Relationships between internet addiction, smartphone addiction, sleep quality, and academic performance among high-school students

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationships between Internet addiction, smartphone addiction, sleep quality, and academic success. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, high-school students were surveyed to evaluate sleep quality, Internet addiction, and smartphone addiction. Students were queried about their demographics, and grade averages from the previous term were taken as an indicator of academic success. RESULTS: A total of 1,959 students were enrolled in this study, with 1,034 (52.8%) girls and 925 (47.2%) boys, and the median age of the participants was 16 (13-21) years. Multivariate analyses found that poor sleep quality in students who did not have breakfast before going to school was 1.58 times higher than those who did (p<0.001). Students who stayed in a dormitory had 1.79 times more poor sleep quality than those who stayed with their family, and a one-unit increase in the total score of the Young's Internet Addiction Test short form resulted in a 1.08-fold increase (both, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that students' sleep quality was predicted to be lower if they stayed in a dormitory and skipped breakfast. In addition, Internet and smartphone addictions have a negative effect on sleep quality and academic performance.

Simplified technique for lateral canthal tendon canthopexy

Purpose: Different techniques for lateral canthal suspension have been used in the management of various eyelid malpositions. We describe a simplified technique for lateral canthal suspension and review its outcome along with a review of existing variations. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 28 eyelids in 22 patients who underwent simplified lateral canthal suspension. Demographics, symptoms at presentation, and associated eyelid malposition were noted. We evaluated the palpebral fissure and margin?reflex distance 2 (MRD2) on the preoperative and final postoperative photographs by using MEEI FACE?gram software. We also reviewed existing literature on different surgical management options for comparison. Results: At three?month postoperative follow?up, presenting symptoms resolved in all cases. The average postoperative decease in palpebral fissure was 0.73 mm (P = 0.018) and the average decrease of the MRD2 was 1.02 mm (P = 0.0003). Recurrence occurred by three months in one eyelid (4%) with ectropion due to moderate eyelid laxity, and this case was managed with tarsal strip procedure. One patient (5%) who had bilateral surgery had asymmetric lower eyelid position and one patient (5%) had persistent edema of the operated eyelid for six months. Conclusion: This simplified canthal suspension is a simple and effective technique that tightens the lateral canthal tendon and improves the lower eyelid position. It can be used in various mild?to?moderate eyelid laxities and has favorable operative characteristics compared with many existing techniques

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum incidence and clinical features in non-intubated patients with COVID-19

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the presentation characteristics and disease course of seven patients with COVID-19 who spontaneously developed pneumomediastinum without a history of mechanical ventilation. METHODS: A total of seven non-intubated patients with COVID-19, of age ranging from 18-67 years, who developed spontaneous pneumomediastinum between 01 April and 01 October 2020 were included in the study. Patients' demographic data, clinical variables, and laboratory values were examined. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum was evaluated using posteroanterior chest radiography and thorax computed tomography. RESULTS: During the research period, 38,492 patients reported to the emergency department of our hospital with COVID-19 symptoms. Of these, spontaneous pneumomediastinum was detected in seven patients who had no previous history of intubation. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2/7) and asthma bronchiale (2/7) were determined as the most common causes of comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the frequency of spontaneous pneumomediastinum developing without pneumothorax was found to be high in non-intubated patients. Whether this is related to the nature of the disease or it is a result of the increase in cases diagnosed incidentally owing to the increasing use of low-dose computed tomography should be explored in further studies.

The comparison of risky and ambiguity decision making and cool executive functions between patients with obsessive compulsive disorder and healthy controls

Abstract Background: Executive functioning has been evaluated in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Cool and hot executive functioning discrimination provided a different way of conceptualising executive functions. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare ambiguity and risky decision-making and cool executive functions in an OCD and a healthy control group. The relationship between decision-making and cool executive functioning was investigated. Methods: Sixty-two OCD patients and 48 healthy control participants were compared. Decision-making was measured using the Iowa Gambling Task. The cool executive functioning was assessed using the Stroop Test and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST). Results: The OCD group completed the WCST and the Stroop Test statistically significantly with a lower score than that of the control group. The OCD group had impaired response inhibition and set-shifting that indicate impaired cool executive functioning. In contrast to a lack of a statistically significant difference, the risky decision-making performance was worse in the OCD group than in the healthy control group and in the unmedicated OCD patients than in the medicated OCD patients. Discussion: The OCD patients had a poorer performance in risky decision-making and cool executive functioning. There was a link between risky decision-making performance and impaired cool executive functions.