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Objective: To explore the frequency of excisions and yields of histopathologically confirmed skin cancer., Design: A population-based skin cancer screening intervention (the SCREEN project) in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein (July 1, 2003, to June 30, 2004)., Setting: Physician offices. Participants could choose between nondermatologist physicians and dermatologists for their initial whole-body skin examination. All screening physicians received a mandatory 8-hour training course. PARTICIPANTS Inhabitants of Schleswig-Holstein 20 years or older with statutory health insurance (N = 360,288)., Main Outcome Measures: Frequency of excisions and yields of malignant skin tumors (malignant melanomas [MMs], basal cell carcinomas [BCCs], and squamous cell carcinomas [SCCs]), stratified by sex and age., Results: Overall, 15,983 excisions were performed (1 of 23 screenees). A total of 3103 malignant skin tumors were diagnosed in 2911 persons: 585 MMs, 1961 BCCs, 392 SCCs, and 165 other malignant skin tumors. Overall, 116 persons (3103 of 360,288) had to be screened to find 1 malignant tumor, with 1 of 620 for MM, 1 of 184 for BCC, and 1 of 920 for SCC. Twenty excisions were performed to find 1 melanoma in men 65 years and older, but more than 50 excisions were required to find 1 melanoma in men aged between 20 and 49 years., Conclusions: The results of SCREEN suggest a high yield of malignant skin tumors in a large-scale population-based screening project. We found that a high number of excisions was performed in the youngest screenees with an associated low yield, suggesting a need in screener training to emphasize a more conservative attitude toward excisions in young screenees.

Objectives: To address the benefits of double and arbitration reading regarding tumour detection rates, percentage of in situ tumours, and number (of patients) needed to send for expert reading (number needed to treat; NNT) for one additional tumour finding., Methods: QuaMaDi is a quality assured breast cancer diagnosis programme; with two-view mammography (craniocaudal, mediolateral oblique) and, in case of breast density ACR 3 or 4, routine ultrasound imaging; and with independent double reading of all images. A consecutive sample of symptomatic women, i.e. women at risk for breast cancer, women aged 70 and above, and/or women with preceding BI-RADS III findings, was analysed., Results: 28,558 mammograms were performed (mean age of women: 57.3 [standard deviation: 12.3] years). Discordant findings were present in 3,837 double readings and were sent for arbitration reading. After histopathological assessment, 52 carcinomas were found (thereof 32% in situ). These carcinomas accounted for 1.8 tumours per 1,000 examinations in the total cohort and increased the tumour detection rate up to 16.4/1,000. The NNT in discordant cases was 74., Conclusion: Double and arbitration reading appears to be a useful tool to ensure the quality of early detection of breast lesions in symptomatic women during indication-based, standardised mammography., Key Points: • Quality assured breast cancer diagnosis is feasible outside organised screening structures. • Double and arbitration reading is beneficial for populations ineligible for screening. • Double and arbitration reading increases the tumour detection rate. • Double and arbitration reading increases the percentage of in situ cancers.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the Quality assured Mamma Diagnostic programme (QuaMaDi) introduced in 2001 on breast cancer and mortality on a population basis. QuaMaDi provides a standardized diagnostic process for symptomatic or at risk women of all ages. The process includes independent double-reading of mammograms, additional ultrasound, and if suspicious an expert reading and assessment. We tested the hypothesis that QuaMaDi has influenced breast cancer epidemiology and survival positively., Methods: The QuaMaDi cohort of breast cancer patients, diagnosed within the programme between 2001 and 2007, was linked to the cancer registry dataset of all breast cancer cases in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. By this record-linkage procedure participants of QuaMaDi could be marked in the cancer registry data. Overall survival rates of 3096 patients diagnosed within QuaMaDi were compared to 5417 patients diagnosed outside QuaMaDi, matched by year of diagnosis, using multivariate Cox proportional hazard models., Results: Crude hazard ratio for overall survival was HR 0.43 (95% CI 0.35-0.52) for breast cancer cases detected inside QuaMaDi versus those diagnosed outside the programme. After stepwise adjustment for age, grading, histology, treatment, and tumour stage, the survival advantage in QuaMaDi diagnosed breast cancer patients was still statistically significant (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.64-0.96)., Conclusion: Evidence is provided that the QuaMaDi programme has a beneficial impact on the first 5-year overall survival rate after breast cancer beyond a favourable tumour stage distribution. Thus, we conclude that QuaMaDi contributes to improved health care for women, who are not eligible for mammography screening., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background/aims: Dietary composition has been shown to affect acid-base homeostasis and bone health in humans. We investigated the potential renal acid load (PRAL) and the estimated diet-dependent net acid load (net endogenous acid production, NEAP) in adult vegans and evaluated the relationships between NEAP, food groups and intake of bone health-related nutrients., Methods: The German Vegan Study (GVS) is a cross-sectional study. Data from healthy men (n = 67) and women (n = 87), aged 21-75 years, who fulfilled the study criteria (vegan diet for ≥1 year prior to study start; age ≥18 years, and no pregnancy/childbirth during the last 12 months) were included in the analysis. NEAP values were calculated from diet composition using two models: one based on the protein/potassium quotient and another taking into account an anthropometry-based loss of urinary organic anions., Results: Mean daily intakes of phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium and vitamin C were above, and vitamin D and calcium below Dietary Reference Intake (DRI). Regardless of the model used, the diet in the GVS was characterized by a nearly neutral NEAP. A strong correlation was observed between the NEAP values of the two models (r(s) = 0.873, p < 0.001). Only the consumption of fruits decreased constantly across the increasing quartiles of NEAP., Conclusions: It can be hypothesized that vegan diets do not affect acid-base homeostasis. With respect to bone health, the significance of this finding needs further investigation., (Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Introduction: It is unclear whether the care of breast cancer patients complies with the German breast cancer guideline and achieves the appropriate standard of care. For this reason the guideline's requirements were compared with the empirically determined health care provision in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein., Methods: The OVIS-study is based on a postal questionnaire survey of medical care in 1927 breast cancer patients between 02/2003 to 02/2005. Statements such as "should be carried out" and "mandatory procedure" were cross-referenced with specific reference ranges., Results: Locally invasive tumors were rare (pT 3/4: 8%). Preoperatively, 95% of patients received mammography, 78% breast ultrasound, 92% a chest x-ray, and 81% an abdominal ultrasound. 71% of all patients had breast conserving treatment, of whom 96% had irradiation of the remaining breast tissue. Axilla lymph node dissection was reported for 91%, axillary irradiation for 36%, and a systemic therapy for 95%., Discussion: Local quality indicators comply in general with the German guideline. The high rate of axillary irradiation could be viewed as inadequate provision.

