Music-Making and Depression and Anxiety Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic-Results From the NAKO Cohort Study in Germany.

Objectives: To investigate the association of musical activity with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 3,666 participants reported their musical activity before and mental health indicators before and during the pandemic. Depression was assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire, anxiety with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale. The association between mental health scores and musical activities was investigated using linear regression. Results: Within the last 12 months, 22.1% of the participants reported musical activity (15.1% singing, 14.5% playing an instrument). Individuals with frequent singing as their main musical activity had higher scores before the pandemic than non-musicians and the worsening during the pandemic was more pronounced compared to non-musicians. Instrumentalists tended to have slightly lower scores than non-musicians indicating a possible beneficial effect of playing an instrument on mental health. Conclusion: The pandemic led to a worsening of mental health, with singers being particularly affected. Singers showed poorer mental health before the pandemic. The tendency for instrumentalists to report lower depression scores compared to non-musicians may support the hypothesis that music-making has a beneficial effect on health.

Musical activity in a subsample of the German National Cohort study.

Musical activities (MA) such as singing, playing instruments, and listening to music may be associated with health benefits. However, evidence from epidemiological studies is still limited. This study aims at describing the relation between MA and both sociodemographic and health-related factors in a cross-sectional approach. A total of 6717 adults (50.3% women, 49.7% men, median age: 51 years (IQR 43-60) were recruited from the study center Berlin-Mitte of the German National Cohort (NAKO), a population-based prospective study. This study is based on a sample randomly selected from the population registry of Berlin, Germany, aged 20 to 69 years. 53% of the participants had been musically active at least once in their life (56.1% women, 43.9% men). Playing keyboard instruments (30%) and singing (21%) were the most frequent MA. Participants listened to music in median 90 min per day (IQR 30.0-150.0). Musically active individuals were more likely to have a higher education, higher alcohol consumption, were less likely to be physically active, and had a lower BMI compared to musically inactive individuals. This large population-based study offers a comprehensive description of demographic, health, and lifestyle characteristics associated with MA. Our findings may aid in assessing long-term health consequences of MA.

Urinary Potential Renal Acid Load (uPRAL) among Vegans Versus Omnivores and Its Association with Bone Health in the Cross-Sectional Risks and Benefits of a Vegan Diet Study.

Both veganism and high dietary acid load are linked to unfavorable bone health. However, the specific role of dietary alkali or acid load for the bone health of vegans is so far unknown. Thus, the renal biomarker for dietary acid or alkali load, i.e., urinary potential renal acid load (uPRAL), was measured in 24 h urine samples of 34 vegans and 35 omnivores (50.7% males). Bone health was assessed via calcaneal quantitative ultrasound. Associations between uPRAL and bone health indices were examined using multivariable general linear models. Compared to omnivores, vegans had a significantly lower uPRAL (mean difference = −34.5 mEq/24 h, p < 0.0001), a lower 24 h urinary phosphate excretion (p = 0.0004), a lower 24 h urinary sulfate excretion (p = 0.01), and a higher urine pH value (p < 0.0001). Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) was lower among vegans versus omnivores (p = 0.037), yet it was not associated with uPRAL irrespective of adjustments. This study confirms different acid-base profiles of vegans and omnivores, with a pronounced alkaline excess among vegans and a rather low acid load among a group of omnivores with moderate protein intake. Within this spectrum of alkaline to low acid load, no association with bone health was found.

Dietary and Plasma Phospholipid Profiles in Vegans and Omnivores-Results from the RBVD Study.

