The opportunity costs of caring for people with dementia in Southern Spain

Objective

The aim of this paper is to study the opportunity costs (OC) that are involved in being a caregiver and to compare them with the direct costs assumed by the State and the families. We evaluate direct cost (those that imply a payment-out-of-pocket) and indirect cost (those that imply a dedication in time). We hypothesized that costs increase with the severity of the dementia, with the educational level and active occupational situation of caregiver. They are greater if the caregiver is male, but if the patient and caregiver cohabit they are reduced.

Modified Epworth Sleepiness Scale in Chinese children with obstructive sleep apnea: a retrospective study

Background and objective  The purpose of this study is to assess whether Chinese children with high apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) are sleepier by a modified Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Materials and methods  Records were retrospectively reviewed. We included children who were between 3 and 12 years old, admitted for overnight polysomnogram because of suspected obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). A modified ESS was used to assess excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) of the children. Results  One hundred ninety-two Chinese children were included. Children with high AHI, defined as AHI > 5.0, were sleepier than children with AHI less than or equal to 5. After adjustment by age, gender, and obesity, children with high AHI remained significantly sleepier. Modified ESS was significantly correlated with AHI (rho = 0.124, 95% CI = 0.004–0.281). Modified ESS score of >8 was the best cutoff point with the sensitivity and specificity of 0.29 and 0.91, respectively. The odds ratio of children with modified ESS > 10 having high AHI was 4.231 (95%CI = 1.248 to 14.338) and children with modified ESS > 8 had the highest odds ratio, 4.295(95%CI = 1.66 to 11.1), of having high AHI. Conclusion   Chinese children with high AHI appear to be sleepier than children with low AHI. Children with suspected OSAS and high modified ESS, i.e., ESS > 8, had significantly higher odds ratio of having high AHI. Increased sleepiness is a specific but not a sensitive symptom in snoring children with high AHI. Screening for EDS in snoring children may help us identify those with high AHI and prioritize the management of those children. All authors worked and the study was carried out in Kwong Wah Hospital in Hong Kong. There was no conflict of interest and no specific source of funding for the study.     

Functioning and disability 6–15 years after traumatic brain injuries in northern Sweden

Objectives –  To assess long‐term functioning and disability after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Material and methods –  Individuals (n = 88) in Norrbotten, northern Sweden, who had been transferred for neurosurgical care were assessed with internationally established TBI outcome measures 6–15 years post‐injury. Results –  There was an improvement in overall outcome from discharge from inpatient rehabilitation to follow‐up. Many individuals had a high degree of motor and cognitive functioning, which enabled them to live independently in their own home without assistance, but there remained a disability related to community reintegration and social participation. This affected their productivity and to some degree their marital stability. The remaining disability and reduced productivity were related to the age at injury and the injury severity. Conclusions –  Our data showed that individuals with a TBI can achieve and maintain a high degree of functioning many years after the injury. Increasing age and a greater injury severity contributed to their long‐term disability.     

Flavocoxid is as effective as naproxen for managing the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee in humans: a short-term randomized,double-blind pilot study

Flavocoxid (Limbrel), a proprietary mixture of flavonoid molecules (baicalin and catechin), was tested against a traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, naproxen, for the management of the signs and symptoms of moderate osteoarthritis (OA) in humans. Discomfort and global disease activity were used as the primary end points, and safety assessments were also taken for both treatments as a secondary endpoint. In this double-blind study, 103 subjects were randomly assigned to receive either flavocoxid [500 mg twice daily (BID)] or naproxen (500 mg BID) in a 1-month onset of action trial. Outcome measures included the short Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index, subject Visual Analogue Scale for discomfort and global response, and investigator Visual Analogue Scale for global response and fecal occult blood. Both flavocoxid and naproxen showed significant reduction in the signs and symptoms of knee OA (P ≤ .001). There were no statistically detectable differences between the flavocoxid and naproxen groups with respect to any of the outcome variables. Similarly, there were no statistically detectable differences between the groups with respect to any adverse event, although there was a trend toward a higher incidence of edema and nonspecific musculoskeletal discomfort in the naproxen group. In this short-term pilot study, flavocoxid was as effective as naproxen in controlling the signs and symptoms of OA of the knee and would present a safe and effective option for those individuals on traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. A low incidence of adverse events was reported for both groups.     

