Living in an online world: Social media experiences of adolescents and young adults with cancer.

BACKGROUND: Despite widespread use, little is known about how adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer use social media (SM). This research characterized use and self-reported SM experiences among AYA with cancer. PROCEDURE: AYA, aged 12-26 years, receiving cancer care completed a mixed-methods survey regarding SM experiences. Clinical information was obtained from the electronic medical record. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t tests, and qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-nine AYA with average age 16 (SD = 3.2) years participated. Most were Caucasian (92%) males (54%). Participants had leukemia/lymphoma (56%), solid tumors (33%), and brain tumors (10%). Nearly all (97%) used SM, with YouTube, Snapchat, and Instagram being the most popular. AYA self-reported lower SM use than their smartphone data indicated (2.8 hours/day, SD = 1.2 vs 3.4 hours/day, SD = 1.3; P < 0.001). Participants used SM to obtain information about their cancer (45%), post about cancer (47%), and read about others' cancer experience (50%). One-third made a friend with cancer through SM (32%). Qualitative results indicated that AYA had positive cancer-related SM experiences, including feelings of support (54%), community (27%), distraction (8%), and inspiration (8%). Most denied negative experiences (78%); however, 17% reported cyberbullying related to cancer. CONCLUSIONS: AYA with cancer avidly use SM, noting it provides a sense of support and community. However, one-sixth reported cancer-related cyberbullying. AYA oncology providers have an opportunity to enhance positive and blunt negative SM interactions by addressing and guiding SM use in AYA patients.

Predictive Role of Symptom Duration Before the Initial Clinical Presentation of Adolescents With Capitellar Osteochondritis Dissecans on Preoperative and Postoperative Measures: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the capitellum is an increasingly recognized disease affecting young athletes. Because lesion progression is common, early identification is potentially beneficial for an athlete's treatment and recovery. However, there is currently no analysis available that evaluates the impact of symptom duration on preoperative and postoperative outcomes. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review of surgically treated OCD lesions to examine the effect of symptom duration before the initial presentation on preoperative and postoperative outcomes. We hypothesized that a longer symptom duration would correlate with more severe preoperative signs and symptoms and poorer postoperative outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects were queried for studies evaluating symptom duration before the clinical presentation of capitellar OCD and surgical outcomes. A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 23 studies reporting outcomes in 258 patients (mean patient age, 14.4 ± 1.5 years) were analyzed. Locking as a chief complaint predominated in a greater proportion of patients who presented with a longer history of OCD symptoms (P = .007). A longer symptom duration also correlated with a longer time to return to sport (P = .008) and older age (P < .001). Range of motion limitations as both a chief complaint and a physical examination finding correlated with a longer symptom duration (P = .014 and .001, respectively). Symptom duration did not show a relationship with most postoperative outcomes, including the return-to-sport rate (P = .172), which ranged from 70.7% to 91.1% depending on the surgical procedure performed. No significant difference was observed between symptom duration and the surgical procedure performed (P = .376). CONCLUSION: Advanced OCD lesions were observed in patients with a longer symptom duration. However, treatment specifics rather than symptom duration correlated best with return to sport for patients with advanced OCD lesions requiring surgery. The earlier detection of capitellar OCD may be valuable in reducing the severity of lesions, the time to return to sport, and potential need for surgery in young athletes.

Sex differences in concussion: a review of brain anatomy, function, and biomechanical response to impact.

OBJECTIVE: Provide a potential explanation for sex differences associated with concussions. RESEARCH DESIGN: Review of current literature from complementary disciplines to synthesize a theory to explains sex differences in individuals with concussion. METHODS: Systematic review focusing on sex-related differences in individuals with concussion. Articles published in peer-reviewed journals after 2000 were reviewed and discussed among the authors to determine common themes across the different disciplines represented in the literature review. RESULTS: There are differences in brain structure between sexes. The male corpus callosum has larger fibers and cross-sectional area compared to females. Females tend to utilize both hemispheres of the brain for most tasks, while males are more lateralized. Computation models of concussive impacts indicate that the greater strains occur at the corpus callosum. The corpus callosum is the conduit for interhemispheric connections within the brain; therefore, it stands to reason that increased strain in this area may affect interhemispheric communications resulting in a difference in perceived symptoms between males and females. CONCLUSIONS: Strain injury of the corpus callosum may affect females to a greater extent since their ability to process information may become more disrupted than males.

The Severity of Deformity in Metopic Craniosynostosis Is Correlated with the Degree of Neurologic Dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, metopic synostosis has represented up to 25 percent of all nonsyndromic craniosynostosis cases, manifesting with varying degrees of trigonocephaly. It is unknown whether the degree of severity of anterior dysmorphology is proportionate to neurologic dysfunction. This knowledge is essential to guide future surgical treatment recommendations. Given the reported correlation of abnormal auditory processing with future language dysfunction and poorer academic performance in craniosynostosis patients, the present study aims to evaluate auditory processing in preoperative patients with moderate and severe metopic synostosis, and in control infants, to discern the neurologic risk carried by different severities of trigonocephaly. METHODS: Thirty-eight infants underwent evaluation of auditory processing: nine patients with severe metopic synostosis, seven with moderate metopic synostosis, and 22 controls. Brain activity was recorded by electroencephalography while the participants listened to language-based stimuli. Electroencephalographic data were analyzed to extract event-related potentials evoked by the speech sounds. RESULTS: Severe metopic synostosis patients demonstrated significantly attenuated event-related potential responses in the left frontal scalp region overlying the left frontal lobe compared with controls (p < 0.05). The moderate metopic synostosis patients did not show significantly different language processing compared to the control infants or the severe metopic synostosis patients in the frontal scalp region. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that untreated severe metopic synostosis is associated with reduced language response in the frontal cortex. Less severe (moderate) forms are indeterminate, and mild forms do not show calculable irregularity by the event-related potential method of analysis. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, II.

Direct brain recordings reveal impaired neural function in infants with single-suture craniosynostosis: a future modality for guiding management?

BACKGROUND: Patients with single-suture craniosynostosis (SSC) are at an elevated risk for long-term learning disabilities. Such adverse outcomes indicate that the early development of neural processing in SSC may be abnormal. At present, however, the precise functional derangements of the developing brain remain largely unknown. Event-related potentials (ERPs) are a form of noninvasive neuroimaging that provide direct measurements of cortical activity and have shown value in predicting long-term cognitive functioning. The current study used ERPs to examine auditory processing in infants with SSC to help clarify the developmental onset of delays in this population. METHODS: Fifteen infants with untreated SSC and 23 typically developing controls were evaluated. ERPs were recorded during the presentation of speech sounds. Analyses focused on the P150 and N450 components of auditory processing. RESULTS: Infants with SSC demonstrated attenuated P150 amplitudes relative to typically developing controls. No differences in the N450 component were identified between untreated SSC and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Infants with untreated SSC demonstrate abnormal speech sound processing. Atypicalities are detectable as early as 6 months of age and may represent precursors to long-term language delay. Electrophysiological assessments provide a precise examination of neural processing in SSC and hold potential as a future modality to examine the effects of surgical treatment on brain development.