Kleinformen von Strukturböden in den Hochlagen des Bayerischen Waldes

Erstmals werden rezente Erdknospen und Texturböden aus den Hochlagen eines deutschen Mittelgebirges beschrieben. Untersuchungen der Form, des Substrats und der Frosteffekte belegen ihre Entstehung als Strukturböden. Im Vordergrund der Untersuchung stehen die heutigen Bedingungen für die Weiterentwicklung und Erhaltung der Form. Dem feuchtigkeitsbedingten Aufquellen des thixotropen Substrats im Sommerhalbjahr und der Bildung von Eiskörnchen an Eistagen kommt eine große morphogenetische Bedeutung für die Kleinformen zu.researc

Orthorexic tendencies moderate the relationship between semi-vegetarianism and depressive symptoms

PURPOSE Vegetarianism and semi-vegetarianism (i.e., overly vegetarian diet with rare consumption of meat) have been repeatedly linked with depression. As the nature of this association is unclear, we explored whether orthorexic (i.e., pathologically healthful eating) tendencies and ecological/ethical motives to follow a vegetarian diet may moderate the relationship between (semi-)vegetarian diets and depressive symptoms. METHODS Five-hundred eleven adults (63.4% females; 71.2% omnivores, 19.2% semi-vegetarians, 9.6% vegetarians) completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) questionnaire-measuring depressive symptoms-and the Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS)-measuring orthorexic tendencies. Based on respective questions, participants were categorized as omnivores, semi-vegetarians, and vegetarians (including vegans) and were asked to indicate whether they chose their diet based on ecological/ethical motives. Moderation analyses were carried out with PROCESS. RESULTS Adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index, there was a statistically significant interaction effect between diet (omnivore vs. semi-vegetarianism vs. vegetarianism) and DOS scores when predicting PHQ depression scores. At low or medium DOS scores, diets did not differ in PHQ depression scores (all > 0.05). At high DOS scores, however, semi-vegetarians had higher PHQ depression scores than both omnivores (p = 0.002) and vegetarians (p < 0.001). The interaction between diet and ecological/ethical eating motives when predicting PHQ depression scores was not statistically significant (p = 0.41). CONCLUSION Semi-vegetarians with strong orthorexic tendencies show more depressive symptoms than omnivores and vegetarians. The complex nature of the relationship between vegetarianism and depression requires further investigation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III, case-control analytic studies

Orthorexic tendencies in the general population: association with demographic data, psychiatric symptoms, and utilization of mental health services

PURPOSE Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is characterized by a preoccupation to eat healthily and restrictive eating habits despite negative psychosocial and physical consequences. As a relatively new construct, its prevalence and correlates in the general population and the associated utilization of mental health services are unclear. METHODS Adults from the general population completed the Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), the Short Eating Disorder Examination (SEED). RESULTS Five-hundred eleven (63.4% female) participants with a mean age of 43.39 (SD = 18.06) completed the questionnaires. The prevalence of ON according to the DOS was 2.3%. Considering only effects of at least intermediate size, independent samples t-tests suggested higher DOS scores for persons with bulimia nervosa (p < .001, Cohen's d = 1.14), somatoform syndrome (p = .012, d = .60), and major depressive syndrome (compared p < .001, d = 1.78) according to PHQ as well as those who reported to always experience fear of gaining weight (p < .001, d = 1.78). The DOS score correlated moderately strong and positively with the PHQ depression (r = .37, p < .001) and stress (r = .33, p < .001) scores as well as the SEED bulimia score (r = .32, p < .001). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, only PHQ depression~scores were associated with past psychotherapeutic or psychiatric treatment (OR = 1.20, p = .002) and intake of psychotropic medication in the last year (OR = 1.22, p = .013). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of ON was low compared to international studies but is in line with other non-representative German studies. Orthorexic tendencies related to general mental distress and eating disorder symptoms but were no independent reason for seeking treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study

Pulsatile ex vivo perfusion of human saphenous vein grafts under controlled pressure conditions increases MMP-2 expression

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The use of human saphenous vein grafts (HSVGs) as a bypass conduit is a standard procedure in the treatment of coronary artery disease while their early occlusion remains a major problem.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We have developed an <it>ex vivo </it>perfusion system, which uses standardized and strictly controlled hemodynamic parameters for the pulsatile and non-static perfusion of HSVGs to guarantee a reliable analysis of molecular parameters under different pressure conditions. Cell viability of HSVGs (n = 12) was determined by the metabolic conversion of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) into a purple formazan dye.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Under physiological flow rates (10 mmHg) HSVGs remained viable for two weeks. Their exposure to arterial conditions (100 mmHg) was possible for one week without important reduction in viability. Baseline expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) after venous perfusion (2.2 ± 0.5, n = 5) was strongly up-regulated after exposure to arterial conditions for three days (19.8 ± 4.3) or five days (23.9 ± 6.1, p < 0.05). Zymographic analyses confirmed this increase on the protein level. Our results suggest that expression and activity of MMP-2 are strongly increased after exposure of HSVGs to arterial hemodynamic conditions compared to physiological conditions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Therefore, our system might be helpful to more precisely understand the molecular mechanisms leading to an early failure of HSVGs.</p

