Alcohol Use Habits Research Articles

W143 - Habitual Use of Tobacco and Alcohol on Tendency of Depression and Anxiety Evidence From 27,942 Taiwan Biobank Participants

W143 - Habitual Use of Tobacco and Alcohol on Tendency of Depression and Anxiety Evidence From 27,942 Taiwan Biobank Participants

Osteoporosis and its associated factors among patients attending Manakamana Hospital, Chitwan, Nepal.

Osteoporosis is the most common skeletal disorder that weakens bones and increases their susceptibility to fractures. It is becoming an urgent and serious global epidemic. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with it. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of osteoporosis among patients attending at Manakamana Hospital, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal. A cross-sectional study was adopted and 623 patients attending at orthopaedic outpatients department (OPD) of Manakamana Hospital were selected using non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Data were collected from 15th October 2021 to 15th April, 2022, by using interview schedule, chart review and Bone Mineral Density (BMD) measurement through calcaneal ultrasonography. Ethical approval was obtained from Nepal Health Research Council Ethical Review Board prior to study procedures. Obtained data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Association between the variables were measured using chi-square test. The mean age of the patients was 43.5 (±14.26) years. Nearly half (44%, n = 274) were middle aged adults, 59.7% were female and 56.0% were involved in agriculture and household chores. Nearly half of the patients (45.7%) were overweight/ obese, 7.9% were smokers and 13.5% had habit of alcohol use. Osteopenia or low bone density was detected in 58.9% patients and 19.4% had osteoporosis. The prevalence of osteoporosis was significantly associated with age group (p = <0.001) and educational status (p = 0.013) of the patients. Osteoporosis and osteopenia are prevalent in patients attending in the hospital. Hence, awareness, early screening, and treatment are necessary for the hospital attended patients to enhance their health and, minimize the risk of osteoporosis and the consequences associated with it.

Effect of Pb-exposure and B vitamin deficiencies on δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity among workers from Pb recycling plants.

Previous studies reported that Pb exposure causes a negative association with delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity (δ-ALAD), but the impact of Pb exposure (dose and time), B vitamin deficiencies, and lifestyle factors needs to be explored. In this study, the impact of Pb exposure, B vitamin deficiencies, and lifestyle factors on δ-ALAD activity among workers exposed to Pb from the Pb-recycling process was evaluated. Blood lead levels (BLLs), B vitamins (B6, B9, and B12), hematological factors (Hb% and HCT), lifestyle factors, and δ-ALAD activity was assessed in 170 male Pb-exposed workers engaged in the Pb recycling process. BLLs are estimated using the ICP-OES method. B vitamins in serum samples from workers were determined using the ELISA method. The δ-ALAD activity in whole blood samples was determined using the spectrophotometer method. The lifestyle factors were collected using a standard questionnaire. The δ-ALAD activity was significantly decreased in workers with the habits of alcohol use, tobacco consumption, hematocrit < 41%, mild and moderate categories of anemia, vitamin B6 and B12 deficiency, and BLL categories of 10-30, 30-50, and > 50µg/dL. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the independent variables of alcohol consumption (β = -0.170; P = 0.025), BLLs (β = -0.589; P = 0.001) and Hb% (β = 0.183; P = 0.001) significantly influenced the δ-ALAD activity with 44.2% (R2 = 0.442). Among the workers exposed to Pb from the Pb recycling plant, δ-ALAD activity was considerably reduced by Pb exposure, B vitamin deficiency, hematological parameters, and lifestyle factors.

Asian flush gene variant increases mild cognitive impairment risk: a cross-sectional study of the Yoshinogari Brain MRI Checkup Cohort.

