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.

Associations of the serotonin transporter gene polymorphism, 5-HTTLPR, and adverse life events with late life depression in the elderly Lithuanian population.

Late-life depression (LLD) is a multifactorial disorder, with susceptibility and vulnerability potentially influenced by gene-environment interaction. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism is associated with LLD. The sample of 353 participants aged 65 years and over was randomly selected from the list of Kaunas city inhabitants by Residents' Register Service of Lithuania.

Individualized care for older adults with diabetes and its relationship with communication, psychosocial self-efficacy, resources and support for self-management and socio-demographics.

Aim: To examine the relationship between patient-provider communication, psychosocial patient self-efficacy, resources and support for self-management and socio-demographics within individualized care of older adults with diabetes.

Design: A quantitative study with a cross-sectional survey design.

Methods: Data were collected from September 2019 to January 2021 using: Individualized Care Scale, The Communication Assessment Tool, The Diabetes Empowerment Scale and The Resources and Support for Self-Management Scale.

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.

Individualized Health Care for Older Diabetes Patients from the Perspective of Health Professionals and Service Consumers.

Background: Individualized nursing care as a form of person-centered care delivery is a well-known approach in the health care context and is accepted as best practice by organizations and professionals, yet its implementation in everyday practice creates serious challenges. The aim was to assess and compare the perceptions of health professionals and older diabetes patients on their individual care in regard to the patient's clinical situation, personal life situation, and decisional control.

Methods: The quantitative study with a cross-sectional survey design was conducted from March 2019 until January 2021.

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.

Discharge Planning and Home Care Needs Assessment for Older Patients in a Nursing Hospital.

: Following the accumulation of a sufficient amount of scientific evidence, it is now possible to appeal for changes in the organization of nursing services. Our aims are to assess the health status of patients discharged from nursing hospitals and to identify their home care needs by applying the international InterRAI Home Care (HC) assessment form. : 152 geriatric patients (older than 65 years of age) discharged after a 90-120-day stay at a nursing hospital were examined using face-to-face interviews.

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.

Off-Label Use of Antipsychotic Agents in Dementia: Evidence for the Revision of the Reimbursement Policy.

Background: Harmonized requirements apply for the marketing authorization of medicinal products in the EU Member States. On the contrary, the national legislations on the drug reimbursement are not harmonized. The aim of this study was to find out if they are robust enough to ensure high standards of public health protection with focus on the symptomatic treatment of dementia in the elderly.

ABO blood group polymorphism has an impact on prostate, kidney and bladder cancer in association with longevity.

The aim of the present study was to assess the ABO blood group polymorphism association with prostate, bladder and kidney cancer, and longevity. The following data groups were analyzed: Prostate cancer (n=2,200), bladder cancer (n=1,530), renal cell cancer (n=2,650), oldest-old (n=166) and blood donors (n=994) groups. The data on the ABO blood type frequency and odds ratio in prostate cancer patients revealed a significantly higher blood group B frequency (P<0.

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.

SCARB1 rs5888 is associated with the risk of age-related macular degeneration susceptibility and an impaired macular area.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), a progressive retinal disease, is responsible for an impaired central vision in about 180 million people worldwide. Current options for ARMD prevention and treatment are limited due to an incomplete understanding of disease etiopathogenesis. We aimed to test the hypothesis that the single nucleotide polymorphism rs5888 of SCARB1 gene reflecting lipid and antioxidant micronutrient metabolism pathways is associated with ARMD susceptibility and to evaluate if there is any relation between SCARB1 rs5888 and the macular lesion area.

Investigation of Vitamin D-Binding Protein Polymorphism Impact on Coronary Artery Disease and Relationship with Longevity: Own Data and a Review.

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) polymorphism on coronary artery disease (CAD). DBP phenotypes were identified in the groups: control (n = 306), men suffering from CAD (n = 154), and long-lived individuals (n = 108). Isoelectric focusing of DBP phenotypes in serum was performed on polyacrylamide gel.

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.

Dementia with Lewy bodies: the principles of diagnostics, treatment, and management.

Dementia with Lewy bodies was first recognized as a separate entity about 30 years ago. The prevalence varies from 0% to 5% in the general population, and this disease accounts for 0% to 30.5% of all dementia cases.

Exclusion of older people from clinical trials: professional views from nine European countries participating in the PREDICT study.

Background: There has been concern about under-representation of older people in clinical trials. The PREDICT study reported that older people and those with co-morbidity continue to be excluded unjustifiably from clinical trials. However, there is no information about differences of opinion on these issues between EU countries.

The persistent exclusion of older patients from ongoing clinical trials regarding heart failure.

Background: Much clinical research of relevance to elderly patients examines individuals who are younger than those who have the disease in question. A good example is heart failure. Therefore, we investigated the extent of exclusion of older individuals in ongoing clinical trials regarding heart failure.

[Assessment of cognitive functions of the elderly in a hospital and long-term care institutions].

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to assess cognitive functions of the elderly in an acute care department and long-term care institutions.

Material And Methods: A total of 151 hospitalized patients and 111 residents in long-term care facilities participated in the study; in total, 262 respondents. The general items of the inter RAI Questionnaires (Acute Care and Long-Term Care Facilities) were used to evaluate and compare cognitive functions.

[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.

[Assessment of urinary incontinence in the elderly using the InterRAI-AC instrument].

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to identify and evaluate the prevalence of urinary incontinence and risk factors that influenced it among inpatients treated in the departments of internal medicine.

Material And Methods: A total of 151 inpatients were questioned using a standardized geriatric questionnaire (InterRAI-Acute Care). Inpatients aged 65 years and more and who gave written informed consent were enrolled into the study.