Low levels of essential fatty acids are related to impaired delayed skin hypersensitivity in malnourished chronically ill elderly people

Abstract Essential fatty acid (FA) deficiency, which may accompany protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), has been associated with impaired inflammatory reactions. We evaluated this relationship by analysing FA profiles and delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity in 20 malnourished elderly non-cancer patients and in 20 age-matched control patients. As indicated by serum cholesterol and serum triglycerides, the lipid levels were decreased by about one-third in the subjects with PEM. In comparison with the controls, there was a reduction in the ω 3 FA (e.g. eicosapentanoate) in total serum lipids (mgl^-1) and serum phospholipids (%) of 40% and 47%, respectively. Reductions in serum ω 6 FA (e.g. linoleate and arachidonate) levels corresponded to the drop in total FA concentrations (30%). The cutaneous hypersensitivity was impaired in 14 of the malnourished patients. The magnitude of the skin reaction was positively correlated ( P < 0·05) to the concentrations of eicosapentanoate in serum lipids and serum phospholipids, as well as to the linoleate concentration in total serum lipids. Six of the malnourished patients took part in a nutritional intervention programme for 3 months. In parallel with an improvement in the nutritional status there was a 35% increase ( P < 0·05) in the total ω 3 FA serum concentration. Negative skin tests became positive and the median skin induration enlarged threefold ( P < 0·05). Thus, deficiency of ω 3 FA might be one factor contributing to cutaneous anergy in elderly malnourished patients.     

Dietary intake in the elderly estimated by a 24 hour recall and a food frequency questionnaire

Two hundred and thirty-five tenants living in sheltered housing in Scotland were surveyed to identify the extent of under-nutrition and the social factors which contribute to its development. A validated 24 h recall and the nutrient checklist published by NAGE were used to evaluate patterns of dietary intake. A questionnaire was developed which included scales designed to measure depression, social engagement, cognitive function, mobility and functional ability. The results show considerable evidence of a number of major nutrients in which there were low intakes. In order to express the extent of poor nutrition, a nutrient score was developed where points are awarded based on the number of nutrients falling below the Lower Reference Nutrient Intake, the Estimated Average Requirement or below half the daily Estimated Average Requirement.     

28例青年人胃癌的临床及病理分析

对２８例青年人胃癌的临床及病理分析结果表明，其发病具有症状隐匿、病程短、进展快的特点，本组病例从出现症状到漏诊在６个月内为５７．１％（１６例），首发症状以上腹部疼痛、吐血、黑便多见，病理特征以结节蕈伞型、高分化腺癌多见。     

Promoting autonomy and independence for older people within nursing practice: a literature review

The principles of promoting autonomy and independence underpin many approaches to improving the quality of nursing care for older people in whatever setting, and are in line with wider developments in health care such as the Patient's Charter. However, these concepts require careful definition if nursing practices which might promote autonomy and independence are to be identified. Although the generalizability of the research-based literature in this field is limited by a focus upon older people in continuing-care settings, a review of the literature found a number of indicators associated with attempts to promote patient autonomy and independence. These were grouped into the following categories: systems of care delivery which promote comprehensive individualized assessment and multidisciplinary care planning; attempts to encourage patients/clients to participate in decisions about their care; patterns of communication which avoid exerting power and control over patients/clients and attempts to modify the environment to promote independence and minimize risk. It is suggested that the review identifies a number of principles for nursing practice which can be applied in a range of care settings in order to promote the autonomy and independence of older people.     

‘You have to learn to live with it’: a qualitative and quantitative study of older people with asthma

Introduction: Asthma mortality has declined overall because of a range of public health initiatives. In western countries, the majority of asthma deaths now occur in people over the age of 50. The reasons for the poorer response of older age groups to public health asthma initiatives are not known. Objectives: We undertook a study to investigate the disease perspectives of older people with asthma and barriers which may exist and prevent optimal asthma care. Methods: Fifty‐five participants (16 male and 39 female) aged over 50 from an inner city, suburban area and a rural region were recruited. Lung function was measured, and questionnaire data on asthma symptoms, knowledge and control, medication use and respiratory health were collected. Participants were also interviewed in‐depth, and the quantitative and qualitative data were triangulated. Results: Participants with a duration of asthma for >30 years reported significantly fewer symptoms and better quality of life irrespective of asthma severity, indicating less appreciation of symptoms in those with a long asthma duration. Interviews revealed this was related to previous asthma management strategies when treatment options were limited. Participants with a recent diagnosis sought understanding of asthma and the reason for their illness. Initiatives to improve asthma care in older people need to reflect these findings. Conclusions: Self‐management strategies for older people need to be tailored according to the time of disease onset and the duration of disease. Please cite this paper as: Goeman DP, O’Hehir RE, Jenkins C, Scharf SL and Douglass JA. ‘You have to learn to live with it’: a qualitative and quantitative study of older people with asthma. The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2007; 1:99–105.     

