Quality Improvement in Delirium Health Literacy in Older Adult Patients and Their Caregivers Attending a Geriatric Clinic.

Background: Delirium is a common medical condition that is highly prevalent in older adults who are at increased risk for its development with any illness, post-surgery or during hospitalization. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the health literacy of older adult patients and their caregivers about delirium, offer a brief educational intervention, and reevaluate their knowledge post intervention.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a quality improvement project, focused on delirium health literacy in older adult patients ≥60 years and their caregivers.

Does Superior Bone Health Promote a Longer Lifespan?

Introduction: Public health achievements throughout the last century have resulted in a steady increase in life expectancy. An emergent subset has distinguished themselves, living well beyond the ninth decade by avoiding or delaying the onset of most age-related diseases, including bone diseases and fractures. In this study, we evaluated the bone health of the oldest community-dwelling individuals living in rural Arkansas.

Cardiovascular Health in Individuals with Exceptional Longevity Residing in Arkansas.

Cardiovascular disease is a common comorbidity associated with an aging population. However, there is a unique group of individuals whose age-defying qualities are still being investigated. This retrospective chart review analyzed various cardiac and metabolic health parameters to characterize the prevalence of heart failure and metabolic derangements in individuals aged 90 years old or older in central Arkansas.

Hydration health literacy in the elderly.

Background: Inadequate hydration in the elderly is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. However, few studies have addressed the knowledge of elderly individuals regarding hydration in health and disease. Gaps in health literacy have been identified as a critical component in health maintenance, and promoting health literacy should improve outcomes related to hydration associated illnesses in the elderly.

Reversal of MicroRNA Dysregulation in an Animal Model of Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: Animals models have played an important role in enhancing our understanding of the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Dysregulation of the profile of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been demonstrated in human tissues from PAH patients and in animal models. In this study, we measured miRNA levels in the monocrotaline (MCT) rat model of PAH and examined whether blocking a specific dysregulated miRNA not previously reported in this model, attenuated PAH.

Pathological changes in pulmonary circulation in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced cirrhotic mice.

Rationale: Lack of an experimental model of portopulmonary hypertension (POPH) has been a major obstacle in understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the disease.

Objective: We investigated the effects of CCl4-mediated cirrhosis on the pulmonary vasculature, as an initial step towards an improved understanding of POPH.

Methods And Results: Male C57BL/6 mice received intraperitoneal injection of either sterile olive oil or CCl4 3 times/week for 12 weeks.

Attenuation of monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension by luminal adeno-associated virus serotype 9 gene transfer of prostacyclin synthase.

Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (iPAH) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. We evaluated whether luminal delivery of the human prostacyclin synthase (hPGIS) cDNA with adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors could attenuate PAH. AAV serotype 5 (AAV5) and AAV9 vectors containing the hPGIS cDNA under the control of a cytomegalovirus-enhanced chicken β-actin (CB) promoter or vehicle (saline) were instilled into lungs of rats.