The East Asian-specific genetic diversity, the rs671 variant of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2, causes the "Asian flush" phenomenon following alcohol consumption, resulting in an alcohol avoidance phenotype. The variant is suggested as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease; however, its association with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an effective target for secondary prevention of dementia, remains unclear. This cross-sectional study examined 430 individuals aged 60-80 years (251 women) without overt cognitive impairment in Yoshinogari, Japan. The effect of the rs671 variant on MCI, defined by scores <26 or <25 on the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, was evaluated using multivariate logistic regression. The models included APOEε4, sex, age, education, history of habitual drinking, Brinkman index, hypertension, diabetes, and subclinical magnetic resonance imaging findings and consistently estimated the risk of the rs671 variant. Subsequently, stratified analyses by history of habitual drinking were performed based on an interactive effect between rs671 and alcohol consumption, and the rs671 variant significantly influenced MCI in participants who did not drink habitually, with odds ratios ranging from 1.9 to 2.1 before and after adjusting for covariates, suggesting an association independent of hippocampal atrophy and small vessel dysfunction. Conversely, no such association with the rs671 variant was observed in participants with a history of habitual alcohol use. Instead, hippocampal atrophy and silent infarcts were associated with MCI. This is the first study to demonstrate an association between the rs671 variant and MCI morbidity. The findings highlight the need for race-specific preventive strategies and suggest potential unrecognized mechanisms in dementia development.

Habit-, reward- and fear-related motivations in alcohol use disorder: A one-year prospective study

ObjectiveCross-sectional studies show that habitual use of alcohol is associated with severity of alcohol dependence reflected across a range of domains and lower number of detoxifications in multiple settings. In this study, we investigated whether alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients with greater habitual use of alcohol at baseline showed worse outcomes after one year of follow-up. MethodsA sample of inpatients with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) alcohol use disorder (AUD) was assessed at baseline (n = 50) and after one year (n = 30). The Habit, Reward, and Fear Scale (HRFS) was employed to quantify affective (fear or reward) and non-affective (habitual) drives for alcohol use, the Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS) was used to assess clinical outcomes, and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) was used to quantify and control for associated affective symptoms. ResultsThere was a significant reduction in the three HRFS scores at the follow-up. Regression analyses demonstrated that greater habit- and fear-related drives at baseline predicted greater decreases in the ADS scores at the endpoint. However, after controlling for age, sex and affective symptoms, only reward and fear were associated with reductions in ADS scores at the end of one year. Prescriptions of naltrexone and antidepressants/benzodiazepines did not predict decreases in reward and fear-related motivations. ConclusionAlthough we were unable to confirm that habitual subscores at baseline predict worse long-term outcomes among inpatients with AUD, we found that a greater fear and reward motives for the use of alcohol predicted a greater magnitude of improvement in the AUD symptoms after one year. We hope that these findings will help develop new approaches toward AUD treatment and inform models of addiction research.

Eating healthy under work stress: A gene stress interaction model.

Some employees tend to eat less healthy food when under work stress, while others tend to maintain a healthy diet. The factors underlying these different dietary choices are not yet clear. Individual differences in people's reactions to environmental stress may help explain this phenomenon. This study proposed a Gene × Stress interaction model of dietary choice, suggesting that different dietary choices under stress may be related to DRD2 genes, which moderate the reward circuitry and have been associated with habitual use of alcohol, obesity, and eating behaviors. 12,269 employees completed genotyping of their saliva samples and questionnaires on work stress, healthy dietary intentions, and healthy dietary behaviors. Nonlinear multiple regressions were used to test the hypothesized interaction of DRD2 genes and work stress on healthy dietary intentions and healthy dietary behaviors. Individuals with higher work stress reported lower healthy dietary intentions, whereas healthy dietary behaviors exhibited an inverted U shape. DRD2 genes significantly moderated this relationship, and the above relationship was only detected among C allele carriers, whereas for the AA genotype, work stress was not associated with healthy dietary intentions or behaviors. Healthy dietary intentions and healthy dietary behaviors showed different patterns of association with work stress. The DRD2 genes helped explain the individual differences in dietary choice under work stress. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Michele Rotunda. A Drunkard’s Defense: Alcohol, Murder, and Medical Jurisprudence in Nineteenth-Century America.

