The Improvement of Memory Deficits after Whole-Body Cryotherapy - The First Report.

BACKGROUND: Mild Cognitive Impairments (MCI) and dementia are still incurable. The Whole-Body Cryotherapy (WBC) - short, cyclic exposure to extremely low temperatures - has proven anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects. It can also induce hormonal, lipid and neural changes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the WBC effect on cognitive functioning and blood parameters of MCI patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants with MCI undertook 10 WBC sessions. Cognitive functions and depressive symptoms were assessed before the first session, after the last session and 2 weeks later. Whole blood samples were collected. RESULTS: The cognitive functioning improved after 10 WBC sessions (p<0.05), especially memory processes. WBC caused a significant (p<0.05) increase of NO plasma level, BDNF concentration (p<0.05) and reduction of IL-6 (p<0.05). The moderate relationship between NO and cognitive functioning was noticed after WBC. CONCLUSION: The preliminary results of the first study evaluating WBC on memory deficits suggest that WBC may be useful as a supportive therapy of MCI.

Facilitators and barriers to adaptive implementation of the Meeting Centers Support Program (MCSP) in three European countries; the process evaluation within the MEETINGDEM study.

ABSTRACTBackground:In the MEETINGDEM project, the Meeting Centers Support Program (MCSP) was adaptively implemented and evaluated in three European countries: Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom. The aim of this study was to investigate overall and country-specific facilitators and barriers to the implementation of MCSP in these European countries. METHODS: A qualitative multiple case study design was used. Based on the theoretical model of adaptive implementation, a checklist was composed of potential facilitators and barriers to the implementation of MCSP. This checklist was administered among stakeholders involved in the implementation of MCSP to trace the experienced facilitators and barriers. Twenty-eight checklists were completed. RESULTS: Main similarities between countries were related to the presence of suitable staff, management, and a project manager, and the fact that the MCSP is attuned to needs and wishes of people with dementia and informal caregivers. Main differences between countries were related to: communication with potential referrers, setting up an inter-organizational collaboration network, receiving support of national organizations, having clear discharge criteria for the MCSP and continuous PR in the region. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide insight into generic and country specific factors that can influence the implementation of MCSP in different European countries. This study informs further implementation and dissemination of MCSP in Europe and may also serve as an example for the dissemination and implementation of other effective psychosocial support interventions for people with dementia and their informal caregivers across and beyond Europe.

On the critical temperature discontinuity at the theoretical bcc-fcc phase transition in compressed selenium and tellurium superconductors.

Recent hydrides-driven advent in the high-pressure phonon-mediated superconductivity motivates research on chemical elements which compound with hydrogen. It is desired that such elements should allow chemical pre-compression of hydrogen to assure the induction of the superconducting phase with the high transition temperature (T C). Herein, we present detailed theoretical insight into the properties of the superconducting state induced under pressure (p) in two of such component elements, namely selenium (Se) and tellurium (Te) at [Formula: see text] GPa and [Formula: see text] GPa, respectively. The assumed external pressure conditions allow us to conduct our analysis just above previously theoretically predicted bcc-fcc structural phase transition of Se and Te, and identify the possible associated discontinuity effect of the critical temperature. In particular, our numerical analysis is conducted within Migdal-Eliashberg formalism, due to the confirmed electron-phonon pairing mechanism and relatively high electron-phonon coupling constant in the materials of interest. We predict that T C values in Se and Te equal 8.13 K and 5.96 K, respectively, and mark the highest critical temperature values for these elements within the postulated fcc phase. Additionally, we supplement these results by the estimated maximum values of the superconducting energy band gap and the effective mass of electrons. We predict that all these parameters can be used as a guidelines for experimental observation of the critical temperature discontinuity and the corresponding bcc-fcc phase transition in Se and Te superconductors. Moreover, we show that the thermodynamics of superconducting phase in both elements may exhibit deviations from the conventional estimates of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory, and suggest existence of the strong-coupling and retardation effects. Finally, we note that our results can be also instructive for future screening of chemical elements for applications in superconducting hydrides.

