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Biomedical subjects

O Dehlin

Publications and source records attributed to O Dehlin.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Zimeldine to geriatric patients in once daily dosage. A pharmacokinetic and clinical study.

The therapeutic efficacy, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of zimeldine in elderly depressed patients were evaluated after administration of different doses of the drug in once daily evening doses. The doses of zimeldine were 100 mg during the first 2 weeks, 150 mg during the next 2 weeks and 200 mg during the last 2 weeks. Nine of the 11 patients (mean age 78 years) included in the study completed the 6-week treatment period, and all nine improved according to the Hamilton depression rating scale. The drug was well tolerated and the side effects were few and mild. No influence of clinical importance was noted in haematology, liver and kidney functions, EEG, blood pressure or pulse rate. Steady-state plasma concentrations of zimeldine, and its active metabolite norzimeldine, were achieved in most cases after 1 week of treatment in each dose regimen. The plasma concentrations increased linearly with the increase in dose. The maximal interindividual variations in plasma concentrations were 8-fold for zimeldine and 3-fold for norzimeldine . The plasma levels of both zimeldine and norzimeldine were higher in the elderly than reported earlier in younger patients. The ratio of norzimeldine/zimeldine concentrations was reduced in the elderly, indicating a reduction of the metabolic capacity. The results suggest that zimeldine can be administered in a once daily dosage regimen to elderly patients, but they should be given a lower dose than younger patients.

Aged↗

Pharmacokinetics of triazolam in geriatric patients.

Serum triazolam levels were determined in eight geriatric patients (average age 80 years) on Days 1 and 7 of administration of triazolam 0.25 mg once daily, 1 h after a standard breakfast. Triazolam was rapidly absorbed reaching average peak concentrations of 2.0 and 2.04 ng/ml, 1.5 and 1.38 h after administration on Days 1 and 7, respectively. The mean apparent elimination half-life was 1.41 h (range 0.73-4.13 h) on Day 1 and 1.37 h (range 0.69-3.36 h) on Day 7. There was no significant difference between mean serum triazolam concentrations or pharmacokinetic parameters on Days 1 and 7 of the treatment. Serum samples were also assayed for alpha-hydroxytriazolam, an active metabolite of triazolam, but none could be detected in any of the samples from Days 1 or 7, assay sensitivity 0.09 ng/2 ml serum. The range of half-lives of triazolam in the patients in the present study is in close agreement with that previously reported in elderly subjects. The study provides further evidence of the lack of change in pharmacokinetic parameters on multiple dosing and that drug accumulation did not occur.

Aged↗

Triazolam as a hypnotic for geriatric patients. A double-blind cross-over comparison of nitrazepam and triazolam regarding effects on sleep and psychomotor performance.

Triazolam 0.25 mg was compared with nitrazepam 5 mg as a hypnotic for 26 geriatric inpatients in a double-blind cross-over study. Sleep quantity and quality and psychomotor performance were studied. The sleep quantity and quality were similar for both drugs. There were no statistically significant differences between the two drugs in the psychomotor tests. The results are in contrast to results from other studies and might be explained by the composition of the patient material in the present study.

Aged↗

Zopiclone to geriatric patients. A parallel double-blind dose-response clinical trial of zopiclone as a hypnotic to geriatric patients - a study in a geriatric hospital.

Zopiclone was given for 14 nights to 68 geriatric patients (mean age 81 years) with sleep problems. The patients were randomly allocated to four treatment groups: 3.75 mg, 5.0, 7.5, or 10.0 mg of zopiclone. Sleep quantity and quality, side effects, and influence on psychomotor performance (digit symbol substitution and letter cancellation test) were studied before treatment, during active treatment, and after withdrawal of the drug. All patients slept better on zopiclone compared to placebo. There were only slight differences between the different dose levels as regards quantity and quality. No influence on psychomotor performance could be shown. The side effects were mild. Zopiclone showed a good hypnotic efficacy, and 7.5 mg is probably the best dose for elderly patients.

Aged↗

Zopiclone to geriatric patients. A parallel double-blind dose-response clinical trial of zopiclone as a hypnotic to geriatric patients - a study in a geriatric hospital.

Zopiclone was given for 14 nights to 68 geriatric patients (mean age 81 years) with sleep problems. The patients were randomly allocated to four treatment groups: 3.75 mg, 5.0, 7.5, or 10.0 mg of zopiclone. Sleep quantity and quality, side effects, and influence on psychomotor performance (digit symbol substitution and letter cancellation test) were studied before treatment, during active treatment, and after withdrawal of the drug. All patients slept better on zopiclone compared to placebo. There were only slight differences between the different dose levels as regards quantity and quality. No influence on psychomotor performance could be shown. The side effects were mild. Zopiclone showed a good hypnotic efficacy, and 7.5 mg is probably the best dose for elderly patients.

