standard values, respondents were grouped by age into under and over 60 years and were also evaluated by gender. RESULTS: Regardless of gender, our patients reported clearly elevated scores in all subgroups. Particularly participants aged under 60 years reported very high scores. The clarity of the results surprised the authors. CONCLUSION: Fatigue represents a very profound and prolonged impairment for the patients of our study. Since fatigue can still be present a long time after completion of treatment, patients should be asked about it specifically using a standardized inventory during follow-up. In order to cope with fatigue syndrome, specific therapeutic recommendations aimed at activation, such as regular physical activity, nutritional advice, and complementary measures, can be made.

Intraoperative reduction of vasopressors using processed electroencephalographic monitoring in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery: a randomized clinical trial.

Intraoperative vasopressor and fluid application are common strategies against hypotension. Use of processed electroencephalographic monitoring (pEEG) may reduce vasopressor application, a known risk factor for organ dysfunction, in elective cardiac surgery patients. Randomized single-centre clinical trial at Jena University Hospital. Adult patients operated on cardiopulmonary bypass or off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting were randomised to receive anesthesia with visible or blinded pEEG using Narcotrend™. In blinded-Narcotrend (NT) depth of anesthesia was extrapolated from clinical signs, hemodynamic response and anesthetic concentration, supplemented by target indices between 37 and 64 in the visible-NT group. Intraoperative norepinephrine requirement (primary endpoint), fluid balance, extubation time, delirium occurrence and adverse events were evaluated. Patients of the intent-to-treat population (visible-NT: n = 123, blinded-NT: n = 122) had similar patient and procedural characteristics. Adjusted for type of surgery intraoperative Norepinephrine application was significantly reduced in visible-NT (n = 120, robust mean of cumulative dose 4.71 µg/kg bodyweight) compared to blinded-NT patients (n = 119, 6.14 µg/kg bodyweight) (adjusted robust mean difference 1.71 (95% CI 0.33-3.10) µg/kg bodyweight). Although reduction in patients operated on cardiopulmonary bypass was higher the interaction was not significant in post-hoc subgroup analysis. Intraoperative fluid balance was similar among both groups and strata. Extubation time was non-significantly lower in visible than in blinded-NT group. Overall postoperative delirium risk was 16.4% without differences among the groups. Adverse events-sudden movement/coughing, perspiration or hypertension-occurred more often with visible-NT, while one blinded-NT patient experienced intraoperative awareness. Titration of depth of anesthesia in elective cardiac surgery patients using pEEG allows to reduce application of norepinephrine.

Variants in the genes DCTN2, DNAH10, LRIG3, and MYO1A are associated with intermediate Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in a Norwegian family.

INTRODUCTION: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a heterogeneous inherited neuropathy. The number of known CMT genes is rapidly increasing mainly due to next-generation sequencing technology, at present more than 70 CMT-associated genes are known. We investigated whether variants in the DCTN2 could cause CMT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-nine Norwegian CMT families from the general population with unknown genotype were tested by targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) for variants in DCTN2 along with 32 CMT genes and 19 other genes causing other inherited neuropathies or neuronopathies, due to phenotypic overlap. In the family with the DCTN2 variant, exome sequencing was then carried out on all available eight family members to rule out the presence of more potential variants. RESULTS: Targeted NGS identified in one family a variant of DCTN2, c.337C>T, segregating with the phenotype in five affected members, while it was not present in the three unaffected members. The DCTN2 variant c.337C>T; p.(His113Tyr) was neither found in in-house controls nor in SNP databases. Exome sequencing revealed a singular heterozygous shared haplotype containing four genes, DCTN2, DNAH10, LRIG3, and MYO1A, with novel sequence variants. The haplotype was shared by all the affected members, while the unaffected members did not have it. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first time a haplotype on chromosome 12 containing sequence variants in the genes DCTN2, DNAH10, LRIG3, and MYO1A has been linked to an inherited neuropathy in humans.

Heart rate variability - a potential early marker of sub-acute post-stroke infections.

