Polymorphic genetic variation in immune system genes: a study of two populations of Espirito Santo, Brazil.

Mapping single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes potentially involved in immune responses may help understand the pathophysiology of infectious diseases in specific geographical regions. In this context, we have aimed to analyze the frequency of immunogenetic markers, focusing on genes CD209 (SNP -336A/G), FCγRIIa (SNP -131H/R), TNF-α (SNP -308A/G) and VDR (SNP Taq I) in two populations of the Espirito Santo State (ES), Brazil: general and Pomeranian populations. Peripheral blood genomic DNA was extracted from one hundred healthy individuals of the general population and from 59 Pomeranians. Polymorphic variant identification was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). SNP genotype frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium. There was no statistically significant difference in allelic and genotypic distributions between the two populations studied. Statistically significant differences were observed for SNP genotype distribution in genes CD209, TNF-α and VDR when comparing the ES populations with other Brazilian populations. This is the first report of CD209, FcγRIIa, TNF-α and VDR allelic frequencies for the general and Pomeranian populations of ES.

Deux psychologies sociales marxistes dans l’Allemagne de l’époque du Mur de Berlin – Partie I: à l’Est / Two Marxist social psychologies in the Germany of the Berlin Wall epoch - Part I: the East

Cet article veut rendre compte d’une approche théorique qui a été élaborée dans la République Démocratique de l’Allemagne à l’époque du Mur de Berlin. Deux livres sont d’une grande importance pour leur présentation des principes théoriques qui y étaient empruntés au matérialisme dialectique ainsi que pour les rapports sur les recherches empiriques qui se sontinspirées de cette nouvelle construction théorique. La première édition du livre Einführung in die Marxistische Sozialpsychologie (Introduction à la Psychologie Sociale Marxiste) était publiée en 1966 par Hans Hiebsch et Martin Vorwerg. Les mêmes auteurs sont les éditeurs en 1979 d’un volume collectif Sozialpsychologie auquel ont collaboré onze de leurs collègues. Le présent article ne présente pas seulement les fondations théoriques de nature marxiste adoptées par lesauteurs de ces deux livres, il relate aussi leurs prises de position par rapport à la compatibilité ou incompatibilité de leurs nouvelles approches avec celles de traditions de recherche bien établiesen Amérique du Nord ou Europe Occidentale.

The aim of this article is to present the outlines of a theoretical approach that was initiated in the German Democratic Republic at the epoch of the Berlin Wall. Two books are especially important for their presentation of the theoretical principles that were borrowed frommaterial dialecticism and also for their reports on the empirical research that was effectuated in the new theoretical framework. The first edition of the book Einführung in die MarxistischeSozialpsychologie (Introducing Marxist Social Psychology) was published in 1966 and authored by Hans Hiebsch and Martin Vorwerg. The same authors edited in 1979 a collective book Sozialpsychologie in which participated also eleven more colleagues. The present article presents also the assessment by the authors about the compatibility or incompatibility of their new research approaches with well established social psychological approaches in North America andWestern Europe.

Deux psychologies sociales marxistes dans l’Allemagne de l’époque du Mur de Berlin – Partie II: à l’Ouest / Two Marxist social psychologies in the Germany of the Berlin Wall epoch - Part II: the West

Ce rapport veut décrire le cadre théorique initialement proposé par Klaus Holzkamp à Berlin Ouest à l’époque du Mur de Berlin dans son livre Kritische Psychologie paru en 1972. Cette psychologie critique est toujours en vogue comme l’atteste le livre récent de Morus Markard (2009) Einführung in die Kritische Psychologie (Introduction à la Psychologie Critique). Ce livrerécent procède à une revue exhaustive de toute la recherche effectuée dans le cadre de la théorie de Holzkamp. C’est la raison pour laquelle le présent rapport sur la théorie de Holzkamp et la recherche qui s’en inspire est principalement basé sur le livre de Markard. Les thèmes qui y sont abordés portent sur les liens entre l’origine de la Kritische Psychologie et la “révolte”estudiantine en 1968, la critique de réductionnisme expérimental, l’importance de la prise en considération de la vie quotidienne lors de la construction de théories en psychologie sociale, la nécessité de reconstruire la genèse et transformation des capacités psychologiques aussi bien au cours de l’histoire de l’humanité qu’au cours du développement individuel actuel dans différents contextes sociaux. Les implications méthodologiques de telles approches sont aussi abordées.

