Screen viewing, body mass index, cigarette smoking and sleep duration in Belgrade University student population: results of an observational, cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Subjects that spend more time working on computers or watching television could have a higher body mass index. AIM: To assess the relationship between time spent in front of a screen and studying, body mass index (BMI), smoking, and sleep duration among university students. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 734 randomly selected students aged 21 ± 2 years (450 females) that responded an anonymous, structured questionnaire about time spent watching television or in front of a computer, time spent studying, number of daily hours of sleep, smoking habits and number of daily meals. Body mass index was also calculated for all subjects RESULTS: Among males, the number of daily sleep hours, time spent working with computers and number of daily meals were significantly higher and time spent studying was significantly lower than females. Nonsmokers ate a significantly higher number of meals and spent less time watching television. No association was observed between time spent in front of a screen and number of sleep hours of body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: Men and smokers spend more time working in computers. There is no association between body mass index and time spent in front of screens.

Screen viewing, body mass index, cigarette smoking and sleep duration in Belgrade University student population: results of an observational, cross-sectional study / Asociación entre el tiempo dedicado a actividades sedentarias e índice de masa corporal en estudiantes universitarios en Belgrado

Background: Subjects that spend more time working on computers or watching television could have a higher body mass index. Aim: To assess the relationship between time spent in front of a screen and studying, body mass index (BMI), smoking, and sleep duration among university students. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 734 randomly selected students aged 21 ±2 years (450 females) that responded an anonymous, structured questionnaire about time spent watching television or in front of a computer, time spent studying, number of daily hours of sleep, smoking habits and number of daily meals. Body mass index was also calculated for all subjects Results: Among males, the number of daily sleep hours, time spent working with computers and number of daily meals were significantly higher and time spent studying was significantly lower than females. Nonsmokers ate a significantly higher number of meals and spent less time watching television. No association was observed between time spent in front of a screen and number of sleep hours of body mass index. Conclusions: Men and smokers spend more time working in computers. There is no association between body mass index and time spent in front of screens.

Antecedentes: Aquellos individuos que trabajan en computadores o ven televisión por mucho tiempo pudieran tener un índice de masa corporal mayor. Propósito: Evaluar la asociación entre el tiempo ocupado viendo televisión o trabajando en el computador, índice de masa corporal, hábito de fumar y horas diarias de sueño en estudiantes universitarios. Material y Métodos: Se efectuó un estudio transversal de 734 estudiantes elegidos al azar de 21 ±2 años de edad (450 mujeres), que respondieron una encuesta acerca del número de horas que pasaban viendo televisión, trabajando en un computator o estudiando, el número de horas diarias de sueño, hábito tabáquico y número diario de comidas. Además se calculó el índice de masa corporal de los encuestados. Resultados: Los hombres dormían más horas por día, pasaban más tiempo trabajando en computadores o viendo televisión y estudiaban menos horas por día que las mujeres. Los no fumadores comían más comidas por día y permanecían menos horas viendo televisión. No hubo una asociación significativa entre el número de horas enfrente de una pantalla o la cantidad de horas diarias de sueño con el índice de masa corporal. Conclusiones: Los hombres y los fumadores pasan más tiempo viendo televisión o trabajando en computadores. No se observó una relación entre el tiempo que se permanece frente a una pantalla y el índice de masa corporal.

[Delta sleep-inducing peptide and its analogues alleviate the severity of metaphit-induced audiogenic seizures in rats].

INTRODUCTION: We investigated the potential of delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) and its analogue DSIP-12 (a nonapeptide with alanine in position 2 of DISP molecule substituted by beta-alanine) and tetrapeptide analogue DSIP1-4, to antagonize metaphit(1-1 (3-isothiocyanatophenl)-cvyclohexyl piperidine) induced generalized reflex audiogenic seizures in adult male Wistar albino rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five groups of adult male Wistar rats were intraperitoneally treated with: (1) saline; (2) metaphit: (3) metaphit + DSIP, (4) metaphit + DSIPI-4 and (5) metaphit + DSIP-12. To examine the blocking effects of DSIP and its analogues on fully developed metaphit seizures, in the last three groups they were administered 8h after metaphit injection. The rats were stimulated using an electric bell (1003 dB, 5-8 kHz, 60 s) one hour after metaphit injection and afterwards at hourly intervals during the experiment. For EEG recordings and power spectra three gold-plated screws were implanted into the skull. RESULTS: In metaphit-treated animals EEGs appeared as polyspikes and spike-wave complexes, while power spectra were increasing. The incidence and severity of netaphit-induced audiogenic seizures reached a peak value at 7-12 h after injection. Both DSIP and DSIP analogues significantly increased power spectra of delta waves and decreased the incidence of seizures, as well as mean seizure grade and tonic component of metaphit-induced convulsions. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results suggest that DSIP and its analogues should be considered as potential antiepileptic agents.