Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Stessman

Publications and source records attributed to J Stessman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

The nutritional status of 70 year olds in Jerusalem.

Inadequate nutrition is a major problem of elderly people today, a rapidly growing segment of western societies. Yet information on the nutritional state of the elderly in the community is much needed. We surveyed the nutritional status of a cohort of 70 year olds living in western Jerusalem. A total of 605 persons were interviewed in their home regarding socioeconomic variables, education, self-assessed global health status, use of medicines, and activities of daily living (ADL). In the second stage, a subsample of 463 of the above attended an outpatient geriatric clinic where a medical history was taken and a physical examination, a cognitive test, a psychological profile, blood and urine tests, electrocardiogram, pulmonary function tests, and grip strength measurement performed. Most of the sample population lived at home. Twelve percent reported having severe financial problems. Approximately 14% exhibited some cognitive problems, 83% were totally independent in ADL, and only 15% were housebound with 2.5% being bedbound. Body mass index (BMI) of < 19 kg/m2 was found in 1.1% of the population, while obesity, defined as a BMI > 30 kg/m2, was found in 13.5% of males and 28.6% of females. Polypharmacy was prevalent. A quarter of the study population were taking three or more prescription drugs. Serum triglycerides were below the normal limit in 7.3% of males and 4.7% of females, while total serum cholesterol concentrations were low in 13.9% and 4.7% of males and females respectively. Serum albumin was found below the lower limit of normal (35 g/l) in 16.9% of females and 11.4% of males. The significance of these results, their relation to other nutritional surveys, and their implications for the future are discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1996

Characteristics of falls in 70 year olds in Jerusalem.

Falling is a serious and common problem among the elderly and may result in injury and functional deterioration. The characteristics and risk factors for falling were studied in a cross-sectional study of a cohort of 70-year-old community-dwelling Jewish elderly in Jerusalem. The cohort was found to be representative of the total 70-year-old population of Jerusalem by virtue of having similar hospitalization and mortality rates. Around 28.2% of the cohort reported falling during the past year. Women were more likely than men to have fallen during the past year (39 vs. 19%; P < 0.001). Falls occurred mainly outside of the home, resulting in fractures in 8.4% of persons who fell, all of them women. A female gender, low visual efficiency, poor self-reported general health status, low serum hemoglobin levels, and low lymphocyte counts were associated with a higher incidence of falls. There was no relationship between the pattern of pharmaceutic drug use or utilization of health care services and the risk of falling. We conclude that among the younger elderly, characteristics of falls and risk factors may be different from those in the older elderly.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1996

Hypertension in the Jerusalem 70 year olds study population: prevalence, awareness, treatment and control.

As part of the Jerusalem 70 year olds study, we evaluated the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension (blood pressure > or = 160 mm Hg systolic and/or > or = 95 mm Hg diastolic, or current treatment with prescribed antihypertensive medications). The study cohort consisted of 448 participants, 224 of whom had hypertension. Relative to other populations, awareness was high (87%). Although the treatment rate was also relatively high (86%), the control rate was only 43%. Untreated isolated systolic hypertension was uncommon (5%), as was orthostatic hypotension (6.9%). Thus, despite a remarkable degree of awareness and treatment rate of hypertension, control levels were disappointingly low. This finding, if confirmed, requires further elucidation.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

The Jerusalem 70 year olds longitudinal study: gastrointestinal findings.

The objective of this part of the first cross-section of the longitudinal study of a cohort of 70 year olds in Jerusalem was to survey the gastrointestinal symptoms and signs of this heterogeneous population and thus contribute to the knowledge of the development of gastrointestinal diseases in this age group. A total of 605 persons replied to a home-visit questionnaire gathering data on socioeconomic and migration variables. Later on, 463 of these attended an examination at the Geriatric Research Institute where an in-depth anamnesis and physical examination were conducted. A battery of biochemical and hematologic blood tests were performed as well as urine analysis, ECG, and pulmonary function tests. At 3 year follow-up, the interviewed subjects, subjects examined in the hospital, and the control group consisting of 70 year olds who were not examined, were compared. By the measures of disease-specific mortality and hospital morbidity, the three groups were found to be similar, demonstrating that the sample population does represent the total Jerusalem 70-year-old population. This paper describes the symptoms, signs and laboratory results of the gastrointestinal part of this study. Up to a third of the subjects complained of upper gastrointestinal symptoms, most prominent of which was heartburn. Almost 10% of subjects complained of abdominal pain occurring at least once a week, but less than 1% noted left lower quadrant pain. There was a direct association between upper abdominal pain and symptoms of ischemic heart disease. The second part of this study, which began in 1996, will provide additional information regarding the natural history of these complaints.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Determinants of loneliness in Jerusalem's 70-year-old population.

