Patterns of teachers' responses to school bullying and their associations with training, self-efficacy, and age: A moderated mediation model.

Bullying remains a pervasive issue in educational settings worldwide. This study examined the effect of teacher training and self-efficacy on teachers' responses to school bullying with the moderating effect of age. Drawing on data from 585 Taiwanese primary and secondary school teachers, the study revealed six distinct response patterns to bullying among Taiwanese teachers. The results underscore the critical role of self-efficacy in enabling proactive responses to bullying, highlighting that training programs that boost teachers' self-efficacy can be effective across different age groups. Furthermore, the research points to the necessity of differentiated training approaches that consider teachers' age to enhance responses of mediating involvers. This study contributes to the broader discourse on bullying prevention, emphasizing the importance of teacher training and the need for further research into the nuanced relationships between teacher characteristics, self-efficacy, and intervention strategies in diverse cultural settings.

Incorporating Tumor Genomic Profiling and Circulating Tumor Cell-derived Organoids into Clinical Practice for Gastrointestinal Cancers.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Precision medicine aims to revolutionize healthcare by tailoring treatment regimens. This study aimed to integrate comprehensive tumor genomic profiling (CTGP) by targeted-gene panel sequencing and drug screening by circulating tumor cell-derived organoids (CTOs) into clinical practice for the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine patients with various GI cancers underwent CTGP and CTO drug sensitivity testing. CTGP results guided targeted therapy and immunotherapy, while CTO drug sensitivity predicted response to chemotherapy and targeted agents. The drug recommendations from two platforms were correlated with the treatment response to the suggested medications retrospectively. RESULTS: Five patients received therapies aligned with CTGP, including HER2-targeted treatment, immunotherapy, and BRAF/MEK dual inhibition, showing positive responses. CTO drug sensitivity predicted progression under regorafenib (low potential benefit) and good response to chemotherapy with high potential benefit. The combination of CTGP and CTO drug sensitivity may exhibit significant correlation with clinical outcomes during treatment with candidate drugs, demonstrating a sensitivity of 79% and an accuracy of 75%. This encompasses various treatment modalities, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. CONCLUSION: The present investigation elucidated the integration of CTGP and CTO drug sensitivity screening into clinical practice in a complementary manner, showcasing a significant correlation between treatment response and testing outcomes. Additional prospective evaluation of these two testing modalities in a large cohort is warranted to confirm whether the inclusion of CTO drug sensitivity screening confers enhanced survival benefits compared to utilizing CTGP alone.

Paclitaxel-Ifosfamide-based Therapy as Salvage Treatment in Platinum-resistant Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Treatment options are limited, and the prognosis is poor for patients with platinum-resistant recurrent metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a paclitaxel and ifosfamide (TI) regimen in patients with R/M HNSCC whose disease had progressed following platinum-based therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, we included 53 patients with R/M HNSCC who underwent at least one cycle of TI-based therapy, post platinum failure, between February 2020 and August 2023. Some patients received the TI regimen in combination with immunotherapy and/or cetuximab. Key metrics assessed included the objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate, and progression-free as well as overall survival. RESULTS: The study observed an ORR of 15.8% and a disease control rate of 36.8%. The median progression-free survival for the entire cohort was 3.3 months, and the median overall survival was 9.6 months. Notably, the combination of TI with immunotherapy yielded a higher ORR of 30.8%, compared to 14.3% with TI alone. The most prevalent grade 1-2 adverse events were anemia (81%), weight loss (68%) and hypernatremia (55%). CONCLUSION: The TI-based regimen demonstrated favorable efficacy and safety profile in treating R/M HNSCC. Enhanced outcomes may be attainable when combining it with immunotherapy. This study suggests that TI-based therapy could serve as a potential salvage option for this specific patient group.

The Efficacy and Safety of Gefapixant in a Phase 3b Trial of Patients with Recent-Onset Chronic Cough.

