摘要:

The role of adherence in the pathogenicity of Branhamella catarrhalis in lower respiratory tract infection in the elderly was investigated. Differential adherence of this organism to buccal epithelial cells of elderly inpatients, outpatients, and young controls was measured. The mean number of bacteria adherent per cell was 36.9 ± 11.2, 40.2 ± 6.1 and 16.5 ± 12.8 for inpatient and outpatient elderly and young controls respectively (significantly different p < 0.01, Student’s t test). This significantly higher level of adherence in the elderly subjects suggests that increased adherence may contribute to the incidence of respiratory tract infection due to B. catarrhalis seen in this g

ISSN:0304-324X    

DOI:10.1159/000213010

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1989

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Anaerobic bacteremia occurred in 68 patients over the age of 60 in a university hospital. These elderly patients were more likely than younger patients to have an underlying malignancy. Anaerobes involved included Bacteroides fragilis group (64 isolates), Bacteroides melaninogenicus group (11) and Clostridium species (11). Polymicrobial bacteremia was common, occurring in 32.3% of patients. Mortality in patients who had surgery to remove the source of anaerobes was 43.3%, compared to 81.7% in patients with no surgical treatment. Overall mortality was 66.1%, much higher than noted in younger populations.

ISSN:0304-324X    

DOI:10.1159/000213011

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1989

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Fifty female subjects, aged 72–92 (mean 82) years, were enrolled in a 12-week (36 classes) exercise program aimed at increasing postural stability. Subjects were residents of sheltered apartments, rest homes or nursing homes, well enough and mobile enough to participate in the classes. The subjects were randomized into an exercise or a control group. Their postural sway, standing at rest on a force platform, was measured with eyes open and eyes closed. The groups were well matched in all respects. The results showed no improvement in the postural sway as a result of the exercise program. We hypothesize that increasing postural sway in the elderly represents a deterioration in, for the most part, the nervous system and may at this extreme of life indicate an irreversible loss of function. For this reason no improvement in postural sway may be possible.

ISSN:0304-324X    

DOI:10.1159/000213012

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1989

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Changes of the pituitary-thyroid and pituitary-adrenal hormone axes with age and possible differences between the sexes in the elderly were studied in 60-year-old (n = 39) and 80-year-old (n = 34) non-hospitalized subjects. The 80-year-old age group had a significantly lower response of thyrotropin (TSH) to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH; p < 0.05). Otherwise, there were no significant differences between the two age groups. Sex differences were found for plasma arginine vasopressin and cortisol excretion (higher values in men), and free thyroxine index, TSH and prolactin response to TRH (higher values in women). Cortisol levels after dexamethasone were negatively correlated to body mass index. There were no differences in hormone levels between smokers and non-smokers. In obtaining reference values for hormones in old age it is important to consider possible changes after the age of 60 years and to adjust for gender and body mass.

ISSN:0304-324X    

DOI:10.1159/000213013

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1989

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Aluminium is present in senile plaques and in neurofibrillary tangle-bearing neurones in brains of cases of Alzheimer’s disease. Evidence linking aluminium absorption to calcium metabolism prompted a case-control study of physiological markers of calcium homeostasis in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Mean plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was lower in cases than in controls but no difference in median parathyroid hormone concentrations or other evidence of altered calcium metabolism was found. The difference in 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations may be secondary to differences in exposure to sunli

ISSN:0304-324X    

DOI:10.1159/000213014

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1989

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

We performed 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic (Holter) examinations in 50 retired hospital workers (30 men, 20 women), aged 58–85 years (mean age ± SD: 65.9 ± 4.6 years), with a normal clinical history, physical examination and baseline ECG. There was a significant difference between daytime and nocturnal mean heart rates (79.2 ± 8.4 vs. 65.3 ± 7.8 beats per minute), and between maximal (122.4 ± 15.6 vs. 99.9 ± 13.7) and minimal (57.9 ± 10.8 vs. 51.3 ± 8.0) diurnal and nocturnal heart rates. 92% of the subjects were shown to have supraventricular extrasystoles (SVE) in the 24 h recording, with 16% having more than 100 SVE/h. 68% had ventricular extrasystoles (VE), but only 6% had more than 100 VE/h. SVE were mainly diurnal, and VE were equally distributed between day and night. No other rhythm disturbances were found in this group of healthy elderly in

ISSN:0304-324X    

DOI:10.1159/000213015

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1989

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

One hundred and eleven patients over the age of 65 years who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting in Glasgow between 1980 and 1985 were compared with 548 younger patients, who had coronary artery bypass surgery over a similar period of time. The elderly group had a higher prevalence of females, pre-operative unstable angina, left main coronary artery disease and depressed left ventricular function. There were no significant differences between the two groups in operative morbidity or mortality and angina was abolished or improved in 93% of the elderly patients at follow-up. Coronary artery surgery has an important role in the management of angina in elderly patients.

ISSN:0304-324X    

DOI:10.1159/000213016

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1989

数据来源: Karger

ISSN:0304-324X    

DOI:10.1159/000213017

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1989

数据来源: Karger

ISSN:0304-324X    

DOI:10.1159/000213018

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1989

数据来源: Karger