[Epidemiology of infectious diseases--analysis of an increase of infectious hepatitis in Hamburg]. / Infektionsepidemiologie--Analyse der Zunahme der infektiösen Hepatitis in Hamburg.

In Hamburg, the incidence of reported cases of infectious hepatitis more than doubled from 1990 to 1991. The increase refers to hepatitis A, B and other forms of hepatitis. The seven public health offices and the local ministry for health, works and social affairs in Hamburg have analysed the development in a computer-based retrospective study comparing the 1990 and 1991 data. The predominantly affected age group of hepatitis A shifted from childhood to young adulthood. The importance of travelling to acquire hepatitis A was less than expected. In all forms of hepatitis the large number of IV-drug users and prisoners was striking.

[Intragastric provocation and antigen-induced in vitro histamine liberation by the food additive E 102]. / Intragastrale Provokation und Antigeninduzierte Histaminfreisetzung in vitro mit Lebensmittelfarbstoff E 102.

Adverse reactions to tartrazine have been known since 1958. The mechanism of this reaction, a not IgE-mediated, anaphylactoid reaction, is not fully understood. The demonstration of this adverse reaction by provocative challenge feeding may be problematic by a score of subjective symptoms because of the placebo effect. This report deals with the intragastral provocation under endoscopic control with tartrazine and tartrazine-induced histamine release in vitro from gastric mucosa and from blood. Two patients with anamnestically suspected adverse reactions to tartrazine were studied. Correspondence of in vivo and in vitro testing with tartrazine could be demonstrated.