Search

In this study influence of supplemental blue and red LED lighting on growth, nutrient solution uptake and concentration of secondary metabolites was investigated. Perilla plants were cultivated in climate chambers, where main light was provided by fluorescent tubes with PPFD between 123-177 μmolm-2s-1. Additionally, blue and red LEDs were used, providing 11 μmolm-2s-1 or 12 μmolm-2s-1, respectively. Temperature was set on 24/19°C (day/night), relative air humidity on 64/56% (day/night), and day length was 16 hours. Results showed that small portion of supplemental blue light (~9%) increased fresh mass (FM), dry mass (DM), and nutrient solution uptake (NSU) up to 50.33%, 10.85% or 31.80%, respectively. Supplemental red light (~6%) increased nutrient solution uptake up to 23.56%, while fresh and dry mass were higher than control, but without statistical significance. Regarding nutritive value of Perilla, supplemental blue light significantly increased carotenoid concentration (Car) (+13.37%), but polyphenols (PP), anthocyanins (Anth) and flavonoid (Fl) concentrations did not differ from the control. In treatment with supplemental red light, only flavonoid concentration was significantly increased (+14.34%). Use of supplemental blue or red LEDs in closed systems with controlled conditions increase or tends to increase plants fresh mass, dry mass, nutrient solution uptake rate, as well as concentration of some secondary metabolites.

There is to date no convincing literature that has assessed the association between traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and the later development of urinary bladder cancer. The aim of this work is to present medical experts as well as the national accident insurance and the social courts decision-making aids based on the latest medical scientific knowledge, for assessment of this causal association.A study conducted between April 1998 and March 2017 in the BG Trauma Hospital Hamburg forms the basis for the decision-making aids. Urinary bladder cancer was diagnosed in 32 out of 6432 treated outpatient and inpatient SCI patients. Furthermore, relevant published literature was taken into consideration for the decision-making aids.It was found that urinary bladder cancer in SCI patients occurs at a considerably younger age as compared to the general population, more frequently shows muscle invasive carcinoma with a higher grade at first diagnosis and a higher proportion of the more aggressive squamous cell carcinoma than that of the general population. Correspondingly, the survival time is extremely unfavorable. For medical experts a matrix was compiled where the various influencing factors, either for or against the recognition of an association between SCI and urinary bladder cancer, were weighted according to their relevance.The results showed that urinary bladder cancer in SCI patients differs considerably from that of able-bodied patients. These differences drastically shorten the survival time. A study on patients with spina bifida, i.e., a congenital spinal cord disorder, corroborates these observations. They indicate histopathological differences that have so far been intangible.

In many South-East-Asian countries is big lack of organic fertilizers for sustainable crop production, although there are many sources of biodegradable waste material. The best and sustainable way to convert the bio-waste from different sources in organic fertilizer is composting. Following our investigations, the supply of NPK is realized in Germany with about 40% by use of compost and in Vietnam with 1% only. Therefore, new organic sources are required and new technologies have to be developed in order to increase the amount of organic fertilizers. The available bio-wastes, have often high content of cellulose and lignin with slow decomposition rate. In order to enhance decomposition of such materials, specific microorganisms were added. For composting different types of container were used. Very good decomposition rate in short time were determined by use of a mix of different microorganisms and use of rotating containers.

Title ofthe paper: Boar fattening with different protein supply in the diet In the literature numerous studies are found that proof a superior fattening performance and carcass composition for boars compared to female and castrated pigs. The results in the feeding experiment presented here do not confirm this to the same extend. Even with a high protein and lysine supplementation growth performance of boars was lower than in females. Lean content was determined by FOM grading which might underestimate the boars. Lean to fat ratio (areas of M. long dorsi and back fat) however was significantly different between castrates and all boar groups due to the reduced fat deposition. Sensoric tests detected significant boar taint in the majority ofthe samples from male carcasses. Considering the tendency on the market for increasing carcass weights and the risk of boar taint in heavier pigs boar fattening can not be recommended in Germany.