Michele Rotunda’s A Drunkard’s Defense explores alcohol-related defenses in nineteenth century homicide trials in the United States. Since the success of such defenses relied on “a blend of legal, medical, and popular perceptions” of the effects of intoxication, Rotunda focuses on medical and legal treatises, journal articles, and judicial decisions, and contextualizes them in reformist and popular culture (91). A Drunkard’s Defense traces the emergence and uneven success of the defense that alcohol use lessened an individual’s responsibility for lethal violence. Until the 1820s, the claim of drunkenness was almost never considered a factor mitigating crime since becoming drunk was considered a voluntary act. The early nineteenth century saw the movement toward recognition that the habitual use of alcohol might be involuntary and that alcohol’s effects were more complex and less predictable than had earlier been thought. The first significant cases in which alcohol-related defenses succeeded, in the 1820s, were actually claims that the perpetrator was in the throes of delirium tremens: a temporary derangement while sober that had been induced by previous heavy drinking. Unlike intoxication, the drinker had not sought and anticipated delirium tremens. While many juries were unconvinced by the increasing consensus among medical authorities that delirium tremens was a legitimate and exculpatory form of insanity, by the 1830s that defense had gained some traction.

17.1 Habitual Heavy Alcohol Drinking in Healthy Adults Is Associated With Reduced Circadian Photoreceptor Responsivity to Light

Habitual alcohol consumption and circadian timing are connected. Studies have found that heavy alcohol use is associated with eveningness. Only 2 studies have assessed dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) in the context of habitual alcohol use, and both reported that a shorter DLMO-midsleep interval was associated with heavier alcohol use. A gap in this research is the potential impact of alcohol use on the circadian photoreceptor and the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, which influence circadian timing.

Changes in the proportion of anemia among young women after the Great East Japan Earthquake: the Fukushima health management survey

This study aimed to evaluate the sequential changes in the proportion of anemia among young women over eight years after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 using a prospective study of the Fukushima Health Management Survey. This study focused on the women aged between 20 and 44 who lived in the evacuation area of the nuclear power plant accident. The yearly age-adjusted proportion of anemia was accessed with data between July 2011 and March 2019. A total of 9,198 women participated in the health checkup in 2011, albeit the participation was decreased to 1,241 in 2018. The age-adjusted proportion of anemia was 16.7% in 2012 and then declined after 2013 (p with Cochran-Armitage trend test = 0.03). The multivariate regression analysis identified < 23 kg/m2 of body mass index (BMI), no history of smoking, and no habitual alcohol use as independent baseline characteristics predictive of temporality anemic condition after the disaster (Adjusted odds ratios [95% confidence interval]; 1.98 [1.43–2.74], 1.85 [1.21–2.83], and 1.42 [1.07–1.90], respectively). Thus, women with low BMI and healthier habits might risk temporarily anemic status after the disaster. Our findings signal the importance of preventing anemia in young women after the disaster.

0212 Habitual Heavy Alcohol Drinking in Healthy Adults is Associated With Reduced Circadian Photoreceptor Responsivity to Light

