Relationship of Smartphone Dependence to General Health Status and Personality Traits among University Students

Abstract We investigated associations between smartphone dependence and general health status or personality traits. To 197 medical university students, we administered a set of self-reporting questionnaires designed to evaluate these parameters. For males, smartphone dependence positively correlated with somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, and emotional instability, and negatively correlated with agreeableness. For females, smartphone dependence positively correlated with somatic symptoms, severe depression, and extraversion, and negatively correlated with social dysfunction. These findings suggest that smartphone dependence may be associated with general health status or personality traits and that there may be a gender difference in these associations

The Combination of Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Consumption Synergistically Increases Reactive Carbonyl Species in Human Male Plasma

Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption are major risk factors for lifestyle-related diseases. Although it has been reported that the combination of these habits worsens risks, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Reactive carbonyl species (RCS) cause chemical modifications of biological molecules, leading to alterations in cellular signaling pathways, and total RCS levels have been used as a lipid peroxidation marker linked to lifestyle-related diseases. In this study, at least 41 types of RCS were identified in the lipophilic fraction of plasma samples from 40 subjects using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS). Higher levels of 10 alkanals, 5 trans-2-alkenals, 1 cis-4-alkenal, and 3 alkadienals were detected in the smoking/drinking group (N = 10) as compared to those with either habit (N = 10 each) or without both habits (N = 10) in the analysis of covariances adjusted for age and BMI. The levels of 3 alkanals, 1 trans-2-alkenal, 1 alkadienal, and 1 4-hydroxy-2-alkenal in the smoking/drinking group were significantly higher than those in the no-smoking/drinking and no-smoking/no-drinking groups. These results strongly indicate that the combination of cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking synergistically increases the level and variety of RCS in the circulating blood, and may further jeopardize cellular function

Relationships between Lifestyle, Living Environments, and Incidence of Hypertension in Japan (in Men): Based on Participant's Data from the Nationwide Medical Check-Up.

This study aims to investigate factors that contribute to the differences in incidence of hypertension between different regions in Japan, by accounting for not only individual lifestyles, but also their living environments. The target participants of this survey were individuals who received medical treatment for hypertension, as well as hypertension patients who have not received any treatment. The objective variable for analysis was the incidence of hypertension as data aggregated per prefecture. We used data (in men) including obesity, salt intake, vegetable intake, habitual alcohol consumption, habitual smoking, and number of steps walked per day. The variables within living environment included number of rail stations, standard/light vehicle usage, and slope of habitable land. In addition, we analyzed data for the variables related to medical environment including, participation rate in medical check-ups and number of hospitals. We performed multiple stepwise regression analyses to elucidate the correlation of these variables by using hypertension incidence as the objective variable. Hypertension incidence showed a significant negative correlation with walking and medical check-ups, and a significant positive correlation with light-vehicle usage and slope. Between the number of steps and variables related to the living environment, number of rail stations showed a significant positive correlation, while, standard- and light-vehicle usage showed significant negative correlation. Moreover, with stepwise multiple regression analysis, walking showed the strongest effect. The differences in daily walking based on living environment were associated with the disparities in the hypertension incidence in Japan

Depression, Alcoholism, and Genetic Alcohol Sensitivity Regulated by ALDH2 and ADH1B Polymorphisms among Japanese Community-Dwelling Adults

Background: Although strong association between drinking and depression as well as alcohol- related disorders (ARD) has been reported, the relationship between potential ability to drink (genetic alcohol sensitivity) and depression or ARD is unclear. Genetic alcohol sensitivity is regulated by two alcohol metabolic enzyme genes, ADH1B and ALDH2 polymorphisms. We have already evaluated the&nbsp; association&nbsp; between&nbsp; depression&nbsp; and&nbsp; these&nbsp; polymorphisms&nbsp; in Japanese white-collar&nbsp; workers.Current study expanded this issue on community-dwelling relatively older adults. Methods: A total of 654 community-dwelling people were interviewed regarding their ARD by a brief psychiatric structured interview (MINI). Severity of depression was evaluated by the Center for&nbsp; Epidemiologic&nbsp; Studies&nbsp; Depression&nbsp; Scale&nbsp; (CES-D). We investigated&nbsp; the&nbsp; relationship&nbsp; of ADH1B rs1229984 and ALDH2 rs671 polymorphism combinations with depression and ARD risks. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations between those polymorphisms and mental disorders, adjusting for sex, age, number of family members, physical exercise, job status, and serum lipid&nbsp; abnormality. The degree of alcohol sensitivity&nbsp; was&nbsp; classified&nbsp; into&nbsp; five&nbsp; groups&nbsp; according&nbsp; to&nbsp; the combination of two enzyme genotypes (Group I-V, in order from the lowest alcohol sensitivity). Results: Those&nbsp; with ALDH2 1 / * 2 and &nbsp; ADH1B * 1 / * 1&nbsp; were&nbsp; likely&nbsp; to&nbsp; be&nbsp; at&nbsp; an&nbsp; increased&nbsp; risk&nbsp; of depression&nbsp; (OR&nbsp; 6.63,&nbsp; 95%&nbsp; CI&nbsp; 1.12-39.21).&nbsp; On&nbsp; the&nbsp; other&nbsp; hand,&nbsp; a&nbsp; genotype&nbsp; combination&nbsp; of ALDH2 * 1 / * 1 and&nbsp; ADH1B * 1 / * 2 or * 2 / * 2 was significantly associated with an increased risk of ARD (OR 3.93, 95% CI 1.86-8.31). Similar findings were observed when depression and ARD were combined as an&nbsp; outcome variable. Conclusions: Genetic alcohol sensitivity&nbsp; with&nbsp; the genotype&nbsp; combination&nbsp; of ALDH2 * 1 / * 2 and ADH1B * 1 / * 1&nbsp; was significantly&nbsp; associated&nbsp; with an&nbsp; increased&nbsp; risk&nbsp; of&nbsp; depression,&nbsp; while&nbsp; Japanese community-dwellers in rural areas with ALDH2 * 1 / * 1 and&nbsp; ADH1B&nbsp; * 1 / * 2 or * 2 / * 2 were at a&nbsp; significantly elevated risk of ARD. </p

Correlations between the daily number of steps and environmental variables by prefecture.

<p>Correlations between the daily number of steps and environmental variables by prefecture.</p

Definitions of the lifestyle and environmental variables used to test relationships with hypertension incidence.

<p>Definitions of the lifestyle and environmental variables used to test relationships with hypertension incidence.</p

Multivariate regression analysis with hypertension incidence as the dependent variable.

<p>Multivariate regression analysis with hypertension incidence as the dependent variable.</p

Correlations between lifestyle and living environment variables and the incidence of hypertension by prefecture in Japan.

<p>Correlations between lifestyle and living environment variables and the incidence of hypertension by prefecture in Japan.</p

Relationship between hypertension incidence and daily number of steps by prefecture.

<p>Relationship between hypertension incidence and daily number of steps by prefecture.</p