Efficacy of hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) in older adult patients (≥80 years) with primary colorectal cancer

BackgroundFrom 2004 to 2014, 821 colorectal cancer primary resections were conducted at our institution. Of these, 102 patients (12.4%) were older adults over 80 years old. underwent either the conventional laparotomy group (72 patients) or the hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) group (30 patients).MethodsData were extracted for 102 patients over 80 years old who underwent primary resection for colorectal cancer and were divided into two groups: conventional laparotomy (CL) (n=72) and hand-assisted laparoscopy (n=30). Pre-operative characteristics and outcomes were compared.ResultsBaseline characteristics were similar between groups, except for age: CL group median 83.5 years old (range, 80–92 years old) and hand-assisted laparoscopy (HALS) group median 81.5 years old (range, 80–88 years old) (P=0.027). Pre-operative cardiac and lung function risk, performance status, and pathological classification stage (pStage) were almost similar between groups (P=0.668, P=0.176, P>0.999, P=0.217). No significant differences were found for operation time. The HALS group resulted in less blood loss (median 204 mL in the CL group and median 68 mL in the HALS group, P=0.003), shorter postoperative hospital stay (median was 18 days in the CL group and median was 12 days in the HALS group, P<0.001), and fewer postoperative wound infections (18 cases in the CL group and 2 cases in the HALS group, P=0.034). Five-year relapse-free survival (5Y-RFS) was 48.1% in the CL group and 73.3% in the HALS group (P=0.028). Five-year overall survival (5Y-OS) was 48.2% in the CL group and 73.3% in the HALS group (P=0.027).ConclusionsApproximately 70% of surgical treatment for patients over 80 years old with colorectal carcinoma were performed by CL. However, HALS had significant advantages including less blood loss, fewer wound infections, and shorter hospital stays. Therefore, HALS could proactively be considered to older adult patients with colorectal cancer.     

Malnutrition in Older Adults—Effect on Falls and Fractures: A Narrative Review

Malnutrition in older adults impacts health status, increased mortality, and morbidity. Malnutrition may increase the development of geriatric syndromes and contribute to a higher prevalence of falls and osteoporotic fractures that lead to loss of independence and an increased rate of institutionalization. The role of malnutrition in the pathogenesis of other geriatric syndromes seems to be well established. However, the data concerning nutritional interventions are confounding. Moreover, long-term undernutrition seems to be one of the factors that strongly influences the efficacy of interventions. This review outlines the current literature on this topic, and aims to guide physicians to make proper decisions to prevent the vicious cycle of falls, fractures, and their negative outcomes in patients with malnutrition.     

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation in the intensive care unit prevents muscle atrophy in critically ill older patients: A retrospective cohort study

Critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) develop muscle atrophy and decreased physical function. Though neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) therapy has been shown to be effective in preventing this, but its effect on older patients is unknown.To examine the course of critically ill older patients treated with NMES in the ICU and to define the impact of its use.A retrospective cohort study was conducted using older ICU patients (≥65 years) categorized into a control group (n = 20) and an NMES group (n = 22). For subgroup analysis, each group was further classified into pre-old age (65–74 years) and old age (≥75 years).The control group showed significant decrease in muscle thickness during ICU and hospital stay. The NMES group showed lower reduction in muscle thickness and showed decrease in muscle echo intensity during hospital stay, compared to the control group. NMES inhibited decrease in muscle thickness in the pre-old age group versus the old age group. The decreasing effect of NMES on echo intensity during hospital stay manifested only in the pre-old age group. We did not find much difference in physical functioning between the NMES and control groups.Lower limb muscle atrophy reduces in critically ill older patients (≥65 years) with NMES and is pronounced in patients aged < 75 years. The impact of NMES on the physical functioning of older patients in ICU needs to be further investigated.     

Obstetric outcomes in nulliparous women aged 35 and over with singleton pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilization

Objective To investigate obstetric outcomes in singleton pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF) to nulliparous women older than 35 compared to those of their younger counterparts. Methods Nulliparous women 35 years and older at delivery conceived by IVF (n = 89) were compared with nulliparous women 34 years and younger at delivery conceived by IVF (n = 48). Data included antenatal data, gestational age at delivery, maternal and neonatal complications and mode of delivery. Results The incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension in the younger group was significantly higher than that in the elderly group (13 vs. 3.4%, P = 0.043). There were no measurable differences in other obstetric outcomes such as placental abnormality, premature delivery or neonatal asphyxia between the two groups. Conclusion The current results suggest that obstetric complications in pregnancies conceived IVF are attributed to mechanisms other than those depend on advanced maternal age.     

