Predicting mortality of elderly patients undergoing open heart surgery with delirium using sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), multi-organ dysfunction (MODS), and logistic organ dysfunction system (LODS) scores.

PURPOSE: This study aims to assess the predictive accuracy of SOFA, MODS, and LODS scores in determining the mortality of elderly undergoing open heart surgery with delirium. METHODS: A prospective study involved 111 elderly patients who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using scoring systems: SOFA, MODS, and LODS. RESULTS: Upon final follow-up, 86.5 % of the patients had recovered, 13.5 % had died. Sensitivity, specificity, negative, and positive predictive values for predicting mortality in elderly patients were calculated for the SOFA score as 99 %, 73 %, 98 %, and 76 %, respectively. For the MODS score, these values were 95 %, 60 %, 95 %, and 67 %; for the LODS score, they were 92 %, 73 %, 92 %, and 75 %, respectively. The overall accuracy of the three scores-SOFA, MODS, and LODS-was 84 %, 76 %, and 82 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the SOFA score exhibited the highest sensitivity and specificity in predicting mortality among elderly individuals.

Effect of time-restricted eating and intermittent fasting on cognitive function and mental health in older adults: A systematic review.

Objective: Emerging evidence suggests that dietary interventions hold promise for promoting cognitive function and mental well-being in aging populations. This systematic review aimed to examine the potential relationship between Time-Restricted Eating (TRE) and Intermittent Fasting (IFA) with cognitive function and mental health in older adults. Methods: A thorough exploration was undertaken on electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, up to October 2023, following PRISMA standards. The evaluation of the quality and potential bias in the incorporated articles involved the use of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT). Results: From a total of 539 articles initially identified, eight studies met the eligibility criteria for inclusion in this review. Out of these eight studies, six focused on cognitive function, and 2 focused on mental health. The reviewed articles encompassed a wide range of population sizes, with the number of older adults studied varying from 10 to 1357, reflecting a diverse cohort of individuals. Conclusions.The findings suggest that TRE and IFA may have a positive impact on cognitive function and mental health in this population. However, additional research is needed to fully comprehend this relationship. Therefore, future research should specifically examine factors such as the duration and timing of the eating window in TRE, as well as the physical condition of older adults, to provide a more nuanced understanding of the cognitive and mental health benefits of TRE and IFA in older adults.

The relationship between volunteering and cognitive performance in older adults: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aims to examine the relationship between cognition and volunteering in older adults, with a specific focus on domain-specific outcomes. METHODS: In April 2023, a comprehensive search was conducted across multiple electronic databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Scopus. The inclusion criteria for the study were limited to longitudinal studies or randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The quality and risk of bias of the included articles were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT). RESULTS: Out of 3575 articles retrieved, 17 studies were eligible for inclusion in this review. The majority of these studies were conducted in high-income countries. Of the 17 studies reviewed, 16 found a positive association between volunteering and cognitive benefits. CONCLUSION: The analysis of seventeen studies meeting the predefined inclusion criteria suggests a potential positive correlation between volunteering and cognitive function among older adults. Some demographic factors such as gender and education level were observed to have an influence on this relationship. It was found that older adults who engage in volunteering may exhibit better episodic memory, working memory, and verbal fluency compared to non-volunteers. However, due to limitations in the existing research and variations across studies, further investigation is needed to establish definitive conclusions.

The association between intergenerational relationships and depression among older adults: A comprehensive systematic literature review.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aims to comprehensively examine the relationship between intergenerational relationships and depression among older adults in Eastern Asian countries. METHODS: For this research, a systematic search was conducted on several electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar search engine up until June 2023. RESULTS: Out of 953 articles initially identified, 33 met the inclusion criteria. Emotional support and financial support emerged as crucial factors that can significantly reduce depressive symptoms among older individuals. However, there are diverse and sometimes contradictory results regarding the impact of intergenerational instrumental support on depression in older adults. CONCLUSION: Promoting positive intergenerational relationships and enhancing support systems can greatly benefit the mental health of older adults by addressing depression within this population. This review enhances our understanding of the complex relationship between intergenerational relationships and depression among older adults. The diverse findings on intergenerational instrumental support and depression in older adults suggest the need for further research to clarify this relationship and its nuances. This research may have practical implications for policies and interventions aimed at improving the mental well-being of older adults in Eastern Asian countries.

Association of intergenerational relationship and supports with cognitive performance in older adults: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: As individuals age, cognitive decline can significantly impact their quality of life. This systematic review aims to investigate the potential association between parent-child relationships among older adults in Eastern Asian countries and their cognitive performance. METHODS: For this research, a systematic search was conducted on several electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar search engine, up to March 2023. RESULTS: Out of 418 articles, 6 were eligible for inclusion in the study. The findings suggest that intergenerational relationships, particularly emotional support and two-way financial communications, are associated with maintaining cognitive health in older adults. CONCLUSIONS: Intergenerational relationships affect cognitive health in older adults, with implications for healthcare, social welfare, and the economy. Further research is required to investigate the effects of children's visits on cognitive health and explore the complexities of intergenerational relationships on cognitive health in aging populations.

Educational supportive group therapy and the quality of life of hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: In addition to physical, mental, and social condition, ESRD and hemodialysis affect the quality of life of patients as well. Psychotherapy and non-pharmaceutical interventions are effective measures to add meaning to life, create a goal and motivation in life, and improve the quality of life in chronic patients. The effect of educational and supportive group therapy on the quality of life (QOL) of hemodialysis patients was examined. METHODS: The study was carried out as an interventional quasi-experimental study with the participation of 64 patients who were selected through convenience sampling and based on the patient's hemodialysis days (Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday patients as an experimental group and Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday patients as a control group). There were 32 patients in each group. The experimental group received eight 50 min sessions including two sessions per week. The control group received the normal interventions. The participants were assessed using a demographics form and Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form before, immediately after, and 1 month after the intervention. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS (v.24). RESULTS: The mean QOL scores of the experimental group before, immediately after, and 4 weeks after the intervention were 36.99, 43.3, and 44.9 respectively. Those of the control group were 36.39, 37.2, and 37.1 respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups before the intervention (P > 0.05); however, the difference between the two groups was significant immediately after and 4 weeks after the intervention (P = 0.0001). The trend of score change in the experimental group was also significant (p < 0.05), and Tukey ad-hoc test showed significant differences between the scores before intervention and those immediately after and 4 weeks after the intervention (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In general, educational and supportive group therapy can expand the interpersonal relationships of hemodialysis patients and positively affect their quality of life.

Challenges of Clinical Nursing Training Through Internship Approach: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Nursing education programs are designed to decrease the gap between theory and practice. It is believed that internship programs can decrease this gap. An internship program has newly been implemented in Kermanshah Nursing School. However, the efficiency of this program has not been assessed. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore the challenges related to the internship education of nursing students. METHODS: The study was conducted as qualitative research. The participants were eight nursing students who had at least one semester of experience in internship. They were selected through purposive sampling. Data gathering was done through semi-structured interviews, which were recorded and analyzed through a three-stage content analysis approach. For data management, MAXQDA-10 was used. RESULTS: Out of the eight participants, three were male, and all were in the final year of their education. In total, 423 primary codes emerged after analyses, which were placed in seven categories, including: education before internship, lack of support, planning difficulties, interaction with staff, invisible evaluation, welfare defects, and professional identity. CONCLUSION: The study revealed the challenges of the internship program for nursing students in Iran. Some of the problems were related to educational background, others were associated with the shortcomings of the cultural aspects of the context. Therefore, it is recommended to optimize the clinical training of nursing students in the internship program by addressing these challenges.

Group reminiscence for hope and resilience in care-seekers who have attempted suicide.