Measuring staff perceptions of challenging behaviour: the Challenging Behaviour Attributions Scale (CHABA)

Causal attributions may interact with other variables to determine staff responses to challenging behaviour. Furthermore, staff perceptions of the causes of challenging behaviour are likely to change as a result of theoretical and practical training. However, there is no established simple method for measuring staff attributions that could facilitate research in these areas. The present paper describes the development and preliminary psychometric analysis of the Challenging Behaviour Attributions Scale (CHABA).     

Relocation mortality in dementia: The effects of a new hospital

Relocation mortality has been cited as an important factor when considering the placement of elderly patients. This study describes the fate of dementia patients relocated to facilitate the move to a new hospital. Some wards were moved as intact units—that is, the patients were kept together and there was little change in the nursing or medical staff. Two other wards were closed, and these patients were dispersed to several existing and new wards and experienced changes of nursing and medical staff. All patients underwent prerelocation and postrelocation orientation programmes. The mortality figures for the total patient group before and after the relocation do not show any statistically significant increase in mortality postrelocation. However, for wards that were closed and where the patients suffered maximum disruption to patient group and nursing staff, there was a significant increase in mortality rates.     

Aggressive behaviour in elderly people with dementia: A review

The progressive degeneration of the brain seen in dementia is often accompanied by behavioural disturbances. Aggressive behaviour is one of the most serious of these disturbances and is a common cause for psychiatric referral, admission to hospital and drug treatment. In this article, we discuss the conceptual issues associated with defining aggressive behaviour in cognitively impaired patients. We then review the aetiology, epidemiology, methods of assessment, and management of aggressive behaviour in elderly people with dementia.     

血清泌乳素水平与帕金森病痴呆的相关性研究

目的探讨帕金森病痴呆（PDD）患者及帕金森病（PD）与血清泌乳素（PRL）的关系。方法测定30例在我院门诊体检中心进行体检的正常健康老人（正常对照组）,PD非痴呆患者（PD组）30例及帕金森病痴呆（PDD组）患者30例的血清PRL水平。并采用简明智能状况评价量表（MMSE）把PD患者分别划为痴呆组和非痴呆组。分别比较各组的血清PRL水平。结果PD非痴呆组者的血清PRL平均水平为6．49±67μg/L,低于正常对照组11．77±2．38μg/L；PDD组平均PRL水平为1．94±0．83μg/L,明显低于PD非痴呆组6．49±1．67μg/L。结论PDD患者的血清PRL水平是降低的。PDD患者的痴呆表现越重,血清PRL水平越低,二者呈高度相关。     

NMDA受体介导了加兰他敏对阿尔茨海默病大鼠认知功能的改善

目的研究加兰他敏对阿尔茨海默病(AD)大鼠认知功能的影响及NMDA受体在其中的作用。方法雄性SD大鼠65只,随机分为假手术、链脲菌素(STZ)组,加兰他敏、MK-801和犬尿烯酸3个治疗组。侧脑室注射STZ制备大鼠AD模型,水迷宫试验测定大鼠的学习记忆能力。3个治疗组分别给予加兰他敏、MK-801 加兰他敏、犬尿烯酸 加兰他敏,共6周。结果术后第10天各组潜伏期明显延长,过平台次数明显减少,差异均无统计学意义。治疗6周后加兰他敏组潜伏期缩短,过平台次数增加,与STZ组比较,有显著差异,而MK-801和犬尿烯酸组潜伏期和过平台次数与STZ组比较,无明显差异。结论加兰他敏对AD大鼠的认知功能具有明显的改善作用,而应用NMDA受体阻断剂后其治疗作用消失。说明NMDA受体介导了加兰他敏对AD大鼠认知功能的改善。