Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Aging Clin Exp Res 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Beit Rivka Geriatric Rehabilitation Center, 4 Hachamisha St, 49245, Petach Tikva, Israel.

Purpose: Various factors have been shown to affect the rehabilitation outcome of hip fractured patients. Considering the decrease in muscle mass with aging and its impact on mobility, we hypothesized that a relationship exists between hand grip strength and rehabilitation outcome.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 373 post-hip fracture patients, admitted for rehabilitation. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2019 Apr 16;19(1):109. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

NIHR CLAHRC Older People's Theme Academic Unit of Elderly Care and Rehabilitation, University of Leeds, Bradford Institute for Health Research, Temple Bank House, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Duckworth Lane, Bradford, BD9 6RJ, UK.

Background: An electronic frailty index (eFI) has been developed and validated in the UK; it uses data from primary care electronic medical records (EMR) for effective frailty case-finding in primary care. This project examined the convergent validity of the eFI from Canadian primary care EMR data with a validated frailty index based on comprehensive geriatric assessment (FI-CGA), in order to understand its potential use in the Canadian context.

Methods: A cross-sectional validation study, using data from an integrated primary care research program for seniors living with frailty in Edmonton, AB. Read More

Exp Ther Med 2019 May 12;17(5):3317-3326. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China.

Fibronectin (FN) type III domain containing 3B (FNDC3B), a member of the FN family, regulates the invasion and metastasis of cells in numerous tumor types. However, the mechanisms through which FNDC3B regulates carcinogenesis in lung adenocarcinoma (LADC) tissues have remained elusive. The present study revealed that the protein levels of FNDC3B and vimentin were significantly elevated in LADC tissues compared with those in normal lung tissues. Read More

J Rheumatol 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Seoul, Korea;Rheumatology Research Group, School of Immunity and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutrición, Mexico City, Mexico; Cedars-Sinai/David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Divisions of Rheumatology and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Division of Rheumatology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Medicine, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA; Division of Rheumatology, CHU de Québec et Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada; Center for Prognosis Studies in the Rheumatic Diseases, Toronto Western Hospital and University of Toronto, ON, Canada; Arthritis Research UK Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Center, The University of Manchester, and NIHR Manchester Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Center Manchester, UK; Center for Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University College London, UK; Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA; Division of Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Lupus Research Unit, The Rayne Institute, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London School of Medicine, UK, London, UK; Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Northwestern University and Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Lupus Center of Excellence, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Lanarkshire Center for Rheumatology, Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, Scotland UK; Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA; Autoimmune Diseases Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, BioCruces Health Research Institute, Hospital Universitario Cruces, University of the Basque Country, Barakaldo, Spain; Emory University School of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey; Unit for clinical therapy research (ClinTRID), Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Rheumatology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. Josep Font Autoimmune Diseases Laboratory, IDIBAPS, Department of Autoimmune Diseases, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain; Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA; UCSD School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA; Copenhagen Lupus and Vasculitis Clinic, 4242, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Hospital for Joint Diseases, NYU, Seligman Center for Advanced Therapeutics, New York NY; Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine and Department of Pathology, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Center and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Funding for this work was provided by the Nova Scotia Health Authority Research Fund. Dr. Sang-Cheol Bae's work was supported in part by NRF-2017M3A9B4050335, Republic of Korea. Dr. Caroline Gordon's work was supported by Lupus UK and the NIHR /Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility. The Montreal General Hospital Lupus Clinic is partially supported by the Singer Family Fund for Lupus Research. Dr. Clarke holds The Arthritis Society Chair in Rheumatic Diseases at the University of Calgary. Dr. Paul R. Fortin presently holds a tier 1 Canada Research Chair on Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases at Université Laval, and part of this work was done while he was still holding a Distinguished Senior Investigator of The Arthritis Society. Dr. Bruce is a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Senior Investigator and is supported by Arthritis Research UK, the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Centre and the NIHR/Wellcome Trust Manchester Clinical Research Facility. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the National Institute for Health Research or the Department of Health. Dr Isenberg and Dr Rahman are supported by and supported by the National Institute for Health, Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Center. The Hopkins Lupus Cohort is supported by the NIH (grant AR43727 and 69572). Dr. Mary Anne Dooley's work was supported by the NIH (grant RR00046). Dr. Ramsey-Goldman's work was supported by the NIH (grants 5UL1TR001422-02, formerly 8UL1TR000150 and UL-1RR-025741, K24-AR-02318, and P60AR064464 formerly P60-AR- 48098). Dr. Ruiz-Irastorza is supported by the Department of Education, Universities and Research of the Basque Government. Dr. Soren Jacobsen is supported by the Danish Rheumatism Association (A3865) and the Novo Nordisk Foundation (A05990). Dr. John G. Hanly is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (grant MOP-88526). Address Correspondence to: Dr. John G Hanly, Division of Rheumatology, Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre (2nd Floor), 1341 Summer Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3H 4K4.Email:

Objective: To construct a frailty index (FI) as a measure of vulnerability to adverse outcomes among patients with SLE, using data from the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) inception cohort.

Methods: The SLICC inception cohort consists of recently diagnosed SLE patients followed annually with clinical and laboratory assessments. For this analysis, the baseline visit was defined as the first study visit at which sufficient information was available for construction of a frailty index. Read More

Psychosom Med 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Geriatric Medicine, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Objective: Depression among older adults predicts mortality after acute hospitalization. Depression is highly heterogeneous in its presentation of symptoms, whereas individual symptoms may differ in predictive value. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of individual cognitive-affective depressive symptoms during acute hospitalization and investigate the predictive value of both overall and individual cognitive-affective depressive symptoms for mortality between admission up to three months post-discharge among older patients. Read More

Anesth Analg 2019 Apr 9. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Tuen Mun Hospital, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong.

Background: Hip fracture is a challenging geriatric problem for the health care professionals, especially in patients with multiple comorbidities. In patients with inoperable hip fracture secondary to severe comorbid conditions, the pain can lead to significant challenges in nursing care. With the current understanding of the innervation of hip joint, we are now able to perform selective chemical denervation of the articular branches of femoral and obturator nerves to manage the pain associated with inoperable hip fracture. Read More

J Am Med Dir Assoc 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Centre, the Netherlands.

Objectives: Older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hospitalized for an acute exacerbation, often do not receive recommended post-acute pulmonary rehabilitation. This underuse might be related to the impaired clinical and functional status of these patients, who are more likely to present with frailty, comorbidities, and disability. Having developed and implemented a geriatric rehabilitation program for these patients (GR_COPD), the primary aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of this program. Read More

Hum Mov Sci 2019 Apr 10;66:117-123. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.

Background: We have previously shown that objective measurements of postural sway predicts fall risk, although it is currently unknown how limits of stability (LOS) might influence these results.

Research Question: How integrated postural sway and LOS measurements predict the risk of incident falls in a population-based sample of older adults.

Methods: The sample for this prospective observational study was drawn from the Healthy Ageing Initiative cohort and included data collected between June 2012 and December 2016 for 2396 men and women, all 70 years of age. Read More

Hum Brain Mapp 2019 Apr 13. Epub 2019 Apr 13.

Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS), VA RR&D TBI National Research Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.

Several studies have examined how individual differences in sustained attention relate to functional brain measures (e.g., functional connectivity), but far fewer studies relate sustained attention ability, or cognition in general, to individual differences in cortical structure. Read More

Disabil Rehabil 2019 Apr 12:1-6. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

a Beit Rivka Geriatric Rehabilitation Center , Petach Tikva , Israel.

Purpose: To follow changes in anticholinergic drug prescriptions throughout hip fractured patients' rehabilitation; to assess whether a change in anticholinergic burden affects rehabilitation outcome.

Methods: Retrospective study of 869 hip fractured patients admitted between January 2011 to October 2015, performed in a post-acute geriatric rehabilitation center. The Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale quantified the anticholinergic burden. Read More

J Am Geriatr Soc 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Service de Réanimation Médicale, Paris, France.

Objectives: To develop a scoring system model that predicts mortality within 30 days of admission of patients older than 80 years admitted to intensive care units (ICUs).

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: A total of 306 ICUs from 24 European countries. Read More

Aging Clin Exp Res 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Rehabilitation, Fondazione Camplani Casa di Cura "Ancelle della Carità", Via Aselli 16, 26100, Cremona, Italy.