Employing a unique data set that covers almost 6000 informal enterprises from six West African urban centres, this article examines the backward and forward linkages of these enterprises to the formal sector. Our descriptive analysis shows that formal backward linkages are much more prevalent than formal forward linkages, and that linkages vary with the degree of informality, occurring less frequently if firms have no ties to the formal sector at all or low-capital stocks. Further econometric analysis corroborates the importance of the degree of informality for the existence of linkages and shows various enterprise characteristics to be significant determinants. Finally, we analyse whether backward linkages matter for enterprise performance using both ordinary least squares (OLS) and instrumental variable (IV) estimations. We find a positive and robust impact of backward linkages, whereas the degree of informality of the enterprises in our sample seems to affect firm performance only indirectly through their linkages to the formal sector.

Zusammenfassung 14 Dermatophyten–Arten wurden auf Haar von 7 verschiedenen Haustieren und dem des Menschen in Losungen mit unterschiedlichem Nahrstoffgehalt kultiviert und die Form des Haarbefalls nach 20 bzw. 30tagiger Versuchszeit beobachtet. In einem nahrstoffreichen Medium wurden die Haare seltener von Pilzen angegrif–fen als in einem nahrstoffarmen. Auf Schafwolle, Kaninchen– und Meerschwei–chenhaar traten in Folge des Pilzbefalls Lockerung und Zerstorung der Kortex–struktur sowie oberflachliche Erosionen des Haarschaftes, nur selten jedoch Per–forationen der Haarrinde auf. In Kulturen mit Schweineborsten, Pferde– und Menschenhaar fanden sich haUufig Perforationsorgane der Pilze in den Haar–partikeln. Die Neigung zur Ausbildung von Perforationsorganen ist bei den einzelnen Dermatophyten–Arten unterschiedlich groβ. Die moglichen Ursachen fur das Auftreten der verschiedenen Befallsformen und ihre Beeinfluβbarkeit durch Umweltbedingungen werden diskutiert.

Zusammenfassung Die Art des Befalls von menschlichem Haar in vitro durch Tr. mentagrophytes und Tr. rubrum wurde an insgesamt 204 Stammen (87 Mentagrophytes- und 117 Rubrum-Stammen) untersucht. Die Mentagrophytes-Stamme drangen mit den bekannten, als Perforationsorgane beschriebenen Myzelzapfen in den Haarschaft ein, wahrend der groste Teil (91) der Rubrum-Stamme sich nur auf der Oberflache des Haares ausbreitete. 22 weitere sichtbare Rubrum-Stamme bildeten aber ebenfalls Perforationsorgane aus. Damit ist audi die Art des Haarbefalls nicht als ein durchgehendes Unterscheidungsmerkmal zwischen den beiden Arten anzusehen.

Salmonellosis is an important disease in childhood. Increasing infections caused by meat and raw egg consumption starts in the second year of life. The transmission from reptiles to infants is an alternative route. Reptile-associated salmonellosis is becoming more significant for pediatricians and microbiologists due to the increasing numbers of household exotic pets. Investigations of routes of infections in connection with the local health authorities including microbiological, serological and molecular biological tests is possible in case of atypical salmonellosis. During recent years (2006-2008) an increasing number of salmonellosis cases caused by reptiles. Most of the 26 patients were infants of less than one year of age. Also Salmonella strains of subspecies II, IIIa, IIIb and IV play an important role. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published recommendations which includes washing hands with soap and water after handling reptiles or the cages and keeping reptiles out of food preparation areas. The CDC has also adviced that children less than five years should not have reptiles as pets.

Post-type porcelain insulators are the weak points of high-voltage switchgears in the case of short-circuit loads. Whether a device will be damaged due to a break of a post insulator depends (to a high degree) on the strength of the post insulator as well as on the stress. The manufacturer guarantees for this strength a so-called minimum breaking load. This means that the post insulator is able to withstand these loads during its life-time without reduction of service. For the user it is important to know, whether the reliability is significantly reduced by the decreasing strength or the increasing stress. In this paper the problem will be investigated using the example of current-conducting equipment, consisting of conductor, 110 kV post insulator and support.

High-voltage switchgear with flexible conductors can be exposed to high mecanical loads during short-circuits. These loads are caused by the reaction of the flexible conductors to the electromagnetic force. Using the 110 kV supports as a part of a disconnector, the stress in the high voltage switchgear as shown does not respond quasi-statically to the dynamic force in the flexible conductors which means, that the mechanical-dynamic properties of the device determine the critical stress. Moreover, simple models well-known in the system theory are used to describe the mechanical-dynamic properties.