OBJECTIVE: Infection is the most relevant complication after acute ischemic stroke. Activity of the autonomic nervous system seems to control post-stroke immunodepression. We investigated heart rate variability (HRV) indices that reflect autonomic readjustments as predictors of post-stroke infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-three patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled in a prospective study. The predictability of sub-acute infections (day 4 ± 1 after admission) was investigated in 34 patients without acute infection by means of HRV indices obtained in the acute period (48 h after admission). RESULTS: Sub-acute infection could be predicted in patients without clinical or paraclinical (white blood cell count and C-reactive protein) signs of infection in the acute period at (i) day: increased HFnorm, reduced LFnorm and LF/HF; (ii) night: reduced LF and VLF (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: HRV indices are candidates for early markers of developing post-stroke infections, preceding routine blood samples. Thus, HRV-based early diagnosis of post-stroke infection should be investigated in more detail as it may have implications as a novel tool for timely and appropriate treatment. A corresponding continuous HRV-based risk assessment using the ECG provided by the routine stroke monitoring system would be possible without any additional burden for patients and staff.

Genetic epidemiology of Charcot-Marie-Tooth in the general population.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: the frequency of different Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) genotypes has been estimated in clinic populations, but prevalence data from the general population are lacking. METHODS: our population-based genetic epidemiological survey included persons with CMT residing in eastern Akershus County, Norway. The participants were interviewed and examined by one geneticist/neurologist and classified clinically, neurophysiologically and genetically. RESULTS: two hundred and forty-five persons from 116 families had CMT. This corresponds to 1 per 1214 persons (95% CI 1062-1366) have CMT in the general population. CMT1 (motor conduction velocity (MCV) <38 m/s), CMT2 (MCV >38 m/s) and CMT intermediate (MCV 25-45 m/s) were found in 48.2%, 49.4% and 2.4% of the families. A total of 27.2% of the families and 28.6% of the affected had a mutation in the investigated CMT genes. The prevalence of the peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) duplication and point mutation in the connexin32 (Cx32), myelin protein zero (MPZ) and mitofusin2 (MFN2) genes was found in 13.6%, 6.2%, 1.2%, 6.2% of the families, and in 19.6%, 4.8%, 1.1%, 3.2% of the affected, respectively. None of the families had point mutations in the early growth response 2 (EGR2), PMP22 or small integral membrane protein of lysosome/late endosome (SIMPLE) genes. CONCLUSIONS: CMT is the most common inherited neuropathy. At present, 43 CMT genes are known, and an examination of all known genes would probably only identify mutations in approximately 50% of those with CMT. Thus, it is probable that at least 30-50 CMT genes are yet to be identified.

Seroprevalence of influenza A and B in German infants and adolescents.

The objective of this study was to provide seroepidemiological information on influenza A and B antibodies in children and adolescents. Viral immunoglobulin G antibodies were determined retrospectively using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in a group of 1,111 children and adolescents. Sera (809) from healthy adult blood donors served as controls. In children, the prevalence of antibodies against influenza A was 82.0% and against influenza B 9.6%, whereas in adults the prevalence of antibodies against influenza A was calculated as 99.4% and against influenza B 56.7%. After decline of maternal antibodies during the first year of life, there was an increase of prevalence of influenza A antibodies up to 100% by the age of 12 years. In contrast, only 1-2% of children up to 9 years had influenza B antibodies increasing to 25% by the age of 18 years and to 70% among adults aged 30 years. Children aged 0-6 years had significantly lower concentrations and >12-15-year-old adolescents had significantly higher concentrations of antibodies against influenza A than adults. For all age groups of children and adolescents, significantly lower antibody concentrations against influenza B were measured in comparison to the blood donor control group. In conclusion, the annual influenza vaccination in children and adolescents may improve considerably the protection against influenza virus infection occurring during epidemics.

Prevalence of the diabetic foot syndrome at the primary care level in Germany: a cross-sectional study.

