Geriatrics & gerontology international
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Oct 2013
Prescribing patterns of proton pump inhibitors in older hospitalized patients in a Scottish health board.
Proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) are extensively prescribed worldwide. However, little information is available on PPI prescribing patterns, associated clinical and demographic factors, and potential drug-drug interactions in frail older patients. ⋯ Inappropriate PPI prescribing is common in frail older hospitalized patients, and might increase the risk of drug-drug interactions. Polypharmacy and comorbidity were independently associated with inappropriate PPI prescribing in this group.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Oct 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialCorticosteroids injection in rotator cuff tears in elderly patient: pain outcome prediction.
The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the effect of corticosteroids intra-articular injections on pain in patients with rotator cuff tear (RCT), and to identify predictors for pain outcomes. ⋯ Corticosteroids can relieve pain in RCT. Active ROM is the most important predictor of pain outcomes. This finding can be useful to physicians when deciding on the type of patients who might best benefit from intra-articular injections of corticosteroids.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Oct 2013
Pain and hospice care in nursing home residents with dementia and terminal cancer.
One condition associated with severe end-of-life pain that can lead to a poor quality of death is cancer. Cancer pain in people with dementia is of particular concern because of communication problems that occur with worsening disease. The aim of the current pilot study was to examine the association between hospice enrolment, dementia severity and pain among nursing home residents who died from advanced cancer. ⋯ Preliminary results suggest that hospice enrolment might be influenced by the facility or region of this particular country. Hospice enrolment predicts more opioid pain treatment in residents with dementia and terminal cancer; however, no resident with very severe dementia and terminal cancer was placed in hospice care. Severely cognitively impaired nursing home residents requiring opioids are at great risk of suffering from untreated advanced cancer pain. New methods are urgently required to improve end-of-life palliative care for nursing home residents with terminal cancer and severe dementia.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Oct 2013
Association of sarcopenia with functional decline in community-dwelling elderly subjects in Japan.
The present study aimed to determine the association of sarcopenia, defined by muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance, with functional disability from a 2-year cohort study of community-dwelling elderly Japanese people. ⋯ Sarcopenia, defined by muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance, was associated with functional decline over a 2-year period in elderly Japanese. Interventions to prevent sarcopenia are very important to prevent functional decline among elderly individuals.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Oct 2013
Decreased serum transforming growth factor-β1 concentration with aging is associated with the severity of emphysema in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Age-associated changes of the lung might increase pathogenetic susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Decrement in serum transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 concentration is reported in elderly people. As impaired TGF-β1 signaling could cause emphysema-like changes, we hypothesized that decreased TGF-β1 with aging is correlated with emphysema. ⋯ Although no correlation was found between TGF-β1 and the severity of COPD, TGF-β1 significantly decreased as emphysema became more severe. Age-related decrease of TGF-β1 in COPD might be associated with emphysematous alterations of the lungs in elderly subjects.