Biomedical subjects

Yitshal N Berner

Publications and source records attributed to Yitshal N Berner.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of electric stimulation treatment on the functional rehabilitation of acute geriatric patients with stroke--a preliminary study.

The most common neurological damage in acute stroke/cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is a decline in the senso-motor capacities of both the upper and the lower extremities with a more severe injury in the upper ones. Motor improvement of the affected limb can be attained through frequent intensive exercise by electrical stimulation (ES). The objective of this study was to examine the effect of the ES treatment using Handmaster ES device on the functional rehabilitation of elderly patients after acute CVA. Twenty-two elderly with different levels of damage and partial movements in their upper limb joints underwent a 3-week treatment. Nine of them were treated for additional 3-weeks after a 3-week break. After the first 3-week treatment, significant improvements were observed, in all the subjects, in the active range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder and the wrist joints, on manual dexterity tests and on functional independence measure (FIM). After the two periods of treatment the nine subjects exhibited significant improvements in ROM and in manual dexterity. FIM score increased by the same rate after each of the three stages. This preliminary study has proven that the Handmaster treatment can improve the geriatric rehabilitation outcome of elderly patients with senso-motor deficit caused by acute CVA.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Functional recovery after hip fracture in old-old elderly patients.

Hip fracture is epidemic and prevalence increased with advanced age. Impact of comorbid and cognitive status, gender, type of fracture, operative delay and pre-fracture ambulatory levels on functional outcome was shown in previous studies. We studied functional outcome after rehabilitation for hip fracture in old-old elderly (85 years and older) and compared it to young elderly (65-74 years) community-dwelling patients. Before the fracture, old-old elderly patients were more functional dependent, has had more comorbid diseases, and more of them live alone than young elderly. The waiting time to surgery and mean length of stay in orthopedic ward were longer than in young elderly. On admission to rehabilitation treatment, old-old patients presented with more depressed mood, were more cognitive impaired, and more suffer from pain. Old-old patients presented with laboratory data of malnutrition (decreased serum levels of albumin, cholesterol, hemoglobin, hematocrit, lymphocyte count) and inflammation (increased of transferrin and C-reactive protein). Improvement in Functional Independence Measurement (FIM) scale was found in both groups but significantly better in young elderly than in old-old elderly. The change in FIM during the rehabilitation period (DeltaFIM) were in FIM total and in those parts of FIM concerning locomotion. The mean duration of rehabilitation stay was significantly longer in old-old elderly patients. On discharge old-old elderly patients more suffer from pain and difference between the groups according to the laboratory and to the cognitive data increased. Age per se is indicator of frailty and determinate functional recovery after hip fracture.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Activities of antioxidant scavenger enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) in erythrocytes in adult women with and without type II diabetes.

It is widely believed that oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of type II diabetes. The present study was undertaken to examine the functioning of two antioxidant scavenger enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), in erythrocytes in a population of healthy aging adult women compared with a similar population with type II diabetes. Blood samples were examined from 42 female adult healthy subjects at different ages and from 59 female patients with type II diabetes. A significant increase in SOD activities was correlated with aging in erythrocytes of the healthy control subjects (r =.550, P =.001); however, this correlation was not found in subjects with type II diabetes (r =.250, P <.07). A trend showing a reduction in glutathione peroxidase activities was demonstrated with aging (r = -.331, P =.228); however, this trend was not found in diabetic subjects (r =.031, P <.820). The results indicate a possible imbalance in the antioxidant system in erythrocytes of aging adult women, which is even more pronounced in cases of type II diabetes. This study may indicate possible therapeutic treatment or preventive measures to limit oxidative damage and reduce complications of diabetes.

Aging↗