In connection with the temperature calculation for enclosed gas isolated switchgears (especially in the case of constant load) problems arise at the mathematical modelling of the convective heat transmission, when the vertical temperature difference in the gas is important due to the circulating flow. In this case the model of the thermal network analogous to a simple electrical network is not applicable immediately. Therefore the convective heat flow within the switchgear will be determined by the calculation of the thermal flow field basing on the physical fundamental equations exclusively. A simple example demonstrates in which way the result of the field calculation will be inserted to the model of thermal network. For example the exact consideration of the convective flow field has significant influence on the result of the temperature calculation.

In the paper the possibility to gain a qualitative insight into long-time phenomena in dielectric materials, using a dynamical model, is investigated. It assumes a simplified micro structure of the material and a set of rules which apply iteratively. The rules describe some basic features of the aging phenomena under partial discharge. Stochastic aspects were modelled by using random number generators. Simulation was carried out for various starting microstructures regarding number, size and position of initial voids and for different applied voltages.

Die in den Vorschriften (DIN 1053-1) aufgefuhrten Regeln stellen eine gute Grundlage dar. Es mus aber, vor allem bei Ringankern, die unbedingte Einhaltung der folgenden Kriterien verlangt werden! (1) Erfullung DIN 1053-1, 11.96, Abschn. 8.2.1 (2) Einhaltung der Bewehrungsregeln (Uberdeckung, Krummungskreisdurchmesser usw.) (3) Konstruktive Sicherung der Richtungsanderungspunkte (4) Ausfuhrung in der Deckenebene (in einer Ebene). Eine beliebige Fuhrung eines Zugstabes ist moglich. Da sich aber die Herausfuhrung aus der Deckenebene immer aus der Notwendigkeit der Gebaudekonstruktion ergibt, ist dann die Ableitung und Aufnahme der Umlenkkrafte konstruktiv oft uberhaupt nicht machbar. (5) Eine Umleitung der Zugkrafte uber eine Rahmenkonstruktion ist grundsatzlich moglich, wird aber durch die raumliche Ringankerfuhrung uber beliebige Gebaudeteile nicht erfullt. Man denke nur an die fur die Aufnahme von Biegemomenten ungeeigneten Abmessungen.

A test set-up is presented which is able to measure the arc voltage of vacuum interrupters after breakdown with currents in the lower kHz-range. Arc voltage measurements from this set-up are presented. The obtained dynamic voltage/current characteristics are discussed and compared to the known voltage current characteristic of a power frequency arc in vacuum. A simple vacuum arc model is presented describing the voltage current characteristic. The model is applied to assess the energy dissipation in the arc.

Gunshot injuries to the testicles are rare and usually result in testicular atrophy. In the case of severe bilateral testicular injuries, this could cause not only infertility but also the need for lifetime testosterone-substitution. We report an 18-year-old patient with bilateral testicular gunshot injury. During the surgical exploration an orchiectomy of the complete ruptured left testicle was necessary. Debridement of the damaged tissue and a partial orchiectomy was performed on the right side. After the operation, the patient developed an incretory hypogonadism and oligozoospermia. During follow-up, an improvement in the sperm count and of the hormonal status occurred. These finally reached normal levels. After genital traumata, immediate surgical exploration should be performed. Based on the above results, the patient benefits from conservative debridement and primary repair of the injured testicle, if possible. An improvement in hormonal status and sperm parameters after testicular injury and consecutive testicular malfunction can occur. Regeneration of the testicular tissue seems possible.

The percutaneous absorption of indomethacin in 0.5 % or 1 % solution or 1 % gel at a dose of 50 mg or 100 mg indomethacin was compared in a randomized complete block design in seven healthy volunteers. The formulations were applied over an area of 12 dm(2) under an 8 h occlusion dressing. In addition, in the same volunteers the plasma concentration curves were determined after a single oral dose of 50 mg indomethacin. Indomethacin and some of its metabolites were determined with modified, existing assays using HPLC-fluorescence or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. On the basis of a newly developed method, it was possible to separate and quantify O-desmethylindomethacin and N-deschlorobenzoyl-O-desmethylin-domethacin. After cutaneous administration of the two drug formulations, peak indomethacin plasma concentration of 95 ng/ml and 130 ng/ml were found between 4 and 8 h; the cutaneous bioavailability was approximately 20 % of the oral dose, as judged by comparing the areas under the plasma concentration time curves (AUC) and the amount of metabolites excreted into the urine. Percutaneous absorption did not change the metabolic pattern in the urine that is obtained after oral administration.

