Rationale: Rates of adolescent electronic (e-) cigarette use are increasing, but there has been little study of the chronic effects of use.Components of e-cigarette aerosol have known pulmonary toxicity.Objectives: To investigate the associations of e-cigarette use with chronic bronchitis symptoms and wheeze in an adolescent population.Methods: Associations of self-reported use of e-cigarettes with chronic bronchitic symptoms (chronic cough, phlegm, or bronchitis) and of wheeze in the previous 12 months were examined in 2,086 Southern California Children's Health Study participants completing questionnaires in 11th and 12th grade in 2014.Measurements and Main Results: Ever e-cigarette use was reported by 502 (24.0%), of whom 201 (9.6%) used e-cigarettes during the last 30 days (current users). Risk of bronchitic symptoms was increased by almost twofold among past users (odds ratio [OR], 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37-2.49), compared with never-users, and by 2.02-fold (95% CI, 1.42-2.88) among current users. Risk increased with frequency of current use (OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.02-2.68) for 1-2 days and 2.52 (95% CI, 1.56-4.08) for 3 or more days in past 30 days compared with never-users. Associations were attenuated by adjustment for lifetime number of cigarettes smoked and secondhand smoke exposure. However, risk of bronchitic symptoms among past e-cigarette users remained elevated after adjustment for relevant potential confounders and was also observed among never-cigarette users (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.11-2.59). There were no statistically significant associations of e-cigarette use with wheeze after adjustment for cigarette use.Conclusions: Adolescent e-cigarette users had increased rates of chronic bronchitic symptoms. Further investigation is needed to determine the long-term effects of e-cigarettes on respiratory health.

Background: Central neck scars following thyroidectomy can negatively impact patient quality of life. Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy can reduce postoperative cosmetic burden. Methods: Prospective cohort study of patients seen between June 2018 and January 2019. Scar cosmesis was determined using the validated Scar Cosmesis Assessment and Rating (SCAR) scale and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) measuring color, contour, and irregularity. Results: Eighty-one patients (80% female, mean age 43.7 years) were analyzed, with 60% and 40% receiving transcervical and transoral thyroidectomy. Median time from surgery was 3.4 (range: 1-37.1) weeks. Mean SCAR score was greater for transcervical recipients (4.69 vs transoral 0.99, P < .001), indicating worse cosmesis. Mean surgeon-rated total VAS score was similarly increased for transcervical recipients (72.84 vs transoral 16.73, P < .001). Interrater reliability for both SCAR and total VAS scores was excellent (intraclass correlation 0.93; 95% CI: 0.90-0.95 for both). Conclusion: Transoral thyroidectomy provides significantly enhanced early cosmesis over the transcervical approach.

OBJECTIVE: Tobacco control policies have decreased tobacco use among youth and young adults. We aimed to identify whether specific local tobacco retail licensing ordinances were associated with reasons for e-cigarette use, in order to examine whether strong local policies may reduce e-cigarette initiation rates by influencing the appeal of these products. METHODS: Online questionnaires were completed by Southern California Children's Health Study participants in 2015-2016 (mean age=18.9 years). Those who had ever used an e-cigarette (N=614) were asked about reasons for use; additional data were collected on local jurisdiction tobacco sales policy, friends' attitudes toward e-cigarette use, e-cigarette characteristics (level of nicotine, flavorings), and history of tobacco use. Multivariate logistic regression models evaluated associations of reasons for e-cigarette use with each factor, adjusting for gender, ethnicity, highest parental education, tobacco use history and with a random effect of jurisdiction.

No abstract

Objective: Management of obstructive sleep apnea in infants with Robin sequence (RS) includes prone positioning during sleep, which conflicts with safe infant sleep data. We examined changes in polysomnography (PSG) parameters for prone versus nonprone body positions in these infants. Design: Pre–post interventional, nonblinded study. Participants: Infants with RS referred for PSG were recruited from craniofacial clinic and inpatient units at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, a tertiary pediatric center. Fourteen infants were recruited, and 12 studies were completed on both body positions; 11 studies were used in the analysis. Interventions: The PSG was divided into nonprone and prone sleep, moving from their usual sleep position to the other position midway in the study. Main Outcome Measures: Data was collected in each position for obstructive apnea–hypopnea index (oAHI), central apnea index (CAI), sleep efficiency (SE), and arousal index (AI). Signed rank test was used to evaluate the change in body position. Results: All infants were term except 1, age 7 to 218 days (mean: 55 days; standard deviation: 58 days), and 8 (57%) of 14 were female. From nonprone to prone sleep position, the median oAHI (16.0-14.0), CAI (2.9-1.0), and AI (28.0-19.9) decreased ( P = .065); SE increased (67.4-85.2; P = .227). Conclusions: Prone positioning may benefit some infants with RS. However, even those with significant improvement in obstructive sleep apnea did not completely resolve their obstruction. The decision to use prone positioning as a therapy should be objectively evaluated in individual infants.

Background We investigated preferences between the transcervical and transoral thyroidectomy approach in the United States and Israel. Methods An online survey assessing scar attitudes and surgical preferences, in English and Hebrew, was distributed on http://thyca.com and other platforms. Results 928 and 339 responses from the United States and Israel cohorts, respectively, were analyzed. In both countries, individuals without prior thyroidectomy preferred a scarless approach when hypothetical risks equaled those of traditional thyroidectomy (77% United States, 76% Israel, p = 0.61). U.S. respondents without thyroidectomy had greater preference to avoid a scar and would pay more to do so than those with thyroidectomy (both p < 0.001). Many respondents with prior thyroidectomy still expressed interest in scarless alternatives (57% United States). Conclusions Populations in Israel and the United States prefer scarless thyroidectomy when risks equal the traditional approach. While individuals without prior thyroidectomy are more likely to favor a scarless option, former thyroidectomy patients may have preferred avoiding a scar.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) released official guidelines on the amount of sleep needed to promote optimal health and avoid health risks associated with sleep deprivation. Table 1 shows general guidelines for sleep time by age. However, each person may still have different sleep needs. Table 1-AASM Guidelines for Sleep Time by Age Age Recommended sleeping hours per 24 hours 3-5 years 10 to 13 hours 6-12 years 9 to 12 hours 13-18 years 8 to 10 hours 18-60 years 7 or more hours 61-64 years 7 to 9 hours 65 years and older 7 to 8 hours Research suggests that athletes may need more sleep compared to people of the same age who are not active. If you do not get your recommended hours per night, you will start falling behind and gather a "sleep debt." Depending on how much sleep debt you have, it is hard to make up for lost sleep with "catch-up" sleep because it adds up. For example, if you lose an hour of sleep for each of five days during the week, then you are behind five hours by the weekend and need to sleep five extra hours to "catch-up."

No abstract