Self-perception of body weight among high school students in Taipei, Taiwan

Self-perception of body weight and other weight-related factors were assessed among 2665 Taipei, Taiwan high school students. A high percent of the girls (70.7%) and boys (42.2%) reported that they were too fat and these percentages were much higher than those reported by U.S. students in a recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey. In addition, only 13.2% of girls and 22.0% of boys reported being completely satisfied with their weight and the level of dissatisfaction with weight appeared to be greater than among U.S. students. Yet, in comparison to U.S. students, the Taiwanese students were considerably less likely than their U.S. counterparts to engage in weight management practices (e.g., dieting, eating less food, using diet pills). Taiwanese students with a self-perception of being too fat were more likely than those with perceptions of being just right or too thin to engage in weight management practices, to be dissatisfied with their weight, feel that they were unattractive, estimate that their same-sex peers were trying to lose weight, and have a higher body mass index. The findings from this study showed a relationship between self-perception of body size and engaging in weight control behaviors was consistent with other research. It suggested that self-perception of body weight, more so than objective weight status, was predictive of weight loss behavior and also negative psychological outcomes associated with poor body weight image. As a result, self-perception of weight may be an important point of focus for the design and implementation of clinical and public health initiatives targeted at this adolescent population as well as others.     

The Construction and Evaluation of Executive Attention Training to Improve Selective Attention,Focused Attention,and Divided Attention for Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectivesTo examine the immediate and long-term effects of executive attention training on selective attention, focused attention, and divided attention in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.MethodsA double-blind, multisite randomized controlled trial at five sites. Seventy participants (mean age: 78.19 ± 7.22 years) were assigned to an experimental group (executive attention training, n = 35) or an active control group (n = 35). The training duration was the same for both groups (45 minutes per session, 3 times per week, 18 sessions in total). Primary outcome measure was selective attention (Digit Span Task). Secondary outcome measures included focused attention (Stroop Color Word Test) and divided attention (Trail-Making Test Part B). Data were collected at pretest, post-test, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up.ResultsIn GEE analysis, findings indicated a significant improvement in selective attention at post-test, whereas divided attention showed significant reducing omission error at 3-month follow-up. There was no significant effect of group in focused attention associated with the executive attention training compared with active control group.ConclusionThe executive attention training significantly improved selective attention and divided attention performance. Future studies should identify transfer effects of attention training, and that can employ early screening to provide integrated attention training, and decrease its relevant risks on competency in performing daily activities, such as falling and driving.     

The role of adjuvant radiotherapy in stage I endometrial cancer: A single-institution outcome

ObjectivePostoperative radiotherapy for early endometrial cancer has been investigated in several randomized trials. These trials demonstrate that it reduces loco-regional recurrence, but has no impact on overall survival. The aims of this study were to better understand the role of adjuvant radiotherapy and determine predictors for loco-regional recurrence or development of distant metastasis.Materials and methodsA retrospective medical records review was performed on patients with surgical stage I endometrial cancer treated at Taipei Veterans General Hospital between 2006 and 2013. Multivariable analysis was conducted using Cox regression for prognostic predictors.ResultsA total of 337 patients were identified. The estimated five-year overall survival and loco-regional recurrence-free survival were 96.3% and 97.9% in the non-radiotherapy group, and 91.6% and 97.1% in the radiotherapy group (p = 0.06 overall survival, p = 0.956 loco-regional recurrence-free survival). Multivariable analysis revealed that elevated preoperative serum Cancer Antigen 125 (CA-125) level (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.54), age older than 60 years old (HR = 3.34), and depth of myometrial invasion > 50% (HR = 3.37) were significant factors in overall survival. Elevated preoperative CA-125 level (HR = 5.37), age older than 60 years (HR = 6.57), positive lymphovascular space invasion (HR = 50.20), and adjuvant radiotherapy (HR = 0.05) were independent predictors of loco-regional recurrence-free survival. For distant metastasis, deep myometrial invasion was a significant risk factor.ConclusionsPostoperative radiotherapy delivery is an independent predictor for loco-regional recurrence-free survival but has no impact on overall survival in this population. Preoperative CA-125 level is a risk factor for loco-regional recurrence, and deep myometrial invasion was correlated with distant metastasis.     

