Exploring the Psychosocial Factors between Adaptive and Maladaptive Use of Gaming among Korean Adolescents.

(1) Background: Various studies have been conducted on the effects of video (online, mobile, and console) games on users' lives and psychological health. However, the effectiveness of a game can vary depending on user characteristics. This study explored the level of game use and its associated psychosocial factors among adolescents. (2) Methods: Survey data were compiled from 582 middle and high school students. Frequency analysis, the chi-square test, and analysis of variance were performed using SPSS Windows software, version 23.0. (3) Results: First, it was confirmed that there were no differences in the levels of self-esteem, morality, or life satisfaction between the adaptive game use and normal groups, but these were higher than those of the maladaptive game use group. However, at the level of self-control, the adaptive group scored lower than the normal group but higher than the maladaptive group. Second, the adaptive and normal groups exhibited comparatively lower levels of aggression, anxiety, depression, loneliness, academic stress, and social stress in school. Third, they also exhibit relatively high levels of social intelligence, social capital, and friendship support. (4) Conclusions: The adaptive and general game-use groups showed similar levels of psychosocial factors, whereas the maladaptive game-use group exhibited lower levels of positive psychological and social factors. Based on these results, developing an intervention program that reduces maladaptation and increases adaptive gaming use is necessary. Future follow-up studies are needed to confirm how positive and negative psychosocial factors affect adaptive and maladaptive game use as protective and risk factors, respectively.

An analysis of e-cigarette and polysubstance use patterns of adolescents in Bangkok, Thailand.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of adolescent e-cigarette use has increased markedly in recent years. Specifically, the prevalence of e-cigarette use over the past 30 days was higher than the prevalence of use of other tobacco products. However, there is no definitive data on e-cigarette use among adolescents, including a description of how e-cigarette use is part of a more widespread pattern of substance abuse. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of e-cigarette use in combination with tobacco, alcohol, or marijuana, and the risk of polysubstance use among a sample of Thai adolescents, analyzed by sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: Data were extracted from the Bangkok Behavioral Surveillance Survey (BBSS) cross-sectional survey conducted in 2019. The survey used self-reports from a sample of adolescents aged 14-17 years in Bangkok (n=6167). Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the status of poly drug use in combination with e-cigarettes. RESULTS: In all, 6.8% of adolescents in this sample reported having used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days. Among the students who used e-cigarettes, the majority (72.0%) reported using other substances along with e-cigarettes, and alcohol was the most common addictive substance used in combination with e-cigarette use. The use of e-cigarettes only and e-cigarettes in combination with other addictive substances (compared to the non-e-cigarette group) tended to be higher among male students, having low academic achievement, having a friend who smokes, being persuaded by a close friend, having ever had sex (OR: 1.48-3.70), and having close friends who drink alcohol (vs none) (OR=3.26). CONCLUSIONS: Polysubstance use is highly prevalent among adolescents who use e-cigarettes. There should be extensive screening for e-cigarette consumption, including use of other addictive substances, especially alcohol. Early and comprehensive prevention efforts to reduce the use of e-cigarettes and other addictive substances can have a huge impact on the health of the adolescent population.

Evaluation in the predictive value of serum human epididymal protein 4 (HE4), cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) and a combination of both in detecting ovarian malignancy.

Background This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of human epididymal protein 4 (HE4), cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) and a combination of both via the Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm (ROMA) in detecting ovarian malignancy. Methods This was a diagnostic study enrolling 129 patients with pelvic mass(es) suspected of originating in the ovary who had been scheduled for surgery or radiological-guided biopsy. Serum HE4 and CA 125 levels were measured. HE4, CA 125 and ROMA were evaluated for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) plots were graphed and area under the curve (AUC) values were calculated to investigate the accuracy of each marker for predicting ovarian malignancy. Results Overall, CA 125 remained significantly more sensitive (88.9% vs. 51.9%, p = 0.006) but less specific (56.9% vs. 95.1%, p < 0.001) than HE4. HE4 was superior to CA 125 in specificity (97.7% vs. 54.5%, p < 0.001) for premenopausal women. ROMA was non-significantly more sensitive (100.0% vs. 92.3%, p = 1.000) than CA 125 but both were equally specific (71.4%) for the postmenopausal group. In the premenopausal group, the AUC of serum HE4 was higher than serum CA 125 (0.851 vs. 0.817) but was equivalent to ROMA (0.851 vs. 0.859). In the postmenopausal group, ROMA exhibited an excellent AUC value as compared to CA 125 and HE4 (AUC of 0.907 vs. 0.874 vs. 0.863, respectively). Conclusion HE4 is useful in ruling out ovarian malignancy among premenopausal women. For postmenopausal women, ROMA appears to be an all-rounder with overall good sensitivity and specificity.

Cardiovascular risk factors in pre-pubertal Malays: effects of diabetic parentage.

Diabetes prevalence is increasing rapidly in Asian populations but the influence of a family history of diabetes on cardiovascular risk is unknown. To assess this relationship, 120 urban-dwelling Malays were recruited to a cross-sectional case-control study. Sixty were pre-pubertal children, 30 of diabetic parentage (Group 1) and 30 with no diabetes family history (Group 2). Group 1 and 2 subjects were the offspring of adults with (Group 3) or without (Group 4) type 2 diabetes. Subjects were assessed for clinical and biochemical variables defining cardiovascular risk. Principal component analysis assessed clustering of variables in the children. Group 1 subjects had a higher mean waist:hip ratio, diastolic blood pressure and HbA(1c) than those in Group 2, and a lower HDL:total cholesterol ratio (P<0.03). Although there were no correlations between Group 1 and 3 subjects for cardiovascular risk variables, significant associations were found in Groups 2 and 4, especially HbA(1c) and insulin sensitivity (P< or =0.004). Of five separate clusters of variables (factors) identified amongst the children, the strongest comprised diabetic parentage, HbA(1c), insulin sensitivity and blood pressure. Features of the metabolic syndrome are becoming evident in the young non-obese children of diabetic Malays, suggesting that lifestyle factors merit particular attention in this group.