Metabolically Healthy, but Obese Individuals and Associations with Echocardiographic Parameters and Inflammatory Biomarkers: Results from the CARLA Study.

Introduction: The research on heterogeneity among obese individuals has identified the metabolically healthy, but obese (MHO) phenotype as a distinct group that does not experience the typical cardiovascular-related diseases (CVD). It is unclear if this group differs with regard to preconditions for CVDs. Our aim was to assess differences in echocardiographic parameters and inflammatory biomarkers between MHO and metabolically healthy, normal weight individuals (MHNW).

Association between advanced glycation end products, their soluble receptor, and mortality in the general population: Results from the CARLA study.

Background: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the plasma are associated with a number of age-related diseases that possibly lead to reduced longevity. However, previous studies showed large inconsistencies in the association between AGEs or their soluble receptor (sRAGE) and mortality. We studied this association in a cohort study of general population and assessed the potential changes in this association over time.

Advanced glycation end products and their ratio to soluble receptor are associated with limitations in physical functioning only in women: results from the CARLA cohort.

Background: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), modifications of proteins or amino acids, are increasingly produced and accumulated with age-related diseases. Recent studies suggested that the ratio of AGEs and their soluble receptor (sRAGE) is a more accurate biomarker for age-related diseases than each separately. We aim to investigate whether this also applies for physical functioning in a broad age-spectrum.

Measuring Cognitive Reserve (CR) - A systematic review of measurement properties of CR questionnaires for the adult population.

Aim: The aim of this systematic review was to summarize and critically appraise the quality of published literature on measurement properties of questionnaires assessing Cognitive Reserve (CR) in adults (>18 years).

Methods: We systematically searched for published studies on MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science through August 2018. We evaluated the methodological quality of the included studies and the results on measurement properties based on a consensus-based standard checklist.

Ageing Investigation Using Two-Time-Point Metabolomics Data from KORA and CARLA Studies.

Ageing, one of the largest risk factors for many complex diseases, is highly interconnected to metabolic processes. Investigating the changes in metabolite concentration during ageing among healthy individuals offers us unique insights to healthy ageing. We aim to identify ageing-associated metabolites that are independent from chronological age to deepen our understanding of the long-term changes in metabolites upon ageing.

The role of nutrition, intimate partner violence and social support in prenatal depressive symptoms in rural Ethiopia: community based birth cohort study.

Background: Depression during pregnancy has far-reaching adverse consequences on mothers, children and the whole family. The magnitude and determinants of prenatal depressive symptoms in low-resource countries are not well established. This study aims to describe the prevalence of prenatal depressive symptoms and whether it is associated with maternal nutrition, intimate partner violence and social support among pregnant women in rural Ethiopia.

Comparison of metabolite networks from four German population-based studies.

Background: Metabolite networks are suggested to reflect biological pathways in health and disease. However, it is unknown whether such metabolite networks are reproducible across different populations. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate similarity of metabolite networks in four German population-based studies.

Short-term blood pressure variability - variation between arm side, body position and successive measurements: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Precise blood pressure (BP) measurements are central for the diagnosis of hypertension in clinical and epidemiological studies. The purpose of this study was to quantify the variability in BP associated with arm side, body position, and successive measurements in the setting of a population-based observational study. Additionally, we aimed to evaluate the influence of different measurement conditions on prevalence of hypertension.

Depressive symptoms, life satisfaction and prevalence of sleep disturbances in the general population of Germany: results from the Heinz Nixdorf Recall study.

Objectives: It appears that not only depression, but also low life satisfaction (LS), is related to sleep disorder in the general population. We evaluate whether the prevalence of sleep disorder attributable to depressed mood is greater among participants with low LS.

Setting, Participants And Outcome Measures: Analysis of cross-sectional data from 3880 cohort members from the German Heinz Nixdorf Recall study (2006-2008) aged 51-81 years.

Incidence of functional bi-temporal connections in the human brain in vivo and their relevance to epilepsy surgery.

The incidence of functional connections between human temporal lobes and their latencies were investigated using intracranial EEG responses to electrical stimulation with 1 msec single pulses in 91 patients assessed for surgery for treatment of epilepsy. The areas studied were amygdala, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, fusiform gyrus, inferior and mid temporal gyrus. Furthermore, we assessed whether the presence of such connections are related to seizure onset extent and postsurgical seizure control.

Lower morning to evening cortisol ratio is associated with cognitive impairment in men but not women: An analysis of 733 older subjects of the cross-sectional KORA-Age study.

