[Counseling concerning prenatal diagnosis and possible handicap: psychosocial viewpoint]

Before the background of today's routine of carrying out prenatal examinations, this study focuses on two aspects in particular: The women's experiences in the decisive conflict when making use of prenatal diagnostics as well as the psychosociological framework conditions at the time of their decision making. In this context, the paper explains more the basics profile of psychosociological advice, present the requirements to the qualification and competence of the advisers and examines the structural conditions concerning the existing legal claim to advice.

Early changes of body composition in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients: tetrapolar body impedance analysis indicates significant malnutrition

Total body water, body fat, body cell mass (BCM), extracellular mass (ECM), and the ECM-BCM ratio by impedance analysis were determined in 193 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and 340 control subjects. Walter Reed (WR) classification was WR 2 in 26, WR 3-5 in 85, and WR 6 in 82 patients. Whereas resistance was increased, reactance and the phase angle were significantly reduced in all patient groups. Neither body weight nor body mass index (BMI) was affected in WR 2 patients, but BCM was reduced (31.9 +/- 4.3 vs 35.8 +/- 7.3 kg, P < 0.007) and ECM (31.2 +/- 4.4 vs 28.8 +/- 3.8 kg) as well as ECM-BCM ratio increased (0.99 +/- 0.14 vs 0.83 +/- 0.16, P < 0.001). In contrast to WR classification, diarrhea did not correspond with malnutrition. A loss of BCM (malnutrition) occurred already in otherwise symptomless HIV-infected patients (WR 2). This effect can be measured by tetrapolar impedence analysis but not by body weight or BMI.