Objective: Delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD) is common and associated with adverse outcomes. Current evidence indicates that some patients with dementia may recall delirium with distress for them and their caregivers. The aim of this study is to identify predictors of distress in informal caregivers of older patient with DSD. Read More

Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.

Motor abnormalities have been indicated to be a core manifestation of schizophrenia and not just motor side-effects of antipsychotics. However, little is known about whether all of the complete motor function, including fine motor function, muscle strength, and balance is linked to psychotic symptoms. Therefore, this study was to investigate association between complete motor function and psychotic symptoms in young-adult schizophrenia patients who had no extrapyramidal motor symptoms, which were assessed using the Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale. Read More

J Am Med Dir Assoc 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Medicine-Western Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), University of Melbourne and Western Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of clinical care pathways (CCPs) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and physical function following fragility fracture and identify the specific characteristics of CCPs that are associated with improved outcomes.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Setting And Participants: Randomized controlled studies and nonrandomized studies that involved participants aged ≥50 years who sustained a fragility fracture, evaluated the effects of a CCP compared to usual care, and reported outcomes of HRQoL or physical function. Read More

JDR Clin Trans Res 2019 Apr 11:2380084419837607. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

1 The Japan Denture Care Society.

Introduction: Many reports show that denture adhesives improve the retention and stability of dentures. However, few randomized controlled trials have examined the effects of denture adhesives.

Objective: This 10-center randomized controlled trial with parallel groups involving 200 edentulous patients wearing complete dentures aimed to evaluate the effects of short-term use of cream and powder denture adhesives. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 Apr 10;16(7). Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Graduate Course of Health and Social Services, Saitama Prefectural University, 820, Sannomiya, Koshigaya, Saitama 343-8540, Japan.

Outpatient rehabilitation (OR) and outpatient day long-term care (ODLC) services are frequently used by older adult patients in Japan. However, there is a need to clarify that OR service, which has more rehabilitation professionals than ODLC, has the role of providing rehabilitation. This retrospective study examined the impact of OR services by comparing the two services based on City A data from the care-needs certification survey conducted between 2015 to 2017. Read More

Aust Dent J 2019 Apr 10. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.

Background: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP) is a cohort study of the health of a representative sample of older Australian men. The aim of this paper is to describe the oral health behaviours and dental service use of CHAMP participants and explore associations between oral health behaviours with and general health status.

Method: Information collected related to socio-demographics, general health, oral health service-use, and oral health behaviours. Read More

Disabil Rehabil 2019 Apr 11:1-11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

a Division of Population Health Sciences , Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , Dublin , Ireland.

Purpose: Exploring the views of those impacted by stroke is key to the design of an effective and appropriate cognitive rehabilitation intervention for post-stroke cognitive impairment. This qualitative study examined the perspectives and preferences of stroke survivors, carers, and healthcare professionals to inform the design of a cognitive rehabilitation intervention.

Design And Methods: The research employed a qualitative study design and thematic analysis of data. Read More

Support Care Cancer 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsløwsvej 9A, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between self-reported spiritual/religious concerns and age, gender, and emotional challenges among cancer survivors who have completed a 5-day rehabilitation course at a rehabilitation center in Denmark (the former RehabiliteringsCenter Dallund (RC Dallund)).

Methods: The data stem from the so-called Dallund Scale which was adapted from the NCCN Distress Thermometer and comprised questions to identify problems and concerns of a physical, psychosocial, and spiritual/religious nature. Descriptive statistics were performed using means for continuous variables and frequencies for categorical variables. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 Apr 8;9(4):e026921. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

National Institute of Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care East Midlands, Nottingham, UK.

Objectives: Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) may be a way to deliver optimal care for care home residents. We used realist review to develop a theory-driven account of how CGA works in care homes.

Design: Realist review. Read More

Neurourol Urodyn 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Division of Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California.

Aim: To report research terminology and definitions for describing healthy bladder function among women and girls.

