Sevgi Aras

Effects of garlic consumption on plasma and erythrocyte antioxidant parameters in elderly subjects.

Background: The oxidative stress theory of aging is one of the most widely acknowledged theories of aging. The intake of fruits and vegetables with antioxidant power is associated with a reduced incidence of many chronic diseases of aging. Objective: The effects of ingesting garlic on plasma and erythrocyte antioxidant parameters of elderly subjects were investigated in this study. Methods: 13 subjects (mean age 70.69 ± 4.23) participated in the study. They ingested garlic at the daily dose of 0.1 g/kg b.w. for 1 month. Before and after this period, fasting blood samples were obtained, and oxidant [malondialdehyde (MDA) and xanthine oxidase (XO)] and antioxidant [superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT)] parameters were studied in erythrocytes, and MDA levels were studied in plasma samples obtained from the subjects. Routine blood biochemical parameters were also measured in blood samples. Results: In the plasma fraction and erythrocyte hemolysate, MDA levels were found to be significantly lower, but erythrocyte GSH-Px and SOD activities were significantly higher in the second samples relative to the first ones. XO activity was found to be lower in the second samples, but this decrease was not statistically meaningful. LDL cholesterol was found to be significantly lower in the second samples relative to the first ones. Conclusion: Our results show that ingestion of garlic leads to significantly lowered plasma and erythrocyte MDA levels and to increased activities of some antioxidant enzymes, which indicates that consumption of garlic decreases oxidation reactions. It is quite possible that reduced peroxidation processes due to garlic consumption may play a part in some of the beneficial effects of garlic in elderly subjects.

Renal Doppler ultrasonographic findings in earthquake victims with crush injury.

In the Marmara earthquake, which occurred on August 17, 1999, 639 people had renal complications, and 477 needed hemodialysis treatment because of acute renal failure due to crush injury. Our objective was to use Doppler ultrasonography as a noninvasive procedure to provide renal hemodynamic information.

Sarcopenia prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in older people living in a nursing home in Ankara Turkey

Sarcopenia is prevalent in older people, and is related to survival and disability. There are no data on sarcopenia evaluated according to European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria for nursing home residents in Turkey. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of sarcopenia according to European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria and associated factors with sarcopenia among nursing home residents in Turkey.

Effect of radioiodine therapy on thyroid nodule size and function in patients with toxic adenomas.

BackgroundAutonomously functioning toxic adenomas are a common cause of hyperthyroidism. Although 131I seems to be a good therapeutic option with little postablative hypothyroidism for these patients, only a small number of recent studies have objectively evaluated changes in nodule size by ultrasonography following radioiodine therapy. MethodsWe prospectively followed 39 patients with a mean age of 51.2 (35–75) years for 12 months and the patients who remained toxic thereafter, until euthyroidism was provided. Thyroid function tests, sonographic volumes were determined initially and 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment. Radioiodine doses of 3.7 MBq·g−1 thyroid tissue corrected to a 100% 24 h 131I uptake were given. Thirty patients received a single dose, two required two doses and three required three to five doses of 131I due to persistent thyrotoxicosis. Sonographic volumes of the diffuse parts of the glands decreased significantly by 18% from a mean±SD value of 50±27.6 ml to 41±27.4 ml by the end of the 12 months. A significant decrease (8.3%, P=0.002) was achieved in the first three months. Toxic adenomas decreased in size more efficiently (54%) from a mean of 26±24 ml to 12±10 ml during 12 months, but also most significantly (28.8%, P=0.003) in the first 3 months of the follow-up. Thirty of the patients (76.9%) became euthyroid at the end of 12 months of follow-up. Four patients (10.3%) became overtly hypothyroid during the follow-up. ConclusionSingle or multiple doses of radioiodine can successfully treat toxic adenomas with a low rate of hypothyroidism and considerable nodule-volume reduction.

Comparison of different glomerular filtration methods in the elderly: which formula provides better estimates?

Objectives: Technetium-99m diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (99mTc-DTPA) is an ideal radioisotopic method having a high correlation with inulin clearance for the determination of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Different formulas like creatinine clearance (CrCl) in 24 h urine samples, Cockroft–Gault formula (CGF), and modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) are being used to come up with an estimate. In this study, we compared 99mTc-DTPA with the formulas mentioned above in an attempt to best identify the method that would yield the nearly ideal GFR estimates in the elderly. Materials and methods: In 76 patients who were admitted to our clinic, we measured 24 h urine volume (V), urine creatinine (Ucr), and serum creatinine (Scr) levels together with CrCl, Scr, serum urea (Su), and albumin (Alb) levels. By using coefficients identified for age, gender, and race, we calculated modification of diet in renal disease 1 (MDRD1). Different from MDRD1, we calculated modification of diet in renal disease 2 (MDRD2) that does not include Su and Alb parameters and formulas like CGF that include Scr, age, gender, and weight parameters to come up with GFR levels. All patients underwent 99mTc-DTPA procedure. Results: The mean of the GFR values measured by 99mTc-DTPA was 54.3 ± 19.9. The means of GFR values calculated by CrCl, MDRD1, MDRD2, and CGF were 58.0 ± 30.5, 60.9 ± 22.1, 54.4 ± 20.1, and 57.9 ± 22.4, respectively. GFR as measured by 99mTc-DTPA showed statistically significant correlations with the results of other methods (p < 0.001 for all methods). The most significant correlation was with MDRD1. Conclusion: MDRD1 can be used for next to ideal and accurate predictions of GFR in the elderly in the daily practice.