Burden of severe illness associated with laboratory confirmed influenza in adults aged 50–64 years: A rapid review

BackgroundWhile the high burden of illness caused by seasonal influenza in children and the elderly is well recognize, less is known about the burden in adults 50–64 years of age. The lack of data for this age group is a key challenge in evaluating the cost‐effectiveness of immunization programs. We aimed to assess influenza‐associated hospitalization and mortality rates and case fatality rates for hospitalized cases among adults aged 50–64 years.MethodsThis rapid review was conducted according to the PRISMA; we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, Web of Science, and grey literature for articles and reports published since 2010. Studies reporting rates of hospitalization and/or mortality associated with laboratory‐confirmed influenza among adults 50–64 or 45–64 years of age for the 2010–11 through 2019–20 seasons were included.ResultsTwenty studies from 13 countries were reviewed. Reported rates of hospitalization associated with laboratory‐confirmed influenza were 5.7 to 112.8 per 100,000. Rates tended to be higher in the 2015–2019 compared with the 2010–2014 seasons and were higher in studies reporting data from high‐income versus low and middle‐income countries. Mortality rates were reported in only one study, with rates ranging from 0.8 to 3.5 per 100,000 in four different seasons. The case fatality rate among those hospitalized with influenza, as reported by population‐based studies, ranged from 1.3% to 5.6%.ConclusionsSeasonal influenza imposes a significant burden of morbidity on adults 50–64 years of age but with high heterogeneity across seasons and geographic regions. Ongoing surveillance is required to improve estimates of burden to better inform influenza vaccination and other public health policies.     

User- and Message-Level Correlates of Endorsement and Engagement for HIV-Related Messages on Twitter: Cross-sectional Study

BackgroundYouth and young adults continue to experience high rates of HIV and are also frequent users of social media. Social media platforms such as Twitter can bolster efforts to promote HIV prevention for these individuals, and while HIV-related messages exist on Twitter, little is known about the impact or reach of these messages for this population.ObjectiveThis study aims to address this gap in the literature by identifying user and message characteristics that are associated with tweet endorsement (favorited) and engagement (retweeted) among youth and young men (aged 13-24 years).MethodsIn a secondary analysis of data from a study of HIV-related messages posted by young men on Twitter, we used model selection techniques to examine user and tweet-level factors associated with tweet endorsement and engagement.ResultsTweets from personal user accounts garnered greater endorsement and engagement than tweets from institutional users (aOR 3.27, 95% CI 2.75-3.89; P<.001). High follower count was associated with increased endorsement and engagement (aOR 1.05, 95% CI 1.04-1.06; P<.001); tweets that discussed STIs garnered lower endorsement and engagement (aOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.47-1.74; P<.001).ConclusionsFindings suggest practitioners should partner with youth to design and disseminate HIV prevention messages on social media, incorporate content that resonates with youth audiences, and work to challenge stigma and foster social norms conducive to open conversation about sex, sexuality, and health.     

健康成人颈动脉弹性特征的研究

目的 应用速度向量成像(VVI)技术分析健康成人颈总动脉(CCA)短轴方向管壁运动和弹性参数特点及其与影响因素间的关系.方法 2013年12月至2015年7月我院健康体检者400例依据年龄、性别分组,采用Siemens Acuson Sequoia 512彩色多普勒超声诊断仪采集CCA动态短轴二维图像,以VVI技术测量各组颈总动脉管壁短轴方向各侧壁(前壁、外侧壁、后壁、内侧壁)的收缩期峰值速度(Vmax)、峰值应变(Smax)及峰值应变率(SRmax).结果 健康成人颈总动脉各侧壁的弹性参数Smax、SRmax比较差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05),而外侧壁和前壁的运动参数Vmax分别为(6.65±0.80)×10-2 cm/s、(5.66±0.73)×10-2 cm/s,明显高于后壁和内侧壁的(3.70±0.81)×10-2 cm/s、(3.86±0.36)×10-2 cm/s,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);运动参数Vmax男性组均数为(6.25±1.17)×10-2 cm/s,均大于女性组的(4.66±1.28)×10-2 cm/s,而弹性参数Smax、SRmax女性组均数分别为(3.72±0.42)%、(0.21±0.17)/s,均大于男性组的(3.02±0.42)%、(0.17±0.20)/s,各项指标比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);随着年龄的增长,各项指标呈下降趋势,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 VVI技术可用于研究健康成人CCA管壁的运动力学特点及其与影响因素之间的关系.     

Behavioral Health Risk Factors and Motivation to Change among Cardiovascular General Hospital Patients Aged 50 to 79 Years

Little is known about the (co-)occurrence of smoking, alcohol at-risk drinking, physical inactivity and overweight, and the motivation to change these behavioral health risk factors (HRFs) in older general hospital patients with cardiovascular disease. Between October and December 2016, all consecutively admitted patients aged 50 to 79 years were proactively recruited on 3 cardiology wards and asked to participate in a survey on HRFs and behavior change motivation. Of the eligible patients, 80.4% participated in the survey (n = 328). The mean age was 66.5 years (standard deviation 9.0), and 65.5% were male. At least 1 HRF was present in 91.8% (n = 280), at least 2 HRFs in 54.4% (n = 166), and 3 or 4 HRFs in 12.1% (n = 37) of participants. The proportion of older adults who contemplated or were changing or planning to change their behavior to meet health behavior recommendations ranged between 66.0% (smoking) and 93.2% (alcohol consumption). The results indicate a notable co-occurrence of behavioral HRFs in older patients with cardiovascular disease. The majority of older adults were at least considering changing the respective behavior. To prevent and treat diseases efficiently, hospitalization may be a suitable moment for systematic multiple HRF screening and intervention.