Over the last few years, the vegan diet has become increasingly popular in Germany. It has been proposed that this diet is generally lower in fat, but less is known about the impact on fatty acid (FA) profiles. Therefore, the cross-sectional "Risks and Benefits of a Vegan Diet" (RBVD) study (n = 72) was used to investigate dietary FA intake as well as plasma phospholipid FA in vegans (n = 36) compared to omnivores (n = 36). Vegans had a significantly lower dietary intake of total fat (median 86 g/day, IQR 64−111) in comparison to omnivores (median 104 g/day, IQR 88−143, p = 0.004). Further, vegans had a lower intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA) (p < 0.0001) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (p = 0.001) compared to omnivores. Vegans had a higher intake in total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA compared to omnivores, but without statistical significance after Bonferroni correction. According to plasma phospholipid profiles, relatively lower proportions of SFA (p < 0.0001), total trans fatty acids (TFA) (p = 0.0004) and omega-3-FA (p < 0.0001), but higher proportions of omega-6-FA (p < 0.0001) were observed in vegans. With the exception of omega-3 PUFA, a vegan diet is associated with a more favorable dietary fat intake and more favorable plasma FA profiles and therefore may reduce cardiovascular risk.

Amino acid intake and plasma concentrations and their interplay with gut microbiota in vegans and omnivores in Germany.

PURPOSE: It has been estimated that most vegans meet the total protein requirements, but whether this is also true for individual essential amino acids (AAs) is unclear. Furthermore, a shift in protein intake is suggested to alter microbiota composition, but this association is unknown in terms of veganism or individual AAs. This cross-sectional study compared vegans and omnivores regarding dietary intake and plasma concentration of AAs. The prevalence of insufficient intake of essential AAs among vegans was determined using estimated average requirements (EAR) of WHO. Moreover, correlations between AAs intake and gut microbiota were investigated. METHODS: Data of 36 vegans and 36 omnivores (30-60 years) were analysed. AA intake, AA plasma concentrations and gut microbiota were ascertained by three-day weighed food protocols, gas/liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and 16S rRNA sequencing, respectively. RESULTS: At almost the same energy intake, the intake of 9 AAs in vegans was significantly lower than in omnivores, with median differences of - 27.0% to - 51.9%. However, only one female vegan showed total protein and lysine intake below the EAR. Vegans showed lower lysine (- 25.0%), but higher glycine (+ 25.4%) and glutamate (+ 13.1%) plasma concentrations than omnivores. Correlation patterns between AA intake and bacterial microbiota differed between vegans and omnivores. In vegans 19 species and in omnivores 5 species showed correlations with AA intake. CONCLUSION: Vegans consumed apparently sufficient but lower AAs than omnivores. In addition, the different AAs intake seems to influence the microbiota composition. The use of short-term dietary data without considering usual intake limits these findings.

Internal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in vegans and omnivores.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a complex group of anthropogenic compounds with exceptional properties. Due to their high persistence and mobility, they have caused ubiquitous environmental contamination and in part accumulate in the food chain. In the general population, diet is the main source of PFAS exposure, with the important sources fish and meat. As a vegan diet implies the complete exclusion of any animal products, it might be expected that vegans have lower blood levels of PFAS compared to omnivores. Furthermore, lower levels of cholesterol is one of the well-documented nutritional effects in vegans, but cholesterol levels were also found to be associated with higher PFAS levels in epidemiological studies. To examine the relations of internal PFAS levels and the levels of cholesterol in vegans and omnivores, the cross-sectional "Risks and Benefits of a Vegan Diet" (RBVD) study was used involving 36 vegans and 36 omnivores from Berlin/Germany. Nine perfluoroalkyl substances were quantified in plasma using a triple-stage quadrupole mass spectrometer. Lower median plasma concentrations were found in vegans compared to omnivores for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) (2.31 vs. 3.57 ng/ml, respectively; p = 0.02) and for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) (<0.25 vs. 0.41 ng/ml, respectively; p < 0.0001). No significant differences of the median concentrations were observed for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (1.69 vs. 1.44 ng/ml, respectively, p = 0.26) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) (1.96 vs. 1.79 ng/ml, respectively; p = 0.70). The strongest correlations with food groups, derived from a food frequency questionnaire, were observed between levels of PFOA and water consumption (in case of the total study population, n = 72), and between levels of PFOS as well as PFNA and the consumption of 'meat and meat products' (in case of the omnivores, n = 36). Levels of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were confirmed to be considerably lower in vegans compared to omnivores (86.5 vs. 115.5 mg/dl, respectively; p = 0.001), but no associations between the four main PFAS and LDL cholesterol were observed (all p > 0.05) at the low exposure level of this study. According to the results of our study, a vegan diet may be related to lower PFAS levels in plasma. We highlight the importance of the adjustment of dietary factors like a vegan diet in case of epidemiological studies dealing with the impact of PFAS on the levels of blood lipids.

