•S-allyl-l-cysteine and isoliquiritigenin improved mitochondrial membrane potential.•Isoliquiritigenin enhanced the cell viability in a cell model of nitrosative stress.•Isoliquiritigenin increased the ATP level in a cell model of nitrosative stress.Oxidative and nitrosative stress resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction are an early event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key transcription factor and regulator of the cellular response to oxidative stress. Thus known Nrf2 activators from food materials were tested for improvement of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and ATP level in neuronal pheochromocytoma cell (PC12) models of oxidative and nitrosative stress. The effects of rotenone and sodium nitroprusside (complex inhibitors of the respiratory chain) on mitochondrial function were also studied. Furthermore, Nrf2 activators were tested in human embryonic kidney cells bearing the Swedish mutation of amyloid precursor protein (APPsw HEK cells) as a cellular model of familial AD. Preincubation with S-allyl-l-cysteine and isoliquiritigenin increased MMP in both PC12 cell models in a similar range as the positive control l-sulforaphane. None of the test compounds, however, improved MMP and ATP level in APPsw HEK cells.

Aufgrund weltweit steigender Erkrankungszahlen kommt der Prävention des Typ-2-Diabetes eine besondere Bedeutung zu. Trotz zahlreicher Studien hierzu existiert bislang kein flächendeckendes Präventionsprogramm. Aufbauend auf Leitlinienempfehlungen wurde daher das Präventionsprogramm GLICEMIA entwickelt. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war dessen Evaluation mit Schwerpunkt auf dem Risikoerfassungsinstrument FINDRISK.Das Programm umfasst 8 Einheiten innerhalb 1 Jahr (3 individuelle Beratungen, 5 Gruppenschulungen) und wurde in Apotheken umgesetzt. Die Evaluation erfolgte im Rahmen einer Cluster-randomisierten kontrollierten Interventionsstudie. Die Kontrollgruppe stellten Personen dar, welche eine schriftliche Standardinformation erhielten und deren Parameter zu 3 Zeitpunkten erhoben wurden.Insgesamt konnten die Daten von 1092 Probanden, welche in 40 Apotheken teilnahmen, analysiert werden. Durch die Teilnahme an GLICEMIA konnte die Interventionsgruppe ihr Diabetesrisiko gemäß FINDRISK-Gesamtpunktzahl im Vergleich zur Kontrollgruppe statistisch signifikant reduzieren (adjustierte Effektgröße: −0,74 Punkte; 95 %–Konfidenzintervall: −1,04 bis −0,42 Punkte). Dies war auf Verbesserungen bei den beeinflussbaren Risikofaktoren Taillenumfang, Bewegung, ballaststoffreiche Ernährung und Body-Mass-Index zurückzuführen.Mit der Evaluation des Präventionsprogramms GLICEMIA wurde erstmals eine groß angelegte Diabetespräventionsstudie in öffentlichen Apotheken umgesetzt. Hierbei konnte eine signifikante Reduktion des Diabetesrisikos gemäß FINDRISK-Gesamtpunktzahl festgestellt werden. Trotz der Limitation, dass es sich hierbei um ein Selbstberichtsverfahren handelt, erwies sich der Fragebogen für die niedrigschwellige Umsetzung der Diabetesprävention als geeignetes Instrument.Register klinischer Studien: Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien DRKS00006585Due to the worldwide increase in the number of people with diabetes, the prevention of type 2 diabetes is of major importance. Despite many studies addressing this issue, comprehensive prevention programs are still lacking; therefore, the prevention program GLICEMIA was developed in accordance with guideline recommendations. The aim of the study was the evaluation of the program GLICEMIA with emphasis on the risk score FINDRISK.The program consisted of 8 interventional sessions within 12 months (3 individual counseling sessions and 5 group-based sessions) and was conducted in community pharmacies. The evaluation was carried out within the framework of a cluster randomized controlled trial. The control group took part in three assessments and received written standard information.In total, the data of 1092 participants from 40 community pharmacies were analyzed. During the participation in the prevention program GLICEMIA the risk for type 2 diabetes in the intervention group showed a statistically significant reduction compared with the control group according to the FINDRISK score (adjusted effect size −0.74 points, 95 % confidence interval −1.04 points to −0.42 points). The risk reduction was attributed to improvements in the risk factors waist circumference, physical activity, high-fiber diet and body mass index.The evaluation of the GLICEMIA program was the first large-scale diabetes prevention study in community pharmacies. As a result, a significant reduction in the risk for type 2 diabetes according to the FINDRISK score was determined. Despite the limitation of being a self-reporting procedure, the questionnaire is a suitable tool for this low-threshold prevention program.Clinical trial register: German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00006585

Regular keratinocyte differentiation is crucial for the formation of an intact epidermal barrier and is triggered by extracellular calcium. Disturbances of epidermal barrier formation and aberrant keratinocyte differentiation are involved in the pathophysiology of several skin diseases, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, basal and squamous skin cancer, and genetic skin diseases such as Darier’s disease and Olmstedt syndrome. In this review, we summarize current knowledge about the underlying molecular mechanisms of calcium-induced differentiation in keratinocytes.We provide an overview of calcium’s genomic and non-genomic mechanisms to induce differentiation and discuss the calcium gradient in the epidermis, giving rise to cornified skin and lipid envelope formation.We focus on the calcium-sensing receptor, transient receptor potential channels, and STIM/Orai as the major constituents of calcium sensing and calcium entry in the keratinocytes. Finally, skin diseases linked to impaired differentiation will be discussed, paying special attention to disturbed TRP channel expression and TRP channel mutations.