Post-mortem changes of the vascular system-a thanatological study using multidetector computed tomography.

Forensic pathologists have to deal with post-mortem changes of the human body. Those post-mortem phenomena are familiar and largely described in thanatology. However, knowledge about the influence of post-mortem phenomena on the vascular system is more limited, except for the apparition and development of cadaveric lividity.

Functional assessment of the stomatognathic system. Part 1: The role of static elements of analysis.

Objectives: To review the elements of static analysis in the functional assessment of the stomatognathic system, as promoted for more than a century by gnathologists, and summarize the available scientific evidence, including anthropologic observations.

Method And Materials: A thorough search was conducted using PubMed, the Cochrane Library database, and Google Scholar. From peer-reviewed articles and other scientific literature, up-to-date information addressing three topics was identified: (a) the anthropologic perspective with particular consideration for the role of progressive dental wear over time, (b) descriptions of gnathologic principles and evidence on their scientific validity, and (c) the methodologic inaccuracies introduced by seeking to correlate variables directly rather than allowing for causal inference.

Functional assessment of the stomatognathic system. Part 2: The role of dynamic elements of analysis.

Objectives: To review the dynamic analytical elements used in the functional assessment of the stomatognathic system, summarize the available scientific evidence, and consider interrelations with body posture and cognition.

Method And Materials: A thorough literature search was conducted using PubMed, the Cochrane Library database, and Google Scholar. Peer-reviewed articles and literature reviews provided up-to-date information addressing three topics: (a) the available knowledge and recent evidence on the relationship between the morphologic aspects of dental/craniofacial anatomy and oral function/dysfunction, (b) mandibular dynamics, considering mobility, functional activity, and existing methodologies of analysis, and (c) a possible correlation between the stomatognathic system, body posture, and cognition.

Assessment of cognitive screening tests as predictors of driving cessation: A prospective cohort study of a median 4-year follow-up.

Background: Assessing fitness to drive and predicting driving cessation remains a challenge for primary care physicians using standard screening procedures. The objective of this study was to prospectively evaluate the properties of neuropsychological screening tests, including the Trail Making Test (TMT), Clock Drawing Test (CDT), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Useful Field of View (UFOV), and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, in predicting driving cessation for health reasons in drivers older than 70 years of age.

Design And Methods: This prospective cohort study, with a median follow-up of 4 years for drivers of 70 years old or older with an active driving license in Switzerland, included 441 participants from a driving refresher course dedicated to volunteer senior drivers.

Standardized on-road tests assessing fitness-to-drive in people with cognitive impairments: A systematic review.

Objective: The on-road assessment is the gold standard because of its ecological validity. Yet existing instruments are heterogeneous and little is known about their psychometric properties. This study identified existing on-road assessment instruments and extracted data on psychometric properties and usability in clinical settings.

What is the profile of older drivers considered medically unfit to drive? A cross-sectional survey in Western Switzerland.

Objective: We aimed to assess how often and for what reasons general practitioners (GPs) consider older drivers medically unfit to drive.

Methods: All GPs certified to carry out fitness-to-drive assessments in Geneva (medical assessors, n = 69), as well as a random sample of 500 GPs practising in Vaud, Neuchatel and Jura, were asked to complete a questionnaire about the mean number of assessments per week, the number of negative decisions in the previous year and the main reason for the most recent negative decision.

Results: Completed questionnaires were returned by 268 respondents (45 medical assessors and 223 other GPs, participation rate: 47%).

Sex/gender bias in the management of chest pain in ambulatory care.

Objective: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the main cause of death worldwide and despite a higher prevalence in men, mortality from CVD is higher among women. Few studies have assessed sex differences in chest pain management in ambulatory care. The objective of this post hoc analysis of data from a prospective cohort study was to assess sex differences in the management of chest pain in ambulatory care.

The role of osteopathy in the Swiss primary health care system: a practice review.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe osteopathic activity and scope of practice to understand the current and future role of osteopathy in the Swiss healthcare system.

Design: A questionnaire survey that included a patient record-based retrospective clinical audit.

Setting/population: Osteopaths with a national diploma (n=1086) were invited by mail to participate in an online survey.

Adherence to guidelines when evaluating fitness-to-drive in the elderly: a practice review of Swiss physicians.

Objective: We aimed to explore the extent to which general practitioners (GPs) in Western Switzerland adhere to Swiss recommendations when assessing fitness-to-drive in the elderly.

Methods: A random sample of 500 GPs practicing in Vaud, Neuchatel and Jura, and all GPs certified to conduct fitness-to-drive assessments in Geneva ("experts", n = 69) were invited to participate. They were asked how often they performed twenty procedures (recommended in Swiss guidelines developed by experts in traffic medicine) when assessing older drivers during the previous year, scored on a five-point Likert scale ranging from "never" to "always performed".

The effect of vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation on routine haematological parameters in older people: an individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background/objectives: Low vitamin B12 and folate levels in community-dwelling older people are usually corrected with supplements. However, the effect of this supplementation on haematological parameters in older persons is not known. Therefore, we executed a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials (RCTs).

Cross-sectional study assessing the addition of contrast sensitivity to visual acuity when testing for fitness to drive.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to quantify the importance of loss of contrast sensitivity (CS) and its relationship to loss of visual acuity (VA), driving restrictions and daytime, on-road driving evaluations in drivers aged 70+.

Design: A predictive cross-sectional study.

Setting: Volunteer participants to a drivers' refresher course for adults aged 70+ delivered by the Swiss Automobile Club in western Switzerland from 2011 to 2013.

Hemoglobin Levels and the Risk of Malaria in Papua New Guinean Infants: A Nested Cohort Study.

Studies are available that assess the risk of malaria in accordance to the body's iron store and the systematic iron supplementation of preschool children. However, only a few studies evaluated the temporal association between hemoglobin and malaria and their results are opposing. A total of 1,650 3-month-old Papua New Guinean infants were enrolled in this study and followed-up for 12 months.

The role of angiography in the congruence of cardiovascular measurements between autopsy and postmortem imaging.

Introduction: Postmortem CT angiography is the method of choice for the postmortem imaging investigations of the cardiovascular (CV) system. However, autopsy still remains the gold standard for CV measurement. Nevertheless, there are not any studies on CV measurements on the multi-phase postmortem angiography (MPMCTA) which includes comparisons with autopsy.

Benefits of short educational programmes in preventing drink-driving recidivism: A ten-year follow-up randomised controlled trial.

Background: One fifth of drivers convicted of drink-driving for the first time will be convicted again for the same offence in subsequent years. Lecture-based educational programmes are believed to reduce recidivism. Little is known about the modalities of enhancing the benefits of such programs.

Evaluating Preoperative Models: A Methodologic Contribution.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) printed models of the human skull and parts of it are being increasingly used for surgical education and customized preoperative planning.

Objective: This study, using the calvaria as a model, provides a methodologic analysis with regard to future investigations aimed at evaluating patient-specific skull replicas.

Methods: Postmortem computed tomography was used for 3D reconstruction of a skull.

Tackling Societal Challenges Related to Ageing and Transport Transition: An Introduction to Philosophical Principles of Causation Adapted to the Biopsychosocial Model.

In geriatrics, driving cessation is addressed within the biopsychosocial model. This has broadened the scope of practitioners, not only in terms of assessing fitness to drive, but also by helping to maintain social engagements and provide support for transport transition. Causes can be addressed at different levels by adapting medication, improving physical health, modifying behaviour, adapting lifestyle, or bringing changes to the environment.

Effects of oral supplementation of iron on hepcidin blood concentrations among non-anaemic female blood donors: a randomized controlled trial.

Background And Objectives: Hepcidin is the main hormone that regulates iron balance. Its lowering favours digestive iron absorption in cases of iron deficiency or enhanced erythropoiesis. The careful dosage of this small peptide promises new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

[Patients forgoing health care for economic reasons: how to identify this in a primary care setting?].

Although the performance of the Swiss health system is high, one out of ten patients in general practitioner's (GP) office declares having foregone care in the previous twelve months for economic reasons. Reasons for foregoing care are several and include a lack of knowledge of existing social aids in getting health insurance, unavailability of GPs and long waiting lists for various types of care. Although long term knowledge of patients or a psychosocial history of deprivation or poverty may help identify individuals at risk of foregoing care, many may remain undetected.

The trail making test as a screening instrument for driving performance in older drivers; a translational research.

Background: In many countries, primary care physicians determine whether or not older drivers are fit to drive. Little, however, is known regarding the effects of cognitive decline on driving performance and the means to detect it. This study explores to what extent the trail making test (TMT) can provide indications to clinicians about their older patients' on-road driving performance in the context of cognitive decline.

A neuropsychological instrument measuring age-related cerebral decline in older drivers: development, reliability, and validity of MedDrive.

When facing age-related cerebral decline, older adults are unequally affected by cognitive impairment without us knowing why. To explore underlying mechanisms and find possible solutions to maintain life-space mobility, there is a need for a standardized behavioral test that relates to behaviors in natural environments. The aim of the project described in this paper was therefore to provide a free, reliable, transparent, computer-based instrument capable of detecting age-related changes on visual processing and cortical functions for the purposes of research into human behavior in computational transportation science.