Effect of exhaustive exercise stress on the cytokine response.

Fifteen athletes were investigated 24 h before, 1 h after, and 20 h after an exhaustive exercise stress test (mean duration 68 min). Testing for cytokines was done in serum, urine, and the supernatants of whole blood cell cultures, which were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), concanavalin A (Con A), or phythaemagglutinin (PHA). Elevated levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were found 1 h after the run in both serum and urine samples. TNF-alpha in serum was also increased, whereas IL-2 in urine was decreased after the exercise. All other testings in serum and urine (including IFN-gamma) gave borderline or negative results. In cell cultures, the LPS-induced release of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1, and IL-6 was suppressed 1 h after exercise. Also, the Con-A-induced and LPS-induced release of IFN-gamma, and the PHA-induced release of IL-2 were suppressed 1 h after exercise. In contrast, Con-A-induced release of IL-2 was mildly increased after the run. We conclude that exercise of the intensity and duration described here causes an activation of the immune system, which is immediately counter-regulated. Twenty hours after the exercise, most of the observed changes were back to pre-exercise levels, indicating only a short duration for this suppressive counter-regulation.

[The hooligan and his world image in soccer vandalism. An introduction to this current phenomenon of socially deviant behavior]. / Der Hooligan und sein Weltbild im Fussballvandalismus. Eine Einführung in dieses aktuelle Zeitgeistphänomen sozialabweichenden Verhaltens.

"Hooliganism" is a phenomenon born in the motherland of football: England. But nowadays we all are the non-volunteer spectators of this subculture form of violence and vandalism across the European continent, e.g. in Belgium, the Netherlands, the Federal Republic of Germany and so on. This article is an introduction into the West German Hooligan Scene to learn more about the social, sociological, psychological, criminal backgrounds, characters and causes for a better understanding to solve this multifunctional problem: by police, society and policy.

[The Stockholm syndrome. On the psychological reaction of hostages and hostage-takers]. / Das Stockholm-Syndrom. Zur psychischen Reaktion von Geiseln und Geiselnehmern.

The Stockholm Syndrome seems to be an automatic, probably unconscious emotional response to the traumatic experience of being a victim. It affects hostage and hostage-taker alike and serves to unite both, being victims of the siege environment, against outsiders. This positive emotional bond between victim and subject is a defense mechanism of the ego under stress. The priority in dealing with hostage situations is the survival of all participants. The Stockholm Syndrome may save the life of victim and subject alike, as it reduces the subjects tendency towards violence and thus the possible necessity for a seizure by the security forces.