Microsporidiosis in Four Tortoises ( Testudo hermanni boettgeri).

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular, spore-forming fungi. A wide range of vertebrate and invertebrate hosts can be infected; however, cases of infected turtles or tortoises have not yet been described. This is the first description of 4 cases in tortoises ( Testudo spp), which showed general signs of illness as well as intestinal and respiratory signs until death occurred or they were euthanized. Granulomatous and necrotizing inflammation was visible in the lung and liver. Fungal organisms were present in heart blood, lung, liver, and intestine. Because of their morphology, staining properties (eg, positive in periodic acid-Schiff and silver reaction), and electron microscopic appearance, they were classified as microsporidia.

Age Dependency of Myocardial Triglyceride Content: A 3T High-Field 1H-MR Spectroscopy Study.

PURPOSE: The role of myocardial triglyceride (mTG) content in the aging human heart is not entirely understood. The aim of this study was to measure concentrations of mTG content from healthy volunteers and to determine the association between age, mTG content and systolic heart function. Furthermore, the technical stability of the (1)H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) and the reliability of peak evaluation at 3 T were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The total study population of 47 healthy volunteers was divided into 4 age classes, according to the age of the subjects (1(st) cohort 20 - 29 years (yrs.), n = 20; 2(nd) cohort 30 - 39 yrs., n = 10; 3(rd) cohort 40 - 49 yrs., n = 9; 4(th) cohort 50 - 60 yrs., n = 8). Cardiac MRI and double triggered (1)H-MRS of the myocardium were consecutively performed using a 3 T scanner. Each participant underwent spectroscopic measurements twice in the same investigation. RESULTS: mTG content increases with age. The correlation of age and mTG is minimal (r = 0.48; p < 0.001). The following age-averaged mTG content values expressed as % of mTG signal compared to the water signal were determined for each cohort: 1(st) cohort 0.25 % (±â€Š0.17); 2(nd) cohort 0.48 % (±â€Š0.30); 3(rd) cohort 0.48 % (±â€Š0.18); 4(th) cohort 0.77 % (±â€Š0.70). There was no significant correlation (r = 0.04; p = n.s.) between LV mass and mTG content in healthy volunteers. Within our cohorts, no effects of age or mTG content on systolic heart function were seen (r = - 0.01; p = n.s.). The intraclass correlation coefficient of spectroscopic measurements was high (r = 0.965; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Myocardial TG content increases with age. The normal age-dependent concentration ranges of myocardial lipid metabolites reported in this study may be helpful for the correction of acquired (1)H-MRS data in patients when evaluating metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in future magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies.

["Hereditary and racial welfare" in public health services: support and selection]. / "Erb- und Rassenpflege" im Gesundheitsamt: Unterstützung und Ausgrenzung.

The long-term aim for the German public health service during National Socialism was a hereditary and racial welfare. Several following legal regulations contributed to the implementation of a specific national socialist population policy on the basis of racial hygiene and gave immense power to health officers. Especially with the Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Sick Offspring, compulsory sterilisation was legalised and caused about 400,000 victims up to 1945. The central force in this new system was the public health office. The work of two health officers in neighbouring offices in upper Bavaria is compared. Results show that health officers had a large flexibility in their individual estimation. The restrictive interpretation of their duties did not necessarily cause any sanctions by the superior authority.

[Community analysis serving as a foundation for community-based health promotion programming--results of a citizen survey in Karlshuld, Germany]. / Gemeindeanalyse als Planungsgrundlage für ein gemeindenahes Gesundheitsförderungsprogramm--Ergebnisse einer Bevölkerungsbefragung in Karlshuld.

BACKGROUND: Analysing a community's needs and requirements is useful for planning a community-based health promotion programme. The literature recommends the analysis of existing population-based data, the discussion with a community's key persons, and standardised surveys among the community members. With regagrd to the latter method, German-language literature is scarce. AIM: A community analysis in the Bavarian rural community Karlshuld (5 000 inhabitants) was intended to provide a starting point for tailored health promotion activities in the community. As a part of the community analysis, a survey among the Karlshuld citizens was intended to inform about (1) health-related knowledge and behaviour of the community members, (2) their utilization and acceptance of existing health-related offers and activities, (3) their possibilities for active participation, their state of empowerment and (4) community-related aspects influencing quality of life. METHODS: A standardised telephone survey was performed with a random sample of Karlshuld community members aged 15 years and older. The questions covered health-related living conditions and activities in Karlshuld, quality of life and participation of community members. In addition, data were collected on knowledge, attitude and behaviour with regard to the issues nutrition, physical activity and tobacco consumption. The sample comprised 314 community members (f=68.8%; age 43.9+/-13.8 years). RESULTS: Shortcomings in knowledge on healthy nutrition were evident, especially among male participants. Whereas the general attitude towards a healthy diet was favourable in the majority of respondents, only 45.9%/58.6% stated that they daily consumed vegetables/fruit. One third of the 27.4% smokers among the respondents had intended but failed to quit smoking in the previous year; 80% stated they were willing to quit. The participants named infrastructure, nature and health-related activities as positive aspects in Karlshuld. Only 50% knew where to get information on health-related issues. 42.9% of respondents felt they could influence decisions on health-related issues in the community. There was no correlation between school education and knowledge or participation. DISCUSSION: The survey among Karlshuld community members identified potential approaches to improving the community environment and to tailor health education activities to the special needs of Karlshuld. A follow-up survey in 2008/2009 will be carried out in order to evaluate whether or not the Karlshuld health promotion programme was successful in building on Karlshuld's strengths and influencing its weaknesses.

[Community-based health promotion--a challenge for the evaluation]. / Gemeindenahe Gesundheitsförderung--Herausforderung an die Evaluation.

PURPOSE: Community-based health promotion (CBHP) aims at mobilising citizens for health-related issues in their environment, and at implementing health-promoting projects on the community level. Whereas recent political decisions support this approach, scientific studies dealing with theories and consequences of CBHP are scarce in Germany. Evaluation of CBHP could help identify (in)effective factors and elements of community programmes and thus improve future planning. In Germany, however, there is a deficit in systematic concepts and recommendations for the evaluation of CBHP. This work outlines basic ideas and core principles of CBHP and deduces implications for the assessment of health-promoting community projects. METHODS: Based on different international models and studies and on discussions with health promotion professionals, we developed a framework for the evaluation of CBHP. RESULTS: The proposed framework includes a guideline for CBHP programme planning. Its strategic and operational criteria can serve as a basis for a strategy evaluation. In terms of process evaluation, indicators for the dimensions (1) programme implementation and service delivery, (2) capacity building, and (3) reach of and acceptability in the target group were developed. In addition, we present different areas of OUTCOME EVALUATION; it is advisable to distinguish between measurement on the individual and on the community level. The framework further proposes strategies for the evaluation of the core principles empowerment and participation. CONCLUSION: The presented framework can serve as a basis for the development of flexible and individual instruments for the evaluation of CBHP, which should not ignore the perspective of the citizens, or complex aspects like changes on the community level. Some aspects, e.g., the potential evaluation of further targets of CBHP (improvement of quality of life, reduction of social and health inequalities), the responsibility of evaluation or the effects of financial constraints, are important questions to be addressed in the future.