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Biomedical subjects

A Svanborg

Publications and source records attributed to A Svanborg.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Low natural killer cell function in disseminated aspergillosis.

We investigated whether immune deficiency was associated with a fatal case of invasive cerebral aspergillosis due to Aspergillus fumigatus infection. The lymphocyte proliferative capacity to T- and B-cell mitogens was comparable to that of healthy controls. However, the natural killer (NK) cell activity of the patient was 2-6-fold lower than the activity expressed by a paired control and age-sex matched healthy controls (n = 20). No specific abnormalities were evident in the capacity to transduce either proliferative signals or cytokine (interleukin 2) secretory capacity of in vitro activated lymphocytes from the patient. The specific reduction in NK cell activity might either indicate that she was a low NK responder, or that the low NK cell activity was primarily or secondarily associated with the fungal infection caused by Aspergillus fumigatus in humans.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Postponement of aging-related disability.

The authors discuss approaches to improving the functional capacities of older people through the prevention or postponement of disease and disability. Given suitable life-styles, environments and interventions, health and fitness can be maintained at satisfactory levels.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Preferential accumulation of mature NK cells during human immunosenescence.

The major histocompatibility complex-unrestricted, cell-mediated, constitutive anti-tumor cytotoxic function of natural killer cells is highly preserved in healthy elderly. A study of the dynamics of expression of natural killer cell-associated phenotypes during immunosenescence shows that selective, bidirectional, and disproportionate changes in certain natural killer cell subset number and ratio take place during aging. The mean natural killer cell subset ratio (%CD16+CD57+ over %CD56+CD57-) gradually increases from a young adult level of 0.7 to 4.6 with advancing age predominantly due to a tripling of %CD16+57+ cells as opposed to a moderate decrease (-54%) in %CD56+57- phenotype. The parallel increase in natural killer phenotype ratio and cytotoxic activity might represent a shift in the maturity status of these cells. Based on these findings, a model of natural killer cell immunosenescence is proposed. It is concluded that not all immunosenescent changes need be detrimental; some may even improve the potential for survival and represent an adaptational immunosenescent change.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Prevalence of radiographic osteoarthritis in two elderly European populations.

Was compared the prevalence of radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA) in two elderly populations, one in Göteborg (Sweden) and one in Zoetermeer (The Netherlands). The comparison was preceded by an inter-observed analysis of 150 films, revealing lower percentage agreements and kappa values when analysing the films on a five-point scale compared to the analysis in a dichotomy of "abnormal" and "normal" films. An intra-observer analysis of 50 films revealed higher percentage agreement and kappa values of well over 0.75, suggesting that radiographs could be read by one observer when different populations are being compared. The prevalence of hand ROA was higher in the Göteborg population, while the prevalence of knee ROA showed no significant differences. No significant increase with age of the cohorts was found for hand ROA in either population and no increase with age for knee ROA was found in the Swedish population. In the Zoetermeer population, knee ROA increased with age in both sexes.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Radiographic osteoarthritis in the elderly. A cohort comparison and a longitudinal study of the "70-year old people in Göteborg".

The prevalence of radiographic osteoarthritis in hand and knee joints was studied in representative subsamples of the 75 and 79 year old population of Göteborg, Sweden. A comparison between two cohorts of 79-year-olds, revealed no significant difference between them. A longitudinal study within one of these cohorts including those aged between 75 and 79 showed a modest but not statistically significant progression of osteoarthritis in hand and knee joints. The results suggest a reduced progression of osteoarthritis after 75 years of age.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

A longitudinal study of the occurrence of joint complaints in elderly people.

Joint complaints were studied in two cohorts longitudinally followed at 4-5 year intervals between the ages of 70 and 79, representative of the elderly population of Göteborg, Sweden. Joint complaints were reported by 30-43% of the women and by 15-25% of the men. A significant increase of joint complaints was found in both sexes between the ages of 70 and 75 but not thereafter. The knee joints were the most common site of complaints in both sexes. Complaints were not consistently reported by the probands at all examinations, however, and a 'disappearance' of complaints with age was found. Complaints on all three occasions were reported by 15% of the women and 3% of the men. An association was observed between repeatedly reported complaints and radiographic osteoarthritis as well as with self-reported rheumatoid arthritis.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Marital coital activity in men at the age of 75: relation to somatic, psychiatric, and social factors at the age of 70.

