Diabetes Mellitus in Pancreatic Cancer: A Distinct Approach to Older Subjects with New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with a very poor prognosis, with near-identical incidence and mortality. According to the World Health Organization Globocan Database, the estimated number of new cases worldwide will rise by 70% between 2020 and 2040. There are no effective screening methods available so far, even for high-risk individuals. The prognosis of PDAC, even at its early stages, is still mostly unsatisfactory. Impaired glucose metabolism is present in about 3/4 of PDAC cases. METHODS: Available literature on pancreatic cancer and diabetes mellitus was reviewed using a PubMed database. Data from a national oncology registry (on PDAC) and information from a registry of healthcare providers (on diabetes mellitus and a number of abdominal ultrasound investigations) were obtained. RESULTS: New-onset diabetes mellitus in subjects older than 60 years should be an incentive for a prompt and detailed investigation to exclude PDAC. Type 2 diabetes mellitus, diabetes mellitus associated with chronic non-malignant diseases of the exocrine pancreas, and PDAC-associated type 3c diabetes mellitus are the most frequent types. Proper differentiation of particular types of new-onset diabetes mellitus is a starting point for a population-based program. An algorithm for subsequent steps of the workup was proposed. CONCLUSIONS: The structured, well-differentiated, and elaborately designed approach to the elderly with a new onset of diabetes mellitus could improve the current situation in diagnostics and subsequent poor outcomes of therapy of PDAC.

Changes in Mortality Rates of Major Chronic Diseases Among Populations Aged Over 60 Years and Their Contributions to Life Expectancy Increase - China, 2005-2020.

What is already known about this topic?: The impacts of population aging have appeared in China, leading to a marked shift in the major contributors to life expectancy. Longevity improvements are now mainly promoted by reductions in mortality rates of the aged. What is added by this report?: This study systematically evaluates both changes in mortality rates of major chronic diseases among populations aged over 60 years as well as their contributions to life expectancy increases in China, from 2005 to 2020. What are the implications for public health practice?: The results of this study demonstrate that more attention should be paid to health conditions of the elderly, especially for the prevention and control of major chronic diseases.

The Associations of Built Environment with Older People Recreational Walking and Physical Activity in a Chinese Small-Scale City of Yiwu.

Physical activity would bring in plenty of health benefits, especially recreational physical activity (RPA). Previous studies have suggested that built environment would affect older people's recreational walking (RW) and RPA, but how the effects exist in a small-scale Chinese city remains unclear. Two hundred and fifty-two older participants were recruited in the city of Yiwu using cross-sectional survey of random samples in 2019. RW and RPA level of participants and perceived scores of built environments were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale, respectively. Linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the association of built environment with older people's RW and RPA. The results showed that two main factors affecting older people's RW and RPA were residential density and aesthetics. Additionally, access to services was related to RW, and street connectivity was correlated with RPA. The associations of RW with built environment varied slightly with demographic variables included in the regression model. All the results suggested that lower residential density, better aesthetics environment, and higher street connectivity would motivate older people to engage more in RW and RPA. The better access to services encourages only RW, not RPA, in older people. These findings would be helpful for policy decision makers in the urban construction process in Yiwu. More studies are needed to enlarge the scientific evidence base about small-scale cities in China.

The Effect of the Built Environment on Older Men's and Women's Leisure-Time Physical Activity in the Mid-Scale City of Jinhua, China.