Abstract Introduction Habitual alcohol consumption and circadian timing are interconnected. Numerous studies have reported that heavy alcohol use is associated with eveningness. Only two studies have assessed the dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) in the context of habitual alcohol use, and both reported a shorter DLMO-midsleep interval was associated with heavier alcohol consumption. A gap in this research is the potential impact of alcohol use on the primary circadian photoreceptor, the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), which influence circadian timing. This study aimed to compare sleep, circadian timing, and photoreceptor responsivity between light and heavy alcohol drinkers. Methods Participants were healthy (average age 27 years) and included 28 light (average 2.6 drinks/week) and 50 heavy (average 17.9 drinks/week) drinkers. They participated in an 8-day study protocol: 1 week of adlib sleep monitored with wrist actigraphy, followed by a 9-hour laboratory session with a photoreceptor responsivity (post-illumination pupil response, PIPR) and circadian phase assessment. Participants passed a breathalyzer test at the start of the laboratory session. Results Both drinking groups were good sleepers with minimal mood disturbance. Consistent with earlier studies, the heavy drinkers had more eveningness (p=0.029), and a trend for a shorter DLMO-midsleep interval (p=0.059) as compared to the light drinkers. The PIPR in the heavy drinkers was significantly smaller than in the light drinkers (p=0.006), suggesting reduced circadian photoreceptor responsivity in the heavy drinkers. In the light drinkers, a larger PIPR in the evening, reflecting greater sensitivity to phase-delaying light, was significantly associated with a later DLMO (r=0.42, p=0.028). However, this relationship was absent in the heavy drinkers (r=-0.07, p=0.68). Conclusion The findings replicate previous work examining the relationship between chronotype, DLMO, and habitual alcohol consumption. For the first time, circadian photoreceptor responsivity was examined, and found to be significantly reduced in heavy alcohol drinkers as compared to light alcohol drinkers. This finding is consistent with prior rodent studies that found reduced phase shifts to light with acute or chronic alcohol consumption, and suggests that habitual heavy alcohol use may impair the circadian response to light in humans. Support (If Any) Grant awarded from NIAAA R01 AA023839.

Mean Corpuscular Volume as a Prognostic Factor for Patients With Habitual Alcohol or Tobacco Use After Esophagectomy.

BackgroundThe goal of this study was to investigate the impact of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who underwent surgical resection.MethodsA total of 615 patients with ESCC who underwent esophagectomy were analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the standard MCV: the high MCV group (>100 fl) and the low MCV group (≤100 fl). Survival analyses were performed to calculate overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) and investigate the independent prognostic factors.ResultsFifty-one patients (8.3%) were in the high MCV group, and the other 564 patients (91.7%) were defined as the low MCV group. MCV was significantly correlated with sex, habitual alcohol or tobacco use, tumor length, body mass index, and multiple primary malignancies (P < 0.05). Elevated MCV was significantly correlated with poor survival in univariate and multivariate analyses. However, in subgroup analyses, MCV was found to be correlated with survival only in patients with alcohol or tobacco consumption and not in patients without alcohol or tobacco consumption.ConclusionsPretreatment MCV was correlated with survival in ESCC patients after esophagectomy. However, its prognostic value might only exist in patients with alcohol or tobacco consumption.

Short-term ambient particulate air pollution exposure, microRNAs, blood pressure and lung function

Ambient particulate air pollution is a risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory disease, yet the biological mechanisms underlying this association are not well understood. The current study aimed to investigate the mediation role of microRNAs on the association between personal PM2.5 exposure and blood pressure and lung function. One hundred and twenty adults (60 truck drivers and 60 office workers) aged 18–46 years were assessed on the June 15, 2008 and at follow-up (1- to 2-weeks later). MicroRNAs were extracted from the peripheral blood samples. Compared to truck drivers, there is a significant increase in FEF25-75, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC and a decrease in PM2.5 in office workers (all p < 0.05). According to the Bonferroni corrected threshold p-value < 6.81 × 10−5 (0.05/734) used, personal PM2.5 data showed a significant positive association with miR-644 after the adjustment for age, BMI, smoking status, and habitual alcohol use. The mediation effect of miR-644 on the association between personal PM2.5 exposure and FEF25-75 [B (95%CI) = −1.342 (−2.810, −0.113)], PEF [B (95%CI) = -1.793 (−3.926, −0.195)], and FEV1/FVC [B (95%CI) = −0.119‰ (−0.224‰, −0.026‰)] was significant only for truck drivers after the adjustment for covariates. There were no similar associations with blood pressure. These results demonstrate microRNAs to potentially mediate association of PM2.5 with lung function. Subsequent studies are needed to further elucidate the potential mechanisms of action by which the mediation effect of microRNAs is achieved with this process.

