The LEAD (Lung, Heart, Social, Body) Study: Objectives, Methodology, and External Validity of the Population-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: The Lung, hEart, sociAl, boDy (LEAD) Study (ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT01727518; http://clinicaltrials.gov) is a longitudinal, observational, population-based Austrian cohort that aims to investigate the relationship between genetic, environmental, social, developmental and ageing factors influencing respiratory health and comorbidities through life. The general working hypothesis of LEAD is the interaction of these genetic, environmental and socioeconomic factors influences lung development and ageing, the risk of occurrence of several non-communicable diseases (respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic and neurologic), as well as their phenotypic (ie, clinical) presentation. METHODS: LEAD invited from 2011-2016 a random sample (stratified by age, gender, residential area) of Vienna inhabitants (urban cohort) and all the inhabitants of six villages from Lower Austria (rural cohort). Participants will be followed-up every four years. A number of investigations and measurements were obtained in each of the four domains of the study (Lung, hEart, sociAl, boDy) including data to screen for lung, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, osteoporosis, and cognitive function. Blood and urine samples are stored in a biobank for future investigations. RESULTS: A total of 11.423 males (47.6%) and females (52.4%), aged 6-80 years have been included in the cohort. Compared to governmental statistics, the external validity of LEAD with respect to age, gender, citizenship, and smoking status was high. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the LEAD cohort has been established following high quality standards; it is representative of the Austrian population and offers a platform to understand lung development and ageing as a key mechanism of human health both in early and late adulthood

Medienwirkung, Medialisierung, Medialisierbarkeit: Organisationen unter Anpassungsdruck?

This thesis discusses the term "mediatization", which is very popular in German-speaking communication sciences, in the context of the current state of research and against the background of the "traditional" media effects research. It conceptualizes mediatization as an analytical and therefore non-normative perspective for modern mass communication research. In spite of a considerable number of assumptions and findings bearing on the issue, a lack of a consistent and commonly shared concept of mediatization can be stated. This shortfall leads to a limited transferability of latest research contributions to the field. The aim is to develop an analytical concept of mediatization, which can be adopted for use within a wide thematic range of communication studies particularly with regard to organizations. The suggested five-factor model targets the development of measurement categories and indicators. The model’s design integrates central theses of different approaches on macro and micro-level: New Institutionalism, Cultural Studies, and Medium Theory. On this basis a number of important pre-conditions for mediatization processes could be stated as well as a number of hypotheses could be developed. The model is been tested on the basis of a case study (the chemical corporation "BASF"), which shows the model’s explanatory power as well as its deficits and limitations. Vorliegendes Forschungsvorhaben hat es sich zum Ziel gesetzt, die vermeintliche Selbstverständlichkeit der Behauptung einer Medialisierung medienferner Bereiche kritisch vor dem Hintergrund der etablierten Medienwirkungsforschung und der empirischen Messbarkeit eines Medialisierungskonzeptes zu hinterfragen. Die Überlegungen auf der Basis vorliegender Befunde werden schließlich zusammengeführt in einem Medialisierungskonzept, das etablierte Forschungsbestände aus der kommunikationswissenschaftlichen wie auch der soziologischen Medienwirkungs- und "Medialisierungsforschung" in sich vereint. Zusätzlich werden Anleihen genommen aus der Forschung zum New Institutionalism, den Cultural Studies sowie der Mediumtheorie, wodurch wichtige Aussagen gemacht werden können über die Vorbedingungen von Medialisierungsprozessen. Die Konsistenz des vorgelegten Konzepts und der daraus entwickelten Hypothesen wird daraufhin mittels eines illustrativen Fallbeispiels einer kritischen empirischen Prüfung unterzogen. Der Test des Konzepts am Beispiel der Organisationsstrukturen und der Unternehmensgeschichte der BASF AG zeigt anschaulich sowohl seine Erklärungsleistung wie auch die Beschränkungen und Grenzen des präsentierten Medialisierungskonzeptes

Reference charts for body composition parameters by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry in European children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years—Results from the Austrian LEAD (Lung, hEart , sociAl , boDy ) cohort

