Group Of Older Patients Research Articles

Symptom and Comorbidity Burden in Chronic Disease: Comparison of HIV infection and Diabetes Mellitus in Aging Patients

Background: Data on the relative contribution of HIV-infection to aging and age-related diseases remains inconclusive, and the total burden of disease has not been compared to other chronic diseases associated with premature aging. The purpose of this study was to investigate aging with HIV-infection and to compare it to aging with diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 and aging without severe chronic disease. Methods: This was a prospective multi-center cohort study evaluating differences in the total burden of disease between different groups of older patients (≥ 50 years). HIV-infected patients were compared to HIV-negative patients with DM type 2 and to a control group of patients without severe chronic disease. Physical constitution and activity, symptoms of aging, cardiovascular risk profile and comorbidities were analyzed. Clinical variables and patient questionnaires were assessed during 18 months follow-up. Results: Among 761 participants (255 HIV, 249 DM, and 257 controls), weakness was most frequently found in HIV-infected patients. The perceived severity of symptoms of aging was significantly higher in patients with HIVinfection or DM than in the control group. Several comorbidities such as renal, neurological and cardiovascular disorders were more common in patients with HIV-infection or DM than in the control group. After adjusting for smoking and non-modifiable risk factors, the prevalence odds of a high cardiovascular risk remained markedly increased for patients with DM and, to a lesser extent, also for patients with HIV-infection. Malignancy incidence rates were highest in HIV-infected patients, followed by patients with DM and lowest in the control group. Conclusions: This large cohort study in aging patients showed a considerable burden of disease associated with antiretrovirally treated HIV-infection as well as DM when compared to a control population without severe chronic disease – reflecting the need for specific prevention strategies and screening tools.

Enteral stents are safe and effective to relieve malignant gastric outlet obstruction in the elderly.

Nausea, vomiting and intolerance to oral intake are usually the first presenting symptoms of gastric outlet obstruction, which not only cause malnutrition and increases chances of aspiration pneumonia but also greatly impair the quality of life. Self expandable metallic stents (SEMS) are both effective and safe to relieve the distressing symptoms of gastric outlet obstruction. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of endoscopic enteral stent insertion in malignant gastric outlet obstruction in older versus younger patients. Eighty two patients were identified to have undergone SEMs insertion for malignant gastric outlet obstruction. Of these, 26 were ≥65 years (older patient group) and 56 were ≤65 years (younger patient group). These were retrospectively reviewed to assess the success rate and the complications of the procedure. Both groups were comparable in terms of technical success (100 % in older patient group versus 97 % in younger patient group). Clinical success rate, as determined by gastric outlet obstruction scoring system score (GOOSS) was also similar in both groups. Additionally, the rate of complications in both groups was also comparable, 27 % in older patient versus 23 % in younger patients (p = 0.085). Enteral stenting for malignant gastric outlet obstruction is effective in the older patient groups with its success rate and complications comparable to younger patient population.

Absolute Reticulocyte Count Is Negatively Correlated with Fetal Hemoglobin during Infancy and Early Childhood in Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia

Hemoglobin switching is largely complete in healthy infants by 6 months of age. In infants with sickle cell anemia (HbSS, SCA), reticulocytosis begins early in life as fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is replaced by sickle hemoglobin (HbS). Previous studies demonstrated that patients with an ARC greater than 200 K/uL during early infancy (60-196 days of age) were at the highest risk for SCA-associated events.1,2 The objective of this study was to determine if ARC is related to HbF levels in a cohort of pediatric SCA patients.A convenience sample of 106 children with SCA between the ages of 1 month and 20 years who were not receiving hydroxyurea or monthly blood transfusions were enrolled in this observational study [42 (39.6%) less than 1 year of age (28-362 days old), 46 (43.4%) between the ages of 1 and 10 years, and 18 (17.0%) between 10 and 20 years old]. After consent and assent were provided, discarded peripheral blood was obtained during routine clinic visits at steady state and analyzed within 48 hours of collection and storage at 40C. Steady state was defined as a sample drawn at least 30 days following an acute event and at least 60 days following a blood transfusion. Hematologic data, including ARC and HbF levels, were measured using CLIA approved methods. F-cells were enumerated by flow cytometry following intracellular staining with a fluorescent antibody directed against HbF. Correlations were calculated to determine the relationships of ARC with HbF, F-cells, and other hematologic data, while two-tailed t tests were used to compare means.Initial studies compared groups based upon ARC greater than or equal to 200 K/uL (ARC≥200) during infancy because of the previously reported utility of this threshold as a predictive marker for SCA severity.1 Over one third of the infants less than 1 year of age (n=16) had an ARC≥200. Mean HbF and F-cell levels were significantly lower in the ARC≥200 group when compared to the ARC<200 group (HbF: 29.9±10.9% vs. 53.5±17.6%, respectively, p=2.2E-05; F-cells: 83.5±13.2% vs. 96.6±5.7%, p=6.2E-05). Mean hemoglobin levels were also lower in the ARC≥200 group [8.1±1.4 g/dL vs. 9.5±1.6 g/dL (ARC<200), p=0.005]. Of the 22 (52.4%) infants who had a HbF level greater than 40%, only 2 (9.1%) had an ARC greater than 200K/uL.Enrolled patients were also grouped according to age and comparisons were made between ARC and HbF or F-cell levels. HbF and F-cell levels were negatively correlated to ARC in the infant subgroup (r=-0.696, p=3.1E-07 and r=-0.795, p=0.000, respectively). HbF and F-cell levels from children between the ages of 1 and 10 years were inversely related to the ARC, but the correlation was less significant (r=-0.626, p=3.3E-06 and r=-0.538, p=1.2E-04, respectively). The inverse relationship was no longer present in the oldest group of patients (HbF vs. ARC r=-0.203, p=0.420 and F-cells vs. ARC, r=-0.258, p=0.302).According to both analytical approaches described here, increased ARC is associated with decreased HbF and F-cell levels in infants with SCA. Less robust negative correlations are maintained through age 10 years, but no significant correlation was identified in adolescence and young adulthood. Overall, the data suggest that increased ARC levels may identify SCA infants who manifest a more rapid or greater loss of fetal hemoglobin during the later stages of the HbF-to-HbS switching phenomenon. 1.Meier ER, Byrnes C, Lee YT, et al. Increased reticulocytosis during infancy is associated with increased hospitalizations in sickle cell anemia patients during the first three years of life. PLoS One 2013; 8(8):e70794. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070794.2.Meier ER, Wright EC, Miller JL. Reticulocytosis and anemia are associated with an increased risk of death and stroke in the newborn cohort of the Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease. Am J Hematol 2014 May 31; doi: 10.1002/ajh.23777. [Epub ahead of print] DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Influence of Age and Renal Function on Efficacy and Safety of Dabigatran Versus Warfarin for the Treatment of Acute Venous Thromboembolism: A Pooled Analysis of RE-COVER™ and RE-COVER™ II