111 CLINICAL IMPORTANCE OF MEAN CORPUSCULAR VOLUME AS A PROGNOSTIC MARKER AFTER ESOPHAGECTOMY FOR ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

Abstract High MCV is suggested to be relevant to the incidence and prognosis of several malignancies. However, few studies investigating the correlation between MCV and survival outcome of esophageal cancer have been conducted. Methods This study included 570 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent radical esophagectomy between April 2005 and December 2017. Patients were divided into two groups according to the standard value of pretreatment MCV: normal (83–99 fL) and high (&amp;gt;99 fL) groups. Clinical backgrounds, short-term outcomes, and prognostic outcomes post-esophagectomy were retrospectively compared between the groups. Results Of all patients, 410 (71.9%) had normal MCV, and 160 (28.1%) had high MCV. High MCV was significantly associated with lower body mass index, higher frequency of habitual alcohol and tobacco use, and higher incidence of multiple primary malignancies other than esophageal cancer. High MCV also correlated with higher incidence of postoperative morbidity of the Clavien–Dindo classification ≥II and pulmonary morbidity. Overall survival was significantly worse in patients with high MCV. Multivariate analysis suggested that high MCV was an independent risk factor for worse survival outcome (hazard ratio, 1.54; 95% confidence interval, 1.098–2.151; p = 0.012). Conclusion Patients with high MCV have various disadvantages in clinical background that can adversely affect both short-term and long-term outcomes after esophagectomy. MCV can become a predictive marker to estimate survival outcome after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Alcohol in long-term care homes: A qualitative investigation with residents, relatives, care workers and managers.

Introduction:Western societies are aging rapidly, and habitual use of alcohol is changing among older adults. Hence, care facilities are facing novel challenges regarding alcohol use. This pioneering qualitative study seeks to investigate the role of alcohol in care homes, as seen from the perspectives of residents, care workers, relatives, and institution management simultaneously.Method:Five residents, four care workers, three relatives, and two care home managers participated in semi-structured interviews lasting 60 minutes maximum. An interpretative phenomenological analysis framework were utilised for the analysis.Results:It seems that there is a positive attitude towards the use of alcohol in care homes across the four groups of participants. They find that the use of alcohol is presently low among the residents. Importantly there appears to be an important symbolic value in the rituals surrounding alcohol which is upheld by all four groups.Conclusion:While experiences between the four groups seem to converge regarding the use of alcohol, there are still some important differences. Importantly, we suggest that these unique views be utilised in developing methods for handling alcohol use in care homes in the future.

Polygenic Panels Predicting the Susceptibility of Multiple Upper Aerodigestive Tract Cancer in Oral Cancer Patients.

Head and neck cancer was closely related with habitual use of cigarette and alcohol. Those cancer patients are susceptible to develop multiple primary tumors (MPTs). In this study, we utilized the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) array (Affymetrix Axion Genome-Wide TWB 2.0 Array Plate) to investigate patients’ risks of developing multiple primary cancers. We recruited 712 male head and neck cancer patients between Mar 1996 and Feb 2017. Two hundred and eighty-six patients (40.2%) had MPTs and 426 (59.8%) had single cancer. Four hundred and twelve normal controls were also recruited. A list of seventeen factors was extracted and ten factors were demonstrated to increase the risks of multiple primary cancers (alcohol drinking, rs118169127, rs149089400, rs76367287, rs61401220, rs141057871, rs7129229, older age, rs3760265, rs9554264; all were p value < 0.05). Polygenic scoring model was built and the area under curve to predict the risk developing MPTs is 0.906. Alcohol drinking, among the seventeen factors, was the most important risk factor to develop MPT in upper aerodigestive tract (OR: 7.071, 95% C.I.: 2.134–23.434). For those with high score in polygenic model, routine screening of upper digestive tract including laryngoscope and esophagoscope is suggested to detect new primaries early.