This study aims to find the determinants of feelings of loneliness in 70 year olds living in Jerusalem. Results based on home interviews (n = 605) of a 40% systematic sample of 70 year olds in the electoral register showed that around 46.3% of females and 21.3% of males reported being lonely. Persons of European/North American origin felt less lonely than those of Asian or African origin, probably due to the former's wider social support network, perceiving friends, neighbors or other relatives as being available to back up children in an emergency. The major factors associated with loneliness were: being depressed, having a poor self-assessed health status, not attending synagogue, and being widowed but not remarried. Factors that did not reduce loneliness included having paid employment, watching TV or listening to the radio. No association was found between cognitive status and loneliness. Our systems model suggests a strong reciprocal relationship between loneliness and depression.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Factors predicting emergency room utilization in a 70-year-old population.

Emergency room (ER) utilization in a representative sample (n = 605) of 70-year-old Jerusalem residents was investigated using multiple and logistic regression techniques. Around 23% of the study population visited an ER during the pre-interview year. Problems associated with ER use were heart diseases (mainly ischemic), asthma, renal disorders, psychiatric problems, headaches, and nocturia. Also associated with increased ER use were prior hospital admissions, taking sleeping pills, driving a car, distance from one's general practitioner, and low self-assessed health status. The availability of help from children increased ER use, possibly by sharing in the decision-making process or by helping with post-visit financial bureaucracy. Persons with cognitive problems had decreased ER use, possibly due to their inability to cope with the related complex decision-making process. The inclusion of interaction terms improved the models fit, in keeping with the general philosophy of geriatric care which often deals with cases presenting multiple diagnoses in addition to various social problems. Information on key variables identified as predictors of ER use in order to predict ER use as a basis for budget allocation to specific sick funds, was collected by means of a postal questionnaire or by phone.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

The Jerusalem seventy-year-old longitudinal study. I: Description of the initial cross-sectional survey.

The main objectives of our first cross-section of a longitudinal study of a cohort of 70 year olds in Jerusalem, are to survey the social and medical conditions of the heterogeneous elderly population and to contribute to the knowledge of aging processes for specific age-groups. Whereas, most previous surveys were conducted on homogeneous and stable population groups, the elderly of Jerusalem provide the basis for ethnographic comparisons and for assessing the impact of profound historical and personal changes. From a representative systematic sample (from a geographically sorted electoral register) of 759 persons, 605 persons replied to our home-visit questionnaire gathering data on migration history, dwelling conditions, health status, health service utilization, employment status, activities of daily living, social support, use of drugs and war experience. Later on, 463 persons attended our geriatric research institute where we gathered information from in-depth anamnesis and physical examination, as well as cognitive and psychological tests. In addition, a battery of biochemical and hematological blood tests were performed as well as urine analysis and culture, ECG and pulmonary function tests. The heterogeneity of our cohort population is demonstrated by the finding that 84% were born in 40 different countries outside of Israel. In contrast, in the seventy-year old population studied in Gothenburg, Sweden, only 3% were not native born. In the years 1996, 2001 and 2006, our initial study cohort will be re-examined and compared to control groups representing states of no-survey intervention until ages 75, 80 and 85 years old. This background paper describes the study design, protocols and procedures. The responders were found to be representative of the 70 year old Jewish population in Jerusalem as a whole, in terms of mortality and hospital utilization rates. The results of the study to be reported in subsequent papers will allow conclusions regarding all 70 year old Jews in Jerusalem to be made.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

The Jerusalem seventy year olds longitudinal study. II: Background results from the initial home interview.

Basic background information is presented from a representative sample of 605 West Jerusalem Jewish residents aged 70 years in 1990/91. A followup survey of the original cohort is planned for 1996, in addition to a similar sized control group of persons not studied in 1990/91. This paper describes the demographic characteristics, marital status, household composition, migration patterns, language comprehension, education, employment status, religious practices, household conditions, health status, health service utilization, health practices, use of medications, social contacts and activities of daily living of the study population. Only 16% of the study population were born in Israel, the remainder were born in forty different countries in four continents. This article also presents some ethnic comparisons within our cohort. Some significant differences were found between ethnic sub-groups in self-reported chronic diseases. However, many of these differences disappeared when socio-economic covariates were considered. Differences were also found when specific countries were considered. Compared to Polish-born Jews, Moroccan-born Jews had lower economic status, less education, more family contacts and less faith in physicians. Moroccan-born Jews also reported more morbidity for cerebrovascular disorders, emphysema and glaucoma.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1989

Effect of age on the pharmacokinetics of dipyrone.

