Climate Change: Effects on the Older Adult

The effects of climate change include floods, hurricanes, heat waves, and fires; these natural disasters can result in respiratory, cardiovascular, and psychological harm in older adults, who experience the highest morbidity and mortality during heat waves. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) need education on preparing, assessing, and treating older adults for climate-change disasters, especially heat waves. This article will help APRNs understand the effects of climate-change events on the vulnerable older adults and advocates for the need to integrate health effects of climate change into curricula, practicums, policy, and research agendas.     

Bidirectional relationships between future time perspective and alcohol use: an exploratory study in a clinical setting

Abstract

Gaining a better grasp on factors related to changes in alcohol use is of particular interest for clinicians. Past research has highlighted a negative link between future time perspective (i.e. a disposition guiding how individuals consider and act regarding their future) and alcohol misuse. However, much remains at stake in the understanding of this association. The objective of this research was to explore bidirectional relationships between future time perspective and severity of alcohol-related problems, in a clinical setting. The sample includes 79 patients followed up in an outpatient alcohol treatment centre. Two measurement times were planned: at entry into care and 6 months later. Multiple linear regression analyses were carried out, controlling for sociodemographic variables. We found that baseline future time perspective predicted level of alcohol-related problems after 6 months in treatment, even when effects of baseline alcohol-related problems and sociodemographic variables were controlled. This study shows that the way patients see and position themselves regarding their future can affect level of alcohol-related problems. It may be useful for clinicians to identify patients with low future time perspective to offer tailored interventions and consider this dimension as a resource for change.     

经鼻间歇正压通气防治早产儿呼吸窘迫综合征的临床研究

目的探讨经鼻间歇正压通气(NIPPV)在防治早产儿呼吸窘迫综合征(RDS)中的应用价值。方法选择2017年6月至2018年12月梧州市人民医院RDS早产儿90例,其中男性48例,女性42例;胎龄(29.03±0.58)周;出生体质量(996.91±98.52)g;病程(3.48±0.56)h;临床分级Ⅰ级58例,Ⅱ级32例;Apgar评分(6.85±1.06)分。依据随机数字表分为NIPPV组和持续气道正压通气(NCPAP)组,每组45例。NIPPV组给予NIPPV治疗,NCPAP组给予NCPAP治疗,若两组治疗后不能维持患儿生命体征则使用肺表面活性物质(PS)或行有创机械通气。结果NIPPV组和NCPAP组治疗12、24 h后和治疗结束时动脉血氧分压(PaO2)、氧合指数(OI)明显高于治疗前。NIPPV组治疗12、24 h后PaO2、OI明显高于NCPAP组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。NIPPV组和NCPAP组治疗结束时PaO2、OI比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);NIPPV组PS使用率(22.22%vs 44.44%)、有创通气率(17.78%vs 40.00%)、氧疗时间[(71.42±7.62)h vs(85.62±9.24)h]、有创通气时间[(46.78±5.32)h vs(55.27±6.14)h]、住院时间[(30.42±3.65)d vs(35.62±3.89)d]、并发症率(31.11%vs 53.33%)明显低于NCPAP组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论NIPPV可有效改善RDS早产儿通气功能,有利于减少PS使用、有创通气及并发症,值得临床推广。     

经鼻导管高流量吸氧与经鼻气道正压通气在重症毛细支气管炎呼吸支持中的应用价值比较

目的：比较经鼻导管高流量吸氧（HFNC）与经鼻气道正压通气（nCPAP）在重症毛细支气管炎呼吸支持中的应用价值，为临床治疗方案的选择提供参考。方法：选取2016年12月至2018年12月我院儿科收治的重症毛细支气管炎患儿90例，采用随机数字表法分为观察组和对照组各45例。两组患儿入院后均给予常规综合治疗以保证呼吸道通畅，在此基础上观察组采用HFNC治疗，对照组采用nCPAP治疗，比较两组患儿治疗前和治疗24 h后呼吸频率、经皮血氧饱和度（TcSO2）、呼吸窘迫评分体系（CSS）评分、动脉血氧分压（PaO2）等呼吸相关指标及治疗前后临床症状体征改善情况。结果：两组患儿治疗24 h后呼吸频率、CSS评分均降低，且观察组降低程度更大，TcSO2、PaO2于治疗24 h后升高，观察组升高幅度较对照组明显；治疗后两组患儿咳嗽及肺部湿啰音、肺部炎症情况均改善，观察组症状体征消失时间早于对照组，差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论：重症毛细支气管炎患儿采用HFNC治疗可明显改善通气功能和临床症状，治疗效果优于nCPAP治疗，可扩大样本量进一步观察。     

Could non-HDL-cholesterol be a better marker of atherogenic dyslipidemia in obstructive sleep apnea?

Background/objectiveObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is independently associated with dyslipidemia, a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol is accepted as a major independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol is a better marker of atherogenic dyslipidemia and recommended as a target of lipid lowering therapy. We aimed to assess the prevalence of atherogenic dyslipidemia, and relationship between OSA severity and serum LDL-cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol levels in OSA patients.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated treatment naïve 2361 subjects admitted to the sleep laboratory of a university hospital for polysomnography. All subjects’ lipid profile including total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and non-HDL-cholesterol were measured.ResultsOut of 2361 patients (mean age 49.6 ± 11.9 years; 68.9% male, apnea-hypopnea index 36.6 ± 28.4/h), 185 (7.8%) had no OSA and 2176 (92.2%) had OSA. Atherogenic dyslipidemia prevalence was high (57–66%) in OSA patients, and especially increased in severe OSA compared to other groups (p < 0.05). Though total and LDL-cholesterol did not differ between those with and without OSA, non-HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.020), and triglycerides (p = 0.001) were higher and HDL-cholesterol levels (p = 0.018) were lower in OSA patients than non-OSA. Non-HDL-cholesterol was significantly correlated with OSA severity (p < 0.001) and hypoxia parameters (p < 0.01), whereas LDL-cholesterol showed no correlation.ConclusionsAtherogenic dyslipidemia is highly prevalent and non-HDL-cholesterol levels are significantly increased, predominantly in severe OSA patients. Non-HDL-cholesterol but not LDL-cholesterol, is significantly correlated with OSA severity and hypoxia parameters. Therefore, it could be better to use non-HDL-cholesterol, which is a guideline recommended target of lipid therapy, as a marker of atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk in OSA patients.