The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Feb 2008
Chemokines are associated with delirium after cardiac surgery.
Delirium has been hypothesized to be a central nervous system response to systemic inflammation during a state of blood-brain barrier compromise. The purpose of this study was to compare postoperative changes in groups of inflammatory markers in persons who developed delirium following cardiac surgery and matched controls without delirium. ⋯ After cardiac surgery, chemokine levels were elevated in patients who developed delirium in the early postoperative period. Because chemokines are capable of disrupting blood-brain barrier integrity in vitro, future studies are needed to define the relationship of these inflammatory mediators to delirium pathogenesis.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Jan 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialMulticomponent geriatric intervention for elderly inpatients with delirium: effects on costs and health-related quality of life.
The detrimental effects of delirium on functioning and mortality are well known, but health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and costs of care have rarely been investigated among patients with delirium. We studied the effects of multicomponent geriatric treatment on costs of care and HRQoL in delirious inpatients. ⋯ Comprehensive geriatric intervention improved HRQoL without increasing overall costs of care.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Dec 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialEffectiveness of a community-based multifactorial intervention on falls and fall risk factors in community-living older adults: a randomized, controlled trial.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-month community-based intervention on falls and risk factors (balance, lower extremity strength, and mobility) in community-living older adults. ⋯ A community-based multifaceted intervention was effective in improving balance, mobility, and leg strength, all known fall risk factors. Although the incidence of falls was lower, the confidence interval included the possibility of no intervention effect on falls.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Nov 2007
Age-related differences in the force generation capabilities and tendon extensibilities of knee extensors and plantar flexors in men.
Recently, the number of elderly individuals who participate in sports has increased, thus injuries from overuse are now becoming recognized in the elderly population. Therefore, it is important to determine which muscle groups and tendons are most affected with aging to plan appropriate exercise interventions for elderly individuals. In particular, muscles and tendons in knee extensors and plantar flexors play an important role during locomotion. The purpose of this study was to compare the knee extensor and plantar flexor muscles and tendons. ⋯ These results suggest that the age-related weakness in knee extensors may be attributed to muscle atrophy, whereas that in plantar flexors is not, and that elderly persons have less extensible tendon structures in both sites.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Nov 2007
Delirium superimposed on dementia predicts 12-month survival in elderly patients discharged from a postacute rehabilitation facility.
Delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD) is highly prevalent and associated with high mortality among hospitalized elderly patients, yet little is known about the effect of DSD on midterm mortality. The purpose of this study was to assess 12-month survival in patients with DSD and matched groups with dementia alone, delirium alone, or neither delirium nor dementia. ⋯ Demented patients who experienced delirium during hospitalization had a more than twofold increased risk of mortality in the 12 months following discharge than did patients with dementia alone, with delirium alone, or with neither dementia nor delirium.