Tackling challenges in care of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias amid the COVID-19 pandemic, now and in the future

We have provided an overview on the profound impact of COVID-19 upon older people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and the challenges encountered in our management of dementia in different health-care settings, including hospital, outpatient, care homes, and the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have also proposed a conceptual framework and practical suggestions for health-care providers in tackling these challenges, which can also apply to the care of older people in general, with or without other neurological diseases, such as stroke or parkinsonism. We believe this review will provide strategic directions and set standards for health-care leaders in dementia, including governmental bodies around the world in coordinating emergency response plans for protecting and caring for older people with dementia amid the COIVD-19 outbreak, which is likely to continue at varying severity in different regions around the world in the medium term

Technology applications

A summary of NASA Technology Utilization programs for the period of 1 December 1971 through 31 May 1972 is presented. An abbreviated description of the overall Technology Utilization Applications Program is provided as a background for the specific applications examples. Subjects discussed are in the broad headings of: (1) cancer, (2) cardiovascular disease, (2) medical instrumentation, (4) urinary system disorders, (5) rehabilitation medicine, (6) air and water pollution, (7) housing and urban construction, (8) fire safety, (9) law enforcement and criminalistics, (10) transportation, and (11) mine safety

Effect of Bacteria on Airway Submucosal Glands Liquid Secretion in Swine

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) anion channel. Currently, more than 4,100 Canadians have CF. The major cause of CF morbidity and mortality is airway disease, for which there is no cure. The events leading from CFTR gene mutation to CF airway disease are not fully understood, and there is controversy regarding the primary defect responsible for CF airway disease pathogenesis. Newborn CFTRΔF508/ΔF508 and CFTR-/- swine show no sign of infection and inflammation in the lung but suffer from defective bacteria eradication caused by abnormal innate immune system. The cornerstone of the airway’s innate immune defense is mucociliary clearance, which relies on the normal regulation of airway surface liquid (ASL), which covers the airway epithelium. It has been hypothesized that abnormal ASL is the primary defect that leads to the failure of the airway innate immune defense in CF. Evidence show that the airway submucosal gland functions abnormally in both CF patients and in animal models of CF. This is not surprising since airway submucosal glands normally express CFTR. However, the function of the gland in health and disease is not fully understood. The response of airway submucosal gland to inhaled bacteria has never been tested and its ion transport properties have not been fully described. Our objective is to investigate the effect of inhaled bacteria on airway submucosal gland secretion, and to study and compare the function of different segments of airway submucosal gland in wild-type and CF airway. Knowledge generated by this thesis would help better understand CF airway pathophysiology and may contribute to improving treatment methods

Applications of aerospace technology in the public sector

Current activities of the program to accelerate specific applications of space related technology in major public sector problem areas are summarized for the period 1 June 1971 through 30 November 1971. An overview of NASA technology, technology applications, and supporting activities are presented. Specific technology applications in biomedicine are reported including cancer detection, treatment and research; cardiovascular diseases, diagnosis, and treatment; medical instrumentation; kidney function disorders, treatment, and research; and rehabilitation medicine

More Than a Meal: Pilot Research Study

The national Meals on Wheels network continues to face limited funding, rising costs, unprecedented demand and need and increasing for-profit competition. That is why Meals on Wheels America set out to compare the experience and health outcomes realized by older adults who receive three different levels of service: daily traditional meal delivery, once-weekly frozen delivery and individuals on a waiting list. This study, funded by AARP Foundation and conducted by researchers at Brown University, implemented a groundbreaking approach to investigating the impact of meal service delivery on homebound seniors receiving Meals on Wheels. The study's findings validate what we've all known for decades anecdotally through firsthand experience: that Meals on Wheels does in fact deliver so much more than just a meal

