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Biomedical subjects

G Librach

Publications and source records attributed to G Librach.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Stroke: incidence and risk factors.

The incidence of stroke was estimated prospectively in a total population of 2,502 persons over age 65 who resided in homes for the aged. The incidence in persons born in Asian and African countries was close to that in persons born in European countries. No sex differential was found in either ethnic group, and there was no significant increase in the incidence of stroke with advancing age in either sex. In the European population, prior heart disease was the strongest risk-increasing factor, ranking ahead of hypertension. Diabetes mellitus was not associated with a higher risk of stroke among the women; the findings for the men were inconclusive. In the Afro-Asian population, the risk of stroke was related to heart disease and diabetes mellitus but was not associated with blood pressure. Total serum cholesterol or relative weight was not associated with stroke in either group. The early establishment of programs for the control of hypertension and stroke appears most desirable.

Age Factors↗

The initial manifestations of acute myocardinal infarction.

A review of 132 consecutive patients 65 years of age and older who had a myocardial infarction showed that two-thirds of them experienced pain at onset. Pain was the only symptom leading to bedside diagnosis in one-fourth of the patients. Pain at onset combined with sudden or increased dyspnea was present in one-fifth of the patients and pain associated with other symptoms in one-sixth. Dyspnea unaccompanied by pain heralded onset of infarction in one-fifth of the patients, and in almost 7 percent, onset was marked only by other symptoms. Cerebral symptoms dominated onset in one-tenth of the patients. Preexisting coronary heart disease, hypertension, or diabetes was not predictive of painless infarction. To avoid pitfalls and facilitate bedside diagnosis of infarction, physicians should be aware of the different clinical presentations of painless infarction in the aged, which occurred in over one-third of the patients in this cohort. They also should suspect the possibility of myocardial infarction in any patient in whom symptoms are not clear, even when they are mild and unobtrusive. Questioning of the elderly patient, his family, or others around him as early as possible after the onset of an acute attack is likely to elicit a history of pain, which may lead to the correct diagnosis.

Acute Disease↗

Tooth survival in a multicultural group of aged in Israel.

Survival of natural dentition was studied in a multicultural group of 826 elderly people living in sheltered conditions in three old-age homes. It was found that the ratio of dentate subjects decreased progressively with age. The proportion of dentate men was significantly higher than that of women. The ratio of dentate subjects among the immigrants from Afro-Asian countries was significantly higher than among the European group. As the number of denture wearers among the elderly of European origin greatly exceeded that of Afro-Asian extraction, the assumption was made that the more advanced cultural background of the Europeans motivated them to take more advantage of dental services and as a result they had more teeth extracted due to preprosthodontic preparations. The mandibular teeth showed a higher survival rate than the maxillary. Most remaining dental units (teeth and roots) were found in the front region in both jaws, with definite persistance of canines and a clear tendency towards diminishing numbers of posterior tooth types. Studies on tooth survival may provide useful information for assessing needs and planning services for the aged in modern society and may contribute to better understanding of prosthodontic problems encountered in practice.

Africa↗