Geriatrics & gerontology international
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Apr 2019
Relationship between jaw-opening force and neck circumference in healthy older individuals.
In recent years, the relationships of arm circumference and calf circumference with swallowing function have been reported. However, the efficacy of using the neck circumference, which is closer to the swallowing-related muscles, has never been verified. Jaw-opening force, an indicator of suprahyoid muscle strength, is known to be useful for screening for dysphagia. The aim of the present study was to identify the relationships between neck circumference and swallowing-related muscle strength, and to clarify the association between these variables in older individuals. ⋯ In healthy older individuals, neck circumference was more strongly related to jaw-opening force than were arm or calf circumference. This suggested that neck circumference could be useful for evaluating swallowing-related muscle strength non-invasively and easily. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 330-334.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Apr 2019
Emergency surgery and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status score are the most influential risk factors of death in nonagenarian surgical patients.
The number of nonagenarians undergoing surgery has increased considerably in recent decades as a result of population aging. Greater knowledge of the most influential factors affecting perioperative morbidity and mortality would improve the quality of care and provision of health resources for these patients. The objective of the present study was to analyze the perioperative mortality, and its most determinant factors, among nonagenarian patients who underwent a surgical procedure in the Department of General and Digestive Surgery. ⋯ Surgery should not be denied to nonagenarian patients based only on their age. Emergency surgery and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification are the most significant factors when deciding whether to intervene. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 293-298.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Apr 2019
Post-intensive care unit respiratory failure in older patients liberated from intensive care unit and ventilator: The predictive value of the National Early Warning Score on intensive care unit discharge.
The older adult population is continuously growing worldwide and there is increasing use of medical recourse in older patients, especially for those requiring intensive care unit (ICU) care and mechanical ventilation (MV). The present study aimed to investigate the burden and predictors of post-ICU respiratory failure in older ICU patients weaned from MV. ⋯ PIRF-14 is associated with high mortality in older ICU patients, and NEWS is a significant predictor for PIRF-14, which could be used to early identify patients at risk of post-ICU respiratory failure in the specific population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 317-322.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Apr 2019
Sevoflurane anesthesia impairs metabotropic glutamate receptor-dependent long-term depression and cognitive functions in senile mice.
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is often observed in older patients. Previous reports described the link between postoperative cognitive dysfunction and general anesthetics, such as sevoflurane, but the exact mechanism remains unclear. We therefore sought to characterize the effects of sevoflurane on hippocampal-dependent cognitive functions, as well as hippocampal plasticity, and to delineate the underlying mechanisms. ⋯ Sevoflurane anesthesia impaired metabotropic glutamate receptor-dependent long-term depression and thereby affected cognitive functions in old mice. Inhibitory modulators of calcium-activated potassium type 2 channels might prevent cognitive decline elicited by sevoflurane. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 357-362.