Socioeconomic status as a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women.

Objectives: Due to the association between COVID-19 and adverse pregnancy outcomes, pregnant women are considered to be a vulnerable patient group. Studies have shown that low socioeconomic status (SES) is a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection. COVID-19 and low SES are likely to have a synergistic adverse effect.

Prepared for Home-Based Telework? The Relation between Telework Experience and Successful Workplace Arrangements for Home-Based Telework During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: This article focuses on the perceived effects of home-based telework during the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to five outcomes (job satisfaction, burnout, work-family conflicts, technostress, and social isolation) and how these are affected by workplace arrangements and telework experience.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey data from employees in the IT, finance, and insurance sector collected during the COVID-19 crisis ( N = 808) were used for the study.

Results: Outcomes are most negatively affected by feelings of surveillance and most positively affected by suitably equipped offices.

Escape or activate? Pathways of work stress on substance use.

Background: Research on the spillover effects of work stress on substance use have mainly focused on the concept of escapist substance.

Objective: Building on the concept of self-endangering work behavior, we expand this stress-theoretic view with a presenteeism path of work-induced substance use. Contrary to emotion-based disengaging coping strategies associated with escapist use, we argue that high job demands may also promote problem-focused engagement coping, where substances are used for activation.

Home-Based Telework and Presenteeism: New Lessons Learned From the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Objective: Previous research found increased sickness presenteeism (working despite sickness) associated with home-based telework. The Covid-19 pandemic offers new insights into mechanisms, as a large proportion of the workforce was forced to work from home, irrespective of organizational and individual predispositions.

Methods: A path analysis based on survey data from a sample of teleworkers collected during the Covid-crisis was performed.

Is it feasible to assess self-reported quality of life in individuals who are deaf and have intellectual disabilities?

Purpose: There is consensus that Quality of Life (QOL) should be obtained through self-reports from people with intellectual Disability (ID). Thus far, there have been no attempts to collect self-reported QOL from people who are deaf and have ID.

Methods: Based on an established short measure for QOL (EUROHIS-QOL), an adapted easy-to-understand sign language interview was developed and applied in a population (n = 61) with severe-to-profound hearing loss and mild-to-profound ID.

Renal glucose metabolism in normal physiological conditions and in diabetes.

The kidney plays an important role in glucose homeostasis via gluconeogenesis, glucose utilization, and glucose reabsorption from the renal glomerular filtrate. After an overnight fast, 20-25% of glucose released into the circulation originates from the kidneys through gluconeogenesis. In this post-absorptive state, the kidneys utilize about 10% of all glucose utilized by the body.

Subjective Estimation of Health Literacy-What Is Measured by the HLS-EU Scale and How Is It Linked to Empowerment?

A recently published study introduced a new instrument (HLS-EU) for the measurement of health literacy (HL) and comparative data at population level for this measure across eight European Union (EU) countries, and revealed significant differences in HL at population level. The HLS-EU instrument consists of items that aim to assess respondents' estimation of difficulties regarding different health-related tasks, and it is therefore a measure of subjective HL. With help of a two-step approach, the present study, which was conducted in Austria, aimed to investigate individual experiences and factors that are associated with high or low values of subjective HL as measured by the HLS-EU scale.

Leaveism and illness-related behaviour.

Background: Recent studies have suggested that leaveism may be a link between sickness absence and sickness presence (attending work despite illness). This paper examines one of the three components of leaveism (utilization of annual leave entitlements or flexi hours instead of sick leave).

Aims: To study whether leaveism provides additional information about employees' well-being not already predicted by sickness absence and sickness presence and to test previously suggested reasons for this behaviour.

Hypoglycemia in Patients with Diabetes and Renal Disease.

This article summarizes our current knowledge of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and morbidity of hypoglycemia in patients with diabetic kidney disease and reviews therapeutic limitations in this situation.

Determinants of presenteeism prevalence and propensity: Two sides of the same coin?

Research on the determinants of sickness presence can be based on employees' number of sickness presence days or employees' propensity to "opt" for presenteeism in case of sickness. This study compares associations between potential determinants and presenteeism in cross-sectional data from a sample of Austrian employees by considering days of sickness absence and presence and an estimator for sickness-presence propensity as outcome variables. The sets of significant determinants for the number of sickness presence days and propensity were found to be overlapping, but not equivalent.

Hypoglycemia, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus.

Hypoglycemia is a major problem associated with substantial morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes and is often a major barrier to achieving optimal glycemic control. Chronic kidney disease not only is an independent risk factor for hypoglycemia but also augments the risk of hypoglycemia that is already present in people with diabetes. This article summarizes our current knowledge of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and morbidity of hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease and reviews therapeutic considerations in this situation.

Sickness presence, sick leave and adjustment latitude.

Objectives: Previous research on the association between adjustment latitude (defined as the opportunity to adjust work efforts in case of illness) and sickness absence and sickness presence has produced inconsistent results. In particular, low adjustment latitude has been identified as both a risk factor and a deterrent of sick leave. The present study uses an alternative analytical strategy with the aim of joining these results together.

Efficacy and safety of lixisenatide in elderly (≥65 years old) and very elderly (≥75 years old) patients with type 2 diabetes: an analysis from the GetGoal phase III programme.

