Hot Articles

  • RELATION OF UPPER ARM AND FOREARM CIRCUMFERENCES IN IDENTIFYING SARCOPENIA IN HOSPITALIZED OLDER PATIENTS WITH HIP FRACTURES: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

    Background: A previous study has reported that calf circumference was useful in predicting sarcopenia in older adults with hip fractures. However, the relationship between sarcopenia and upper arm and forearm circumferences has not been well documented in older patients with hip fractures. This preliminary study aimed to determine whether upper arm and forearm circumferences are associated with sarcopenia in older patients with hip fractures. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 31 hospitalized older patients with hip fractures (femoral neck and trochanteric fractures). We classified patients based on the presence or absence of sarcopenia according to the criteria of the Asian working group for sarcopenia 2019. The upper arm and forearm circumferences were measured using a tape measure. Results: Upper arm and forearm circumferences in the non-sarcopenia group were significantly thicker than those in the sarcopenia group. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that upper arm and forearm circumferences were significant independent indicators of sarcopenia. We also set the cutoff values of upper arm and forearm circumferences for identifying sarcopenia. Conclusion: These findings suggest that upper arm and forearm circumferences could be useful methods for identifying sarcopenia in hospitalized older patients with hip fractures.

  • PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SARCOPENIC OBESITY IN OLDER ADULTS

    Background: Sarcopenic obesity causes a decline in the ability to perform activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living in older adults. Physical activity is defined as the movement of any body part derived from the work of skeletal muscle, which leads to energy consumption. Physical activity comprises not only exercise but also all activities of daily life and promotes benefits of health outcomes, with the shift from a sedentary lifestyle to that including physical activity of any intensity (including light intensity) even leading to health benefits. Objective: The current study aims to review the associations of aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and physical activity with body composition, physical performance, and activities of daily living in older adults with sarcopenic obesity, including older adults requiring assistance with the performance of activities of daily living. Results: Resistance and aerobic exercises could have positive effects on muscle mass, body fat, and physical performance in older adults with sarcopenic obesity. Besides, physical activity may reduce the risk of sarcopenic obesity in older adults. Conclusion: There has been a paucity of studies particularly on whether physical activity could still prevent the risk of sarcopenic obesity and improve muscle mass, body fat, physical performance, and the capacity for activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living in older adults with sarcopenic obesity, including older adults with sarcopenic obesity requiring care. Future studies need to additionally clarify whether physical activity affects the risk of sarcopenic obesity and promotes benefits in body composition, physical performance, and the capacity for activities of daily living in older adults and older adults with sarcopenic obesity requiring care.

  • MILK BIOFORTIFICATION MAY PROMOTE HEALTH BENEFITS IN INSTITUTIONALIZED OLDER PEOPLE

    The aim of this study was to measure the changes caused by biofortified milk enriched with selenium, vitamin E and/or improved fatty acid profile in biochemical parameters of institutionalized older people. 132 institutionalized older persons were divided into four groups who received the following treatments: C= Control milk with 3.98 µmol/l vitamin E, 0.37 µmol/l selenium, 2.24 mmol/l CLA; A= Biofortified milk with 5.05 µmol/l vitamin E, 3.63 µmol/l selenium, 6.57 mmol/l CLA; O= Biofortified milk with 4.28 µmol/l vitamin E, 0.20 µmol/l selenium, 5.71 mmol/l CLA and AO=5.21 µmol/l vitamin E, 4.42 µmol/l selenium, 6.85 mmol/l CLA for 12 weeks. Consumption of AO or O milk decreased total cholesterol in 6.8 % (p=0.0429) and LDL in 10.6 % (p=0.0292). Participants who consumed O milk had a higher HDL (42.6±1.2 mg/dl) than those who consumed A (37.7±1.2 mg/dl, p=0.0047). The consumption of biofortified milk with selenium, vitamin E and CLA, resulted in a better lipid profile and higher plasma antioxidant levels in institutionalized elderly.

  • LIFESTYLE BEHAVIORS OF OLDER ADULTS IN INDEPENDENT LIVING DURING COVID-19

    A cross-sectional survey of older adults in independent living sought to find the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on their physical activity, socialization, and nutrition. A sample of 115 consenting adults ages 60 and older living in independent senior neighborhoods completed a lifestyle behavior survey during the height of the pandemic. The survey probed self-reported changes in the respondent’s physical activity, socialization, and nutrition. Chi-square (X2) goodness of fit tests of sample demographics suggests the results were representative of the local population of seniors in independent living environments. Point-biserial correlations produced significant changes in physical activity, socialization, and nutrition based on dwelling type and education level. Cross tabulations revealed significant relationships between physical activity and socialization to participant age and dwelling type. Overall, the project finds changes in physical activity, socialization, and nutrition that can help identify needed programs, initiatives, and resources to improve the resilience of seniors aging in place during pandemics and disasters.

  • AGE-RELATE MACULAR DEGENERATION SUCCESSFULLY TREATED WITH QIAPI 1™. CASE REPORT

    Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease leading to severe visual loss and legal blindness in the elderly population overall in cold countries. Its pathogenesis, likely multifactorial, involving a complex and dynamic interaction of metabolic, functional, genetic, and environmental factors, remains poorly understood. For these reasons currently used therapeutic approaches are way beyond to be effective. Two types of AMD are distinguished: the dry and the wet form. Main risk factors include advanced age, genetic predispositions, environmental determinants, history of exposure to intensive light and smoking. Till now, there is no approved therapy for dry AMD, although several agents/treatments are currently in clinical trials. Since upregulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a predominant proangiogenic factor in CNV. the wet AMD can be treated with intra-vitreous application of “anti-VEGF” agents; however, their clinical results are disappointing. In this article, we report clinical results of a novel approach, based in our discovery of the unsuspected intrinsic capacity of human being to transform the power of the sunlight into chemical energy, throughout the dissociation of the water molecule, like plants do it.

  • NEW APPROACHER IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE MODIFYING DRUGS

    Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease is a more common neurodegenerative disease, affecting 25 million people worldwide, or accounting for about 60 to 70% of all dementia cases. There is currently no exact mechanism to explain the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease, however, cascading metabolic amyloid and post-translational review of tau protein are used as major hypotheses. Objective: To demonstrate in the literature new approaches in the development of Alzheimer’s disease modifiers. Methodology: This is a literature review study with a 5-year time frame, developed from the research of scientific articles published in international journals, through online databases such as “PubMed” and “Science Direct”. Results: Alzheimer’s disease-modifying drugs are not yet available, but many patients may, however, develop phase III clinical trials and are intended to modify as pathological stages leading to the disease. As disease-modifying therapies under study, these changes also affect Aβ and tau protein and also cause inflammation and oxidative damage. The results obtained in the clinical trials performed were positive and promising and are still under study. The results show that there is still a long way to go in the development of Alzheimer’s disease modifying drugs. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that there is still a long way to go in the development of Alzheimer’s disease modifying drugs, but nevertheless levels at the research level should be continued in order to improve the pathophysiology of the disease and find an effective treatment for this disease the same.

  • THE COMPREHENSION OF MEDICINAL THERAPY BY ELDERLY IN THE POLYPHARMACY SITUATION IN TWO COMMUNITIES OF RECIFE – PERNAMBUCO

    Introduction: The elderly, because they are more susceptible to develop chronic diseases, seek health services and medications more often, which predisposes this population to the problems related to them. Add to this the possibility of illiteracy, which may compromise understanding and lead to incorrect use of the drug. Objective: To evaluate the understanding of drug therapy by the elderly who are in a situation of polypharmacy. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional and descriptive study was carried out with individuals ≥ 60 years old who used 2 or more drugs in two communities in Recife-PE, from August to October 2016. The method used followed the principle of analysis, which verifies the agreement between the respondent’s response and the information contained in the medical prescription, and classifies the users through scores: less than six points – level of insufficient understanding; from six to eight – regular; above eight points, good level. Results: The elderly had low levels of schooling, 28% were illiterate. The two communities are made up of 72% and 48% of the elderly with insufficient understanding. Conclusion: The importance of the pharmacist as a member of the multidisciplinary team, who should guide and ensure that information is passed on to the user in a safe and efficient manner, through educational actions that promote knowledge about the use of medicines.

  • Hand-Held Dynamometer used the examination of the Maximum Knee Extension Muscle assessment by 1 person with iPad

    Manual Muscle Test (MMT) enables physical therapists to assess muscle seems to general the clinical physical therapy but MMT does not interpret muscle over grade 4 because of measures proceeding from subjective judgment. For this rea-son, the general theory describe that Manual Muscle Test take Muscle Measure machinery together. ¹,² The Muscle Measure machinery name is Torque machine, Biodex, Cybex and Hand-Held Dynamometer (HHD). These are high numbers of reliability because machines could firmly fix body on the seat, but these are so expensive and needed a large place, therefore HHD to compensate the disad-vantage of Torque machine, Biodex and Cybex. ³ The prior research mention Knee extension muscle relate to standing motion and walking ability, hence the physical therapist needs a measure to be a representa-tive of quadriceps muscles.⁴,⁵ Furthermore, this theory is measured as a repre-sentative muscle test of the lower extremities and it has been reported that the va-lidity of an isometric knee extension muscle it is used by the fixed belt.⁶,⁷ In addi-tion, eyes feedback affects measurement motion from iPad movie.⁸ From the above, the main objective of this paper is to examine the validity of an isometric knee extension muscle in which one person uses HHD and iPad. Be-cause of normally HHD measured is done by two examiners, but clinical physical therapy is a shortage of human resource that is difficult to measure with multiple people.

  • DEPIST’C PHARMA : An innovative outreach HCV screening project in pharmacy for general population

    Background and Aims: Hepatitis C testing is still insufficient in France. Beyond defined groups with risk behaviors, hepatitis C testing should now be directed at the general population. The French pharmacies territorial coverage is excellent, and pharmacists are increasingly involved in public health actions (therapeutic education, vaccination against the flu). French Public Health Act on Innovation thank to the “Article 51” allow enables health care teams to propose experiments aimed at improving the diagnostic and/or therapeutic management of a disease. This funding methods and organization is unprecedented. Our aim was to screen for hepatitis C in pharmacies with POCT performed by pharmacists. Methodology: Pharmacist recruitment was done on a voluntary basis from different pharmacies on a population pool of 600,000 inhabitants. Pharmacists received training and education appropriate to the POC testing. At request of the health authorities, screening was only proposed for patients with one or more risk factors (national health agency list). There were planned 10 tests per week per pharmacy over 12 months for a total of 5,000 tests. Expected prevalence was 10%. Patients with positive POCT were tested for HCV viral load real-time and for liver fibrosis assessment by FIBROSCAN. They could be treated with HCV antiviral direct agents. Results: 37 pharmacists representing 32 pharmacies were trained to POCT use and announcement of results during 4 half days session. 9 pharmacies were located in agglomeration, including 5 in working-class areas, 7 in rural area, 7 in seaside area and 2 in middle mountain area. After 18 months of experimentation, 29 pharmacies have completed at least one POCT. We observed a decrease in the number of tests performed during the flu vaccination campaign and COVID pandemia and successive lockdowns; 547 tests were performed including 9 positives or a serological prevalence of 1.6%.; 7 patients had a negative viral…

  • THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OZONE THERAPY ON DIABETIC ULCER REPAIR: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS: STUDY OF CHANGES IN WOUND SIZE

    Introduction: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a typical dermatological complication often found in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Chronic hyperglycemia state causes microvascular impairment that leads to loss of peripheral sensory, motor, and autonomous functions. The current diabetic ulcer therapy has not yet provided a satisfactory reduction of the ulcer area; thus, several adjuvant therapies were tried, such as using ozone therapy, either systematically or topically. Ozone increases the cell membrane permeability to glucose, increases oxygen metabolism, improves oxidative preconditioning, stimulates endogenous antioxidant systems, and has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. Methods: This study was an analytic observational study, with systematic review and meta-analysis. Data searching were conducted online at Pubmed-MEDLINE, Scopus, EBSCOhost, ProQuest, Cochrane library, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar, as well as hand-searching from libraries in Indonesia. Five most relevant articles included in the qualitative (systematic review) (n = 449) and three of those five articles included in the quantitative analysis (meta-analysis) (n = 211). Reduction of ulcer area was assessed. Results: The meta-analysis of effectiveness of ozone intervention group compared to the control group showed a homogeneity in data (Q=95.547, df=2; p=0.000, Tau2=5.276). Meta-analysis showed the value of Q statistic was z value = -9.478; (p=0.000). This shows that the overall administration of ozone can significantly improve the diabetic ulcer repair. The overall standardized mean difference showed an increase in the reduction of ulcer area following ozone therapy was -1.740 (95% CI [-2.100 to -1.380], p=0.00). These results indicate that the ulcer healing of the intervention group was significantly better than the control group. Conclusion: Systematic review and meta-analysis results show that the application of ozone therapy significantly improves DFU repair.