▪Background: In the RE-COVER™ and RE-COVER™ II trials, dabigatran etexilate (DE) was as effective as warfarin (W) for prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with acute VTE, and was associated with a lower risk of bleeding.Objectives: Older patients and patients with renal impairment may be at greater risk of bleeding and/or VTE. In this post-hoc analysis of the pooled dataset from RE-COVER™ and RE-COVER™ II, we assessed rates of VTE recurrence and bleeding with DE and W in patients below and above 75 years according to renal function (normal, or mildly or moderately impaired).Methods: Patients with acute VTE, initially on parenteral anticoagulation, were randomized to either W (started in parallel; international normalized ratio range 2.0‒3.0) or DE 150 mg twice daily for 6 months. Primary efficacy outcome was recurrent, symptomatic VTE/VTE-related death from randomization to the end of the prespecified post-treatment follow-up. Safety outcomes included centrally adjudicated major bleeding events (MBEs), the composite of MBEs or clinically relevant non-major bleeding events (MBEs/CRBEs), and any bleeds from the start of the double-dummy period (treatment with oral DE or W alone) to the end of the 6-month period. Patients with creatinine clearance (CrCL) ≤ 30 mL/min (hence not meeting inclusion criteria) were excluded from this analysis.Results: In all patients aged < 75 years, recurrent VTE/VTE-related death occurred in 65/2241 (2.9%) and 52/2218 (2.3%) patients with DE and W, respectively. In the analysis by renal function, event rates for DE vs W in subgroups with CrCL ≥ 80 (normal), 50–< 80 (mild renal dysfunction), and 30–< 50 mL/min (moderate renal dysfunction), respectively, were 3.1% (57/1828) vs 2.5% (45/1780), 2.1% (8/381) vs 1.5% (6/403), and 0% (0/32) vs 2.9% (1/35). In all patients aged ≥ 75 years, recurrent VTE/VTE-related death occurred in 3/272 (1.1%) and 10/304 (3.3%) patients with DE and W, respectively. Event rates for DE vs W in the normal, mild and moderate renal dysfunction subgroups, respectively, were 3.1% (1/32) vs 5.2% (3/58), 1.3% (2/158) vs 1.9% (3/158), and 0% (0/82) vs 4.5% (4/88).For the safety endpoints, in all patients aged < 75 years, MBEs occurred in (DE vs W, respectively) 16/2169 (0.7%) vs 29/2146 (1.4%) patients, MBEs/CRBEs in 87/2169 (4.0%) vs 153/2146 (7.1%) patients, and any bleeding in 303/2169 (14.0%) vs 430/2146 (20.0%) patients. The table shows event rates by renal function; bleeding rates in this age group were numerically lower for DE than W across all categories of renal function, except for rates of MBEs in patients with moderate dysfunction (6.7% vs 6.5%). Among the older patient group, bleeding event rates for DE vs W were 8/252 (3.2%) vs 11/287 (3.8%) for MBEs, 21/252 (7.9%) vs 35/287 (12.2%) for MBEs/CRBEs, and 48/252 (18.3%) vs 68/287 (23.0%) for any bleeding. The table shows event rates by renal function; the incidences of bleeding were numerically lower for DE vs W across all categories of renal function in older patients, except for MBEs (5.3% vs 3.6%) and MBEs/CRBEs (11.8% vs 9.6%) in the subgroup with moderate renal dysfunction. TablePatientsMBEsPatients, n/N (%)MBEs/CRBEsPatients, n/N (%)Any bleedsPatients, n/N (%)Age(year)CrCL(mL/min)DEWDEWDEW< 7530‒< 502/30 (6.7)2/31 (6.5)3/30 (10.0)4/31 (12.9)6/30 (20.0)8/31 (25.8)50‒< 805/359 (1.4)10/387 (2.6)26/359 (7.2)43/387 (11.1)70/359 (19.5)90/387 (23.3)≥ 809/1780 (0.5)17/1728 (1.0)58/1780 (3.3)106/1728 (6.1)227/1780 (12.8)332/1728 (19.2)≥ 7530‒< 504/76 (5.3)3/83 (3.6)9/76 (11.8)8/83 (9.6)15/76 (19.7)21/83 (25.3)50‒< 804/145 (2.8)6/149 (4.0)10/145 (6.9)23/149 (15.4)27/145 (18.6)35/149 (23.5)≥ 800/31 (0.0)2/55 (3.6)1/31 (3.2)4/55 (7.3)4/31 (12.9 )10/55 (18.2)Conclusions: In DE-treated patients, no increase in VTE recurrence was apparent for older (≥ 75 years) vs younger (< 75 years) patients. Recurrent VTE rates decreased with declining renal function. Bleeding events increased with declining renal function in both age groups irrespective of treatment, but in most subgroups were numerically less frequent with DE than with W. DisclosuresSchulman:Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Bayer HealthCare: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Eriksson:Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy. Kakkar:Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Daiichi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Eisai: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Kearon:Bayer Healthcare: Consultancy; Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada): Consultancy. Schellong:Daiichi Sankyo: advisory boards, advisory boards Other, Honoraria; Bayer Healthcare: advisory boards, advisory boards Other, Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS/Pfizer: Honoraria; Boehringer Ingelheim: advisory boards Other, Consultancy, Honoraria. Feuring:Boehringer Ingelheim: Employment. Hantel:Boehringer Ingelheim: Employment. Kreuzer:Boehringer Ingelheim: Employment. Goldhaber:Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy; Daiichi: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Portola: Consultancy; Sanofi-Aventis: Consultancy.

Depression in relation to biochemical parameters and age in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

ObjectiveThe phenotype of women with PCOS changes with age. The study was aimed to address whether changes in biochemical parameters associated with age of the patients correlate with depression severity measured with the use of screening tools. Study designThis was a single center observational study. Women with PCOS meeting the Rotterdam criteria for PCOS were recruited. Hormonal and clinical parameters including symptoms of hyperandrogenism, age, BMI, androgen and blood lipids were analyzed in 60 patients (median age 27, median BMI 23kg/m2) together with evaluation of depressive symptoms with the use Beck Depression Inventory, Patient Health Questionnaire-Nine Item (PHQ-9), Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report 16 Item (QIDS-SR16). ResultsThe prevalence of depression was equal 22–33% depending on the questionnaire. The older women tended to present significantly higher BMI, SBP, waist circumference and lower androstenedione and DHEAS values than the younger group of patients. The prevalence of depression was higher in the group of older patients, however without statistical significance. Among the cohort of older patients (age≥27 years, n=29) significant correlates of depression included: nonHDL, LDL, HDL, total cholesterol (p<0.05), even after controlling for BMI. In the younger study cohort (age<27, n=28) the only significant correlates included BMI and waist circumference. ConclusionWomen with PCOS reporting depressive symptoms present higher levels of androgens and blood lipids. Clinicians treating women with PCOS should be aware that this group of patients is at increased risk of depression irrespectively of age and phenotype.

Evaluation of Skin Biopsies in Çankırı Region: A Two-Year Retrospective Assessment

Hitit Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Deri ve Zuhrevi Hastaliklari Anabilim Dali, Corum, Turkiye *Cankiri Devlet Hastanesi, Patoloji Laboratuvari, Cankiri, Turkiye **Cankiri Devlet Hastanesi, Goz Hastaliklari Klinigi, Cankiri, Turkiye ***Ankara Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Biyoistatistik Anabilim Dali, Ankara, Turkiye @Telif Hakki 2014 Turk Dermatoloji Dernegi Makale metnine www. turkdermatolojidergisi.com web sayfasindan ulasilabilir. @Copyright 2014 by Turkish Society of Dermatology Available on-line at www.turkdermatolojidergisi.com Engin Senel, Hitit Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Deri ve Zuhrevi Hastaliklari Anabilim Dali, Corum, Turkiye Tel.: +90 364 223 03 00 E-posta: enginsenel@enginsenel.com Gelis Tarihi/Submitted: 29.04.2014 Kabul Tarihi/Accepted: 30.04.2014 Yazisma Adresi/ Correspondence: Objective: Epidemiological studies are essential on the prevention and resolution of health problems. The aim of this study was to investigate skin biopsies in Cankiri region. Methods: A total of 2128 patients admitted to our dermatology outpatient clinic and their 2128 lesions were retrospectively analyzed. The demographic characteristics, the localizations and types of lesions were obtained from dermatology and pathology records for the statistical analyses. Pathology slides were retrospectively re-examined and diagnoses were confirmed. Results: Melanocytic nevus was the most common diagnosis of the skin tumors (27%, n=574) followed by cystic tumor, soft fibroma/acrochordon and psoriasis. In general, cheeks and lips were the most common tumor location (21.7%). The youngest population was the patients with molluscum contagiosum (25.00±11.04 years) and the oldest group of patients was the ones with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (71.69±12.79 years). The most common malignant tumor was basal cell carcinoma (BCC) (74%, n=92). BCCs were mostly localized on nose (35.9%). SCC was the second most common malignant tumor (26%, n=32). There was no statistically significant difference between two malignant tumor groups in terms of age. Conclusion: Malignant tumor ratios were consistent with the literature in Cankiri region. Increase in epidemiological researches may provide the opportunity to compare with other studies and facilitate health management planning.