Background: The objective of this article is to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety of lixisenatide (subcutaneous injection) in elderly (≥65 years old) and very elderly (≥75 years old) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: We conducted a phase I, single-centre, open-label study to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of a single lixisenatide 20 µg dose and a pooled analysis of six randomized, placebo-controlled, phase III studies (12-month or 24-month duration) that evaluated glycaemic parameters and safety in patients receiving lixisenatide 20 µg once daily or placebo.

Results: The pharmacokinetics study included 36 healthy subjects, including 18 elderly healthy subjects (≥65 years old) and 18 matched young healthy subjects (18-45 years old).

SGLT2 inhibitors in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

The kidney plays an important role in glucose homeostasis via its production, utilization, and, most importantly, reabsorption of glucose from glomerular filtrate which is largely mediated via the sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2). Pharmacological inhibition of SGLT2 increases urinary glucose excretion and decreases plasma glucose levels in an insulin-independent manner. Agents that inhibit SGLT2 represent a novel class of drugs, which has recently become available for treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Pathogenesis and management of postprandial hyperglycemia: role of incretin-based therapies.

Postprandial plasma glucose concentrations are an important contributor to glycemic control. There is evidence suggesting that postprandial hyperglycemia may be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are antidiabetic agents that predominantly reduce postprandial plasma glucose levels.

Hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia remains a common problem for patients with diabetes and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. This article summarizes our current knowledge of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, risk factors, and complications of hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes and discusses prevention and treatment strategies.

Efficacy and safety of lixisenatide once daily versus exenatide twice daily in type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on metformin: a 24-week, randomized, open-label, active-controlled study (GetGoal-X).

Objective: To compare efficacy and safety of lixisenatide once daily versus exenatide twice daily in type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin.

Research Design And Methods: Adults with diabetes inadequately controlled (HbA1c 7-10%) with metformin were randomized to lixisenatide 20 μg once daily (n=318) or exenatide 10 μg twice daily (n=316) in a 24-week (main period), open-label, parallel-group, multicenter study. The primary objective was a noninferiority assessment of lixisenatide versus exenatide in HbA1c change from baseline to week 24.

Efficacy and safety of the once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist lixisenatide in monotherapy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with type 2 diabetes (GetGoal-Mono).

Objective: To assess efficacy and safety of lixisenatide monotherapy in type 2 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: Randomized, double-blind, 12-week study of 361 patients not on glucose-lowering therapy (HbA(1c) 7-10%) allocated to one of four once-daily subcutaneous dose increase regimens: lixisenatide 2-step (10 μg for 1 week, 15 μg for 1 week, and then 20 μg; n = 120), lixisenatide 1-step (10 μg for 2 weeks and then 20 μg; n = 119), placebo 2-step (n = 61), or placebo 1-step (n = 61) (placebo groups were combined for analyses). Primary end point was HbA(1c) change from baseline to week 12.

Effects of social networks on the quality of life in an elder and middle-aged deaf community sample.

This article endeavors to investigate the role of social networks in contributing to the quality of life of an elder and middle-aged Deaf population. In particular, it poses the question of whether a certain network composition (deaf and hearing network persons) provides positive resources to improve quality of life and attempts to identify moderating and mediating connections between social networks and quality of life. Based on the data collected in a survey of 107 members of the Deaf community aged 45-81 years, it was possible to ascertain the fact that a larger social network is significantly associated with a higher quality of life, but the size of the deaf network is principally decisive.

Effect of hyperthyroidism on clearance and secretion of glucagon in man.

Objective: Glucagon has been proposed to contribute to the increased glucose production found in hyperthyroidism. However, fasting plasma glucagon levels are not increased in hyperthyroidism suggesting that the activity of the α-cell is normal. Nevertheless, an increase in the clearance rate of glucagon may mask increased glucagon secretion.

DPP-4 inhibitors: what may be the clinical differentiators?

Attenuation of the prandial incretin effect, mediated by glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP), contributes to hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Since the launch of sitagliptin in 2006, a compelling body of evidence has accumulated showing that dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, which augment endogenous GLP-1 and GIP levels, represent an important advance in the management of T2DM. Currently, three DPP-4 inhibitors - sitagliptin, vildagliptin and saxagliptin - have been approved in various countries worldwide.

Role of the kidney in normal glucose homeostasis and in the hyperglycaemia of diabetes mellitus: therapeutic implications.

Considerable data have accumulated over the past 20 years, indicating that the human kidney is involved in the regulation of glucose via gluconeogenesis, taking up glucose from the circulation, and by reabsorbing glucose from the glomerular filtrate. In light of the development of glucose-lowering drugs involving inhibition of renal glucose reabsorption, this review summarizes these data. Medline was searched from 1989 to present using the terms 'renal gluconeogenesis', 'renal glucose utilization', 'diabetes mellitus' and 'glucose transporters'.

Type 2 diabetes: postprandial hyperglycemia and increased cardiovascular risk.

Hyperglycemia is a major risk factor for both the microvascular and macrovascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes. This review summarizes the cardiovascular results of large outcomes trials in diabetes and presents new evidence on the role of hyperglycemia, with particular emphasis on postprandial hyperglycemia, in adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. Treatment options, including the new dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 mimetics that primarily target postprandial hyperglycemia, are also discussed.