Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in experimental animals: Effects of aging and hypercholesterolemic diet

Effects of aging and hypercholesterolemic diet on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status were investigated in rats. The rats were divided into four groups of ten: Group I; young rats receiving standard lab chow; Group II; young rats on hypercholesterolemic diet (0.4 g/rat/day); Group III; aged rats receiving standard lab chow; Group IV; aged rats on hypercholesterolemic diet (0.4 g/rat/day). Plasma lipid peroxidation end product level was determined as thiobarbutiric acid reactive substances (TEARS). Plasma cholesterol concentration was analyzed by a kinetic enzymatic method. Erythyocyte superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH Pr) and glutathione (GSH) levels were determined spectrophotometrically. Cholesterol values were found to be significantly high (p p > 0.02) and GSH (p p > 0.02) was observed in aged rats. In young rats hyperchlesterolemic diet caused a significant increase in both GSH and CuZnSOD levels. Our results indicate an imbalance between radical production and destruction in favour of prooxidant conditions in the young rats and the induction by hypercholesterolemic diet of the antioxidative response in erythrocytes. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V

A RARE CAUSE OF DYSPNEA: TWO MYXOMA CASES

Myxomas are the most common types of primary cardiac tumors. Primary cardiac myxomas are typically encountered in the left atrium. Although they are generally benign on histopathological examination, they may cause cerebovascular embolism and mitral valvular obstruction due to their critical location. Myxomas are rarely asymptomatic. Here we report two myxoma cases, a 65 years old male and a 62 years old female, who were admitted to the hospital with rather different clinical presentations. The first patient had only mild dyspnea, whereas the second one presented with symptoms and signs of heart failure besides dyspnea. Albeit not included among the initial differential diagnoses, giant left atrial myxomas were detected in each patient on echocardiographic studies performed during their clinical evaluation. Masses were surgically excised and were pathologically diagnosed as myxomas. We present these two cases in order to underline the fact that although encountered rarely, cardiac myxoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of dyspnea in everyday practice

Replicability and reliability of pain assessment forms in geriatrics

Aim of the study was to investigate the replicability and reliability of the multi-dimensional health assessment questionnaire (MDHAQ) and visual analog scale (VAS) in young and elderly individuals with chronic pain. Ambulatory patients, 20 of them aged above 65 years and complaining about chronic pain and 20 patients with the age of 40 and younger working in a factory were assessed with VAS and MDHAQ. The assessment was repeated to investigate the replicability and reliability of both tests. According to MDHAQ disability index (DI), the elderly had more complains on the first and second day of the study (p < 0.001). In terms of changes between first and second days, DI scores of the elderly group (r = 0.634; p = 0.003) and the younger group (r = 0.888; p < 0.001) had quite similar responses. Criteria for the assessment of pain, fatigue and general condition according to MDHAQ were similar in both groups in terms of changes between first and second day of the study, there was no significant differences between the groups. But while responses in the younger group according to these 3 parameters were highly reliable, the elderly group's responses were reliable only for their last week pain assessment. Both tests were replicable in the elderly group, VAS and MDHAQ were especially applicable for the last time phase of their pain; while fatigue, general health condition and DI indicated diminished reliability in the elderly group, compared to the young group. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Common MEFV mutations and polymorphisms in an elderly population: an association with E148Q polymorphism and rheumatoid factor levels

Objectives. To analyse the most common MEFV (Mediterranean fever gene) mutations and polymorphisms in an elderly population free of chronic inflammatory disease (n=764), and explore possible associations between hsCRP (high sensitive C-reactive protein) and RF (rheumatoid factor) levels with MEFV mutations and polymorphisms

Is Depression a Predictive Factor for Polypharmacy in Elderly?

Objective: Polypharmacy, quite common in elderly patients, is an important issue, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to examine polypharmacy rates and drug usage characteristics in elderly patients. Second aim of this study was to compare our results with other published studies

Prevalence and characteristics of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in the elderly and the relation of serum ferritin levels with disease severity: Hospital-based study from Istanbul, Turkey

The RLS is an underdiagnosed condition, characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs. Pathophysiological mechanisms may include iron deficiency as reflected by low serum ferritin levels and dopaminergic system dysfunction. The purpose of our study was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of RLS in the elderly and the relation of serum ferritin levels with disease severity. Ambulatory 1012 (621 women, 391 men, mean age: 73.51 +/- 7.12 years) consecutive patients above 65 years who admitted to our clinic for any reason were evaluated according to the International RLS Study Group (IRLSSG) criteria: 103 patients (74 women, 29 men, mean age: 72.43 +/- 6.31) (10.18%) had RLS diagnosis. Only 9 of them had known RLS. The duration of symptoms was 4.80 +/- 4.65 years and 27 patients (26.2%) had positive family history. The average of serum ferritin levels was 39.13 +/- 23.74 ng/ml and 71 patients (68.9%) had serum ferritin levels <= 50 ng/ml. The disease severity was evaluated with IRLSSG rating scale. Patients were classified as severe-very severe group (n = 49) and mild-moderate group (n = 54). The ferritin levels of severe-very severe disease group were lower than those of mild-moderate disease group (26.01 +/- 15.82 ng/ml versus 49.87 +/- 23.24 ng/ml, p < 0.001). Our data show that RLS is very common in the elderly and the disease is more severe in patients with lower ferritin levels. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved