1,720,971 research outputs found
Psychological intervention with elderly people during the COVID-19 pandemic: the experience of a nursing home in Italy
No full textItaly has been the first European country to face the Covid-19 pandemic in all its dramatic presence. According to official national reports, based on the analysis of 32 448 patients died positive for Covid-19 in Italy; the mean age of people who died from this pandemic was 80 years.2 Furthermore, overall the 21.5% and the 59.7% of the sample presented respectively two or three comorbidities with the most frequent being cardiovascular diseases (ischaemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, stroke, hypertension), type-2 diabetes, dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
The development of a new tool for the evaluation of handicap in elderly: the Geriatric Handicap Scale (GHS)
No full textBACKGROUND: To date, the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) does not include an evaluation tool for handicap.
AIM: To develop a new instrument for assessing handicap in the elderly: the Geriatric Handicap Scale (GHS).
METHODS: 656 community-dwelling elderly were enrolled in this study. We identified the thematic areas investigated by the CGA which showed a significant correlation with the handicap condition (handicap yes/not) to be included in our scale (Phase 1). Afterwards, we evaluated the possible correlations between: (1) the score obtained in each area of GHS and those obtained in CGA tests investigating similar dimensions, (2) GHS total score and the Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI) total score (Phase 2).
RESULTS: In Phase 1, data analysis showed several significant correlations between the handicap condition and the scores obtained to the CGA tests exploring cognition, mood, functional impairment, comorbidity, social and environmental variables. Thus, we developed a tool considering five variables: (1) cognition and mood; (2) functional impairment; (3) hearing/visual impairment; (4) any additional comorbidity factors; (5) environmental/social risk factors. In Phase 2, data analysis showed significant correlations between the score obtained in each area of GHS and those obtained in the CGA tests investigating similar dimensions. A positive correlation between GHS total score and MPI total score (r = 68; p = 0.001) was also reported. Cut-off score for the GHS was established. Psychometric properties of GHS were also investigated and adequate estimates of internal reliability were demonstrated.
CONCLUSIONS: Our tool could prove useful to correctly categorize the disadvantageous condition related to patient's disability
Association between epicardial fat thickness and cognitive function in elderly. a preliminary study
No full textBackground: Recent studies suggested that the visceral fat could exert a predictive role in the pathogenesis of dementia. The aims of the present study were to evaluate: i) possible differences between groups with different epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness on the included variables; ii) the possible predictive role of the EAT levels on cognitive functioning. Methods: 65 community-dwelling subjects were enrolled and divided into two groups: EAT < 7 mm (n = 36); EAT > 7 mm (n = 29). The metabolic profile was assessed through the evaluation of the biochemical parameters whereas the EAT thickness was measured through the transthoracic echocardiography. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was also administered. Results: The two EAT groups reported several significant differences, included on the MMSE scores. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that the EAT thickness levels and the hypertension had a predictive effect on the MMSE scores. Conclusions: These preliminary findings support the association between EAT thickness levels and cognitive impairment
Frog skin-derived peptides against corynebacterium jeikeium: correlation between antibacterial and cytotoxic activities
Full text linkCorynebacterium jeikeium is a commensal bacterium that colonizes human skin, and it is part of the normal bacterial flora. In non-risk subjects, it can be the cause of bad body smell due to the generation of volatile odorous metabolites, especially in the wet parts of the body that this bacterium often colonizes (i.e., groin and axillary regions). Importantly, in the last few decades, there have been increasing cases of serious infections provoked by this bacterium, especially in immunocompromised or hospitalized patients who have undergone installation of prostheses or catheters. The ease in developing resistance to commonly-used antibiotics (i.e., glycopeptides) has made the search for new antimicrobial compounds of clinical importance. Here, for the first time, we characterize the antimicrobial activity of some selected frog skin-derived antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) against C. jeikeium by determining their minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) by a microdilution method. The results highlight esculentin-1b(1-18) [Esc(1-18)] and esculentin-1a(1-21) [Esc(1-21)] as the most active AMPs with MIC and MBC of 4–8 and 0.125–0.25 μM, respectively, along with a non-toxic profile after a short-and long-term (40 min and 24 h) treatment of mammalian cells. Overall, these findings indicate the high potentiality of Esc(1-18) and Esc(1-21) as (i) alternative antimicrobials against C. jeikeium infections and/or as (ii) additives in cosmetic products (creams, deodorants) to reduce the production of bad body odor
A new methodology in nursing home. The integrated individualized care plan
No full textWe propose a new work strategy in nursing homes, also known as “residenze sanitarie assistenziali
– RSA” in in the Italian health care system. Currently the Italian legislation provides individualized
rehabilitation plans for patients living in RSA (called “piano di assistenza individualizzato, PAI”). We
propose a new methodology based on the integrated view of different services offered to the patient.
We believe that it is essential to treat the elderly assisted in RSA not only as individuals but also as a
part of a community that shares similar issues
UN CASO DI ANGINA VARIANTE ASSOCIATA A BRIDGING MIOCARDICO, APNEA OSTRUTTIVA NOTTURNA E SINDROME METABOLICA
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Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
LA VALUTAZIONE DEL PAZIENTE ANZIANO CON STENOSI AORTICA CALCIFICA: UNA MINI SURVEY TERRITORIALE NEL SETTING DELLE CURE PRIMARIE
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