Ocular Surface Microbial Flora and Photorefractive Keratectomy.

Purpose: To assess the influence of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) on ocular surface microbial flora. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on patients who underwent PRK. The samples were taken from the inferior conjunctival fornix using a sterile swab, immediately before surgery, and then within three months following the PRK. The samples were tested using three culture mediums including blood agar, chocolate agar, and eosin methylene blue agar. Results: Thirty-five eyes of 35 patients including 19 females (54.3%) with a mean age of 24 ± 3.2 years were enrolled. The culture-positive rate was 15/35 eyes (42.9%) preoperative and 17/35 (48.6%) postoperative samples (P=0.47). The most common microorganisms isolated from preoperative samples were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) spp. in 14 (40%) samples, followed by Streptococcus spp. in 2 (5.7%), and Staphylococcus aureus in one (2.9%). Postoperative microorganisms isolated from conjunctival samples were CoNS spp. in 15 (42.9%), Streptococcus spp. in 3 (8.6%), and Staphylococcus aureus in one (2.9%), and Corynebacterium spp. in one (2.9%). Conclusion: This study indicated that there is not any remarkable difference in microorganisms isolated from conjunctival samples three months after PRK.

The association of sleep and late-night cell phone use among adolescents / Associação entre o sono e o uso noturno de celular entre adolescentes

Abstract Objective: This study aims to assess the relationship of late-night cell phone use with sleep duration and quality in a sample of Iranian adolescents. Methods: The study population consisted of 2400 adolescents, aged 12-18 years, living in Isfahan, Iran. Age, body mass index, sleep duration, cell phone use after 9 p.m., and physical activity were documented. For sleep assessment, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire was used. Results: The participation rate was 90.4% (n = 2257 adolescents). The mean (SD) age of participants was 15.44 (1.55) years; 1270 participants reported to use cell phone after 9 p.m. Overall, 56.1% of girls and 38.9% of boys reported poor quality sleep, respectively. Wake-up time was 8:17 a.m. (2.33), among late-night cell phone users and 8:03 a.m. (2.11) among non-users. Most (52%) late-night cell phone users had poor sleep quality. Sedentary participants had higher sleep latency than their peers. Adjusted binary and multinomial logistic regression models showed that late-night cell users were 1.39 times more likely to have a poor sleep quality than non-users (p-value < 0.001). Conclusion: Late-night cell phone use by adolescents was associated with poorer sleep quality. Participants who were physically active had better sleep quality and quantity. As part of healthy lifestyle recommendations, avoidance of late-night cell phone use should be encouraged in adolescents.

Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar a relação entre o uso de celular à noite e a duração e a qualidade do sono em uma amostra de adolescentes iranianos. Métodos: A população estudada consistiu em 2.400 adolescentes, entre 12 e 18 anos, que residem em Isfahan, Irã. Foram documentados a idade, o índice de massa corporal, a duração do sono, o uso de celular após as 21h e prática de atividade física. Para avaliação do sono, usamos o Índice de Qualidade do Sono de Pittsburgh (PSQI). Resultados: A taxa de participação foi de 90,4% (n = 2.257). A idade média (DP) foi de 15,44 ± (1,55) anos; 1.270 relataram o uso do celular após as 21h. Em geral, 56,1% das meninas e 38,9% dos meninos relataram sono de má qualidade, respectivamente. Os indivíduos que usaram celular à noite acordaram às 8h17 (2,33) e os que não usaram acordaram às 8h03 (2,11). A maior parte (52%) dos usuários de celular à noite apresentou má qualidade de sono. Aqueles sem algum tipo de atividade física apresentaram maior latência do sono do que seus pares. Os modelos ajustados de regressão logística binária e multinomial mostraram que os usuários de celular à noite foram 1,39 vez mais propensos a ter má qualidade do sono do que seus pares (p < 0,001). Conclusão: O uso de celular à noite por adolescentes foi associado a pior qualidade do sono. Os participantes fisicamente ativos apresentaram melhor qualidade e maior tempo de sono. Como parte das recomendações de estilo de vida saudável, os adolescentes devem ser incentivados a evitar o uso de celular à noite.

The association of sleep and late-night cell phone use among adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the relationship of late-night cell phone use with sleep duration and quality in a sample of Iranian adolescents. METHODS: The study population consisted of 2400 adolescents, aged 12-18 years, living in Isfahan, Iran. Age, body mass index, sleep duration, cell phone use after 9p.m., and physical activity were documented. For sleep assessment, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire was used. RESULTS: The participation rate was 90.4% (n=2257 adolescents). The mean (SD) age of participants was 15.44 (1.55) years; 1270 participants reported to use cell phone after 9p.m. Overall, 56.1% of girls and 38.9% of boys reported poor quality sleep, respectively. Wake-up time was 8:17 a.m. (2.33), among late-night cell phone users and 8:03a.m. (2.11) among non-users. Most (52%) late-night cell phone users had poor sleep quality. Sedentary participants had higher sleep latency than their peers. Adjusted binary and multinomial logistic regression models showed that late-night cell users were 1.39 times more likely to have a poor sleep quality than non-users (p-value<0.001). CONCLUSION: Late-night cell phone use by adolescents was associated with poorer sleep quality. Participants who were physically active had better sleep quality and quantity. As part of healthy lifestyle recommendations, avoidance of late-night cell phone use should be encouraged in adolescents.