Comparison of the adaptive implementation and evaluation of the Meeting Centers Support Program for people with dementia and their family carers in Europe; study protocol of the MEETINGDEM project.

BACKGROUND: The MEETINGDEM study aims to implement and evaluate an innovative, inclusive, approach to supporting community dwelling people with mild to moderate dementia and their family carers, called the Meeting Centers Support Program (MCSP), in three countries in the European Union (EU): Italy, Poland and United Kingdom. Demonstrated benefits of this person-centered approach, developed in The Netherlands, include high user satisfaction, reduced behavioral and mood problems, delayed admission to residential care, lower levels of caregiving-related stress, higher carer competence, and improved collaboration between care and welfare organizations. METHODS: The project will be carried out over a 36 month period. Project partners in the three countries will utilize, and adapt, strategies and tools developed in the Netherlands. In Phase One (month 1-18) activities will focus on establishing an initiative group of relevant organizations and user representatives in each country, exploring pathways to care and potential facilitators and barriers to implementing the program, and developing country specific implementation plans and materials. In Phase Two (month 19­36) training will be provided to organizations and staff, after which the meeting centers will be established and evaluated for impact on behavior, mood and quality of life of people with dementia and carers, cost-effectiveness, changes in service use, user satisfaction and implementation process. DISCUSSION: An overall evaluation will draw together findings from the three countries to develop recommendations for successful implementation of MCSP across the EU. If the Meeting Centers approach can be widely implemented, this could lead to major improvements in dementia care across Europe and beyond. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was retrospectively registered in May 2016: trial number: NTR5936 .

Not re-inventing the wheel: the adaptive implementation of the meeting centres support programme in four European countries.

OBJECTIVES: The implementation of new health services is a complex process. This study investigated the first phase of the adaptive implementation of the Dutch Meeting Centres Support Programme (MCSP) for people with dementia and their carers in three European countries (Italy, Poland, the UK) within the JPND-MEETINGDEM project. Anticipated and experienced factors influencing the implementation, and the efficacy of the implementation process, were investigated. Findings were compared with previous research in the Netherlands. METHOD: A qualitative multiple case study design was applied. Checklist on anticipated facilitators and barriers to the implementation and semi-structured interview were completed by stakeholders, respectively at the end and at the beginning of the preparation phase. RESULTS: Overall, few differences between countries were founded. Facilitators for all countries were: added value of MCSP matching needs of the target group, evidence of effectiveness of MCSP, enthusiasm of stakeholders. General barriers were: competition with existing care and welfare organizations and scarce funding. Some countries experienced improved collaborations, others had difficulties finding a socially integrated location for MCSP. The step-by-step implementation method proved efficacious. CONCLUSION: These insights into factors influencing the implementation of MCSP in three European countries and the efficacy of the step-by-step preparation may aid further implementation of MCSP in Europe.

DemTect®--effective to asses MCI and dementia--validation study of the Polish language version.

OBJECTIVES: To validate DemTect®, a highly sensitive psychometric screening tool--designed to identify patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and patients with dementia (AD). METHOD: A prospective cohort/cross-sectional study was designed. The data were collected from a group of 224 subjects, including 85 patients with MCI, 109 with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 30 healthy control (HC) subjects. All subjects underwent a detailed neuropsychological assessment including CT, the assessment of biological parameters and a psychometric examination using DemTect®, MMSE, TYM, CDT and FAS. RESULTS: Subjects ranged in age from 55 to 94 years, with a mean age of 71.42 ± 9.86 years. Classification rates of DemTect® were superior for both the MCI and AD groups compared with the MMSE, with high sensitivities of 90% (cut-off ≤15) and 96.8% (cut-off < 10), respectively. The DemTect® Polish language version proved to be independent of age and education level. CONCLUSION: The Polish language version of the DemTect® scale is easy to administer. It may be seen as a superior cognitive screening tool in day-to-day practice as it achieves more accurate differentiation between HC/MCI/AD compared with MMSE.