PURPOSE: We evaluated gefapixant, a P2X3 receptor antagonist, in participants with recent-onset (≤ 12 months) refractory chronic cough (RCC) or unexplained chronic cough (UCC). METHODS: Participants (≥ 18 years of age; ≥ 40 mm on a 100-mm cough severity visual analog scale [VAS] at screening and randomization) with chronic cough for < 12 months were enrolled in this phase 3b, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, multicenter study (NCT04193202). Participants were randomized 1:1 to gefapixant 45 mg BID or placebo for 12 weeks with a 2-week follow-up. The primary efficacy endpoint was change from baseline at Week 12 in Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) total score. Adverse events were monitored and evaluated. RESULTS: There were 415 participants randomized and treated (mean age 52.5 years; median [range] duration 7.5 [1-12] months): 209 received placebo and 206 received gefapixant 45 mg BID. A statistically significant treatment difference of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.06, 1.44; p = 0.034) for gefapixant vs. placebo was observed for change from baseline in LCQ total score at Week 12. The most common AE was dysgeusia (32% gefapixant vs. 3% placebo participants); serious AEs were rare (1.5% gefapixant vs. 1.9% placebo participants). CONCLUSION: Gefapixant 45 mg BID demonstrated significantly greater improvement in cough-specific health status from baseline compared to placebo, in participants with recent-onset chronic cough. The most common AEs were related to taste and serious AEs were rare.

The association of trastuzumab with atrial fibrillation and heart failure in breast cancer patients in routine clinical practice: a population-based propensity score matching and competing risk model analysis.

PURPOSE: Trastuzumab, a potent anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) monoclonal antibody, is conditionally reimbursed by the Taiwan National Health Insurance (NHI) for HER2-positive breast cancer (BC). Trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity studies have well characterized heart failure (HF) but fewer addressed arrhythmia, particularly the association of potential life threatening atrial fibrillation (Af) is poorly characterized. We aimed to study the trastuzumab-related risk of Af and HF using the claimed data of Taiwan NHI. METHODS: A nationwide retrospective cohort of patients with BC from the Taiwan NHI reimbursement database from January 2007 to December 2016 was analyzed. Propensity score matching and competing risk model analysis were used for adjusting confounding concurrent medication or comorbidities and competing events. The HF study was used to validate the method used. RESULTS: For Af, 12,472 trastuzumab users were matched with 12,472 non-trastuzumab users. For HF, 12,241 trastuzumab users and 12,241 non-users were enrolled. We found that trastuzumab users had significantly worse HF-free survival but not Af-free survival than non-trastuzumab users. In the competing risk analysis, the use of trastuzumab did not increase the risk of Af (hazard ratio [HR] 0.76, P = 0.0006) but was associated with HF (HR 1.19, P = 0.0052). The risk trends among stratifications by comorbidities and concurrent medication remained in similar directions for both Af and HF. CONCLUSION: Trastuzumab in real-world practice was associated with an increased risk of HF, but was not associated with an increased risk of Af in BC patients. Trastuzumab-induced arrhythmogenic effects may be masked by concurrent heart-protecting measures, more prominent roles of comorbidities or concurrent medications under real-world settings. Further studies are required.

Associations of sleep problems with non-physical bullying perpetration and victimization among adolescents: A cross-lagged panel study.

OBJECTIVE: The current study attempted to explore the possible temporal direction of the relationship between sleep problems and non-physical bullying perpetration as well as non-physical bullying victimization among adolescents. DESIGN: The study used a longitudinal panel survey design with a 6-month interval. SETTING: A cluster random sampling method was conducted to recruit students from junior high schools in Northern Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: Eight hundred twenty-two students (46.6% were boys) completed a survey at 2 waves. MEASUREMENT: Adolescents reported their sleep problems, non-physical bullying perpetration, and non-physical bullying victimization in both waves. RESULTS: The results from cross-lagged panel models revealed that sleep problems at time 1 significantly predicted non-physical bullying victimization at time 2, but not in the opposite direction. In addition, non-physical bullying perpetration at time 1 significantly predicted sleep problems at time 2, but not in the opposite direction. No significant differences emerged between male and female adolescents in the cross-lagged model of sleep problems with non-physical bullying perpetration and non-physical bullying victimization. CONCLUSION: This study advances the literature by revealing that sleep problems may be a consequence, not a precursor, of adolescent non-physical bullying perpetration and a precursor, not a consequence, of non-physical bullying victimization. Intervention programs aimed at preventing adolescents from being non-physically bullied may consider improving their sleep quality. Reducing adolescents' non-physical bullying perpetration may also improve sleep quality along the way.

Associations of Cardiometabolic Multimorbidity With All-Cause and Coronary Heart Disease Mortality Among Black Adults in the Jackson Heart Study.

