Impact of Modified Diet, Swallowing Exercises, and Neuromuscular Electrostimulation on Severity of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia of Geriatric Patients.

: Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a common swallowing disorder, characterized by difficulties in moving food and liquids from the mouth to the esophagus; it is particularly prevalent among older adults with neurological conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a short-term complex treatment protocol combining dietary modifications, swallowing exercises, and transcutaneous neuromuscular electrostimulation in reducing the oropharyngeal dysphagia severity and aspiration risk among geriatric patients. : A total of 64 participants aged 60 and older, with oropharyngeal dysphagia, at LSMU Kaunas Hospital between May 2021 and April 2023, were included in the study after excluding those with significant comorbidities.

Impact of Modified Diet, Swallowing Exercises, and Electrostimulation on Quality of Life of Older Patients Suffering from Oropharyngeal Dysphagia.

: Oropharyngeal dysphagia is defined as a swallowing disorder in which it becomes difficult to form a bolus and move food from the mouth to the proximal part of the esophagus. Several factors can cause this disorder in geriatric patients. With oropharyngeal dysphagia, the patient's social isolation and the risk of depression increase, while the quality of life deteriorates.

One-bite-sized 3D printed finger foods, oriented to malnutrition, sarcopenia and frailty prevention in the older people.

Background: In this study, innovative chocolate, citrus and mixture flavoured tofu-based nutritionally customised, dysphagia-oriented, comfortably consumed, appetising, one-bite-sized finger foods, oriented to malnutrition, sarcopenia and frailty prevention in older people were created by using 3D printing technology. Developed products were characterised by evaluating chemical composition and physical properties and performing sensory evaluation among geriatric clinic residents (≥60 years).

Results: The dietary composition of the developed foods was: 19-21 g (100 g) protein, 6-8 g (100 g) fibre, 8-9 g (100 g) fat, 11 mg (100 g) iron, 14 mg (100 g) zinc, 70 μg (100 g) selenium.

Alzheimer's Disease Association with Metals and Metalloids Concentration in Blood and Urine.

As there is some evidence that the risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is partially attributable to environmental exposure to some metals and metalloids, we examined an association between AD and arsenic, chromium, and selenium in 53 AD patients and 217 controls. Urinary arsenic, blood chromium, and selenium were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Logistic regression models calculating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to estimate AD association with arsenic, chromium, and selenium.

Oropharyngeal Dysphagia as the Main Expression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of motor neuron disease. Only about 10% of ALS patients survive more than 10 years. Clinical studies show that multidisciplinary care statistically significantly improves survival compared to neurological care.

Impaired Subjective Visual Vertical and Increased Visual Dependence in Older Adults With Falls.

Aging affects the vestibular system and may disturb the perception of verticality and lead to increased visual dependence (VD). Studies have identified that abnormal upright perception influences the risk of falling. The aim of our study was to evaluate subjective visual vertical (SVV) and VD using a mobile virtual reality-based system for SVV assessment (VIRVEST) in older adults with falls and evaluate its relationship with clinical balance assessment tools, dizziness, mental state, and depression level.

Formulating protein-based beverages for the dysphagia diets of the elderly: viscosity, protein quality, in vitro digestion, and consumers acceptability.

Background: Dysphagia is defined as a disorder of the swallowing mechanism. The most common management of dysphagia is diet modification by thickening food and beverages. This study aimed to obtain protein-based beverages for the dysphagia diets of the elderly, corresponding to the 'honey' (III) level of dysphagia fluids according to the National Dysphagia Diet classifications, and containing 100 g kg of good-quality proteins with a high rate of hydrolysis during digestion.

Older Adults-Potential Users of Technologies.

: The successful adoption of technology is becoming increasingly important to functional independence and successful ageing in place. A better understanding of technology usage amongst older people may help to direct future interventions aimed at improving their healthcare. We aimed to obtain the first data regarding technology use, including gerontechnologies, represented by fall detectors, from older adults in Lithuania.

Nutritional status of rural community-dwelling older people and changes after following nutritional recommendations.

Background: It is crucial that community nurses in remote areas are competent to recognize the risk of malnutrition in older people and be able to help them to improve their nutritional status.

Aim: To examine the factors associated with malnutrition and the impact of nutritional recommendations in rural community-dwelling older people.

Design: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study.

Seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness against laboratory-confirmed influenza in 2015-2016: a hospital-based test-negative casecontrol study in Lithuania.

Objective: A case-control study was conducted to assess seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness (SIVE) during the 2015-2016 influenza season.

Methods: A study was performed in three departments in Lithuania between 1 December 2015 and 1 May 2016. Data on demographic and clinical characteristics including influenza vaccination status were collected from the patients recommended to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine.

Perioperative factors affecting length of hospital stay among elderly patients.

Background And Objective: Timely assessment and prevention of risk factors for the main perioperative complications in elderly patients provide an opportunity to avoid them, decrease mortality, and diminish costs associated with longer hospital stay. The aim of this study was to estimate perioperative factors that could potentially predict the length of stay and to estimate their predictive value using a comprehensive geriatric assessment among elderly patients.

Material And Methods: The study population comprised 99 surgical patients aged 65 and more.

[Use of technologies in maintaining autonomy of frail older persons].

Although Lithuanian population is aging and the number of older persons is increasing, the expectancy of autonomous life is one of the shortest in Europe. An increasing number of the elderly results not only in aging society, but in increasing morbidity as well. Reality of life is encouraging health care systems to take into account the needs of older patients and to seek for comprehensive assessment, which is not limited by physical assessment only but includes evaluation of functional state, cognition, socioeconomic status, home environment, identification of geriatric syndromes and vulnerability factors, and assessment of frailty.

[Nutritional status of elderly surgical patients].

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to assess nutritional status of aged surgical patients, to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and factors associated with it.

Material And Methods: A total of 156 patients aged 45 years and more, treated at the Departments of Surgery and Urology of Kaunas 2nd Clinical Hospital, were enrolled in the study. Elderly group (aged 65 years and more) consisted of 99 patients, and middle-aged group (45 to 64 years old) of 57 patients.