Serving a Rehabilitative Goal

In a series of decisions issued during his last two years on the bench, Judge Jack B. Weinstein of the Eastern District of New York set out a new vision for the imposition and termination of federal supervised release. Specifically, beginning with his decision in U.S. v. Trotter in 2018, he focused on imposing shorter terms, terminating supervised release early, and vowed not to return people to prison for supervised release violations caused by habitual alcohol or marijuana use. This article examines Judge Weinstein’s jurisprudence on supervised release and looks at the impact of his new vision. After reviewing Judge Weinstein’s pre-Trotter supervised release cases, it examines the Trotter case and his subsequent supervised release decisions. The article concludes by reviewing the impact of these decisions on the imposition of supervised release in the Eastern District as well as the wider federal criminal legal system.

Association of habitual alcohol use on risk-taking behaviors while using a car: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2013

BackgroundUsing the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Korean revised version (AUDIT-KR), we examined the association between habitual alcohol use and risk-taking behaviors among car users. MethodsWe used the data of 15,043 car users aged 20 years or older from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) conducted between 2009 and 2013. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the associations between alcohol use and risk-taking behaviors (i.e., driving under the influence of alcohol, riding in a car being driven under the influence, not wearing a seat belt while driving, not wearing a seat belt in the passenger seat), while adjusting for individual-level covariates. ResultsCompared to low-risk drinkers, high-risk drinkers (adjusted odds ratio [Adj.OR] 2.18, 95 % CI 1.96–2.42) and intermediate-risk drinkers (Adj.OR 1.39, 95 % CI 1.26–1.54) had higher odds of risk-taking behaviors while using a car. Stratifying by sociodemographic variables (i.e., sex, age, and region) led to differences in the relationship between alcohol-drinking level and risk-taking behaviors. Furthermore, alcohol-drinking level had significant positive associations with most of risk-taking behaviors, especially driving under the influence of alcohol and using a car with a drunken driver. ConclusionCar users with high levels of alcohol consumption are more likely to be involved in risk-taking behaviors, especially in driving under the influence of alcohol. While causal relations cannot be established due to the nature of the cross-sectional design, it is possible that individuals’ habitual alcohol consumption level can influence their risk-taking behaviors while using a car.

Nivel de actividad física, consumo habitual de tabaco y alcohol, y su relación con la calidad de vida en adolescentes españoles (Physical activity level, tobacco and alcohol habitual consumption, and its relationship with quality of life in Spanish adol

&#x0D; El consumo habitual de tabaco y alcohol entre los adolescentes, así como el sedentarismo constituyen un problema de salud pública y una epidemia pediátrica. La calidad de vida es un indicador del estado general de salud autopercibido. El objetivo fue analizar la relación entre actividad física, consumo de tabaco, alcohol y calidad de vida mediante una metodología observacional, seleccionando de manera aleatoria 1037 adolescentes españoles de 14-17 años de edad (15.52 ± 1.11 años). Los instrumentos empleados fueron el International Physical Activity Questionaire (actividad física), el Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (tabaco), el Cuestionario sobre hábitos de consumo de alcohol en adolescentes (alcohol) y el Cuestionario de Salud SF-36 (calidad de vida). Se exploraron las relaciones bi-variantes mediante tablas de contingencia, seguido de un análisis de regresión logística binaria. Los resultados sugieren que la actividad física (p &lt; .001) es la variable que mejor predice la calidad de vida percibida por los varones siendo también relevante el consumo de tabaco (p &lt; .05). En las mujeres, tanto el consumo de tabaco (p &lt; .001) como el consumo de alcohol (p &lt; .001), se muestran como las variables que mejor predicen la calidad de vida percibida, siendo en menor medida relevante la asociación entre actividad física y calidad de vida (p &lt; .05). La promoción de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud depende de la creación de ambientes educacionales integrales donde la actividad física forme parte de un estilo de vida saludable. &#x0D; Abstract. Habitual tobacco and alcohol use among adolescents, as well as sedentary lifestyle, are a public health problem and a pediatric epidemic. Quality of life is an indicator of overall self-perceived health status. The objective was to analyze the relationship between physical activity, tobacco consumption, alcohol and quality of life using an observational methodology, randomly selecting 1037 Spanish adolescents aged 14-17 years old (15.52 ± 1.11 years old). Instruments used were the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (physical activity), the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (tobacco), the Questionnaire on alcohol consumption habits in adolescents (alcohol), and the Health Questionnaire SF-36 (quality of life). Bi-variant relationships were explored using contingency tables, followed by binary logistic regression analysis. Results suggest that physical activity (p &lt;.001) is the variable that best predicts quality of life perceived by boys, tobacco use being also relevant (p &lt;.05). In girls, both tobacco consumption (p &lt;.001) and alcohol consumption (p &lt;.001) are shown as the variables that best predict their perceived quality of life, but the association between physical activity and quality of life is less relevant (p &lt;.05). The promotion of health-related quality of life depends on the creation of comprehensive educational environments where physical activity is part of a healthy lifestyle.

