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Between 1989 and 1991 16 Austrian pediatric institutions published 232 scientific papers with a total impact-factor of 200,406 in internationally recognized journals. Seventy-three percent of them came from only three institutions, the University departments of pediatrics in Graz and Vienna and the St. Anna Children's Hospital (77, 63 and 30 publications, respectively). The impact-factor (IF) of these publications ranged from 7.591 to 0.010. The average IF was 0.864 and the median IF 0.430 per paper. Whereas 70 papers (30%) were published in journals with an IF over 1, only one third appeared in pediatric journals.

This paper gives guidelines for medical doctors in which cases of atopic dermatitis an attestation--according to austrian law--can be given to get an elevated family subvention. Following points have to be taken into consideration: correct diagnosis of atopic dermatitis, severity of disease (more than 10% of body surface), duration of disease (more than 6 months), correct treatment with acknowledged methods, necessity of diet and psychotherapy, combination with other atopic diseases. In the rule only in infancy and for preschool aged children the attestation can be given.

Since 1972 we have been using a urine screening for the detection of inborn errors of amino acid metabolism, which cannot be revealed in newborn-blood-screening with Guthrie's bacterial inhibition assay. It is performed at an age of 4-6 weeks by means of thin layer chromatography of urine specimens collected on filter paper using a method adapted by us for mass-screening. We tested 70,400 newborns and found 59 cases of incomplete Cystinuria, 9 of Prolinuria, 3 of Histidinaemia and one each of Hartnup disease, Alkaptonuria, Glycinuria and Hydroxyprolinuria. The problems of the disorders found are discussed. Comparison with newborn-blood-screening that 3 cases of Histidinaemia, proven by enzyme assay were missed by newborn-blood-screening because of their (still low) low blood levels. On the other hand we did not find additional cases of phenylalanine-metabolic disorders. These cases were probably all already detected by newborn-blood-screening. Homocystinuria, Maple syrup urine disease and Arginino-succinicaciduria which are rare diseases were neither found in the urine or blood tests. As disorders, detectable by means of urine screening exclusively and curable, are rare urine screening has to be reevaluated for its usefulness.

The individual physical efficiency was ascertained according to a method developed by RUTENFRANZ, where the criterion was taken as being the particular performance which resulted in a pulse rate of 170 beats per minute. This was termed the p.w.c. 170 (physical working capacity), and was measured on a bicycle ergometer, with increasing loading of 1, 2, and 3 watt per kilogram of body weight. During this loading the E.C.G. was watched telemetrically on an oscilloscope, and recorded each minute. The p.w.c. 170 was ascertained both graphically and arithmetically from the respective pulse rate in the 6th minute of each load level. Initially, twenty healthy children were tested, so as to arrive at normal values. The average reading for these children was about 5% below the normal values given by RUTENFRANZ. Subsequently, fifty five obese children were examined, so as to clarify the question as to whether there was a linear correlation between overweight and physical efficiency. Indeed, it was possible to establish a regression equation according to which each 10% of overweight lead to a decrease of physical efficiency of 5.8%. The results of further examinations will be reported in the next paper.