AIMS: The diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) is an important complication of diabetes mellitus resulting in amputations, disability and reduced quality of life. DFS is preventable. The aim was to investigate the prevalence of the DFS at the primary care level in Germany. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of the prevalence of DFS, associated factors and glycaemic control at the primary care level in Germany. We examined an unselected sample of participants with known diabetes who were insured by Deutsche BKK, a large healthcare insurer. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty-one general practitioners examined 4778 participants with diabetes mellitus: 366 (7.7%) participants (mean age 49 +/- 16 years) had Type 1 and 4412 participants (mean age 66 +/- 10 years) had Type 2 diabetes. DFS was diagnosed in 138 patients, resulting in a prevalence of 3.6%[95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9, 6.0] in Type 1 and 2.8% (95% CI 2.3, 3.4) in Type 2 diabetes. DFS was independently associated with age, duration of diabetes, height, current smoking and insulin therapy. There was no significant effect of glycaemic control on the risk of DFS. The prevalence of other abnormal foot findings was: peripheral neuropathy 9.7%, peripheral arterial disease 14.8% (absent dorsalis pedis), 12.4% (absent tibialis posterior), acute diabetic foot ulcer 0.8%, amputations of lower extremities 1.5%, and amputations limited to toes 0.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of the DFS at the primary care level in Germany is 2.9%. Almost 50% of patients with DFS had major or minor amputations. Common risk factors such as hyperkeratosis and poor glycaemic control can be modified. Effective therapeutic approaches in addition to methods for primary and secondary prevention of DFS should be used more widely.

Lung function in adults with cystic fibrosis at altitude: impact on air travel.

Current guidelines for air travel state that patients with chronic respiratory diseases are required to use oxygen if their in-flight arterial oxygen tensions (Pa,O2) drop below 6.6 kPa. This recommendation may not be strictly applicable to cystic fibrosis patients, who may tolerate lower Pa,O2 for several hours without clinical symptoms. Lung function, symptoms, blood gas levels and signs of pulmonary hypertension were studied in 36 cystic fibrosis patients at altitudes of 530 m and, after 7 h, 2,650 m. A hypoxia inhalation test (inspiratory oxygen fraction 0.15) was performed at low altitude in order to predict high-altitude hypoxaemia. Median Pa,O2 dropped from 9.8 kPa at low altitude to 7.0 kPa at high altitude. Mild exercise at a workload of 30 W further decreased Pa,O2. Two-thirds of all patients exhibited Pa,O2 of <6.6 kPa during exercise and, except for one patient, were asymptomatic. Patients were significantly less obstructed at an altitude of 2,650 m. Low forced expiratory volume in one second at baseline was associated with a low Pa,O2 at altitude. It is concluded that cystic fibrosis patients with baseline arterial oxygen tensions of >8.0 kPa safely tolerate an altitude of 2,650 m for several hours under resting conditions. The risk assessment of low in-flight oxygenation should encompass the whole clinical situation of cystic fibrosis patients, with special attention being paid to the presence of severe airway obstruction.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients with breast cancer: observations from a health-care survey.

GOALS OF THE WORK: The aim of this study was to assess the period prevalence and identify predictors of the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among women with breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 263 women participating in a quality of life survey reported on CAM use. Differences between CAM users and nonusers were evaluated using logistic regression. RESULTS: About 3 years after diagnosis the period prevalence of CAM use among women with breast cancer was 36%. Younger women reported usage of CAM more often than older women. Associations between remote disease, pain and psychosocial variables were found. Involvement in self-help groups and active participation in leisure activities were associated with CAM use; this may indicate differences in the patients' ability to cope with the disease. Most patients were informed of CAM by a physician. CONCLUSIONS: Involvement in self-help groups and leisure activities were associated with CAM use, indicating differences in the patients' ability to cope. Further research is necessary to evaluate the safety of CAM and to determine the value of CAM in health care.