Vegan Diet and Bone Health-Results from the Cross-Sectional RBVD Study.

Scientific evidence suggests that a vegan diet might be associated with impaired bone health. Therefore, a cross-sectional study (n = 36 vegans, n = 36 omnivores) was used to investigate the associations of veganism with calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) measurements, along with the investigation of differences in the concentrations of nutrition- and bone-related biomarkers between vegans and omnivores. This study revealed lower levels in the QUS parameters in vegans compared to omnivores, e.g., broadband ultrasound attenuation (vegans: 111.8 ± 10.7 dB/MHz, omnivores: 118.0 ± 10.8 dB/MHz, p = 0.02). Vegans had lower levels of vitamin A, B2, lysine, zinc, selenoprotein P, n-3 fatty acids, urinary iodine, and calcium levels, while the concentrations of vitamin K1, folate, and glutamine were higher in vegans compared to omnivores. Applying a reduced rank regression, 12 out of the 28 biomarkers were identified to contribute most to bone health, i.e., lysine, urinary iodine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, selenoprotein P, vitamin A, leucine, α-klotho, n-3 fatty acids, urinary calcium/magnesium, vitamin B6, and FGF23. All QUS parameters increased across the tertiles of the pattern score. The study provides evidence of lower bone health in vegans compared to omnivores, additionally revealing a combination of nutrition-related biomarkers, which may contribute to bone health. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the associations of vegan and vegetarian diets with inflammatory biomarkers.

Plant-based diets like vegetarian or vegan diets might influence circulating levels of inflammatory biomarkers, thereby reducing the risk of chronic diseases. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the associations of veganism and vegetarianism with circulating inflammatory biomarkers in comparison to omnivores. Literature search was conducted in Pubmed and EMBASE until April 2020 and mean differences of biomarkers were assessed for: C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-18 (IL-18), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1 RA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-ɑ), E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), adiponectin, omentin-1 and resistin. Of initially identified 1073 publications, 21 cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Vegan diet was associated with lower levels of CRP compared to omnivores [mean difference - 0.54 mg/l, 95%-CI: - 0.79 to - 0.28, p < 0.0001]. This association was less pronounced in vegetarians [mean difference - 0.25 mg/l, 95%-CI: - 0.49 to 0.00, p = 0.05]. In patients with impaired kidney function, the association between vegetarian nutrition and CRP was much stronger with - 3.91 mg/l (95%-CI: - 5.23 to - 2.60; p < 0.0001). No substantial effects were observed for all other inflammatory biomarkers. Despite strong associations between CRP and a vegan or vegetarian diet were seen, further research is needed, as most inflammatory biomarkers were investigated only in single studies so far.

Vitamin and Mineral Status in a Vegan Diet.

BACKGROUND: In Germany, public interest in a vegan diet is steadily growing. There are, however, no current data on the macro- and micronutrient status of vegans. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study entitled "The Risks and Benefits of a Vegan Diet" (RBVD), we investigated the dietary intake, basic laboratory parameters, vitamin status, and trace-element status of 36 vegans and 36 persons on an omnivorous diet. Each group consisted of 18 men and 18 women aged 30-60. RESULTS: Nearly all the vegans and one-third of the persons on a mixed diet had consumed supplements in the previous 4 weeks. Vegans and nonvegans had similar energy intake but differed in the intake of both macronutrients (e.g., dietary fiber) and micronutrients (e.g., vitamins B12, B2, D, E, and K, as well as folate, iodine, and iron). There were no intergroup differences in the biomarkers of vitamin B12, vitamin D, or iron status. The ferritin values and blood counts indicated iron deficiency in four vegans and three non-vegans. Measurements in 24-hour urine samples revealed lower calcium excretion and markedly lower iodine excretion in vegans compared to non-vegans; in one-third of the vegans, iodine excretion was lower than the WHO threshold value (<20 µg/L) for severe iodine deficiency. CONCLUSION: Vitamin B12 status was similarly good in vegans and non-vegans, even though the vegans consumed very little dietary B12. This may be due to the high rate of supplementation. The findings imply a need to also assure adequate iodine intake in the population, especially among persons on a vegan diet.