Two preliminary tests were conducted with piglets and chicken to study the influence of feeding ergot, which was specified concerning alkaloid content and pattern, on growth performance and health parameters. Treatments were 5 ergot concentrations in the diets (0; 0.05; 0.1; 0.2; 0.4%) which were fed to 5×16 piglets for 35 days and 5×28 chicken for 21 days. A content of 0.4% ergot in the diet decreased feed intake and growth performance of piglets significantly. Contents of 0.1% and 0.2% ergot in the diet showed a tendency towards improved weight gain as compared to controls. Feed to gain ratio was found to be the lowest in the group with 0.2% ergot in the diet. In the study conducted with chicken significant effects of ergot feeding on growth performance were not detected. With increased ergot concentrations in the diet the weight of hearts decreased, which proved to be significant only at a level of 0.2 % ergot in the diet. Moderate to severe inflammations were found in the proximal duodenum of the ergot fed groups, which, however, were not dosedependent. Further studies with ergot from other sources differing in alkaloid content and pattern are necessary to evaluate toxic alkaloid levels for the various animal species or categories.

The expression of ferredoxin–NADP+ reductase (FNR) from Anabaena sp. PCC 7119 in heterocysts and vegetative cells has been quantified. Specific reductase activity in heterocysts was approximately 10 times higher than in vegetative cells, corresponding to the increased FNR protein content. This was confirmed by immunoquantification of the FNR protein from whole filaments of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 grown in media with and without combined nitrogen. Transcription of the petH gene was markedly enhanced in the absence of combined nitrogen. This suggests that the increased RNA level is mainly responsible for the up-regulation of FNR in heterocysts. As has been observed for nif genes, iron deficiency also increased transcription of petH. Characterization of the FNR purified from isolated heterocysts showed no detectable differences from the enzyme from vegetative cells. Although nitrogen stress was a key regulatory factor, localization of the petH gene in the genomic map of Anabaena PCC 7120 showed that this gene is not physically associated with the nif cluster.

Little is known about sexual dysfunctions associated with psychiatric disorders and psychopharmacological treatment. In the present study schizophrenic patients (n = 45, mostly under neuroleptic treatment), neurotic patients (n = 50, mostly treated without medication), methadone-substituted opiate addicts (n = 37), and normal controls (n = 41) were included. They were interviewed with the aid of a sex-differentiated semistructured questionnaire on sexual function. All the methadone-substituted opiate addicts and nearly all the schizophrenic patients suffered from dysfunctions in at least one criterion. The three clinical groups differed significantly from the controls in sexual interest, emotional arousal, physiological arousal (erectile function/vaginal lubrication), performance (ejaculatory function/vaginism, dyspareunia), and orgasm satisfaction. Characteristic patterns of dysfunction were found in the male patients. The schizophrenic patients had significantly more dysfunctions of interest, physiological arousal, performance, and orgasm than the controls. Emotional arousal, erectile and ejaculatory functions, and orgasm satisfaction were impaired more frequently in the male schizophrenics than in the neurotic patients. Reduced sexual interest, emotional arousal, and orgasm satisfaction were reported more frequently by the methadone-substituted opiate addicts than by the neurotic men. Emotional arousal was even more frequently reduced than in the schizophrenic men. There was no correlation between sexual dysfunction and particular neuroleptics or neuroleptic or methadone dosage. The results are compared with the literature and suggestions made for further investigations.

In cyanobacteria an increasing number of low potential electron carriers is found, but in most cases their contribution to metabolic pathways remains unclear. In this work, we compare recombinant plant-type ferredoxins from Anabaena sp. PCC 7120, encoded by the genes petF and fdxH, respectively, and flavodoxin from Anabaena sp. PCC 7119 as electron carriers in reconstituted in vitro assays with nitrogenase, Photosystem I, ferredoxin-NADP(+) reductase and pyruvate-ferredoxin oxidoreductase. In every experimental system only the heterocyst ferredoxin catalyzed an efficient electron transfer to nitrogenase while vegetative cell ferredoxin and flavodoxin were much less active. This implies that flavodoxin is not able to functionally replace heterocyst ferredoxin. When PFO-activity in heterocyst extracts was reconstituted under anaerobic conditions, both ferredoxins were more efficient than flavodoxin, which suggested that this PFO was of the ferredoxin dependent type. Flavodoxin, synthesized under iron limiting conditions, replaces PetF very efficiently in the electron transport from Photosystem I to NADP(+), using thylakoids from vegetative cells.