Importance: A combination of diabetes, coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke has multiplicative all-cause mortality risk compared with any individual morbidity in White populations, but there is a lack of studies in Black populations in the US. Objective: To examine the association of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (diabetes, stroke, and CHD) individually and collectively with all-cause and CHD mortality. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study included Black adults in the Jackson Heart Study followed over a median of 15 years. Baseline examinations were performed between 2000 and 2004, with follow-up on all-cause and CHD mortality through May 31, 2018. Participants were categorized into mutually exclusive groups at baseline: (1) free of cardiometabolic morbidity, (2) diabetes, (3) CHD, (4) stroke, (5) diabetes and stroke, (6) CHD and stroke, (7) diabetes and CHD, and (8) diabetes, stroke, and CHD. Data were analyzed from 2019 to 2021. Exposure: Cardiometabolic disease alone or in combination. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcomes were all-cause mortality and CHD mortality. Cox models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs adjusted for sociodemographic and cardiovascular risk factors. Results: Among 5064 participants (mean [SD] age, 55.4 [12.8] years; 3200 [63%] women) in the Jackson Heart Study, 897 (18%) had diabetes, 192 (4%) had CHD, and 104 (2%) had a history of stroke. Among participants with cardiometabolic morbidities, the crude all-cause mortality rates were lowest for diabetes alone (24.4 deaths per 1000 person-years) and highest for diabetes, CHD, and stroke combined (84.1 deaths per 1000 person-years). For people with only 1 cardiometabolic morbidity, risk for all-cause mortality was highest for people with stroke (HR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.24-2.42), followed by CHD (HR, 1.59 (95% CI, 1.22-2.08) and diabetes (HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.22-1.85), compared with no cardiometabolic morbidities. There were also increased risks of mortality with combinations of diabetes and stroke (HR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.09-2.68), CHD and stroke (HR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.35-3.69), and diabetes and CHD (HR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.65-3.15). The combination of diabetes, stroke, and CHD was associated with the highest all-cause mortality (HR, 3.68; 95% CI, 1.96-6.93). Findings were similar for CHD mortality, but with a larger magnitude of association (eg, diabetes, stroke, and CHD: HR, 13.52; 95% CI, 3.38-54.12). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, an increasing number of cardiometabolic multimorbidities was associated with a multiplicative increase in risk of all-cause mortality among Black adults, with a greater magnitude of association for CHD mortality.

Quasi-experimental design for using an interactive social media intervention program to improve truck drivers' health beliefs and eating behaviors.

BACKGROUND: Truck drivers have difficulties participating in health education programs delivered at a fixed time and place due to the mobility of their workplace. Interventions conducted via social media can overcome these limitations of time and place. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a nutrition education intervention program delivered via a social media platform on the healthy eating behaviors of truck drivers. METHODS: This study adopted a quasi-experimental design. A 12-week intervention program was conducted for a social-media group (n = 125) and a conventional-teaching group (n = 117) from February to May 2020. The social-media group participated in a social-media-based health intervention on the LINE application. The intervention involved the provision of online messages, online instant responses, a picture-based food log, an audio e-book, and a loyalty e-card. The conventional-teaching group participated in a healthy diet course and a hygiene education manual. The generalized estimation equation (GEE) was applied to evaluate the intervention effects on the outcome measures derived from the Health Belief Model. RESULTS: The results of the GEE showed the social-media-based intervention strategies significantly decreased perceived barriers of consuming a healthy diet (p = < 0.001), increased willingness to follow cues of action (p = 0.036), improved the self-efficacy of healthy eating behaviors (p = 0.001), and increased the score of healthy eating behaviors (p < 0.001) compared with the conventional teaching strategies. For the social-media and conventional-teaching groups, no significant changes occurred in self-perceived health status, self-perceived susceptibility, or self-perceived severity after the intervention. More than 90% of the participants in the social-media group believed the social-media-based intervention strategies could help implement and maintain healthy eating behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate social-media-based intervention strategies can facilitate approaching a population without a fixed workplace, such as truck drivers. Health promoters and planners focusing on occupational health can consider developing social-media-based intervention strategies for improving truck drivers' health status.

A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Botulinum Toxin Treatment Combined with Robot-Assisted Therapy, Mirror Therapy, or Active Control Treatment in Patients with Spasticity Following Stroke.

