Normal physiological differences in long-term cortisol secretion, as assessed in hair, show relevant relationships with MetS and individual cardiometabolic parameters.

No abstract

DNA of human papillomaviruses has frequently been detected in nonmelanoma skin cancers, raising the question of a possible causal contribution of these tumor viruses to skin carcinogenesis. Basal cell carcinomas are the most common nonmelanoma skin cancers; however, so far they are only poorly analyzed with regard to human papillomavirus infection. We searched for human papillomavirus-DNA in 69 biopsies from 61 immunocompetent basal cell carcinoma patients from two geographic locations in Europe using six different polymerase chain reaction primer systems. We could demonstrate human papillomavirus-DNA in 43.5% of the tested tumors. Human papillomavirus positivity did not seem to correlate with the duration of disease or patients' age. The vast majority of virus types in the biopsies belonged to the group of epidermodysplasia verruciformis-associated human papillomavirus. Of 31 sample pairs tested for human papillomavirus-DNA in tumors as well as in perilesional healthy skin, seven carried viral sequences in lesional and healthy skin and three only in the basal cell carcinoma. Six of the seven human papillomavirus-positive basal cell carcinoma/healthy skin pairs contained identical human papillomavirus types in tumors and histologically normal tissue. Forty basal cell carcinoma patients were additionally analyzed for IgG antibodies against virus-like particles of three representative epidermodysplasia verruciformis-human papillomavirus types: 8, 15, and 36. No statistically significant differences could be detected between human papillomavirus antibody prevalences of basal cell carcinoma patients and of dermatologically healthy individuals. Moreover, serologic findings did not correlate with the detection of specific human papillomavirus types in tumors. Our results seem to suggest that the occurrence of human papillomavirus-DNA in basal cell carcinoma does not reflect a major etiologic role of human papillomavirus in this cancer.

The aim of this study was to examine whether job demands and job resources predict depression and anxiety levels among police officers and whether emotional exhaustion plays a mediating role in this relationship. In addition, we tested whether job resources can serve as a protective factor against job-related strain. A total of 843 German police officers completed the questionnaires in an online survey. Results showed that job demands (high workload and assaults by citizens) predicted higher levels of depression and anxiety among police officers, mediated through emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, job resources (social support by colleagues, shared values, and positive leadership climate) buffered the effect of job demands on emotional exhaustion and were negatively associated with depression and anxiety levels. The identification of job demands and job resources that are related to psychological strain among police officers provides important information for interventions in order to promote mental health in the context of police work.

There is increasing evidence for widespread occurrences of infection with Epidermodysplasia verruciformis-related human papillomaviruses, both in the general population and in immunosuppressed patients. In order to test for the prevalence of antibodies directed against the native L1 epitopes exposed on the surface of the virions, we have established an IgG-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with L1 virus-like particles of the Epidermodysplasia verruciformis-specific human papillomavirus 8 as antigen to screen 567 representative serum samples from the general population and immunosuppressed/dermatologic patients. Among healthy European donors (n = 210), 7.6% were found to be seropositive. In a group of renal transplant recipients (n = 185) the antibody prevalence was elevated to 21.1%, irrespective of the presence or absence of skin cancer. High positivity rates could be detected among (i) immunocompetent patients with nonmelanoma skin tumors (45.6%, n = 79) and (ii) Psoralene/UVA treated psoriasis patients (42.9%, n = 42). In contrast, anti-human papillomavirus 8-virus-like particle antibodies were found in only 6.8% of Hodgkin lymphoma patients (n = 44).