Clinical Importance of Mean Corpuscular Volume as a Prognostic Marker After Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

To elucidate the clinical value of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) for prognostic prediction in patients with esophageal cancer who underwent radical esophagectomy. High MCV is suggested to be relevant to the incidence and prognosis of several malignancies. However, few studies investigating the correlation between MCV and survival outcome of esophageal cancer have been conducted. This study included 570 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent radical esophagectomy between April, 2005 and December, 2017. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the standard value of pretreatment MCV: normal (83-99 fL) and high (>99 fL) groups. Clinical backgrounds, short-term outcomes, and prognostic outcomes postesophagectomy were retrospectively compared between the groups. Of all patients, 410 (71.9%) had normal MCV, and 160 (28.1%) had high MCV. High MCV was significantly associated with lower body mass index, higher frequency of habitual alcohol and tobacco use, and higher incidence of multiple primary malignancies other than esophageal cancer. High MCV also correlated with higher incidence of postoperative morbidity of the Clavien-Dindo classification ≥II and pulmonary morbidity. Overall survival was significantly worse in patients with high MCV. Multivariate analysis suggested that high MCV was an independent risk factor for worse survival outcome (hazard ratio 1.54, 95% confidence interval 1.098-2.151, P = 0.012). Patients with high MCV have various disadvantages in clinical background that can adversely affect both short-term and long-term outcomes after esophagectomy. MCV can become a predictive marker to estimate survival outcome after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Patterns of Problem Behaviors and Predictors of Class Membership among Adolescents in the Republic of Korea: A Latent Class Analysis

Although subgroups of adolescent problem behaviors (PBs) may exist and have different characteristics, most available studies have focused on exploring a single PB. Thus, we aimed to investigate latent classes of adolescent PBs and to identify important predictors of latent class membership. We analyzed nationally representative secondary data—Waves 4 and 5 of the Korean Children & Youth Panel Survey—obtained from the 2010 cohort of seventh graders and their parents. Specifically, using seven PBs (e.g., daily smoking, monthly drinking, and sexual intercourse) measured in Wave 5, we conducted a latent class analysis (LCA) to identify the model that best fit the data. In the next step, we conducted an LCA with covariates to investigate Wave-4 predictors of latent class membership. In our study, a three-latent-class model best fit the data: the Low Risk class (78%) characterized by low probabilities of engagement in all PBs, Non-Habitual Alcohol Use class (14%), and Habitual Cigarette and Alcohol Use class (7%). In addition, successful predictors of latent class membership included gender, parental education, friendships, relationships with teachers, parental affection, abuse inflicted by parents, and aggression. Health professionals should develop interventions tailored to each homogeneous subgroups of PBs in order to obtain more effective outcomes. Additionally, when developing these interventions, they should consider multilevel characteristics (e.g., individual, peer, and parental factors) that differentiate these subgroups.