Effects of the combined task-oriented trainings with botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injection on improving motor functions and reducing spasticity remains unclear. This study aims to investigate effects of 3 task-oriented trainings (robot-assisted therapy (RT), mirror therapy (MT), and active control treatment (AC)) in patients with stroke after BoNT-A injection. Thirty-seven patients with chronic spastic hemiplegic stroke were randomly assigned to receive RT, MT, or AC following BoNT-A injection over spastic upper extremity muscles. Each session of RT, MT, and AC was 75 min, 3 times weekly, for 8 weeks. Outcome measures were assessed at pretreatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up, involving the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Motor Activity Log (MAL), including amount of use (AOU) and quality of movement (QOM), and arm activity level. All 3 combined treatments improved FMA, MAS, and MAL. The AC induced a greater effect on QOM in MAL at the 3-month follow-up than RT or MT. All 3 combined trainings induced minimal effect on arm activity level. Our findings suggest that for patients with stroke who received BoNT-A injection over spastic UE muscles, the RT, MT, or AC UE training that followed was effective in improving motor functions, reducing spasticity, and enhancing daily function.

Psychometric Comparisons of Three Depression Measures for Patients With Stroke.

IMPORTANCE: Psychometric examinations for patients with stroke remain insufficient. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) are promising outcome measures. OBJECTIVE: To examine and compare the reliability and validity of three depression measures in a sample of patients with stroke. DESIGN: Repeated-measures design. SETTING: A hospital in southern Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-nine outpatients, who completed three depression measures. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Cronbach's α and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to examine the internal consistency and test-retest reliability, respectively, of the three measures. An independent-samples t test was conducted to compare two groups of patients with different levels of disability to investigate discriminative validity. Pearson's rs were calculated among the three measures to examine concurrent validity. RESULTS: The three measures had good internal consistency (α = .85-.92) and sufficient test-retest reliability (ICC = .84-.91). The minimal detectable change (percentage of minimal detectable change) was 10.6 (63.3%), 13.5 (98.3%), and 5.8 (49.9%) for the CES-D, BDI-II, and GDS, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in CES-D score (p = .032) and no significant differences on the other two measures (p = .095-.187). The correlations among the three measures ranged from .79 to .89. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: All three depression measures had sound internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and concurrent validity in patients with stroke. What This Article Adds: Of the three measures, the CES-D had better discriminative validity, and the GDS demonstrated greater reliability and smaller random measurement error in patients with stroke.

Lenvatinib combined with nivolumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma-real-world experience.

Lenvatinib, a multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor that inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor receptors pathway, activated the immune response in tumor microenvironment. However, the combination of lenvatinib and anti-PD-1 has been reported in early phase studies. Hence, this study aims to explore the efficacy and toxicity of lenvatinib combined with nivolumab in the real-world setting. Advanced HCC patients who underwent lenvatinib combined with nivolumab (L + N group) treatment at Taipei Veterans General Hospital (Taipei, Taiwan) were reviewed between January 2016 and December 2020. Treatment response and outcomes were collected and analyzed. A control group with lenvatinib (L group) was also included for comparison. Forty patients were included in L + N group and 47 in L group. The L + N group demonstrated a higher objective response rate than L group (45.0% vs. 23.4%, p = 0.03). The L + N group also achieved longer PFS (7.5 vs. 4.8 months, p = 0.05) and OS (22.9 vs. 10.3 months, p = 0.01) than L group. Patients with HBV infection and REFLECT criteria fit demonstrated a trend of better prognosis. The PFS for those with PR, SD and PD groups were 11.2, 6.4, and 2.2 months and OS were non-reached, 14.6 and 4.7 months, respectively. Portal vein thrombosis (HR 4.3, 95% C.I. 1.5-12.8) and AFP > 400 ng/mL (HR 3.3, 95% C.I. 1.1-9.3) were poor prognostic factors and nivolumab used remained a protective factor (HR 0.2, 95% C.I. 0.1-0.7). Dermatitis (35.0%), pruritis (27.5%), and hypothyroidism (27.5%) were the common toxicities. Few patients developed grade 3/4 toxicities, including dermatitis (15%), gastrointestinal bleeding (7.5%), hypertension (5.0%), pneumonitis (2.5%) and stomatitis (2.5%). This is the first real-world data reporting the promising efficacy and tolerable toxicities of lenvatinib combined with nivolumab in advanced HCC. Further randomized trials are prompted.