The anti-cancer actions of O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase in relation to colon polyps

BackgroundGenetic variability in DNA repair genes may contribute to differences in DNA repair capacity and susceptibility to colon polyps and cancer. In this study, we examined the role of MGMT polymorphisms in colon polyps formation. MethodsPCR–SSCP analysis was performed included 254 patients with colon polyps and 330 controls. ResultsThe homozygous F84F genotype was significantly more prevalent in study group than in controls. The polymorphic allele 84F was more frequent appeared in group of older patients and in group of smoking patients. On the other hand, there were no association between 84F and gender, size of polyps, cancer family history. ConclusionsWe concluded that high frequency of 84F allele in the group of patients may suggest the role of the MGMT variant in colon polyps etiology.

AB0639 The Prevalence of Cardiac Arrhythmias and Conduction Defects in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis

ObjectivesTo study a frequency of cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disturbances by standard ECG and 24-hour Holter monitoring (HM)MethodsEighty pts with systemic sclerosis (SSc) (28 – diffuse, and 52 – limited...

Dose reduction of the female breast in chest CT.

Organ-based tube current modulation has been shown to significantly reduce the radiation dose to the female breast in phantom studies. We sought to assess the proportions of female breast and glandular tissues that are within the range of organ-based tube current modulation in different age groups and whether these proportions could be optimized by clothing. The secondary objective of our study was to determine whether metal parts of brassieres cause artifacts that impair the diagnostic value. Five hundred seventy-eight female patients undergoing chest CT were included in this study. Two hundred nine patients were prospectively examined wearing a brassiere (group A), and the control patients (group B; n = 369) were scanned according to our previous standard without wearing a brassiere during CT. The two groups were subdivided according to cup size (A-E). For CT data acquisition, an angle-dependent tube current modulation, which reduces the tube current for anterior tube position to minimize direct exposure to anteriorly located organs, was used. The proportion of breast tissue and glandular tissue located within and outside the region of tube current reduction was assessed. The results showed that 60.4% of total breast tissue and 67.1% of glandular tissue was inside the region of tube current reduction in group B; the proportions were significantly improved, to an average of 91.3% and 96%, respectively, in group A. Diagnostically relevant artifacts were introduced in none of the patients. Patients' age correlated with this effect, with higher rates of improvement in the older patient group. Angle-dependent tube current modulation was most effective in patients with cup size A while wearing a brassiere. In this group, 97.5% of breast tissue and 98.1% of glandular tissue was inside the region of tube current reduction. Women with a cup size of E had the largest effect of wearing a brassiere, increasing the rate of breast tissue that was affected by angle-dependent tube current modulation from 30.0% to 83.3% and that of glandular tissue from 31.8% to 90.0%. We show that wearing a brassiere increases the percentage of breast tissue within the region of reduced tube current and, therefore, improves the performance of angle-dependent tube current modulation technique.

Risk analysis for the surgical treatment of colorectal cancer in elderly patients undergoing scheduled and urgent interventions.

Due to recorded growth both in living standards and latest researches in medicine, proportion of people in old age has significantly improved all over the world. Although old age people are several percent of the entire society, number of surgeries within the group does not exceed 40%. Also risk of malignant neoplasms among old age people, significantly grows. Malignant neoplasm of colon appears to be most visible problem in group of people in age over 75 years old. The aim of the study was a retrospective analysis of results in treatment of the sick over 75 years old, suffering from Malignant neoplasm of colon. Therapy was performed in the I Unit of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology in Provinical Hospital in Jelenia Góra. Subject to analysis were 63 patients that went under operations in years from 2006 to 2010 due to the colorectal cancer, who have been divided now into two groups. First group included 49 patients treated as per schedule, and the second stood for 14, who required urgent treatment. Reference group has involved 20 younger patients, treated in urgent and scheduled courses, due to the colon cancer. There are no contradictions to emergencies and scheduled surgeries for patients in advanced years, suffering from colon cancer. Complications after colon cancer emergencies are far more frequent than in case of scheduled surgeries. Death rates among patients over 75 years old are far more frequent after emergencies than after scheduled surgeries. Concomitant diseases occur the same frequent during emergenices as during scheduled operations. During emergencies, it was left side of the colon that occured to be infected with cancer more frequent. There is no significant diversity in hospitalization time frames after emergencies and scheduled surgeries. Dangerous surgical complications within group of older patients, those after emergencies and scheduled surgeries too, are far more frequent in comparison to the reference group.

