ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence and effect of cognitive impairment on treatment outcomes in elderly patients undergoing arthroplasty and to describe the feasibility of cognitive tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The participants were 52 patients with a mean age of 78 years 11 months (SD: 3.3), waiting for primary arthroplasty. We translated Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) into Finnish and compared it with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Mini-Cog, and clock-drawing tests prior to and 3 months after the surgery. The ability to perform activities of daily living, depression, quality of life, and years of education were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean MoCA score on the first visit was 20.7 (SD: 4.1). The pre- and postoperative cognitive tests implied there were no changes in cognitive functioning. Unambiguous delirium was detected in 6 patients. Delirium was not systematically assessed and consequently hypoactive delirium cases were possibly missed. Both MMSE and Mini-Cog found 3/6 of those and clock drawing and MoCA 6/6. Low preoperative MoCA, MMSE, and Mini-Cog scores predicted follow-up treatment in health-care center hospitals (P = .02, .011, and .044, respectively). During the 5-year follow-up period, 11/52 patients died. Higher education was the only variable associated with survival. The survivors had attained the median of 8 (range: 4-19) years of education compared with 6 (range: 4-8) years among the deceased. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of cognitive impairment among older patients presenting for arthroplasty is high and mostly undiagnosed. It is feasible to use the MoCA to identify cognitive impairment preoperatively in this group. The clock-drawing test was abnormal in all patients with postoperative delirium, which could be used as a screening test. Higher education predicted survival on a 5-year follow-up period.
ABSTRACT
In in vitro tests, natural coniferous resin from the Norway spruce (Picea abies) is strongly antifungal. In this observational study, we tested the clinical effectiveness of a lacquer composed of spruce resin for topical treatment of onychomycosis. Thirty-seven patients with clinical diagnosis of onychomycosis were enrolled into the study. All patients used topical resin lacquer treatment daily for 9 months. A mycological culture and potassium hydroxide (KOH) stain were done from nail samples in the beginning and in the end of the study. Treatment was considered effective, if a mycological culture was negative and there was an apparent clinical cure. At study entry, 20 patients (20/37; 54%; 95% CI: 38-70) had a positive mycological culture and/or positive KOH stain for dermatophytes. At study end, the result of 13 patients was negative (13/19; 68%; 95% CI: 48-89). In one case (1/14; 7%; 95% CI: 0-21) the mycological culture was initially negative, but it turned positive during the study period. By 14 compliant patients (14/32; 44%; 95% CI: 27-61), resin lacquer treatment was considered clinically effective: complete healing took place in three cases (9%) and partial healing in 11 cases (85%). The results indicate some evidence of clinical efficacy of the natural coniferous resin used for topical treatment of onychomycosis.