OBJECTIVE: To find somatic, psychiatric, and social variables that predicted cessation of coital activity in elderly married men. DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal, observational study SETTING: General survey of a representative sample of 70-year-old urban men (born in 1901-02) in Göteborg, Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-one men who were married and had coital activity at age 70 and who, at the age of 75, were still married when the sample was reinterviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence (c) or absence (nc) of coital activity at age 75. RESULTS: Cessation of coital activity was associated with vasculogenic factors. At least one of the following disorders--systemic hypertension, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, or hypertriglyceridemia--was found in three of the C men and 14 of the NC men, P less than 0.005. Systemic hypertension was the most common disorder and was found in one C man and 10 NC men, P less than 0.01. Cessation of coital activity was associated with specified types of stress between 65 and 70 years of age in the subgroup of men who had stopped due to inability; six out of eight reported stress against five out of 20 in the C group, P less than 0.05. There was no association with any of the psychiatric or social factors studied. CONCLUSIONS: Cessation of coital activity is predicted by somatic disorders which are associated with vascular damage and especially by hypertension. This observation does not allow the conclusion that antihypertensive treatment would be effective in postponing the cessation of coital activity.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Longitudinal study of stimulated whole saliva in an elderly population.

The aim of this investigation, which is part of the longitudinal gerontologic population study in Gothenburg (H-70), was to examine the effect of aging on salivary flow. Three 70-yr-old cohorts, born in 1901/02, 1906/07, and 1911/12, were studied both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Representative subsamples (n = 931) were followed up to 82 yr in the first and up to 75 yr in the second and third cohorts. Whole saliva secretion was stimulated by paraffin wax chewing for 5 min and all sampling was carried out in the morning after an overnight fast. The mean secretion rate was 1.24 for men and 0.94 ml/min for women at the age of 70 (all cohorts pooled). The percentage values for extremely low secretion rate (< 0.2 ml/min) were 2 and 6%, respectively. Neither the cross-sectional nor the longitudinal comparison showed any decrease in secretion rate on a group basis either in the age interval 70-82 yr in the first or between 70 and 75 yr in the other two cohorts. However, an increased prevalence of complaints of mouth dryness was found, especially among women. The main conclusion from this study is that there is no decline on a population basis in paraffin-wax-stimulated salivary flow with increasing age.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Screening for thyroid disease in the elderly. Serum free thyroxine and thyrotropin concentrations in a representative population of 81-year-old women and men.

Thyroid function in individuals from a representative population of 81-year olds was evaluated clinically and from assay of serum thyrotropin (TSH) and serum free thyroxine (free T4). Among the 144 men, 2 had markedly abnormal values; L-thyroxine treatment had been prescribed for both, one because of primary hypothyroidism (concentrations at screening were high for TSH and low for free T4) and one because of panhypopituitarism (low free T4 at screening). Among the 250 women, 10 had TSH concentrations greater than 10 mU/L; L-thyroxine therapy had been prescribed for 3 of them. Only 1 non-L-thyroxine treated woman had a high free T4 concentration. She had few clinical signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism (mainly weight loss), and multinodular goiter. Total and free 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine concentrations were normal but her total and free T4 concentrations were high at ages 70, 75 and 79 years, indicating that "T4-toxicosis" had been present for at least 11 years without evidence of progression of her hyperthyroidism. The results indicate that clinical signs and symptoms of thyroid disease in the elderly may be too subtle for diagnosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Intermittent care and caregivers at home.

The role of the caregivers of 22 patients treated in an intermittent nursing home programme was studied. Intermittent care was effective and often led to improvements in the patients. Because of their pronounced feeling of responsibility for these often very demanding patients, the main objection of the caregivers was that they wanted longer or more frequent nursing home periods than were currently offered. Half of the patients were regarded by the formal caregivers as more demanding than other clients in the home help service. In some cases the home helpers considered the patients more dependent in various activities of daily living than did the patients themselves. Meeting other people at the nursing home stimulated the patients and positively influenced the relationship between them and the home helpers. The most important aspect of intermittent care was its potential for variety, medical treatment and nursing care. The caregivers felt secure with it, which was necessary in order for them to relax when being relieved.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Serum cobalamins in the elderly: a longitudinal study of a representative population sample from age 70 to 81.