Physical activity has been suggested to be beneficial in preventing disease and improving body function in older people. Older people's leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) is affected by various factors, especially environmental factors. However, the differences in the association between older people's LTPA and the built environment in different sex groups remain unclear. Perceived built environment scores and older people's LTPA were collected for 240 older people in Jinhua using the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale and International Physical Activity Questionnaire, respectively. A linear regression method was used to analyze the associations between older people's LTPA and the built environment in men, women, and all participants. The results showed that land use mix diversity was associated with LTPA in older people for both sexes. In men, LTPA was also associated with access to services. However, in women, LTPA was associated with residential density, street connectivity, and crime safety. The relationship varied when demographic variables were incorporated into the regression analysis. Those results indicated that a shorter perceived distance from home to destination would motivate older people to engage more in LTPA. Older people's LTPA was affected by various built environment factors according to different sex groups. Women's LTPA was generally more sensitive to the built environment. More studies are needed to confirm the association between LTPA in older people and the built environment in men and women in mid- or small-sized Chinese cities in the future.

Comparison Study of Perceived Neighborhood-Built Environment and Elderly Leisure-Time Physical Activity between Hangzhou and Wenzhou, China.

Physical activity and health are of significant importance for the rapid aging population in China. Built environment has been suggested to be associated with elderly physical activity and health. However, the association differences between cities remain unclear. Perceived built environment scores and elderly leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) of 308 elderly in Hangzhou and 304 elderly in Wenzhou were collected using Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale and International Physical Activity Questionnaire, respectively. A multivariate linear regression method and T-test were used to analyze of the associations between elderly LTPA and built environment and the differences between the two cities, respectively. The results showed that LTPA was positively associated with walking/cycling facilities and crime safety in both cities. LTPA was positively correlated with residential density, aesthetics, pedestrian/traffic safety in Wenzhou and negatively correlated with access to services in Hangzhou. The perceived scores of aesthetics (2.71 vs. 2.45) and pedestrian/traffic safety (2.11 vs. 1.71) in Hangzhou were significantly higher than those in Wenzhou. The results suggested that built environment elements like higher walking/cycling facilities and crime safety may motivate elderly engaging LTPA in both cities. However, LTPA was affected by different factors in these two cities. In the urban redevelopment, survey conducted in its own city would provide meaningful information and cannot be neglected.

Efficacy and adherence of sublingual immunotherapy in patients aged 60 to 75 years old with house dust mite-induced allergic rhinitis.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and adherence of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for house dust mite (HDM)-induced allergic rhinitis (AR) patients over 60 years old. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-six AR patients aged 60-75 years old were randomly divided in the control and treatment group as 1:1 ratio. The control group was treated with standard pharmacotherapy while the treatment group was treated with SLIT plus pharmacotherapy on demand. Patients adherence, combined symptom and medication score (CSMS), visual analog scale (VAS), and presence of adverse events were evaluated in the baseline and after 6-months, 12-months and 24-months treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-five (58.1%) subjects in the treatment group and 20 (46.5%) subjects in the control group completed the study (P > 0.05). The major reasons for premature cessation were out of touch and relieved symptoms. At the same time, CSMS and VAS of the patients over 60 years old in both groups significantly decreased from baseline to any post-baseline time point (all P < 0.05). The comparison of CSMS and VAS between the two groups revealed statistically significant differences in favor of the SLIT group at month 24 (P < 0.05), whereas no differences at month 6 and month 12 (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: 41.9% of the patients dropped out within 2 years of SLIT treatment and the major reasons for premature cessation were out of touch and relieved symptoms. This study suggested that SLIT plus pharmacotherapy provided a greater clinical benefit than pharmacotherapy alone at two years.

Risk factors for intracranial lesions and mortality in older patients with mild traumatic brain injuries.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for intracerebral lesion (ICL) in older adults with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) and evaluate the influence of comorbidities on outcomes. RESEARCH DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Information was gathered on clinical history/examination, cranial computed tomography, admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, analytical and coagulation findings, and mortality at 1 week post-discharge. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed, calculating odds ratios for ICL with 95% confidence interval. P < 0.05 was considered significant. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Data were analyzed on 504 patients with mean±SD age of 79.37 ± 8.06 years. Multivariate analysis showed that traffic accident, GCS score of 14/15, transient consciousness loss, nausea, and receipt of antiplatelets were predictors of ICL, while SRRI and/or benzodiazepine intake was a protective factor. A score was assigned to patients by rounding OR values, and a score ≥1 indicated moderate/high risk of ICL. CONCLUSIONS: MTBI management should be distinct in over-60 year-olds, who may not present typical symptoms, with frequent comorbidities. Knowledge of risk factors for post-MTBI ICL, associated with higher mortality, is important to support clinical decision-making. Further research is warranted to verify our novel finding that benzodiazepines and/or SSRI inhibitors may act as neuroprotectors.

