Sarcopenia is predictive of nosocomial infection in care of the elderly.

Protein-energy malnutrition and nosocomial infection (NI) are frequent in elderly patients, and a causal link between the two has often been suggested. The aim of the present study was to identify the nutritional parameters predictive of NI in elderly patients. We assessed on admission 101 patients (sixty-six women, thirty-five men, aged over 65 years) admitted to an acute care of the elderly department.

[Medication and memory: interactions among the elderly].

Several different systems govern human memory, and different drugs may act specifically on one or more of them. The central nervous system in the elderly is particularly sensitive to drugs, and an iatrogenic cause must be sought for all recent and/or sudden alterations in memory functions. In the case of recent alterations in memory, all nonessential drugs, especially psychotropic agents; should be withdrawn or reduced.

Risk factors for deep vein thrombosis in inpatients aged 65 and older: a case-control multicenter study.

Objectives: To identify independent risk factors of symptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in geriatric inpatients and to define high-risk patients likely to benefit from preventive treatment.

Design: Hospital-based case-control multicenter study with prospective data collection.

Settings: Geriatric university hospitals with long-, intermediate-, and short-term care facilities.

Risk factors for nosocomial pneumonia in a geriatric hospital: a control-case one-center study.

Objectives: To determine the risk factors (RFs) and the incidence of nosocomial pneumonia (NP).

Design: Control/case study conducted from January 1 to April 15, 1999. Prospective enrollment.

In vitro metabolism of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to 7alpha-hydroxy-DHEA and Delta5-androstene-3beta,17beta-diol in specific regions of the aging brain from Alzheimer's and non-demented patients.

The description of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) as a neuroactive neurosteroid has raised the important question of whether the steroid itself and/or its metabolite(s) are active in the brain. Classical transformations of DHEA in brain and peripheral tissues include its conversion to testosterone and estradiol. In the human brain, the metabolism of DHEA to other metabolites is still poorly understood, particularly in aging people and Alzheimer's patients.

Neurosteroid quantification in human brain regions: comparison between Alzheimer's and nondemented patients.

Some neurosteroids have been shown to display beneficial effects on neuroprotection in rodents. To investigate the physiopathological significance of neurosteroids in Alzheimer's disease (AD), we compared the concentrations of pregnenolone, pregnenolone sulfate (PREGS), dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), progesterone, and allopregnanolone, measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, in individual brain regions of AD patients and aged nondemented controls, including hippocampus, amygdala, frontal cortex, striatum, hypothalamus, and cerebellum. A general trend toward decreased levels of all steroids was observed in all AD patients' brain regions compared with controls: PREGS and DHEAS were significantly lower in the striatum and cerebellum, and DHEAS was also significantly reduced in the hypothalamus.

Evaluation of a new hands-up ergonomics for chest radiography in geriatric patients.

Rationale And Objectives: Pneumonia is the leading cause of death after the age of 85 years. Chest radiography (CXR) requires forced inspiration for accurate assessment, but kyphosis, denutrition, muscular weakness, and neurologic disorders limit active inspiration. The aim of this study was to evaluate a new passive expansion technique, by raising the patient's arms above the head, in the radiographic diagnosis of pneumonia.