A population-based study on variations in the use of adjuvant systemic therapy on postmenopausal patients with early stage breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To assess adherence to treatment recommendations regarding adjuvant systemic therapy of postmenopausal patients with early stage breast cancer. METHODS: A population-based cohort of women from Eastern Thuringia/Germany with first diagnosis of breast cancer in 1995-2000 was studied. The use of adjuvant therapy was assessed separately for patients with positive and negative nodal status fitting polytomous logistic regression models. RESULTS: Among 396 women with positive lymph nodes and 832 with negative lymph nodes, 92.9% and 87.3% received an adjuvant systemic treatment, respectively. Age, comorbidity, hormone receptor status, histological grading, and additionally, in nodal positives, the number of involved lymph nodes, were associated with treatment patterns. Age had the strongest impact on treatment decision. Older women more often received hormone- or no adjuvant therapy. However, 26.3% of the women with lymph node involvement and positive hormone receptor status received no hormone therapy, whereas 35.7% of women with negative hormone receptor status received hormone therapy. CONCLUSION: The number of patients with adjuvant systemic therapy is high in women with positive and those with negative lymph nodes, reflecting adherence to the recommendations. Better outcome could be expected if hormone therapy was used adequately in receptor positives. Further follow-up is required to monitor the outcome and changes in adherence to treatment recommendations.

Screening for high-grade cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia and cancer by testing for high-risk HPV, routine cytology or colposcopy.

The validity of testing for high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV) in cervical cancer prevention programs is undetermined. We compared the performance on primary screening of HPV DNA testing, cytology and colposcopy in detecting cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2 or 3 or cancer. A cohort of 4,761 women, median age 35 years, was screened by routine cytology, routine colposcopy and testing for high-risk HPV by a PCR-based method. Within an 8-month period, women with abnormal findings on cytology or screening colposcopy or in whom high-risk HPV types were detected were referred for colposcopy and biopsy. Women negative on all initial screening tests were followed by a second screening examination. To correct for work-up bias, the true prevalence of CIN 2 or 3 or cancer was estimated by projection from histologically verified subgroups. Cervical biopsies were taken in 364 women (7.6%), of whom 114 (2.4%) showed CIN 2 (n = 34) or CIN 3 (n = 71) or cancer (n = 9). High-risk HPV testing achieved bias-corrected performance measures of 89.4% sensitivity, 93.9% specificity, 35.8% positive predictive value and 99.6% negative predictive value. Bias-corrected rates of true- and false-positives by high-risk HPV testing compared to cytology (colposcopy) were about 4.5 (6.7) and 19.1 (7.4) times higher, respectively. The quality of routine cytology was controlled by computer-assisted review, and the observed number of true-positives more than doubled after adding automated review results. In middle-aged women, testing for high-risk HPV types, particularly when negative, may be used to increase the screening interval in programs for secondary prevention of cervical cancer.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among school children in Jena (Germany).

OBJECTIVES: To examine the prevalence and changes in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school children in Jena (Germany) in the last twenty years and to identify factors associated with childhood overweight. DESIGN: Cross-sectional surveys in 1975, 1985, 1995 and a household questionnaire in 1995. SUBJECTS: Children from schools in Jena, aged 7-14 y, participated (1975 : 1002 boys and 1000 girls; 1985 : 781 boys and 753 girls; 1995 : 989 boys and 912 girls). MEASUREMENTS: Prevalence of overweight or obesity based on the 90th or 97th age- and sex-specific percentile of the body mass index (BMI) developed for French children. In 1995 factors examined in relation to overweight included birth weight, birth length, age-class, number of children in household, occupation of the father, education of the mother and size of flat (apartment). RESULTS: In boys the prevalence of overweight increased from 10.0 to 16.3% and in girls from 11.7 to 20.7% between 1975 and 1995. The prevalence of obesity increased from 5.3 to 8.2% in boys and from 4.7 to 9.9% in girls between 1975 and 1995. However, the peak in the increase of overweight as well as of obesity lie for both sexes between 1985 and 1995. Using logistic regression, statistically significant associations with overweight were found for occupation of the father, birth weight in both sexes and additionally, for size of flat in girls. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight and obesity are increasing health problems among Jena children. Further investigations are needed to explore the influence of factors such as feeding pattern, food habits and physical activity on overweight. Special attention should be paid to the further social development in the society and to the link between low social class and overweight. Through such investigations effective preventive strategies could be developed.