The pharmacokinetics of the dipyrone metabolite, 4-methylaminoantipyrine (MAA) was evaluated, following the administration of a single oral dose of dipyrone 1.0 g to 12 young (21-30 years) and 9 elderly (73-90 years) healthy volunteers. Maximal concentration, time to peak and absorption rate of MAA were similar for both groups. The elimination half-life was 2.6 (0.2) h for the young and 4.5 (0.5) h for the elderly subjects. Total clearance of MAA, corrected for lean body mass (LBM), was lower in the elderly than in the young 2.65 vs 3.97 ml.min-1.kg-1 LBM. There was no differences between the groups in the apparent volume of distribution. A good correlation was found between the total body clearance of MAA and the creatinine clearance, which was also reduced in the elderly (r = 0.61).

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Isoelectric focusing of human platelet phospholipase C: evidence for multimolecular forms.

Polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing was employed to characterize phospholipase C activity in the supernatant fraction after disruption of human platelets. Three bands of enzyme activity were detected on focused gels: a major band of activity (B) and two additional bands (A,C) were consistently identified. The isoelectric points of the three bands were in the range of pH 7.5-8.0. Phospholipase C activity was assayed using both phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol-4-monophosphate. The prominent B band was active against both substrates and no evidence for substrate preference towards phosphoinositides was obtained. These data suggest that isozyme forms of cystolic phospholipase C are present in human platelet supernatant and suggest the possibility of functional and structural differentiation of the various forms of the enzyme.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Calcium channel blockers in the management of hypertension in the elderly.

Calcium channel blockers seem to be particularly suitable for elderly hypertensive patients since these agents do not cause salt and fluid retention, postural hypotension, sedation, depression, or biochemical abnormalities. Moreover, their use is compatible with several common diseases of old age, such as diabetes, obstructive lung disease, and peripheral vascular disease. We recently conducted a study in 21 patients (average age, 79 +/- 2 years) who completed an eight-week trial with 20-mg nifedipine tablets taken twice daily. Mean blood pressure decreased from 191 +/- 2/96 +/- 2 mm Hg to 151 +/- 4/80 +/- 3 mm Hg. In 15 patients (71 percent), blood pressure decreased to less than or equal to 160/90 mm Hg; in four additional patients (19 percent), diastolic blood pressure decreased by 15 to 25 percent. Thus, there was a sustained lowering of blood pressure in 90 percent of the participants receiving nifedipine monotherapy. A review of recent studies in elderly hypertensive patients revealed similarly favorable results with calcium channel blockers given alone or in combination with other agents. The accumulating data suggest that these compounds may offer a useful new approach to the treatment of hypertension in old age. However, in these studies, the number of patients and the duration of follow-up need to be extended to confirm the favorable impression obtained thus far.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Age related decline in aluminum-activated human platelet adenylate cyclase: post-receptor changes in cyclic AMP second messenger signal amplification in normal aging and dementia of the Alzheimer type.

Low, micromolar concentrations of aluminum (in the presence of NaF) were shown to strongly activate human platelet adenylate cyclase and provided a useful probe for evaluating cyclic AMP second messenger function distal to the receptor: The effect of normal aging and disease state on second messenger activity in man was studied by measurements of the aluminum-activated enzyme. A significant decline in aluminum-stimulated platelet adenylate cyclase activity in older, healthy subjects was observed. An age-associated decline in NaF-stimulated cyclic AMP synthesis was also demonstrated for normal, non-demented subjects. These findings suggest an age-associated lesion at the level of the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein/catalytic subunit of the adenylate cyclase complex. However, for patients with Alzheimer's disease no such decline in platelet adenylate cyclase activity was detected, and increased sensitivity to both aluminum and NaF was demonstrated.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1986

Hormone and forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in human lymphocytes: reliability of longitudinal time measurements.

Reliability of measurement of lymphocyte cyclic AMP synthesis in intact cells was estimated by taking 3 successive blood samples during a one-month period from 11 healthy volunteers. Isoproterenol and prostaglandin E1-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation were used to evaluate the activity of these two receptor activities in human lymphocytes. Forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation was used to evaluate the activity of the Ns/catalytic subunit. Only for forskolin was significant reliability observed. For isoproterenol and prostaglandin E1 significant reliability was observed only for male subjects.

Adult↗