[Assessment of cognitive and motor functions in older age groups: clinical significance, diagnostic tools, promising directions.]

Assessment of cognitive and motor function in older age groups is carried out to identify neurological deficits, clinical and functional prognosis, determination of rehabilitation potential, organization of accessible environment, prevention of progression of geriatric syndromes. The development of an applied methodology aimed at assessing both cognitive and motor functions, as well as cognitive-motor interaction in aging in normal and pathological conditions, is at the initial stage of formation. This article presents an overview of the methods used to assess cognitive and motor functions in clinical practice, analyzes the possibilities of their use for older age groups, and considers promising areas.

[Pharmacoeconomical grounds for decision on a basic hypnotic for general anesthesia in surgical interventions].

A comparative pharmacoeconomical analysis of basic hypnotics has been made in 127 patients based on an assessment of quality of anesthesia using standard scales. The data obtained show the use of propofol and a combination propofol-midazolam to be expedient. These medicines give reliably better results than using propofol-H20, sodium thiopental, and a combination of thiopental with droperidol.