Zeitschrift fur Alternsforschung最新文献

In a new book of W. Frolkis and co-workers there is emphasized the dependence of aging processes on the cell functions. Besides always demonstrable universal mechanisms each kind of cell shows its specific aging in dependence on its function. This is the case in different tissues and organs too. We show that in muscle tissues, in the comparison of the kidney with the submaxillary gland and in the appearance of collagen type I and III in the anterior and middle part of the human vocal cord.

Entering the age of retirement means a threshold situation affecting various relations in the living-conditions, medical provision not excluded. Based upon the WHO-authorizised concept of classification of impairments, disabilities and handicaps (ICIDH), disability status was checked up in 62 male and 113 female at the age of 65 respectively 60 years, the trial forming the respondents rate out of a population total of 179 persons reaching the age of retirement within a one year's space at a district town in the north part of GDR. Medical provision in this context was analysed.

The ischaemic cerebral attack is a disease prevailingly of older age. Its prognosis is distinguished by a mortality rate as high as ever. From 1975 to 1985, 520 patients with ischaemic cerebral attack have been treated in hospital, with specific acute therapy changing from the so-called vasodilator therapy via osmotherapy into haemodilution therapy with lowmolecular dextrane. Since during vasodilator therapy any early mobilisation nor continuous physiotherapy were carried out and the patients prevailingly died of bronchopneumonia, the significantly lower mortality rate under osmotherapy and haemodilution therapy cannot be attributed to the specific drug therapy. In all probability it is a result of the improvement of care and of the active early mobilisation of the patients.

The elderly chronic ischemic heart disease (IHK) patients with cardiac failure show a higher activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system compared to the younger patients. It was noted functional activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system increases with a progress of the disease (decompensation). Changes occur not only in the basal level of plasma reninactivity and circulating aldosterone concentration, but also the 24 hour rhythm to the side of an increased hormonal level during the evening hours, evidencing thus for disadaption of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and its decreased reliability under conditions of habitual life activity. Administration of the converting enzyme inhibitor, Captopril, has confirmed a pathogenetic role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in the development of cardiac failure syndrome in the chronic IHK patients as well as verified a new approach in the treatment of this pathology.

The author casts a retrospective glance on move recent results of research, which shook unbalanced structure of the construction of "mental retardation". He discusses some problems of rehabilitation of mentally retarded people in nursing homes (several years of hospitalisation, different degrees of impairment, scarce contacts to networks outside nursing homes). He comprises the pros and cons of popular ideology of rehabilitation and goes into details of social support of mentally retarded people. The author recapitulates, that work with mentally retarded people finds itself in an unbalanced situation between obstructive (complex care with conventional methods) and advanced forces (as to the rehabilitation of the education of patients).

As shown by the results of the investigation, there is a moderate rise in renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activity in the elderly patients suffering from chronic IHK under normal conditions of life: basal level, changes in plasma renin activity and circulating aldosterone concentration during a 24-hour period and in response to the orthostasis. Considerable disturbances of the functional state of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system are seen with a physical load of the submaximal intensity. The data obtained indicate pathogenetic significance of the above changes which should be taken into consideration while prescribing therapy of such patients.

As an inter-branch research and working field of modern medicine, gerontology has to satisfy health-political requirements to a growing extent. Related to the specific subject of the investigation of aging and its biosocial character, this requires a view of human aging and being old that exceeds the limits of the medico-naturalscintific conceptions. Any analysis of phenomena of aging in later periods of life has to deal with the individual and his/her social environment-two interacting and dynamically changing parts of a global system. Associated therewith is the previously insufficiently solved problem of the clear determination of the "social", of the "social factors". Following already existing approaches, a possible systematization of the conglomerate of social factors is introduced and consequences concerning research and practice are pointed out.

104 chronically ill patients of an average age of 82.7 years were accommodated on geriatric wards of hospitals totaling 152 times during vacation, stay at a health resort, or illness of their attending relatives. On average, they stayed in hospital for 3 to 4 weeks. Main diagnoses were cerebrovascular circulatory disturbances or condition after insultus, chronic ischaemic heart disease, and tumor diseases. The morbidity rate during that stay was 9.2%, the mortality rate 6.8%. In 8 out of 10 cases the immediate cause of death was directly causally associated with the primary disease. Any severe nosocomial infections did not occur. The authors consider the risk of the temporary hospitalization of people in need of care for the temporary relief of their relatives, with regard to the patient's age and primary diseases, as justifiable.