Prevention of neural tube defects: effect of an intervention aimed at implementing the official recommendations.

Objectives: The periconceptional intake of 0.4 mg folic acid is recommended in many countries to prevent neural tube defects. This paper describes the poor implementation of corresponding guidelines in Germany, the effectiveness of an intervention-based on providing adequate information and the problems associated with the implementation.

[Morbidity spectrum and drug therapy of homeless persons in Munich].

In Germany there are currently approx. 200,000 homeless single people, and the trend is rising. As a result of the situation in which they find themselves, many of these persons are ill and in need of medical treatment.

Radiation exposure in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Radiation exposure was studied on the basis of x-ray screening time and spotfilms taken in 3590 patients undergoing ERCP. Factors influencing radiation exposure in diagnostic procedures were the age of the patient, target duct system and gastroenteric anastomosis, while duodenal diverticula proved to be of no significance. In endoscopic sphincterotomy average fluoroscopic time was about one minute longer.