Urban–rural differences in parental Internet mediation and adolescents’ Internet risks in Taiwan

With the development of electronic technology and forms of communication such as the Internet, it has become increasing difficult for parents to identify and mitigate the new risks to which their adolescent children are exposed. In this article, we compare the ways parents and adolescents living in urban areas use the Internet with those of their counterparts who live in rural areas. We based this comparison on data obtained from a survey of Internet use in Taiwan in 2013. The survey included 1079 junior high school students and 688 parents who lived in urban areas and 838 students and 729 parents who lived in rural areas. We found that parents living in rural areas had lower levels of Internet skills and intervened less in their children’s use of the Internet when compared with parents living in urban areas. We also found that, compared with their urban counterparts, adolescents who live in rural areas have lower levels of Internet literacy but a higher frequency of Internet use and they also engage in riskier online behaviours such as online game playing, from which they more often report harmful effects such as the theft of passwords or money. Our multivariate analysis of the data showed that increased levels of adolescents’ online gaming time and lower levels of parental restrictive mediation were associated with higher levels of harm such as the theft of passwords and money stolen online. We also found that lower levels of adolescents’ Internet literacy and lower levels of parental monitoring activity were associated with increases in adolescents’ cyberbullying victimisation. Overall, we found a clear difference between rural and urban parents and adolescents with both rural parents and their children being less experienced and knowledgeable of the risks associated with use of the Internet. Rural children are exposed to more risk and experience more harm.     

Type-specific human papillomavirus DNA testing with the genotyping array: a comparison of cervical and vaginal sampling

Objective

To compare the detection and typing of human papillomavirus (HPV) between vaginal and cervical specimens by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based reverse-blot genotyping arrays.

Study design

Two hundred and fifty-two women were referred to colposcopy clinics because of suspicious or positive results in a community-based cervical cancer-screening program. Genital tract cells were sampled from the cervix and self-collected from the vagina and tested with the HPV Blot kit.

Results

The HPV Blot kit identified HPV infection in 24.7% of vaginal specimens and in 30.2% of cervical collections. Cervical sampling detected significantly more infections compared to vaginal sampling only for HPV type 52; cervical sampling also detected significantly more high-risk HPV infection overall. The sensitivities of detecting histology ≥cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 3 using the HPV Blot in vaginal and cervical specimens were 75.0% (95% CI, 47.6-92.7%) and 87.5% (95% CI, 61.6-98.4%), respectively (P = 0.48). Both sampling methods were thus statistically effective at detecting high-grade lesions and cervical cancer (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

The HPV Blot yielded similar results for both vaginal sampling and cervical sampling in the detection of CIN grade 3 or worse. These findings indicate that self-sampling for HPV testing is a viable cervical cancer screening option.     

Predictors of the initiation and persistence of Internet addiction among adolescents in Taiwan

Purpose

The present study examined the psychosocial factors associated with the initiation and persistence of Internet addiction among adolescents in Taiwan.

Methods

A total of 2315 students from 26 high schools were assessed in the 10th grade, with follow-up performed in the 11th grade, in Taipei, Taiwan. Self-administered questionnaires were collected in each year to assess the pattern of changes in Internet addiction and psychosocial factors.

Results

Of the 1602 students without an Internet addiction in the 10th grade, 253 (15.8%) had initiated Internet addiction by grade 11. Multivariate analysis results indicated that greater engagement in online activities (i.e., social network website use, online gaming), depression, and lower school bonding in grade 10 coupled with an increase in online activities, depression, and smoking from grades 10 to 11 predicted the initiation of Internet addiction. Of the 605 students with Internet addiction in the 10th grade, the addiction had persisted for 383 students (63.3%) in grade 11. An increase in the existence of depression and alcohol use from grades 10 to 11 predicted the persistence of Internet addiction.

Conclusions

Online activities, depression, and substance use were important predictors of youth initiation and of the persistence of Internet addiction.