肿瘤高危人群的流式细胞术、内窥镜和病理检查的对比研究

本文对上消化道肿瘤高发区经初筛的１２０例高危人群粘膜组织做了流式细胞ＤＮＡ含量、内窥镜和组织病理学检查的对比研究。其结果显示的肿瘤阳性检出率分别为２７．５％、６．７％和１４．０％。对内窥镜诊断为不同胃疾病患者的流式细胞术分析发现，流式细胞术阳性检出率，胃癌组为７５．０％，萎缩性胃炎组为２８．３％，浅表性胃炎组为７．１％，正常粘膜组为０％。ＤＩ值均值，炎症组（萎缩性胃炎和浅表性胃炎）患者与正常对照组接近，而癌组则明显升高。增殖指数和Ｓ期细胞比例，从正常对照→浅表性胃炎→萎缩性胃炎→胃癌组，呈递增变化，而且各组间有显著差异。     

Destination after discharge from a senile dementia therapy ward before and after the implementation of long-term care insurance in Japan

Background: In Japan a new long‐term care insurance (LTCI) system, the so‐called ‘Kaigo‐Hoken’, was started in April 2000. The present study analyzes the change in the type of destination after discharge from a senile dementia therapy ward before and after the implementation of LTCI at Fukuoka Prefectural Onga Hospital, Japan. Methods: The present study examines data from 199 inpatients discharged from the Fukuoka Prefectural Onga Hospital that had been diagnosed with dementia and met the DSM IV criteria for Alzheimer's type, vascular dementia or other type of dementia. For the purposes of comparison two periods were defined, ‘the first period’ was defined as the period from 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000, before LTCI was implemented, while ‘the second period’ was defined as the period from 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001, after LTCI had started. Subject data was analyzed on the basis of where the subject had resided pre‐admission and their destination after discharge using the following classifications: nursing home or geriatric care facility, hospitalization, home and death. Results: While the certification rate of inpatients regarding long‐term care increased slightly in the second period, no significant change was observed based on where the subject had resided pre‐admission and their destination after discharge between the first and second periods. Conclusions: While LTCI is essential for Japan, it is necessary that people with dementia in senile dementia therapy wards are encouraged to return to their homes under the care and support of LTCI.     

青年人大肠癌误诊原因探讨

目的 探讨青年人大肠癌的误诊原因，以便早期诊断治疗。方法 回顾性分析62例青年人大肠癌的诊断及其治疗效果。结果 本组直肠癌36例中被误诊为结肠炎7例，痔疮并出血5例，痢疾3例，肛周脓肿并肛瘘2例；结肠癌26例中被误诊为阑尾周围脓肿3例，结肠炎2例，缺铁性贫血1例。误诊率37．1％。结论 青年人大肠癌早期临床症状不明显，恶性程度高，预后差,其治疗水平有赖于对这些特征的认识，力争早期诊断及治疗。     

'Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted'– towards a critical exploration of modes of satisfaction measurement in sheltered housing

This paper reflects on a research project funded by a consortium of leading sheltered housing (SH) providers and their regulatory body, the Housing Corporation. The project aimed to ascertain which aspects of SH older people perceived to be central to their satisfaction and the methods they judged most appropriate to measuring this. We outline key policy developments of importance to SH (specifically the development of performance measurement regimes), and changes in the nature of SH, which are driving providers to re‐evaluate how they measure user satisfaction. We discuss the aims of the project, our methodology and findings, and conclude by raising critical questions about the process of measuring satisfaction within an increasingly managerialised housing system. We argue that this favours standardised methods of information gathering (such as questionnaires) rather than engage with clients in order to develop methods and systems capable of eliciting qualitative issues of concern to them. Our conclusions are, we believe, applicable to health and social care provision, where similar tensions exist around performance measurement and user satisfaction.     

程序化营养管理对老年腹膜透析患者营养状态的影响

Objective To investigate the role of programmed nutrition management on nutrition status of old patients accepting dialysis via peritoneum.Methods 76 cases of old patients accepting dialysis via peritoneum were subjected to six-month programmed nutrition management.And changes on the subjective global assessment (SGA) and biochemical examination scores were compared in the patients before the management and after the management.Results The differences on the SGA and biochemical examination scores before and after the pragrammed nutrition management had a statiseal meanings (P＜0.01).Conclusions Programmed nutrition management can effectively improve the nutrition condition of old patients accepting dialysis via peritoneum.