by Jane Anastassopoulou  , Ioannis Mamarelis  and Theophile Theophanides

Received: 07 March 2021;  Published: 12 October 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2104180

In the present study, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were used to investigate the formation and development of carotid artery atherosclerosis. The FTIR spectra showed that with the progression of atheromatic plaque formation, the collagen changed its native structure from ɑ-helix to random coil, amyloid, and cross-links. The infrared spectra and SEM analysis of carotid arteries showed that higher than 65% of the atheromatic plaque in patients with stenosis cons [...]

by Janusz Włodarczyk  and Alicja Włodarczyk

Received: 26 October 2020;  Published: 18 August 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2103179

Zenker’s diverticulum is a cause of benign dysphagia. The main symptoms include dysphagia and regurgitation and require diagnostics to exclude neoplastic disease. Surgical treatment is recommended for symptomatic patients. The methods of treatment include endoscopic and open transcervical techniques. Thirty-eight patients treated using the open technique between 2000 and 2020 were analyzed. Patients were qualified for the procedure after a complete diagnosis that excluded the neoplastic process. All patients were a [...]

by Giuseppe Cocco  and Philipp R. Amiet

Received: 16 January 2021;  Published: 28 July 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2103178

Atrial fibrillation is very common in most old patients who need an adapted therapy due to their comorbidities. Before initiating an antiarrhythmic therapy, possible adverse effects, especially iatrogenic proarrhythmia, and extracardiac side-effects, must be considered. In geriatric patients with atrial fibrillation, heart rate control is the most frequent therapy. Oral anticoagulation plays a vital role in the therapy, but anticoagulation in old patients, who had a bleeding or stroke event, is challenging. Availab [...]

by Morisaki Naoko

Received: 23 October 2020;  Published: 28 July 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2103177

Objective: The present study aimed to elucidate the relationship between oral exercise and oral function among older adults requiring care in the nursing facilities of Japan. Methodology: The subjects were adults aged 65 years or above, requiring care and admitted to the nursing facilities for older adults in Japan. The subjects performed the assigned oral exercises, which included the exercises focused on the neck, shoulder, upper limbs, tongue, lips, cheek movement, vocalization, and deep breathing, in groups und [...]

by XinRan Quan  and Marica Bakovic

Received: 21 December 2020;  Published: 21 July 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2103176

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a diverse group of neuropathological diseases that are currently incurable due to the irreversible neuronal loss. At the present rate of the world population growth, it is projected that the number of ND cases will double by the year of 2050. With treatments only available for symptom management and relief, disease prevention may yield significant benefits. Recently, there had been association drawn between the disruption of phospholipid (PL) homeostasis and the progression of N [...]

by Melissa M Howard  , Justin Phillips  , Stefan Henley  , Sarah E. Green  and Emily R. Rosario

Received: 01 November 2020;  Published: 07 July 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2103175

Anterior cervical osteophytes are common in the geriatric population. Dysphagia can occur in individuals suffering from these spinal abnormalities. Surgical intervention is an uncommon course of treatment for these patients, but is often utilized as a last resort with the hope of swallow recovery. The purpose of this article is to highlight a unique case study documenting the required treatment course for dysphagia associated with osteophytes and subsequent osteophytectomy. We review current literature of both cons [...]

by Asaad G Ishak  , Sundar V Cherukuri  , GianCarlo Diaz  and Richard McCallum

Received: 25 January 2021;  Published: 02 July 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2103174

Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is a common condition, especially among the elderly population and can become debilitating. As we age, there are subtle changes in esophageal motility, but by no means is dysphagia ever considered to be a normal result of aging. Dysphagia usually presents with a variety of accompanying symptoms ranging from regurgitation during meals, mild discomfort, to severe chest pain. It can be challenging to localize the dysphagia from the history. The underlying etiology may become eviden [...]

by Jacqueline Lamond  and Charles L. Shapiro

Received: 07 December 2020;  Published: 05 July 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2103173

Breast cancer and osteoporosis are both diseases of aging. The "one in eight" lifetime risks of breast cancer occur primarily in the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth decades of life. One-third of postmenopausal women will experience an osteoporotic fracture. It is the coalescence of osteoporosis, breast cancer, and breast cancer treatments that, in some cases, increases the risks of osteoporotic fracture. That makes it imperative to assess risk factors, screen, and prevent or treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal w [...]

by Melodee Harris  , Priya Mendiratta  , Gohar Azhar  , Ruofei Du  and Jing Jin

Received: 24 November 2020;  Published: 15 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2102172

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) occur in almost all persons living with dementia. Antipsychotic medications are often prescribed inappropriately for persons living with dementia who experience NPS. Adverse side effects of antipsychotic medications include falls, sedation, cognitive dysfunction, prolonged QTc interval, extrapyramidal side effects, cerebrovascular events, metabolic changes, infection, and mortality. The purpose of this descriptive quality improvement project was to test the feasibility and preliminar [...]

by Janusz Włodarczyk  and Alicja Włodarczyk

Received: 26 October 2020;  Published: 07 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2102171

Esophageal cancer is a disease with difficult clinical management, and palliative therapy is the only predominant treatment. This retrospective study analyses the results of clinical management of elderly patients (>75 years of age) who were treated with esophageal stenting for malignant dysphagia due to primary esophageal cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), as well as secondary esophageal malignant strictures due to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with [...]