The aim of this article is to present the outlines of the theoretical approach that was initiated by Klaus Holzkamp in West Berlin at the epoch of the Berlin Wall in his 1972 book Kritische Psychologie. This critical psychology is still practiced as the recent book by Morus Markard (2009) Einführung in die Kritische Psychologie (Introducing Critical Psychology) attests. This book offers a very extensive review of all the relevant literature that was effectuated in theframe of Holzkamp’s theory. Hence this report on Holzkamp’s theory and on the research endeavors it initiated is mainly based on Markard’s book. Issues that are dealt with are the links between the origin of the theory and the students “revolt” of 1968, the criticism of experimental reductionism, the importance of everyday life concerns for formulating social psychologicaltheories, the necessity of re constructing the acquisition of psychological skills as well along thehistory of the human species as also across the various concrete settings of contemporary society in which individuals are nowadays confronted with new challenges. Methodological implications are also discussed.

Deux psychologies sociales marxistes dans l’Allemagne de l’époque du Mur de Berlin – Partie I: à l’Est / Two Marxist social psychologies in the Germany of the Berlin Wall epoch - Part I: the East

Cet article veut rendre compte d’une approche théorique qui a été élaborée dans la République Démocratique de l’Allemagne à l’époque du Mur de Berlin. Deux livres sont d’une grande importance pour leur présentation des principes théoriques qui y étaient empruntés au matérialisme dialectique ainsi que pour les rapports sur les recherches empiriques qui se sontinspirées de cette nouvelle construction théorique. La première édition du livre Einführung in die Marxistische Sozialpsychologie (Introduction à la Psychologie Sociale Marxiste) était publiée en 1966 par Hans Hiebsch et Martin Vorwerg. Les mêmes auteurs sont les éditeurs en 1979 d’un volume collectif Sozialpsychologie auquel ont collaboré onze de leurs collègues. Le présent article ne présente pas seulement les fondations théoriques de nature marxiste adoptées par lesauteurs de ces deux livres, il relate aussi leurs prises de position par rapport à la compatibilité ou incompatibilité de leurs nouvelles approches avec celles de traditions de recherche bien établiesen Amérique du Nord ou Europe Occidentale. (AU)

The aim of this article is to present the outlines of a theoretical approach that was initiated in the German Democratic Republic at the epoch of the Berlin Wall. Two books are especially important for their presentation of the theoretical principles that were borrowed frommaterial dialecticism and also for their reports on the empirical research that was effectuated in the new theoretical framework. The first edition of the book Einführung in die MarxistischeSozialpsychologie (Introducing Marxist Social Psychology) was published in 1966 and authored by Hans Hiebsch and Martin Vorwerg. The same authors edited in 1979 a collective book Sozialpsychologie in which participated also eleven more colleagues. The present article presents also the assessment by the authors about the compatibility or incompatibility of their new research approaches with well established social psychological approaches in North America andWestern Europe. (AU)

Deux psychologies sociales marxistes dans l’Allemagne de l’époque du Mur de Berlin – Partie II: à l’Ouest / Two Marxist social psychologies in the Germany of the Berlin Wall epoch - Part II: the West

