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Abstract Background Validated and internationally standardised measurement instruments are a prerequisite for ensuring that physical activity during pregnancy is comparable and for deriving physical activity recommendations. In Germany, there has been no adapted version of the internationally used Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) until now. This study’s aim centred around translating the original English version into German (PPAQ-G) and determining its reliability as well as validity in a German population. Methods The PPAQ was translated into German using the forward-backwards technique. Its reliability and validity were tested. Thirty-four correctly completed questionnaires were analysed. The test–retest reliability was presented using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Spearman correlation coefficient. Validity was tested by using accelerometer (n = 23) and determined by Spearman correlation coefficient. Results In the transcultural adjustment, two questions were amended to describe intensity more precisely, and two other questions were adapted to reflect the units of measurement used in Germany. The ICC indicated a reliability of r = 0.79 for total activity (without sitting), and the intensity subcategories ranged from r = 0.70 (moderate-intensity activities) to r = 0.90 (sitting). Although, validity assessment showed no significant correlation for sedentary, moderate or vigorous intensity, there were significant correlations for total activity (light and above; r = 0.49; p

Background: The American Thyroid Association (ATA) uses criteria to assess the risk for persistent disease in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) after radioiodine therapy (RAI). There are no data available showing that this classification can be adopted unadjusted by Germany. Aim: The aim of our study is to investigate whether the ATA classification can be applied to a German population for short-term prognosis. Furthermore, we investigated the influence of an age cutoff value. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 121 patients who were referred to our tertiary referral center. Patients were classified into risk categories, and the therapy response was determined according to ATA. Results: A total of 73/83 (88%) ATA low-risk patients and 12/19 (63%) intermediate-risk patients showed an excellent response; 2/19 (11%) high-risk patients had a biochemical, and 6 (31%) had a structural incomplete response. Of all 39 patients ≥55 years, 84% had an excellent response. Using a cut off of 50 years, 50/62 (81%) of the older patients showed an excellent response. Conclusion: The ATA risk classification is able to estimate the response to RAI therapy in a German population. A shift from 55 to 50 years as an age cutoff value does not result in any relevant change in the treatment response.

The article presents the causes and spatial differences of infant mortality in eastern Prussia densely populated by the Polish, and the changes that phenomenon was subject to. The research has been carried out mainly on the numeric data juxtaposed and published by Dr Behr-Pinnow, on official statistical material (Preußische Statistik, Statistikdes Deutschen Reichs, Veröffentlichungen des Kaiserlichen Gesundheitsamts) and on unpublished archival material, first of all reports of Regierungsbezirk presidents. Infant mortality has been analysed at three levels of data aggregation: provinces, Regierungsbezirke, counties (Kreise). In the research the following devices have been used: coefficients, averaging of several years, (dis)similarity rates of structures (the reference standard – Regierungsbezirk Aurich), weighted linear regression, cartograms (grouping based on median absolute deviation). The article depicts the tendency for infant mortality in the ‘Polish’ Regierungsbezirke of Prussia, which deteriorated at the beginning of the 20th century, and a significant spatial diversification of the phenomenon in question, which was related to the way of farming (especially in the region of Żuławy Wiślane and the Vistula valley); however, the research has not provided any conclusive evidence of a link between a high infant mortality rate in the area in question and the socio-professional structure, the level of affluence or the infrastructure. On the other hand, thanks to linear regression models it has been proved that the intensity of infant mortality in counties depended on the ethnic composition to a significant degree (the faith did notplay any role). Parallel to an increase of the Polish- and Kashubian-speaking populations (those populations – it is worth mentioning – usually enjoyed lower socio-economic status compared to their German-speaking neighbours) the infant mortality rate was generally decreasing. It was at the lowest level in Greater Poland, in the counties of Kościan, Gostyn and Śmigiel (where the dominant population was Polish, Catholic and rural). All in all, it is justified to say that the Polish- and Kashubian-speaking populations that were less advanced in demographic transformation compared to their German-speaking neighbours, even before institutionalising social welfare, provided better care for babies and guaranteed a lower infant mortality rate, first of all thanks to the general and longer breastfeeding.