Quality of life and subjective health status according to handgrip strength in the elderly: a cross-sectional study

Objectives: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine potential associations between handgrip strength and health-related quality of life, or subjective health status, in the elderly.

Method: We performed secondary data analysis on 2377 elderly individuals aged >65 years. Raw data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI (2014–2015), were drawn from a representative national sample.

Results: Of those aged ≥65 years or older, 25.4% had low handgrip strength. After adjusting for confounding variables, the odds ratios of elderly individuals with low handgrip strength were 1.30 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–1.69) for mobility, 2.18 (95% CI: 1.47–3.22) for self-care, 1.70 (95% CI: 1.30–2.23) for usual activities, 1.30 (95% CI: 1.01–1.67) for pain/discomfort, 1.03 (95% CI: 0.74–1.44) for anxiety/depression, 1.44 (95% CI: 1.10–1.87) for the EQ-5D index, and 1.37 (95% CI: 1.08–1.73) for subjective health status.

Conclusion: Health-related quality of life and subjective health status differ according to handgrip strength. Therefore, handgrip strength should be addressed to improve quality of life in elderly individuals. Elderly individuals require exercise education and adequate nutritional intake to increase handgrip strength.     

Challenges for Research into Military Investigations

In cases of suspected violations of rules, regulations or the law by armed forces personnel, investigations are invariably mandatory. Military investigations differ from well-researched civilian criminal investigations. Differing from civilian police detectives, most military investigators – as disciplinary supervisors and military police personnel – have a number of tasks to accomplish, which include leading in combat and ensuring military readiness. Military investigations can lead to substantive negative or positive consequences for military readiness, including mental health, unit cohesion and subjective legal certainty. This impact on unit cohesion and mental health is influenced by any prior history of distress or trauma; military investigations are often preceded by contravention of internal disciplinary acts, complaints and traumatic events. This study explores factors in the differing military and legal systems of Germany and the United Kingdom (UK) that might help military personnel to successfully conduct investigations while ensuring deployment readiness and maintaining human rights.     

Cyanide and lactate levels in patients during chronic oral amygdalin intake followed by intravenous amygdalin administration

The natural compound amygdalin has gained high popularity among tumor patients as a complementary or alternative treatment option. However, due to metabolization of amygdalin to cyanide (HCN) following oral consumption, there could be a high risk of lactic acidosis caused by cyanide intoxication. The present retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate cyanide blood and lactate plasma levels of tumor patients (n = 55) before and after intravenous (i.v.) amygdalin infusion. All patients had also continuously ingested amygdalin tablets (3 x 500 mg/day), excepting on the days of i.v. administration. Each patient received one to five intravenous amygdalin treatments. The time period between each i.v. application ranged between 4–6 days. The initial i.v. dose was 6 mg (n = 28), 9 mg (n = 1), 15 mg (n = 1) or 18 mg (n = 25). The mean cyanide blood level before i.v. amygdalin administration was 34.74 μg/L, which increased significantly to a mean value of 66.20 μg/L after i. v. amygdalin application. In contrast, lactate decreased significantly from 1266 μmol/L pre-infusion to 868 μmol/L post-infusion. Increasing i.v. amygdalin by 1 mg was also associated with a significant increase in the cyanide level, while the lactate blood level significantly decreased. This is the first study evaluating cyanide levels under conditions employed by amygdalin administrators, i.e. after chronic oral amygdalin intake and then again after a closely subsequent intravenous amygdalin administration. Since lactate decreased, whilst cyanide increased, it is concluded that elevation of cyanide does not induce metabolic acidosis in terms of an increased lactate level.     

The Presence of a Psychiatric Condition is Associated With Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement: A Matched Case-Controlled Study

Background

We sought to examine the association between having a psychiatric condition and undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).

The prevalence of childhood psychopathology in Turkey: a cross-sectional multicenter nationwide study (EPICPAT-T)

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of childhood psychopathologies in Turkey.

Method: A nation-wide, randomly selected, representative population of 5830 children (6–13 years-old) enrolled as a 2nd,3rd or 4th grade student in 30 cities were evaluated for presence of a psychiatric or mental disorder by a Sociodemographic Form, Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL), and DSM-IV-Based Screening Scale for Disruptive Behavior Disorders in Children and Adolescents scales. Impairment criterion was assessed via a 3 point-Likert scale by the parent and the teacher independently.

Results: Overall prevalence of any psychopathology was 37.6% without impairment criterion, and 17.1% with impairment criterion. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder was the most frequent diagnosis, followed by anxiety (19.5% and 16.7% without impairment, 12.4% and 5.3% with impairment, respectively). Lower education level and presence of a physical or psychiatric problem of the parents were independent predictors of any psychopathology of the offspring.

Conclusion: This is the largest and most comprehensive epidemiological study to determine the prevalence of psychopathologies in children and adolescents in Turkey. Our results partly higher than, and partly comparable to previous national and international studies. It also contributes to the literature by determining the independent predictors of psychopathologies in this age group.     

童年期虐待对成年后心理及社交行为的影响

目的 为了探讨童年期虐待对成年后心理及社交行为的影响。方法 采用童年期虐待量表(CTQ-SF)、德克萨斯社交量表和症状自评量表(SCL-90)对238名成人进行问卷调查;以CTQ-SF均分为界,将238位被试者分为CTQ-SF高分组与低分组,分析CTQ-SF得分与德克萨斯社交问卷、SCL-90得分的关系。结果 不同儿童期虐待组社交行为总分及SCL-90总分差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01),童年期虐待与社交行为呈负相关(r=-0.165,P<0.05),童年期虐待与SCL-90呈正相关(r=0.434,P<0.01),社交行为与SCL -90呈负相关(r=-0.337,P<0.01)。结论 童年期虐待与成年后社交行为和心理健康呈负相关,童年期虐待会对成年后社交及心理健康造成负面影响。     

The Extension of the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997 to the Children’s Court: Opportunities and Shortfalls

In 2014, the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997 in Victoria was extended to the Children’s Court of Victoria. This article describes the processes that preceded this change and the changes that occurred. The potential opportunities consequent to the changes are described, with their corresponding ethical implications. The decision not to resource some of the changes as recommended by the Victorian Law Reform Commission is described, with reference to the lack of establishment of an adolescent forensic mental health facility. The shortfalls currently occurring and their ethical implications are also discussed. We note the need for data regarding the number of children whose matters are being heard under the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997, and the resourcing implications that flow from this.     

Does Rest Time before Ultrasonography Imaging Affect Quadriceps Femoris Muscle Thickness,Cross-Sectional Area and Echo Intensity Measurements?

In the work described here, our aim was to determine, in an elderly population, changes in muscle thickness (MT), cross-sectional area (CSA) and echo intensity (EI) of the quadriceps muscles at four time points (0, 5, 10 and 15 min; i.e., T0, T5, T10 and T15, respectively) after changing from a standing to supine position. Twenty-one elderly participants (14 men: 68.1 ± 4.6 y; 8 women: 66.8 ± 4.1 y) were evaluated at four time points. Rectus femoris CSA (RF_CSA), MT and EI of the quadriceps femoris (QF) muscles were assessed. EI significantly increased from T0 to T5, T10 and T15 (p < 0.001), whereas no differences were observed between T5 and T15 in the rectus femoris (RF_EI), vastus intermedius (VI_EI) and quadriceps femoris (QF_EI). No differences were observed between any time points in the RF_CSA and MT of QF muscles. In summary, these results suggest that periods >5 min are not necessary to obtain consistent MT and EI measurements of quadriceps femoris muscles in the elderly population.