Salmonellosis is an important disease in childhood. Increasing infections caused by meat and raw egg consumption starts in the second year of life. The transmission from reptiles to infants is an alternative route. Reptile-associated salmonellosis is becoming more significant for pediatricians and microbiologists due to the increasing numbers of household exotic pets. Investigations of routes of infections in connection with the local health authorities including microbiological, serological and molecular biological tests is possible in case of atypical salmonellosis. During recent years (2006-2008) an increasing number of salmonellosis cases caused by reptiles. Most of the 26 patients were infants of less than one year of age. Also Salmonella strains of subspecies II, IIIa, IIIb and IV play an important role. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published recommendations which includes washing hands with soap and water after handling reptiles or the cages and keeping reptiles out of food preparation areas. The CDC has also adviced that children less than five years should not have reptiles as pets.

Gunshot injuries to the testicles are rare and usually result in testicular atrophy. In the case of severe bilateral testicular injuries, this could cause not only infertility but also the need for lifetime testosterone-substitution. We report an 18-year-old patient with bilateral testicular gunshot injury. During the surgical exploration an orchiectomy of the complete ruptured left testicle was necessary. Debridement of the damaged tissue and a partial orchiectomy was performed on the right side. After the operation, the patient developed an incretory hypogonadism and oligozoospermia. During follow-up, an improvement in the sperm count and of the hormonal status occurred. These finally reached normal levels. After genital traumata, immediate surgical exploration should be performed. Based on the above results, the patient benefits from conservative debridement and primary repair of the injured testicle, if possible. An improvement in hormonal status and sperm parameters after testicular injury and consecutive testicular malfunction can occur. Regeneration of the testicular tissue seems possible.

The recent oral immunisation trials in wild boar against classical swine fever (CSF) in Germany are described and evaluated in summary. After the first field study in Lower Saxony from 1993-1995 further immunisation trials started in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, Baden-Württemberg and Saxony-Anhalt. The immunisation strategies and the size of the vaccination zones were different in the individual federal states. In principle, the bait vaccine based on the CSF virus strain "C" were laid out by hand. Later also the aerial distribution was carried out in selected areas of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The application of baits by plane was introduced at the beginning of the immunisation measures in Saxony-Anhalt apart from the manual distribution. Up to now, the field trials show that the oral immunisation can be an additional tool for CSF control by increasing of herd immunity and reduction of the CSFV prevalence. However, the immunisation was not sufficient enough for young boars in the most field studies. Based on the evaluation of the immunisation experiments an improved immunisation procedure is recommended.

There is an increasing interest concerning the treatment of patients with personality disorders (PD) in data on the efficacy of psychotherapeutic strategies especially when combined with medication.The efficacy of an inpatient client-centered treatment program (CCT) was studied prospectively in 142 patients with PD and additional depressive, anxiety or eating disorders (ICD-10).Significant improvements in depression, self-esteem and social adjustment were achieved up to discharge, which remained stable at the 1-year follow-up. The efficacy with regard to individual variables or the total result could not be further enhanced by a combination with psychopharmacological treatment (CCT + MED), consisting mainly of antidepressants. Within the subgroups of patients with socially deviant (F60.0-2), emotionally unstable/borderline (F60.3) and histrionic/narcissistic PD (F60.4, F60.8), CCT was significantly superior to CCT + MED in the reduction of depression (Bech-Rafaelsen Melancholia Scale ratings), whereas the response was enhanced by medication in the subgroup of patients with socially dependent 'cluster C' PD (F60.5-7).The results are discussed with regard to client-centered therapeutic concepts and to the further development of differential combination strategies.

