Immunisation of healthcare workers in the Nordic countries: Variation in recommendations and practices and a lack of assessment

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of both exposure and transmission of infectious disease. Two European Union (EU) directives state that health services are responsible for assessing their employees’ potential exposure to infectious diseases and offering immunisation free of charge. We assessed current policy for immunisation of HCWs and the availability of vaccine coverage data in the Nordic countries by surveying national vaccination experts in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, as well as Swedish county medical officers (CMOs). All national experts and 17 of 21 Swedish CMOs responded. All EU countries had transposed the European directives into national law, while Norway and Iceland had similar national legislation. Recommendations or guidelines were issued in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and 15 of 17 responding Swedish counties. The range of diseases covered differed by countries and Swedish counties. HCW vaccine coverage data were not systematically collected; incomplete estimates were only available for Finland and two Swedish counties. In conclusion, recommendations or guidelines exist in the Nordic countries, but their impact cannot be assessed, as vaccine uptake among HCWs is not currently measured. Systematic collection of data is a necessary step towards improving HCW immunisation policy and practice in the Nordic countries.     

Berechnung des Pflichtbeitrags eines niedergelassenen Arztes zum ?rztlichen Versorgungswerk bei Insolvenz

1. Wird dem Insolvenzsschuldner von den Gl?ubigern die Fortführung seiner Arztpraxis gestattet (sog. Betriebsfortführung), stellen die Pflichtbeitr?ge zur Altersversorgung sonstige Massenverbindlichkeiten dar, die gem. § 53 InsO vorweg durch den Insolvenzverwalter zu berichtigen sind. 2. Der Umstand, dass die Gl?ubigerversammlung im Rahmen der Betriebsfortführung für den fortführenden Arzt einen bestimmten monatlichen Unterhalt festgesetzt hat, bedingt keine Umqualifizierung der T?tigkeit als niedergelassener Arzt in eine Angestelltent?tigkeit. Die Pflichtbeitr?ge zur Altersversorgung sind daher nach den für Niedergelassene geltenden Satzungsbestimmungen zu berechnen, so dass nach wie vor allein der in der Praxis erzielte Gesamtumsatz und nicht der dem Arzt gew?hrte Unterhaltsbetrag als Berechnungsgrundlage für den Beitragssatz heranzuziehen ist.     

Interaction of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein I405V polymorphism with alcohol consumption in smoking and non-smoking healthy men, and the effect on plasma HDL cholesterol and apoAI concentration

Three hundred and sixteen healthy Icelandic men and women were examined for the effect of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) I405V polymorphism on plasma triglycerides, HDL cholesterol (HDLC) and apoAI concentration. Genotyping was performed using an allele specific oligomelting assay and the frequency of the V allele was 0.31 (95 CI for men 0.23–0.33 and for women 0.29–0.39). In women no significant difference was associated with the V405 genotype for any plasma lipid trait. However, men who were homozygous for the V405 allele had 9% higher apoAI and 14% higher HDLC levels (p < 0.05) than those homozygous for the common 1405 allele. The genotype effect was seen only in the non-smokers (p = 0.07 and <0.05, respectively), and in those consuming alcohol (p < 0.05 for both). Analysis of interaction between the environmental, life-style factors and genotype in men for the traits of HDLC and apoAI showed statistically significant interaction of the genotype only with alcohol consumption. The non-smoking men who reported alcohol consumption and who were homozygous for the CETP V405 allele had 16% higher plasma apoAI concentration than those who carried the 1405 allele, and up to 20% higher apoAI level than smokers. On the basis of prospective studies carried out on the Icelandic population, non-smoking, alcohol-consuming men who are homozygous for the V405 allele could have from 32% to 40% lower risk of having a heart attack.     

Vorrang des EU-Rechts im Approbationsrecht

1. Nach § 2 Abs. 1 S. 7 ZHG wird die Approbation nicht erteilt, wenn die naturwissenschaftliche Vorprüfung, die zahn?rztliche Vorprüfung oder die zahn?rztliche Prüfung nach der ZAppO endgültig nicht bestanden wurde. 2. Diese Regelung ist in Hinblick auf Art. 12 GG nicht zu beanstanden; allerdings bestehen gegen die Gültigkeit des § 2 Abs. 1 S. 7 ZHG verfassungsrechtliche Bedenken in Hinblick auf eine fehlende übergangs- bzw. Vertrauensschutzregelung.     

Keine Rundfunkgebühr für den Praxisweg

Abstrakt Fahrten eines Selbst?ndigen von seiner Wohnung zur Arbeitsstelle und zurück stellen eine „private“ Nutzung des Kraftfahrzeuges dar. In diesem Fahrzeug befindliche Zweitger?te unterfallen deshalb nicht gesondert der Rundfunkgebührenpflicht. (Leitsatz der Bearbeiterin)     

Six DNA polymorphisms in the low density lipoprotein receptor gene: their genetic relationship and an example of their use for identifying affected relatives of patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia.

We have determined the relative allele frequency and estimated linkage disequilibrium between six DNA polymorphisms of the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene. Polymorphisms were detected using the enzymes SfaNI, TaqI, StuI, HincII, AvaII, and NcoI after DNA amplification by the polymerase chain reaction. Strong linkage disequilibrium was detected between many of the pair wise comparisons in a sample of 60 patients heterozygous for familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH). Using the enzymes HincII, NcoI, and SfaNI, 85% of patients were heterozygous for at least one polymorphism and thus potentially informative for cosegregation studies. The polymorphisms were used to follow the inheritance of the defective allele of the LDL receptor gene in the relatives of a patient with FH. Assays of LDL receptor activity on lymphoblastoid cell lines from two members of the family was used to confirm that the proband, but not the hypercholesterolaemic brother, had a defect in the LDL receptor. In the family, none of the children had inherited the allele of the LDL receptor gene inferred to be defective. The problems associated with this cosegregation approach to identify relatives of patients with a clinical diagnosis of FH are discussed.     

APOE ε4 and late-life cognition: mediation by structural brain imaging markers

European Journal of Epidemiology - The apolipoprotein E allele 4 (APOE-ε4) is established as a major genetic risk factor for cognitive decline and late-onset Alzheimer’s disease....