[Risk of bee or wasp stings in various vacation destinations]. / Hinweise zum Stichrisiko für Bienen- und Wespengiftallergiker in verschiedenen Urlaubsregionen.

The risk for tourists who are allergic to bee or wasp venom to be stung in various holiday destinations is mainly influenced by the structure of the regional bee or wasp community affected by zoogeographical and ecological factors. Information is presented for important destinations of German holiday-makers concerning distribution of honey bees (Apinae, Apis) and social wasps (Polistinae, Vespinae) as well as places and season of danger.

[Bionomics and defensive behaviour of bees and diplopterous wasps (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Vespidae) causing venom allergies in Germany]. / Bionomie und Abwehrverhalten der in Deutschland vorkommenden allergologisch bedeutsamen Bienen und Faltenwespen: (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Vespidae).

About 30 species of eusocial Apinae and 11 species of eusocial Polistinae and Vespinae are possible inducers of venom allergies in Germany. Twenty-three of these species occur regularly or occasionally in residential or recreational areas. Geographical and altitudinal distribution, phenology, nest sites and foraging habitats of these species are concisely characterized. Their defensive behavior is described.

[Association between ovarian stimulation regime and protein metabolism of patients undergoing IVF/ICSI therapy]. / Zusammenhang zwischen ovarieller Stimulations-Therapie und Proteinstoffwechsel bei Patientinnen unter IVF/ICSI-Behandlung.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the ovarian stimulation protocol (with HMG or FSH) after down-regulation with GnRH anologa and protein (total protein and albumin) as well as bilirubin and urea in serum. Furthermore, it was intended to find out the effect of these parameters on IVF/ICSI outcome. 50 patients were included in this study. All patients underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for assisted reproduction therapy either with FSH (Gonal-F) or HMG (Menogon). Ovulation induction was induced by human chorionic gonadotrophine (HCG, Predalon) 10 000 IU i. m. The protein concentration (total protein, albumin) as well as bilirubin and urea concentrations were determined before down-regulation with GnRHa, at the beginning of ovarian stimulation with FSH or HMG, on the day of ovulation induction with HCG, during oocyte retrieval and fourteen days after embryo transfer. The age, body mass index and etiology of infertility showed no significant difference between patients stimulated with HMG or FSH. Total protein and albumin concentration decreased significantly (p=0.001) from 77.45 +/- 5.90 g/L and 47.02 +/- 3.41 g/L to 74.60 +/- 4.6 g/L and 45.04 +/- 2.39 g/L, respectively at the time of oocyte retrieval. Whereas, no significant change with bilirubin and urea concentration was observed. However, the mean concentration of total protein, albumin, bilirubin of patients who become pregnant was higher of those who did not. In conclusion, this study shows that total protein and albumin concentration in plasma decreased during the follicular phase significantly with the application of exogenous gonadotrophins and steroid hormones in comparison to the value before down-regulation. The mean value of total protein, albumin, bilirubin of patients who become pregnant was higher (but not significant) of those who did not. However, the high individual variation in the present results shows that these parameters are not useful as a predictor of IVF/ICSI outcome.