Dietary Patterns among Older People and the Associations with Social Environment and Individual Factors in Taiwan: A Multilevel Analysis.

Individual factors relating to dietary behaviors are widely explored. However, the effects of social environment on dietary patterns for the older people are less explored. The purpose of this study was to identify dietary patterns among older people in Taiwan and to examine the relationship of dietary patterns with social environment and individual factors. The current study used the 2013-2016 Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan. The sample was representative at the national and city levels. Only those who were aged 55 years old and above were included for analysis (n = 2922); the mean age of the participants was 68.62 (SD = 8.76). The city-level data, including population characteristics, food availability, and age-friendly city indicators, were obtained from the open data and survey report of government. Three dietary patterns were identified: high protein-vegetable (41.6%), high sweets and low protein-vegetables (37.9%), and high viscera and fats (20.5%). The results of multilevel multinomial logistic regressions showed that marital status, economic status, education, drinking alcohol, dietary belief, living a the city with more food availability, and bus accessibility were related to dietary patterns. Dietary patterns are related to the individual-level factors and social environment. Healthy dietary beliefs and age-friendly environments are beneficial to promoting healthy dietary patterns.

Case report: Acquired neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase inhibitor resistance in a patient with pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma receiving entrectinib.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma (panNEC) is a rare disease. The rearrangements of neurotrophic tropomyosin receptor kinase (NTRK) genes are oncogenic. And in the existed literatures, the prevalence of NTRK3 was only 0.1% in neuroendocrine tumors. NTRK inhibitor was approved for refractory and recurrence NTRK fusion-positive solid tumors did not respond to standard treatment. We described a patient with panNEC who was confirmed to have ETV6-NTRK3 fusion gene by liquid biopsy. The patient initially responded well to entrectinib, a first-generation NTRK inhibitor, but developed resistance with two acquired NTRK3-G623R and NTRK3-G623E mutations detected by a second liquid biopsy. Kirsten rat sarcoma vial oncogene (KRAS) K117N mutation was found initially but became undetectable after resistance. This was the first report demonstrating the novel agent, entrectinib, used for the NTRK3-fusion gene found by the liquid biopsy in panNEC. Our report provides evidence of not only the effectiveness but also the acquired resistance of entrectinib. Also, we highlighted the potential role of genomic sequencing after entrectinib failure. Furthermore, liquid biopsy should be considered if acquiring tissue from the patient is challenging. Further studies regarding NTRK inhibitors in panNEC were needed.

Practice effect and reliability of the motor-free visual perception test-4 over multiple assessments in patients with stroke.

PURPOSE: The Motor-Free Visual Perception Test-4 (MVPT-4) is a multidimensional measure of visual perception with five subscales (visual discrimination, figure-ground, visual memory, spatial relationships, and visual closure). The purpose of this study was to examine practice effect and test-retest reliability of the MVPT-4 over four serial assessments in patients with stroke. METHODS: We recruited outpatients with stroke with age above 20 years, able to follow instructions, and able to sign informed consent. We excluded patients who had visual neglect and visual deficits (e.g., diplopia, cataract, and glaucoma). Sixty patients completed the MVPT-4 four times, one week apart. Cumulative and plateau phases of the practice effect were evaluated across four assessments. Test-retest reliability was examined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: The MVPT-4 scale and five subscales showed cumulative phases. Only the spatial relationships subscale may have reached a plateau phase at the second assessment. The ICC values of the MVPT-4 scale and five subscales were 0.48-0.87. The minimum and maximum values of the 90% confidence interval (CI) of reliable change index modified for practice (RCIp) were: MVPT-4 scale [-5.0, 7.7]; visual discrimination [-1.7, 2.1]; figure-ground [-2.0, 2.6]; visual memory [-2.6, 3.2]; spatial relationships [-2.3, 3.0]; and visual closure [-2.5, 2.8]. CONCLUSIONS: The MVPT-4 scale and five subscales appeared increasing trends of practice effects and moderate to excellent test-retest reliability in patients with stroke. The minimum and maximum values of the 90% CI RCIp for the spatial relationships subscale which may have reached a plateau phase that can help clinicians and researchers to ascertain whether the real score change is occurred for an individual patient.Implications for rehabilitationThree multilevel regression models were conducted to evaluate the plateau phase of the practice effect over four assessments.The patterns of practice effects and evidences of test-retest reliability of the MVPT-4 scale and five subscales over four serial assessments can be used to follow the progress of patients with stroke.The minimum and maximum values of the 90% CI RCIp of the MVPT-4 can assist clinicians and researchers to explain score changes for an individual patient with stroke.

