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Biomedical subjects

A Guaita

Publications and source records attributed to A Guaita.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Estrogen receptor alpha and APOEepsilon4 polymorphisms interact to increase risk for sporadic AD in Italian females.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects both sexes, with a higher prevalence in women. Declining estrogen levels after menopause may render estrogen target neurons in the brain more susceptible to age or disease-related processes such as AD. To investigate the role of two single nucleotide polymorphisms in the first intron of the ER-alpha gene, denominated PvuII and XbaI, and their interaction with the known AD susceptibility gene APOE, we examined 131 patients with sporadic AD and 109 healthy control subjects. In multinomial logistic regression analysis, a significantly increased risk of sporadic AD because of interaction between the ER-alpha p allele and APOE epsilon4 allele was observed in women, taking subjects who had neither the p allele nor epsilon4 as reference [odds ratio (OR) 7.24; 95% CI, 2.22-23.60]. For women carrying the ER-alpha x allele together with APOE epsilon4, the risk of sporadic AD was similarly elevated (OR 8.33; 95% CI, 1.73-40.06). The data suggest that the p and x alleles of polymorphic ER-alpha gene interact synergistically with the APOE epsilon4 allele to increase the risk of AD in women but not in men in this Italian cohort.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

The impact of cognitive impairment on the rehabilitation process in geriatrics.

A study has been carried out in our geriatric rehabilitation wards, to know better the role of cognitive dysfunction in treatment outcome and processing, mainly functional recovery and comorbidity. We analyzed 478 frail inpatients, 2/3 of them were females, aged 78.7 + 9.2 years, consecutively admitted to the unit. Assessment of cognitive function was performed by the mini mental state examination (MMSE), of functional status by Barthel index (BI), of co-morbidity by cumulative illness rating scale (CIRS) both at the admission and discharge for each patient, together with the usual clinical parameters and social outcome. More than one people in three lived alone and showed some communication problems; one in seven needed modifications in food preparation or nutritional system;more than one in five had pressure sore >/= 2 (EPUAP = European Pressure Ulcers Advisory Panel classification). The mean (+/- SD) levels of the admitted were: MMSE = 20 +/- 7.2; BI total score = 45.5 +/- 28.9; CIRS class = 4 +/- 2, CIRS severity score = 1.9 +/- 0.4. Of the patients, 74.5% were discharged to home. Mean functional gain was 20 points at BI: 65.6 +/-30.7; MMSE improved to 21.6 +/- 7.1 (p = 0.00005 for both comparisons, by Wilcoxon test).MMSE was positively correlated to BI (r = 0.6, p = 0.0005) and negatively correlated (p =0.0005) to CIRS comorbidity (r = -0.33) and severity (r = -0.26), and to age (r = -0.38, p =0.0005) both at admission and at discharge. MMSE at admission was correlated neither to functional gain, nor to improvement of clinical indicators, nor to measures of functional and clinical efficiency. MMSE at discharge showed similar results. In a stepwise multiple correlation analysis, taking the gain in BI as the dependent variable, while BI, serum albumin level, MMSE, CIRS severity and comorbidity indexes at admission as independent variables, MMSE together with BI admission total score and CIRS severity index retained a strong association with functional gain, whilst admission serum albumin levels and CIRSindex lost it. Consistently with some literary data, we showed the actual possibility of functional and clinical gains for people cared in a geriatric rehabilitation ward, all through a wide range of MMSE score, including subnormal scores. Poor cognitive status bears heavily on frailty, but does not hamper the outcomes of genuine rehabilitative efforts in geriatrics.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Measurement on Tinetti test: instrumentation and procedures.

A measurement system and associate signal processing procedures for quantifying subject's performance during the performance-oriented assessment of balance as defined in Tinetti test (TT) is described. It is based on two inclinometers measuring trunk inclination in two orthogonal planes. Signals from the transducers are acquired by a PC through A/DC board. Signal processing consists in computing morphological parameters describing the main features of subject movement during the different TT maneuvers. The system is simple, cheap, user friendly, causes no discomfort to the patient and can easily be modified to comply with either new requirements or the needs of other performance tests dealing with trunk movement. Preliminary results of measurements on both normals and patients suggest the viability of this approach and the possibility of discriminating normal from abnormal performance, based on the values of the morphological parameters.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Adverse clinical events in dependent long-term nursing home residents.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the occurrence, type, and burden of adverse clinical events (ACE) among residents of chronic facilities. An ACE is any acute or subacute change in health status suggesting acute or subacute illness. DESIGN: Survey with face-to-face functional assessment and 3-month retrospective chart review. STUDY POPULATION: One hundred six continuing-care residents with a minimum length of stay of 4 months at an Italian chronic care facility. MEASUREMENTS: Functional assessment and chart review-based classification of ACE burden on care management according to a clinical-functional Severity Rating Scale. MAIN RESULTS: Functional dependence, dementia and concurrent clinical problems were common. Two hundred seventy-three ACEs were detected. Eighty-nine percent of residents experienced at least one ACE. Only 21% of ACEs could be managed by simple medical intervention and monitoring within 1 day; in 23% there was need for more complex care management; 7% of the latter ACEs resulted in residual (new) functional impairment. Cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems were most commonly involved in ACEs. Neurological ACEs were the most frequent category leading to new functional impairment (22%). ACE occurrence/burden was higher in male residents (P < 0.01) and strongly associated with the number of concurrent medical problems (P < 0.001). Neither cognitive nor functional dependence levels were related to ACE occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: This description of the burden on care management resulting from acute and subacute changes in clinical and functional status of chronic patients emphasizes the continuing and unpredictable nature of medical attention required in a nursing home or chronic care facility. ACEs occur far more frequently among the elderly than is generally recognized. Thus a high level of medical and nursing skill is necessary in chronic care facilities.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

[Alkaline urine in the aged].

