MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics' source. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:09:33 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344306&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494310000646%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344306 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:39:30 +0100 3344306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206296&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS016749431000004X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206296 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:26:44 +0100 3206296 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020415&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309002787%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020415 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:29:53 +0100 3020415 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2764004&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001927%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2764004 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:39:47 +0100 2764004 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2764003&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001915%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2764003 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:39:47 +0100 2764003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2763984&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS016749430900185X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2763984 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:39:44 +0100 2763984 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344347&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001484%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Malnutrition and dehydration are common in elderly. A simple, reliable instrument to assess nutritional and hydration status would be very helpful. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) has been promising in this context, but data of elderly persons and geriatric in-hospital patients are rare. Therefore, we first compared BIA measurements (resistance, reactance, phase angle and a resulting vectorgraph) with a clinical assessment in 31 community-dwelling women and 30 female nursing-home residents. The results of the BIA measurement correlated well to weight, hand grip strength, and calf circumference. We then compared BIA measurements with clinical judgement of hydration status in 103 acute geriatric hospital in-patients. Concordance between the results of clinical judgement and ... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344347 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344347 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344346&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001460%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: This was a cross-sectional validation study of the Chinese-Canadian study of health and aging clinical frailty scale telephone version (CSHA-CFS TV). The study pool consisted of 67 patients of outpatient clinics at a tertiary medical center in Taipei, Taiwan. They were enrolled in the program comprehensive geriatric assessment and the frailty study of elderly patients (CGAFSEP). The Chinese-Canadian study of health and aging clinical frailty scale physician version (CSHA-CFS PV) is a 7-point scale assigned after comprehensive geriatric assessments. Higher score indicates frailer status. The Chinese-Canadian study of health and aging clinical frailty scale (CSHA-CFS) telephone version (TV) included 17 questions adapted from the physician version. Two trained research assistants co... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344346 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344321&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001277%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The present study was conducted to characterize gender differences in age-related variation of nocturnal elevation of blood pressure (NEBP), as well as of diurnal and nocturnal systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Untreated subjects (N=1689) underwent 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Frequency of NEBP was similar in elderly men and women, but it was lower in women below 30 years of age as compared to men of similar age (0% vs. 20% respectively, p (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344321 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344321 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2595952&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS016749430900154X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2595952 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:02:17 +0100 2595952 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344339&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001241%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of this study is to assess obstacle-negotiating gait (ONG) and explore its related physical factors. Subjects comprised 571 community-dwelling persons (195 men and 376 women) age ≥65 years and without cognitive impairment. ONG, timed up and go (TUG), and stair-climbing were measured and their relations were assessed. Walking ability (usual walking speed=UWS and daily walking steps=DWS), balance deficiency, and musculoskeletal function (handgrip strength and bone health) were examined objectively to explore ONG related physical factors. Logistic regression and general linear model analysis were performed with adjustment for age and body mass index (BMI). Time of ONG was 7.72s in men and 8.93s in women. Logistic regression analysis showed that the fast tertiles of ONG cor... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344339 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344329&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001411%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In conclusion, it seems possible to maintain social (and physical) functional abilities in old nursing home residents by means of a multifaceted intervention. (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344329 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344329 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344327&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001393%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We present a case report of hereditary bisalbuminemia in an Italian family with three affected members. Bisalbuminemia represents a genetic variant of the albumin, it will then be permanent, or acquired and then be transient. It is characterized by the presence of two albumin bands in electrophoresis: the first band with the same mobility of the normal albumin, the second band with a fast variable or a slow variable. The double band of albumin was detected fortuitously on a routine analytical study of an adult woman who was referred to our laboratory with an increase of fasting glucose value, this originated the study of the rest of the members of the family. Finally, it is like the genetic peculiarity of this family core show a possible predictive link between bisalbuminemia on one hand a... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344327 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344330&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001423%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of this study is to determine the use of pre-hospital emergency medical services (EMS) in elderly people aged 65 years and over in Izmir, Turkey. In this descriptive study, older patients admitted to pre-hospital EMS of Izmir Province Health Directorate between 2004 and 2005 years was evaluated through the review of Emergency Call Registry Forms. The study data included socioeconomic characteristics, reasons of calling, distribution of calling times in the day, distribution of ambulance callers and preclinical diagnosis. A total of 34% of the subjects admitted to pre-hospital EMS were 65 years old and over. The rate of the use of ambulance services was 68.9/1000 population/year. The rate of pre-hospital EMS use for older persons living in urban areas was significantly hig... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344330 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344330 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344328&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS016749430900140X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Caregiving for the elderly has been linked to mental and physical problems in those providing the care. The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of leisure on caregiver's burden and mental health. Drawing on the stress and coping model, 134 caregiver/care-recipient dyads were assessed. In addition to caregivers’ perception of their leisure time, social support, burden and mental health, care-recipients’ functional and mental status were also measured. The results of a set of hierarchical regression analyses showed that caregivers’ perceptions of their leisure time were significantly negatively related to burden and mental health problems (p (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344328 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344328 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344326&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001381%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The purpose of this study was to test the accuracy of patient colorectal cancer (CRC) screening self-report and CRC screening documented in their medical record for those who are cognitively impaired and those who are not based on the clock drawing task. A cross-sectional study where patient survey and medical record information were linked was conducted in 16 primary care offices. Of the 960 patients mailed questionnaires, there were 493 respondents who completed the questionnaire and clock drawing, had a chart review, and had no help in drawing the clock or completing the questionnaire. Chart review was conducted for CRC screening in physician offices. Clock drawings were scored 0–7 according to the Watson method. Accuracy of ever being screened for CRC or being up-to-date fo... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344326 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344326 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344325&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001368%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the single most common cause of primary dementia. Language-based frontotemporal dementia, another type of primary dementia, is known as primary progressive aphasia (PPA). Although the cardinal feature of AD is a progressive loss of memory, many patients with AD also present with language impairment. Moreover AD and PPA have partially shared pathophysiology. Recently, it was suggested that a history of vasectomy might be a risk factor for PPA, by immune responses to sperm or antisperm antibody (ASA), which has long been known to have antigenic property. As ASAs could develop naturally in both men and women, we studied the relation between the presence of ASAs and cognitive function in AD. A total of 86 elderly were selected (46 patient with AD, 20 with ... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344325 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344325 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344343&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001332%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The cancer burden of the elderly is high and has increased over time. One reason for this is increased longevity. Increasing age-specific rates of cancer in this age-group may also explain this phenomenon. Two age-groups were examined, older than 65 years and those younger than 65. The age-specific rates for all cancers combined among the Jewish population in Israel were identified via the Israel Cancer Registry during the years 1973–2002. Comparing the years 1973–1977 and 1998–2002, the age-specific rates for all cancers combined increased by about 35% in both age-groups. The most prominent increase was in prostate cancer in men (176% in the older group, p (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344343 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344343 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344323&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001319%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: It could be shown using the in vitro cell culture aging model, that elastase-type endopeptidase activity is progressively upregulated with successive passages (in vitro aging). Similar results were obtained previously by determining elastase-type activity as a function of age in aorta extracts (human) and skin extracts (mouse). Among the possible mechanisms involved we tested the role of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) on this process. AGE-production was shown to increase with age, exemplified by the exponential age-dependent crosslinking of collagen, demonstrated by Fritz Verzár, already in 1963. Several AGEs significantly upregulated elastase-type activity when added to the culture medium of fibroblasts. This effect appears to be mediated by some AGE-receptors as shown p... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344323 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344342&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001320%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Renal function is often altered in elderly patients. A lot of formulae are proposed to estimate GFR to adjust drug posology. French guidelines recommend the Cockcroft-Gault formula corrected with the body surface area (cCG), but the initially described unadjusted Cockcroft-Gault equation (CG) is mainly used in geriatric clinical practice. International recommendations have proposed the modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) formula, since several authors recommended the Rule formula using cystatin C (cystC) in particular population. To appreciate the most accurate GFR estimation for posology adaptation in an elderly polypathological population, a cross-sectional study with prospective inclusion was carried out in Charles Foix Hospital. Plasma glucose levels (PGL), creatinin... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344342 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344342 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344341&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001307%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study aimed to examine the difficulty among various step tests (place step, forward single step, forward double step, forward right single step and stairs step) in evaluating the dynamic balance in the elderly and their age level differences. Thirty-two healthy elderly people (age 71.4±6.4 years) and twenty young people performed step tests for 10s to the pace of a metronome (120bpm). Evaluation parameters were the time difference between the metronome sound and the time when each foot hit the ground as well as the stride time. The forward single step test had significantly larger values for both of the above parameters than the other tests. A significant age level difference was found in the forward single step test for the time difference and in the forward single step and stairs s... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344341 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344340&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001289%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In conclusion, the reliability of GRF during STS movement is good in hip-lift off and knee–hip joint extension phases and these phases relate significantly with lower limb muscle function. These two phases are useful for evaluation of leg muscle function of the elderly. (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344340 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344340 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344322&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001290%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, we examined retrospectively the patients admitted to our hospital to lighten the cause of a high ESR and accompanying anemia and compared the results between the geriatric population and younger adults. There were 139 patients between ages of 16 and 89 years. Of them, 51.7% were elderly. In 80 patients (57.6%) a specific underlying pathology as a possible cause of elevated ESR was found. Malignancy was the leading cause (21.6%), followed by infectious disorders (10.1%), collagen vascular diseases (9.4%), and non-neoplastic hematologic disorders (5.0%). In 59 patients (42.4%) no specific pathology could be found. There were no statistically significant differences between elderly and non-elderly patients according to the diagnostic groups. Elevated ESRs, while more prevalent ... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344322 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344322 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344345&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS016749430900137X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between SCH and metabolic and neuropsychiatric derangements in Korean elderly subjects. Nine hundred and eighteen euthyroid and SCH subjects aged 65 years and older were enrolled in the present study. We compared anthropometric (age, sex, blood pressure, body mass index=BMI, body fat contents=BF, waist circumference=WC and hip circumference=HC), laboratory (glucose and lipid profile, renal and liver functions, and C-reactive protein=CRP levels), and neuropsychiatric (neuropsychological function, mood, and QoL) parameters of SCH subjects with those of euthyroid subjects. Associated metabolic disorders of the subjects were also compared between the euthyroid and SCH groups. We could not observe any differences between the SCH group ... