Older donors and kidney transplantation

Reluctance to use kidneys from older donors (>50 years of age) is based on reports of inferior results. We reviewed our experience with 45 kidneys transplanted from older donors. Primary nonfunction, immediate graft function, and 1-, 2- and 3-year graft survival rates were similar to those obtained with kidneys transplanted from donors aged between 20 and 40 years. Renal function at 1 year (as measured by serum creatinine) was poorer in kidneys from older donors. No beneficial effect with respect to graft survival was noted with cyclosporin therapy compared to conventional immunosuppression; however, the numbers are small. We conclude that kidneys from older donors are a valuable source for transplantation.     

Angiodysplasia as the cause of massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage in a young adult

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to clarify the importance of bleeding vascular ectasia of the colon as the etiology of massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage in patients 40 years of age or younger. METHODS: An otherwise healthy 21-year-old male was admitted to a tertiary medical center with massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Technetium-labeled red blood cell scan, selective visceral angiography, and colonoscopy identified the source of bleeding as vascular abnormality of the descending colon. Segmental colonic resection was performed. RESULTS: Histologic review of the specimen demonstrated a vascular ectasia. The patient recovered uneventfully and has had no further stigmata of hemorrhage. A review of the literature was undertaken to make clear the significance of vascular ectasia as the source for massive colonic hemorrhage in the young adult. CONCLUSION: This is the first report that documents histologically a vascular ectasia as the source of massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage in an otherwise healthy patient less than 40 years of age. Vascular ectasia is an uncommon cause of lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the young adult.The Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Navy Department, Washington, DC, Clinical Investigation Program sponsored this report #84-16-1968-532, as required by HSETCINST 6000.41A. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, or the United States Government.     

The Treatment of Low Grade Cerebral Astrocytomas by Radiotherapy in Queensland

The records of 108 adult patients with supratentorial low grade astrocytoma presenting between 1/1/80 and 31/12/87 were examined for the following factors which might affect survival: patient age, extent of surgical resection, site of tumour, tumour grade, radiation field size and radiation dose. Univariate analysis showed that patient age, field size and radiation dose were significant prognostic factors, but with multivariate analysis only patient age and radiation field size were significant independent variables. It is possible that field size is a proxy variable for tumour size.     

Is neighbourhood deprivation a risk factor for gestational diabetes mellitus?

AIMS: To assess the relationship between neighbourhood deprivation and the rate of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) using routinely collected data from a clinical information system, in Plymouth, UK. METHODS: Between 1 January 1996 and 31 December 1997, 3933 women residing within the Plymouth Primary Care Trust (PCT) were screened for GDM using indices of neighbourhood deprivation and prevalence of GDM. Areas (n = 43) were classified according to the Townsend index, measuring material deprivation. Pregnant women with and without GDM were compared. RESULTS: The prevalence of GDM was 1.7%[95%, confidence interval (CI) 1.20, 2.11]. The prevalence of GDM ranged from 1.05% (95% CI 0.60, 1.70) in the most deprived to 2.10% (95%, CI 1.34, 3.13), in the least deprived neighbourhood. Crude rates decreased by 50%[relative prevalence (RP) (95% CI) 0.50 (0.27, 0.94); P = 0.06] amongst those living in the most-deprived compared with those living in the least-deprived areas. Using a stepwise binary logistic regression model, older age at delivery significantly increased the risk of developing GDM. [RP (95%, CI) 1.09, (1.04, 1.13)]. Townsend deprivation score had no significant independent association with GDM when other covariates were considered. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the neighbourhood context in which women live has no impact on the risk of GDM. Diabet.     

Age determines memory for face identity and expression

Background: The recognition of facial expressions is an important component of emotion processing which contributes to interactional behavior. One of the factors highly associated with potential decline of ability in behavioral tasks is age. Methods: We have investigated age‐related changes in facial identity and expression memory of healthy subjects in three age groups: young adults (20–40 years), elderly adults (60–80 years) and, for the first time in the literature, very old adults (over 80 years of age). Using a picture test, photographs of faces with happy or angry expressions were presented to study participants during the encoding task, and the memory for identity and emotional facial expression was investigated in a subsequent recognition task showing emotionally neutral faces. Half of the faces presented in the recognition task were initially shown in the encoding task. Results: Age interacted with the memory process: the ability to recognize both facial identity and emotional expression declined with advanced age. Happy facial expressions were better recognized in all age groups. Although there was a continuous overall decrease in recognition of both happy and angry expressions with advanced age, the effect favoring happy facial expressions was stable also in very old adults. Other factors such as gender or educational level did not affect the memory process for facial expressions. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that age is a significant determinant of memory for facial identity and emotional expression, and that, similar to younger adults, the recognition process of the elderly favors happy emotional facial expressions.     

