Asymptomatic Elderly Research Articles

Is Ankle–Brachial Blood Pressure Measurement of Clinical Utility for Asymptomatic Elderly?

The article by Abbott, et al. “Ankle–Brachial Blood Pressure in Elderly Men and the Risk of Stroke: The Honolulu Heart Program,” further extends the strong, consistent association of lower ankle-brachial blood pressure ratios to the risk of stroke.

Selective cell loss in Edinger-Westphal in asymptomatic elders and Alzheimer's patients.

Exaggerated pupillary response to a low concentration of cholinergic antagonists has been suggested as an early marker for Alzheimer's Disease (AD). To examine the anatomic basis of this phenomenon, we determined possible neuropathological changes in the Edinger-Westphal (EW) nucleus, a midbrain neural center with a significant functional role in the control of pupil size. Stereologically determined neuronal numbers within the EW were counted in individuals with pathologically confirmed AD, control cases with no AD-type pathology, and subjects with AD pathology not meeting diagnostic criteria for AD. The EW of AD patients displayed a marked and striking neuronal loss when compared with controls. In contrast, the number of neurons in the somatic portion of the nucleus of the third cranial nerve (NCNIII) remained intact. The EW in brains from clinically normal individuals with evidence of early AD-type pathology also displayed a significant and selective loss of neurons. The magnitude of EW neuronal loss in the latter group was smaller than that observed in AD. These findings suggest that pupillary hypersensitivity in AD may be caused by abnormalities in the EW. Neuronal loss and pathology within the EW in a subpopulation of clinically silent controls with pathologic findings consistent with early-stage AD constitutes a possible explanation for the reported exaggerated pupil response in some normal elderly subjects.

Exercise Tolerance in Asymptomatic Elderly Men With Fluoroscopically Detected Coronary Artery Calcification

The value of detecting coronary artery calcification (CAC), by cardiac imaging, for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) in asymptomatic middle-aged men has been demonstrated. However, the incidence of CAC increases with age. The functional significance of CAC remains unknown in asymptomatic elderly men. The purpose of this study is to explore whether CAC in asymptomatic aging men signifies the presence of cardiovascular dysfunction during exercise. This study was designed to address whether elderly asymptomatic men, selected because they have CAC, have reduced exercise tolerance due to functionally significant CAD. Thirty-eight asymptomatic male volunteers (ages 50 to 75 years, mean [+/-SD] 64+/-7 years) with a normal resting ECG and at least one coronary risk factor, in a population study. Nineteen subjects had CAC detected by digital subtraction fluoroscopy in at least two major coronary arteries, and 19 subjects had no identifiable CAC. Each subject underwent a symptom-limited incremental exercise test with 12-lead ECG monitoring and respiratory gas analysis. Four indexes of exercise oxygen transport were evaluated: peak oxygen uptake (VO2), lactic acidosis threshold, peak VO2/heart rate ratio, and VO2 relative to a work rate increase. Eleven of 38 subjects (28%) were found to have reduced oxygen transport, which was defined as an abnormal reduction in more than two of the above four indexes of oxygen transport. Five of the 11 subjects with reduced oxygen transport had CAC, and 6 subjects did not (not significant). Only one subject with CAC had exercise ST depression. Significant CAC in asymptomatic men over age 50 does not signify exercise limitation due to CAD.

Clinical Pearls: Large Pulmonary Arteries in an Asymptomatic Elderly Woman

Clinical Pearls: Large Pulmonary Arteries in an Asymptomatic Elderly Woman

Ophthalmoscopic and Cardiac Abnormalities in an Asymptomatic Elderly Woman

Ophthalmoscopic and Cardiac Abnormalities in an Asymptomatic Elderly Woman

Comparative Beta-Lactamase Production in Isolates of Moraxella Catarrhalis from Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Elderly

Comparative Beta-Lactamase Production in Isolates of Moraxella Catarrhalis from Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Elderly

Uroflowmetry in asymptomatic elderly males.

Uroflowmetry is important in the evaluation of prostatism. We have investigated 93 men, selected at random from the National Register, who had no subjective voiding problems but who fell within the appropriate age range. The sample was representative of the male metropolitan population. Uroflowmetry was carried out and the data are presented graphically in nomograms where the Q max/volume, Q average/volume and Q max time/volume relations are given. Flow variables were evaluated to delineate possible correlations to age. It was found that the median Q max decreased from 18.5 ml/s at the age of 50 years to 6.5 ml/s at 80 years. Only one-third of the group had a Q max exceeding 15 ml/s. The median voided volume was 208 ml. Half of the subjects voided less than 200 ml and one-third less than 150 ml.

Multiple Pulmonary Nodules in an Asymptomatic Elderly Woman

1985;87;823-824 Chest David W. Kamp and Richard Kern Elderly Woman Multiple Pulmonary Nodules in an Asymptomatic http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/content/87/6/823.citation can be found online on the World Wide Web at: The online version of this article, along with updated information and services ) ISSN:0012-3692 http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/site/misc/reprints.xhtml ( without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. reserved. No part of this article or PDF may be reproduced or distributed Chest Physicians, 3300 Dundee Road, Northbrook, IL 60062. All rights of been published monthly since 1935. Copyright1985by the American College is the official journal of the American College of Chest Physicians. It has Chest

Occurrence of Frequent Complex Arrhythmias Detected by Ambulatory Monitoring. Findings in an Apparently Healthy Asymptomatic Elderly Population

Cardiac Non-Invasive Laboratory, University of South Florida College of Medicine and James A. Haley VA Medical Center, Tampa, Florida

Occurrence of Frequent Complex Arrhythmias Detected by Ambulatory Monitoring: Findings in an Apparently Healthy Asymptomatic Elderly Population

In order to delineate the frequency of arrhythmias and conduction abnormalities in a group of apparently healthy elderly people, 24-hour ambulatory ECG recordings were obtained on subjects recruited from the Veterans Administration Voluntary Service. Their ages ranged from 60--84 (average 69). It is concluded from this preliminary study that complex supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias occur in an apparently healthy elderly population. These findings must be taken into account in assessing the clinical significance of arrhythmias in an elderly population.

Disorders in peripheral arterial system in asymptomatic elderly: plethysmographic semiology at rest, during postural, effort and pharmacological tests.

The vascular system of 30 old asymptomatic patients (average age 62.5 years) was studied by reflection plethysmography. The plethysmogram (PTG) was recorded from the forefinger of the left hand at rest, during two postural tests (+45 degrees arm-up and -45 degrees arm-down), after physical work, and during the infusion of nitroglycerin and the beta-agonist metaproterenol. 50% of the subjects presented a normal PTG under basal conditions. However, pathological PTGs were recorded after the various tests: 23.3% with the arm-up test, 6.6% with the arm-down test, 52% with the effort test, 31% with the nitroglycerin test and 73.9% with the metaproterenol test. Clearly, the effort and metaproterenol tests are pathological in the majority of cases, both tests inducing physiologically vasodilation and increase in the peripheral pulse. The arm-down test, which usually induces vasoconstriction, is almost always normal. Since the percentage of pathological responses to the nitroglycerin test is significantly smaller than that to the effort and metaproterenol tests, it is concluded that the vascular changes induced by aging are primarily functional, at least in asymptomatic subjects. Aging more negatively influences the vasodilating than the vasoconstricting ability.