Ce rapport veut décrire le cadre théorique initialement proposé par Klaus Holzkamp à Berlin Ouest à l’époque du Mur de Berlin dans son livre Kritische Psychologie paru en 1972. Cette psychologie critique est toujours en vogue comme l’atteste le livre récent de Morus Markard (2009) Einführung in die Kritische Psychologie (Introduction à la Psychologie Critique). Ce livrerécent procède à une revue exhaustive de toute la recherche effectuée dans le cadre de la théorie de Holzkamp. C’est la raison pour laquelle le présent rapport sur la théorie de Holzkamp et la recherche qui s’en inspire est principalement basé sur le livre de Markard. Les thèmes qui y sont abordés portent sur les liens entre l’origine de la Kritische Psychologie et la “révolte”estudiantine en 1968, la critique de réductionnisme expérimental, l’importance de la prise en considération de la vie quotidienne lors de la construction de théories en psychologie sociale, la nécessité de reconstruire la genèse et transformation des capacités psychologiques aussi bien au cours de l’histoire de l’humanité qu’au cours du développement individuel actuel dans différents contextes sociaux. Les implications méthodologiques de telles approches sont aussi abordées. (AU)

The aim of this article is to present the outlines of the theoretical approach that was initiated by Klaus Holzkamp in West Berlin at the epoch of the Berlin Wall in his 1972 book Kritische Psychologie. This critical psychology is still practiced as the recent book by Morus Markard (2009) Einführung in die Kritische Psychologie (Introducing Critical Psychology) attests. This book offers a very extensive review of all the relevant literature that was effectuated in theframe of Holzkamp’s theory. Hence this report on Holzkamp’s theory and on the research endeavors it initiated is mainly based on Markard’s book. Issues that are dealt with are the links between the origin of the theory and the students “revolt” of 1968, the criticism of experimental reductionism, the importance of everyday life concerns for formulating social psychologicaltheories, the necessity of re constructing the acquisition of psychological skills as well along thehistory of the human species as also across the various concrete settings of contemporary society in which individuals are nowadays confronted with new challenges. Methodological implications are also discussed. (AU)

Alterations in height, weight, and body mass index of newborns, children, and young adults in eastern Germany after German reunification.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of the socioeconomic changes occurring during the German reunification on anthropometric data of newborns, children, and young adults. Study design Data were drawn from different perinatal surveys and cross-sectional studies that were conducted in the newly formed German states before and after reunification (1984-2000). RESULTS: The mean birth weight of newborns increased 151 g between 1984 and 1985 (n = 51,447) and 1997 (n = 83,052), whereas length increased by 0.2 cm. Among 7- to 10-year-old school children in the federal state of Saxonia between 1984 and 1985 (n = 2359) and 1999 and 2000 (n = 11,575), an increase of height by 1 to 2 cm and weight by 1.2 to 2.6 kg was observed. Average body mass index (BMI) increased by 0.7 to 0.9 kg/m(2). Among military recruits from Eastern Germany, an increase in weight and height was observed between 1985 and 1998. BMI values rose from 21.5 to 22.6 kg/m(2), and "centimeter weight" increased from 381 to 405 g/cm. CONCLUSION: The results show that the change in socioeconomic conditions was associated with alteration in anthropometric measures within a short period. This may have been caused by changes in the nutrient supply and composition as well as reduced physical activity.

Cardiovascular disease and use of oral contraceptives. WHO Collaborative Study.

Considerable evidence from the United Kingdom and North America has shown that oral contraceptive use is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, since little is known about the link between the two in other parts of the world, WHO initiated a hospital-based case-control study in three centres in Mexico, Hong Kong, and the German Democratic Republic. Both cases and controls were asked about their past and current use of contraception as well as details on a number of potential confounding factors. Three main diagnostic categories were studied: venous thromboembolism (VTE) and pulmonary embolism (PE), ischaemic heart disease (IHD), and stroke. An overall relative risk of 2.9 (95% confidence limits, 1.4-6.1) for VTE/PE was found among recent or current users of oral contraceptives. Although this elevated risk is consistent with the results of other studies, the possibility of detection bias cannot be ruled out. The small number of cases (8) of IHD identified in the course of this study greatly limited the conclusions that could be drawn for this disease. Similarly with stroke, the small number of cases limited the conclusions that could be drawn, particularly since it was not possible to distinguish between thrombotic and haemorrhagic stroke. In addition to suggesting an increased risk of VTE/PE, the study pointed out the importance of ensuring an adequate sample size based on newly-diagnosed cases, the need for a coordinating centre to monitor the study closely in each centre and to provide a central review of each case, and the necessity of more specific diagnoses for meaningful interpretation of the data.