The incidence and risk factors of postoperative delirium in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty / 临床麻醉学杂志

Objective To explore the incidence and risk factors for postoperative delirium patients over 60 years undergoing total knee arthroplasty.Methods Three hundred and sixty-nine patients (73 males,296 females,aged over 60 years,ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ) undergoing unilateral total knee arthroplasty were chosen.Before induction of anesthesia,femoral nerve block by nerve stimulator was performed for all patients,25 ml of 0.4% ropivacaine was injected to the continuous femoral nerve catheter for postoperative analgesia,all patients received intravenous-inhalation anesthesia during the operative.The confusion assessment method-intensive care unit (CAM-ICU) was used twice a day to evaluate whether the postoperative delirium had happened for patients within 3 days after operation,and record the case of complication besides postoperative delirium.To analysis the perioperative indicators depend on whether the postoperative delirium had happened for patients,then to screen out the probable risk factors for postoperative delirium,which include the kind of intravenous anesthesia drugs during operation,gender,age group,level of education;preoperative hypertension,coronary heart disease,arrhythmia,stroke,respiratory disease,diabetes,abnormal renal function and the ASA grade;the bleeding and blood transfusion volume during operative and the total amount of blood transfusion;degree of postoperative pain and whether used pethidine after operative.Put all observed factors to be analyzed by the Logistic regression model.Results Sixty-two patients (16.8%) had delirium within 3 days after operation.The results of multi-factor Logistic regression analysis indicates that the patients` increasing age (OR=2.116,P=0.035),low level of education (OR=0.091,P<0.001),preoperative chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) (OR=12.500,P=0.002),high ASA grade (OR=22.333,P=0.005),increasing total amount of blood transfusion (OR=4.500,P<0.001) and postoperative used pethidine(OR=22.372,P=0.001) were the independent risk factors for postoperative delirium.Conclusion The patients` age,level of education,preoperative COPD,high ASA grade,increasing total amount of blood transfusion and postoperative used pethidine are the independent risk factors for postoperative delirium.

Clinical Features and Prognosis of Patients Who Started Hemodialysis Treatment over 60 Years Old

BACKGROUND: Observation on the hemodialysis treatment; whether there are any different effects on mortality rate, side effects, or effectiveness of the treatment depending on patients' age. METHODS: Chronic renal failure patients who started hemodialysis treatment between 2002 and 2003 were separated in two groups, 33 patients of 60 and older and 76 patients under 60. We investigated mortality rate difference, A-V shunt re-operation, and total protein and albumin level. Also, comparing and analyzing the urea reduction ratio, we examined whether effectiveness is different depending on the patients' age. RESULTS: The 3 year survivor rate of patients who initially started hemodialysis treatment over 60 was 66.7%, and that of the patients under 60 resulted as 73.1%. The average total protein lefel for over 60 was 6.48g/dL and for under 60 was 6.80g/dL, and albumin for over 60 was 3.15g/dL and under 60 was 3.46g/dL. We identified that the patients who repeated shunt operation in over 60 group was 4(12%) and in under 60 group was 4(5.2%). Effectiveness of the treatment, Urea Reduction Ratio(URR), for both groups was 71%. CONCLUSION: The 3 year survivor rate of patients who initially started hemodialysis treatment over 60 was lower than the control group, but considering the remaining life expectancy, it seems to be no significant difference between the groups; and the treatment effectiveness was same in both groups.