Ferredoxins are small iron sulfur proteins necessary for electron donation. FdxH1 and FdxH2 are associated with two different nif gene clusters where they transfer electrons for the reduction of nitrogenase complex. FdxH1 was observed to be stable towards oxygen, whereas, FdxH2 was relatively unstable. We had identified the amino acid involved in oxygen sensitivity of ferredoxin protein using protein modeling. The exchange of valine to leucine at position 77 was critical for ferredoxin proteins in relation to its oxygen sensitivity. This exchange leads to a longer side chain, which inhibits the accessibility of oxygen to the iron sulfur cluster. Site directed mutagenesis and in vitro experiments confirms that valine indeed is involved in the oxygen sensitivity. The exchange of leucine to valine in FdxH1 makes it oxygen unstable. Thus, from the above results we can conclude that the position of leucine at position 77 is critical for oxygen sensitivity of ferredoxin and protein modeling can be used to identify specific amino acids in other oxygen-sensitive proteins.

The mechanisms of change due to different psychotherapeutic treatments of anxiety disorders are the subject of the present study. Sixty-eight patients with agoraphobia and panic (DSM III R No. 300.21, ICD 10 No. F 40.01) were included, exclusively treated with client-centered treatment (n = 28) or with additional behavioral exposure treatment (n = 40) in an inpatient setting. The patients were examined on admission, at discharge, and at 6 and 12 months follow-ups with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM III R (SKID), the Freiburg Personality Inventory (FPI R), and the Giessen Test (GIESS). Both treatment modalities significantly reduced panic and avoidance. Differences were found in personality scales. The support of autonomy was superior by client-centered treatment alone: client-centered treated (CCT) patients felt less dependent on the expectations of others, less under stress, and had fewer psychosomatic complaints. Patients with additional exposure treatment feel accepted by their social environment earlier. The results are discussed with regard to open questions of therapy integration and different mechanisms of change.

The method using transvers retubularized segment of ileum as an efferent conduit in Hautmann's neobladder is easy to perform and it can be repeated in revision procedures. We performed the procedure in nine patients who underwent radical cystectomy. At 8-16 months after operation, the resulting stomas were easy to catheterize. Of the nine patients, eight were continent. We find the procedure to be a good alternative when the appendix is absent and a cutaneous stoma is needed. It could be the preferred method in ileal neobladders with cutaneous outlet.

The formation of progesterone and 1-dehydroprogesterone from cholesterol in fermentation cultures of Mycobacterium aurum ATCC 25790 was studied with the aim of clarifying the microbial pathway. The C22-intermediate (20S)-20-carboxy-1,4-pregnadien-3-one was microbiologically converted via the undetectable corresponding aldehyde into the C22-alcohol. However in the fermentation broth without microorganisms, but containing 2,2'-bipyridyl and copper ions, synthetically prepared C22-aldehyde was oxidized to the corresponding C21-compound 1-dehydroprogesterone, suggesting that the enzymatically originated C22-aldehydes may be immediately chemically oxidized to the corresponding C21-ketones.

Evaluation of psychotherapeutic or psychopharmacological treatment frequently uses rating scales without regard for patient's defensiveness. This study demonstrates on 309 psychotherapy patients treated with inpatient client-centered therapy and followed-up 1 year after treatment that defensiveness, measured with validity scales of personality inventories MMPI-K, FPI-R and Giessen-Test, influences ratings (scales CGI, HAMA, HAMD, BRMES) before and after therapy. Patients who deny psychopathology on admission do so at discharge and to some extent at follow-up. The extent of effect is significantly diminished with an increase in frankness in these patients, indicated by the significant improvement in validity scales. Inpatient client-centered psychotherapy improved defensiveness in the case of initial self-criticism and diminished it in the case of initial retentiveness.

The long-term effect (1-year-follow-up) of an inpatient client-centred psychotherapy programme was evaluated in 202 severe and chronically disturbed patients with a bread diagnose range (ICD-10 F1-F6). These 202 patients represented 74% of a total of 272 patients who had originally been examined and tested at admission and had now been re-identified after a follow-up of one year. Patients were investigated via Clinical Global Impressions (CGI), Bech-Rafaelsen-Melancholia-Scale (BRMES) and the Personality Inventory (Giessen-Test). Severity of illness, depressivity and self-and-other acceptance improved significantly; social incompetence was especially reduced in patients who had personality disorders. The range of effects reached from good to very good improvement: the magnitude of effect on social variables is probably even under estimated due to high pre-therapy variance. At follow-up 68% of the patients were in occupation or professional education. 32% needed no further treatment. Readmission rate was 14%. Results are discussed with regard to specific client-centred therapy.