Considering the frequent finding of alkalinity in the urines of elderly people of both sexes, we can propose many hypothesis among which the most probable seems a latent renal failure with secondary hyperparathyroidism and consequent alkalinization of the urines. We can presume that such a frequent alkalinity of the urines in old subjects has an important role in the frequent infectious of the urinary tract of elderly people.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

[Proteinuria in the aged].

The Authors for a better knowledge of the senile kidney have studied the urinary proteins of a group of elderly people resident in a geriatric institute. For instance they have noted the percentage of proteinuria in the urine of 313 patients (M and F) with various pathology, making also an electrophoresis of the urinary proteins. They put in evidence that the subjects with proteinuria were older than others, without proteinuria, and noted the high incidence of the infectious diseases of the urinary tract in these patients. In a second time the urine of 247 apparently healthy elderly people has been studied. Through an accurate examination (that is comprehensive of some serum parameters and a comparison with subjects without proteinuria) the Authors discussed a way of growing old defined "with biological trouble".

Aged↗
PubMed1978

[Alcohol, blood lipids and advanced age].

The problem of the alcohol induced hyperlipemia in men is still in discussion. The Authors have tested the plasma lipid values of elderly subjects, known as a "good drinkers" in relation to abstemious males of equal age. No significant differences were found in the plasma lipid values of the good drinkers compared with those of the abstemious patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

[Various aspects of sleep in the long-lived].

The Authors through a set of questions have studied some qualitative and quantitative aspects of the sleep of 24 older than 80 patients. These results put in evidence that all the examined longevous people in the whole life, have gone to bed early in the night. Some particular habits in the sleep could be included among the environmental factors useful to a long life.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1977

[Potassium depletion. Glucose intolerance. Senile diabetes. A study of possible pathogenetic relations. 2].

The effects of intake of potassium salts for 21-28 days on the glucose tolerance of 10 elderly subjects with clear diabetes were examined by means of the Tolbutamide test (TT) and the i.v. glucose tolerance test (IVGTT). Improvement in tolerance, to the extent of a reduction in glycaemic levels and better coefficients, was observed in all values of the two tests and in basal glycaemia values, with constantly significant differences at statistical examination. In a group of 4 cases in which Tolbutamide treatment was suspended for the same period, this improvement in the Tolbutamide Test was not observed. With this second confirmation of the initial hypothesis, the pathogenetic significance and biological relevance of potassium depletion in senile diabetes and generally, in the ageing process, are discussed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1977

[Potassium depletion. Glucose intolerance. Senile diabetes. Study on eventual pathogenetic relationships 1].

Oral tolerance of glucose was determined in 40 aged subjects with fasting blood sugar values of less than 100 mg/100 ml 56% had normal tolerance, 22% normal for age, and 22% values of diabetic type. In young subjects, only 2% display sugar metabolism disturbances. After 21 days' administration of potassium salts, 34.78% of the normal and 62.5% of the diabetic subjects showed reduced mean blood sugar values for the test, with significant falls at 120' and 180'. Reference is made to other conditions in which potassium depletion is coupled with glucose intolerance, e.g. old age. The pathogenetic significance of potassium depletion with respect to senile diabetes is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Biochemical and hematological indices of alcohol consumption in the aged].

Tre gamma-GT, SGOT, SGPT, urate and triglyceride levels and the mean cell volume were suggested to be markers of alcohol intake in the adult. The value of these markers for the old and the very old (over 80) were investigated. Three groups of different ages of heavy drinkers (under 50, 60-70 over 80) were examined. The highest number of alterations was found in the under 50 group; the lowest in the over 80 (P less than 0.01; chi square M X N method). The mean values in this last group and the number of alterations were similar to those found in a group of no-drinkers of the same age. These markers of alcohol uptake are considered to be of less value for the aged people.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Blood lipids and alcohol consumption in the aged].

In order to clarify the importance of chronic alcohol uptake in modifying the plasmal lipid levels in the aged people, two groups of males were examined. The people in the two groups had same mean age, and smoking habits (under 10 cigarettes a day) and received the same free ward diet, but had a different alcohol uptake; one group drank more than 150 g of ethanol a day and the other group less than 50 g. The almost only vehicle of ethanol was the red wine. No differences were found among the two groups neither for the cholesterol nor for total lipids, nor for triglycerides. This confirmed that for the aged people it cannot be spoken of an "alcohol induced iperlipemia".

Age Factors↗