Anserine and carnosine supplementation in the elderly: Effects on cognitive functioning and physical capacity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential beneficial effects of dietary anserine and carnosine (CRC) supplementation on cognitive functioning and physical activity of the elderly. The fifty-six subjects (65+) were allocated to the CRC group or placebo group at a 1:1 ratio. The double-blind procedure was used. Data were collected at the baseline and after 13-weeks of supplementation. In the follow up procedure fifty one subjects took part. Chicken meat extract (CME) containing 40% of CRC components (2:1 ratio of anserine to carnosine) was administered 2.5 g per day which allowed to rich the level of 1g CRC in dipeptides supplement. The cognitive function, physical capacity, body measurements, blood pressure and heart rate (HR) were assessed. After supplementation Body Mass Index (BMI) decreased significantly (p<0.05) in the CRC group performance comparing the placebo group. In two of six Senior Fitness Test the scores increased significantly (p<0.05) in CRC group comparing to the placebo group. The perceived exertion differed significantly (p<0.05) at the baseline and after follow up at the CRC group. The mean values of the Short Test of Mental Status (STMS) scores showed the significant (p<0.04) increase only in CRC group, in the subscores of construction/copying, abstraction and recall. Conducted anserine and carnosine supplementation in the elderly brings promising effects on cognitive functioning and physical capacity of participants. However, further studies are needed.

Test Your Memory (TYM) as a screening instrument in clinical practice - the Polish validation study.

OBJECTIVES: The Test Your Memory (TYM) test is a short, self-administered screening cognitive instrument designed for the detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study was aimed to examine the Polish version of TYM as a screening instrument in Polish clinical practice. METHOD: In this study 199 patients were assessed whereas 131 patients with AD and mild cognitive impairments (MCI) and 94 healthy control subjects took part in the final analysis. The sensitivity and specificity of the TYM test were evaluated among the AD group and healthy control group. The TYM test was compared to other neuropsychological tests, such as Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clock Drawing Test (CDT), DemTect and Verbal Fluency Test (FAS). RESULTS: The average TYM score in healthy control group: 45.4, 40.9 in the MCI patients and 23.4 in AD patients. The Polish version of the TYM test showed good correlation with other neuropsychological instruments among AD patients. Participants aged ≥75 and those with primary education performed significantly worse in TYM. The TYM achieved the best differentiation between AD and the healthy control group for ≤39 cut-off with a sensitivity and specificity of 91% and 90%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The Polish version of the TYM test is a useful instrument and may be seen as an alternative to the MMSE screening test in clinical practice in patients with dementia. However, the normative data suggested that the age and the level of education of the respondents should be considered as important factors affecting the interpretation of the final score.

Combined oligodendroglioma/pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma: a probable collision tumor: case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: We report the first case of combined oligodendroglioma and pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A female college student and competitive cross-country runner presented to the Mayo Clinic at age 18 years with complaints of progressive headache and visual disturbances. Neuroimaging revealed a heavily calcified left parieto-occipital mass with focal enhancement and remodeling of the overlying calvarium. INTERVENTION: A histological examination of the nearly gross total resection specimen disclosed a low-grade oligodendroglioma discretely abutting a superficially situated focus of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma. Ten months thereafter, a recurrence was suspected on the basis of the detection of a new focus of nodular enhancement. This lesion stabilized after radiation therapy, and the patient is well, without apparent residual disease 2.8 years after surgery. CONCLUSION: This unique neoplasm is presumed to represent a collision tumor, its biological behavior being similar to that of oligodendroglioma alone. However, the possibility of an unusual, mixed oligoastrocytoma with pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma as the astrocytic component cannot be excluded entirely. Potentially, both components have the capacity for recurrence and anaplastic transformation.