Association of familial history of diabetes or myocardial infarction and stroke with risk of cardiovascular diseases in four German cohorts.

Since family history of diabetes is a very strong risk factor for type 2 diabetes, which is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), it might be also useful to assess the risk for CVD. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between a familial (parents and siblings) history of diabetes and the risk of incident CVD. Data from four prospective German cohort studies were used: EPIC-Potsdam study (n = 26,054), CARLA study (n = 1,079), SHIP study (n = 3,974), and KORA study (n = 15,777). A multivariable-adjusted Cox regression was performed to estimate associations between familial histories of diabetes, myocardial infarction or stroke and the risk of CVD in each cohort; combined hazard ratios (HRMeta) were derived by conducting a meta-analysis. The history of diabetes in first-degree relatives was not related to the development of CVD (HRMeta 0.99; 95% CI 0.88-1.10). Results were similar for the single outcomes myocardial infarction (MI) (HRMeta 1.07; 95% CI 0.92-1.23) and stroke (HRMeta 1.00; 95% CI 0.86-1.16). In contrast, parental history of MI and stroke were associated with an increased CVD risk. Our study indicates that diabetes in the family might not be a relevant risk factor for the incidence of CVD. However, the study confirmed the relationship between a parental history of MI or stroke and the onset of CVD.

Internal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and biological markers in 101 healthy 1-year-old children: associations between levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and vaccine response.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a complex group of man-made chemicals with high stability and mobility leading to ubiquitous environmental contamination and accumulation in the food chain. In human serum/plasma samples, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are the lead compounds. They are immunotoxic in experimental animals, and epidemiological studies provided evidence of a diminished production of vaccine antibodies in young children. However, information on children of the first year of age is missing but relevant, as they have a relatively high exposure if breastfed, and may have a higher susceptibility as their immune system is developing. In a cross-sectional study with 101 healthy 1-year-old children, internal levels of persistent organic pollutants and a broad panel of biological parameters were investigated at the end of the 1990s. Additional analysis of PFASs resulted in plasma levels (mean ± SD) of PFOA and PFOS of 3.8 ± 1.1 and 6.8 ± 3.4 µg/L, respectively, in the 21 formula-fed children, and of 16.8 ± 6.6 and 15.2 ± 6.9 µg/L in the 80 children exclusively breastfed for at least 4 months. The study revealed significant associations between levels of PFOA, but not of PFOS, and adjusted levels of vaccine antibodies against Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib, r = 0.32), tetanus (r = 0.25) and diphtheria (r = 0.23), with no observed adverse effect concentrations (NOAECs) determined by fitting a 'knee' function of 12.2, 16.9 and 16.2 µg/L, respectively. The effect size (means for PFOA quintiles Q1 vs. Q5) was quantified to be - 86, - 54 and - 53%, respectively. Furthermore, levels of PFOA were inversely associated with the interferon gamma (IFNÉ£) production of ex-vivo lymphocytes after stimulation with tetanus and diphtheria toxoid, with an effect size of - 64 and - 59% (means Q1 vs. Q5), respectively. The study revealed no influence of PFOA and PFOS on infections during the first year of life and on levels of cholesterol. Our results confirmed the negative associations of PFAS levels and parameters of immune response observed in other epidemiological studies, with high consistency as well as comparable NOAECs and effects sizes for the three vaccine antibodies investigated, but for PFOA only. Due to reduction of background levels of PFASs during the last 20 years, children in Germany nowadays breastfed for a long duration are for the most part not expected to reach PFOA levels at the end of the breastfeeding period above the NOAECs determined.

Associations of a vegan diet with inflammatory biomarkers.

