Analysis of the Relationship between Eating and Swallowing Function and Lifestyle of the Elderly Living in the Community-A Secondary Publication

Objectives:The relationship between eating and swallowing function,and lifestyle among community-dwelling elderly people has not been extensively studied.This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of eating and swallowing function and their association with the lifestyle among the elderly.Methods:A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted on 419 elderly people who participated in the oral function improvement project operated by the Community Comprehensive Support Center.A total of 288 valid responses(58 males,230 females,average age 73.6 years)were analyzed.The survey items included basic demographics,health status,lifestyle,and eating and swallowing functions.The chi-square(χ2)test was used to compare for a difference in the risk of dysphagia.Results:72 patients(25.0%)were judged to be at risk for dysphagia,and 216(75.0%)were judged to be not at risk for dysphagia using the revised dysphagia risk assessment scale.The mean score for oral preparatory dysphagia was the highest,while the mean score for pharyngeal dysphagia was the lowest.The group at risk of dysphagia had significant difficulty in chewing and had bad sleep quality as compared to the group that was not at risk.Conclusion:Concerning the risk of dysphagia,there is a need to maintain and improve masticatory function.In addition,improving the swallowing function of the elderly may prevent insomnia and improve sleep quality.

A Qualitative Study on What It Means for Patients with Schizophrenia Living in the Community to Remain on Medication

Background: Little is known about what the experience of “taking antipsychotics” means in a patient’s life. Therefore, this study aims to identify what it means for patients with schizophrenia living in the community to remain on medication. Methods: The participants were five residents of communities, who had been discharged from a psychiatric hospital, but were currently visiting a private psychiatric hospital. In this study, we used participants’ narratives as data and analyzed them according to the procedures described in “An Application of Phenomenological Method in Psychology” (Giorgi, 1975), and “Practice of analyzing materials describing experiences” (Giorgi, 2004). Results: The study results are as follows. 1) The drug may be effective, but Subject (below, S) still wants to take it as little as possible. Meanwhile, S has people who care about S and a person who S can rely on nearby, to manage S’s life. The people above tell S to take medicine, and S takes it. 2) S does not know what kind of medication S is consuming, but recently S has been having a hard time walking;S has people who care for S’s foot and look after S. S thinks taking medicine is for living. 3) S feel some drugs is ineffective. However, S met some people S could trust who passionately recommended the medication to S. S started being careful in remembering to take it. 4) S does not think drugs are necessary for S, but S can interact with people and spend S’s days. S has people who accept S as S is. S continues living in the community while taking medicine that a doctor offers. 5) S was skeptical about the drugs. However, S has a person S can trust, who recommended a way to take the medication in a way that S does not feel overwhelmed. S thinks that it may be a good idea to take it. Conclusions: Based on the analysis of the narratives of each of the five participants, the essential structure was read from the perspective of a third party regarding participants’ medication adherence. A generalized reading of the structure common to the above five essential structures reveals a structure that includes the following three opportunities: 1) Patients realize the importance of people;2) They sometimes entrust themselves to people or follow people’s opinions when taking actions;3) They have come to terms with their initial negative feelings about antipsychotic drugs, subsequently continuing to take antipsychotic drugs. This suggests that the following are important attitudes of supporters of patients with schizophrenia who continue to live in the community: To accept what is happening to the patients, to talk to them with encouragement and compassion, and to be there for them. It is also important for supporters to make patients feel comfortable in opening up while the patients reside in the community and to support patients in making decisions.

Analysis of the Effectiveness of Clopidogrel Combined with Aspirin in the Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease in Community-Dwelling Elderly

Objective:To analyze the combined therapeutic effect of clopidogrel(CLO)and aspirin(ASP)on coronary heart disease(CHD)in community-dwelling elderly.Methods:Thirty elderly patients with CHD who were admitted to the Xinxin Community Health Service Station,Pangzhuang Street,Quanshan District,Xuzhou City,from November 2020 to November 2022 were selected and randomly grouped into an observation group and a control group,with 15 cases in each group.The observation group was given the combination of CLO and ASP and the reference group was given only ASP.The total effective rate and other treatment indicators between the two groups were compared.Results:The total effective rate of the observation group(93.33%)was higher than that of the reference group(60.00%)(P<0.05).The adverse drug reaction rate(13.33%)and long-term cardiovascular adverse event rate(6.67%)of the observation group were lower than those of the reference group at 46.67%and 40.00%respectively,(P<0.05).Before treatment,the two groups had no difference in the quality-of-life scores(P>0.05).After treatment,the quality-of-life scores of the observation group were higher than those of the reference group(P<0.05).Conclusion:CLO combined with ASP improved the therapeutic effect of community-dwelling elderly patients with CHD,reduced adverse reactions during medication,prevented adverse cardiovascular events,and comprehensively improved the patient’s quality of life.

Does the Long Arm Of the Law Need the Community’s Hand?

Most people would agree that police are responsible for ensuring that robbers and other criminals are kept off the streets and apprehended when they cross the line. But what happens when theft cases increase to such an extent that police cannot cope

Recursive Zero-COVID model and quantitation of control efforts of the Omicron epidemic in Jilin province

Since the beginning of March 2022,the epidemic due to the Omicron variant has developed rapidly in Jilin Province.To figure out the key controlling factors and validate the model to show the success of the Zero-COVID policy in the province,we constructed a Recursive Zero-COVID Model quantifying the strength of the control measures,and defined the control reproduction number as an index for describing the intensity of interventions.Parameter estimation and sensitivity analysis were employed to estimate and validate the impact of changes in the strength of different measures on the intensity of public health preventions qualitatively and quantitatively.The recursive Zero-COVID model predicted that the dates of elimination of cases at the community level of Changchun and Jilin Cities to be on April 8 and April 17,respectively,which are consistent with the real situation.Our results showed that the strict implementation of control measures and adherence of the public are crucial for controlling the epidemic.It is also essential to strengthen the control intensity even at the final stage to avoid the rebound of the epidemic.In addition,the control reproduction number we defined in the paper is a novel index to measure the intensity of the prevention and control measures of public health.

燃烧源氨排放对灰霾期间北京大气铵的重要贡献

Aerosol ammonium(NH_(4)^(+)),mainly produced from the reactions of ammonia(NH_(3))with acids in the atmosphere,has significant impacts on air pollution,radiative forcing,and human health.Understanding the source and formation mechanism of NH_(4)^(+)can provide scientific insights into air quality improvements.However,the sources of NH_(3)in urban areas are not well understood,and few studies focus on NH_(3)/NH_(4)^(+)at different heights within the atmospheric boundary layer,which hinders a comprehensive understanding of aerosol NH_(4)^(+).In this study,we perform both field observation and modeling studies(the Community Multiscale Air Quality,CMAQ)to investigate regional NH_(3)emission sources and vertically resolved NH_(4)^(+)formation mechanisms during the winter in Beijing.Both stable nitrogen isotope analyses and CMAQ model suggest that combustion-related NH_(3)emissions,including fossil fuel sources,NH_(3)slip,and biomass burning,are important sources of aerosol NH_(4)^(+)with more than 60%contribution occurring on heavily polluted days.In contrast,volatilization-related NH_(3)sources(livestock breeding,N-fertilizer application,and human waste)are dominant on clean days.Combustion-related NH_(3)is mostly local from Beijing,and biomass burning is likely an important NH_(3)source(~15%–20%)that was previously overlooked.More effective control strategies such as the two-product(e.g.,reducing both SO_(2)and NH_(3))control policy should be considered to improve air quality.