Methods: The Prevention of Lower Urinary tract Symptoms (PLUS) Consortium developed research terminology and definitions for elements of healthy bladder function based on existing understanding of storage and emptying functions of the bladder and accepted definitions of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The novel concept of a bladder "bioregulatory" function was also proposed. Read More

J Am Med Dir Assoc 2019 Apr;20(4):396-398

Department of Health Services Research and Department of Family Medicine, CAPHRI-Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Nutr Res 2019 Mar 1. Epub 2019 Mar 1.

Life and Medical Sciences Area, Health Sciences Discipline, Kobe University, Tomogaoka 7-10-2, Suma-ku, Kobe 654-0142, Japan.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between intramuscular adipose tissue of the quadriceps and dysphagia in older inpatients. We hypothesized that increased intramuscular adipose tissue of the thigh may indirectly reflect severe dysphagia in older inpatients. This study was cross-sectional, and 103 older inpatients participated. Read More

AIDS 2019 May;33(6):931-939

Division of Infectious Diseases.

Digit Health 2019 Jan-Dec;5:2055207619838940. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Department of Health Information Management, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran.

Background: Advancements in information technology have been instrumental in successful recent developments in telemonitoring systems. In this regard, there is a lack of development of valid and reliable tools to determine the requirements and applications of telemonitoring systems used to provide health care for frail elderly people living at home, specifically in a national setting.

Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2018. Read More

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2019 Apr 3. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

School of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

Objective: To estimate the effect of a physiotherapist-delivered fall prevention programme for people with Parkinson's (PwP).

Methods: People at risk of falls with confirmed Parkinson's were recruited to this multicentre, pragmatic, investigator blind, individually randomised controlled trial with prespecified subgroup analyses. 474 PwP (Hoehn and Yahr 1-4) were randomised: 238 allocated to a physiotherapy programme and 236 to control. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2019 Apr 2;19(1):96. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Biopôle 2, SV-A, Bio2-00-161, Route de la Corniche 10, 1010, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Background: Quality of life (QoL) is a subjective and dynamic concept resulting from an interplay between importance of and satisfaction with different aspects of life. However, it is unclear whether social contexts experienced by individuals born at specific times in history (cohort effects) may influence QoL in old age. This study aimed to compare among older persons born before, during, and at the end of World War II: a) satisfaction with QoL, overall and per domains; b) importance of QoL domains. Read More

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2019 Apr 2:3489419841398. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

4 Department of Cognitive Neurolinguistics, Swallowing Research Lab, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.

Objective:: Penetration-aspiration is considered the most severe sign of dysphagia, with aspiration pneumonia as one of its consequences. More than half of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients suffer from dysphagia, and aspiration pneumonia is among the primary causes of mortality in PD patients. However, the identification of predictors of penetration-aspiration in PD patients remains an understudied topic. Read More

Aging Cell 2019 Apr 2:e12934. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Division of Orthopaedic Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Age-related tendon degeneration (tendinosis) is characterized by a phenotypic change in which tenocytes display characteristics of fibrochondrocytes and mineralized fibrochondrocytes. As tendon degeneration has been noted in vivo in areas of decreased tendon vascularity, we hypothesized that hypoxia is responsible for the development of the tendinosis phenotype, and that these effects are more pronounced in aged tenocytes. Hypoxic (1% O ) culture of aged, tendinotic, and young human tenocytes resulted in a mineralized fibrochondrocyte phenotype in aged tenocytes, and a fibrochondrocyte phenotype in young and tendinotic tenocytes. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Neuroriabilitazione ad Alta Intensità, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopaedics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.

J Nutr Health Aging 2019 ;23(4):381-385

Mariko Nakamichi, Department of Pharmacy, Haradoi Hospital 6-40-8 Aoba, Higashi ward, Fukuoka city, Japan, 813-8588 Tel: +81-92-691-3881, Fax: +81-92-691-1059, E-mail:

Objective: To investigated the effects of antipsychotics on rehabilitation outcomes for geriatric hip fracture inpatients.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: The registry data from the Japan Rehabilitation Nutrition Database for analysis. Read More

Clin Geriatr Med 2019 05 1;35(2):273-283. Epub 2019 Mar 1.

Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), University of Florida, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, 1601 SW Archer Road, GRECC (182), Gainesville, FL 32608, USA. Electronic address:

Falls in hospitalized patients are a pressing patient safety concern, but there is a limited body of evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of commonly used fall prevention interventions in hospitals. This article reviews common study designs and the evidence for various hospital fall prevention interventions. There is a need for more rigorous research on fall prevention in the hospital setting. Read More

J Psychosom Res 2019 May 12;120:66-73. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Geriatric Medicine, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ACHIEVE - Center of Applied Research, Faculty of Health, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address:

Objective: To identify trajectories of cognitive-affective depressive symptoms among acutely hospitalized older patients and whether trajectories are related to prognostic baseline factors and three-month outcomes such as functional decline, falls, unplanned readmissions, and mortality.

Methods: Prospective multicenter cohort of acutely hospitalized patients aged ≥ 70. Depressive trajectories were based on Group Based Trajectory Modeling, using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15. Read More

BMC Complement Altern Med 2019 Mar 28;19(1):76. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7, Canada.

Background: Music has been shown to improve health and quality of life. It was suggested that music may also have an impact on gait stability and fall risk. Yet, few studies have exploited music in the hospital setting, and even less so in the geriatric population. Read More

J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2019 Feb;10(1):22-34

Division of Cardiology and Metabolism, Department of Cardiology & Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (CVK), Berlin, Germany.

Background: Cachexia has significant impact on the patients' quality of life and prognosis. It is frequently observed in patients with cancer, especially in advanced stages, but prevalence data for the overall population are lacking. Good quality estimates of cancer cachexia in general and for each of the major cancer types would be highly relevant for potential treatment development efforts in this field. Read More

Int J Integr Care 2019 Mar 15;19(1). Epub 2019 Mar 15.

National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Studiestræde 6, København, DK.

Introduction: This article explores the influence of patient-specific and organisational factors on adherence to program guidelines in an integrated care program targeting older patients.

Methods: The integrated care program aimed to offer post-discharge follow-up visits by a municipality nurse and the general practitioner to frail older patients after discharge from hospital. Adherence was measured as ) successful referral from the hospital and ) completed post-discharge follow-up visit. Read More

FASEB J 2019 Mar 27:fj201802430R. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Department of Geriatric and General Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan.

We hypothesized that low-intensity endurance exercise might be more effective in preventing cancer cachexia-induced muscle atrophy through both an increase in protein synthesis and a decrease in protein degradation. The purpose of present study was to evaluate the effects and to clarify the mechanism of low-intensity endurance exercise on cancer cachexia-induced muscle atrophy. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control (Cont), Cont plus exercise (Ex), AH130-induced cancer cachexia (AH130), and AH130 plus Ex. Read More

Am J Occup Ther 2019 Mar/Apr;73(2):7302205060p1-7302205060p8

Susan Stark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy, Neurology, and Social Work, Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO.

Importance: Forty percent to 75% of community-dwelling older adults are not able to adhere to their medication routine. A medication management assessment can correctly identify the reasons for nonadherence and the barriers contributing to it.

Objective: To further develop the HOME-Rx, an in-home medication management assessment, by modifying scoring metrics, improving clinical utility, and establishing psychometric properties. Read More

J Immunol Res 2019 20;2019:3128231. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Unit of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Università Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.

Background: Olfactory dysfunction might unveil the association between ageing and frailty, as it is associated with declining cognitive function, depression, reduced physical performance, reduced dietary intake, and mortality; all these conditions are characterized by increased levels of inflammatory parameters. The present study is aimed at evaluating the association between olfactory dysfunction, frailty, and mortality and whether such association might be mediated by inflammation.

Methods: We analysed data of 1035 participants aged 65+ enrolled in the "InCHIANTI" study. Read More

Med Sci Sports Exerc 2019 Mar 19. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute (OMNI), Ohio University, Athens OH.

Purpose: The goal of this trial was to determine whether low-load blood flow restricted (BFR) exercise of appendicular muscles induces a cross-transfer of effect to the trunk extensor (TE) muscles, such that low-load TE exercise would enhance TE size and function to a greater extent than standard low-load exercise in people with recurrent low back pain (LBP). We also investigated the direct effects of BFR exercise in the appendicular muscles.

