摘要:

Folate levels of serum and red blood cells (RBC) and vitamin B12serum levels were investigated in 326 urban chronically ill elderly ambulatory patients and 41 healthy young control subjects. Two laboratory methods were used for investigating the folate levels, the microbiologic assay (MBA) withLactobacillus caseiand radioassay (RA). Serum and RBC samples of 326 patients were tested by the folate MBA and 270 of the same samples by the RIA methods. In the MBA 6.8% of the patients and 12.2% of controls had low levels of folate RBC (less than 200 nglmL) and 1.8% of patients and 4.8% of controls had low serum folate levels (less than 5 ng/mL). All of the patients with the low folate levels had normal hematologic findings and no clinical symptoms of folate deficiency. In the RIA method, all of the patients and almost all of the control subjects (except one) had normal folate levels. Ten of the patients (3%) had low levels of serum vitamin (less than 200 pg/mL). They were hematologically normal. They had normal Schilling tests and normal vitamin B12dietary intake. Their RBC folate levels were normal and even somewhat higher. Forty percent of these patients had macular degeneration of the eyes. The data indicate the superiority of the RA method over the MBA and bring into question the accuracy of previous studies. The data furnish further evidence that a low vitamin B12level in the elderly is not necessarily a true vitamin B12deficiency and raise the possibility of an association between low B12serum levels and macular degeneration of the eyes.

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1986.tb04902.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1986

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Measurements were made of the overnight mobility of a group of elderly hospital patients whose clinical status had been assessed using the Norton clinical assessment score. The number of movements on the first two nights after admission differed from subsequent nights. There was a significant correlation between mobility and patient condition on all nights except the second. Patients assessed as being at high risk of developing pressure sores made fewer movements; mobility criteria are presented for detecting these individual patients.

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1986.tb04903.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1986

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

To evaluate age‐related differences in the current patterns of presentation and clinical management of breast cancer patients, the authors reviewed 1795 patients referred to a university hospital for their initial treatment. No age‐related differences were found with respect to laterality and anatomic site. Age‐related differences were seen with respect to histology, with mucinous (colloid) carcinoma being relatively more common with increasing age and medullary and inflammatory carcinoma being more common among young patients. Patients over age 55 presented with more advanced extent of disease, but the proportion did not further increase above age 65. Patients age 75 and older were nearly twice as likely to have surgery as their sole treatment as patients under age 45. The difference in treatment was specifically associated with the differential use of adjuvant chemotherapy between age groups. Sixty percent of patients under 45 with regional node involvement received adjuvant chemotherapy compared with only 27% of those 65 and older. Despite their similar characteristics in regard to laterality, anatomic site, and histology, elderly patients are less frequently given adjuvant chemotherapy in stage II breast c

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1986.tb04904.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1986

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Elderly stroke patients and their families were studied to determine 1) the health effects of providing home care on family caregivers, 2) whether or not caregivers actually providing care in the home experience different effects than caregivers whose family members live in nursing homes, and 3) factors associated with any observed deleterious effects of caregiving. One hundred forty‐seven stroke patients were eligible for study. Of these, 101 were available for follow‐up; 89 family caregivers were interviewed (88%). Caregivers reported both positive and negative effects of providing home care. When actual home caregivers were compared with potential caregivers (those with family members in institutions), no differences in effects were seen. The relationship between each of three health effects (general, social, and emotional) and patient and caregiver attributes was explored. No factors were found to be related to poorer perceived general health. Dependent patient functional status and additional life stress were both associated with diminished social activity and emotional ill‐health. In the latter instance, insufficient social activity and help from family were additional risk factors. If policy is going to advocate home care, its consequences for family caregivers must be

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1986.tb04905.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1986

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

In this 16‐year longitudinal study of 105 healthy elderly men, we analyzed one aspect of immunosenescence—a decline in the absolute number of peripheral blood lymphocytes—with particular reference to its relationship with subsequent mortality. It was found that there was a significantly (P<.01) lower absolute lumphocyte count (1432 ± 55/mm3; mean ± SEM) within three years of death when compared with five years (1719 ± 89/mm3) or 10 years (1715 ± 98/mm3) before death. There was no relationship between this decrease in lymphocytes and age at death, smoking status, or prior cardiac illness. Previous cross‐sectional studies have yielded conflicting data on age‐related decreases in lymphocytes which may have been the result of an unrecognized selection process that either eliminated or included subjects who were c

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1986.tb04906.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1986

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1986.tb04907.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1986

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Digoxin toxicity occurs more commonly in aged than younger individuals. Cardioactive drugs such as quinidine effect digoxin pharmacokinetics so as to increase the potential for digoxin toxicity. The calcium‐channel antagonists have become extensively used for cardiac disorders and are often co‐administered with digoxin. Despite documented calcium‐channel antagonist interactions with digoxin, clinically significant digoxin toxicity associated with their concurrent use is apparently unusual. Two elderly patients receiving digoxin and verapamil simultaneously are presented to demonstrate the clinical importance and potential danger of the concomitant use of these

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1986.tb04908.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1986

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1986.tb04909.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1986

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1986.tb04910.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1986

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1986.tb04912.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1986

数据来源: WILEY