[Size and quality of clinical research on non-medical interventions: a systematic analysis of IQWiG reports].

Background: A sufficient number of randomised controlled clinical trials (RCTs) with high methodological reliability are required to allow a critical assessment of therapeutic interventions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the final reports of the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) addressing non-medical interventions. These reports were analysed in order to determine how many endpoint-related comparisons were evaluated by clinical studies, how many by RCTs and how many by methodologically reliable RCTs.

Decreased serum semicarbazide sensitive aminooxidase (SSAO) activity in patients with major depression.

Semicarbazide sensitive aminooxidase (SSAO) is known to interplay with monoamine oxidases (MAO) and several antidepressants. Taking into account the monoamine hypothesis concerning the pathophysiology of depression, the aim of the present pilot study was to evaluate serum SSAO activity in depressed patients. A total of 21 inpatients with major depression and 41 healthy controls were studied.

Effects of social interaction, physical environment and food choice freedom on consumption in a meal-testing environment.

Consumption of pizza, salad and iced tea was assessed in four separate tests at a central location. Three aspects of context were added in successive tests-social interaction during consumption, the physical environment in which the food was consumed and choice among foods-so that the fourth test had all effects present. The proportion consumed averaged from 79 to 82% of the food presented and increased significantly in the presence of one or more of the context manipulations.