MS

thesisThe purpose of this investigation was to facilitate mother-infant interaction by altering the bathing procedure so that it was less stressful for both the mother and her newborn. It was hypothesized that an infant will exhibit less distressed behavior during a cuddle bath (wrapped, warm, moist towel technique) than during a traditional sponge bath as measured by over-all excitation state. In addition, it was hypothesized that a mother will have more interaction with her infant during a cuddle bath than during a traditional sponge bath because of reduced distressful infant behavior. The sample consisted of 20 mother-infant pairs who had delivered in Salt Lake City hospitals. Each infant was alternately assigned to received either a traditional or cuddle bath on the third or fourth day of life in the home. They then received the other bath on the next day. Their behavior was continuously recorded by an observer according to over-all excitation score. Likewise, the mother's interactive behavior was scored every 15 seconds. The data indicated that more time was spent in the quiet states of 1 and 2 during the cuddle bath than during the traditional bath. They also showed that more time was spent in the distressed states 4, 5, and 6 during the traditional bath than during the cuddle bath. However, when these data were subjected to paired t-test analysis, there was significance only for state 2. There was no significant difference in the mother' interactive behavior during each of the baths. It was concluded that the cuddle bath is capable of producing quiet and stable states in the newborn. This alert inactivity will allow the infant to have meaningful contacts with the environment. Thus, the cuddle bath is a more positive alternative in newborn bathing

Predicting the dispersal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from the wastewater treatment plant to the coast

Viral pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 RNA have been detected in wastewater treatment effluent, and untreated sewage overflows, that pose an exposure hazard to humans. We assessed whether SARS-CoV-2 RNA was likely to have been present in detectable quantities in UK rivers and estuaries during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. We simulated realistic viral concentrations parameterised on the Camel and Conwy catchments (UK) and their populations, showing detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations for untreated but not for treated loading, but also being contingent on viral decay, hydrology, catchment type/shape, and location. Under mean or low river flow conditions, viral RNA concentrated within the estuaries allowing for viral build-up and caused a lag by up to several weeks between the peak in community infections and the viral peak in the environment. There was an increased hazard posed by SARS-CoV-2 RNA with a T90 decay rate >24 h, as the estuarine build-up effect increased. High discharge events transported the viral RNA downstream and offshore, increasing the exposure risk to coastal bathing waters and shellfisheries – although dilution in this case reduced viral concentrations well below detectable levels. Our results highlight the sensitivity of exposure to viral pathogens downstream of wastewater treatment, across a range of viral loadings and catchment characteristics – with implications to environmental surveillance

Predicting the dispersal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from the wastewater treatment plant to the coast

Viral pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 RNA have been detected in wastewater treatment effluent, and untreated sewage overflows, that pose an exposure hazard to humans. We assessed whether SARS-CoV-2 RNA was likely to have been present in detectable quantities in UK rivers and estuaries during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. We simulated realistic viral concentrations parameterised on the Camel and Conwy catchments (UK) and their populations, showing detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations for untreated but not for treated loading, but also being contingent on viral decay, hydrology, catchment type/shape, and location. Under mean or low river flow conditions, viral RNA concentrated within the estuaries allowing for viral build-up and caused a lag by up to several weeks between the peak in community infections and the viral peak in the environment. There was an increased hazard posed by SARS-CoV-2 RNA with a T90 decay rate >24 h, as the estuarine build-up effect increased. High discharge events transported the viral RNA downstream and offshore, increasing the exposure risk to coastal bathing waters and shellfisheries – although dilution in this case reduced viral concentrations well below detectable levels. Our results highlight the sensitivity of exposure to viral pathogens downstream of wastewater treatment, across a range of viral loadings and catchment characteristics – with implications to environmental surveillance

Inactivation of pathogens on food and contact surfaces using ozone as a biocidal agent

This study focuses on the inactivation of a range of food borne pathogens using ozone as a biocidal agent. Experiments were carried out using Campylobacter jejuni, E. coli and Salmonella enteritidis in which population size effects and different treatment temperatures were investigate

Aerospace medicine and biology: A continuing bibliography with indexes (supplement 389)

This bibliography lists 234 reports, articles, and other documents recently introduced into the NASA Scientific and Technical Information System. Subject coverage includes: aerospace medicine and physiology, life support systems and man/system technology, protective clothing, exobiology and extraterrestrial life, planetary biology, and flight crew behavior and performance