Vegetarian or vegan nutrition might influence inflammatory processes, thereby reducing the risk of chronic diseases. As the vegan diet becomes more importance in modern societies, data from the "Risks and Benefits of a Vegan Diet"-study has been used to investigate the associations of veganism with a comprehensive spectrum of inflammatory biomarkers, compared to omnivores. This cross-sectional study comprises 36 vegans and 36 omnivores (18 men and 18 women each) aged 30-60 years. No significant differences in any of the investigated inflammatory biomarkers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-18 (IL-18), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1 RA), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), adiponectin, omentin-1 and resistin) were observed between vegans and omnivores. However, the duration of a vegan diet was positively correlated with resistin (Spearman r = 0.59), IL-18 concentrations (Spearman r = 0.44) and IL-1 RA (Spearman r = 0.34). Moreover, the present study supports BMI and waist circumference as important factors influencing the inflammatory state. Further research is needed to evaluate associations between a vegan diet and inflammatory biomarkers to provide more evidence about the inflammatory state as underlying mechanisms of a vegan diet to influence the risk of numerous chronic diseases.

Is a vegan or a vegetarian diet associated with the microbiota composition in the gut? Results of a new cross-sectional study and systematic review.

It is assumed that diet influences the composition of gut microbiota, which in turn may affect human health status. This systematic review aimed to summarize associations of a vegan or vegetarian diet with the composition of microbiota. A literature search was conducted in PubMed and Embase for eligible human studies with vegan or vegetarian diets as an exposure and microbiota composition as an outcome in healthy adults. Furthermore, data from our cross-sectional study with vegan participants were included. Out of sixteen included studies, six investigated the association between gut microbiota composition in both vegans and in vegetarians, six in vegans and four studies in vegetarians compared to omnivores, respectively. Among 5 different phyla, 28 families, 96 genera and 177 species, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium and Prevotella were the most reported genera, followed by the species Prevotella copri, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Escherichia coli in all diets. No consistent association between a vegan diet or vegetarian diet and microbiota composition compared to omnivores could be identified. Moreover, some studies revealed contradictory results. This result could be due to high microbial individuality, and/or differences in the applied approaches. Standardized methods with high taxonomical and functional resolutions are needed to clarify this issue.

Association of Chemerin Plasma Concentration With Risk of Colorectal Cancer.

Importance: Inflammatory processes have been suggested to have an important role in colorectal cancer (CRC) etiology. Chemerin is a recently discovered inflammatory biomarker thought to exert chemotactic, adipogenic, and angiogenic functions. However, its potential link with CRC has not been sufficiently explored. Objective: To evaluate the prospective association of circulating plasma chemerin concentrations with incident CRC. Design, Setting, and Participants: Prospective case-cohort study based on 27 548 initially healthy participants from the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Potsdam cohort who were followed for up to 16 years. Baseline study information and samples were collected between August 23, 1994, and September 25, 1998. Recruitment was according to random registry sampling from the geographical area of Potsdam, Germany, and surrounding municipalities. The last date of study follow-up was May 10, 2010. Statistical analysis was conducted in 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures: Incident CRC, colon cancer, and rectal cancer. Baseline chemerin plasma concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: A random subcohort of 221 incident CRC cases and 2329 participants free of CRC with available blood sample measurements were included in the analysis. The participants' mean (SD) age was 50 (9) years, 62.1% were female, and 16.5% had a body mass index greater than 30. In multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models taking into account established CRC risk factors, higher chemerin concentrations were associated with a greater risk of CRC, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.81 (95% CI, 1.08-3.05; P for trend = .007) for the highest chemerin quartile vs the lowest. Analyses by cancer subsite indicated a stronger association with colon cancer (HR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.18-4.34 for the highest quartile vs the lowest; P for trend = .005) compared with rectal cancer (HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 0.57-2.85; P for trend = .35). The association was particularly strong for proximal colon cancer (HR, 3.97; 95% CI, 1.51-10.50; P for trend = .001). Conclusions and Relevance: This study found that the association between chemerin concentration and the risk of incident CRC was linear and independent of established CRC risk factors. Further studies are warranted to evaluate chemerin as a novel immune-inflammatory agent in colorectal carcinogenesis.