老年护理院医院感染病原菌及其耐药特征分析

目的探讨目前老年护理医院院内感染病原菌及其耐药特征。方法对2000年4月-2004年3月徐汇区两家老年护理院出院病人的病史进行统计分析。结果两家老年护理院共计发生医院感染939例次，医院感染率12．86％，检出病原菌284株，阳性率30．28％；病原菌以革兰阴性菌为主，占44．65％，其次为真菌、革兰阳性菌，分别为29．12％、25．92％，位于前3位的病原菌分别为其他真菌（14．36％）、白色念珠菌（12．23％）、铜绿假单胞菌（8．69％）；除嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌外，革兰阴性菌以亚胺培南最敏感，敏感率87％，对氨苄西林、阿莫西林的耐药率〉51％，对头孢哌酮、哌拉西林的耐药率〉33％；MRSA和MRSE的检出率高达86．76％和76．32％；混合感染率34．51％。结论老年护理院医院感染率高．真菌所占的比例高；细菌对抗菌药物的耐药性相当严重。     

Normal obstetric ultrasound reduces the risk of Down syndrome in fetuses of older mothers

The objective of this study is to determine whether a normal fetal morphology ultrasound scan in women older than 35 years reduces the risk of aneuploidy. We reviewed the results of amniocentesis and second trimester sonogram in all women older than 35 years from 1991 to 1995. None had prior screening. We excluded fetuses with structural anomalies. We determined the sensitivity and specificity of minor markers in detecting Down syndrome and also determined the reduction in risk of a normal sonogram. Among the 2060 women older than 35 years giving birth during the study period, 16 (0.78%) delivered an infant with Down syndrome. Of the 16 fetuses, two had no prenatal testing or ultrasound, two had invasive testing but no second trimester sonogram, five had a normal sonogram and seven had one or more sonographic markers of Down syndrome. At least 17% of women older than 35 years did not participate in prenatal testing or ultrasound. Ultrasound detected Down syndrome with a sensitivity of 59% (95% confidence interval: 45–72%), a false‐positive rate of 10.6% (9.4–11.8%) and a positive predictor value of 1 in 9. The likelihood of having normal karyotype if the sonogram was normal was 0.46 (0.31–0.61). In women older than 35 years, a normal second trimester sonogram reduces the risk of Down syndrome by more than 50%. At least 17% of women older than 35 years do not participate in prenatal testing or ultrasound.     

急性脑梗死88例临床分析

[背景 ]比较分析 88例不同年龄组急性脑梗死患者的病因、症状、体征及头部CT所见 .[病例报告 ]将 88例急性脑梗死患者分为老年组和非老年组 ,对发病因素、症状、体征和头部CT特点进行对比分析 ,发病因素中有高血压者占 6 4 % ,心脏病者占 2 3% ,糖尿病者占 2 5 % ,有短暂性脑缺血发作病史者占 30 % ,高脂血症者占 4 5 % ,吸烟者占 5 2 % ,有家族史者占 33% .非老年组中初发者多见 ,有头痛、头晕及偏身感觉障碍等症状者比老年组多见 ,而偏瘫、四肢瘫、构音障碍及意识障碍者则老年组多见 .头部CT示单梗塞灶者在非老年组多见 ,多梗塞灶、脑白质脱髓鞘及脑萎缩者在老年组多见 .[讨论 ]脑梗死病人因年龄不同 ,其发病因素、临床表现及头部CT所见有所不同     

宜昌市20年结肠镜检查大肠癌患病率回顾性分析

目的探讨该市大肠癌流行病学和临床特点。方法以所有结肠镜受检对象为研究群体,对大肠癌患病率、大肠癌患者性别、年龄、肿瘤部位进行统计分析;比较大肠癌临床症状与大肠癌患者年龄、肿瘤发生部位的关系。结果自1980年以来,大肠癌年度患病率呈非线性缓慢上升,男性大肠癌患病率7.1%;女性大肠癌患病率5.5%;在3个年限段(80年代、90年代和21世纪5年)大肠癌中位患病年龄分别为男53.5、56.7和59.0岁;女51.9、53.7和55.2岁。986例大肠癌中直肠癌691例,乙状结肠癌82例,降结肠癌18例,脾曲癌4例,横结肠癌37例,肝曲癌30例,升结肠、回盲部癌79例,大肠多发性癌45例。临床症状以便血为主,其次为腹痛、腹部包块和肠梗阻发生率较低,半数以上患者有不同程度贫血。结论该市大肠癌患病率和中位发病年龄呈缓慢上升,低于国内大肠癌高发区。大肠癌肿瘤发生部位有近移和多发趋势。便血是直肠癌主要症状,中老年患者便血发生率高于青年患者,但腹痛发生率低于青年患者。