Ageing research reviews
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Ageing research reviews · Sep 2013
ReviewInterventions targeting pain or behaviour in dementia: a systematic review.
Both pain and challenging behaviour are highly prevalent in dementia, and multiple studies show that some of these behaviours may be correlated. Pain, especially in non-communicative patients, can cause challenging behaviour, and treatment of pain therefore may have an effect on behaviour. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of evidence regarding the effectiveness of interventions targeting pain on the outcome behaviour, and interventions targeting behaviour on pain, in dementia. ⋯ Available evidence suggests that (pain) interventions targeting behaviour, and (behavioural) interventions targeting pain are effective in reducing pain and behavioural symptoms in dementia.
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Ageing research reviews · Jan 2013
ReviewViewpoint: Crosstalks between neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaque formation.
Since its discovery, the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain have been recognised as the formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Mounting evidence has suggested the active interplay between the two pathways. Studies have shown that β-amyloid (Aβ) can be internalized and generated intracellularly, accelerating NFT formation. ⋯ Yet the precise mechanisms which link the pathologies of the two brain lesions remain elusive. In this review, we discuss recent evidence that support five putative mechanisms by which crosstalk occurs between amyloid plaque and NFT formation in AD pathogenesis. Understanding the crosstalks in the formation of AD pathologies could provide new clues for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to delay or halt the progression of AD.
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Ageing research reviews · Nov 2010
ReviewPopulation aging and its impacts: strategies of the health-care system in Taipei.
Taiwan is one of the fastest aging countries in the world. As such, the government has developed various strategies to promote an age-friendly health-care system. Health services are supported by National Health Insurance (NHI), which insures over 97% of citizens and over 99% of health-care institutes. ⋯ These include an emphasis on general medical care and a holistic approach in all specialties, development of a geriatrics specialty training program, development of post-acute services, and strengthening of linkages between health and social care services. Despite achievements thus far, challenges still include creating a more extensive integration between medical specialties, promotion of an interdisciplinary care model across specialties and health-care settings, and integration of health and social care services. The experiences of Taipei in developing an age-friendly health-care service system may be a culturally appropriate model for other Chinese and Asian communities.
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Ageing research reviews · Oct 2010
Review Meta AnalysisAge, gender and diabetic status are associated with effects of bone marrow cell therapy on recovery of left ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Clinical studies on intracoronary bone marrow cell (BMCs) infusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) revealed mixed results. Recently, meta-analysis on this topic have been conducted and found that there was marked heterogeneity between trials. The objective of this systematic review is to have a retrospection of the efficacy of cell therapy and explore whether the study design or characteristics of subjects may have influenced the effects of cell therapy on recovery of left ventricular function after AMI. ⋯ A multivariate meta-regression analysis was conducted to investigate the potential sources of heterogeneity. The model including age (coefficient=21%, P=0.04), male proportion (coefficient=-14%, P=0.001) and diabetic patients' proportion (coefficient=17%, P=0.002) explained most of the identified heterogeneity. The present systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that (1) BMCs therapy is effective at improving the LVEF; (2) BMCs therapy is more effective in ageing and diabetic individuals, whereas less effective in males.
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Ageing research reviews · Jan 2010
ReviewHypothermia as a cytoprotective strategy in ischemic tissue injury.
Hypothermia is a well established cytoprotectant, with remarkable and consistent effects demonstrated across multiple laboratories. At the clinical level, it has recently been shown to improve neurological outcome following cardiac arrest and neonatal hypoxia-ischemia. It is increasingly being embraced by the medical community, and could be considered an effective neuroprotectant. ⋯ In the case of ischemic stroke, cooling should ideally be applied in conjunction with the re-establishment of cerebral perfusion. Translating this to the clinical arena can be challenging, given the technical challenges of rapidly and stably cooling patients. This review will discuss the application of hypothermia especially as it pertains to its effects neurological outcome, cooling methods, and important parameters in optimizing hypothermic protection.