Age-related femoral bone loss in men: evidence for hyperparathyroidism and insulin-like growth factor-1 deficiency.

Background: We sought to determine the extent to which the age-related decline of femoral neck (FN) bone mineral density (BMD) might be explained by the age-related change of body composition and biological parameters and the mechanisms by which these factors might influence FN BMD in men.

Methods: The relationships between FN BMD and anthropometric, hormonal, and biochemical parameters and bone turnover markers were studied in 82 men aged 25-86 years.

Results: Age was associated with a decline of FN BMD and osteocalcin (OC), bone alkaline phosphatase (bALP), and urinary C-telopeptide (p <.

[Drug prescriptions for the elderly. Results of a survey on 8,809 prescriptions obtained by coding in the North-East area of France].

Objectives: To analyze the prescriptions in patients aged over 60 and more in the North-East area of France during a summer and a winter month, to analyze the impact of the seasonal factor and the number of prescriptions, and to classify in frequency the families and classes of medicinal products prescribed.

Methods: This study was conducted on two samples of prescriptions presented for reimbursement to the public health scheme of the Meurthe-et-Moselle, Vosges and Meuse areas, i.e.

Arterial wall production of cytokines in giant cell arteritis: results of a pilot study using human temporal artery cultures.

Background: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a subacute periarteritis predominantly affecting segments of the external carotids of elderly patients. Vasculitic lesions in GCA samples might be characterized by in situ production of cytokines mRNA, indicative of macrophage and T-cell activation. However, whether the cytokine production of vessels with arteritis differs from that of vessels exposed to inflammatory conditions that originate peripheral to the vessel remains unknown.