Little video-gaming in adolescents can be protective,but too much is associated with increased substance use

Background: Studies have demonstrated inconsistent results regarding the association between video gaming time and substance use in teenagers. Understating intricacies of this association can help with substance use reduction in teenagers. Objectives: This study aimed to untangle this complex relationship by theorizing and examining a U-shaped association. Methods: We analyzed two large samples (n₁ = 7313 [52.5% female] and n₂ = 8079 [51.6% female]) of 8th and 10th graders in the United States. Substance use was operationalized as the sum of self-reported number of lifetime use instances of 14 unprescribed substances. Video game use time (hours per week) was self-reported on a 1 (none) to 9 (40+) scale. Common covariates/risk factors were included. Results: Consistently across datasets, partial-correlation between squared video gaming time and substance use (r?=?.10, p?<?.001 in 2014 and r?=?.08, p?<?.001 in 2015) supported the hypothesized u-shaped association. Analysis of covariance revealed that teenagers playing video games for 1–5?h a week report on significantly fewer instances of substance use compared with non-gamers (p?<?.001–.007). Post hoc analyses revealed that those who play at least 30?h per week report on significantly (p?<?.001) more instances of substance use (3.92 in 2014 and 3.38 in 2015) compared with teenagers playing video games for 1–5?h a week (2.17 in 2015 and 1.96 in 2015). Conclusions: Video gaming time and substance use follow a u-shaped association; light video gaming can be protective in terms of substance use, while too much video gaming is associated with increased substance use.     

Trends and risk factors for mortality in elderly burns patients: A retrospective review

IntroductionThe elderly experience higher mortality rates and poorer outcomes compared to younger burn survivors with similar injuries.MethodsThis epidemiological study reviewed records of all admitted elderly burn patients collected from five burns facilities in Israel between 1997–2016. Collected data was limited to the population aged 20+, focused on the population aged 60+.ResultsMortality rates for elderly patients increased with TBSA and increases with age. Regression analyses demonstrated a decrease in mortality of 2.9% (p = 0.013) per 5 years, an overall decrease of 11.6% over the 20-year study period, with the decline more significant for older age groups. This decrease in mortality was much larger than that observed for all burns patients over this period. The most common cause of injury in the elderly population was fire, with mortality rate highest for this cause. There was no effect of gender on mortality rate. Mortality increased when smoke inhalation was present for TBSA<20%, with mortality unaffected by the presence of smoke inhalation for higher TBSA. The need for surgery correlates with high mortality rates.ConclusionThis study identified key factors that impact mortality and demonstrated a large decrease in mortality in the elderly patients over the study period.     

The Association Between Cannabis Use and Perceived Social Support: the Mediating Role of Decreased Social Network

International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction - In recent years, accumulating evidence has pointed to the possible negative effects of cannabis use in social and interpersonal context. In...     

COL11A2 mutation associated with autosomal recessive Weissenbacher-Zweymuller syndrome: molecular and clinical overlap with otospondylomegaepiphyseal dysplasia (OSMED)

Autosomal recessive Weissenbacher-Zweymuller syndrome (WZS) is a skeletal dysplasia characterized by rhizomelic dwarfism and severe hearing loss. Mutations in the COL11A2 gene have been implicated in causing the autosomal dominant form of this syndrome as well as non-ocular Stickler syndrome and the autosomal recessive syndrome otospondylomegaepiphyseal dysplasia (OSMED). In a consanguineous Bedouin tribe living in Southern Israel, five individuals affected by autosomal recessive WZS were available for genetic analysis. Homozygosity of a mutation in the COL11A2 gene was found in all affected individuals. This finding lends molecular support to the clinical notion that autosomal recessive WZS and OSMED are a single entity.     

Increased glycogen stores due to gamma-AMPK overexpression protects against ischemia and reperfusion damage

During ischemia, endogenous glycogen becomes the principal substrate for energy through glycolysis. Cardiac-specific manipulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) by over-expression of its regulatory gamma-subunit induces glycogen storage. The aim of this study was to examine whether heart glycogen in transgenic mice overexpressing PRKAG2 may protect from ischemia and reperfusion injury. Isolated hearts were mounted on Langendorff apparatus and subjected to 30 min 'no-flow' or 'low-flow' ischemia and 60 min reperfusion. Hemodynamic measurements, tetrazolium staining, glycogen and lactate were used to monitor ischemia reperfusion damage. After low-flow ischemia, left ventricular pressure, coronary flow (CF) and the area of viable myocardium were 20-30% higher in PRKAG2 mice compared to controls. The basal levels of glycogen in PRKAG2 were 9.2 microg/g, markedly higher than in controls, but after low-flow ischemia they declined concomitantly with increased lactate washout in the coronary effluent. During no-flow ischemia there was neither protection nor consumption of glycogen in PRKAG2 hearts. Cardioprotection was also eliminated when PRKAG2 hearts were depleted of glycogen prior to low-flow ischemia. AMPK alpha Thr172 phosphorylation did not differ between PRKAG2 hearts and controls either during low-flow ischemia or reperfusion. We conclude that PRKAG2 hearts resist low-flow ischemia injury better than controls. Improved recovery was associated with increased consumption of glycogen, and was unrelated to AMPK activation. These findings demonstrate the potential of heart protection from ischemia and reperfusion injury through metabolic manipulation increasing the level and utilization of myocardial glycogen.     

Aesthetic considerations for treating the Middle Eastern patient: Thriving in Diversity international roundtable series

Background

The Middle East has a significant influence on the global aesthetic market. Within the United States and globally, patients with Middle Eastern heritage have a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds that affect their perceptions of beauty and motivations to seek cosmetic treatment.

Aims

The aim of this roundtable was to discuss similarities and differences in anatomy and treatment preferences of Middle Eastern patients and explore how these differences may influence aesthetic practices.

Patients/Methods

In support of clinicians who wish to serve a diverse patient population, a 6-part international roundtable series focused on diversity in aesthetics was conducted from August 24, 2021, to May 16, 2022.

Results

The results of the fourth roundtable in the series, the Middle Eastern Patient, are described here. A discussion of treatment preferences is included, and specific procedural information is provided for  commonly treated areas in this population (forehead, infraorbital area, and jawline).

Conclusions

Middle Eastern patients have a variety of aesthetic preferences, which are influenced by a wide range of cultural backgrounds, making it difficult to develop general statements about this demographic. There is an unmet need for research into this diverse group of patients to help physicians understand and incorporate their unique needs and desires into clinical practice.