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction for subgenus-specific detection of human adenoviruses in clinical samples.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used previously for the detection and typing of adenoviruses directly in clinical samples. Since under clinical conditions subgenus-specific identification is often sufficient, we extended the genus- and type-specific PCR by a subgenus-specific PCR. By sequencing several loop I4 gene regions of the hexon (major adenovirus coat protein) and comparing them to published sequences, subgenus-specific sequences were identified in this region. By using primers targeted to this region and to a conserved hexon gene region, a multiplex, nonnested PCR for the detection and subgenus-specific identification of adenoviruses could be established. The six subgenus-specific amplimers are distinguishable by agarose gel electrophoresis, and subsequent restriction analysis is not necessary. The specificity of the subgenus-specific primer pairs was tested on 23 adenovirus prototypes, representing all six subgenera, on 9 subgenus B and D intermediate strains, and on 16 subgenus C genome types. Furthermore, multiplex, subgenus-specific PCR was performed directly with 100 clinical specimens, including stool samples, ocular swabs, and throat swabs. Adenoviruses of all subgenera could be detected. Especially for clinical application, the rapid, one-step differentiation between subgenus D adenoviruses, causing the severe and highly contagious epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, and subgenus B and E adenoviruses, causing relative harmless ocular infections, is of great importance. The subgenus-specific PCR could also facilitate the primary classification of unknown virus isolates.

Influence of ovarian stimulation on the detection of human papillomavirus DNA in cervical scrapes obtained from patients undergoing assisted reproductive techniques.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether gonadotropin stimulation influences the detection of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in cervical scrapes. DESIGN: Prospective, controlled study. SETTING: Tertiary care infertility clinic. PATIENT(S): Two hundred ninety-four patients enrolled in an IVF or IUI program. Two thousand two hundred sixty-two women from an ongoing screening study who were of similar age served as a control group. INTERVENTION(S): Cervical scrapes were obtained with a cytobrush before and after ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Human papillomavirus status was assessed with a general primer (GP) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the GP5+/GP6+ system. In GP-PCR-positive samples, high-risk HPV types were identified with a cocktail of digoxigenin-labeled oligonucleotides. Viral load was evaluated by semiquantitative analysis of the PCR products. RESULT(S): The prevalence of high-risk HPVs was 7.8% before stimulation and 6.8% after stimulation and, thus, was similar to the prevalence in controls (8.4%). Twenty-nine patients were positive for high-risk HPVs: 14 were positive before and after stimulation, 6 were negative before and positive after stimulation, and 9 were positive before and negative after stimulation. Positivity for high-risk HPVs and viral load did not correlate directly with serum estrogen levels. CONCLUSION(S): Ovarian stimulation has no significant effect on the prevalence of HPV DNA in cervical scrapes obtained from patients undergoing assisted reproductive techniques.

Colposcopic appearance of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia is age dependent.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated to determine whether colposcopic, histologic, and virologic parameters of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia are influenced by a patient's age. STUDY DESIGN: A cohort of 967 women with a mean age of 37.1 years underwent screening for detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia by colposcopy, cytologic examination, and testing for high-risk human papillomaviruses with the Hybrid Capture System (Digene, Silver Springs, Md) and a general primer and type-specific primer polymerase chain reaction system. Cervicography was used for documentation and reproducible evaluation of the colposcopic appearance of the cervix. In 86% of patients with trivial colposcopic changes of doubtful significance (100/116) and 89% of patients with colposcopic changes consistent with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (89/99), punch biopsy specimens were taken for histologic evaluation. RESULTS: In patients with trivial colposcopic changes of doubtful significance, histologically confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was almost as frequent (32%, 37/116) as in patients with colposcopic changes consistent with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (43%, 43/99, difference not significant). The ratio between colposcopic evidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and trivial colposcopic changes was 1.9 in patients <35 years old with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, versus 0.5 in patients >/=35 years old with cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (P =.005). Patients with trivial colposcopic changes of doubtful significance were older (median age 36 years) than were patients with colposcopic changes consistent with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (median age 29 years, P =. 008). In patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia who had no or trivial colposcopic changes, the thickness of neoplastic epithelium was smaller (P =.008) and the number of cellular layers was lower (P =.01) than in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia who had colposcopic changes consistent with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. In patients <35 years old the rate of positive results for a high-risk human papillomavirus (P <.005) and the viral load (difference not significant) were higher than in women >/=35 years old. The rate of positive results for high-risk human papillomaviruses differed independently of age among patients with normal colposcopic findings, patients with trivial colposcopic changes of doubtful significance, and patients with colposcopic changes consistent with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (P <.005). CONCLUSIONS: In women >/=35 years old cervical lesions associated with intraepithelial neoplasia are thinner and thus less colposcopically conspicuous than those in women <35 years old. Patients >/=35 years old with acetowhite cervical lesions consistent with trivial changes of doubtful significance should therefore undergo punch biopsy for histologic evaluation.

[Osteomyelitis as a complication of varicella]. / Osteomyelitt som komplikasjon ved varicella.

Osteomyelitis is a rare complication after varicella. It should, however, be considered in any child who develops pain in a limb during or after a varicella infection. An 18 month old boy with a five day history of varicella infection was hospitalized. Movement of his right arm made him cry intensively. Blood cultures showed growth of group A beta haemolytic streptococcus. The day after admission to hospital the bone scintigrams showed increased activity in the right humeral diaphysis consistent with osteomyelitis, and penicillin therapy was started. On radiograms of the right humerus performed on the second day, no pathological changes could be shown. Radiograms after ten days showed irregular osteolytic lesions in the upper part of the humeral diaphysis. Clinically, the boy improved rapidly and could be dismissed from hospital after 17 days. Follow-up radiograms showed slowly normalized conditions, and five months after the start of symptoms, no pathological changes should be demonstrated.

Human papillomavirus distribution in cervical tissues of different morphology as determined by hybrid capture assay and PCR.

Distribution of various types of genital human Papillomavirus (HPV) in smears from histologically classified cervical lesions was determined by hybrid capture assay (HCA) and was compared with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system using general primers (GP) in first and type specific primers (TS) in a second step. The overall agreement of high-risk HPV by HCA and the more sensitive GP/TS PCR was 80.6% (204 of 253, kappa value 0.6). Human Papillomavirus frequency by GP/TS PCR was 14-20% higher compared with HCA (p = 0.02-0.004) independent of morphology. Only one sample was positive by HCA and negative by GP/TS PCR. A significantly higher frequency was found using HCA and GP/TS PCR in smears from histologically proven cervical intraepithelial lesions (CIN) II/III compared with CIN I, tissues with minimal changes (metaplasia, cervicitis, or lack of glycogenization), or normal morphology (61% and 81% vs 8-15% and 24-34%, p < or = 0.001). Semi-quantitative estimate of HPV DNA copies by GP-PCR coincided with estimated virus load by quantitative HCA and was significantly higher in patients with CIN II/III compared with CIN I (p < 0.001). Thus, the GP-PCR may be used to monitor the amount of HPV DNA copies in clinical samples. A direct correlation between morphologic changes and HPV detection as well as virus load was found by HCA and the more sensitive GP/TS PCR.

[Logistic regression analysis of the influence of residential environment, residential hygiene and life style on the incidence and duration of acute respiratory disease in small children]. / Logistische Regressionsanalysen zum Einfluss von Wohnumwelt, Wohnhygiene und Lebensweise auf die Häufigkeit und Dauer akuter respiratorischer Erkrankungen bei Kleinkindern.

659 children aged between 1 and 2 years were examined in respect of the influence of the children's-facility, residential environment, residential hygiene, and way of life, as well as in respect of the influence of selected sociological factors on the number and duration of acute respiratory diseases (ARD). The evaluation of the results by using logistical regressions analysis came--among other things--to following factors, that correlated with a risen morbidity, respectively an extended duration of the illness (> 3 diseases in 6 months; > 20 days in 6 months). Apartments with wet walls, dark and too noisy apartments, children's-rooms with two outside walls, single window pane, outside-wall-gas-heaters, room-air-humidity too low, space for children in day-nurseries < 4 sqm, no carrying out of hardening-steps for the children, wind-influence to the open space of the children's-facility too strong, and shift-working by the mother.