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Biomedical subjects

A N Exton-Smith

Publications and source records attributed to A N Exton-Smith.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Urban hypothermia: preferred temperature and thermal perception in old age.

A study of 17 elderly men and 13 young adults of similar body build and wearing equivalent clothing insulation (0.8 clo) showed that when given control over their environment the elderly preferred the same mean comfort temperature (22-23 degrees C) but manipulated ambient temperature much less precisely than the young. Slow adjustment of ambient temperature was related to some cases to a higher temperature-discrimination threshold. These findings suggest that both physiological and behavioural changes contribute to the increased vulnerability of old people in cold conditions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Functional changes in autonomic nervous responses with ageing.

The effects of ageing on autonomic nervous responses have been investigated in 29 young adults, 64 healthy elderly in the age range 66 to 86 years, and 20 elderly in-patients with hypothermia, instability of bladder function or marked orthostatic hypotension. In the healthy elderly group, the beat-to-beat variation in response to postural change was significantly diminished, the vasoconstrictor response to cooling reduced and baroreflex sensitivity during lower-body negative pressure was decreased compared with young adults. Patients with an atronic bladder, determined by urodynamic tests, showed an even more marked decrease in baroreflex sensitivity. The multisystem nature of these autonomic disturbances suggests that physiological impairment may occur in autonomic neural pathways with ageing.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Hypothermia.

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Adult↗
PubMed1979

Glucose tolerance, plasma insulin levels and insulin sensitivity in elderly patients.

The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the intravenous glucose tolerance test (ivGTT) were carried out in 23 elderly patients (mean age 79 years) and in 14 healthy young adults (mean age 28 years). The ivGTT was followed immediately by a second injection of glucose, this time with insulin added. The percentage rate constants for the disappearance of glucose alone (KG, % min-1) or with added insulin (KG+I, % min-1) were calculated. Seventeen of the elderly patients had a blood glucose value at 120 min in the OGTT greater than or equal to 7.7 mmol/1 (140 mg/100 ml) or had KG less than or equal to 1% min-1 and 13 were 'diabetic' by both criteria. This was associated with a sluggish pattern of insulin release and with diminished insulin sensitivity (KG+I). Since these changes could reflect impaired inhibition of hepatic glucose output, a preliminary attempt was made to assess gluconeogenic capacity. After the injection of substrate levels of L-alanine, plasma levels of glucose and alanine both rose but fell more slowly in the elderly than in young adults, suggesting impaired transmembrane transport of both substances in old people. After injection of alanine, plasma insulin rose to a lesser extent and glucagon to a greater extent in the elderly than in young adults.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Osteomalacia.

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Aged↗
PubMed1978

Fracture of the femur in old age: A two-centre study of associated clinical factors and the cause of the fall.

All patients with fractured neck of the femur admitted to hospitals in two areas (North London and Manchester) in a period of one year have been examined--a total of 384 patients. Compared to control groups of similar age, the older fracture patients showed a higher prevalence of chronic brain syndrome, they were in poorer physical state and their skinfold thickness was less. They also had more unrecognized visual disorders. Those who were younger had a higher prevalence of stroke than comparable controls. The type of fall leading to the fracture varied with age--tripping was the commonest cause in the younger patients the 'drop attacks' in the older. Both stroke and partial sightedness were associated with falls due to loss of balance. The older patients had a very high prevalence of pyramidal tract abnormality associated with chronic brain syndrome--and it appears that these demented patients fall not because of mental confusion but because of associated motor abnormalities. Extra-capsular fractures occur in older patients. They are more likely to have a history of falls but previous fracture is equally common at this age in the fracture and control series.

Accidents↗