Workplace bullying and violence as risk factors for type 2 diabetes: a multicohort study and meta-analysis

Aims/hypothesis

The aim of this multicohort study was to examine whether employees exposed to social stressors at work, such as workplace bullying and violence, have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Methods

The study included 45,905 men and women (40–65 years of age and free of diabetes at baseline) from four studies in Sweden, Denmark and Finland. Workplace bullying and violence were self-reported at baseline. Incident diabetes was ascertained through national health and medication records and death registers. Marginal structural Cox models adjusted for age, sex, country of birth, marital status and educational level were used for the analyses.

Results

Nine per cent of the population reported being bullied at work and 12% were exposed to workplace violence or threats of violence. Bullied participants had a 1.46 (95% CI 1.23, 1.74) times higher risk of developing diabetes compared with non-bullied participants. Exposure to violence or threats of violence was also associated with a higher risk of diabetes (HR 1.26 [95% CI 1.02, 1.56]). The risk estimates attenuated slightly when taking BMI into account, especially for bullying. The results were similar for men and women, and were consistent across cohorts.

Conclusions/interpretation

We found a higher risk of incident type 2 diabetes among employees exposed to bullying or violence in the workplace. Further research is needed to determine whether policies to reduce bullying and violence at work may reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes in working populations. Research on the mechanisms is also highly warranted.

     

Cubic Iron Core–Shell Nanoparticles Functionalized to Obtain High-Performance MRI Contrast Agents

Nanoparticles with SiO 2 coating were synthesized to have a cubic iron core. These were found to have saturation magnetization very close to the highest possible value of any iron-containing nanoparticles and the bulk iron saturation magnetization. The in vitro toxicology studies show that they are highly biocompatible and possess better MRI contrast agent potential than iron oxide NPs.     

Somatic symptoms as a marker for severity in adolescent depression

Aim: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of somatic symptoms in depressed adolescents and in their healthy peers. A second aim is to investigate the correlation, in the depressed adolescents, between the number of somatic symptoms and severe concurrent symptoms, signs and life events. Methods: The total population of 16–17 year olds – in the city of Uppsala – was screened for depression and then interviewed using a structured interview questionnaire. Depressed subjects and matched controls were identified. A total of 177 pairs were used for pair‐wise analyses of somatic symptoms. Severe symptoms, signs and life events were selected for analysing their relation to depression with somatic symptoms. Results: The adolescents with depressive disorders experienced considerably more somatic symptoms than their healthy controls. The duration and depth of the depression correlated with the number of somatic symptoms. There was a strong correlation between depression with many somatic symptoms and suicidal plans/thoughts, suicidal attempts, disruptive behaviour, as well as multiple stressful relationships. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that somatic symptoms are common in adolescent depression. Multiple somatic symptoms within depression imply a higher severity in terms of duration, depth and psychiatric comorbidity. The strong correlation with suicidal plans, suicidal attempts and disruptive behaviour is concerning.     

On the interactions between atmospheric radicals and cloud droplets: a molecular picture of the interface

How gas-phase materials become incorporated with cloud droplets has been an intriguing subject for decades, and considerable work has been done to understand the interactions between closed-shell molecules and liquid water. The interactions between open-shell radical species and liquid-phase cloud droplets, however, are not well understood. To probe these interactions we used quantum chemistry calculations to predict the energetics of the hydroperoxy radical (HO2) in the presence of an (H2O)20 spherical water cage. Our calculations show that it is energetically favorable for the radical to bind to the outside of the cage. This configuration has the hydrogen and the terminal oxygen of the radical as its primary bonding sites. Free-energy calculations suggest that, at atmospheric conditions, there will be a partitioning between HO2 radicals that are surface-bound and HO2 radicals that dissolve into the bulk. This may have important ramifications for our understanding of radical chemistry and may lend insight into the role that clouds and aerosols play in atmospheric chemical processes.     

Molecular epidemiology of Staphylococcus epidermidis in neonatal intensive care units

Late‐onset sepsis (LOS) in preterm neonates is increasingly reported to be associated with gut‐colonizing Staphylococcus epidermidis. We aimed to describe the molecular epidemiology of S. epidermidis colonizing the gut of neonates hospitalized in two neonatal intensive care units. S. epidermidis from rectal swabs were typed by multilocus variable‐number tandem‐repeat analysis (MLVA), randomly chosen isolates of predominant MLVA types additionally by multilocus sequence typing. Antimicrobial susceptibility, the presence of icaA, IS256, arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME), agr type, and SCCmec type were determined. Of 276 neonates (38.4%), 106 were colonized with S. epidermidis, yielding a total of 139 isolates (62 in one unit and 77 in another unit). Of the 55 MLVA types identified, the five predominant detected in both units corresponded to sequence type (ST) 2, ST5, and ST59 or its single locus variant ST81 and formed three major MLVA clonal complexes accounting for 74.8% of all isolates. Overall, the prevalence of mecA, icaA, IS256, and ACME was 91.4%, 28.1%, 64%, and 77%, respectively. Of the mecA‐positive isolates (n = 127), 43.9% carried SCCmec type IV. Of eight episodes of LOS, four were caused by ST2 and two by ST5. Preventing gut colonization with nosocomial epidemic S. epidermidis in hospitalized neonates could contribute to the prevention of LOS.     

The relationship between serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphism and serum lipid levels at young age in a longitudinal population-representative study

The serotonin transporter gene promoter region polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) has been linked to psychiatric disorders, mostly anxiety and affective disorders. In elderly populations 5-HTTLPR polymorphism has also been reported to be associated with serum lipid levels. We have examined the interaction of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and the markers of lipid metabolism at young age in a longitudinal, population-representative cohort study. The sample of the Estonian Children Personality Behaviour and Health Study (initially cohorts of 9 and 15 year old children, complete lipid and genotype data for n = 1176) was examined throughout 10 years. Subjects were genotyped and the levels of low-density lipoproteins, high-density lipoproteins, triglycerides, and total cholesterol were measured. Children and adolescents carrying the s allele of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism had lower levels of low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol. At the age of 25, the s allele carriers had higher levels of high-density lipoproteins. These associations were independent of gender. Thus the 5-HTTLPR can be associated with the serum lipid levels and in particular low-density lipoproteins already in a young age.     

Room for improvement in breast milk feeding after very preterm birth in Europe: Results from the EPICE cohort

Breast milk feeding (BMF) is associated with lower neonatal morbidity in the very preterm infant (<32 weeks gestation) and breastfeeding is beneficial for maternal health. Previous studies show large variations in BMF after very preterm birth and recognize the need for targeted breastfeeding support in the neonatal intensive care units (NICU). In a European collaboration project about evidence‐based practices after very preterm birth, we examined the association between maternal, obstetric, and infant clinical factors; neonatal and maternal care unit policies; and BMF at discharge from the NICU. In multivariable analyses, covariates associated with feeding at discharge were first investigated as predictors of any BMF and in further analysis as predictors of exclusive or partial BMF. Overall, 58% (3,826/6,592) of the infants received any BMF at discharge, but there were large variations between regions (range 36–80%). Primiparity, administration of antenatal corticosteroids, first enteral feed <24 hr after birth, and mother's own milk at first enteral feed were predictors positively associated with any BMF at discharge. Vaginal delivery, singleton birth, and receiving mother's own milk at first enteral feed were associated with exclusive BMF at discharge. Units with a Baby Friendly Hospital accreditation improved any BMF at discharge; units with protocols for BMF and units using donor milk had higher rates of exclusive BMF at discharge. This study suggests that there is a high potential for improving BMF through policies and support in the NICU.