Predictors and patterns of problematic Internet game use using a decision tree model

Background and aims Problematic Internet game use is an important social issue that increases social expenditures for both individuals and nations. This study identified predictors and patterns of problematic Internet game use. Methods Data were collected from online surveys between November 26 and December 26, 2014. We identified 3,881 Internet game users from a total of 5,003 respondents. A total of 511 participants were assigned to the problematic Internet game user group according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Internet gaming disorder criteria. From the remaining 3,370 participants, we used propensity score matching to develop a normal comparison group of 511 participants. In all, 1,022 participants were analyzed using the chi-square automatic interaction detector (CHAID) algorithm. Results According to the CHAID algorithm, six important predictors were found: gaming costs (50%), average weekday gaming time (23%), offline Internet gaming community meeting attendance (13%), average weekend and holiday gaming time (7%), marital status (4%), and self-perceptions of addiction to Internet game use (3%). In addition, three patterns out of six classification rules were explored: cost-consuming, socializing, and solitary gamers. Conclusion This study provides direction for future work on the screening of problematic Internet game use in adults

Psoralea corylifolia

Pancreatic beta-cell death is known to be the cause of deficient insulin production in diabetes mellitus. Oxidative stress is one of the major causes of beta-cell death. In this study, we investigated the effects of Psoralea corylifolia L. seed (PCS) extract on beta-cell death. Oral administration of PCS extract resulted in a significant improvement of hyperglycemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. PCS extract treatment improved glucose tolerance and increased serum insulin levels. To study the mechanisms involved, we investigated the effects of PCS extract on H2O2-induced apoptosis in INS-1 cells. Treatment with PCS extract inhibited cell death. PCS extract treatment decreased reactive oxygen species level and activated antioxidative enzymes. Among the major components of PCS extract, psoralen and isopsoralen (coumarins), but not bakuchiol, showed preventive effects against H2O2-induced beta-cell death. These findings indicate that PCS extract may be a potential pharmacological agent to protect against pancreatic beta-cell damage caused by oxidative stress associated with diabetes

A Case of Successful Selective Abortion Using Radio-frequency Ablation in Twin Pregnancy Suffering from Severe Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome

Twin to twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is one of the major complication of monochorionic twin pregnancy which is mainly understood by placental vascular anastomosis. Perinatal mortality and morbidity is high as 80-100% if untreated and even higher if the disease is developed at early stage. Variety of methods of isolating or intercepting placental vascular anastomosis are introduced, but they are only available in centers where all the required equipments are prepared. We report here a case of TTTS complicated with severe polyhydroamnios during the second trimester. The blood supply to donor twin was interrupted successfully at 19+2 weeks of gestation by minimally invasive radio-frequency cord ablation, under ultrasound guidance. The normal recipient twin was delivered successfully at 35 weeks of gestation and had no eventful neonatal course

Blood pressure and dementia risk by physical frailty in the elderly: a nationwide cohort study

Background Midlife hypertension has been recognized as a modifiable risk factor for dementia, but association between blood pressure (BP) in late life and dementia has been inconclusive. In addition, few studies have investigated effects of BP control on dementia incidence in the frail elderly. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the association of BP and dementia incidence with concomitant consideration of physical frailty in the young elderly population. Methods Using the Korean National Health Information Database, we identified 804,024 subjects without history of dementia at age 66. Dementia diagnosis was defined with prescription records of anti-dementia drugs and dementia-related diagnostic codes. Physical frailty was measured using the Timed Up and Go test. Association of BP and dementia incidence with concomitant consideration of physical frailty was investigated using Cox hazards analyses. Results The risks of Alzheimers and vascular dementia increased from systolic BP ≥ 160 and 130–139mmHg, respectively; a significant association of dementia incidence with low BP was not observed. In the analyses stratified by the physical frailty status, low BP was not associated with increased risks of dementia within the groups both with and without physical frailty. Conclusions High BP was associated with increased risks of dementia, especially for vascular dementia, while low BP was not associated with increased risks of any type of dementia in young elderly people, even in those with physical frailty. This study suggests the need for tight BP control in young elderly people, irrespective of frailty status, to prevent dementia and supports the current clinical guidelines of hypertension treatment