@article{MeyerSchindlerZahneretal.2014, author = {Meyer, Ursina and Schindler, Christian and Zahner, Lukas and Ernst, Dominique and Hebestreit, Helge and van Mechelen, Willem and Brunner-La Rocca, Hans-Peter and Probst-Hensch, Nicole and Puder, Jardena J. and Kriemler, Susi}, title = {Long-Term Effect of a School-Based Physical Activity Program (KISS) on Fitness and Adiposity in Children: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial}, series = {PLOS ONE}, volume = {9}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, number = {2}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0087929}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-117436}, pages = {e87929}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Background: School-based intervention studies promoting a healthy lifestyle have shown favorable immediate health effects. However, there is a striking paucity on long-term follow-ups. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the 3 yr-follow-up of a cluster-randomized controlled school-based physical activity program over nine month with beneficial immediate effects on body fat, aerobic fitness and physical activity. Methods and Findings: Initially, 28 classes from 15 elementary schools in Switzerland were grouped into an intervention (16 classes from 9 schools, n = 297 children) and a control arm (12 classes from 6 schools, n = 205 children) after stratification for grade (1st and 5th graders). Three years after the end of the multi-component physical activity program of nine months including daily physical education (i.e. two additional lessons per week on top of three regular lessons), short physical activity breaks during academic lessons, and daily physical activity homework, 289 (58\%) participated in the follow-up. Primary outcome measures included body fat (sum of four skinfolds), aerobic fitness (shuttle run test), physical activity (accelerometry), and quality of life (questionnaires). After adjustment for grade, gender, baseline value and clustering within classes, children in the intervention arm compared with controls had a significantly higher average level of aerobic fitness at follow-up (0.373 z-score units [95\%-CI: 0.157 to 0.59, p = 0.001] corresponding to a shift from the 50th to the 65th percentile between baseline and follow-up), while the immediate beneficial effects on the other primary outcomes were not sustained. Conclusions: Apart from aerobic fitness, beneficial effects seen after one year were not maintained when the intervention was stopped. A continuous intervention seems necessary to maintain overall beneficial health effects as reached at the end of the intervention.}, language = {en} } @article{UnnewehrStich2015, author = {Unnewehr, Markus and Stich, August}, title = {Fighting Hepatitis B in North Korea: Feasibility of a Bi-modal Prevention Strategy}, series = {Journal of Korean Medical Science}, volume = {30}, journal = {Journal of Korean Medical Science}, doi = {10.3346/jkms.2015.30.11.1584}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-138773}, pages = {1584-1588}, year = {2015}, abstract = {In North Korea, the prevalence of hepatitis B is high due to natural factors, gaps in vaccination, and the lack of antiviral treatment. Aid projects are urgently needed, however impeded by North Korea's political and economical situation and isolation. The feasibility of a joint North Korean and German humanitarian hepatitis B prevention program was assessed. Part 1: Hepatitis B vaccination catch-up campaign. Part 2: Implementation of endoscopic ligation of esophageal varices (EVL) by trainings in Germany and North Korea. By vaccinating 7 million children between 2010 and 2012, the hepatitis B vaccination gap was closed. Coverage of 99.23\% was reached. A total of 11 hepatitis B-induced liver cirrhosis patients (mean age 41.1 yr) with severe esophageal varices and previous bleedings were successfully treated by EVL without major complications. A clinical standard operating procedure, a feedback system and a follow-up plan were developed. The bi-modal preventive strategy was implemented successfully. Parts of the project can serve as an example for other low-income countries, however its general transferability is limited due to the special circumstances in North Korea.}, language = {en} }