Search

Background: Social media is a relatively new and impactful way to connect millions of people around the world. The intersection of mental health and social media is a poorly studied, yet important area of research. Specifically, with regard to college-aged youth, social media can potentially offer an educational tool to enhance mental health awareness or augment treatment when it is used for professional purposes by mental health advocates or healthcare professionals. There is also the added risk of disinformation, cyberbullying, and privacy breaches. Objective: This review aims to assess the current state of social media use and its influence on mental health, especially in college-age youth. Methods: The authors of this paper utilized PubMed and Medline databases to review the most recent experimental studies and literature reviews available on the topic of mental health and social media. Results: Abstracts and relevant papers were read in full, and information from these studies was cited accordingly. Conclusion: The authors conclude that although more research needs to be conducted, social media may offer benefits for mental health awareness, education, and treatment, specifically in populations such as college-age youth.

AbstractObjectives:To examine interface pressure characteristics for two alternating air cell mattresses used for pressure ulcer prevention and treatment in a spinal cord injury population.Design:Prospective evaluation of Dynamic Flotation System (DFS) mattress and the Pegasus Airwave Mattress. Subjects acted as their own controls.Setting:Veterans Affairs Medical Center Spinal Cord Injury Unit.Participants:Convenience sample of 15 subjects with spinal cord injuries.Interventions:Minimum, maximum, and average interface pressures, and interface pressure range were measured by use of a force-sensing array system. The sacrum was chosen as the area of interest. Recordings lasted 9.5-10 minutes. Analyses were performed on 19 subjects in the supine and 45-degree upright positions for both mattresses.Results:Maximum and average interface pressures and interface pressure ranges were significantly higher, whereas minimum interface pressures were significantly lower on the Pegasus vs the DFS. For either mattress, the 45-degree position resulted in significantly greater interface pressures. There was no consistent correlation found between interface pressures and body mass index.Conclusions:Interface pressure characteristics of these two mattresses are very different, and neither mattress retains performance in the 45-degree position. Which interface pressure characteristic is most clinically relevant remains undetermined. Avoidance of the 45-degree sitting position is recommended.

We report that acetyl‐n‐Ser‐Asp‐Lys‐Pro (AcSDKP), which removes progenitor cells from cell cycle, in combination with granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF) can significantly improve myelorestoration following irradiation (7 Gy). Peripheral blood, spleen and bone marrow (BM) cell recovery and progenitor cell reconstitution [IL‐3‐responsive colony‐forming cells (CFC) and high proliferative potential colony‐forming cells (HPP‐CFC)] were studied. Studies on the optimal schedule of AcSDKP administration revealed maximal effects on progenitor cells when AcSDKP was administered as a continuous infusion for 3 d starting 24 h prior to irradiation and used in combination with G‐CSF. The numbers of CFC and HPP‐CFC in the BM were significantly increased following irradiation in mice receiving AcSDKP and G‐CSF as compared to either drug alone. The numbers of CFC in the spleen were significantly increased in mice receiving AcSDKP and G‐CSF on days 10 and 14 as compared to AcSDKP alone, but not G‐CSF. Similarly, CFC and HPP‐CFC in the spleen were significantly increased in mice receiving AcSDKP and G‐CSF on day 18 as compared to mice receiving PBS and G‐CSF. These studies suggest that AcSDKP in combination with G‐CSF may have potential for the protection of progenitor cells in patients undergoing intensive chemo‐ and/or radiotherapy.

Abstract:  CARN 750 (injectable acemannan) is a polydispersed β-(1,4)-linked acetylated mannan isolated from the Aloe barbadensis plant. It has multiple therapeutic properties including activity in wound repair and as a biological agent for the treatment of neoplasia in animals as well as the ability to activate macrophages. We report herein that CARN 750 directly or indirectly has significant hematoaugmenting properties. We observed that the subcutaneous administration of CARN 750 significantly increases splenic and peripheral blood cellularity, as well as hematopoietic progenitors in the spleen and bone marrow as determined by the interleukin-3-responsive colony-forming unit culture assay and the high-proliferative-potential colony-forming-cell (HPP-CFC) assay (a measure of primitive hematopoietic precursors) in myelosuppressed (7 Gy) C57BL/6 mice. The greatest hematopoietic effect was observed following sublethal irradiation in mice receiving 1 mg CARN 750/animal, with less activity observed at higher or lower doses. Further, CARN 750, following daily injection, has activity equal to or greater than the injection of an optimal dose of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in myelosuppressed mice. In this comparison, significantly greater activity was observed in the splenic and peripheral blood cellularity, and in the frequency and absolute number of splenic HPP-CFC as compared to the mice receiving G-CSF at 3 μg/animal. CARN 750, when administered to myelosuppressed animals. decreased the frequency of lymphocytes with a concomitant significant increase in the frequency of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). However, owing to the increased cellularity, a significant increase in the absolute number of PMN, lymphocytes, monocytes and platelets was observed, suggesting activity on multiple cell lineages. The latter is the primary difference in activity as compared to G-CSF which has activity predominantly on PMN.