Higiene social, ginecología social y protección de la salud de la mujer en la República Democrática Alemania

Se define el objetivo y contenido de la higiene social y del sistema de protección de la salud de la población. Se fundamenta la concepción de la ginecología social a parrit de estas definiciones e incluye como tareas de esta disciplina la elaboración de los fundamentos científicos, mediante investigaciones para : 1) Lograr la configuración de la protección de la salud de la mujer; 2) Solucionar tareas de dirección, planificación y organización de la salud pública; 3) Definir el componente social de la asistencia médica de la mujer y 4) Lograr una actitud de la mujer que fomente su salud (AU)

[The 1988 general census in light of the expected recommendations of the CMEA Permanent Statistical Commission]. / Narodowy Spis Powszechny 1988 w swietle przewidywanych zalecen Stalej Komisji Statystycznej RWPG.

PIP: The author describes a set of principles concerning census procedures agreed to by the countries of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance. These include an agreement to conduct a decennial census at the end of each decade and close to the beginning of a year, and an agreed number of minimum and optimum components. Dates of future censuses include: Poland, 1988; USSR, 1989; Mongolia, 1989; Viet Nam, 1989; Romania, 1990; Hungary, 1990; Cuba, 1990; Czechoslovakia, 1990; German Democratic Republic, 1991; Yugoslavia, 1991; and Bulgaria, 2000.^ieng

[Epidemiology of cervix cancer--a review]. / Epidemiologie des Zervixkarzinoms--eine Ubersicht.

Cervical cancer behaves epidemiologically like a venereal disease of low infectiousness. Early age at first intercourse and multiple sexual partners have been shown to exert strong effects on risk. There are wide differences in the incidence between different countries also influenced by the introduction of screening. Although the general picture remains one of decreasing incidence and mortality, there are signs of an increasing cervical cancer risk probably due to changes in sexual behavior. HSV 2 infection could not be confirmed to play the anticipated role in the aetiology of cervical cancer. Smoking and HPV 16/18 are currently important issues in a concept of multifactorial, stepwise carcinogenesis at the cervix uteri.

[Prognosis of the reproducibility of increased systolic arterial blood pressure in adolescents (an international cooperative study of juvenile arterial hypertension)]. / Prognozirovanie vosproizvodimosti povyshennogo sistolicheskogo arterial'nogo davleniia u podrostkov (mezhdunarodnoe kooperativnoe issledovanie po iuvenil'noi arterial'noi gipertonii).

Three-year reproducibility of elevated (above 120 mmHg) systolic BP (BPs) in twelve- and thirteen-year-olds was studied on the basis of the data of an international collaborative study in juvenile arterial hypertension. Rules for the classification and regulation of the adolescents of both sexes by their tendency to reproduce elevated BPs were derived, using logical functions. The rules are presented as logical solution trees that make it possible to assess the probability of elevated BPs being maintained and identify the adolescents prone to persistent BPs rise.

Aspectos conceptuales de dispensarización. trabajo referativo / Conceptual aspects of dispensarization: referable paper

Se presentan los aspectos que definen la dispensarización, su objetivo y origen. Se analiza la evolución de la actividad desde su creación hasta la actualidad en la URSS. Se expone como se comporta la misma en Bulgaria, RDA, Hungria. Polonia, Mongolia, Checoslovaquia, Viet-Nam, Kampuchea, Nicaragua y Cuba. Se resalta la importancia de la actividad y se plantea que la misma aparece reflejada en las resoluciones de los congresos de los partidos de los diversos países analizados, así como los lineamientos económicos de cada país. Se refiere el documento adoptado en la XVII Conferencia de MInistros de Salud de los países socialistas y se concluye con las consideraciones finales que la dispensarización es un método universal para la salud socialista y cuyos procedimientos son particulares de cada país y dependen de las condiciones que el desarrollo socioeconómico les impone