Stress-Induced Eating Dampens Physiological and Behavioral Stress Responses

Both psychological and physical stressors induce the secretion of glucocorticoids and insulin, which increase the consumption of palatable high-fat, high-sugar "comfort foods." Chronic engagement in stress-induced eating behavior leads to visceral fat accumulation, which in turn dampens hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. The joint role of stress-induced eating and abdominal fat stores in attenuating physiological stress responses has been well characterized in nonhuman animal models; however, very few studies to date have investigated these processes in humans. Preliminary evidence from human studies similarly indicates that chronic stress exposure is associated with increased consumption of palatable food, greater abdominal fat, and dampened cortisol response to acute stress. In this chapter, we describe the cross-species data demonstrating these attenuated stress responses, also considering the endocrine, affective, and neural mechanisms for reinforcing stress-induced eating processes. We conclude with a discussion of the remaining gaps in the literature and directions for future research. © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

The German SUCCESS C Study – The First European Lifestyle Study on Breast Cancer

Cohort trials have shown evidence that obesity and a low level of physical activity are not only associated with a higher risk of developing breast cancer, but also with an increased risk for recurrence and reduced survival in breast cancer patients. The SUCCESS C study is the first European trial to evaluate the effect of an intensive lifestyle intervention program on disease-free survival in women with early breast cancer and to examine the predictive value of selected biomarker candidates. A total of 3,547 women with early-stage, Her2/neu-negative breast cancer will be included. The first randomization will compare disease-free survival in patients treated with either 3 cycles of FEC (epirubicine, fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide), followed by 3 cycles of docetaxel or 6 cycles of docetaxel-cyclophosphamide, and thus assess the role of anthracycline-free chemotherapy. The second randomization compares disease-free survival in patients with a body mass index of 24-40 kg/m(2) receiving either a telephone-based individualized lifestyle intervention program aiming at moderate weight loss or general recommendations for a healthy lifestyle alone. In addition, the study will evaluate the predictive role of cancer-associated and obesity-related biomarkers for the prediction of disease recurrence and survival. This SUCCESS C trial will provide valuable information on the effects of a lifestyle intervention program on the prognosis of early breast cancer patients

The German SUCCESS C Study – The First European Lifestyle Study on Breast Cancer

Cohort trials have shown evidence that obesity and a low level of physical activity are not only associated with a higher risk of developing breast cancer, but also with an increased risk for recurrence and reduced survival in breast cancer patients. The SUCCESS C study is the first European trial to evaluate the effect of an intensive lifestyle intervention program on disease-free survival in women with early breast cancer and to examine the predictive value of selected biomarker candidates. A total of 3,547 women with early-stage, Her2/neu-negative breast cancer will be included. The first randomization will compare disease-free survival in patients treated with either 3 cycles of FEC (epirubicine, fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide), followed by 3 cycles of docetaxel or 6 cycles of docetaxel-cyclophosphamide, and thus assess the role of anthracycline-free chemotherapy. The second randomization compares disease-free survival in patients with a body mass index of 24–40 kg/m2 receiving either a telephone- based individualized lifestyle intervention program aiming at moderate weight loss or general recommendations for a healthy lifestyle alone. In addition, the study will evaluate the predictive role of cancer-associated and obesity-related biomarkers for the prediction of disease recurrence and survival. This SUCCESS C trial will provide valuable information on the effects of a lifestyle intervention program on the prognosis of early breast cancer patients.Aktuelle Studien deuten darauf hin, dass Adipositas und ein Mangel an körperlicher Aktivität nicht nur mit einem erhöhten Risiko assoziiert sind, an einem Mammakarzinom zu erkranken, sondern auch nach der Erkrankung mit einer gesteigerten Rezidivrate und Mortalität einhergehen. Die SUCCESS C-Studie ist die erste europäische Studie, die den Einfluss eines intensivierten Lebensstilinterventionsprogramms auf das krankheitsfreie Überleben von Frauen mit frühem Mammakarzinom untersucht. Außerdem werden ausgewählte Biomarker getestet. Insgesamt werden 3.547 Frauen mit frühem, Her2/neu-negativen Mammakarzinom eingeschlossen. In der ersten Randomisation wird das krankheitsfreie Überleben unter einer Therapie mit entweder 3 Zyklen FEC (Epirubicin, Fluorouracil, Cyclophosphamid), gefolgt von 3 Zyklen Docetaxel oder 6 Zyklen Docetaxel-Cyclophosphamid verglichen, und damit die Rolle einer anthrazyklinfreien Chemotherapie in diesem Kollektiv geprüft. Die zweite Randomisation vergleicht das krankheitsfreie Überleben von Patientinnen mit einem Body Mass Index von 24–40 kg/m2, die entweder ein telefonbasiertes Lebensstilinterventionsprogramm mit dem Ziel einer moderaten Gewichtsabnahme oder lediglich allgemeine Informationen für eine gesunde Lebensführung erhalten. Zusätzlich zur klinischen Fragestellung werden brustkrebs- oder adipositasassoziierte Biomarker auf ihre prognostische und prädiktive Wertigkeit hin geprüft. Die SUCCESS C-Studie wird wertvolle Informationen zur Effektivität eines Lebensstilinterventionsprogramms zur Prognoseverbesserung bei Mammakarzinompatientinnen liefern