Leadership position and physician visits – results of a nationally representative longitudinal study in Germany

Background

So far, studies within the occupational field have largely concentrated on working conditions and job stressors and staff members’ or subordinate health. Only a few have focused on managers in this context, but studies are missing that explicitly look at the relation between leadership position and health care use (HCU). Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the potential effects of a change in leadership position on HCU in women and men longitudinally.

Methods

Data were drawn from a nationally representative longitudinal study in Germany (German Socio-Economic Panel, GSOEP). Data from 2009 and 2013 were used. Leadership position was divided into (i) top management, (ii) middle management, (iii) lower management, and (iv) a highly qualified specialist position. The number of physician visits in the preceding 3 months were used to quantify HCU (n?=?2140 observations in regression analysis; 69% male).

Results

Adjusting for various potential confounders (e.g., age, self-rated health, chronic conditions, and personality factors), Poisson FE regression analysis revealed that changes from a highly qualified specialist position to the top management were associated with a decrease in the number of physician visits in men (β?=?.47, p?<?.05), but not in women. Gender differences (gender x leadership position) were significant.

Conclusions

Findings of this study emphasize the impact of leadership positions on the number of physician visits in men. Further study is required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

     

Mitigation of Oxidation in Therapeutic Antibody Formulations: a Biochemical Efficacy and Safety Evaluation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Acetyl-Tryptophan and L-Methionine

Purpose

Biotherapeutics can be susceptible to oxidation during manufacturing and storage. Free L-methionine is known to protect methionine residues in proteins from oxidation. Similarly, free tryptophan and other indole derivatives have been shown to protect tryptophan residues from oxidation. N-acetyl-DL-tryptophan was previously identified as a potentially superior antioxidant to tryptophan as it has a lower oxidation potential and produces less peroxide upon light exposure. This study sought to confirm the antioxidant efficacy and safety of N-acetyl-DL-tryptophan and L-methionine as formulation components for biotherapeutic drugs.

Methods

Antibodies were subjected to AAPH and light exposure in the presence of N-acetyl-DL-tryptophan and L-methionine. Oxidation in relevant CDR and Fc residues was quantified by peptide map. In silico, in vitro, and in vivo studies were performed to evaluate the safety of N-acetyl-DL-tryptophan and L-methionine.

Results

Peptide mapping demonstrated that N-acetyl-DL-tryptophan was effective at protecting tryptophans from AAPH stress, and that the combination of N-acetyl-DL-tryptophan and L-methionine protected both tryptophan and methionine from AAPH stress. The safety assessment suggested an acceptable safety profile for both excipients.

Conclusions

N-acetyl-tryptophan and L-methionine effectively reduce the oxidation of susceptible tryptophan and methionine residues in antibodies and are safe for use in parenteral biotherapeutic formulations.

     

Loratadine augments emotional blushing

The aim of this study was to determine whether loratadine, a selective inverse agonist of peripheral histamine H₁ receptors, would reduce emotional blushing. Loratadine (10?mg) or placebo was administered orally one hour before 31 healthy participants sang a children's nursery rhyme to evoke embarrassment and blushing. Skin blood flow was monitored via a laser Doppler probe attached to the cheek. Increases in facial blood flow while participants sang were greater in the loratadine than the placebo group (mean increase?±?standard deviation 71?±?52% in the loratadine group versus 35?±?37%, p?=?.036). However, perceptions of blushing were similar in both groups. These findings suggest that loratadine augmented blushing rather than inhibiting it. Thus, histamine released during blushing may inhibit acute increases in facial blood flow by evoking H₁ receptor-mediated vasoconstriction.