Search results for "Germ"
showing 10 items of 3358 documents
Lack of association of a functional catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism with risk of tobacco smoking: results from a multicenter case-cont…
2013
Background The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) modulates dopaminergic neurotransmission in the prefrontal cortex as well as in the mesolimbic reward system. Since the reward system mediates addictive behavior, the COMT gene is a strong candidate gene regarding the pathophysiology of tobacco dependence and smoking behavior. Because of rather conflicting results in previous studies, the purpose of the present study was to test for association between a functional genetic variant in the COMT gene (single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] rs4680) and tobacco smoking behavior. Methods In a population-based case-control multicenter study designed for tobacco addiction research, a total of 551 cur…
Pregnancy in primary sclerosing cholangitis
2011
Background There is a paucity of data on fertility or pregnancy in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Objective To assess fertility in PSC by comparing the number of children in a large cohort of PSC patients to healthy controls and to investigate the outcome of pregnancy, as well as the influence of pregnancy on the disease course. Design Case series. Setting Germany. Participants 229 PSC patients and 569 healthy controls were evaluated for the number of children. 17 patients with PSC and at least one pregnancy, or who received a diagnosis of PSC within 6 months after delivery, were included in the more detailed analysis. Main outcome measures Number of children per patien…
Chromated metal products may be hazardous to patients with chromate allergy.
2009
Background: Hidden allergen exposure may contribute to persistence and relapse of chromate dermatitis. According to case reports, chromated metal products, such as screws, fittings, etc., may be relevant allergen sources for patients sensitized to chromate. Objectives: To examine concomitant patch test reactivity to potassium dichromate 0.5% petrolatum (pet.) and three different types of chromated metal rings. Patients/Methods: Patients with proven or suspected chromate allergy were patch tested with potassium dichromate 0.5% pet. and three different types of chromated metal rings (yellow, olive, and black). Hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) release from the patch tested rings was chemically an…
Plerixafor with and without chemotherapy in poor mobilizers: results from the German compassionate use program.
2010
The CXCR4-inhibitor plerixafor mobilizes hematopoietic stem cells amplifying the effects of granulocyte-CSF (G-CSF). Before approval plerixafor was used in a compassionate use program (CUP) for patients who failed a previous mobilization. In the German CUP 60 patients from 23 centers (median age 56.5 years (2-75)) were given 240 μg/kg plerixafor SC 9-11 h before apheresis. A total of 78.3% (47/60) received G-CSF for 4 days before plerixafor administration; 76.6% of those (36/47) yielded at least 2.0 × 10(6) CD34(+) cells/μL. The median cell yield was 3.35 × 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg (0-29.53). Nine patients received plerixafor alone or with G-CSF for less than 4 days mobilizing a median of 3.30 …
Use of complementary and alternative medicine: A multicenter cross-sectional study in 1089 melanoma patients.
2016
Abstract Background About half of patients with cancer use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). So far, data on melanoma patients are missing. Objective The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence and predictors for the use of CAM in this patient group. Methods All patients with melanoma being attended at one of 7 skin cancer centres in Germany between March 2012 and March 2013 were invited to take part in a survey using a structured questionnaire on CAM. The physicians filled in a second part on the diagnosis, state and former and current therapy. Results Nearly half of the 1089 participants (41.0%) used CAM and half of those using CAM (56.8%) marked that this made them fe…
Integration of immigrants into a new culture is related to poor sleep quality.
2008
Abstract Background This article reports on the relationship between cultural influences on life style, coping style, and sleep in a sample of female Portuguese immigrants living in Germany. Sleep quality is known to be poorer in women than in men, yet little is known about mediating psychological and sociological variables such as stress and coping with stressful life circumstances. Migration constitutes a particularly difficult life circumstance for women if it involves differing role conceptions in the country of origin and the emigrant country. Methods The study investigated sleep quality, coping styles and level of integration in a sample of Portuguese (N = 48) and Moroccan (N = 64) im…
Dynamic relations among COVID-19-related media exposure and worries during the COVID-19 pandemic
2021
Objectives: This study investigated how COVID-19-related media exposure during the COVID-19 crisis was related to same-day and next-day COVID-19-related worries. Design: A 21-day diary study was conducted between late March and late April 2020 in Germany. Main Outcome Measures: Hypotheses were tested in a sample of 561 participants (Mage = 42.79, SDage = 6.12). Every evening, participants indicated their exposure to COVID-19-related media (e.g., TV, print, online) and their COVID-19-related worries. Results: Same-day analyses showed that participants reported more COVID-19-related worries on days with higher exposure to COVID-19-related media. Dynamical structural equation models provided e…
Identity development in German emerging adults: not an easy task.
2012
In this chapter, we review identity development in German youth as well as the impact of German cultural history on difficulties in developing a sense of national identity. Current socioeconomic and political contexts, such as instability of labor markets and prolonged transitions to work and partnership, are likely to affect identity development. Identity development is particularly challenging for young adults from immigrant backgrounds, from low socioeconomic brackets, or who suffer from chronic health conditions. In this context, we highlight the supportive role of social networks (parents, peers, and romantic partners) for identity development. Cross-cultural studies have suggested dis…
Measurement Invariance of the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience Across 13 Countries
2022
The Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE) is widely used to measure emotional experiences, but not much is known about its cross-cultural utility. The present study evaluated the measurement invariance of the SPANE across adult samples (N = 12,635; age range = 18-85 years; 58.2% female) from 13 countries (China, Colombia, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Turkey, and the United States). Configural and partial scalar invariance of the SPANE were supported. Three items capturing specific negative emotions (sad, afraid, and angry) were found to be culturally noninvariant. Our findings suggest that the SPANE's positive emotion terms and general n…
Is the General Self-Efficacy Scale a Reliable Measure to be used in Cross-Cultural Studies? Results from Brazil, Germany and Colombia.
2016
AbstractThis study evaluated cross-cultural measurement invariance for the General Self-efficacy Scale (GSES) in a large Brazilian (N = 2.394) and representative German (N = 2.046) and Colombian (N = 1.500) samples. Initially, multiple-indicators multiple-causes (MIMIC) analyses showed that sex and age were biasing items responses on the total sample (2 and 10 items, respectively). After controlling for these two covariates, a multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) was employed. Configural invariance was attested. However, metric invariance was not supported for five items, in a total of 10, and scalar invariance was not supported for all items. We also evaluated the differences be…