Background: A dysregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPA) is thought to play a role in the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment. Surprisingly, little agreement exists on the association of cortisol and cognitive impairment. Thus, we sought to examine the association between cognitive function and salivary cortisol levels in a representative sample of older men and women.

Prevalence of use and level of awareness of CAM in older people - results from the KORA-Age study.

Background: Despite the growing proportion of older adults in Europe there is only limited knowledge of CAM use among the elderly. This analysis aims to provide estimates for the prevalence of CAM use in persons with an age of ≥65, and to investigate correlations of CAM use with demographic characteristics.

Methods: Based on participants of the MONICA/KORA studies S1-S4 who were born before 1944, a random sample of 1,079 was selected for comprehensive medical examinations.

Aging without depression: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyze the association between secure attachment style, loneliness, and social network as risk factors for late-life depression.

Methods: This cross-sectional study examined 969 subjects of the KORA-Age study. We applied the Relationship-Specific Attachment Scales for Adults (Beziehungsspezifische Bindungsskalen für Erwachsene, BBE), the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Social Network Index (SNI).

[Obesity and symptoms of depression and anxiety in pre- and postmenopausal women: a comparison of different obesity indicators].

This study examines differences in the rates of depression and anxiety symptoms in overweight vs. normal weight women before and after the menopause. In a population sample of 1 416 participants of the KORA-Survey F3 2004-2005 (age 35-74 years), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip-ratio (WHR) und waist-to-height-ratio (WHtR) were measured via physical examination.

Relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder and type 2 diabetes in a population-based cross-sectional study with 2970 participants.

Objectives: To evaluate the association of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with type 2 diabetes (T2D) or prediabetes in a large population-based sample.

Methods: In 2970 subjects (aged 32-81 years) drawn from the population-based cross-sectional study KORA F4 from the Augsburg region (Southern Germany) a PTSD screening was performed employing the posttraumatic diagnostic scale, the impact of event scale, and interview data. The exposure variable PTSD was sub-classified into partial and full PTSD and additionally in subjects with traumatic event but no PTSD" to "The exposure variable PTSD was classified into (1) no traumatic event (2) traumatic event, but no PTSD, (3) partial PTSD, (4) full PTSD.

Job strain-associated inflammatory burden and long-term risk of coronary events: findings from the MONICA/KORA Augsburg case-cohort study.

Background: We examined the association between job strain and coronary heart disease (CHD) and investigated the role of markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction as possible mediators of job strain-associated CHD risk.

Methods: The sample (n = 1027) included employed participants (35-64 years old, 68% male) from the population-based MONICA/KORA (Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease/Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg) studies. At baseline Karasek's Job Strain Index was assessed during standardized personal interviews, and nine biological markers were measured (1984-1995).

Validation and development of a shorter version of the resilience scale RS-11: results from the population-based KORA-age study.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess reliability and validity of the Resilience Scale 11 (RS-11) and develop a shorter scale in a population-based study.

Methods: The RS-11 scale was administered to 3942 participants (aged 64 - 94 years) of the KORA-Age study. To test reliability, factor analyses were carried out and internal consistency (Cronbach's α) was measured.

Lifetime traumatic experiences and their impact on PTSD: a general population study.

Objective: Exploring the relationship of exposure to a traumatic event and the subsequent onset of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the population.

Methods: Posttraumatic stress disorder was assessed using the Impact of Event Scale (IES), Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS) and interview data. Logistic regression analyses with sex, age, marital status, educational level and traumatic event characteristics were performed.

Relation between depressed mood, somatic comorbidities and health service utilisation in older adults: results from the KORA-Age study.

Background: prior literature suggests that comorbidity with depression significantly worsens the health state of people with chronic diseases.

Objective: the present study examines whether depressed mood increased medical care use for patients with a comorbid physical disease.

Design, Setting And Subjects: the study was a population-based study (KORA-Age), with 3,938 participants aged 64-94.

Screening for multiple somatic complaints in a population-based survey: does excessive symptom reporting capture the concept of somatic symptom disorders? Findings from the MONICA-KORA Cohort Study.

Objective: Excessive symptom reporting (ESR) has gained a revived attention in the conceptualization of somatic symptom disorders. We aimed to explore whether ESR captures the concept of somatic symptom disorders regardless of the patient's disease status or the degree of symptom burden.

Methods: In three independent cross-sectional population-based samples of the MONICA/KORA Study in 1985, 1990, and 1995, somatic symptom reporting and an array of somatic and mental health features were assessed in 11,895 eligible participants.