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344345 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344345 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344344&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001344%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Current common comorbidity measures have poor to moderate predictive validity of mortality of community-dwelling older adults. Hence, our aim is to develop a simpler resource-efficient self-reported comorbidity index in the prediction of survival. 113 older adults in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom attended a routine medical examination whereby information gathered was used to construct Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). They completed the Cornell Medical Index (CMI) questionnaire and reported the number of medication prescribed to them. We compared the ability of CCI, CMI, number of medication, age and sex to predict mortality of the sample over 7-year period using Cox-regression and Kaplan–Meier plot and rank test. None of the variables individually was significant when tes... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344344 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344324&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001356%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: There are several tests used to evaluate the psychophysical characteristics of the elderly and, of these, the most suitable are the functional reach (FR) test, an index of the aptitude to maintain balance in an upright position, and the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), a global index of cognitive abilities. The sample of elderly people we analyzed involved 50 healthy subjects divided into three age-groups (15 subjects from 55 to 64 years, 19 from 65 to 74 years, and 16 over 75 years of age); they underwent an FR test, which consists first in the measurement of the anthropometric characteristics, then in the execution of the test itself, and finally in the study of the upright posture by the analysis of the center of pressure (COP) trend; they underwent an MMSE as well to eva... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344324 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344324 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344307&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001009%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344307 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344338&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS016749430900123X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: In order to evaluate changes in the functional autonomy of elderly patients after a stay in a medical intensive care unit (ICU), and the impact of post-ICU management in geriatric ward, we included in a randomized controlled trial 45 patients aged ≥75 years. They were assessed for functional autonomy before ICU stay, just after ICU discharge, just after hospital discharge, and 6 months later. The patients were randomly divided into two post-ICU management groups: “geriatric ward” and “standard care”. Autonomy was usually recovered rapidly, but the degree of recovery depended on the patient's previous autonomy (p (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344338 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344338 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344319&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001253%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a complex and heterogeneous clinical syndrome and because of its rising incidence and prevalence, it can be considered a global epidemic. Interleukin (IL)-22 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine, belonging to the IL-10 family. Forty-seven consecutive older patients, hospitalized with an admitting diagnosis of CHF at the Geriatric Medicine Unit (University of Messina, Italy), from 01/01/06 to 30/06/06, were enrolled in the study. Serum concentrations of IL-22 were measured by a quantitative enzyme immunoassay technique. IL-22 levels in all CHF patients were significantly higher than those in controls, in particular, only the II and III NYHA class had IL-22 values significantly higher than the controls, whereas there was no difference between the IL-22 leve... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344319 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344319 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344337&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001216%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of this study is to identify the main cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) in patients over 65 years with ischemic stroke. This is a retrospective study in 175 patients that were hospitalized in our department due to ischemic stroke in the period 2006–2007. The patients were divided in two groups: Group I – elderly (65–80 years) and Group II – over-aged (≥81 years). The results were compared with a similar study performed in our department in the period 2002–2003 in 160 ischemic stroke patients. Statistical analysis was made by the χ2-test. Hypertension, either alone or in combination with other CRFs, constitutes the main CRF. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is not frequently the sole CRF but its coexistence with other CRFs ranks DM as the second most important CRF, wit... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344337 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344337 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344336&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001204%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes The objectives of this study were to examine potential clinical and neuropsychological changes over time in non-demented patients with subjective memory complaints (≤70 years) and to compare the patients with objective memory impairment (OMI) with those who suffer from subjective memory impairment (SMI). OMI and SMI patients did not differ regarding duration of memory problems, age or education. At baseline no differences were revealed between the OMI and SMI patients regarding self-reported cognitive deficits, self-reported worry about deficits, and symptoms of anxiety or depression. None of the patients had converted to dementia at follow-up. Eighty percent of the OMI patients and 61% of the SMI patients reported cognitive deficits to the same degree at follow-up as at baseline. Despit... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344336 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344320&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001265%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In conclusion, the clinical effectiveness of integrated care model among severly disabled LTCF residents is minimal and a further cost-effectiveness study is needed to promote optimal quality of care in this setting. (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344320 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344320 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344318&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001228%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of this study is to establish the existing relationship among variables referred to the person, specifically age and gender, and the functional dependence in basic ADL and in IADL, as well as the possible relationship it has with the increase of morbidity and mortality in a random sample of 598 individuals older than 65 years. Of these individuals, 34.6% were categorized as dependent for at least one ADL, and 53.5% if we refer to IADL. Regarding the ADL, the risk of dependence increases (odds ratio=OR=1.089) per year of age, (OR=2.48) in women's case; while there is an IADL correlation between age and the score (r=−0.527; p (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344318 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344316&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001010%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The previous health economic simulation of donepezil based on the Markov model revealed the treatment for mild to moderate stage of Alzheimer disease (AD) to be cost-effective. Our aim was to examine the economic effect of donepezil treatment for mild cognitive impairment, from which about 15% convert to dementia per year. We constructed a new Markov model using three simulations. Namely, Simulation A hypothesized that mild AD patients, i.e., Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) 1, received donepezil as in the previous study. Simulation B hypothesized that all CDR 0.5 subjects received donepezil, and Simulation C considered that only the CDR 0.5 converters to dementia received donepezil. We calculated the models as follows: Simulation B, supposes that the annual transition probabilitie... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344316 Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344335&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001162%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Long-stay hospitalized elderly patients frequently develop a decrease in strength, cardiovascular fitness and balance, which can be improved by exercise. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (ES) might also be effective in this population. The effect of different lower limb rehabilitation programs (3 interventions/week for 6 weeks) on functional fitness in 40 hospitalized old females (82±7 years) were evaluated: kinesitherapy (KT), ES, KT alternated with ES (KT+ES), and no treatment (C). Outcome variables after rehabilitation were: (a) maximal strength of leg extensor and finger flexor muscles; (b) cardiorespiratory fitness (6-min walking test, 6MWT; heart rate, HR); (c) static and dynamic balance and gait skills (Tinetti test). The maximal strength of leg extensor (but not fing... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344335 Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344335 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344334&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS016749430900096X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Hip fractures are a burden to both society and the individual. The aim of this study was to describe the frequency of osteoporosis and the in-hospital treatment costs of patients with hip fractures admitted to Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Hospital. Patients with a hip fracture who were admitted to the Orthopedics and Traumatology wards between April 2003 and December 2006 were interviewed and 50 of them were enrolled prospectively in the study protocol. Patient characteristics, predisposing factors for fractures and hospital costs were recorded as well as laboratory test results and bone mineral density measurements. The mean age was 74.2 years and 72% of the patients were women. Sixty-four percent of them presented with an intertrochanteric fracture. The patient popu... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344334 Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344334 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344333&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000958%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study was aimed to discuss the general features of geriatric deaths accepted as forensic cases, in the light of the literature. (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344333 Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344333 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344317&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001174%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This report follows one patient through the entire CAI model, describing processes for a typical case. It then examines two additional case reports that highlight common challenges in capacity assessment. The CAI model uses assessment methods common to geriatrics clinical practice and conducts assessments and interventions in a standardized fashion. Reliance on common, validated measures increases generalizability of the model across geriatrics practice settings and patient populations. (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344317 Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344317 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344313&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000934%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of this work was to establish the factors that determine the onset of constipation in acutely hospitalized older patients with a view to contributing towards an evidence-based identification of which patients warrant early, specific preventive measures. To evade the problem posed by the definition of constipation, we have considered parameters that are part of the daily routine in the hospital ward, such as the prescription of laxatives, also paying attention to how the co-operative older person subjectively interpret this condition. One thirds of the 192 hospitalized older patients needed a laxative at least once every 3 days. Multivariate analysis identified the use of laxatives at home as the only risk factor for objective constipation while in hospital (odds ratio (OR... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344313 Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344313 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344309&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000983%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The review of interventions currently available to alleviate the burden of informal caregivers of dependent persons has both social and political relevance considering the increasing number of elderly dependent persons. Respite services and programs for psycho-social intervention are the main methods of dealing with this burden. Study of the main research carried out to date on such interventions enables us to organize more efficient services, especially considering the enactment of the Law on Dependence in Spain in January 2007 and the need for other European and international governments to establish systems to meet the needs of the growing dependent population. (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344309 Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344309 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344308&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000971%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: This work analyzes the public social services system developed in Spain to attend dependent persons and their informal caregivers, examining in a more detailed way the current capacity of the Spanish public In-Home Help Service (HHS) to meet the demands of dependent elderly persons and its impact on their informal caregiver's burden. We begin with a brief introduction of the services by the Spanish public social services system developed to attend dependency; next, the evolution of the Spanish public HHS is described in a thorough way to identify the pros and cons of this service regarding the informal caregivers’ burden of dependent elders. Finally, recommendations are proposed to redesign and restructure this public in-home service to lessen the informal caregiver's burden. (... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344308 Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344308 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344315&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000995%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Two clinical cases are reported that have in common the electrocardiographic detection of a third degree atrioventricular block (AVB), which occurred in the first case in a man of 78 years, hospitalized in our unit after an accidental fall with an ensuing head trauma, and in the second case, in a woman of 67 years, after cataract surgery on her left eye. The complete or third degree AVB is a bradyarrhythmia characterized by the absence of paroxystic or permanent atrioventricular conduction. Several studies conducted on subjects between the ages of 60 and 85 pointed out that the incidence of AVB-type bradyarrhythmias of a degree greater than the first is extremely rare, i.e., it is close to zero. It is, however, necessary to make an early diagnosis of the AVB, as in many cases it ... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344315 Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2419234&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309001125%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2419234 Tue, 19 May 2009 17:36:08 +0100 2419234 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2419233&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS016749430900106X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2419233 Tue, 19 May 2009 17:36:07 +0100 2419233 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344314&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000946%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study investigated caregiving burden of the oldest old specifically focusing on caregivers of centenarians and aimed to determine if caregivers of centenarians in Japan can be considered models for successful caregivers. Data was collected from 160 people aged 80–107 and 84 of their caregivers aged 24–92 using a self-reported questionnaire survey. Caregivers of centenarians do not exhibit significantly less burden, less prevalence of depression, or higher quality of life than caregivers of 80–99 year olds. Burdened caregivers experienced poorer general health (GH), more bodily pain (BP), less vitality (VT), difficulties with social functioning (SF), and poorer mental health (MH) than less burdened caregivers. While all caregivers scored below expected Japanese average scores for... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344314 Mon, 18 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344314 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344311&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000892%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study aims to understand how family caregivers’ mental health and caregiver burden affects physical health simultaneously, controlling for factors such as age, education level, caring hours per day, and emotional, functional, and physical support systems used by caregivers. We recruited 388 caregivers from Kaohsiung and Pingtong region in Taiwan. Caregivers had to be 18 years or older and spend most of their time taking care of an ill family member at home. Mental health was assessed by the 12-item Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ-12) and burden was measured using a modified scale for caregiver's burden. Health status was assessed by self-perceived health (SPH), illness symptoms and the number of diagnosed chronic diseases. A high number of hours per day of caregiving was associate... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344311 Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206317&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000879%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The elderly population will approach 20% within the next 20 years. This enhances the need for skilled and experienced health care providers. There is a critical need to strengthen gerontology curricula to prepare health-related professionals for a graying population. The purpose of this article is to investigate student satisfaction with the first National Project for Excellence in Gerontological Care Education (NPEGCE) in Taiwan. A cross-sectional design was used. A sample of 151 medical, nursing, and physical therapy students, who had enrolled in the NPEGCE and had taken at least one core course, completed a satisfaction questionnaire. To ensure content validity, a multidisciplinary, institutional committee of gerontology and geriatric faculty designed the content. Overall sati... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206317 Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206317 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344332&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000922%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: To characterize quality of life and psychological well-being in the new growing population of older patients who underwent trans-catheter closure of the secundum ASD. Twenty-seven patients, aged 60 years and older, who underwent trans-catheter ASD closure and 27 age and gender matched controls answered the hospital anxiety and depression scale and the cardiac-specific module of the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaire. Pre- and post-ASD closure pulmonary artery pressure (Pap), and the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional capacity class were recorded from medical records. Almost 77% improvement in Pap and 57% improvement in functional status were found. More than 70% reported low/mild depressive symptoms and 59% reported low/mild anxiety in both groups. Alm... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344332 Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344332 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344331&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000910%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of psychotropic medications (antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics, hypnotics and sedatives) on the risk of falls and fractures in a cohort of elderly people in South Australia. A retrospective cohort study was undertaken using the wave 1 (1992) and wave 3 (1994) data of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ALSA). Persistent use of psychotropic medicines was defined as use of one or more psychotropic medications at both wave 1 and wave 3. A comprehensive list of potential confounding variables was individually entered into regression models to examine effects on risk ratios. The results showed that the use of psychotropic medications was associated with an increased risk of falls in females (IRR=1.47, 95% CI=1.31–1.... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344331 Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344331 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206313&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000831%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The prevalence of comorbid cognitive impairment among older adults referred to low vision rehabilitation (LVR) for macular disease is unknown. We performed cognitive testing on 101 adults aged 65 years or older with macular disease who were referred to The Duke LVR Clinic between September 2007 and March 2008. Scores on the telephone interview for cognitive status-modified (TICS-m) ranged from 7 to 44, with 18.8% of scores below an established cutoff for cognitive impairment (≤27) and an additional 27.7% of scores considered marginal (28–30). On letter fluency, 46% of participants scored at least 1× standard deviation (SD) below the mean for their age, gender, race, and education level, and 18% of participants scored at least 2× below their demographic mean. On logical memo... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206313 Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206313 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206311&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000818%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study explores the possibility to capitalize from a widely used semantic fluency test, in order to investigate aspects of topographical space representation, still poorly studied in neurodegenerative diseases. Twenty-six patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 13 healthy control (CTR) subjects underwent neuropsychological assessment at baseline (T0) and about 2 years later (T1). The cities named during category verbal fluency test (“names of cities”) were marked on a map, and the polygon perimeter obtained by joining the external points was computed. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score, number of cities named and perimeter length were compared between T0 and T1, both within-group and between groups. MMSE score and number of cities significantly differed between AD a... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206311 Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344312&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000909%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Since little is known about the very elderly population aged 80 years and older, we evaluated the association of quality of life (QoL) in an 85-year-old population with physical fitness measurements assessed at age 80 and 85 years. Two hundred seven individuals (90 males, 117 females) aged 85 years underwent the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaires for QoL assessment and physical fitness measurements (handgrip strength, leg-extensor strength, one-leg standing time, stepping rate of legs, walking speed). In 85-year-olds, significant associations were found, by multiple regression analysis or logistic regression analysis, with adjustment for various influencing factors in QoL assessed by SF-36 with physical fitness measurements examined at the age of 85 and 80 years. Physical scale... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344312 Wed, 06 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344312 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3344310&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000880%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: White matter (WM) changes are frequently seen on structural imaging in AD but the clinical relevance of these changes is uncertain. Frontal WM pathology is often observed upon neuropathological examination in AD. Since frontal cortical/sub-cortical pathology is known to relate to executive dysfunction, the aim was to elucidate if frontal WM changes in AD correlated with executive dysfunction. In all, 15 AD patients and 15 age-matched control cases were investigated in the study, which covered conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), DTI, neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological examinations. Reduced performance on neuropsychological testing of executive function correlated significantly with an increasing degree of frontal WM changes detected by DTI in the AD group, while no... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3344310 Wed, 06 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3344310 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206316&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000867%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The incidence of depression in the elderly has risen in recent years, with 30% of people over the age of 65 now reported to suffer from mood disorders. There are a number of possible causes for this increase; moreover, as the symptoms of depression in the elderly are often difficult to identify and interpret, a diagnosis of depression in the elderly may be difficult to make, particularly when other concomitant pathologies mask the signs and symptoms of this disease. There is thus a need to standardize the various self-rating and hetero-evaluation scales used to differentiate between normal and depressed subjects. These tools are designed to investigate and evaluate the various components of depression in depth. They are essential for the diagnosis and therapy in patients who suff... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206316 Tue, 05 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020439&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS016749430900048X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The diabetes mellitus of type 2 (DMT2) is a disease of the elderly with multifactorial pathogenesis, characterized by interactions of genetic variations suspect for diabetes, as well as of the longevity and aging genes. Since today it is still not possible to obtain the diagnosis with laboratory methods of clinical genetics, we tried to identify the subjects of risk of future diabetes on the basis of a combined measurement of glycemia, the glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and the waist circumference (WC). The studied population consisted of 2603 elderly subjects of 65–84 years of age, involved in the epidemiological study called ILSA (Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging). The subjects who displayed at the baseline an impaired fasting glucose (IFG) accompanied by HbA1c and WC val... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020439 Tue, 05 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206309&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS016749430900079X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and activity of radiotherapy (RT) treatment in elderly patients with locally advanced lung cancer. From January 2002 to December 2007, 51 consecutive patients (43 men and 8 women) aged ≥65 received RT for locally advanced lung cancer, 22 with radical intent and 16 in adjuvant setting. Thirty-six patients received chemotherapy. Variables considered were age, co-morbidities, evaluated according to the adult co-morbidity evaluation index (ACE-27), surgery vs. no surgery, radiation dose and chemotherapy. The median age was 74.7 years (range 65–91). Of the patients, 15.7% had no co-morbidity, 41.2% mild, 25.5% moderate, and 17.6% had severe co-morbidities. Sixteen subjects (31.4%) underwent surgery. All patients completed t... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206309 Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206309 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206308&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000788%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and most breast cancers are not attributable to risk factors other than female gender and increased age. However, despite its increasing prevalence in the geriatric population, prospective clinical trials for older cancer patients do not exist and most data come from retrospective studies or subanalyses from general population studies. As a result physician's, patient's and family members’ fear predominates and elderly patients do not receive the appropriate treatment when compared with younger ones. Treatment is offered according to biological age alone and life expectancy, comorbidity and functional status are not considered when deciding treatment strategy. Surgery is often denied to patients older than 70 years of... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206308 Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206308 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206305&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000752%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This report is based on the intervention/treatment arm (n=45) of a randomized controlled trial in older women who participated in a multidisciplinary clinic. We describe the development of a clinical pathway for HF and the variance reporting including factors affecting adherence with the pathway. Variances are patient or staff actions that did not meet the expected outcomes. Of the 45 intervention arm female patients, 5 were able to fully complete the program, meaning that all of the intended 12 visits were completed successfully. Thirteen women missed more than three clinic visits, and the rest attended most visits. Variance tracking identified that visits were interrupted most often by patient-related health issues, such as fatigue and pain, which may not be surprising given the expected... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206305 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206305 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206315&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000855%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study is to investigate changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in short-term treatment with acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (ChEI). rCBF was measured by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). CBF measurements were performed in 13 AD patients before treatment and 4 months later, while the control group with syncope or headache consisted of 17 patients. The clinical diagnosis of AD was based on the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. Significant increases in rCBF were noted in the left angular, the right superior frontal gyrus, the right occipital, the left temporal lobe and the left orbital gyrus at the end of short-term therapy. Reduction in the rCBF before treatment is more profound in the left superior temporal, the right precentral and the both in... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206315 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206314&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000843%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: This paper examines the impact of chronic disease status on health and well-being of South Africans in early and later old age. A structured questionnaire, comprising demographic characteristics, self-reported chronic disease status, an 18-item health problems scale and the health and well-being sub-scales from the SF-12 was used to collect data from 400 black, 101 Indian, 107 white and 102 colored residents of Greater Pretoria, South Africa. One hundred and ninety (27%) reported no chronic disease, 181 (25%) had hypertension alone, 179 (25%) had hypertension combined with one or more other chronic diseases and 160 (23%) had other chronic diseases without hypertension. There were no significant differences on health and well-being by race, language, gender or marital status. Howe... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206314 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206314 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206312&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS016749430900082X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aims of this study are to: (1) examine the gender differences in the association of depression and elder mistreatment (EM) in a community-dwelling Chinese population; and (2) examine the potential differential modifying effect of greater social support on these associations. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 141 women and 270 men aged 60 years or greater who presented to an urban medical center. EM was assessed using the modified Vulnerability to Abuse Screening Scale (VASS) and depression was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and overall social support was measured using the Social Support Index (SSI). After adjusting for potential confounders, depression was associated with 447% increased risk for EM among men (odds ratio, OR=4.47; 95% confidence int... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206312 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206312 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206310&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000806%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The purpose of this study was to design and evaluate the specifically targeted functional balance training for a group of frail nursing home residents. Fifty residents of two nursing homes were assigned to an exercise and control group. Thirty-three participants (age 75.7±6.7 years) in the balance training group finished 12 weeks of training protocol that consisted of 14 activities that challenged different balance subsystems. The results showed that the participants in the training group reached higher score on Berg Balance Scale (BBS) (p (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206310 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206310 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206304&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000740%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study identified tongue dryness as a potentially practical tool to identify dehydration risk amongst older people in the clinical care setting. Further studies to validate the potential screen in larger and varied populations of older people are required. (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206304 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206304 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343671&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS016749430800071X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is supposed to be one of the modifiable risk factors that, if treated, may delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The relation between serum homocysteine (Hcy) and vitamin levels during AD and its preclinical phase was systematically reviewed. Searches through large literature and trial databases were conducted. Data were extracted from studies and, after quality assessment, analyzed using a meta-analysis software package. Nine qualitatively good case–control studies were identified. The pooled standardized mean difference (PSMD) of Hcy levels (631 patients, 703 controls) was 1.04 (0.44–1.63), indicating higher Hcy levels in AD patients. Levels of folate (PSMD=0.65) (0.34–0.95) (387 patients, 312 controls) and vitamin B12 (PSMD=0.50) (−0.... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343671 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:27:16 +0100 2343671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343670&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000800%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Previous research has failed to consider the importance of caregiving circumstances and their impact on social support and caregiver burden. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the association between perceived and received social support and caregiver burden. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 301 family caregivers. Data was collected using structured questionnaires which included a Social Support Scale, Family APGAR (adaptation, partnership, growth, affection, resolve), and Caregiver Burden Scale. Findings showed that the caregiver burden was best predicted by two perceived and one received social support variables. Caregiver burden was likely to be higher when the caregivers had lower levels of family function and social support. Perceived social support was bett... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343670 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:27:15 +0100 2343670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343669&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000794%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study is to evaluate the degree of MTA in VD patients using a standardized visual rating scale and to suggest the importance of the possible role of MTA in VD. Twenty-five VD, 33 AD and 27 non-demented patients underwent a coronal three-dimensional magnetization prepared rapid gradient echo brain MRI sequence. MTA was rated visually using a 5-point rating scale from 0 (no atrophy) to 4 (severe atrophy). The mean summed MTA score was 5.39 in AD, 2.16 in VD and 0.56 in non-demented patients. Most of the VD patients (80%) showed MTA. They were greater in bilateral sides compared with the non-demented group, but milder than in AD. Additionally, MTA of left side score was significantly associated with age. Medial temporal lobe volumes measured visually are smaller in size in patients with ... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343669 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:27:14 +0100 2343669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343668&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000782%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We examined the influence of oral health on the febrile status of 271 long-term hospitalized elderly patients over 1 year. In dentate patients, those with ≥20 teeth had a significantly higher risk for fever than those with 1–9 teeth; multivariate logistic regression analysis: odds ratio (OR)=5.44, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.37–21.66. In edentate patients, those with moderate or much tongue plaque had a significantly higher risk for fever than those with no or slight tongue plaque; multivariate analysis: OR=5.14, 95% CI=1.77–14.88. These results suggest that oral health status related to febrile status differs between dentate and edentate patients in the elderly population. (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343668 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:27:13 +0100 2343668 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343667&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000770%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Although the role of inflammation has been studied in specific diseases or in community living elderly, data in hospitalized acute care elderly patients are scarce. The present study was designed to determine the predictive value of sociodemographic, clinical and biological factors for mortality in acute care geriatric wards. Retrospective study was conducted in two acute care wards in a university-based geriatric hospital with elderly patients (n=224) consecutively admitted to acute care wards with available medical files. Sociodemographic variables, primary medical diagnosis and number of associated conditions, dementia, depression, pressure sores, functional status (measure by the activities of daily living=ADL scale), weight, and plasma levels of albumin, transthyretin, C-rea... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343667 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:27:06 +0100 2343667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343666&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000769%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The study compared valsartan/amlodipine combination with irbesartan/hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) combination in very elderly hypertensives. After a 4-week placebo period, 94 hypertensives, aged 75–89 years were randomized to valsartan 160mg/amlodipine 5mg or irbesartan 300mg/HCTZ 12.5mg for 24 weeks according to a prospective, parallel group study. After 4 weeks amlodipine or HCTZ was doubled in non-responders. Patients were checked every 4 weeks. At each visit clinical sitting, lying and standing blood pressure (BP), systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were evaluated, and an electrocardiogram was performed. At the end of the placebo period and of the treatment period a non-invasive 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) was performed and electrolytes and uric acid were evalua... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343666 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:58 +0100 2343666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343665&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000745%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The present study focused on home-dwelling women successfully discharged back to the community after a fall-related fracture of the hip. We investigated the role of incident falls in affecting ability to function in activities of daily living. Ninety-five of 103 consecutive women without cognitive impairment were recruited during in-patient rehabilitation following their first hip fracture. Functional independence in activities of daily living was assessed by using the Barthel Index (BI) score at discharge from in-patient rehabilitation and at a 6-month follow-up. Nineteen of the 95 women sustained one or more falls during a median observation time of 187 days. At a Mann–Whitney test, both BI scores assessed at the 6-month follow-up and gains in BI scores during the follow-up w... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343665 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:57 +0100 2343665 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343664&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000733%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: In order to analyze the quality of life (QoL) or frailty after AVR for octogenarians, we studied 84 patients older than 80 years who underwent aortic valve replacement alone or in combination with coronary artery bypass, between April 1998 and December 2001. Follow-up was performed in May 2002 with a telephonic interview to evaluate the self-rated QoL, health, and three frailty markers: falls, activity of daily living (ADL) and mood disorder. In-hospital mortality was 16.7%. Fourteen deaths occurred during the follow-up: survival estimates were 85.5% at 1 year and 68.6% at 3 years. Forty-one patients (73.2%) were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes I–II for dyspnea and 42 patients (75.0%) were free of angina. Fifty-one patients (91.1%) lived in their own homes. Forty-e... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343664 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:54 +0100 2343664 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343663&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000721%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study explores whether there is a relationship between the level of belief in negative aging stereotypes in 65-year-old people and their results concerning some psychosocial variables. These were selected for their relevance for health and well being in elderly people. These were: living situation, responsibilities toward others, subjective health, frequency of medical appointments, subjective age, participation in community social activities and regular physical activity. The sample consisted of 757 people of low educational level, ranged from 65 to 96 years. Age and gender were homogeneously distributed. Participants were non-institutionalized people. Firstly, the psychosocial variables under focus were assessed by means of seven questions. Secondly, a questionnaire about negative a... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343663 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:53 +0100 2343663 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343662&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS016749430800068X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study aimed at verifying the International Diabetes Federation (IDF)-indicated criteria in the elderly, characterized by a decrease of several normal values, the neglected evaluation of those values with aging, and an eventual decision of an obligatory consideration of the visceral obesity as a sign of the metabolic syndrome (MS), the relative prevalence of Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) and stroke. The study involved 3038 elderly persons (65–84 years), covered by the Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging (ILSA): they were investigated for the diagnosis of MS, for the prevalence of AMI and stroke at the baseline, and after 3 years. We applied both the IDF-criteria and a new concept considering the age-dependent increase of several parameters in older subjects, the previous cardio�... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343662 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:52 +0100 2343662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343661&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000678%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The study aims at analyzing the psychosocial variables associated with the informal caregivers’ burden of dependent older people. A sample of 296 dependent people and their informal caregivers (n=153) was randomly selected among users and non-users of the Spanish public In-Home Help Service (HHS) in an autonomous Spanish region (Comunidad Valenciana). Diverse variables in reference to the care context and the caregiver as well as the care recipient show major associations with the burden: those associated to disease and the social situation of the dependent person, the greater frequency and intensity of care, and the low frequency in which the caregiver receives help from others. The obtained data makes possible to establish guidelines based on the psychological and educational... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343661 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:49 +0100 2343661 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343660&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000666%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes The objective of the study is to investigate ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in a sample of Spanish nonagenarians. We also analyzed the misdiagnosis of hypertension and investigated blood pressure (BP) control in treated hypertensive nonagenarians. Twenty-four-hour ABPM was undertaken in a group of 42 nonagenarians. The 24-h mean, daytime BP, nighttime BP and heart rate (HR) were extracted from the ABPM. Sociodemographic data, the ability to perform basic daily activities, measured by the Barthel index (BI) or instrumental activities revealed by the Lawton and Brody index (LI), cognition, and comorbidity were evaluated. Thirty-one subjects were receiving antihypertensive drug treatment. Twenty-four hour, daytime and sleeping pressures averaged 130/65, 131/68 and 128/63mmHg, res... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343660 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:48 +0100 2343660 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343659&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000654%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study examined the effects of a 4-week expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) program on maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) and cough function in 18 healthy but sedentary elderly adults. MEP significantly increased after the EMST program from 77.14±20.20 to 110.83±26.11cmH2O. Parameters measured during reflexive coughs produced by capsaicin challenge, indicated that compression phase duration significantly decreased (from 0.35±0.19 to 0.16±0.17s), peak expiratory flow rate decreased (from 4.98±2.18 to 8.00±3.05l/s) and post-peak plateau integral amplitude significantly increased (from 3.49±2.46 to 6.83±4.16l/ss) with the EMST program. EMST seems to be an effective program to increase the expiratory muscle strength in the sedentary elderly, which contribute to an enhanced co... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343659 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:46 +0100 2343659 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343658&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000642%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Nutrition is an important issue for elderly people, especially in patients with dementia. It is also related to clinical outcome, such as cognition, autonomy and behavior. The present study investigated the role of nutritional status on cognitive, functional and neuropsychiatric deficits in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Forty-nine patients underwent neuropsychological, nutritional and neuropsychiatric assessments. The sample was divided into at risk of malnutrition (21 patients) and well-nourished (28 patients) according to the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score. The groups were similar for clinical and demographic variables, except for MNA score and age. The mean body mass index (BMI) was higher than the normal range. Patients at risk of malnutrition showed greate... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343658 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:42 +0100 2343658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343657&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000630%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Everybody is subject to a physical clock, determining the calendar age, and also to a biological clock, the speed of which depends on the interaction between the genetic reserves and the environment. Stress is taken into account more and more as one of the main factors responsible for the acceleration of the biological clock and the dishomogeneity of the aging process. Despite the fact that centenarians are prone to chronic stress due to a progressive loss of self-sufficiency, more than a half of our centenarians were not depressed and had a low trait-anxiety: they showed an emotional tendency to react with a low anxiety-intensity to stressful conditions. Their good physical conditions may be explained by a positive character-disposition and by strong adaptability to the adversit... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343657 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:41 +0100 2343657 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343656&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000629%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The correlation between depression and cardiovascular pathologies was studied in geriatric age. As a matter of fact, the high comorbidity of depression with the sudden cardiac deaths or other cardiovascular events requires a careful evaluation of these causalities. A total of 110 patients were analyzed, recovered in assisted sanitary residence (from the widely used Italian name: “residenza sanitaria assistita” abbreviated as RSA) during the last 12 months. All patients were above the age of 80 years at the admission (mean age was 83.2±2.8 years), and all of them have had a diagnosis of depression according to the DSM IV. All patients were treated with the antidepressive specific serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) (Citalopram, 20–40mg/day, or Sertraline 50–100mg/day). Th... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343656 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:40 +0100 2343656 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343655&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000617%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The present study was aimed at analyzing correlation between strength of lower body extremities and postural stability in function of age. A pool of 180 women divided into 6 age groups (65–69, 70–74, 75–79, 80–84, 85–89 and 90–94 years) was examined. They all were informed-consent participants. The results suggest that age is negatively correlated with lower body strength and positively correlated with decrease of postural balance. There is also an exponential correlation between the strength of lower body part and postural balance. The conclusion was derived that postural stability is at least partially controlled by the strength of lower body. The age of 75 in women population seems to be a threshold above which the neurodegenerative and muscle degeneration processe... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343655 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:36 +0100 2343655 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343654&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000605%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim was to explore health in relation to the home as experienced by very old, single-living Swedish people. Applying a grounded theory approach, 40 men and women aged 80–89 were interviewed in their own homes. Data analysis revealed the main theme, “The home is the hub of health”, comprising two categories, “The home as support for health”, and “Having an inner driving force to maintain health”. Health was described as being active and participating, and during the aging process the home became an increasingly important source of support. The older people were aware of their vulnerability, and knew that their life situation could change rapidly. Thus, health was always interpreted in relation to this. They had a strong inner driving force to maintain health, and... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343654 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:34 +0100 2343654 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343653&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000599%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: A blood sample and muscle biopsies were obtained from 54 elderly subjects. Twenty-seven subjects aged 77±3 years, had experienced a change in fat free mass (FFM) of +194±282g/year (lean body mass maintainers) and 27 subjects aged 78±3 years, had a change in FFM of −487±209g/year (lean body mass losers). Muscle biopsies were also obtained from 10 healthy subjects aged 34±4 years. In muscle, the ratio of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to nuclear DNA (nDNA) and telomere length were assessed and deposition of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal adducts (4HNE) was visualized by electron microscopy. In FFM maintainers, losers and young controls, the ratio of mtDNA to nDNA was 2.1 (95% confidence intervals (CI), 0.1–31.7), 1.5 (95% CI, 0.2–15.7) and 18.6 (95% CI, 2.8–46.2), respectively. 4HNE d... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343653 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:33 +0100 2343653 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343652&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000587%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Decubital lesions indicate the gravity of the pathologies of the elderly patients, representing a serious cause of disability and of mortality. The present study was aimed at evaluating the decubital lesions during 1 year of treatment in an assisted sanitary residence (abbreviated as RSA from the Italian name), through observations of the assistential and therapeutical outcomes, aimed at improving the quality of life of the recovered elderly patients. We had 131 patients involved from a total of 308 recovered patients in the RSA. Their mean age was 83.4±1.3 years (74 women and 57 men). All cases were treated, considering the actual clinical stages, according to the advanced protocols on the basis of the guidelines of the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP). All patien... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343652 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:27 +0100 2343652 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343651&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000575%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Falls among the elderly is a major public health concern. There has been recent extensive research on the effects of Tai Chi in fall prevention among the elderly. As such, we undertook a systematic review to look for evidence on the effect of this intervention. There were seven randomized controlled trials, which met our objective and inclusion criteria. Our review has shown that Tai Chi has the potential to reduce falls or risk of falls among the elderly, provided that they are relatively young and non-frail. Further review is needed to look into the non-English studies, which assess the effectiveness of Tai Chi on fall reduction. (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343651 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:26 +0100 2343651 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343650&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000563%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The debate about the adoption of standard multidimensional geriatric assessment instruments is mainly due to the lack of consensus on the feasibility and requirements for such instruments by both the health and the social care professions. A tool called ValGraf was developed in the attempt to give an original answer to these and other controversial issues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ValGraf for acceptability, concurrent validity and factorial structure. The functional and cognitive impairments as ascertained by the ValGraf were compared with Katz index and Folstein's Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Subjects (N=210) of four nursing homes were assessed by two independent teams of nurses. The factorial validity study involved 8280 subjects living in nursing home... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343650 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:25 +0100 2343650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343649&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000551%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Sarcopenia is a loss of muscle mass related to aging and leads to muscle performance decline. An increase in inflammatory mediator levels, especially of IL-6, has been associated to reduced muscle strength in the elderly. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to correlate IL-6 plasma levels with manual muscle strength (MMS) in 63 community-dwelling elderly women. (71.2±7.4years). IL-6 was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and MMS was measured using the JAMAR dynamometer. Pearson's test was used to explore the relationship between the outcomes at the significance level of α=0.05. IL-6 levels (2.56±3.44pg/ml) and MMS (22.86±4.62kgf) exhibited an inverse correlation (r=−0.2673 and p=0.0373). The increase in IL-6 plasma levels possibly contribu... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343649 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:21 +0100 2343649 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343648&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS016749430800054X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In conclusion, physical function and physical activity are related to feelings of well being, and results emphasize the positive functional and psychological effects of physical activity in dependent subjects. (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343648 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:09 +0100 2343648 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343647&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000538%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In conclusion, Plg seems to be directly related to CVD and metabolic risk profile as well as PA level but not to functional status or cognitive function of older individuals. (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343647 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:07 +0100 2343647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343646&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000526%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of the present study was to clarify the processes of decision making and end-of-life care for patients with dementia in the group homes in Japan. We investigated 45 group homes for patients with dementia regarding cases of end-of-life care during a 3-year period between March 2004 and February 2007. Thirty-three cases from respondent group homes were collected. Patients had middle or advanced levels of dementia, with only six cases of confirmed wishes about the place of death. In most cases, managing directors confirmed family members’ wishes (66.7%) and performed a central role in planning for end-of-life care (60.6%). About one-third of patients (36.4%) were able to eat by mouth until death. Intravenous feeding was mainly used when the patient was unable to take anyth... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343646 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:05 +0100 2343646 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343645&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000514%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of the present paper is to analyze the effects of psychological well-being, physical functioning and socio-demographic factors on life satisfaction. Both a bivariate and a multivariate level of analyses have been used. Finally, a structural model explaining life satisfaction has been developed and validated. With respect to bivariate relations, there was evidence of significant positive relations between psychological well-being dimensions and life satisfaction and between physical conditions and life satisfaction as well. Also, as age increased there was a slow decrease in life satisfaction. Educational level was positively related to life satisfaction. A structural model gave valuable information about the pattern of multivariate relationships among the variables. A fir... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343645 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:01 +0100 2343645 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343644&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000502%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, we investigated polymorphic variations in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene, which has been proposed having a pivotal role in progressive damage of nigral dopaminergic neurons, between Korean patients with 188 PD and 321 lung cancer patients. There were no significant differences in the tested single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between patients with PD and lung cancer; however, one haplotype was significantly different in comparisons between the two diseases. These results suggest that VEGF genetic polymorphisms might help understand the low incidence of lung cancer in the patients with PD. (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343644 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:00 +0100 2343644 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343643&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000496%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Evidence in the literature suggests that physical activity, social contacts and cognitively stimulating activity, such as reading, often considered individually, may improve cognitive performance. Our work examines their interactions and confirms their positive effects on cognitive functions. The correlations between physical activity, socialization, reading and improved cognitive performance remained significant after adjusting for confounding factors, such as comorbidity and hearing function. Our work suggests that these factors are important for the prevention of cognitive decline in the elderly. (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343643 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:25:59 +0100 2343643 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343642&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000484%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Frailty is a biological syndrome of decreased reserves and lower resistance to stressors, deriving from cumulative declines across multiple physiological systems and causing adverse outcomes. Physical frailty is easy to assess, strongly correlated to disability and to survival, considering the comorbidities, too. This working definition of frailty is inexpensive to apply, and provides a basis for standardized screening for risk of disability in older adults. (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343642 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:25:56 +0100 2343642 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343641&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308000472%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are differences in gait parameters between true walker users and potential walker users during ambulation. Subjects consisted of 18 rolling walker (RW) users (true user group, TUG) and 15 RW non-users (potential user group, PUG). The older adults in the PUG had a history of at least one fall in the last 12 months or a non-surgery hospitalization in the last 3 months. All subjects traversed the GAITRite® walkway using a RW appropriately adjusted for the subject's height until three successful trials were obtained. The PUG performed three additional trials walking on the GAITRite® walkway without RW assistance. Walking with a RW, the PUG users demonstrated decreased cadence, speed, swing time, step and stride length, and ... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343641 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:25:54 +0100 2343641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343640&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000417%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: One of the biggest scandals of the recent history of medicine is the conflict of views between the gerontological establishment and the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M). The style used in that discussion was really rough and unusual. On the one hand, according to some representatives of the American Medical Associations (AMA), the use of human growth hormone (hGH) for anti-aging medical interventions is illegal, criminal, and requires persecution. On the other hand, A4M is of the opinion that all this is “…filled with incorrect, misplaced references and studies, and multiple basic scientific errors, in an apparent attempt to damage the anti-aging medical profession…”. It is evident that in the frame of a short article is impossible to treat all the relevant a... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343640 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:25:27 +0100 2343640 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343639&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000466%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This journal has arrived to a sad occasion, when we have to commemorate one of our former Associate Editors, Prof. Dr. Kenichi Kitani who passed away on 15th October 2008 in Japan. He was among the founders of this journal, and occupied the Associate Editor position from the Volume 1, issue 1, printed in 1982 until the Volume 41 (2007). His contribution to the success of this journal was essential not only as an author or co-author of numerous papers from various fields of the experimental gerontology, but also as an excellent reviewer of the submitted manuscripts during these more than 25 years. (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343639 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:25:14 +0100 2343639 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343638&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000570%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343638 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:25:11 +0100 2343638 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206307&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000776%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study examined whether the quality of end-of-life home medical care affected caregiver's psychological recovery from bereavement. We analyzed survey responses from an anonymous self-administered questionnaire from 147 bereaved family members (caregivers). Questionnaire content included information on the quality of end-of-life home medical care, feelings during bereavement and present feelings. Results showed that caregiver regret during bereavement was significantly associated with present feelings about loss regardless of the length of time after death of a loved one. Aspects of end-of-life support that were statistically significant at minimizing regret during bereavement were: (1) fulfilled home medical care service system, (2) peaceful death of the patient, and (3) providing dire... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206307 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206306&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000764%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: This work aimed at establishing the memory alteration test (M@T), which is a memory screening test, capable for discriminating between subjects with subjective memory complaints (SMC) (without objective memory impairment) and patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (A-MCI) and with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). The discriminative validity was assessed in a sample of 37 subjects with SMC, 50 patients with A-MCI according to the Petersen-criteria, and 66 patients with mild AD (global deterioration scale: 4 stage) according to the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. M@T mean scores were significantly different among groups: 39.7±5.1 (±S.D.) in the SMC group, 31.5±3.9 in the A-MCI group, and 21.8±4.9 in mild AD. A cut-off score of 37 points had a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206306 Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020438&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000478%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Higher plasma concentrations of the N-terminal fragment of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) and the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) have been observed in patients affected by chronic heart failure (CHF). Recent clinical studies have tried to correlate the plasma levels of these biomarkers with severity of the disease. To evaluate the role of NT-pro-BNP, TNF-α and C-reactive protein (CRP) in a population of geriatric patients affected by CHF, and to assess their different plasma levels in diabetics and in normoglycemic patients, we enrolled 57 patients affected by CHF: 29 patients were diabetic and 28 were normoglycemic. Clinical and echocardiographic examinations were performed in all patients, in order to evaluate the NYHA-class and the left ventricular ejection fractio... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020438 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206303&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000739%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of the present study was to assess the presence of depressive symptomatology among elderly residents in long stay institution (LSI) and in the community of Recife, Brazil. In total, 81 LSI elderly patients (mean age of 75.55±9.18 years) and 132 elderly (mean age of 73.14±8.27 years) individuals from the community were evaluated. Depressive symptomatology was assessed by the geriatric depression scale (GDS-15), cognitive status by the mini mental state examination (MMSE) and capacity to perform the activities of daily living (ADL) by the Katz Index. Comorbidities and the use of medication were recorded. The LSI elderly exhibited more depressive symptoms (p (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206303 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206303 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206302&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000727%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of this study was to report the prevalence of cognitive decline as well as its recognition rates in elderly inpatients in a general hospital in Greece. Two hundred randomly selected patients, 65 years old and over, hospitalized in surgery and internal medicine departments, were assessed for cognitive decline in a period of 12 months by means of structured clinical interview for DSM-IV axis-I disorders, clinical version (SCID-IV), mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and the clock drawing test (CDT). During the next 12 months the liaison calls were evaluated and the two periods were compared. During the first screening period, when psychiatric assessment was performed, 61 patients (30.5%) were diagnosed to present cognitive decline. During the second period, there were onl... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206302 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206302 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206301&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000545%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the frequency of going outdoors into the life-space and functional impairment in community-living frail elderly people. Participants were 1872 community-dwelling elderly people (65–100 years). The participants were asked activities of daily living (ADL) status and how far they traveled and how often they traveled to that area in the 4 weeks before the assessment. We selected two demographic variables, five physiological variables, 11 primary diseases or geriatric syndromes, and four psychosocial variables as possible confounding factors of ADL limitations and correlates of going outdoors. After adjusting for the confounders, multiple logistic regression showed that limitations in basic ADL and instrumental AD... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206301 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206301 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206298&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS016749430900051X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Many research studies have demonstrated asymptomatic white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) in older adults, which are postulated to be ischemic in origin. We hypothesized that certain clinical predictors, measured in a population of healthy older adults, would have a positive relationship with WMH scoring on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). As part of a longitudinal study of cognitive aging we have performed MRI on healthy older adults. In a group of 46 volunteers (25 females; median age 73, range 63–84 years), we have calculated of the Hachinski score and Framingham Stroke Risk Profile (FSRP). Volunteers also provided self-reported health information using the Cornell Medical Index (CMI). These were compared against the total Age Related White Matter Changes (ARWMC) score. The... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206298 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206298 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206300&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000533%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Age-related and arthritis-related foot modifications have been described in literature, but there is a lack of references that allow shoes to be designed on the basis of specific anthropometric measurements of older women. The aim of this study was to identify the anthropometric characteristics of the feet of elderly women with and without arthritis. This is an observational transversal study. The right and left feet of 227 older women aged between 60 and 90 years (69.6±6.8 years) were evaluated, of whom 45 reported a diagnosis of arthritis (non-osteoarthritis). The anthropometric evaluation of the feet comprised the variables of width, perimeter, height, foot length, first and fifth metatarsophalangeal angles, the arch-index and the foot posture index (FPI). The data were analy... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206300 Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206300 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206299&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000521%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of urinary tract infection (UTI) and associated factors among very old women. In a cross-sectional, population-based study in Sweden and Finland, 532 women were asked to participate and 395 (74.2%) were possible to evaluate for UTI. Data were collected from structured interviews and assessments made during home visits, from medical charts, caregivers and relatives. UTI diagnosis documented in medical records during the preceding 1 and 5 years was registered. About one-third (117/395, 29.6%) were diagnosed as having suffered from at least one UTI in the preceding year and 60% in the preceding 5 years. In a multivariate logistic regression model, UTI in the preceding year, was associated with vertebral fractures (odds ratio (OR)=... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206299 Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020429&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000363%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: In order to evaluate the significance of HbA1c in the diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and the risk of future DM in the elderly, the HbA1c and the fasting glycemia of 2167 elderly subjects of 65–84 years were determined, taking part in the epidemiological Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging (ILSA). The subjects were divided in 3 groups according to their glycemic values, namely those with normal fasting glucose (NFG), with impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and diabetics. It has been revealed that the values of HbA1c in these 3 groups overlapped in more than 80%. The evaluation of the HbA1c levels represents a clearly lower diagnostic validity for the DM, than the fasting plasma glucose (FPG). The identification of new cases of DM in a follow-up of 3 years was modest: in the NF... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020429 Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3206297&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000508%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a combination of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) levels and exercise on physical fitness in community-dwelling frail elderly in Japan. A longitudinal survey was conducted in a town (latitude 36° north). Eighty women aged 65 years and over attended a 3-month exercise class. A face-to-face interview was conducted based on a questionnaire. The serum levels of 25(OH)D3, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), were measured. Nine physical fitness tests were performed at baseline and at the end of a 3-month follow-up period. Among 80 subjects, 56.3% experienced falls, and 71.3% experienced stumbling more than once during the past year. The prevalence of 25(OH)D3 (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3206297 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3206297 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020440&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000491%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Violence in elderly care has been reported on a global scale. The aim of this study was to describe nurses’ perceptions of threats and violence, directed at themselves and other staff in community elderly care. Another aim was to describe nurses’ access to prevention measures for handling threats and violence. A questionnaire was answered by registered nurses (RNs) (n=213) in community elderly care. Data was analyzed by SPSS. The results showed that nurses had experienced high-degree indirect threats (48%), direct threats of violent acts (40%) and violent acts (40%). Forty-five percent of the nurses had witnessed violence and threats toward other staff. Twenty percent of the nurses stated to have access to education in managing threats and violence. The conclusions were that ... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020440 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020440 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020435&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000430%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Hip fracture represents the most dramatic expression of the disease, in terms of morbidity, medical cost and mortality. The incidence of hip fracture increases substantially with age. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between gender and geriatric rehabilitation outcome after traumatic hip fracture. Ninety-nine community-dwelling elderly patients (older than 65 years), 64 women and 35 men, who were admitted to geriatric rehabilitation after operated hip fracture were studied. We assessed the patients’ clinical and demographic data, preoperative risk (ASA), type of fracture and orthopedic repair, pain intensity (VAS), cognitive (MMSE), mood (Zung IDS), and functional status (FIM) on admission and at the end of geriatric rehabilitation. Men had higher mean ... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020435 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020435 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020434&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000429%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of this multicenter prospective study is to compare and find a relation between bone strength evaluated by an ultrasound examination (bone speed of sound) and pathological quantitative bone mass measurements, in patients requiring hip replacement due to femoral neck fractures. The study included 93 patients who underwent a bone ultrasound examination to assess bone strength, as well as a pathological quantitative bone mass evaluation of the excised femoral head. Statistically significant correlations were found between the ultrasound results performed at three different sites, between the patient's age and the ultrasound examination results, and between the patient's age and the pathological examination results of the bone strength. We found no statistically significant c... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020434 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020434 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020433&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000405%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Numerous risk factors of falls, including urinary incontinence and behavioral symptoms have been identified among elderly people in long-term care settings. However, it remains uncertain whether incontinence or behavioral symptoms are associated with recurrent falls and injurious falls. The purpose of this research was to examine the association between various types of falls and urinary incontinence or behavioral symptoms among the residents of long-term care facilities using the Cox proportional hazards models. The participants were 1082 older people (327 men and 755 women) who were admitted to facilities between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004. Fall experience, urinary incontinence, and behavioral symptoms were followed for up to 6 months or until death or discharge. The functi... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020433 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020433 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020426&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000338%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study aimed at establishing the prevalence, the type, the severity of various diseases, as well as the main causes of death in the elderly and ultralongevous subjects. The autopsy findings of 140 centenarians (21 males and 119 females) of the age range of 100–109 years were compared to those of 96 elderly subjects (14 males and 82 females) of the age range of 75–95 years. In all cases the clinical diagnosis, the clinical record, the macro- and microscopic findings and the autopsy protocols were evaluated. A lower prevalence (16.3% vs. 39.0%), as well as a slower and less aggressive evolution of neoplastic pathologies (frequency of metastases: 26.0% vs. 55.0%) in the centenarians, as compared to the general aging population, have been found. The chronic-degenerative pathologies, es... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020426 Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020426 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020437&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000454%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim was to develop a brief physical performance assessment tool that can be reliably used to detect physical impairment in older adults with and without mild dementia. Scores on the 9-item physical performance test (PPT) from non-demented participants were used to develop and validate the 4-item mini-PPT. The validated mini-PPT was then used to predict total PPT score and functional physical status in participants with mild dementia. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analyses were used to generate a cutoff score that classifies participants as functional vs. not functional. The setting was in the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (Washington University). A total of 1199 participants met inclusion criteria: 574 non-demented participants, 436 with very mild dementia, measured by... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020437 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020436&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000442%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the subjective functional outcome of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients who underwent hydrotherapy (HT) 6 months after discharge. A prospective randomized study was performed on 70 elderly inpatients with recent THA, who completed a rehabilitation program. After randomization, 33 of them were treated in conventional gyms (no-hydrotherapy group=NHTG) and 31 received HT (hydrotherapy group=HTG). Interviews with the Western-Ontario MacMasters Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC™) were performed at admission, at discharge and 6 months later. Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney and Wilcoxon tests were applied for statistical analysis. Both groups improved. Pain, stiffness and function were all positively affected. Statistical analysis ind... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020436 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020436 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020430&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000375%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Impairment of oral health has a negative impact on the quality of life (QOL) of the elderly. Activities of daily living (ADL) are known to be an important determinant of their QOL. A controlled study was conducted between September and November 2007 to determine the effects of dental treatments on the QOL and ADL among 30 institutionalized Japanese elderly who were allocated into two groups, an intervention group and a control group. Their mean age was 80±9 years. Outcome data were collected 6 weeks after baseline in both groups. QOL and ADL were assessed using General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) and Functional Independence Measure (FIM). The intervention group, which had received dental treatment, showed significant increases in GOHAI scores between baseline and 6 week... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020430 Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020432&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000399%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In conclusion, falls-assessment leads to fewer falls and less fear of falling among elderly individuals. (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020432 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020431&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000387%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We examined demographic characteristics, current and past illness history, drug history, Korean version-mini-mental state examination (K-MMSE). We also examined ApoE genotype and analyzed associated factors with MS. The MS was present in 53.8% of the subjects (36.8% of men and 61.1% of women). On multiple logistic regression analysis, MS was not associated with the cognitive impairment (K-MMSE score 0.3), but the interactive effect between triglyceride (TG), high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDLc) and ApoE on cognition was significant after adjustment for age, sex, and education (B=−0.285, Wald=4.194, p=0.041; B=0.372, Wald=4.134, p=0.042). These results suggest that blood TG and HDLc may affect cognitive function in the elderly in the presence of ApoE ɛ4 allele. (Source: Archives o... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020431 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020431 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020428&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000351%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of this study is to produce the relation between cognitive and functional performance and some biochemical parameters in elderly population. So, we searched for the correlation between the activities of daily living (ADL), mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and body weight, age, hemoglobin, albumin, serum sodium level of 180 elderly people in five nursing homes. Face-to-face interviews and questionnaires were applied to evaluate ADL. To evaluate the cognitive function we used the MMSE. The average age of 180 people contacted was 71.5±5.1 (±S.D.), ranging 65–91 years; 112 of them were women (62.2%), 68 were men (37.8%). Of these elderly people, 25% had no medically diagnosed illnesses, whereas 17 of them (9.4%) were bedridden. There was a positive correlation between... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020428 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020428 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020427&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS016749430900034X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study investigated the risk factors predisposing infection in aged patients with subcapital hip fracture. We performed a prospective study of 290 patients with displaced subcapital hip fracture, operated by means of Thompson hip hemi-arthroplasty (83.5% fractures in women). The mean age was 85.42±6.06 years (ranging from 69 to 104). Follow-up was realized until death or at least for 2 years. The χ2 test, analysis of variance, Kruskal–Wallis test, correlation analysis and the Spearman test were applied. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated. During the hospital stay, there were diagnosed 94 urinary tract infections, 25 pneumonias, 50 superficial wound infections, 11 deep wound infections. Transfusions were made in 120 patients (in average: 2.54±1.45 units of red cell concentrate/transf... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020427 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020424&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000314%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate clinical data and medical treatment of very elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who are under-represented in the majority of AF studies. In this retrospective study, patients over 80 years with AF admitted to the cardiology ward during a 1-year period were investigated with respect to the type of AF, clinical characteristics, and rate or rhythm control strategy. In addition, the influence of age and CHADS2 score on antithrombotic therapy was examined. A total of 169 consecutive patients (mean±S.D. age: 84.7±4.0 years) were included in this study. Rate control medication was administered in 79% of the patients at discharge. Oral anticoagulation (OAC) was prescribed in only 27.5% of the patients with a CHADS2 score of �... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020424 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020424 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020423&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000302%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Many hip and knee joint scores rate nocturnal symptoms as important in their scoring systems. The aim of this study was to determine if being woken up with pain disappears with advancing age in patients with arthritic hip or knee joints. Data was collected from 60 patients with an average of age of 69.0 years through a questionnaire conducted at the time of their pre-operative assessment, 36 of them were awaiting hip replacements, 24 knee replacement surgery. There was a positive correlation between age and the loss of nocturnal pain symptoms (p (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020423 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020423 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020422&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000296%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim was to investigate the association between missing teeth and general health conditions in elderly Korean people. This cross-sectional study was conducted as a part of a health-screening program supported by the National Health Insurance Corporation of Korea in a local region of Sungju-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do from 2000 to 2006. The participants were 3611 in number (1494 males and 2117 females) aged 60 years and over. The outcome variable was the number of missing teeth in the mouth determined by dental examination; general medical examination included blood pressure, body height and weight to compute body mass index (BMI). Laboratory investigations included aspartate transaminase (AST), hemoglobin (HB), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and total cholesterol (CHOL). Demographic ... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020422 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020419&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000260%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The purpose of this study is hopefully to clarify the ambiguity raised in preliminary reports as to gender dependency of oxidative damage in brain proteins. In the current study, we investigated the relation between protein hydroperoxide levels and other protein oxidation parameters. Our study also covered other oxidative stress parameters, such as 4-hydroxynonenal, malondialdehyde, and the redox index in brain tissue of the aged rats. Protein hydroperoxide, 4-hydroxynonenal, thiol levels of male rats were significantly higher than in the female rat group. On the other hand, other oxidative stress parameters were all found to be not different. We suggest that increased total thiol and protein thiol levels found in our study may point to an adaptive reaction to oxidative protein d... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020419 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020419 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020418&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000259%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes The objective of the study is to examine the relationship between functional disabilities in women over the age of 65 and their reproductive history and socioeconomic status. This is a cross-sectional study. The study group consisted of 543 women aged 65 or over. A general questionnaire and the Brief Disability Questionnaire (BDQ) were used to collect data with face-to-face interview in home visits. Of the women 79.2% have disability. First childbirth was experienced at the average age of 19.6±3.3 and the average age at which the women experienced their last delivery was 32.5±6.3. Parity was 4.1±1.7. Advanced age, being widowed and illiterate, less income, being outside of the middle class and having more than four children are important determinants for later life disability. The study... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020418 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020418 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020441&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002525%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Cardiovascular morbidity is the leading cause of mortality in the developed nations. Elevated serum cholesterol is a major risk factor for ischemic heart disease, one of the common cardiovascular morbidity in older adults, statins have been shown to be effective in reducing serum cholesterol and improving outcomes. Hypercholesterolemia is common in older adults and is one of the major modifiable risk factors. Yet, these patients have often been excluded from major clinical trials of statins and evidence suggests of their underuse. Data from recent clinical trials of statins indicate that the elderly patients with the highest cardiovascular risk are likely to derive the most benefits from cholesterol lowering. With the aging of the population, the prevalence of hypercholesterolemi... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020441 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020425&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000326%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the patterns of associations of personal and mobility resources with positive well-being in two sample populations of older adults from Germany (n=1518) and Italy (n=600). A correlation study showed which variables correlated the closest with the well-being components, then four logistic regression analyses were performed, one for each well-being component such as the positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) positive scale, mobility satisfaction, health satisfaction and life satisfaction. High positive scores of PANAS and satisfaction scales were found both for Germany and Italy. As expected and in accordance with previous studies, components utilized as a measure of subjective well-being correlated significantly with each other i... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020425 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020425 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020421&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000284%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The number of empty-nest elderly is on the rise, especially in rural areas of China. The empty-nest elderly were concerned from social and demographic perspective, but researches on mental health issues of the aged were still rare in China. To clarify the prevalence of depression among empty-nest elderly in a rural area of YongZhou, Hunan and evaluate the impact of social support, coping style and socio-demographic factors on depression of the empty-nest elderly, with the goal of decreasing the rate of depression in empty-nest elderly, a questionnaire survey was conducted on 415 elderly persons. The determined prevalence of depressive symptoms was 74.46%. The empty-nest group, in comparison with the non-empty nest group, had higher levels of depression. Multivariate linear regres... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020421 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020421 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020420&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494309000272%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Breakfast-vegetarianism (BV) is a special dietary habit in Chinese society, which is related to religious beliefs rather than health concerns. The purpose of this study was to compare metabolic characteristics of community-living middle-aged and elderly BV and non-vegetarians (NVs) in Taiwan. In 2000, people aged over 40 in I-Lan County were invited for study. In total, 367 people (mean age: 62.0±11.2 years, 57.8% female) participated in this study and 68 of them were BV. The BV subjects were less likely to consume oily food (29.4% vs. 43.1%, p=0.025), to smoke (5.9% vs. 23.1%, p (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020420 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020417&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002537%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study, designed as a cross-sectional study, was conducted with 100 patients with a chronic health problem who were 60 years old or older and had been admitted to a medical ward at Trakya University Medical Faculty Hospital. It was determined that 64% of the elderly patients had depressive symptoms and 36% did not. The elderly patients with depressive symptoms had been ill for a longer period of time than those who did not have depressive symptoms (p=0.019). The depressed elderly patients’ mobility, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression dimensions, EQ-5D index score, and their EQ-5D VAS score were worse than the patients who were not depressed (p (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020417 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020417 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2764001&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002495%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Authors wanted to assess the predictive value of the trunk control test (TCT) on recovering ambulation in elderly patients who have developed walking disability. The study design was a prospective study performed in a hospital-based intermediate-care unit. Twenty-one patients (mean age 78.5±6.7 years) were investigated, who had developed walking disability after prolonged bed rest for an acute condition. A comprehensive geriatric assessment with functional status evaluation, based on the activities of daily living (ADL) (expressed as Barthel index=BI), and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) (expressed as Lawton index=LI), cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination-Folstein=MMSE), depression (Geriatric Depression Scale=GDS) and comorbidity (Charlson comorbidity... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2764001 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2764001 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3020416&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002513%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study reports how patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) report SRH and which factors influence SRH. The study was based on baseline data from 321 home living patients with mild AD who participated in the Danish Alzheimer Intervention Study (DAISY). Analysis using the generalized estimating equation (GEE) models revealed that good/excellent SRH among patients with mild AD were associated with longer education, lack of other chronic conditions, higher scores of quality of life (QOL), lower scores of mini mental state examination (MMSE), and loss of insight in own cognitive deficits. The present results indicate that SRH reported by patients with mild AD may differ from SRH among cognitively intact persons. Further research is needed in order to establish the validity and implicati... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3020416 Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3020416 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2764002&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002501%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The chronic multimorbidity in individual elderly people is rarely documented in its entirety in present medical records, neither as cross-sectional overview nor as longitudinal time-course of various health problems. This obviously hampers an integrated clinical analysis. This work was aimed at evaluating the chronic multimorbidity in individual elderly patients and developing a method to map, quantify and grade the prevalence of the multimorbidity. An explorative study in 70 nursing home residents (55 women), mean age 85 was performed. Information on health problems was obtained through history, clinical examination and medical records. A 19-item multimorbidity matrix that maps, quantifies and grades the chronic morbidity in individual patients is presented. The 70 residents exh... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2764002 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2764002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2764000&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002483%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Elderly patients represent a significant part of all the patients in various hospital wards. They also suffer from many diseases. Maintenance of their everyday independence, treatment, rehabilitation and improvement of their HRQOL is the main goal of geriatric care in the world, and also in Poland. Performing a comprehensive geriatric assessment for each elderly patient to identify their needs and problems is a standard procedure. The goal of this research was a functional assessment of the influence of social and clinical factors on HRQOL in elderly people. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of social and clinical factors on the functional state and HRQOL in elderly people. The study group was recruited among hospitalized patients in the Department and Clinic of Ge... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2764000 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2764000 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2763997&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002458%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Searching for background factors associated with falls in people with dementia is difficult because the population is heterogeneous. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacies of three statistical methods for analysis of fall predictors in people with dementia. NBR, RT and PLSR analyses were compared. Data used for the comparison were from a prospective cohort study of 192 patients at a psychogeriatric ward, specializing in patients with cognitive impairment and related behavioral and psychological symptoms. Seventy-eight of these patients fell a total of 238 times. PLSR and RT analyses are directed at finding patterns among predictor variables related to outcome, whereas an NBR model is directed at finding predictor variables that, independent of other variables, are re... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2763997 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2763997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2763995&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002434%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In conclusion, these results suggest that women change their inter-limb pattern of daily physical activity with age; that is, they increase upper limb activity and decrease lower limbs activity. Furthermore, they decrease the exertion intensity for both sets of limbs. These findings may help to explain the more accentuated decline in lower limbs muscle strength during the aging process. (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2763995 Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2763995 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2763994&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002422%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: With the purpose of optimizing the satisfaction of the elderly subjects, either existential or not, presenting their unique preference, this research aimed to evaluate the effects of aging on QOL of the aged persons, served by the FHP. The basic intention was to establish parameters of QOL-impact on aging. Our sample was a non-selected population of aged volunteers from Perequê-Mirim-I Family Health Unity, in Caraguatatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. In this correlational descriptive research, the elderly subjects answered a questionnaire on QOL, specific to the aged persons (WHOQOL-OLD). These answers revealed the degree to which of the six facets of WHOQOL-OLD was given priority. The dimensional techniques of descriptive statistics (mean±S.D., median, coefficient of variation) norma... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2763994 Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2763994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2763996&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002446%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oxycodone/acetaminophen (O/A) and codeine/acetaminophen (C/A) vs. conventional therapy (CT) without opioids in older women suffering from osteoarthritis (OA)-related pain, sub-optimally responsive to prior conventional treatments. We performed a 6 week, randomized, single blind, controlled study in three nursing homes. We enrolled 154 women with painful OA. They were assigned to treatment with O/A (n=52) and C/A (n=52) vs. CT (n=50). We evaluated at baseline and at week 6: average pain in the last week (mean pain, MeP), pain at rest (RP), pain in movement (MP) (numeric rating scale, NRS); depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II, BDI-II); functional status (activities of daily living, ADL) and cognitive status (mini mental ... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2763996 Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2763996 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2595979&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002306%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Influenza virus infection is a major respiratory infectious disease that generally induces pneumonia. The clinical manifestations of influenza virus infection and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) differ between elderly persons and younger adults. To determine the clinical features of influenza-associated pneumonia, we studied 21 adult patients with influenza-associated pneumonia, as indicated by positive test results for influenza virus antigen. At presentation, the higher-age patients (≥75 years; n=12) with influenza-associated pneumonia had lower body temperature than did the lower-age ( (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2595979 Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2595979 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2763993&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002410%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Achievement of adequate vitamin D3 level is crucial for the treatment of hip fracture patients. Currently used vitamin D3 supplementation in Israel ranges between 200 and 800IU/day. The study objectives were to evaluate the effects of 800IU/day vitamin D3 and 1.200mg of calcium carbonate supplementation to achieve adequate vitamin D3 level of 30ng/ml in elderly hip fracture patients. One hundred and twenty-two elderly patients after surgical hip fracture correction aged 73.0±9.5, who were enrolled in a post-surgical treatment program (PSTP). The patients received 800IU of vitamin D3 and 1.200mg of calcium carbonate daily. Serum 25(OH)D and plasma PTH levels were assessed during initial hospital stay and at quarterly follow-up visits for 2 years. At baseline, 120 patients (98.4%)... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2763993 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2763993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2763992&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002409%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusion: Two years after the initiation of fracture prevention treatment, it was discontinued by one fifth of the patients. Neither age nor disease-related factors such as family history of osteoporosis, previous fracture history or the degree of bone loss influenced patients’ decision to adhere to treatment. (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2763992 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2763992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2763998&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS016749430800246X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of this study was to describe incidences of falls and fall-related injuries, and to identify predisposing factors for falls in very old people in a prospective population-based follow-up study for falls. The study is part of the Umeå 85+ Study which includes half of the population aged 85, and the total population aged 90 and ≥95 (−103), in Umeå, Sweden. Of the 253 people interviewed, 220 (87%) were followed up for falls for 6 months, of whom 109 lived in ordinary and 111 in institutional housing. A comprehensive geriatric baseline assessment was made through interviews and testing during home visits. Forty percent of the participants did fall a total 304 times, corresponding to 2.17 falls per Person Year (PY). It occurred 0.83 injuries per PY, including 0.14 fractu... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2763998 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2763998 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2763999&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002471%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study was conducted to compare, by age group and gender, the level of participation of older adults who had no disabilities, and to determine which characteristics are most associated with participation. This study involved 350 randomly recruited community-dwelling older adults. Participation in daily activities and social roles were measured with the Assessment of Life Habits (LIFE-H). Demographic, health-related and environmental data were also collected. A decline with age was observed in four of the six daily activities domains and two of the four social roles domains of participation. However, these lower scores are mainly explained by the 85+ group, which consistently scored lower than the 65–69-year-old group. No differences were found between the 65–69, 70–74 and 75–79... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2763999 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2763999 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2763990&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002380%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Most patients with idiopathic PD (IPD) show variable degrees of cognitive decline. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the predominant motor symptom at the time of disease onset and the level of cognitive function in patients with IPD. A total of 159 patients with IPD were enrolled in this study. The patients’ initial motor symptoms were classified into three types: tremor-dominant (TD), bradykinesia and rigidity-dominant (BRD), gait and postural instability-dominant (GPD). Disease severity was rated according to the Hoehn–Yahr classification (H&Y stage). Overall cognitive status was evaluated using the Korean versions of the Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) and the Modified Mini-Mental State (3MS) tests. The GPD group showed the lowest sc... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2763990 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2763990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2763989&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002379%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Direct measurement of serum-ionized calcium (Ca2+) is the best available method to assess ‘true’ calcemia because serum total calcium is confounded by serum proteins, mainly albumin. However, calculated surrogates for Ca2+, albumin-adjustment particularly, have been widely used in the literature despite their insufficiency to evaluate calcemic status accurately. Recently, a new formula, in which serum total protein instead of albumin is used for adjustment of total calcium, has been suggested for very old hospitalized patients. We compared these two surrogates for Ca2+ with the direct measurement in both frail bedridden inpatients and in a general aged population. Both surrogates were equally insufficient in detecting hypocalcemia in both patient groups. However, the sensitiv... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2763989 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2763989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2763987&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002355%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study examined whether trust predicted subsequent self-rated health over time at 3 years follow-up among aging people, and whether changes in trust were associated with self-rated health. Longitudinal, questionnaire-based data were collected from three age cohorts (born in 1926–1930, 1936–1940, and 1946–1950) living in the Province of Päijät-Häme, southern Finland. The response rate at the baseline in 2002 was 66% (n=2815). The follow-up was carried out in 2005, with 79% of eligible individuals participating (n=2216). Logistic regression analyses were used to derive the results. High trust was a strong predictor for good self-rated health at the follow-up. Adjusting for background variables, however, attenuated the association. In addition, good self-rated health was most com... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2763987 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2763987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2763991&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002392%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The growing aging population will lead to an increased number of elderly drivers. There are few epidemiological studies that have approached this issue. Our aim was to compare the biopsychosocial characteristics of elderly drivers vs. elderly non-drivers. The method was a door-to-door population-based cross-sectional study of a sample consisting of inhabitants over 75 years of age in the Anglés (Girona) Basic Healthcare Area. The study protocol included an extensive biopsychosocial assessment using standardized instruments. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the variables associated with driving. A total of 875 inhabitants participated in the study (82%). The prevalence of drivers in this age group was 24.8% (95% confidence interval—CI=21.9... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2763991 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2763991 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2763988&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002367%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of muscle strength and aerobic training on the basal serum levels of IGF-1 and cortisol in elderly women. The subjects were divided in three groups as follows. 1. Strength training group (SG) submitted to the weight training called 1-repetition maximum test (1-RM, 75–85%). This group contained 12 subjects of mean age=66.08±3.37 years; and body mass index (BMI)=26.0±3.72kg/m2. (2) Aerobic training group (AG) submitted to aquatic exercise; they were 13 subjects of the mean age=68.69±4.70 years; and BMI=29.19±2.96kg/m2. (3) A control group (CG) of 10 subjects, of mean age=68.80±5.41 years; BMI=29.70±2.82kg/m2. The training periods were 12 weeks, Fasting blood was analyzed to measure IGF-1 and basal cortisol levels (by chemilum... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2763988 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2763988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2595978&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS016749430800229X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The impact of PD on health status is substantial, yet the disease burden has not been clearly defined. Using a representative sample of the community-dwelling Canadian population, we examined the burden of PD and the burden of concomitant comorbidities. Health status was compared in 261 respondents with PD from the Canadian Community Health Survey to 111,707 respondents without PD using the Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI3). Differences in HUI3 scores were evaluated and selected sociodemographic covariates adjusted in ANCOVA models. The impact of specific comorbidities on the health status of PD were evaluated using ANCOVA models. Adjusted mean overall HUI3 scores were significantly lower for respondents with PD (0.61 vs. 0.83, p (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics... Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2595978 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2595978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2595977&cid=s_38441_18_f&fid=38441&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.elsevierhealth.com%2Fperiodicals%2Fagg%2Farticle%2FPIIS0167494308002288%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In conclusion, because the step test with a slow tempo (40bpm or 60bpm) requires longer one-leg support time, it is effective for the evaluation of dynamic balance ability and leg strength of the elderly. (Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics) Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2595977 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2595977