Error signals in the subthalamic nucleus are related to post-error slowing in patients with Parkinson's disease

Error monitoring is essential for optimizing motor behavior. It has been linked to the medial frontal cortex, in particular to the anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC). The aMCC subserves its performance-monitoring function in interaction with the basal ganglia (BG) circuits, as has been demonstrated in patients suffering from BG lesions or from Parkinson's disease (PD). The subthalamic nucleus (STN) has been assumed an integrative structure for emotional, cognitive and motor processing. Error-related behavioral adaptation such as post-error slowing has been linked to motor inhibition involving activation of an inhibitory network including the STN. However, direct involvement of the STN in error monitoring and post-error behavioral adjustment has not yet been demonstrated.Here, we used simultaneous scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) and local field potential (LFP) recordings from the BG in 17 patients undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) for PD to investigate error-related evoked activity in the human STN, its relation to post-error behavioral adjustment and the influence of dopamine during the performance of a speeded flanker task.We found an error-related positive deflection (STN-Pe) in the STN-LFP 260–450 msec after error commission. Importantly, the STN-Pe amplitude was larger in trials with post-error slowing compared to trials with post-error speeding. There was no overall effect of dopamine on error processing. Subgroup analysis revealed a higher error rate (ER) in younger patients with earlier disease onset ON medication compared to OFF medication (and vice versa in the older patient group), which was associated with modulatory effects of the early cortical error-related negativity (ERN) and late STN-Pe. The late error-related STN-Pe that is associated with post-error reaction time (RT) adjustments supports the notion that post-error slowing is implemented by motor inhibition involving the STN. Further, the modulation of behavioral performance by dopaminergic therapy depending on patients' age may suggest a dopamine overdose effect in patients with earlier onset of PD.

Post stroke depression.

ABSTRACTIntroduction:Comorbidity of depression and stroke significantly reduces the quality of life of patients after the stroke. Squeal after stroke also determines the quality of life and have impact on the occurrence of depression after the stroke. In our study we investigated the occurrence of depression in patients after different types and subtypes of stroke measured by the Hamilton scale compared to the level of disability measured by NIHSS scale.Goal:The goal was to make a comparative analysis of depression after stroke, according to gender and age, side of the lesion and the severity of neurological deficit.Material and Methods:Material for our work are 210 patients with stroke treated at the Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Sarajevo University in 2012, 105 male and 105 female. The mean age of the patients was 67.12±9.5 years. Ischemic stroke was present in 65% cases. There was no statistically significant difference between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke among genders. In case of hemorrhagic M-56.7%, F-43.3%; ischemic M-48.3%, F-51.7% (chi-square=6.563, p=0.082). Depression was more prevalent among younger patients (52-60 years) with 39.2% then in the group of older patients (61-70 years) with 32% of depressed. In relation to gender there was significantly more patients with depression among women compared to men (63.8:27.2%, chi-square=14.38, p=0.00019). Depression was more frequent in patients with stroke in the left hemisphere medial localization (63%). NIHSS scale average was 16.07 with the minimum of 11 and maximum of 22, F=52.56, p=0.001.Conclusions:We can conclude that depression after stroke is more frequent in younger patients, female patients, patients with localized stroke in the medial left hemisphere and with higher disability score.

Surgical correction of atrial septal defect in the elderly.

