Climate change underlies global demographic, genetic, and cultural transitions in pre-Columbian southern Peru.

Several archaeological studies in the Central Andes have pointed at the temporal coincidence of climatic fluctuations (both long- and short-term) and episodes of cultural transition and changes of socioeconomic structures throughout the pre-Columbian period. Although most scholars explain the connection between environmental and cultural changes by the impact of climatic alterations on the capacities of the ecosystems inhabited by pre-Columbian cultures, direct evidence for assumed demographic consequences is missing so far. In this study, we address directly the impact of climatic changes on the spatial population dynamics of the Central Andes.

Vulnerability of schools to floods in Nyando River catchment, Kenya.

This paper assesses the vulnerability of schools to floods in the Nyando River catchment (3,600 km(2)) in western Kenya and identifies measures needed to reduce this vulnerability. It surveys 130 schools in the lower reaches, where flooding is a recurrent phenomenon. Of the primary schools assessed, 40% were vulnerable, 48% were marginally vulnerable and 12% were not vulnerable.

[Diagnosis of luxation-fracture of mandibular condyle].

Based on an unusual case of bilateral mandibular condyle fracture the diagnostic problems are described. If conventional X-ray, panorama-tomograms and bilateral tomograms of both temporomandibular joints do not exactly show the fracture dislocation and the relation of the fragments CT scans should be taken.

[Alveolar bone reconstruction with hydroxyapatite in aged humans].

There is a rising need for preprosthetic surgery due to a general increase in life expectancy and the desire for optimal oral rehabilitation. A method of reconstructing residual ridges in an ideal form with a hydroxylapatite-fibrin paste is presented. Patients suffering from mild to moderately severe age-related neurological disorders with dementia and psychomotor slowing benefit from the procedure, whereas psychiatric illnesses such as hypochondria or psychotic disturbances need to be excluded from ridge reconstruction.

[Results of treatment of endocrine orbitopathy].

We registered 101 patients from the ambulatory endocrinological dispensary with an endocrine orbitopathy stage II to VI. The peak of age at the time of the disease was in the fifth decennium of age. Females are four times more, frequently affected than males.