In a representative population sample (n = 973) born 1901-1902 and examined at the ages of 70, 75, 79, and 81, the change in serum cobalamins with increasing age was studied by trend analysis using values obtained in single individuals at all four examinations. In subsamples without definable disorders, the mean annual decline was: among men 3.4 pmol/l (p less than 0.05), among women 3.2 pmol/l (n.s.). The decline was possibly more pronounced among individuals with low and intermediate concentrations. The health-related lower reference limits (the 2.5 percentile values of subsamples without definable disorders) did not differ significantly between sexes and age groups, but low concentrations or ongoing cobalamin medication became more common with advancing age. The results indicate a slight fall in serum cobalamins between age 70 and 81 but do not call for age-related lower reference limits.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Osteoarthritis in the elderly: clinical and radiological findings in 79 and 85 year olds.

The prevalence of joint complaints and clinical and radiological findings of osteoarthritis in wrist, hand, and knee joints was studied in representative population subsamples of 79 and 85 year olds. Joint complaints, clinical findings of osteoarthritis, and radiographic osteoarthritis were more common in women. Age related differences in the prevalence of osteoarthritis were not found. Although there was a correlation between clinical signs of osteoarthritis and radiographic osteoarthritis, clinical signs were often present without radiographic evidence and moderate and severe radiographic osteoarthritis was often present without clinical signs.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Walking habits and health-related factors in a 70-year-old population.

Walking and other physical activities were studied in a representative population sample of 619 70-year-old people in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden. Walking was the most common physical activity declared, and two thirds of those without an obvious disability walked 30 min or more every day. Subjects who took a daily walk of at least 30 min had a significantly better climbing capacity, higher bone mineral content and lower concentration of blood triglycerides than subjects who walked less. Male 'walkers' had a significantly larger lung volume than 'non-walkers'. Walkers had a more positive attitude towards physical activity as well as a higher estimation of their own physical fitness than non-walkers.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Factors associated with radiographic osteoarthritis: results from the population study 70-year-old people in Göteborg.

Selected factors potentially associated with radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) were studied in 2 subsamples of 79-year-olds, within the longitudinal prospective study 70-year-old People in Göteborg. A very significant (p less than 0.01 in men, p less than 0.001 in women) association was found between radiographic knee OA and body mass index (BMI), and a significant (p less than 0.05) association was also observed between radiographic hand OA and BMI in men. Smoking correlated negatively (p less than 0.01) to radiographic knee OA in both sexes, even after adjusting for BMI. Other factors, including diabetes, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, physical activity, education, vocational training, marital status, serum uric acid, triglycerides, cholesterol and blood glucose levels did not correlate to radiographic OA. Finally, no correlation was found between either decreased bone mineral content or the presence of previous fragility fractures.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Coronary heart disease at 70, 75 and 79 years of age: a longitudinal study with special reference to sex differences and mortality.

In a population study of 70-year-old people in Göteborg, Sweden, a representative sample of 449 men and 524 women was followed for nine years. The prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) at age 70 was about 30% in both sexes and did not change up to age 79. Myocardial infarction appeared twice as often in men as in women at age 70 but angina pectoris and ST-T changes on ECG showed no sex difference. Myocardial infarction and probable ischaemia on ECG increased significantly between ages 70 and 79 in both sexes. Half of the men with angina pectoris had a history of myocardial infarction and/or probable ischaemia on ECG criteria compared with 23% of the women. The mortality rate was twice as high in men as in women irrespective of CHD. When CHD was present at age 70 the nine-year mortality was doubled. CHD was shown to be a strong independent risk factor for death also in this age group.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

How aging related frailty will influence the quality of care. Results from a 15-year follow-up of 70-year-old people in Gothenburg, Sweden.

This report exemplifies how aging in itself, frailty, and morbidity influence need of quality of care in the age interval 70-85 according to results obtained at the study of representative samples of elderly in Gothenburg, Sweden. A significant proportion of the elderly in the age interval 70-79 were lacking symptoms due to definable disease, which made possible studies of "normal aging" and a differentiation of manifestations of aging from symptoms of disease in the elderly. Usage of such knowledge is essential for the improvement of quality of care. The trainability of older people was generally good. Much more can be done to reactivate the older patient after episodes of acute disease. "Long-term care" should be considered as programs differentiated according to the need; shorter more active or longer forms of "long-term care." Many frail elderly need longer periods of reactivation than available in hospitals. Certain risk factors precipitate into functional decline only when we are old. Preventive/postponing measures are relevant also for the elderly.

Aged↗