Depression in the elderly as a significant clinical problem

Introduction: Depression is a very common mental disorder among older people. It limits life activity and interests. It causes difficulties in making decisions or actions. It introduces somatic and emotional changes, which in older people becomes a problem on a large scale. Diagnosis of depressive disorders has very high clinical value.Depression is often associated with chronic diseases that often accompany the elderly. Material and Methods: The paper reviews literature using the EBSCO and Google Scholar databases. Articles have been analyzed using the keywords depression, depression of the elderly, care for the elderly, treatment of depression, diagnosis of depression, clinical symptoms. The article presents depression as a problem among older people, its symptoms, treatment and care for such people. Results: Treatment of depressive disorders is based on pharmacology and psychotherapy. Care and the presence of loved ones are very important. Commitment to physical activity improves emotional balance. Conclusions: Depression in older people creates a problem in terms of diagnosis and clinical aspect. Depression reduces the quality of life, which means that older people cannot perform basic life activities on their own. Reduces motivation and interest in the environment. Correct diagnosis enables quick implementation of treatment that will allow you to recover. Key words: depression, treatment, care, old age, diagnosis, epidemiology, SSRI, NSRI, helplin

Care for an elderly person after lower limb amputation

Introduction: Although currently less major amputation is performed, due to more effective revascularization and endovascular treatment, limbs amputations are still necessary and commonly used as a therapeutic method. Amputation of the lower limb is associated with long-term hospitalization, treatment, rehabilitation and a high level of mortality among older people. For the elderly, additionally suffer from number of chronic diseases, who for various reasons amputation of the limb is the only possible treatment option, recommendations regarding further care after such surgery are important. Results: Causes of lower limb amputation include ia. non-traumatic reasons like diabetes or infection and traumatic ones. Frequency of removal of the lower limb, regardless of its reason is estimated about 5.6 to 600 per 100,000 people and the percentage is about 20 times higher in diabetes-suffering people than in non-diabetic. In the case of this disease, amputations mainly concern men over 60 years of age, as well as people who have been subject to hospital treatment many times. Care for a patient who is prepared to amputation procedure include pre- and post-operative rehabilitation, prosthesis of amputated limb, psychological care, patient education and also pharmacotherapy. It is important to give to patient enoxaparin to reduce thromboembolic risk. To increase quality of life after amputation it is important to provide adequate nursing care. Discussion: Other overlooked diseases, which can lead to lower limb amputation are ia. Charcot disease. Proper diagnosis, differentiation and treatment process is extremely important cause can allow patient to avoid the amputation. Conclusion: Gathered recommendations for correct, high-quality, multi-faceted medical care for patients after amputation of the lower limb will improve the quality of medical services for this group of patients

Beneficial Effects of Ursolic Acid and Its Derivatives—Focus on Potential Biochemical Mechanisms in Cardiovascular Conditions

Ursolic acid (UA) is a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid found in a number of plants such as apples, thyme, oregano, hawthorn and others. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have presented its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties. The inhibition of NF-κB-mediated inflammatory pathways and the increased scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in numerous ways seem to be the most beneficial effects of UA. In mice and rats, administration of UA appears to slow down the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), especially atherosclerosis and cardiac fibrosis. Upregulation of endothelial-type nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and cystathionine-λ-lyase (CSE) by UA may suggest its vasorelaxant property. Inhibition of metalloproteinases activity by UA may contribute to better outcomes in aneurysms management. UA influence on lipid and glucose metabolism remains inconsistent, and additional studies are essential to verify its efficacy. Furthermore, UA derivatives appear to have a beneficial impact on the cardiovascular system. This review aims to summarize recent findings on beneficial effects of UA that may make it a promising candidate for clinical trials for the management of CVDs