Background: Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is the coexistence of sarcopenia and obesity in an individual. The present study is designed to define the usefulness of skeletal muscle ultrasonography (US) in the definition of SO. Methods: Eighty-nine participants aged ≥65 whose body mass index (BMI, kg/m 2) was ≥30 were consecutively enrolled in an outpatient clinic of geriatric medicine. All underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment. US measurements were obtained in 6 different muscles consisting of core and limb muscles. We defined SO as the presence of low muscle function (defined by a handgrip strength < 27 kg in males and <16 kg in females) and high BMI (≥30). Results: The median age of the participants was 72 (65-85) years; 81% were female, and 35% (n = 31) had SO. Anthropometric parameters that estimate muscle mass were lower in the sarcopenic group, but estimations of muscle mass with bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) did not differ between groups. All US estimations of muscle mass were lower in sarcopenic obese participants, albeit not all significantly. RF muscle cross-sectional area (RF CSA) and abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness were most strongly correlated with grip strength (r = 0.477 and r = −508, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic analysis suggested that the optimum cutoff point of RF CSA for SO was ≤5.22 cm 2 , with 95.8% sensitivity and 46.7% specificity (area under the curve: 0.686). Conclusions: US evaluation of muscle mass may be more accurate than BIA-derived skeletal muscle index assessment for the diagnosis of SO.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of clinical pharmacists' interventions on the adherence to dementia treatment and the caregivers' knowledge of dementia.Methods: This study was conducted at a geriatric outpatient clinic of the university hospital between October 2018 and April 2019. The Morisky Green Levine Adherence Scale (MGLS) to patients or caregivers and the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool Version Two (DKAT2) to caregivers were applied at the beginning of the study and 4 months later by a clinical pharmacist. After the scales were applied in the first interview, verbal information about the importance of adherence to dementia treatment, and incorrect answers of caregivers in DKAT2 were provided by the clinical pharmacist.Results: A total of 94 patients and 91 caregivers were included in the study. High adherence to treatment was determined in 70.2% of the patients in the first interview and in 95.7% in the second interview (P < 0.001). The mean score of DKAT2 was 15.53 AE 2.44 in the first interview, while the median score of DKAT2 in the second interview was 19.11 AE 1.25 (P < 0.001). Conclusion:The intervention of clinical pharmacists significantly increased the adherence to dementia treatment and the caregivers' knowledge of dementia. Close monitoring of dementia patients and caregivers by clinical pharmacists and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team play an important role in dementia care.

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See the Reply by https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15805.

Background: Dysphagia is a geriatric syndrome. Changes in the whole body that occur with aging also affect swallowing functions and cause presbyphagia. This condition may progress to oropharyngeal and/or esophageal dysphagia in the presence of secondary causes that increase in incidence with aging. However, no study has been published that provides recommendations for use in clinical practice that addresses in detail all aspects of the management of dysphagia in geriatric individuals. This study aimed to answer almost all potential questions and problems in the management of geriatric dysphagia in clinical practice. Methods: A multidisciplinary team created this recommendation guide using the seven-step and three-round modified Delphi method via e-mail. The study included 39 experts from 29 centers in 14 cities.Results: Based on the 5W and 1H method, we developed 216 detailed recommendations for older adults from the perspective of different disciplines dealing with older people. Conclusion: This consensus-based recommendation is a useful guide to address practical clinical questions in the diagnosis, rehabilitation, and follow-up for the management of geriatric dysphagia and also contains detailed commentary on these issues.