[Oral hygiene. KIGGS data on caries preventative behaviour]. / Mundhygiene. Daten des KiGGS zum Karies-präventiven Verhalten.

The present analysis deals with the identification of populations at risk with regard to oral hygiene and the prevention of caries in children and adolescents in Germany. Using a written questionnaire, which constituted a part of the KIGGS Survey for children and adolescents, 17,641 participants aged between 0 to 17 years were asked about how frequently they brushed their teeth, and how often they had dental check-ups. During a standardised medical interview caries preventative medications were recorded. In consideration of socio-demographic factors, risk populations for insufficient dental hygiene and caries prophylaxis were identified by means of logistic regression. Determinants for insufficient dental hygiene are male sex (odds ratio (OR) 1.6), low social status (OR 2.2) and migrational background (OR 2.3). The social and culture-specific determinancy is also mirrored in the insufficient utilisation of dental check-ups. In addition, there are significant differences between East and West Germany (OR West 1.3) and urban residence (OR 1.9). Age (0-2 years OR 10.4), social and migrational status proved to be significant factors influencing use of tablet fluoridation. These results stress the necessity of preventative measures for these specific target groups to improve dental hygiene and health.

[Method and design of the Telephone Health Survey 2003]. / Methode und Design des telefonischen Gesundheitssurveys 2003.

Telephone surveys are increasingly being used in public health research, also in Germany. In 2003 the Robert Koch Institute completed the first nationwide telephone survey predominantly on conditions and prevalence of selected chronic diseases (GSTel03). Its findings are presented in this publication. The tasks of planning, implementation and realization of procedures used in telephone surveys differ in many aspects from other modes of data collection. This article deals with the most important methodological aspects that were implemented and used in the course of the GSTel03 to ensure a high level of data quality. These include sample design, questionnaire development and the process of data collection (including the recruitment and training of the staff). Finally steps of data preparation for analysis including weighting procedures are described and calculation of contact and cooperation rates are reported.

Mitochondrial variants of Neurospora intermedia from nature.

From a sample of 122 natural isolates of Neurospora intermedia collected recently from around the world, five variants had erratic stop-start growth patterns reminiscent of the phenotype of "stopper" laboratory extranuclear mutants of Neurospora crassa. Like laboratory isolated mutants, the natural "stopper" variants were sterile as protoperithecial parents and transmitted the variant growth phenotypes very inefficiently, if at all, as male parents. Heterokaryon tests could not be made because of strain incompatibilities. Four of the variants have mitochondrial cytochrome aa3 and b deficiencies. These four variants are all defective in mitochondrial ribosome assembly and have abnormal ratios of large to small subunits. Restriction enzyme analyses revealed some similarity of N. intermedia to N. crassa mtDNA. One normal and four variant strains had additional DNA in comparison to a standard normal strain. Cumulatively, the results indicate that the genetic alterations which cause stopper phenotypes of these natural isolates of N. intermedia are of mitochondrial rather than nuclear origin.

[Orthostatis stress from standing at work]. / Orthostatische Beanspruchung bei Arbeiten im Stehen.

The evaluation of different body postures during work needs considering the interactions of anthropometric, physiological, orthopaedic, angiologic and biomechanical criteria on one side and of working conditons on the other. Many professions in industry as well as many tasks of the housewife still have to be done in standing position. But standing for long periods leads to increased strain of the bone and muscle system and to increased complaints and illness of the feet and legs. A comprehending catalogue of the effects of dominating standing posture and a catalogue of preventive measures are presented.

Time-varied noise effects on color-word test performance.

The effects of continuous and time-varied 85 dBA broadband noise on the performance of a Stroop-type color-word test and a related word-reading task were investigated. 10 subjects served in one of three groups receiving either continuous, periodic, or aperiodic noise. All subjects performed in both low noise (65 dBA) and high noise (85 dBA) conditions on 80 trials of both word reading and color naming. Median reaction times in the word-reading task were unaffected by either noise intensity or the time-varied aspects of the noise. However, median reaction times in the color-naming task were significantly elevated in the 85-dBA noise condition. Also, reaction times in the high aperiodic noise condition were significantly elevated relative to the continuous and periodic noise conditions. Results are discussed within the framework of arousal, filter, and information theories.