Background: To investigate the overall glycemic index (GI), glycemic load (GL), and intake of dietary fiber, and to examine the associations between these factors and plasma lipoproteins and triacylglycerols in adult vegans in the German Vegan Study (GVS)., Methods: Cross-sectional study, Germany. Healthy men (n = 67) and women (n = 87), who fulfilled the study criteria (vegan diet for >or=1 year prior to study start; minimum age of 18 years; no pregnancy/childbirth during the last 12 months) and who participated in all study segments., Results: The average dietary GL of the GVS population was 144, and the average GI was 51.4. The adjusted geometric mean total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol concentrations decreased across the increasing quartiles of GL, carbohydrate and dietary fiber intake. The associations between total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and GL density and GI were inconsistent. Also, associations between GI, GL, the intake of carbohydrates, and triacylglycerol concentration were not observed., Conclusions: Fiber-rich vegan diets are characterized by a low GI and a low to moderate GL. The data do not support the hypothesis that a carbohydrate-rich diet per se is associated with unfavorable effects on triaclyglycerols that would be predicted to increase the risk of coronary heart disease., (Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Today vegetarian nutrition is more accepted and widespread in Europe than in former years. For a long time scientific research on vegetarian diets has focused mostly on malnutrition, whereas nowadays research centers increasingly on the preventive potential of plant-based diets. We followed a nutritive and a metabolic-epidemiological approach to obtain dietary recommendations. A MEDLINE research was performed for all plant food groups relevant for a vegetarian diet (key words: all relevant food groups, "vegetarian diet", "chronic disease", "cancer", "cardiovascular disease", "diabetes mellitus", "osteoporosis"). All relevant food groups were characterized regarding their nutrient content and rated with respect to the available metabolic-epidemiological evidence. Based on the evidence criteria of the WHO/FAO, cancer risk reduction by a high intake of vegetables and fruits is assessed as probable or possible, while a lowered risk of cardiovascular disease is convincing and a lowered risk of osteoporosis is probable. The evidence of a risk reducing effect of whole grain relating to colorectal cancer is assessed as possible, whereas it is probable relating to cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus type 2. There is an insufficient risk-reducing effect of legumes like soja relating to epithelial tumours and cardiovascular disease. The evidence of a risk-reducing effect of nuts to cardiovascular disease is assessed as probable, and in relation to cholelithiasis and diabetes mellitus type 2 as possible and insufficient, respectively. In conclusion, high consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts can lower the risk for several chronic diseases.

Background: As shown in previous studies vegetarians and especially vegans are at risk for iron deficiency. Our study evaluated the iron status of German female vegans., Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the dietary intakes of 75 vegan women were assessed by two 9-day food frequency questionnaires. The iron status was analyzed on the basis of blood parameters., Results: Mean daily iron intake was higher than recommended by the German Nutrition Society. Still 42% of the female vegans < 50 years (young women, YW) had a daily iron intake of < 18 mg/day, which is the recommended allowance by the US Food and Nutrition Board. The main dietary sources of iron were vegetables, fruits, cereals and cereal products. Median serum ferritin concentrations were 14 ng/ml for YW and 28 ng/ml for women > or = 50 years (old women, OW). In all, 40% (tri-index model (TIM) 20%) of the YW and 12% (TIM 12%) of the OW were considered iron-deficient based on either serum ferritin levels of < 12 ng/ml or a TIM. Only 3 women had blood parameters which are defined as iron deficiency anemia. Correlations between serum ferritin levels and dietary factors were not found., Conclusion: Although the mean iron intake was above the recommended level, 40% (TIM 20%) of the YW were considered iron-deficient. It is suggested that especially YM on a vegan diet should have their iron status monitored and should consider taking iron supplements in case of a marginal status., (Copyright 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel)