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Objectives: The present paper describes a study on the intake interview narratives of psychotherapy patients with assisted content analysis methods., Methods: 47 psycho-dynamic diagnostic interviews of patients suffering from depression or anxiety disorders were analysed using a Gottschalk-Gleser technique with the Dresdner Angstwörterbuch (DAW) as well as with the Affektives Diktionär Ulm (ADU)., Results: Comparisons between different subgroups of this sample were made: Anxiety vs. depression patients, East Germans (Magdeburg) vs. West Germans (Düsseldorf) and men vs. women. The comparisons showed that feelings of anxiety were important in all subgroups. Depressed patients not only spoke more often about depressed feelings in comparison with the other subgroups, but also seemed more able to express emotions of other kinds. Among the differences according to the diagnostic dichotomy there were also significant results which demonstrated the influence of cultural background and sex of the interviewees on the contents of the intake interviews., Conclusions: The results confirm our hypothesis that the psychotherapist-patient-interaction sequences, which are the basis of diagnostic categorization, consist of elements specific for the disorders under study as well as elements specific for sex and culture (east vs. west). Some content analysis markers of these elements are identified in our study.

Approximately one third of all patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis suffer from extra-intestinal manifestations of their inflammatory bowel disease. Most commonly those symptoms occur simultaneously with the CED symptoms; they can, however, either precede them or appear later on in the course of the disease. The most frequent extra-intestinal symptoms are arthralgias of peripheral joints and spine, which are usually bland and self-limiting, while ankylosing spondylitis and erosive arthritides are rare. Skin lesion and eye affections can also parallel the bowel condition, but occasionally they precede intestinal manifestations and can be a first diagnostic clue. In addition, different extra-intestinal symptoms tend to simultaneously co-occur more frequently in some patients with CED, while others are not affected at all. Immunogenetic parameters play a role for the manifestations of the pathologic immune response both in the gut and in the musculo-skeletal systems, as indicated by associations with MHC class I alleles. Enteropathic microorganisms are also thought to be involved in the pathogenetic mechanisms.

In close connection with the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey 1998, a third round of the German Environmental Survey (GerES III) was carried out using a random subsample of about 4,500 subjects, which are representative for the German population aged 18 to 69 years. The GerES was carried out by the Federal Environmental Agency on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Reactor Safety. The participants had to undergo an examination in human-biomonitoring. An environmental questionnaire was used to get exposure-related information. Preliminary results indicate a reduction of the body burden with metals in 1998 compared with 1990/92. However, some individuals showed elevated values. For those people health effects are possible or cannot be excluded with sufficient certainty. Using the results of GerES III it will be possible for the first time to establish reference values for organochlorine compounds on a representative data basis. The examination of the tap water used in the subjects households shows that the limit and guideline values of the German Drinking Water Ordinance have not always been met in 1998. This holds especially for lead, copper, and zinc which are being used as pipe-material for domestic plumbing.

As a part of the German Environmental Surveys performed in 1985/86 (West Germany), 1990/91 (West Germany) and 1991/92 (East Germany), dust samples were collected in the households of about 1600 randomly selected adults (25 to 69 years) and an analysis of these samples was performed in respect of their content of 8 different pyrethroids and of the synergist piperonyl butoxide (PBO). In the 1990-92 survey about 90% of the samples contained permethrin in concentrations above the limit of quantification. This showed permethrin to be the most widespread of the 8 compounds investigated. The geometric mean of the permethrin content in domestic dust was 0.22 mg/kg. Only about 8% of the samples contained one or more of the other investigated substances (cyfluthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, alpha-cypermethrin, deltamethrin, empenthrin, d-phenothrin) in quantifiable amounts. About 76% of the samples contained quantifiable amounts of PBO. In East Germany the geometric mean of the PBO content (0.21 mg/kg) was significantly higher than in West Germany (0.07 mg/kg), but no difference for permethrin was found. Significant associations could be shown for the permethrin content and the application of biocides as well as for the PBO content and regional factors (size of community, type of dwelling area). Samples collected in 1985/86 (West Germany) showed a geometric mean for permethrin of 0.06 mg/kg and for PBO of 0.07 mg/kg. Comparing the values of 1985/86 and 1990/91, a significant increase can be observed for permethrin, whereas the PBO concentration remained constant.

70 patients of dentist's surgery were given MOD amalgam fillings (non-gamma-2 amalgam) for molars. They were allocated for comparison to four groups defined by their treatment, i.e. the number of old and new restorations and whether a rubber dam was used. Blood and urine samples were collected at regular intervals before and during a 14-day period after treatment and tested for mercury concentration (Hg). Over the observation period the groups with the highest exposure (1-2 old restorations replaced by new ones) showed a tendency, in contrast to the less exposed groups (1 new filling with or without dam), towards increases (p less than 0.10) in group average Hg values of approx. 0.2 microgram/L (blood) and 0.3 microgram/g creatinine (urine) as acute treatment effects. The highest values recorded before and after the treatment, 3.3 micrograms/L (blood) and 16.5 micrograms/L (urine) are higher than normal but do not indicate any increase in the risk to health especially if they are not persistent.

Analytical laboratories engaged in studies regarding the exposure of larger population groups to lead should--for the sake of better intercomparability of data--subject themselves to internal and external quality control. In this paper an example of external quality control for blood lead, ALA-D and FEP analysis by 3 institutes is given. Evaluation by correlation analysis showed satisfactory results for all 3 parameters studied. Apart from discussing the results, suggestions are made regarding conduction of realistic quality control measures for the 3 lead-dependent biological exposure parameters.

Peritoneoscopy with 2 optical devices was performed in two cases; the technique of this procedure is described. The method allows inspection of areas, which cannot be seen during routine peritoneoscopy, especially of the anterior abdominal wall and of intraabdominal organs covered by adhesions. In addition, this method allows to find out, whether the anterior abdominal wall and vessels in it were injured by the troikart; the risk of the procedure is reduced thereby. Using a second optical device allows to visualize areas, which cannot be studied during routine peritoneoscopy because of intraabdominal adhesions. Thus better diagnostic results can be achieved with this method as compared to the routine technique.

Wood preservation products have been applied in the domestic field for many years. Until 1977, formulations containing the insecticide lindane and the fungicide pentachlorophenol (PCP) had been used. In 90% of 217 households examined, wood protection products of this type had been applied and between 25 and about 1000 g lindane and between 5 g and about 10 kg PCP (including contaminating substances) had been used in a single house. Consequently, these active ingredients (e.g. PCP) could be detected increasingly in the environment and the organisms of persons living in the respective homes, i.e. in the air and in dust sampled indoors, in foodstuff and in urine. In comparison to samples of indoor air samples of domestic dust seem to be a much better indicator for exposure, as regards representativeness over an extended period. House dust is especially suitable for screening purposes because of its easy sampling and high biocide contents.

Of 23 patients undergoing heart surgery and 11 patients undergoing vessel surgery 26 (76%) are colonized with Candida albicans on admission to hospital. Postoperatively the yeast quantity in the mucocutaneous flora remains nearly constant in both groups. However, during the 2nd-3rd week after operation 21 heart surgery patients and 3 vessel surgery patients developed a significant rise in Candida antibodies in the Ig-classes G, M and/or A. Eight weeks after surgery the IgM-antibodies once again reached preoperative values in 14 of 16 patients; the IgG- and IgA-antibodies, however, tend to be of longer persistent. The antibody response is most probably due to Candida invasion via tracheal traumatization by prolonged intubation. Persistent elevation of IgM-antibodies indicates preventive antifungal therapy.

Tetrachloroethene (perchloroethylene) from dry-cleaning units may contaminate adjacent flats in the same building. Increased concentrations of tetrachloroethene have been found in foodstuffs in homes situated above dry cleaning units and in foodstuffs from groceries located neat drycleaning units. The concentrations were extremely high in foods rich in fat.

574 girls of 16 years of age were examined during 1987/88 for rubella antibody titres as part of their health examination before leaving school. 78.9% of these had a HHT of 1:32 or higher. In 13.1% the titre was 1:16 and in 8% below 1:16 HHT. 75.1% of the girls had been vaccinated against rubella when they were 11 years of age. The titre values of vaccinated and non-vaccinated girls were compared with each other. The results were given to the parents in writing. If the vaccination titre was low, repeat vaccination was recommended.

Tetrachloroethene (perchloroethylene) and other volatile organic compounds may contaminate the surroundings of dry-cleaning units. Increased concentrations of tetrachloroethene were found in food, human hair, textiles and dust from a vacuum cleaner in a home situated above a dry-cleaning unit. The concentrations were found to be extremely high in food rich in fat. The analytical procedure for the above-mentioned samples is described.