Methods: 32 adults with recurrent, non-specific LBP were randomized into two groups: Appendicular BFR Exercise (BFR Exercise) or Control Exercise (CON Exercise). Read More

Aging Clin Exp Res 2019 Mar 25. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Department II of Internal Medicine and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.

Background: Geriatric syndromes (GS) do not fit into discrete disease categories and are often underdiagnosed in hospitalized older adults. Geriatric resources (GR) are also not routinely collected in clinical settings, although this may potentiate the beneficial effects of clinical decisions. The prognostic relevance of GS and GR has never been systematically evaluated through clinical tools developed for clinical decision purposes. Read More

J Alzheimers Dis 2019 Mar 18. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, University College Cork, St Finbarrs Hospital, Cork, Ireland.

Background: Visit-to-visit blood pressure (BP) variability (VVV) is increasingly recognized as a marker of cardiovascular risk. Although implicated in cognitive decline, few studies are currently available assessing its effects on established dementia.

Objective: To investigate if VVV is associated with one-year rate of decline in measures of cognition and function in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the Doxycycline And Rifampicin for Alzheimer's Disease study. Read More

Pain Med 2019 Mar 25. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.

Background: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is widely used in pain control in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation and is effective for fibromyalgia pain. However, its analgesic mechanism remains unknown. A possible mechanism for the effect of LLLT on fibromyalgia pain is via the antinociceptive signaling of substance P in muscle nociceptors, although the neuropeptide has been known as a neurotransmitter to facilitate pain signals in the spinal cord. Read More

J Appl Physiol (1985) 2019 03;126(3):791-794

Institute of Physiology, Center for Space Medicine and Extreme Environments, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany

Top Stroke Rehabil 2019 Apr 23;26(3):180-186. Epub 2019 Mar 23.

a Population Health Sciences , Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , Dublin , Ireland.

Background: Family members frequently provide long-term care for stroke survivors, which can lead to psychological strain, particularly in the presence of cognitive decline.

Objectives: To profile anxious and depressive symptoms of family caregivers at 5 years post-stroke, and to explore associations with stroke survivor cognitive decline.

Methods: As part of a 5-year follow-up of the Action on Secondary Prevention Interventions and Rehabilitation in Stroke (ASPIRE-S) cohort of stroke survivors, family members completed a self-report questionnaire. Read More

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2019 Mar 25. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Sealy Center on Aging, The University of Texas Medical Branch. Galveston, TX.

Background: Physical function declines during hospitalization in geriatric patients, increasing the risk of loss of independence. There is a need for evidence-based, pragmatic interventions to improve functional recovery of older adults following acute hospitalization. Here we report the results of a Phase I randomized controlled trial designed to determine safety and effect size of protein supplementation, exercise, and testosterone interventions on 30-day post-discharge functional recovery and readmissions in geriatric patients. Read More

Dement Neurocogn Disord 2018 Mar 31;17(1):11-22. Epub 2018 Mar 31.

Department of Neurology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Korea.

Background And Purpose: Evaluating instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) is an important part of procedure to diagnose dementia. The Korean-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (K-IADL) has been used extensively in Korea. However, its cut-off score has not been reformulated since 2002. Read More

BMC Psychol 2019 Mar 22;7(1):18. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Department of Geriatric Medicine and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

Background: Several studies have documented the variety of post-stroke psychosocial challenges, which are complex, multifaceted, and affect a patient's rehabilitation and recovery. Due to the consequences of these challenges, psychosocial well-being should be considered an important outcome of the stroke rehabilitation. Thus, a valid and reliable instrument that is appropriate for the stroke population is required. Read More

J Clin Psychiatry 2019 Mar 12;80(2). Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between polypharmacy and delirium, the association of specific drug categories with delirium, and the differences in drug-delirium association between medical and surgical units and according to dementia diagnosis.

Methods: Data were collected during 2 waves of Delirium Day, a multicenter delirium prevalence study including patients (aged 65 years or older) admitted to acute and long-term care wards in Italy (2015-2016); in this study, only patients enrolled in acute hospital wards were selected (n = 4,133). Delirium was assessed according to score on the 4 "A's" Test. Read More