[The HIV infection - the limits of prevention concepts. Consideration with respect to responsibilities incumbent on the infected individual, politics and society at large]. / HIV-Infektion - Grenzen der Präventionskonzepte. Uberlegungen zur Verantwortung der Betroffenen, der Politik und der Gesellschaft.

Despite the introduction of campaigns to prevent the continued spread of HIV/AIDS in Germany, the number of annual firsttime HIV-diagnoses is continuing steadily. The concepts behind the current campaigns are largely based on models of New Public Health, of which social learning strategies are an essential element. The established personal and individual rights should be unimpeachable but the right not to know the status of HIV infection should be questioned for those people who spread their HIV infection intentionally and wilfully. Confronted with more than 10,000 people in Germany unconscious of their HIV infection, easy access to HIV testing and access of opportune therapy should be offered with the goal of reducing the number of new infections. Expanded strategies on the responsibility to one's personal health and that of the partner, understandable and adapted to special groups of the society, should be established and maintained at a high level of awareness. All measures must be performed voluntarily.

[Characteristics of patients with alcohol- or drug problems in medical practices "addiction" in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]. / Charakteristika von Patienten mit Alkohol- oder Drogenproblemen in den Schwerpunktpraxen "Sucht" in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

BACKGROUND: The pilot scheme "Medical practices with emphasis on addiction" examines one approach in the outpatient treatment of patients with addiction. Nine medical practices in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania participate in this project, and the goal is to lower the threshold for the utilisation of help and to provide a long-term relationship between the patient and the physician. GOAL: Results of the first survey of patients and physicians are presented as part of the scientific evaluation of the entire project. METHOD: Data of 876 patients was assessed. There is data about the severity of alcohol dependence (SESA), about negative consequences of drinking and about utilisation of help for n = 627 patients. These were compared with a sample of n = 153 subjects with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence from a population-based survey. Medical doctors provided information on the duration and quality of patient contact, current drug consumption and content of treatment for n = 472 patients. RESULTS: Of all patients, 51 % were treated for more than 3 years in the respective practice. Among the patients, 45 % were current drug users, further help was recommended for 77 %. In comparison with the reference group, patients with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence in those practices were more severely dependent, reported more problems concerning health, work, or finances and utilised addiction-specific help more often. DISCUSSION: The medical practices under examination undertake the task to provide long-term support for patients with addiction diagnoses and encourage patients to utilize more help from further sources. Their patients with alcohol diagnoses differ substantially from persons in the general population with regard to severity of dependence and related problems. This justifies an intensive medical and psychosocial support by specialised practitioners.

[CSF diagnosis in syphilis]. / Liquordiagnostik bei Syphilis.

Treponemal antibodies in CSF are often to be found by FTA-ABS and TPHA, also in cases without syphilis cerebrospinalis. The checking of the CSF barrier allows--together with the TPHA-index--the diagnostic of the syphilis cerebrospinalis. Antibodies against treponema pallidum have been proved in 15 patients at different stages of syphilis until 30 years after treatment, but the titres were low. Only in one case we have found an active syphilis cerebrospinalis by the help of the TPHA- and IgG-index.