Energy Drinks Induce Acute Cardiovascular and Metabolic Changes Pointing to Potential Risks for Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Case reports suggest a link between energy drinks (EDs) and adverse events, including deaths. OBJECTIVES: We examined cardiovascular and metabolic effects of EDs and mixtures providing relevant ingredients of EDs compared to a similarly composed control product (CP) without these components. METHODS: This randomized, crossover trial comprised 38 adults (19 women, mean BMI 23 kg/m2, mean age 22 y). We examined effects of a single administration of a commercial ED, the CP, and the CP supplemented with major ED-ingredients at the same concentrations as in the ED. The study products were administered at 2 volumes, 750 or 1000 mL. RESULTS: Both volumes of the study products were acceptably tolerated with no dose-dependent effects on blood pressure (BP, primary outcome), heart rate, heart rate corrected duration of QT-segment in electrocardiography (QTc interval), and glucose metabolism. After ED consumption, 11% of the participants reported symptoms, in contrast to 0-3% caused by other study products. After 1 h, administration of an ED caused an increase in systolic BP (116.9 ± 10.4 to 120.7 ± 10.7 mmHg, mean ± SD, P < 0.01) and a QTc prolongation (393.3 ± 20.6 to 400.8 ± 24.1 ms, P < 0.01). Also caffeine, but not taurine or glucuronolactone, caused an increase in BP, but no QTc prolongation. The BP effects were most pronounced after 1 h and returned to normal after a few hours. All study products caused a decrease in serum glucose and an increase in insulin concentrations after 1 h compared to baseline values, corresponding to an elevation in the HOMA-IR (ED + 4.0, other products + 1.0-2.8, all P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A single high-volume intake of ED caused adverse changes in BP, QTc, and insulin sensitivity in young, healthy individuals. These effects of EDs cannot be easily attributed to the single components caffeine, taurine, or glucuronolactone. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01421979.

[Musical Inactivity - A Risk Factor? A Short Questionnaire to Assess Musical Activity (MusA)]. / Musikalische Inaktivität ­ ein Risikofaktor? Vorstellung eines kurzen Fragebogens zur Erfassung der musikalischen Aktivität (MusA).

BACKGROUND: There is only a limited number of studies on associations between musical activity and health issues. It seems that musical activity has physiological and psychological benefits, as well as effects on the mental capacity, but this has been studied only in a few clinical and epidemiological studies. One reason might be that no appropriate survey instrument assessing musical activity is available. AIM OF THE STUDY: Here we provide an overview of survey instruments that assess musicality and musical activity. One focus is the presentation of a newly developed German questionnaire (MusA), which assesses musical activity (active music making and music reception) and was specifically developed for the "German National Cohort", a German health study. METHOD: Through literature research, questionnaires were identified that assess musicality and / or musical activity. A new German questionnaire was developed from a panel of experts and tested in a small study (n=121, women and men age 18-70 years). RESULTS: In the literature research, 3 questionnaires were identified which focus on musicality and musical activity with different aspects (Gold-MSI, MUSE, MEQ). All 3 instruments may be characterized as large psychometric scales, which especially assess aspects of musicality in the English language. The Gold-MSI is additionally available in German. None of the existing questionnaires covers musical activities in detail. A new short German questionnaire consisting of 9 questions with a maximum filling time of 3-5 min has been developed. CONCLUSION: There are few questionnaires available for assessing musicality and musical activity with different aspects. The newly developed MusA in the German language focuses on the assessment of musical activity and is intended to be used in larger, population-based as well as clinical studies, to examine music activities and listening to music as independent factors in connection with prevention and therapy of chronic diseases.

[Becoming breastfeeding friendly in Germany-an international research project to assess the readiness to scale up breastfeeding]. / Das internationale Forschungsvorhaben Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly. Untersuchung von Rahmenbedingungen zur Stillförderung.

