Effects of Music Therapy for Patients with Dementia

Objective: Assessing depression in patients with dementia presents challenges due to the inherent nature of the disease. This review aims to explore the potential effect of music therapy in mitigating agitation and depression symptoms by fostering positive memories and facilitating connections to the patient’s past. Methods: A comprehensive literature and systematic review was conducted, examining published studies and analyses comparing music therapy’s effects to standard care or alternative care. Results: Various forms of music intervention have demonstrated a considerable reduction in overall depressive and agitation symptoms, notably for short-term intervention. Music therapy can be applied either independently or in conjunction with pharmacotherapy to effectively alleviate symptoms in dementia patients. Conclusion: Music therapy has the potential to reduce depression and agitation symptoms in dementia patients. Future research and studies should include more patients, varying environments, and subtype analysis regarding specific types of dementia and their relation to the music processing centers. Keywords: Music therapy, Dementia, Depression, Agitation, Quality of lif

Effect of cardiometabolic risk factors on hypertension management: a cross-sectional study among 28 physician practices in the United States

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>This cross-sectional study sought to determine the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factor clusters (CMRFCs) and their effect on BP control among hypertensive patients from 28 US physician practices.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Each participating practice identified a random sample of 150-300 adults aged ≥ 18 years diagnosed with hypertension. The primary outcome variable was BP control (BP < 140/90 mmHg for non-diabetic and <130/80 mmHg for diabetic patients). CMRFCs included hypertension in addition to obesity, dyslipidemia, and diabetes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall, 6,527 hypertensive patients were identified for study inclusion. More than half (54.3%) were female, and mean age was 64.7 years. Almost half (48.7%) were obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²). About 1 in every 4 patients (25.3%) had diabetes, and 60.7% had dyslipidemia. Mean blood pressure was 132.5/77.9 mmHg, and 55.0% of all patients had controlled BP; 62.4% of non-diabetic patients, and 33.3% of diabetic hypertensive patients, had BP controlled to recommended levels. Most (81.7%) hypertensive patients had ≥ 1 cardiometabolic risk factor, and 12.2% had all 3 risk factors. As compared to hypertensive patients without additional risk factors, adjusted odds ratios for BP control were significantly lower for all combinations of CMRFCs (ORs 0.15-0.83, all p < 0.04), with the exception of patients who had only dyslipidemia in addition to hypertension (OR = 1.09, p = NS). Prescriber adherence to recommended hypertension treatment guidelines for patients with diabetes, heart failure, or prior myocardial infarction was high. Although patients with risk factors were prescribed more antihypertensive medications than those without, hypertensive patients with all 3 risk factors were prescribed a mean of 2.4 antihypertensive medications compared to 1.7 for those with no risk factors; odds of BP control in these patients, however, was 0.23 [95% CI 0.19-0.29] that of patients with no other CMRFCs.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Across 28 US practices, only 18% of hypertensive patients did not have any additional cardiometabolic risk factors. The high prevalence of CMRFCs presents a challenge to effective hypertension management.</p

An Explanatory Study of the Institutional Factors Relating to the Quality of Social Greek Letter Societies

This exploratory study sought to describe which institutional interventions and/or factors seem to make a difference in high quality Greek (fraternity and sorority) communities. The research provided a descriptive analysis of the institutions which host Greek letter communities identified as promoting the positive ideals of the Greek experience. Through a revised Council for the Advancement of Standards Self Assessment Guide (CAS-SAGR) measurement tool, several factors important to Greek community success were postulated. The institutions were identified by experts familiar with the fraternity and sorority arena (e.g. national executive directors of fraternities and sororities, Association of Fraternity Advisors national board members) as hosting Greek letter communities with chapters which embody the ideals and founding principles ofleadership, service, academic excellence, and character/personal development; and have Greek self-governance systems of high quality. Greek communities from sixteen campuses were selected as those that best represented high quality fraternity and sorority systems. Four individuals at each campus completed the CAS-SAGR instrument. The CAS-SAGR instrument included 14 categories which represented dependent variables in the study. Each category contained several items which asked respondents to rate the importance of the item to their Greek community and how well they accomplished the variable. The data from these surveys were analyzed using Manovas and several correlations based on the independent variables of size and type (e.g. public or private). The results of the Manovas showed no statistical significance for either variable of size or type which suggests more similarities between quality Greek communities. Additionally, Cronbach alphas were applied to the CAS-SAGR instrument to provide an initial screening for reliability. Of the fourteen categories of measurement on the CASSAGR, eleven had alpha scores above .60. The identification and description ofthe 16 institutions, representing varied sizes and types, which host high quality Greek life communities, provides practitioners with prototypes for Greek systems to use when looking at improving their Greek community. The results of this research provide "models" of Greek communities where the founding principles and ideals may be approximating realization

Windows® Small Business Server 2008 Administrator's Pocket Consultant

Portable and precise, this pocket-sized guide delivers ready answers for administering Windows Small Business Server 2008. Zero in on core support tasks and tools using quick-reference tables, instructions, and lists. You'll get the focused information you need to solve problems and get the job done-whether at your desk or in the field. Get fast facts to: Plan, install, and configure a small business network Navigate the Windows SBS Console toolCreate and administer user and group accounts Manage automatic updates, disk storage, and shared printersConfigure mail settings and customize int