Prevalences of cardiometabolic risk and lifestyle factors in young parents: evidence from a German birth cohort study

Background Studies show that parents significantly impact their children’s health through their cardiometabolic risk profile and health behavior. There is only little information about the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors and lifestyle factors among new parents yet. The aims of this study are therefore to evaluate the prevalences of cardiometabolic risk factors in parents of infants in Germany and to examine their lifestyle and health behavior. Methods In the KUNO-Kids health study, an ongoing birth cohort, parents (n = 930 mothers and 769 fathers) were asked about cardiometabolic risk factors (obesity/hypertension/type 2 diabetes mellitus) and lifestyle factors (dietary/sports/smoking habits/alcohol consumption) during the first year after the birth of their children via questionnaires. Chi-square as well as fisher exact tests were conducted to analyse associations between lifestyle factors and cardiometabolic risk factors. Results 34.2% of mothers and 58.5% of fathers were overweight or obese. In 11.8% of the families, at least one parent suffered from hypertension, in 2.4% from type 2 diabetes mellitus. One year after delivery, 8.5% of mothers were smoking, 6.9% showed a risky alcohol consumption (> 10 g/d). 16.0% of fathers were smoking 4 weeks after childbirth, 10.7% showed risky alcohol consumption (> 20 g/d). 21.6% of mothers carried out sports activity for more than 2 h a week then. Parental hypertension was linked to a higher prevalence of risky alcohol consumption, obesity to a lower prevalence of daily fruits consumption. Conclusions Cardiometabolic risk factors were widespread among new parents with obesity and overweight having the highest prevalences. A considerable number of parents also practiced an unhealthy lifestyle showing that there is potential for improvement to promote the healthy development of their children

Implementation of safe infant sleep recommendations during night-time sleep in the first year of life in a German birth cohort

The aim of our study was to assess the extent to which families followed recommendations, issued by the German society for sleep medicine, for the prevention of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) during night-time sleep. Analyzing longitudinal data from a birth cohort located at the University Children’s Hospital Regensburg in Bavaria (Germany), we determined data regarding the infant's sleep location, sleep settings and body position, and exposure to environmental factors. Data were collected in a structured interview after birth and by standardized questionnaires at 4 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year of life, respectively. The majority of 1,400 surveyed infants (94% at 4 weeks) were reported to sleep in the parents’ sleeping room during the first months of life. While the most common furniture was a bedside sleeper (used by 48%), we also observed a considerable proportion of families who regularly practiced bed-sharing and, for 16% of infants, the parents’ bed was the default sleeping place. 12% of infants were still put regularly in the prone position. The vast majority (87%) of the infants were breastfed at some timepoint and 17% lived in a household with one or more smokers. Although most parents implemented many SIDS recommendations, our analysis illustrates a considerable gap between recommendations and intentions after birth on the one hand and actual implementation in real life on the other. The number-one deviation from the current SIDS guidelines during night-time sleep was bed-sharing with an adult

Der Einfluss der Persönlichkeit einer Lehrperson auf die Schulkinder

Die vorliegende Masterarbeit beschäftigt sich mit dem Einfluss der Persönlichkeit einer Lehrkraft auf die Schulkinder. Der Schwerpunkt liegt auf den Persönlichkeitsmerkmalen guter Lehrkräfte und Kriterien guten Unterrichts. Ziel der Forschung ist es, aufzuzeigen, welche Persönlichkeitseigenschaften von Lehrkräften eine Bedeutung für guten Unterricht und die Schulkinder haben. Im ersten Teil der Arbeit finden Themen wie Lehrerpersönlichkeit, Lehrertypen und verschiedene Persönlichkeitsmodelle, zum einen die Viersäftelehre von Ga-len, das Eysencks Persönlichkeitsmodell und noch weitere ihren Platz. Anschließend folgen im zweiten Abschnitt der Arbeit die Auflistung von Merkmalen guter Lehrerinnen und Lehrer sowie Aspekte guten Unterrichts und einer harmonischen Lehrer-Schüler-Beziehung. In einem weiteren Kapitel wird die Lehrerpersönlichkeit im Wandel betrachtet. Die Lehrkraft von früher und heute wird gegenübergestellt, die neue Unterrichtskultur wird beleuchtet und neue Eltern- und Kinderrollen werden aufgegriffen. Ausgehend von der theoretischen Auseinandersetzung wird im Forschungsteil der spezifischen Forschungsfrage „Inwiefern werden Schulkinder in der Primarstufe von unterschiedlichen Lehrerpersönlichkeiten und Unterrichtsstilen hinsichtlich ihres Denkens und ihrer Werte beeinflusst?“ nachgegangen. Mithilfe der qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse nach Mayring (2015) werden Antworten auf die Frage gewonnen. Dazu werden Leitfadeninterviews mit Bekannten im Alter von 20 bis 30 Jahren über ihre Volksschulzeit, Lehrkräfte und dem vor-herrschenden Unterrichtsstil durchgeführt. Als zentrales Resultat dieser Forschung kann festgehalten werden, dass die Lehrerpersönlichkeit einen Einfluss auf die Schulkinder hat. Die Untersuchung ergab, dass in der Volksschulzeit soziale Werte am meisten vermittelt werden. Jedoch spielen andere Faktoren ebenfalls eine wesentliche Rolle. Hier ist die Eigeninitiative des Schulkindes, die Gestaltung des Unterrichts sowie die Beziehung zwischen Lehrkraft und Schulkind nennenswert.This master thesis deals with the impact of the teacher’s personality. The focus is on demonstrating personality traits of good teachers and aspects of great teaching. The aim of this research is to show which personality traits of teachers are very important for great teaching and the schoolkids. The first part of the work deals with topics like teacher personality, types of teachers, and different personality models. The “Viersäftelehre nach Galen” and the personality model from Eysencks are examined in more detail. Furthermore the second part of this work is going to list good traits of teachers, aspects of great teaching and criteria for a harmonical teacher-student-relationship. In another part the focus is on the historical transition of teachers. Teachers from former times with teachers nowadays are going to be compared. It will also be looked at the new teaching culture and the roles of parents and children. Based on the theoretical discussion the following specific research question has developed: “In what way are schoolkids from primary school getting influenced from the different personalities of teachers and their teaching styles and is there an impact on the thinking and the values of the children?” Answers to this are obtained by using the qualitative research method according to Mayring (2015). For this purpose, guided interviews are carried out with a sample of Austrians in the age of 20 to 30 years. They are being asked about their time in primary school, their teachers and the teaching styles which have been carried out. A central conclusion of this research for sure is that the teacher’s personality has an impact on schoolkids. This research shows that teachers can communicate social values to the children. But with the addition that other factors have an impact too. Factors important to be mentioned: the initiative of the kids, the teaching styles and the relationship between teacher and kid

HAX1 deletion impairs BCR internalization and leads to delayed BCR-mediated apoptosis

Deletion of HAX1 in mice causes a severe reduction in the numbers of lymphocytes in the bone marrow and in the spleen. Additionally, B220+ B progenitor cells in the bone marrow are reduced, suggesting an important function of HAX1 in B cell development. HAX1 is thought to play a protective role in apoptotic processes; therefore, we investigated the role of HAX1 in bone marrow B progenitor cells and splenic B cells. We did not observe an effect on the survival of Hax1/ bone marrow cells but detected enhanced survival of splenic Hax1/ B cells upon in vitro starvation/growth-factor withdrawal. To explain this apparent inconsistency with previous reports of HAX1 function, we also studied the B cell receptor (BCR)-induced apoptosis of IgM-stimulated splenic naïve B cells and found that apoptosis decreased in these cells. We further found impaired internalization of the BCR from Hax1/ splenic B cells after IgM crosslinking; this impaired internalization may result in decreased BCR signaling and, consequently, decreased BCR-mediated apoptosis. We measured HAX1 binding to the cytoplasmic domains of different Ig subtypes and identified KVKWI(V)F as the putative binding motif for HAX1 within the cytoplasmic domains. Because this motif can be found in almost all Ig subtypes, it is likely that HAX1 plays a general role in BCR-mediated internalization events and BCR-mediated apoptosis.(VLID)240564

