Lifestyle and Health

In the last years, we conducted research to investigate lifestyle effects on health and wellbeing, especially regarding smoking habits, UV radiation exposure and tanning behavior. The hazards of cigarette smoking and the associated addictive potential are well known nowadays. Especially vital is knowledge on the effectiveness of available smoking cessation programs and the education of particularly socially disadvantaged children to better not start smoking. Besides research endeavors, our department is constantly engaging in targeted knowledge transfer from science to the public by means of lecturing at public health officer trainings, community colleges, public middle schools and the Children University Medicine. The department is a member of the Austrian Council on Smoking and Health and is eligible conducting smoking cessation therapy.

The human skin with all its complex physiological control mechanisms comprises the most important carrier between the body and the environment. Exemplarily, to protect against potential harmful health effects of UV radiation, skin tanning due to pigment production is activated. As tanned skin is still equated with healthfulness and beauty in Western societies, recreational UV light exposure is a common leisure activity. These tanning habits might be responsible for constantly rising skin cancer incidence rates in Austria and in other countries worldwide. So far, little conceptual research has been conducted to elucidate the recreational tanning and sun protective habits among Austrian citizens. To close this knowledge gap, we coined the term Public (Skin) Health for research on the association with lifestyle and skin health. These studies strive at providing practical implications for more effective skin health educative materials and promotion campaigns.

Publications:

Wick N, Haluza D, Gurnhofer E, Raab I, Kasimir MT, Prinz M, Steiner CW, Reinisch C, Howorka A, Giovanoli P, Buchsbaum S, Krieger S, Tschachler E, Petzelbauer P, Kerjaschki D. Lymphatic precollectors contain a novel, specialized subpopulation of podoplanin low, CCL27-expressing lymphatic endothelial cells American Journal Of Pathology 2008; 173(4):1202-9.

Keck M, Haluza D, Lumenta DB, Burjak S, Eisenbock B, Kamolz LP, Frey M.Construction of a multi-layer skin substitute: Simultaneous cultivation of keratinocytes and preadipocytes on a dermal template. Burns. 2011;37(4):626-30

Keck M, Haluza D, Selig HF, Jahl M, Lumenta DB, Kamolz LP, Frey M. Adipose tissue engineering: three different approaches to seed preadipocytes on a collagen-elastin matrix. Ann Plast Surg. 2011;67(5):484-8.

Keck M, Haluza D, Burjak S, Eisenbock B, Kamolz LP, Frey M. Cultivation of keratinocytes and preadipocytes on a collagen-elastin scaffold (Matriderm®): First results of an in vitro study. European Surgery 2009, Volume 41(4), 189-93

Haluza D, Simic S, Höltge J., Cervinka R., Moshammer H. Connectedness to nature and public (Skin) health perspectives: Results of a representative, population-based survey among Austrian residents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2014; 11 (1), 1176-1191

Haluza D, Simic S, Moshammer H. Temporal and spatial melanoma trends in Austria: An ecological study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2014; 11 (1), 734-748

Haluza D., Cervinka R. Public (Skin) Health and the publishing source bias of Austrian information material. Central European Journal of Medicine 2014; 9 (1), 169-176

Haluza D., Cervinka R. Perceived Relevance of Educative Information on Public (Skin) Health: A Cross-sectional Questionnaire Survey 2013; 46(2):82-8.

Haluza D. Sonne ohne Reue! Die Apotheke 2013; 5(1):15-6.

Moshammer H, Simic S, Hadzimustafi J, Weihs P, Wagner J, Haluza D. Melanomrisiko und Klimawandel: Trends und Szenarien. Das Gesundheitswesen 2013; 75(04).

De Oliveira Fontes Gasperin, L., Neuberger, M., Tichy, A., Moshammer, H. Cross-sectional association between cigarette smoking and abdominal obesity among Austrian bank employees. BMJ Open 2014; 4 (7), e004899

Neuberger M., Moshammer H., Haluza D., and Khatib S. (2009). Auf dem Weg zu einem rauchfreien Europa. Clinicum Pneumo 9 (1):14-15.

Neuberger, M., Awender, L., Gasser, M.A., Kammerlander, A., Kirnbauer, V., Lobschat, J., Macinkovic, K., Schwarz, I., Stockmair, V., Wagner, V., Wudy, L. Raucherquoten in Gesundheitsberufen | [Smoking rates in the health professions] Atemwegs- und Lungenkrankheiten 2014; 40 (6), 255-258

Neuberger, M. Tobacco control in Europe. Letter. The Lancet 2013; 382 (9890): 394

Neuberger, M. Raucherquoten in Gesundheitsberufen. Jatros Pulmologie & HNO 2013; 13 (3): 6-8.

Borsoi, L., Leistikow, B., Neuberger, M. Tobacco smoke load and non-lung cancer mortality associations in Austrian and German males. Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift 2010; 122(23-24):698-703

Neuberger, M., Pock, M. Government earnings from cigarette smoking of adolescents in Austria [Einnahmen des Staates aus dem Zigarettenkonsum Minderjähriger in Österreich.]. Wiener klinische Wochenschrift 2009; 121(15-16):510-514

Moshammer H, Neuberger M (2007): Long term success of short smoking cessation seminars supported by occupational health care. Addictive Behaviors 32: 1486–1493

Neuberger M (2007). Vor und bei COPD: Rauchertherapie ist essenziell. Top-Medizin 16 (1) 28-29.

Neuberger M. (2007). Managing smoking cessation. (Letter) BMJ; 335:112,doi:10.1136/bmj.39275.964514.BE

Neuberger M. (2007). Recent recommendations endanger progress of tobacco control. (letter) BMJ 334: s16

Hutter HP, Moshammer H, Neuberger M. Smoking cessation at the workplace: 1 year success of short seminars. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2006 Jan;79(1):42-8.

Neuberger M, Aigner K, Dittrich P, Götz M, Maurer G, Mlczoch J, Oberfeld G, Schulte-Hermann R. Schäden durch Oraltabak. Österr. Ärztezeitung 2004; 8:44-45