BACKGROUND: The rate of attempting suicide is growing due to the increasing social and economic problems and a variety of stresses taken by individuals in their lives. Helping people, boosting hope, and improving resilience to life hardships might be helpful in this area. This paper is an attempt to determine the effects of group reminiscence on hope and resilience in care-seekers who have attempted suicide. METHOD: The study was carried out as a quasi-experimental interventional study. The participants were 57 care-seekers with a history of attempting suicide who met the inclusion criteria. The sampling was done through convenience sampling and the participants were grouped into control (n = 29) and experimental (n = 28) groups randomly. The experimental group received integrated reminiscence sessions (eight sessions; 60-90 min). Hope and resilience of the subjects were measured using Schneider's Hope Scale and Connor and Davidson's Resilience Scale. The scales were filled out by the subjects before, immediately after, and 4 weeks after the intervention. RESULTS: The mean scores of hope in the experimental and control groups were 34.60 and 38.04, respectively, before the intervention. These figures immediately after the intervention were 44.07 and 35.96 in the experimental and control groups, respectively. 4 weeks after the intervention, the mean scores of hope in the experimental and control groups were 44.39 and 35.79, respectively, which is a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). In terms of resilience, the mean scores in the experimental and control groups before the intervention were 48.17 and 57.51, respectively; and immediately after the intervention, these figures were 67.71 and 52.75, respectively. 4 weeks of the intervention, the mean scores of resilience were 59.17 and 52.24, respectively, which is a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Group reminiscence has a positive effect on boosting hope and resilience in care-seekers who have attempted suicide.

Investigation on absorption and release of mercaptopurine anticancer drug from modified polylactic acid as polymer carrier by molecular dynamic simulation.

The absorption and release of 6-mercaptopurine anticancer drug was investigated in biodegradable and biocompatible polymer of polylactic acid (PLA) using molecular dynamics simulation. For this purpose, the amount of mixing energy, radius of gyration, mean squared displacement and radial distribution function were computed and compared in concentrations of 5-36 wt% of 6-mercaptopurine drug. The simulation results show that increasing the concentration of the drug reduces mixing energy and PLA polymer carrier is able to carry 35.8 wt% of 6-mercaptopurine anticancer drug. Based on these results, the amount of 6-mercaptopurine release from PLA carrier 35.8 wt% of it in water environment is zero due to hydrophobic property of PLA and 6-mercaptopurine. Finally, polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer with different percentages (10-30 wt%) was used to modify PLA carrier. The simulation results show that the rate of drug release increases by increasing the concentration of PEG polymer in the modified PLA carrier and also with increasing the percentage of drug loaded in the carrier and also the optimum weight percentage of PEG in modified PLA carrier for 35.8 wt% of drug concentration is 11 wt% and the rate of drug release is slower and equal to 4.4 molecules/ns.

The Effectiveness of Group Spiritual Intervention on Self-esteem and Happiness Among Men Undergoing Methadone Maintenance Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Drug dependence or substance use disorder not only affects a person's life but also brings a lot of challenges for families and communities and imposes heavy burdens on them. There are various therapies in the domain of addiction whose main purposes are to reduce or to cut down substance abuse. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of group spiritual intervention on selfesteem and happiness among male clients undergoing methadone maintenance treatment. METHODS: This study was an intervention study in which 60 clients affected with substance abuse and undergoing methadone maintenance treatment were recruited. The study samples were selected through convenience sampling method and then divided randomly into two groups of 30 individuals: intervention and control. The intervention group attended group spiritual interventions for 10 sessions. Self-esteem and happiness among the study participants were also measured through Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire before and after the intervention. RESULTS: The results showed a significant difference between both intervention and control groups in terms of self-esteem and happiness (P < 0.05); so that the participants in the intervention group demonstrated a significant improvement in their self-esteem and happiness. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that group spiritual intervention as a useful method could be effective in enhancing self-esteem and happiness among addicted individuals undergoing methadone maintenance treatment. The given treatment could be also used as a complementary therapy beside methadone maintenance treatment to reduce the likelihood of people returning to substance abuse.