Incidence and associated factors for single and recurrent falls among the elderly in an urban community of Beijing.

Objective: To investigate the incidence of falls and recurrent falls, and explore associated factors for single and recurrent falls among urban community-dwelling elderly in Beijing.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 472 elderly in the Longtan community of Dongcheng district, Beijing in 2009. Data regarding the incidence of fall and recurrent falls in the previous year, as well as associated factors were collected from the elderly through face-to-face interviews.

Diagnostic accuracy of intracellular mycobacterium tuberculosis detection for tuberculous meningitis.

Rationale: Early diagnosis and treatment of tuberculous meningitis saves lives, but current laboratory diagnostic tests lack sensitivity.

Objectives: We investigated whether the detection of intracellular bacteria by a modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain and early secretory antigen target (ESAT)-6 in cerebrospinal fluid leukocytes improves tuberculous meningitis diagnosis.

Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid specimens from patients with suspected tuberculous meningitis were stained by conventional Ziehl-Neelsen stain, a modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain involving cytospin slides with Triton processing, and an ESAT-6 immunocytochemical stain.

[Consequence and risk factors of falls-related injuries in community-dwelling elderly in Beijing].

Objective: To investigate the incidence of falls during the past year,as well as the consequence of falls so as to explore the risk factors for fall-related injuries in the community-dwelling elderly in Beijing.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a community in Beijing. A total of 1512 persons aged 60 years and over were selected using stratified cluster sampling method.

[A prospective study on recurrent falls and related factors in elderly from the urban communities in Beijing].

Objective: To investigate the incidence and risk factors for recurrent falls in community-dwelling elderly in Beijing.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 472 elderly in the Longtan community of Dongcheng district,Beijing in 2009. Data on recurrent falls within the past 12 months were collected through face-to-face interview, with both single factor analysis and logistic regression analysis used to explore the related factors on recurrent falls in the elderly.

Efficacy and safety of acarbose in the treatment of elderly patients with postprandial hypotension.

Background: Postprandial hypotension (PPH) occurs frequently in elderly people and may lead to syncope, falls, dizziness, weakness, angina pectoris, and stroke. Some studies suggest that the magnitude of the postprandial fall in blood pressure (BP) is influenced by the rate at which glucose enters the small intestine. We hypothesized that acarbose (alpha-glucosidase inhibitor), a hypoglycemic agent that decreases the rate of glucose absorption in the small intestine, would attenuate PPH in the elderly, and would be safe in the treatment.