Background: To examine the association between the number and location of missing teeth and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) as well as self-assessed general health in a convenience sample of Austrian dental patients, and to evaluate the applicability of the OHIP-G 14 and OHIP-G 12 instruments in this context. Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to adult patients in the waiting area of a single Austrian dental practice. It included the German version of the OHIP-14, a visual analog scale (EQ-5D VAS) for self-assessed general health, and demographic questions. A dentist clinically assessed the number and location of missing teeth using the FDI tooth numbering system. Regression models were used to evaluate the impact of anterior and posterior tooth loss on both outcome measures. The role of tooth replacement was also explored. A sensitivity analysis was conducted using the OHIP-G 12, a modified version excluding two items from the OHIP-14. Results: OHRQoL was significantly associated with the number of missing anterior teeth, while self-assessed general health was associated only with missing posterior teeth. These associations were consistent across models using OHIP-G 14 and OHIP-G 12. Tooth replacement, as assessed, showed no significant influence on either outcome. Age initially correlated with both outcomes but lost significance after controlling for the number of missing teeth. Conclusions: The hypothesis that anterior tooth loss negatively affects OHRQoL was supported. The association between posterior tooth loss and general health perception was not expected and requires further investigation. The OHIP-G 12 proved to be a valid and efficient alternative in this setting.

Summary: Background: Environmental noise, particularly from road and railway traffic, has been identified as a significant public health concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the adverse effects of noise exposure on cardiovascular health, including ischemic heart disease (IHD). Despite the European Union’s regulations on air pollution, there are no mandatory limits for environmental noise exposure, necessitating further investigation into its health impacts. Methods: Noise exposure data were obtained from strategic noise maps and linked to Geographic Information System (GIS) data of Austrian buildings. Mortality data covering 5 years (1 Nov 2016 – 31 Oct 2021) were analyzed using Poisson regressions to evaluate the association between noise exposure at residential locations and mortality, specifically focusing on IHD. The analysis adjusted for age, sex, and noise bands, with sensitivity analyses to assess the robustness of the findings. Results: The study included 37,066,299 individuals, with 372,638 deaths recorded over 5 years. Higher noise bands were associated with increased incidence rate ratios (IRR) for IHD and all-cause mortality. The IRR for IHD increased by approximately 3% per 5 dB increase in noise levels. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings, with stronger effects observed for railway traffic noise compared to road traffic noise. Conclusion: The findings underscore the significant health impacts of transportation noise, particularly on cardiovascular mortality. These results support the need for stricter noise regulations and comprehensive health impact assessments to mitigate the adverse effects of environmental noise exposure in Austria.

Background: Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterial pathogen known for causing listeriosis, a foodborne illness with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations ranging from mild gastroenteritis to severe invasive disease, particularly affecting immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, newborns, and the elderly. Successful treatment of patients with recurring listeria episodes due to colonised foreign material is often challenging, typically requiring a combination of antimicrobial treatment and surgical removal. Case presentation: Here, we present a particularly complex case of chronic invasive listeriosis with a total of six relapses. After extensive investigations, the patient's ICD device was identified as the focus of infection. Conclusion: The confirmation of relapses through cgMLST analysis highlights the persistence of Listeria monocytogenes and the potential for recurrence even after apparent resolution of symptoms in patients with foreign material. It emphasises the necessity for a comprehensive assessment to identify and mitigate the risk of relapses, thereby ensuring optimal management and outcomes.