Risk and protective factors for wellbeing in older veterans in New Zealand

Objectives: To compare indicators relating to aging and health among veterans and non-veterans, and identify factors associated with subjective wellbeing (SWB) of older New Zealand veterans.

Methods: Self-reported data were obtained from participants in a longitudinal cohort study of New Zealand older adults. Responses from 352 veterans and 1500 non-veterans (age range of 55–86 and gender matched) were selected as a comparison group on indicators related to health and aging. The association of these indicators with veterans’ SWB were assessed using hierarchical regression.

Results: Apart from being older, smoking more, and having more chronic conditions, veterans did not differ from non-veterans on indicators of health and wellbeing. Mental health, physical health, purpose in life, housing satisfaction, and capabilities (choice and freedom) accounted for a significant amount of variance in veterans’ SWB.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that older veterans do not differ greatly on indices of health and aging from their non-veteran peers. Results support previous findings that lower mental and physical health is associated with lower SWB for veterans. Building upon prior findings, the current results demonstrate that interventions focusing on enhancing a sense of purpose in life, supporting one's capability to achieve, and strengthening social and physical environment through social connectedness, may serve as protective factors for SWB in veterans.     

The use of hemodynamics to predict mortality in patients undergoing primary PCI for ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Introduction: Challenges remain in predicting mortality and severe myocardial dysfunction in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Areas covered: Cardiogenic shock is associated with a high mortality rate. Less well characterized are patients who are not in cardiogenic shock but will die from pump failure as a result of a STEMI. There is a long history of using hemodynamics to risk stratify patients with acute MI with the Killip class being shown to provide prognostic information in the prereperfusion, thrombolytic and PPCI eras. Recent studies have identified low systolic blood pressure (SBP), elevated heart rate, elevated left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), and low SBP/LVEDP ratio as hemodynamic parameters associated with early mortality in patients undergoing PPCI. Although infrequently used, prognostic information can be obtained from right heart catheterization in the setting of STEMI with the best-studied parameters being cardiac power, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), cardiac output, right atrial pressure/PCWP ratio, and pulmonary artery pulsatility index.

Expert commentary: Hemodynamic parameters measured at the time of PPCI provide important prognostic information. Whether hemodynamics can be used to determine which patients benefit from early initiation of mechanical support remains to be determined.     

Direct videoscopic approach to the descending thoracic aorta for aortic arch endograft delivery: evaluation in a porcine model.

PURPOSE: To examine the feasibility of a direct videoscopic approach to the descending thoracic aorta for endograft delivery to the aortic arch. METHODS: A double purse-string suture was placed on the aorta of 3 pigs via a thoracoscopic approach. Subsequently, the aorta was cannulated in the center of the purse-string. A 22-F delivery catheter was advanced under fluoroscopic control over a guidewire via a trocar into the proximal aorta. After deployment of a tubular endograft, the catheter was withdrawn from the aorta while simultaneously tightening the purse-string suture, without aortic cross clamping. The outcome was evaluated by post implant angiography and autopsy results. RESULTS: The procedure was successfully completed in all animals, with a mean total procedure time of 126 minutes (range 118-137). Mean endograft implantation time from needle puncture to catheter extraction was 27 minutes (range 21-37). Hemostasis was obtained in all animals after withdrawal of the delivery catheter and tightening the purse-string suture. The mean blood loss was 143 mL (range 80-220). Autopsy proved all purse-string sutures to be adequately placed and all endografts deployed in the correct position. CONCLUSION: A direct videoscopic approach to the descending thoracic aorta proved a feasible technique for endograft delivery to the aortic arch in a porcine model.     

The in vitro metabolism of radioactive progesterone and testosterone by the gonads of the protandrous Rhabdosargus sarba at various sexual phases

The in vitro steroidogenic capacity of the gonadal tissue in the protandrous Rhabdosargus sarba was studied. Testicular and ovarian tissues from various sexual phases were used either separately or combined. With progesterone as precursor, high yield of 5 beta-reduced metabolites, and no 11-ketotestosterone or 11 beta-hydroxytestosterone were found. The production of 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one and 5 beta-pregnane-3,20-dione was very high in incubations with testicular tissue from intersexes or males and was low in those with ovarian tissue only. The production of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone was high in the female but was low in other sexual phases. With testosterone as precursor, 11-ketotestoterone and 11 beta-hydroxytestosterone were identified. The latter was the most abundant and prominent polar steroid in all incubations. 5 beta-Reductase activity was high in the male and relatively low in the female. 5 alpha-Reduced products, however, were absent. There was an increase in the production of androstenedione as the animal underwent sex reversal. The significance of this change in steroidogenesis in this protandrous fish is at present under investigation. Experimental results also indicated that in the intersexual gonad there may be interaction between the testicular component and the ovarian component in steroidgenesis.     

Effect of “Speak Up” educational tools to engage patients in advance care planning in outpatient healthcare settings: A prospective before-after study

BackgroundTools for advance care planning (ACP) are advocated to help ensure patient values guide healthcare decisions. Evaluation of the effect of tools introduced to patients in clinical settings is needed.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of the Canadian Speak Up Campaign tools on engagement in advance care planning (ACP), with patients attending outpatient clinics.Patient involvement: Patients were not involved in the problem definition or solution selection in this study but members of the public were involved in development of tools. The measurement of impacts involved patients.MethodsThis was a prospective pre-post study in 15 primary care and two outpatient cancer clinics. The outcome was scores on an Advance Care Planning Engagement Survey measuring Behavior Change Process on 5-point scales and Actions (0?21-point scale) administered before and six weeks after using a tool, with reminders at two or four weeks.Results177 of 220 patients (81%) completed the study (mean 68 years of age, 16% had cancer). Mean Behavior Change Process scores were 2.9 at baseline and 3.5 at follow-up (mean change 0.6, 95% confidence interval 0.5 to 0.7; large effect size of 0.8). Mean Action Measure score was 3.7 at baseline and 4.8 at follow-up (mean change 1.1, 95% confidence interval 0.6–1.5; small effect size of 0.2).Practical valuePublicly available ACP tools may have utility in clinical settings to initiate ACP among patients. More time and motivation may be required to stimulate changes in patient behaviors related to ACP.