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BackgroundThe attention of international agencies and scientific community on bullying and work-related stress is increasing. This study describes the gender differences found in victims of bullying and work-related stress in an Italian case series and analyzes the critical issues in the diagnostic workup.MethodsBetween 2001 and 2009 we examined 345 outpatients (148 males, 197 females; mean age: 41 ± 10.49) for suspected psychopathological work-related problems. Diagnosis of bullying was established using international criteria (ICD-10 and DSM-IV).ResultsAfter interdisciplinary diagnostic evaluation (Occupational Medicine Unit, Psychology and Psychiatry Service), the diagnosis of bullying was formulated in 35 subjects, 12 males and 23 females (2 cases of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and 33 of Adjustment Disorder). Fifty-four (20 males, 34 females) suffered from work-related anxiety, while work-unrelated Adjustment Disorder and other psychiatric disorders were diagnosed in 7 and 112 subjects, respectively. Women between 34 and 45 years showed a high prevalence (65%) of "mobbing syndrome" or other work-related stress disorders.ConclusionsAt work, women are more subject to harassment (for personal aspects related to emotional and relational factors) than men. The knowledge of the phenomenon is an essential requisite to contrast bullying; prevention can be carried out only through effective information and training of workers and employers, who have the legal obligation to preserve the integrity of the mental and physical status of their employees during work.

Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity and its allosteric modulation by purine nucleotides were studied in platelet preparations from 4 patients with a nondominant form of adult-onset olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) and in affected and nonaffected members of two families with a dominant form of OPCA. A partial deficiency of GDH activity (40 to 50% of control values) was present in 3 patients with nondominant OPCA and in 2 patients, father and son, with a dominant form of OPCA. Platelet GDH from these patients and controls was regularly inactivated by 2 mM guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP) and simulated one- to twofold by 2 mM adenosine-5'-diphosphate (ADP). In the presence of 0.2% Triton X-100, the activating effect of ADP was enhanced four- to sixfold. The partial deficiency in maximum catalytic activity observed in these patients persisted under all conditions used for enzyme assay. In affected members, but not in one unaffected member of another family with a dominant type of OPCA, GDH activity was in the control range but was not activated by ADP in either the presence or absence of Triton. These results suggest that there may be at least two possible alterations of GDH in patients with OPCA: one which decreases the maximum catalytic activity and one which impairs the regulatory properties of the enzyme. Furthermore, this study suggests that platelet GDH determination in patients with OPCA may provide a simple and useful tool to classify these disorders and to understand the basic pathophysiological mechanisms involved.

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