IntroductionAtrial septal defects (ASDs) are one of the most common congenital malformations in adults. Correction of ASDs in advanced age remains controversial, even though beneficial effects in this patient group were found in recent studies. In older patients, less invasive transcatheter closure of ASDs has been recommended.AimThe aim of this study was to analyze our advanced age ASD surgical cohort: early and late results.Material and methodsRetrospective analysis of 32 patients operated on at an age of ≥ 60 years (i.e. age 66.13 ± 4.8, range from 60 to 78) in our center between 2001 and 2011 was carried out. We reviewed our experience of surgical ASD closure in elderly patients over a 10-year period to assess the effects of this type of treatment on early postoperative and long-term survival, early and late complications, preoperative and postoperative clinical status (New York Heart Association [NYHA] functional class), pulmonary hypertension (PH) and atrial arrhythmias. The patients were divided into two groups according to age.ResultsThe frequency of comorbidities was lower in younger age group patients (11 [61%] vs. 13 [93%], p < 0.05). Atrial fibrillation/flutter was found in 21 (66%) of all patients. Late postoperative mortality was higher in the older patient group (3 [21%] vs. 1 [5.6%]). Despite this, we observed significant improvement of symptoms and functional ability in the older population after surgical ASD closure (group I, n = 10 [56%] vs. group II, n = 12 [86%]).ConclusionsSurgical correction of clinically significant ASD is effective even in older patients with comorbidities.

Total hip replacement with a collarless polished cemented anatomic stem: clinical and gait analysis results at ten years follow-up

The aim of this study was to determine outcomes of total hip replacement (THR) with the Lemania cemented femoral stem. A total of 78 THR patients were followed and compared to 17 "fit", healthy, elderly and 72 "frail" elderly subjects without THR, using clinical outcome measures and a portable, in-field gait analysis device at five and ten years follow-up. Forty-one patients (53%), mean age 83.4 years, available at ten years follow-up, reported very good to excellent satisfaction. Mean Harris Hip and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores were 81.2 and 10.5 points, respectively, with excellent radiological preservation of proximal femur bone stock. Spatial and temporal gait parameters were close to the fit group and better than the frail group. Lemania THR demonstrated very good, stable clinical and radiological results at ten years in an older patient group, comparable to other cemented systems for primary THR. Gait analysis confirmed good walking performance in a real-life environment.

Are Modern Dual Mobility Cups a Valuable Option in Reducing Instability After Primary Hip Arthroplasty, Even in Younger Patients?

Hip instability after total hip replacement has been shown to be a critical cause of failure. The use of dual mobility has been classically restricted to patients “at risk”, over 70years of age. The question rises up about extended indications of so-called “modern” second generation dual mobility cups. This prospective multicenter study reports on first results at 2–5years of the HA anatomical ADM cup upon two comparative groups of patients under 70years (112 hips) vs. over 70years of age (325 hips). No dislocation, migration, tilting, wear, or intra-prosthetic dislocation was recorded within each of the two cohorts. Survivorship for cup failures at this 4-year period was ideal at 100% in the younger patients, and 99.7% in the older group of patients.

Neurophysiological Measures of Treatment Efficacy in Late-Onset Depression

Neurophysiological correlates of treatment efficacy in late-onset depression were identified by analyzing EEG spectral parameters, the peak latencies of the “late” components of cognitive auditory evoked potentials, and sensorimotor reaction times during antidepressant treatment in two groups of older patients (53‐72 years) with long-lasting psychogenic depressive reactions (ICD-10 F43.21) and endogenous depression (ICD-10 F33.1 and F31.3). The initial severity of depression was associated with EEG signs of decreases in the functional status of the anterior parts of the left hemisphere and increased activation of the right hemisphere (particularly the temporal areas). Improvements in patients’ mental status in response to antidepressant medication were accompanied by decreases in the peak latencies of the “late” components (P2, N2, and P3) of cognitive auditory evoked potentials and acceleration of sensorimotor reactions, and were linked with improvements in EEG measures of the functional status of the posterior areas of the cerebral cortex and increases in inhibitory processes in the right hemisphere (particularly its frontal-central-temporal areas). These data are consistent with views of the systems nature of impairments to brain activity in depression and the predominant involvement of the left hemisphere in regulating positive emotions and of the right hemisphere in regulating negative emotions, including the pathogenesis of depression.