Aspectos conceptuales de dispensarización: trabajo referativo / Conceptual aspects of dispensarization: referable paper

Se presentan los aspectos que definen la dispensarización, su objetivo y origen. Se analiza la evolución de la actividad desde su creación hasta la actualidad en la URSS. Se expone como se comporta la misma en Bulgaria, RDA, Hungria. Polonia, Mongolia, Checoslovaquia, Viet-Nam, Kampuchea, Nicaragua y Cuba. Se resalta la importancia de la actividad y se plantea que la misma aparece reflejada en las resoluciones de los congresos de los partidos de los diversos países analizados, así como los lineamientos económicos de cada país. Se refiere el documento adoptado en la XVII Conferencia de MInistros de Salud de los países socialistas y se concluye con las consideraciones finales que la dispensarización es un método universal para la salud socialista y cuyos procedimientos son particulares de cada país y dependen de las condiciones que el desarrollo socioeconómico les impone

Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening for neural tube defects and other disorders using an ultramicro-ELISA. Collaborative study in Cuba and in the German Democratic Republic.

In Cuba and in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) a total of 24,412 pregnant women were tested for maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) at the 16th to 20th week of gestation. An inexpensive and partly automated ultramicroliter enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) with final volumes of 10 microliter was used to analyze simultaneously 50 samples. The intraassay coefficient of variation (CV) of 5-8% and day/day CVs of 6-10.5% were obtained with a test frequency of 320 assays/day. A cut-off level of twice the median value (MoM) was chosen. An amniocentesis was done in a total of 0.5% (in the GDR) and 0.7% (in Cuba) of the screened women. The prevalence of open neural tube defects (ONTD) was calculated from the present study and was 1.43% in Cuba and 1.34% in the GDR. Through MSAFP screening 88.2% ONTD were detected. There was no therapeutic abortion of a normal fetus. The approximate cost for this program was about 2.36 marks-GDR per patient screened, or about 2,048 marks per ONTD detected.

[Filariasis in foreign immigrants]. / Filariosen bei eingereisten Ausländern.

Among the patients of the Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases of the County Hospital St. George Leipzig the frequency of the infestment with microfilaria in immigrated foreigners was established. Of 1925 examined patients 78 (4.1%) were infested with microfilaria. In 27 patients we succeeded in proving Wuchereria bancrofti and in 3 Brugia malayi, 43 showed Acanthocheilonema perstans, in 5 cases a double infection was present.

[Helminth infestations in non-European travellers--results of stool examinations 1973-1981 in the district of Leipzig (East Germany)]. / Helminthenbefall bei eingereisten Nichteuropäern--Ergebnisse von Stuhluntersuchungen 1973-1981 im Bezirk Leipzig (DDR).

Infestations with helminths of non-European travellers--results of stool examinations 1973-1981 in the region of Leipzig (GDR). In the years 1973-1981 6,530 foreigners from 98 non-European nations were examined helminthologically by means of 15,288 koproovoscopic samples of stool. Altogether 52% of the examined persons were found to be infected with helminths. 15 species or groups of species were found. 38% of the examined persons were infested with Trichuris trichiura, 21% with "Ancylostomatidae" and 17% with Ascaris lumbricoides. Travellers from South and Southeast Asia showed the highest rate of infestation--93% on average (Vietnamese: 98%). The smallest rate of infestation (12%) was found with persons from Central and East Asia (Mongolians: 0.4%). Multiinfestations were frequent (Laos 67.4%, Vietnam 65.3% of the examined persons).

Growth in the international physician supply. 1950 through 1979.

The recent growth in domestic physician supply prompted an investigation of international trends. Using data from the World Health Organization, it was determined that the number of physicians in the world grew from 4.8 per 10,000 population to 10.1 per 10,000 during the period 1950 through 1979. There was a 96% increase in industrialized nations, 223% in nations with centrally planned economies, 164% in middle-income nations, and 29% in low-income nations. Relationships in growth in physician supply and production of medical graduates are discussed. Implications of the inequities between the various groupings of countries are discussed.