Changes in Daytime Sleepiness and Depressive Symptoms Among Women Undergoing Bariatric Surgery: Implications for Endometrial Cancer Risk

Background: Obesity, a prominent risk factor for endometrial cancer development and public health issue, affects nearly one-third of the US population; bariatric surgery is an alternative weight loss option. Little is known of how bariatric surgery-related weight loss affects other obesity-aggravating factors, such as daytime sleepiness and depression. This study is among the first to look at the effects of bariatric surgery-related BMI reduction on daytime sleepiness and depressive symptoms among women. Objective: To gauge the effect of bariatric surgery on daytime sleepiness, depressive symptoms, and BMI. Methods: As part of a larger study ("Effects of weight loss on biomarkers of immunity and inflammation: Implications for endometrial cancer risk" Linkov, PI), 51 women completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and had anthropometric measurements recorded pre- and post-bariatric surgery at Magee-Womens Hospital. Paired sample t-tests analyzed changes between baseline (before surgery) and post-surgery follow-up (mean follow-up time=7.18 months, SD=2.40). Participants were then separated into groups based on BMI lost, using median BMI lost (median=12.20). Linear regression was used to test the significance of relationships pre-/post-surgery between BMI and depressive symptoms and daytime sleepiness, as well as relationships between daytime sleepiness and depressive symptoms. Results: Our sample consisted of 51 obese women (85.7% white, mean age=43.51±11.94 years, mean BMI=46.35±5.58). Improvements were seen between baseline and post-surgery follow-up in: daytime sleepiness (m=-1.21±3.39, p=0.014), total CES-D score (m=-3.00±8.57, p=0.016), likelihood of meeting CES-D score criteria for clinical depression (p=0.031), and BMI (m=-11.94±4.46,

Publication Productivity in Central Asia and Countries of the Former Soviet Union

Introduction. Despite the significant number of research institutions and rich scientific heritage, published research from Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan) is traditionally underrepresented in international scientific literature. The goal of this paper was to analyze publication patterns in Central Asian countries, and to explore the factors that contributed to the publication productivity in Kazakhstan. Methods. Publication  productivity was evaluated using data generated by the SCImago Journal & Country Rank over the period of 1996-2014 for all of the 15 former Soviet Union Republics for all subject categories. Country specific data, including total population, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, research and development (R&D) expenditure (% of GDP), number of reserchers (per million people), was abstracted from World Bank data. ANOVA and ANCOVA analyses compared the mean number of publications among Central Asian countries. Separate analyses was done for publication patterns in the health sciences. Multiple comparisons were performed using Tukey method Results. The analysis of publication productivity showed significant discrepancies in the number of published documents among the Central Asian countries. Kazakhstan demonstrated a significant increase in the number of published documents in the period of 1996-2014, mainly in the areas of natural and multidisciplinary sciences. Our analyses also showed that the number of publications are siginicantly associated with GDP and population size. Conclusions. We identified large gaps in publication productivity among the Central Asian countries. The association between publication rate with GDP and population size indicates there is a need to adjust for these factors when planning research policy

Publication Productivity in Central Asia and Countries of the Former Soviet Union

Introduction. Despite the significant number of research institutions and rich scientific heritage, published research from Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan) is traditionally underrepresented in international scientific literature. The goal of this paper was to analyze publication patterns in Central Asian countries, and to explore the factors that contributed to the publication productivity in Kazakhstan. Methods. Publication  productivity was evaluated using data generated by the SCImago Journal & Country Rank over the period of 1996-2014 for all of the 15 former Soviet Union Republics for all subject categories. Country specific data, including total population, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, research and development (R&D) expenditure (% of GDP), number of reserchers (per million people), was abstracted from World Bank data. ANOVA and ANCOVA analyses compared the mean number of publications among Central Asian countries. Separate analyses was done for publication patterns in the health sciences. Multiple comparisons were performed using Tukey method Results. The analysis of publication productivity showed significant discrepancies in the number of published documents among the Central Asian countries. Kazakhstan demonstrated a significant increase in the number of published documents in the period of 1996-2014, mainly in the areas of natural and multidisciplinary sciences. Our analyses also showed that the number of publications are siginicantly associated with GDP and population size. Conclusions. We identified large gaps in publication productivity among the Central Asian countries. The association between publication rate with GDP and population size indicates there is a need to adjust for these factors when planning research policy