The Effects of Distributed vs. Condensed Schedule for Robot-Assisted Training with Botulinum Toxin A Injection for Spastic Upper Limbs in Chronic Post-Stroke Subjects.

Robot-assisted training (RT) combined with a Botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injection has been suggested as a means to optimize spasticity treatment outcomes. The optimal schedule of applying RT after a BoNT-A injection has not been defined. This single-blind, randomized controlled trial compared the effects of two predefined RT approaches as an adjunct to BoNT-A injections of spastic upper limbs in chronic post-stroke subjects. Thirty-six patients received a BoNT-A injection in the affected upper extremity and were randomly assigned to the condensed or distributed RT group. The condensed group received an intervention of four sessions/week for six consecutive weeks. The distributed group attended two sessions/week for 12 consecutive weeks. Each session included 45 min of RT using the InMotion 2.0 robot, followed by 30 min of functional training. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Modified Ashworth Scale, Wolf Motor Function Test, Motor Activity Log, and Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire were assessed at pre-training, mid-term, post-training, and at 6 week follow-up, with the exception of the Motor Activity Log, which did not include mid-term measures. After the intervention, both groups had significant improvements in all outcome measures (within-group effects, p < 0.05), with the exception of the Wolf Motor Function Test time score. There were no significant differences between groups and interaction effects in all outcome measures. Our findings suggest that RT provided in a fixed dosage as an adjunct to a BoNT-A injection has a positive effect on participants' impairment and activity levels, regardless of treatment frequency. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03321097).

Reciprocal Relationships between Sleep Problems and Problematic Smartphone Use in Taiwan: Cross-Lagged Panel Study.

Prior studies have suggested a link between sleep problems and problematic smartphone use. However, the causal relationships between these two variables have not been identified, particularly in adolescence. Utilizing longitudinal panel data from Taiwan, this report examined the temporal relationships between sleep problems and problematic smartphone use among adolescents. One thousand and thirty-nine students (Grades 7-12) were surveyed at two-time points with a 6-month interval. The results of cross-lagged panel analysis showed that sleep problems at Time 1 significantly predicted problematic smartphone use at Time 2. Problematic smartphone use at Time 1 also significantly predicted sleep problems at Time 2. These findings applied to boys and girls and suggested that temporal relationships between sleep problems and problematic smartphone use among teenagers are reciprocal. Accordingly, increasing sleep quality may prevent future problematic smartphone use, while reducing problematic smartphone use may prevent sleep problems in adolescents.

Characterization of Patients With Refractory or Unexplained Chronic Cough Participating in a Phase 2 Clinical Trial of the P2X3-Receptor Antagonist Gefapixant.

PURPOSE: This analysis assesses clinical characteristics of patients with refractory chronic cough (RCC) or unexplained chronic cough (UCC) enrolled in a phase 2 study to better understand this patient population. METHODS: Patients with RCC/UCC lasting for ≥ 1 year and cough severity visual analog scale (VAS) score of > 40 mm at screening were eligible. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and medical history were collected at baseline. Cough-related measures included cough severity VAS, Cough Severity Diary (CSD), Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), and a structured cough-trigger questionnaire. Medication history included all medications 30 days before screening and chronic cough treatments within 1 year before screening. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Patients (N = 253; female, 76%; mean age, 60 years) had severe (mean cough severity VAS, 57.5 mm) and long-lasting (median duration, 11 years) cough. The most burdensome self-reported aspects included psychological and social factors (LCQ) and cough frequency and intensity (CSD). Patient-reported triggers were consistent with cough hypersensitivity (e.g., 95% to 96% reported irritation or tickle in throat). Common reported comorbidities included gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD; 56%), allergic rhinitis (47%), and asthma (30%); 12% of patients had been diagnosed with all 3 conditions. The most common prior medications included inhaled or oral steroids (21%), antihistamines (15%), and antacids (15%). CONCLUSION: Patients with RCC/UCC had severe, long-lasting, and burdensome cough with clinical features of cough hypersensitivity. Many patients had been diagnosed with GERD, allergic rhinitis, and asthma but had a persistent cough despite treatment of these conditions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02612610; registered November 20, 2015.