Heritability of SF-36 Among Middle-Age, Middle-Class, Male???Male Twins

Introduction. Nowadays, it is important to study the mechanisms of psychological adaptation in patients with early stage of chronic cerebral ischemia (ES CCI) from the standpoint of biopsychosocial approach. The objective of the study was to develop the algorithm for identifying psychosocial characteristics of patients with ES CCI and providing them with psychotherapeutic care. Material and methods. 280 patients with ES CCI developed against a background of arterial hypertension and/or cerebral atherosclerosis (middle age 53.9±8.1 years (from 30 to 72 years) gender index 1:1) were selected for the study. The control group included healthy individuals comparable to those in the main group according to gender and age characteristics (n=32, middle age 52.4±6.5 years (31–65 years), gender index 1:1, p>0.05 ). The panel of psychological methods was used to identify the individual psychological and socio-environmental factors in patients with ES CCI.Results and conclusions. A three-stage algorithm of psychological and psychotherapeutic support of patients with early stage of chronic cerebral ischemia (ES CCI) was developed and tested by the multidisciplinary team of specialists. At the stage of opportunistic screening, the neurologist used express methods for diagnosing cognitive (Mini-test of mental state), emotional (Hospital scale of anxiety and depression), vegetative disorders (the Wayne test) among the studied persons. At the stage of selective screening, the medical psychologist performed systemic psychodiagnostics of the ES CCI. At the stage of treatment, a correction was made: psychovegetative disorders by progressive muscular relaxation; anxiety-depressive manifestations – cognitive re-attribution according to A. Beck; obsessive-phobic disorders – direct motivated suggestion in reality with elements of clarification and persuasion. The indicators of the effectiveness of psychological and psychotherapeutic correction in patients with ES CCI were: positive dynamics of the Scale of quality of life SF-36 and regression of integrative indicators of the Scale of psychopathological manifestations of SCL-90-R – «Index of overall severity of symptoms» and «Total number of affirmative answers». Thus, the algorithm described above is suitable for use in practical healthcare for optimizing individual therapeutic strategies.

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Clinical characteristics, management and health related quality of life in young to middle age adults with COVID-19

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-021-05841-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Chiara Temperoni ◽

Stefania Grieco ◽

Zeno Pasquini ◽

Benedetta Canovari ◽

Antonio Polenta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Middle Age ◽

Early Stage ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Post Discharge ◽

Sf 36 ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

H 26

Abstract Background The outbreak of COVID-19 has rapidly spread to Italy, including Pesaro-Urbino province. Data on young to middle age adults with COVID-19 are lacking. We report the characteristics, management and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with COVID-19 aging ≤50 years. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed in all patients ≤50 years with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 admitted to Emergency department (ED) of San Salvatore Hospital in Pesaro from February 28th to April 8th, 2020. Data were collected from electronical medical records. HRQoL was investigated after 1 month from hospital discharge using the SF-36 questionnaire. Outcomes were evaluated between hospitalized and not hospitalized patients. Results Among 673 patients admitted to the ED and diagnosed with COVID-19, 104 (15%) were ≤ 50 years old: 74% were discharged at home within 48 h, 26% were hospitalized. Fever occurred in 90% of the cases followed by cough (56%) and dyspnoea (34%). The most frequent coexisting conditions were hypertension (11%), thyroid dysfunction (8%) and neurological and/or mental disorders [NMDs] (6%). Mean BMI was 27. Hypokalaemia and NMDs were significantly more common in patients who underwent mechanical ventilation. Regardless of hospitalization, there was an impairment in both the physical and mental functioning. Conclusions Overweight and hypertension are frequent conditions in young to middle age adults with COVID-19. Hypokalaemia and NMDs are commonly associated with progressive disease. A significant impact on HRQoL in the early stage of post-discharge is common in this population.

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Elderly Patients Achieving Clinical and Radiological Outcomes Comparable with Those of Younger Patients Following Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Asian Spine Journal ◽

10.4184/asj.2017.11.2.230 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 230-242 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Joshi Nikhil N. ◽

Joel Wei-An Lim ◽

William Yeo ◽

Wai-Mun Yue

Keyword(s):