Prognostic factors in young women with cutaneous melanoma

BackgroundGender is an established prognostic factor in cutaneous melanoma; women as a group have a better overall prognosis than men. However, the investigators hypothesized that melanoma in young women may have distinct clinicopathologic features and biologic behavior compared with melanoma in older women, possibly related to tanning bed use and excessive acute episodes of sun exposure. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed of a large multicenter study that accrued patients between 1996 and 2003 and included patients aged 18 to 70 years with cutaneous melanoma ≥1 mm Breslow thickness and no evidence of regional or distant metastatic disease. All women with follow-up data were included. Univariate and multivariate analyses as well as Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis were performed to test for differences in clinicopathologic variables, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) between female patients ≤40 and >40 years of age. ResultsA total of 1,056 female patients were divided into 2 groups: those >40 years of age (n = 757 [71.7%]) and those ≤40 years of age (n = 299 [28.3%]). Overall, there were no differences in Breslow thickness, ulceration, or sentinel lymph node status between groups. Compared with older women, younger women were more likely to have truncal melanomas (39.5% vs 29.5%, P = .0017) and less likely to have regression of the primary tumor (6.4% vs 11.5%, P = .0208). The mean number of sentinel lymph nodes removed was 2.82 for younger women and 2.29 for older women (P < .0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that Breslow thickness, ulceration, and tumor-positive sentinel lymph node were associated with worse DFS in both the younger and older groups; truncal location was associated with worse DFS in the younger group only. The same factors were predictive of OS in both groups, except that ulceration was not significant in the younger patient group. In the younger patient group, the 5-year KM DFS rates were 78.1% for truncal melanomas and 92.5% for nontruncal melanoma locations (P = .0009); the corresponding 5-year KM OS rates were 76.6% and 93.9% (P = .0003). In the older patient group, the 5-year KM DFS rates were 84.1% for truncal and 82.8% for nontruncal melanomas (P = NS), and the corresponding 5-year KM OS rates were 81.6% and 87.5% (P = .0049). ConclusionsAlthough women with cutaneous melanoma tend to have a better prognosis than men, women ≤40 years of age with primary melanoma of the trunk may represent a subgroup at higher risk for disease recurrence and metastasis.

Potentially inappropriate medicines by Beers criteria in a group of old patients admitted to a Portuguese hospital

Potentially inappropriate medicines by Beers criteria in a group of old patients admitted to a Portuguese hospital

Potentially inappropriate medicines use, by STOPP/START criteria, in a group of old patients admitted to a Portuguese hospital

Potentially inappropriate medicines use, by STOPP/START criteria, in a group of old patients admitted to a Portuguese hospital

Molecular modeling indicates distinct classes of missense variants with mild and severe XLRS phenotypes

X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) is a vitreo-retinal degeneration caused by mutations in the RS1 gene which encodes the protein retinoschisin (RS1), required for the structural and functional integrity of the retina. Data are presented from a group of 38 XLRS patients from Moorfields Eye Hospital (London, UK) who had one of 18 missense mutations in RS1. Patients were grouped based on mutation severity predicted by molecular modeling: mild (class I), moderate (intermediate) and severe (class II). Most patients had an electronegative scotopic bright flash electroretinogram (ERG) (reduced b/a-wave ratio) in keeping with predominant inner retinal dysfunction. An association between the type of structural RS1 alterations and the severity of b/a-wave reduction was found in all but the oldest group of patients, significant in patients aged 15-30 years. Severe RS1 missense changes were associated with a lower ERG b/a ratio than were mild changes, suggesting that the extent of inner retinal dysfunction is influenced by the effect of the mutations on protein structure. The majority of class I mutations showed no changes involving cysteine residues. Class II mutations caused severe perturbations due to the removal or insertion of cysteine residues or due to changes in the hydrophobic core. The ERG b/a ratio in intermediate cases was abnormal but showed significant variability, possibly related to the role of proline or arginine residues. We also conducted a second study, using a completely independent cohort, to indicate a genotype-ERG phenotype correlation.