Determinants of maternal health four weeks after delivery: cross-sectional findings from the KUNO-kids health study

Background The aim of this study was to examine the interaction of a multitude of socio-economic, lifestyle, environmental, psychosocial and birth related determinants and their effect on maternal health four weeks after delivery. Methods We used data from a German birth cohort study, the KUNO-Kids health study. Social determinants, as well as the self-rated maternal health and the physical and mental health status of mothers (indicated by means of the SF-12-questionnaire) were assessed through standardized questionnaires and personal interviews right after delivery and four weeks later. Linear regression models were calculated to determine the relationship between influencing factors and health outcomes. Results 1428 women were included in the analysis. Maternal self-rated health showed significant positive associations with breastfeeding (B (regression coefficient) 2.67; 0.86-4.48 (95% Confidence interval)) and estimating one's child as rather healthy (B 0.27; 0.19-0.34) and negative associations with social and emotional strains (B -3.50; -5.11- -1.88), obesity (B -2.56; -4.69- -0.42), having experienced a C-section (B -1.73; -3.23- -0.23), a positive history of somatic diseases (B -2.14; -3.53- -0.74), parental stress (B -0.39; -0.66- -0.11) and education of more than ten years (B -2.42; -3.95- -0.90). Maternal physical health status showed significant negative associations with age (B -0.13; -0.25- -0.01), employment before maternity leave (B -1.90; -3.59- -0.21), social and emotional strains (B -1.50; -2.67- -0.34), parental stress (B -0.28; -0.45- -0.12), C-section (B -4.06; -5.12- -2.99), having the first child (B -2.03; -3.09- -0.97) and a history of somatic diseases (B -2.00; -2.99- -1.01). Maternal mental health status showed significant positive associations with education of more than 10 years (B 2.27; 0.98-3.56) and a high level of social support (B 1.20; 0.06-2.34), while social and emotional strains (B -4.16; -5.48- -2.84) and parental stress (B -0.70; -0.92- -0.47) were negatively associated. Conclusions We identified important protective factors for maternal health four weeks after delivery, such as a high level of social support. However, parental stress and social and emotional strains in particular seem to have a negative influence on maternal health. These findings have public health relevance

Parents’ intention to get vaccinated and to have their child vaccinated against COVID-19: cross-sectional analyses using data from the KUNO-Kids health study

A COVID-19 vaccine can be an important key for mitigating the spread of the pandemic, provided that it is accepted by a sufficient proportion of the population. This study investigated parents' intention to get vaccinated and to have one's child vaccinated against COVID-19. In May 2020, 612 parents participating with their child in the KUNO-Kids health study completed an online survey. Multivariable logistic regression models were calculated to analyze predictors of intention to vaccinate. Fifty-eight percent of parents intended to get vaccinated against COVID-19, and 51% intended to have their child vaccinated. Significant predictors for the intention to get vaccinated and for having the child vaccinated included stronger parental confidence in one's knowledge about prevention measures and lower beliefs that policy measures were exaggerated.Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy was considerable in our sample of parents in Germany. However, our study revealed some potentially modifiable factors which should be addressed by a comprehensive and tailored communication and education strategy. What is Known? • A COVID-19 vaccine can mitigate the spread of the pandemic. • Many parents are skeptical about vaccinations in general. What is New? • COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy was considerable in our sample of parents from Germany, not only for getting vaccinated but also for having the child vaccinated. • Negative parental attitudes regarding policy measures to contain the pandemic were associated with a lower intention to vaccinate