Background DXA is a widely used technique to assess body composition. Reference values based on a large general population cohort of European children and adolescents were missing. The aim of this study was to provide age‐ and sex‐specific reference percentiles of body composition parameters for European children and adolescents and to compare them to the American NHANES cohort. Additionally, exponents accounting best for height biases were analysed. Methods DXA scans of 1573 participants, aged 6 to 18 years, recruited from 2011 to 2019 by the Austrian LEAD study, a representative population‐based cohort, have been used to create reference charts using the LMS model. Results Reference charts displaying percentile curves and the corresponding reference values are provided. Fat mass parameters were higher in females, while lean mass parameters were higher in males. Compared to the NHANES cohort medians of FMI and LMI were always lower. For FMI , BMI , LMI and ALMI the best fitting exponent were 2.5, 3, 3 and 3.5 respectively Conclusions The present study provides reference charts for children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years, for body composition parameters assessed by DXA. The charts enable comparison to a European general‐population cohort and indicate that reference populations should be chosen with caution

Reference values of body composition parameters and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) by DXA in adults aged 18-81 years-results from the LEAD cohort

Background Increasing attention has been drawn on the assessment of body composition phenotypes, since the distribution of soft tissue influences cardio-metabolic risk. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a validated technique to assess body composition. European reference values from population-based cohorts are rare. Aims To provide age- and sex-related reference values of body composition parameters and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass, and for lean mass index (LMI) with regard to fat mass index (FMI) quantities and BMI categories. Methods GE-Lunar Prodigy DXA scans of 10.894 participants, aged 18–81 years, recruited from 2011 to 2019 by the Austrian LEAD study, a population-based cohort study, have been used to construct reference curves using the LMS method. Parameters assessed are FMI, LMI, appendicular LMI, fat mass ratios android/gynoid and trunk/limbs, and VAT. Results All lean mass and fat mass parameters indicating central fat accumulation were higher in men, whereas other fat mass indices were higher in women. LMI differed between each FMI subgroup (low vs. normal, low vs. high, normal vs. high), and BMI category in all ages and LMI increased with FMI and BMI classes. VAT mass was higher in men compared with women and increased across all age groups within both sexes. Conclusion The present study provides age- and sex-related reference values for European adults aged 18–81 years for body composition parameters and VAT mass for Lunar Prodigy DXA. In addition, this study reports LMI reference values with regard to fat mass quantities, showing a positive association with increasing FMI percentiles and BMI categories.ISSN:0954-3007ISSN:1476-564

Moderate risk-adapted dose escalation with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy of localized prostate cancer from 70 to 74 Gy : first report on 5-year morbidity and biochemical control from a prospective Austrian-German multicenter phase II trial

PURPOSE: Evaluation of late side effects and biochemical control (bNED) 5 years after three-dimensional radiotherapy with moderate, risk-adapted dose escalation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 03/1999 to 07/2002, 486 patients have been registered in the prospective Austrian-German multicenter phase II trial (AUGE). 399 (82%) localized prostate cancer patients (T1-3 Nx/N0 M0) were evaluated. The low- and intermediate-risk groups were treated with 70 Gy, the high-risk group with 74 Gy, respectively. Additional hormonal therapy (HT) was recommended for intermediate- and high-risk group patients. Late toxicity (EORTC/RTOG) and bNED (ASTRO and Phoenix) were prospectively assessed. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 65 months. Distribution concerning risk groups (low-, intermediate-, high-risk group) showed 29%, 50% and 21% of patients, respectively. HT was given in 87% of patients. The 5-year actuarial rates of late side effects grade < or = 2 for 70 Gy/74 Gy were 28%/30% (gastrointestinal; p = 0.73) and 19%/34% (urogenital; p = 0,06). The 5-year actuarial bNED rate stratified by risk groups (low-, intermediate-, high-risk group) was 74%, 66% and 50% (ASTRO), and 81%, 80% and 60% (Phoenix), respectively. Within multivariate analysis T-stage and initial prostate specific antigen were significant factors influencing bNED (ASTRO) whereas Gleason Score and duration of HT were not. CONCLUSION: Dose escalation within standard three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) up to a level of 74 Gy did not result in significantly increased gastrointestinal side effects, whereas urogenital side effects showed an increase close to significance. However, the total number of patients with severe toxicity was low. To achieve high tumor control rates with acceptable treatment-related morbidity, local doses of at least 74 Gy should be considered, in particular for intermediate- or high-risk patients applying 3D-CRT