Analysis of behavioral disability and construction of a disability scale for the elderly in Shanghai

Object For the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis, less invasive procedures, which preserve maximal bony and ligamentous structures, have been recommended to reduce associated morbidity. The authors examined the outcome after decompression of spinal stenosis in the elderly by comparing 3 different surgical approaches. Their focus was whether a unilateral microsurgical decompression provided sufficient outcomes in the elderly population. Methods The authors investigated 108 elderly patients (age ≥ 60 years) with lumbar spinal stenosis (mean age 71 years [range 60–93 years]) who underwent surgery between 2004 and June 2006 at the authors' institution. Three different modes of decompression were analyzed in this study: a unilateral partial hemilaminectomy, a hemilaminectomy, and a laminectomy. The outcome was assessed 12 months postoperatively using the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale and the Hannover Functional Back Pain Questionnaire. Results The authors performed a unilateral partial hemilaminectomy in 53 patients (49%). Patients who underwent unilateral partial hemilaminectomies achieved favorable results of at least 80% as assessed using the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale and Hannover Functional Back Pain Questionnaire. Hemilaminectomies were performed in 45 patients (41.7%), and laminectomies were performed in 10 patients (9.3%). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the various techniques regarding the postoperative results (p < 0.05). Conclusions Laminectomies did not show any advantage when compared with unilateral transmedian approaches. A unilateral partial hemilaminectomy combined with a transmedian decompression sufficiently treated the stenosis. This method seemed advantageous in minimizing the procedure and associated morbidity in this elderly population. Further investigations with long-term results (> 5 years) are still necessary.

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Development of a modified Winchester disability scale--the elderly at risk rating scale.

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health ◽

10.1136/jech.51.5.558 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 51 (5) ◽

pp. 558-563 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

I P Donald

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Rating Scale ◽

The Elderly ◽

Risk Rating ◽

Disability Scale

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Cell surface changes during aging of human bladder epithelium examined by lectin probes and SEM

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100162429 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 966-967

Author(s):

J. Jacob ◽

M.F.M. Ismail

Keyword(s):

The Elderly ◽

Ultrastructural Changes ◽

Pokeweed Mitogen ◽

Asymmetric Structure ◽

Luminal Surface ◽

Bladder Epithelium ◽

Aldehyde Groups ◽

Cell Surface Changes ◽

Phosphate Buffered Saline ◽

Surface Changes

Ultrastructural changes have been shown to occur in the urinary bladder epithelium (urothelium) during the life span of humans. With increasing age, the luminal surface becomes more flexible and develops simple microvilli-like processes. Furthermore, the specialised asymmetric structure of the luminal plasma membrane is relatively more prominent in the young than in the elderly. The nature of the changes at the luminal surface is now explored by lectin-mediated adsorption visualised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).Samples of young adult (21-31 y old) and elderly (58-82 y old) urothelia were fixed in buffered 2% glutaraldehyde for 10 m and washed with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing Ca++ and Mg++ at room temperature. They were incubated overnight at 4°C in 0.1 M ammonium chloride in PBS to block any remaining aldehyde groups. The samples were then allowed to stand in PBS at 37°C for 2 h before incubation at 37°C for 30 m with lectins. The lectins used were concanavalin A (Con A), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) at a concentration of 500 mg/ml in PBS at pH 7.A.

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The effect of dental geriatric curricula on attitudes toward the elderly

Journal of Dental Education ◽

10.1002/j.0022-0337.1988.52.9.tb02232.x ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 52 (9) ◽

pp. 516-518 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J Mann ◽

TJ Bomberg ◽

JM Holtzman ◽

DB Berkey

Keyword(s):

The Elderly

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Speech-Language Pathologists' Attitudes Toward Aging and the Elderly

Contemporary Issues in Communication Science and Disorders ◽

10.1044/cicsd_30_f_146 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 30 (Fall) ◽

pp. 146-155 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jeff Searl ◽

Rodney M. Gabel

Keyword(s):

The Elderly ◽

Speech Language Pathologists ◽

Attitudes Toward Aging

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Pharmacology Issues Related to Dementia Syndrome of Depression in Elderly Residents of Long-Term Care Settings

Perspectives on Neurophysiology and Neurogenic Speech and Language Disorders ◽

10.1044/nnsld25.2.61 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 61-69

Author(s):

Angel L. Ball ◽

Adina S. Gray

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

The Elderly ◽

Environmental Communication ◽

Pharmacological Intervention ◽

Team Approach ◽

Discussion Paper ◽

Term Care ◽

Anticholinergic Medications ◽

Inappropriate Treatment ◽

Dementia Syndrome

Pharmacological intervention for depressive symptoms in institutionalized elderly is higher than the population average. Among the patients on such medications are those with a puzzling mix of symptoms, diagnosed as “dementia syndrome of depression,” formerly termed “pseudodementia”. Cognitive-communicative changes, potentially due to medications, complicate the diagnosis even further. This discussion paper reviews the history of the terminology of “pseudodementia,” and examines the pharmacology given as treatment for depressive symptoms in the elderly population that can affect cognition and communication. Clinicians can reduce the risk of misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment by having an awareness of potential side effects, including decreased attention, memory, and reasoning capacities, particularly due to some anticholinergic medications. A team approach to care should include a cohesive effort directed at caution against over-medication, informed management of polypharmacology, enhancement of environmental/communication supports and quality of life, and recognizing the typical nature of some depressive signs in elderly institutionalized individuals.

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