Search

Im Hannover-Modell wurde eine ambulante kardiologische Langzeitrehabilitation mit verhaltensund sportmedizinischen Schwerpunkten konzipiert. Mit einer sechswochigen Intensiv- und anschliesenden elfmonatigen Langzeitphase konnte eine deutliche Verbesserung des Gesundheitszustands der Herzpatienten erzielt werden. An einer Stichprobe von 112 Patienten (94 Manner und 18 Frauen, Alter 55±11 Jahre) mit Zustand nach Myokardinfarkt (52%), koronarer Bypass-Operation (37%), PTCA (23%), Klappenersatz (3%) und mit weiteren Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen (12%) konnten in der laufenden Studie folgende Zwischenergebnisse beobachtet werden: Gesamtcholesterin und LDL-Cholesterin verringerten sich signifikant uber sechs Monate, HDL-Cholesterin war nach sechs Monaten signifikant erhoht, wohingegen die Triglyceride unverandert blieben. Die Dauerleistungsfahigkeit pro Herzfrequenz-Blutdrucksys-Produkt erhohte sich in sechs Monaten um 46%. Die Cholesterinaufnahme pro Tag sank signifikant um 20% ab. Wahrend der Masnahme reduzierte sich die Anzahl der Raucher von 16 auf elf. Erste Ergebnisse im Hannover-Modell zeigen, das sich durch eine flexible Langzeitrehabilitation der Gesundheitszustand auch uber die Dauer einer Phase-II-Rehabilitation hinaus stetig verbessern last. Hierbei scheinen die Interventionsdauer wie auch die Intensitat der kardiologischen, sportmedizinischen und verhaltensmedizinischen Therapie von entscheidender Bedeutung zu sein.

In order to evaluate the effects of a behavioral intervention on endocrine and immunological parameters, 24 breast cancer patients were investigated after standard surgical treatment of their tumors and without adjuvant tumor treatment. Of these, 14 patients were allocated to the intervention group and 10 patients served as controls. Interventions were conducted once a week over a period of 10 weeks. To determine short- and longer-term intervention effects on plasma concentration of cortisol and lymphocyte numbers, blood samples were taken before and after the second and 10th session. Psychological variables such as illness-related coping showed no changes within the intervention period (10 weeks). However, there were short- (pre- versus post sessions) and longer-term (9 weeks) reductions in plasma levels of cortisol in the intervention group. In parallel to the reduced plasma concentration of cortisol, a short-term increase of lymphocyte numbers after the second and the 10th session, as well as an increase over a period of nine weeks in the intervention group, was observed. This data indicate that behavioral intervention influences endocrine and immunological functions in breast cancer patients.

The effects of acute stress during a parachute jump on hormonal responses were studied in 12 experienced and 11 inexperienced military parachutists. Each subject performed two jumps. Prior to and immediately after each jump blood samples were drawn and analysed for plasma levels of cortisol, prolactin, thyrotropin (TSH), somatotropin (STH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). While there was a significant increase in cortisol, prolactin and TSH levels after both jumps, no alterations could be observed in STH and LH levels. Stress-induced hormonal responses were not affected by jump experience. There was also no association between the endocrine variables and anxiety scores.

Background Prior investigations have reported a link between poor status of antioxidants, folate, and cobalamin resulting in elevated total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) and methylmalonic acid (MMA) concentrations with an increased risk for reduced cognitive performance. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of a 6-month multivitamin supplementation on the cognitive performance of female seniors and to assess cognitive functioning in relation to vitamin status, tHcy, and MMA values at baseline. Methods The study was performed as a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind trial. 220 healthy, free-living women (aged 60–91 years) were included. Blood drawings and cognitive tests were performed at the Institute of Food Science of the University of Hanover, Germany. Vitamin and cognitive status have been evaluated prior to and 6 months after supplementation. Plasma ascorbic acid, serum concentrations of α-tocopherol, β-carotene, and coenzyme Q10, serum and erythrocyte folate as well as serum cobalamin, serum MMA, and plasma tHcy concentrations were measured. Activity coefficient of erythrocyte alpha aspartic aminotransferase was used as functional index for vitamin B 6 status. The cognitive performance was assessed by the Symbol Search test, a subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-III) and the pattern-recognition test. Intelligence as assessed by the ‘Kurztest fur Allgemeine Intelligenz’ (KAI) was a further variable. Results No significant differences in pattern-recognition and intelligence score were observed between vitamin and placebo group prior to and after multivitamin supplementation. In the Symbol Search test, the vitamin group exhibited better test results than the placebo group at both measure points. One-way ANOVA showed a marginally significant linear trend between the baseline tHcy concentration and the pattern-recognition score ( P = 0.051) in the total sample. Multiple backward regression revealed only a significant influence of the school graduation on baseline cognitive function test results. A general linear model showed that the changes in cognitive function scores could not be explained by the type of treatment or blood parameters. Conclusions Our data indicate that 6 months supplementation of physiological dosages of antioxidants and B vitamins have no effect on cognitive performance in presumedly healthy and well-nourished female seniors. An intervention period of only 6 months may be too short for improving cognitive performance in well-educated elderly women without dementia.

A first-time parachute jump was chosen as a model to evaluate the endocrine response to acute psychological stress. In 43 inexperienced tandem parachutists, blood was drawn continuously from 2 h before to 1 h after the jump and analyzed at 10-min intervals for plasma concentrations of epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), cortisol, GH, PRL, and TSH. In addition, heart rate was recorded throughout the experiment. There was a significant increase in heart rate and E concentrations during the jump itself. NE, cortisol, GH, PRL, and TSH peaked with a latency of 10-20 min. Apart from cortisol and TSH concentrations, which were still elevated 1 h after the stress event, plasma levels of the other endocrine variables normalized within 1 h following the jump. Statistically significant cross-correlations could be observed between E and NE (r = 0.60, no time lag) and between E and PRL (r = 0.58, 10-min time lag) only. Even in a very homogenous group of subjects and under well-controlled conditions, endocrine responses to acute psychological stress show considerable variations.

Stress has been suggested for a long time to be associated with a decrease in natural killer (NK) activity. There is also accumulating evidence from psychoneuroimmunological research1 that stress situations such as examination2,3 or bereavement4 may alter a wide range of immunological functions, especially NK cell function. Moreover, increased incidence of viral infections or cancer have been reported in stressed populations5,6.