Gender differences in age-related physiological changes and some diseases.

The clinical and laboratory data from a cross-sectional and a longitudinal study of healthy individuals between 50-89 years of age and that of centenarians were compared. The examination showed that in healthy elderly subjects and centenarians most of the clinical laboratory findings were in the normal range. However, age-related changes could be observed in erythrocyte sedimentation rate, in serum albumin level, and in the frequency of rheuma factor.

[Extended family, immediate family and caregiver contacts of 100-year-old patients in Hungary].

In the year 1987, 218 centenarians lived in Hungary. First the main demographic data were reported by the surveyors of the Central Statistics Office. The basis of the experience was gained on a limited population (123 subjects).

Physiological age-related changes: cross-sectional and longitudinal studies.

Physiological age-related changes were investigated by cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. The data of the study were derived from volunteers admitted to the Gerontology Center in Budapest. In the follow-up study 864 subjects took part, and in the cross-sectional study 2,281 individuals.

Comparative study of the morphological changes in lymphocytes of elderly individuals and centenarians.

The number of white blood cells, the morphological changes of the peripheral lymphocytes and some immunological variables were examined in 118 centenarians and in 499 healthy subjects of 60-89 years of age. There was no change in the absolute number of leucocytes, lymphocytes, or T or B cells with age. The occurrence of a myelin-like structure in the mitochondria and the presence of lipofuscin in the cytoplasm of lymphocytes increased with age and showed a correlation with the absolute number of T cells.

Effect of cigarette smoke and 2-mercaptoethanol administration on age-related alterations and immunological parameters.

In old CBA/Ca mice the effect of cigarette smoke was compared with that of 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) treatment. It could be stated that spontaneous death was more frequent in animals kept in cigarette smoke than in the control animals. Prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma was higher in animals kept in cigarette smoke than in the controls.