Effects of weight loss on ventricular systolic and diastolic functions and left ventricular mass assessed by tissue doppler imaging in obese geriatric women: preliminary report

Background and aims: Obesity is one of the most common diseases in the world. Particularly in elderly subjects, the effects of weight loss on cardiac functions have not been previously investigated by means of pulsed wave tissue doppler imaging (PWTDI). Using PWTDI, we examined the effects of weight loss on cardiac functions and left ventricular (LV) mass in obese geriatric women. Methods: Thirteen obese women aged 66–83 years (mean age 71.2±4.9 yrs) with a body mass index 35.&49 kg/m2 (mean body mass index 39.9±4.3 kg/m2) were evaluated by echocardiography and PWTDI. Only subjects with uncomplicated obesity were included. All measurements, including anthropometric variables, systolic and diastolic indices, and LV mass, were made before and after a 6-month Orlistat plus hypocaloric diet. Myocardial systolic wave (Sm) velocity, isovolumic acceleration (IVA), myocardial precontraction time (PCTm) and the PCTm to contraction time (CTm) ratio were calculated as systolic indices. Early diastolic wave (Em), late diastolic wave (Am), Em to Am ratio, myocardial relaxation time (RTm), deceleration time (DT) and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) were determined as diastolic measurements. Results: Subjects lost an average of 8.4±1.2 kg. LV mass decreased significantly after weight loss (p<0.001). In addition, IVRT decreased significantly (p=0.038). Only RTm decreased significantly (p=0.016), whereas other PWTDI parameters of LV remained the same. In the right ventricle, Sm velocity, IVA, Em, and Am velocities were similar. However, the PCTm to Am ratio decreased significantly (p=0.006), and the Em to Am ratio increased (p=0.04) and RTm decreased significantly (p=0.016) after weight loss. Conclusions: In obese geriatric women, weight loss improves ventricular diastolic functions and decreases LV mass. It also contributes to partial improvement in right ventricular systolic function.

Sarcopenia and mortality in older people living in a nursing home in Turkey

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between mortality and sarcopenia defined by the criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People in older nursing home residents in Turkey.

Evaluation of Cardiac Autonomic Functions in Older Parkinson’s Disease Patients: a Cross-Sectional Study

In Parkinsons disease (PD), non-motor symptoms may occur such as autonomic dysfunction. We aimed to evaluate both parasympathetic and sympathetic cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in older PD cases. 84 PD cases and 58 controls, for a total of 142, participated in the study. Parasympathetic tests were performed using electrocardiography. Sympathetic tests were assessed by blood pressure measurement and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement. The prevalence of orthostatic hypotension in PD patients was 40.5% in PD patients and 24.1% in the control group (p> 0.05). The prevalence of postprandial hypotension was 47.9% in the PD group and 27.5% in the controls (p <0.05). The prevalence of impairment in heart rate response to deep breathing was 26.2% in the PD group and 6.9% in the control group (p <0.05). The prevalence of postprandial hypotension in PD with orthostatic hypotension was 94% and 16% in PD patients without orthostatic hypotension (p <0.05). The prevalence of impairment in heart rate response to deep breathing was 52.9% in PD patients with orthostatic hypotension and 8% in PD cases without orthostatic hypotension (p<0.05). The prevalence of impairment in heart rate response to postural change was 41% in PD cases with orthostatic hypotension and 12% in PD cases without orthostatic hypotension (p <0.05).Although there are tests for assessing cardiovascular autonomic function that are more reliable, they are more complicated, and evaluation of orthostatic hypotension by blood pressure measurement and cardiac autonomic tests by electrocardiography are recommended since these tests are cheap and easy.

A Rare Case of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in an Elderly Man

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Plasma Viscosity: Is a Biomarker for the Differential Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Dementia?

In this study, the importance of plasma viscosity (PV) as a biomarker in differential diagnosis of dementia subtypes especially Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) was investigated. Our study recruited 45 patients with AD, 35 patients with VaD, and control participants. Individuals with inflammatory disease, infection, heart, liver, renal failure, and with high erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels were excluded from the study. The cases underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment. The PV measurements were performed with Brookfield DV-II viscometer. The PV measurements of AD, VaD, and control groups were 1.61 ± 0.08, 1.70 ± 0.06, and 1.48 ± 0.06 mPa S, respectively. The PV levels of the dementia group were significantly higher than the control group (P < .001). When the dementia group was analyzed by itself, patients with VaD had higher PV levels than the patients with AD (P < .001). The PV is a biomarker to be used in diagnosis as well as in differentiating between the 2 most common forms of dementia which are AD and VaD.