Despite known positive effects for breastfed children and their mothers, only one third of children under four months of age are breastfed exclusively. In addition, an overview of structures, actors, and measures to promote breastfeeding in Germany is missing. In a two-year international research project entitled Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly (BBF), the current status of German breastfeeding support is systematically evaluated on the basis of the Breastfeeding Gear Model (BFGM) which was developed by the Yale School of Public Health. Therefore, committee members with expertise in the healthcare sector, science, policy, and communication evaluate 54 benchmarks of the eight relevant gears: advocacy, political will, legislation & policies, funding & resources, training & program delivery, promotion, research & evaluation, coordination, and goals & monitoring. Based on the identified strengths and needs, concrete calls to action for scaling up breastfeeding promotion are derived and prioritized. BBF started in September 2017 and is conducted in cooperation with the Yale School of Public Health by the Healthy Start - Young Family Network as well as the National Breastfeeding Committee as an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Nutrition and Agriculture. The project assesses the framework conditions for breastfeeding and thus makes a valuable contribution to the health promotion of mother and child and to breastfeeding protection in Germany.

[Xenobiotics and pathogens in breast milk : A risk for the child?] / Fremdstoffe und Krankheitserreger in der Muttermilch : Ein Risiko für das Kind?

Although breast milk is the best diet in the first few months of life, risks can arise for the breast-fed infant. The article gives a comprehensive overview of possible risks regarding xenobiotics and pathogens in mother's milk, including medications, smoking, alcohol consumption, coffee consumption, persistent environmental contaminants and residues as well as infections.Where drug therapy is indicated, suitable medications are available for most conditions nowadays, so that prolonged nursing breaks or even weaning is not required. Long-term treatment, especially under combination therapy, needs to be examined on a case-by-case basis, however. Smoking and alcohol consumption should be avoided during the breastfeeding period, while moderate coffee consumption (up to 2 cups daily) is not of concern. The current levels of environmental contaminants and residues in breast milk are considered to be harmless to health; indeed, the body burden of dioxins considered to be critically high more than 20 years ago has been reduced by a factor of 10 to date. Among maternal infections, an human deficiency virus (HIV) infection is one of the few medical indications for weaning in countries with adequate hygiene standards.All in all, the risks of xenobiotics and pathogens in mother's milk are generally low in exclusively breastfed infants, so that there is usually no need for prolonged nursing breaks or even weaning. In only a small number of maternal conditions (certain medications, HIV infection), the infant should not be breastfed.

The cross-sectional association between chemerin and bone health in peri/pre and postmenopausal women: results from the EPIC-Potsdam study.

OBJECTIVE: Recent in vitro data suggested that the novel adipokine chemerin may influence bone health. However, only limited evidence of the relationship between chemerin and bone health in humans is available. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between chemerin and broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) in peri/premenopausal and postmenopausal women. METHODS: Data from the German population-based European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Potsdam cohort comprising 404 peri/premenopausal and 279 postmenopausal women were analyzed. Multivariable-adjusted analysis of covariance including age, body mass index, waist circumference, smoking status, education, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and hormone use was used to investigate potential relationships between the adipokine and BUA levels in peri/premenopausal and postmenopausal women, respectively. RESULTS: The concentrations of chemerin were lower in peri/premenopausal women (median 118.0 ng/mL, interquartile range [IQR] 99.2-135.0), compared with postmenopausal women (median 140.0 ng/mL, IQR 121.0-167.0). In peri/premenopausal women chemerin was inversely associated with BUA levels; after multivariable adjustment, a 10% increase in the chemerin concentration was significantly associated with 0.83 dB/MHz lower BUA levels (P = 0.0006). In postmenopausal women chemerin was not related to BUA levels (P = 0.8). CONCLUSION: The present study provides evidence for an inverse association between chemerin and BUA in peri/premenopausal women. Therefore, the study suggests that high chemerin concentrations may minimize peak bone mass and thereby may promote age-related bone loss. Further studies are needed to investigate the role of chemerin in bone homeostasis in peri/premenopausal and postmenopausal women.