[Campylobacteriosis of man : livestock as reservoir for Campylobacter species]. / Die Campylobacteriose des Menschen : Nutztiere als Reservoir für Campylobacter-Arten.

Over the last few years, infections with Campylobacter have significantly increased in Europe and Germany and these bacteria have even surpassed Salmonella as the most prevalent bacteria, causing gastroenteritis. Especially contamination during the handling and consumption of meat products seems to be the most important risk factor which plays a prominent role for transmission to man. In addition, contact with pets and other animals, drinking raw or improperly pasteurized milk, and the tenacity of Campylobacter in different environments, especially water, have also to be considered for an adequate risk assessment. Besides gastroenteritis, arthralgia, and Guillain-Barré syndrome are important clinical complications of Campylobacter infections in man. At the same time, it is mostly unclear why the course of infection in man and in reservoir animals differs significantly, especially as only a few classical bacterial virulence factors have been identified so far. For these reasons, the development of efficient prevention strategies is of utmost importance in order to control campylobacteriosis.

[Decline of caries prevalence in Swiss military recruits between 1970 and 1996]. / Rückgang der Kariesprävalenz bei Schweizer Rekruten von 1970 bis 1996.

In 1996, 416 military recruits (aged 20.4) were dentally examined. The mean DMFT based on clinical findings was 4,8 (including extracted premolars). The mean DMFT based on clinical and radiological findings was 5.3 (DT=l.2; MT=0.4: almost all of them premolars; FT=3.7. 13% of the recruits were caries-free (DMFT=0). On average, 8.7 affected sites (DFS) were counted; 1.4 were untreated (DS). The caries declined by 70% (DMFT) between 1970 and 1996 and by 46% (DMFT) and 54% (DFS) respectively between 1985 and 1996. In the latter period of time, the mean number of untreated lesions (DS) decreased by 71%, in approximal surfaces of molars and premolars even by 78%. The ratio FS/DFS was 51% in 1985 and 71% in 1996,. This means an improvement in restorative care. 56% of all DFS were found in pits and fissures, 36% in approximal surfaces of molars and premolars. 62% of all untreated lesions (DS) were observed in approximal surfaces of molars and premolars; this percentage was 83% in 1985. The estimated caries increment between age of 15 and 20 was approximately 1.6 DFS/year in the early eighties and 1.3 DFS/year in the early nineties. In 1996 , the former difference in caries prevalence between the recruits from the Canton of Vaud and those from other Western Cantons did not persist. This is probably due to an alignment of the nation-wide supply with fluoridated salt since 1983.

CSF protein values in infants and children.

Total protein, albumin and gamma-globulin values were determined in CSF of 139 children. They had been referred to the emergency department of the Children's Hospital of the University of Berne during the last year because of suspected meningitis which, however, was not confirmed. In newborns and infants the normal range of protein values was wide, 0.1-0.65 g/l. It fell to minimal values at age 3-4 years, and increased gradually thereafter to adult levels which were reached at age 6-8 years. The observed changes during early childhood are mainly due to variations in the albumine fraction. The results are different from the ones reported by Ammon and Richterich [1] who claimed constantly falling protein levels during childhood up to adult values. Similar results in comparison to ours were obtained by other laboratories using the same method [6,7]. Our study therefore supports the usefulness of Bradford's [2] method for routine CSF work-up.

Munchausen's syndrome.

Munchausen's syndrome is a chronic condition in which patients with factitious illness present with dramatic and sometimes self-inflicted signs and symptoms. Much investigation is needed to delineate the etiology and psychodynamics of this disorder. After other causes for the patient's condition have been ruled out and a firm diagnosis is made, cautious confrontation with long-term psychotherapy, if the patient is amenable, is thought to be the best approach.

PHA selection electrophoresis--a screening method for monomeric IgM.

Pentameric IgM is precipitable by PHA whereas monomeric IgM is not. During electrophoresis in PHA-containing agar gel pentameric IgM is selected by precipitation from concomitant monomeric IgM which may be visualized separately as a precipitation line with specific antibody. This antibody-like use of the lectin in PHA selection electrophoresis provides a quick and simple method of screening macroglobulinemic sera and other biological fluids for the presence of naturally occurring monomeric IgM subunits.

[Lymphoproliferative diseases with small molecular (monomere) IgM paraproteinemia (proceedings)]. / Lymphoproliferative Erkrankungen mit kleinmolekularer (monomerer) 2gM-Paraproteinämie.

Phytohemagglutinin P, when used like an antiserum in immunoelectrophoresis, precipitates with pentameric IgM but not with monomeric IgM subunits. In a retrospective study this simple screening method was applied to 180 sera containing monoclonal IgM. Five cases were found to be of the monomeric type of IgM paraproteinemia. Four of these patients had lymphoproliferative diseases with lymphocytic infiltration of the bone marrow. The last case was complicated by acute myelomonocytic leukemia.