Visual Behavior Differences in Drivers Across The Lifespan: A Digital Billboard Simulator Study

Driver distraction is implicated in a significant portion of motor vehicle collisions; evidence has suggested that billboards can contribute to such distraction, but many knowledge gaps remain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of various types of billboards (static, 250-foot digital transition, 500-foot digital transition, and a control [no billboard] condition) and age group (teen, middle, and older) on visual behavior through the use of a driving simulator. To address gaps in the existing literature, the effects of age group and billboard type on the following visual attention variables were considered: percent of time participants looked at billboards, average glance length, number of glances, and glance pattern activity. Significant main effects of age group were found, suggesting that teen drivers exhibited significantly different visual behavior as compared to drivers in the other age groups. An Age Group x Billboard Type interaction for one outcome provided some evidence that percent of time spent looking at billboards significantly increased as billboard transition time increased for drivers, except for older adults, who spent more time looking at static billboards. This study helps lay the groundwork for future studies that may consider how young drivers’ differential scanning patterns impact driving safety

Role of Perceived Physical and Mental Fatigability Severity on Prospective, Recurrent, and Injurious Fall Risk in Older Men.

BACKGROUND: Falls occur annually in 25% of adults aged ≥65 years. Fall-related injuries are increasing, highlighting the need to identify modifiable risk factors. METHODS: Role of fatigability on prospective, recurrent, and injurious fall risk was examined in 1 740 men aged 77-101 years in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study. The 10-item Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale measured perceived physical and mental fatigability (0-50/subscale) at Year 14 (2014-16); established cut-points identified men with more severe perceived physical (≥15, 55.7%), more severe mental (≥13, 23.7%) fatigability, or having both (22.8%). Prospective, recurrent (≥2), and injurious falls were captured by triannual questionnaires ≥1 year after fatigability assessment; risk of any fall was estimated with Poisson generalized estimating equations, and likelihood of recurrent/injurious falls with logistic regression. Models adjusted for age, health conditions, and other confounders. RESULTS: Men with more severe physical fatigability had a 20% (p = .03) increased fall risk compared with men with less physical fatigability, with increased odds of recurrent and injurious falls, 37% (p = .04) and 35% (p = .035), respectively. Men with both more severe physical and mental fatigability had a 24% increased risk of a prospective fall (p = .026), and 44% (p = .045) increased odds of recurrent falling compared with men with less severe physical and mental fatigability. Mental fatigability alone was not associated with fall risk. Additional adjustment for previous fall history attenuated associations. CONCLUSIONS: More severe fatigability may be an early indicator to identify men at high risk for falls. Our findings warrant replication in women, as they have higher rates of fatigability and prospective falls

Distracted Driving in Teens With and Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

OBJECTIVE: This study is among the first to examine the effect of talking on a cell phone or text messaging while driving in teens with and without Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). METHOD: Teens (average age 17 years) with a diagnosis of ADHD (N=16) were matched with typically developing controls (N=18). All participants operated a driving simulator while (1) conversing on a cell phone, (2) text messaging, and (3) with no distraction during a baseline condition. Six indicators of driving performance were recorded: (a) time to complete the drive; (b) lane deviations; (c) variability in lane position (i.e., Root Mean Square [RMS]); (d) reaction time; (e) motor vehicle collisions; and, (f) speed fluctuation. RESULTS: Significantly greater variation in lane position occurred in the texting task compared to no task and the cell phone task. While texting, in particular, teens with ADHD took significantly less time to complete the scenario. No significant main effects of group were found. CONCLUSIONS: Generally, those with ADHD did not differ in regard to driving performance, when compared to controls, with the exception of one outcome: time to complete scenario. These findings suggest that distracted driving impairs driving performance of teen drivers, regardless of ADHD status. Texting while driving had the greatest negative impact on driving performance, particularly with regard to variability in lane position (i.e., RMS). This study sheds light on key issues regarding injury prevention, with the intent of providing pediatric care providers with the knowledge to inform teen drivers of risks associated with distracted driving which will ultimately result in reduced rates of motor vehicle crashes and concomitant injuries