Interbody Fusion ◽

Middle Age ◽

Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion ◽

Adjacent Segment ◽

Lumbar Interbody Fusion ◽

Old Patients ◽

Post Surgery ◽

Sf 36 ◽

Hospital Stays ◽

Young Old

<sec><title>Study Design</title>Retrospective analysis of prospective database.</sec><sec><title>Purpose</title>To compare 2-year clinical and radiological outcomes after minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) among “middle-age” (50–64.99 years), “young-old” (65–74.99 years), and “old-old” (>75 years) patients.</sec><sec><title>Overview of Literature</title>Owing to higher perioperative morbidity and mortality rates, elderly patients with degenerative lumbar conditions are occasionally denied surgical care, even after conservative treatment failure. MIS-TLIF advantages include reduced blood loss, reduced analgesia requirements, early mobilization, and shorter hospital stays.</sec><sec><title>Methods</title>Between 2007 and 2012, 22 patients (age >75 years) treated with 1-2 level MIS-TLIF were matched with “young-old” and “middle-age” patients (22 each) based on race, body mass index (BMI), diagnosis, spinal level, number of spinal levels operated upon, and bone graft type. Clinical outcomes included the Oswestry disability index (ODI), neurogenic symptom score (NSS), 36-item short form health survey (SF-36), and visual analogue scale (VAS) for back and leg pain. Radiological assessment included plain radiographs and preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and plain radiographs at 1, 3, 6, and 24 months postoperatively. Fusion grade, loosening, cage migration, and adjacent segment degeneration were assessed.</sec><sec><title>Results</title>The groups had similar fluoroscopy time, operation duration, and postoperative analgesia type used. “Old-old” patients took longer to ambulate (1.6 days) and had longer hospital stays (6 days). All patients showed significant improvement in clinical outcome scores at all time-points compared with the preoperative status. “Middle-age” patients showed better ODI and SF-36 physical function scores than “old-old” patients preoperatively and 2 years post surgery. NSS, VAS (back and leg), and SF-36 mental function scores were similar between groups preoperatively and at every time-point postoperatively. Minimal clinical important differences (63.6%–95.5% at 2 years) were achieved. Grade 1 fusion occurred in a minimum of 80% patients in each group 2 years post surgery. Complication rates were similar. Adjacent segment disease occurred in 2 patients from the “young-old” group, with no significant differences between groups.</sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title>MIS-TLIF showed comparable results in selected “old-old” patients compared with “young-old” and “middle-age” patients without increased complication risks.</sec>

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The blister of porphyria cutanea tarda: A Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopic study

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100143298 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 334-335

Author(s):

Veronika Burmeister ◽

R. Swaminathan

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽

Basement Membrane ◽

Middle Age ◽

Porphyria Cutanea Tarda ◽

Minor Trauma ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

Transmission Electron Microscopic Study ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

Transmission Electron Microscopic

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is a disorder of porphyrin metabolism which occurs most often during middle age. The disease is characterized by excessive production of uroporphyrin which causes photosensitivity and skin eruptions on hands and arms, due to minor trauma and exposure to sunlight. The pathology of the blister is well known, being subepidermal with epidermodermal separation, it is not always absolutely clear, whether the basal lamina is attached to the epidermis or the dermis. The purpose of our investigation was to study the attachment of the basement membrane in the blister by comparing scanning with transmission electron microscopy.

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Use of a Mild-Gain Hearing Aid by Middle-Age Normal-Hearing Adults Who Do and Do Not Self-Report Trouble Hearing in Background Noise

American Journal of Audiology ◽

10.1044/2020_aja-19-00051 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 419-428

Author(s):

Jasleen Singh ◽

Karen A. Doherty

Keyword(s):

Hearing Aids ◽

Background Noise ◽

Middle Age ◽

Hearing Aid ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Self Report ◽

Hearing Aid Use ◽

Hearing Handicap ◽

Before And After ◽

Hearing Problems

Purpose The aim of the study was to assess how the use of a mild-gain hearing aid can affect hearing handicap, motivation, and attitudes toward hearing aids for middle-age, normal-hearing adults who do and do not self-report trouble hearing in background noise. Method A total of 20 participants (45–60 years of age) with clinically normal-hearing thresholds (< 25 dB HL) were enrolled in this study. Ten self-reported difficulty hearing in background noise, and 10 did not self-report difficulty hearing in background noise. All participants were fit with mild-gain hearing aids, bilaterally, and were asked to wear them for 2 weeks. Hearing handicap, attitudes toward hearing aids and hearing loss, and motivation to address hearing problems were evaluated before and after participants wore the hearing aids. Participants were also asked if they would consider purchasing a hearing aid before and after 2 weeks of hearing aid use. Results After wearing the hearing aids for 2 weeks, hearing handicap scores decreased for the participants who self-reported difficulty hearing in background noise. No changes in hearing handicap scores were observed for the participants who did not self-report trouble hearing in background noise. The participants who self-reported difficulty hearing in background noise also reported greater personal distress from their hearing problems, were more motivated to address their hearing problems, and had higher levels of hearing handicap compared to the participants who did not self-report trouble hearing in background noise. Only 20% (2/10) of the participants who self-reported trouble hearing in background noise reported that they would consider purchasing a hearing aid after 2 weeks of hearing aid use. Conclusions The use of mild-gain hearing aids has the potential to reduce hearing handicap for normal-hearing, middle-age adults who self-report difficulty hearing in background noise. However, this may not be the most appropriate treatment option for their current hearing problems given that only 20% of these participants would consider purchasing a hearing aid after wearing hearing aids for 2 weeks.

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