Menstrual cycle and oral contraceptives influence cerebrovascular dynamics during hypercapnia.

Women experience fluctuating orthostatic intolerance during the menstrual cycle, suggesting sex hormones may influence cerebral blood flow. Young (aged 18-30) healthy women, either taking oral contraceptives (OC; n = 14) or not taking OC (NOC; n = 12), were administered hypercapnic gas (5%) for 5 min in the low hormone (LH; placebo pill) and high hormone (HH; active pill) menstrual phases. Hemodynamic and cerebrovascular variables were continuously measured.

Screening for subjective cognitive decline in the elderly via subjective cognitive complaints and informant-reported questionnaires: a systematic review.

Background: Subjective cognitive decline may represent at-risk persons progressing to mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which can be exacerbated by effects of anesthesia and surgery. The objective of this systematic review is to identify the most common questions in subjective cognitive complaint and informant-reported questionnaires used in assessing cognitive impairment of elderly patients that are correlated with standardized tests for cognitive impairment screening.

Methods: We searched Medline, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database, Emcare Nursing, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.

Effects of comprehensive geriatric care models on postoperative outcomes in geriatric surgical patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The elderly population is highly susceptible to develop post-operative complications after major surgeries. It is not clear whether the comprehensive geriatric care models are effective in reducing adverse events. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine whether the comprehensive geriatric care models improved clinical outcomes, particularly in decreasing the prevalence of delirium and length of hospital stay (LOS) in elderly surgical patients.

Treatment for patients with sleep apnea on opioids for chronic pain: results of the OpSafe trial.

Study Objectives: Approximately 20% of North Americans are afflicted with chronic pain with 3% being opioid users. The objective was to determine whether patients on opioids for chronic pain with newly diagnosed sleep apnea attended sleep clinic review and followed treatment recommendations.

Methods: The study was a post hoc analysis from a multicenter perspective cohort study.

Oral contraceptives and menstrual cycle influence autonomic reflex function.

Progesterone and its analogues are known to influence ventilation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the role of endogenous and pharmaceutical female sex hormones in ventilatory control during the activation of the metaboreflex, mechanoreflex, and CO chemoreflex. Women aged 18-30 taking (n = 14) or not taking (n = 12) oral contraceptives (OC and NOC, respectively) were tested in the low hormone (LH) and high hormone (HH) conditions corresponding to the early follicular and mid-luteal phases (NOC) or placebo and high-dose pills (OC).