Aged↗

Perceived exertion during patient lifts. An evaluation of the importance of various factors for the subjective strain during lifting and carrying of patients. A study at a geriatric hospital.

Model experiments and practical studies of patient lifts were carried out with the aim of finding a method for assessing perceived exertion during various types of patient lifts. In the model experiments perceived exertion was rated on the RPE (Borg) scale under standardized conditions with variation of the subject's working posture and the load to be lifted. A strong correlation was found between increased perceived exertion and an un-optimal posture and heavy load respectively. In the practical study of patient lifts the following eight variables were rated: posture, acceleration, the patient's weight, time needed for the lift, the load, patient cooperation, the moment about the fulcrum and the possibilities of getting a good hold. The subjects were asked to rate the perceived exertion on the RPE scale. Six common types of patient lifts were studied. By multiple regression analysis the different variables were analysed in relation to perceived exertion. Strong correlations were found between different variables and perceived exertion, with some variation between the different types of patient lifts. The perceived exertion in various types of patient lifts can therefore be characterized by a small number of variables (the most strongly correlated). By choosing the most characteristic variables for each patient lift, the method can be utilized to study changes in the perceived exertion for different types of patient lifts when the external conditions during the lift are changed.

Adult↗

Zimelidine to geriatric patients: a pharmacokinetic and clinical study.

To evaluate the clinical efficacy, tolerance and pharmacokinetic properties of zimelidine in elderly people, twelve hospitalized depressed patients with a mean age of 80 years were included in a clinical trial. Zimelidine was administered twice daily at a dose of 50 mg during the first week, 75 mg during the second week and 100 mg during the third to sixty week. The patients also received a single oral test dose of 75 mg of zimelidine during an initial placebo week. All patients that completed the study improved according to the rating scales used. The drug was well tolerated, and adverse reactions were few and of mild or moderate severity. No influence of clinical importance was noted on hematology, liver and kidney functions, ECG, blood pressure or pulse rate. The mean elimination half-lives of zimelidine and norzimelidine were found to be 15 h and 35 h, respectively, which were longer than the half-lives earlier obtained in younger patients. The blood levels (AUC) in the geriatric patients were about twice those obtained earlier in healthy volunteers. The AUC values for both zimelidine and norzimelidine increased in close proportion to the increase in dose and, thus, the pharmacokinetics of zimelidine was apparently not dose-dependent in the dose interval used. The results obtained may indicate a reduction in the rate of metabolism for zimelidine in the elderly, possibly combined with increased total bioavailability of the drug. A reduction of the regular zimelidine dose may be recommended in the treatment of elderly patients.

Aged↗

Effect of physical training and ergonomic counselling on the psychological perception of work and on the subjective assessment of low-back insufficiency.

The effect of physical training and ergonomic counselling on the psychological perception of work and the frequency and severity of low-back symptoms was studied in a group of female nursing aides with low-back insufficiency symptoms. The nursing aides were divided into three groups. One group (the training group) was given conditioning exercises twice a week for eight weeks. A second group (ergonomics group) was given ergonomic counselling during the same period, and a third group served as a control group. The subjects' psychological perception of their work, low-back symptoms and physical working capacity were measured before and after the study. At the end of the study the training group had improved their psychological perception of their work in two of seven variables compared with the control group. The ergonomics group did not show any change in their psychological perception of their work. The physical capacity of the training group had increased somewhat compared with the control group but not compared with the ergonomics group. The perceived exertion during work on a bicycle ergometer had decreased in the training group compared with the control group as well as with the ergonomics group. The influence of either training or ergonomic counselling on the low-back symptoms was negligible.

Adult↗

Back symptoms and psychological perception of work. A study among nursing aides in a geriatric hospital.

233 nursing aides in a geriatric hospital were interviewed about back symptoms and asked to fill in a questionnaire about their psychological perception of their work. Seven psychological scales and a variable of the overall satisfaction with the job were tested against the presence/absence of cervical, thoracic and low-back symptoms. Nursing aides with thoracic and low-back symptoms exhibited in general a lower level of overall satisfaction with the job, perceived more negative relations with supervisors and workmates and perceived greater strain and a greater demand for physical and psychic strength. The psychological perception of the work was, however, only partly related to the presence/absence of back symptoms.

Adult↗

Long term study of hypnotic medication in geriatric patients. A study of dixyrazine, nitrazepam and amylobarbitone.

The hypnotic effect of dixyrazine (a phenothiazine derivate), nitrazepam and amylobarbitone was studied during six months in 52 geriatric inpatients (17, 16 and 19 in each group, respectively) with a mean age of 78 years. The variables registered were the percentage of patients asleep at 10 pm and 6 am and the observed number of awakenings. Certain mental and somatic variables were rated according to a schedule for geriatric behaviour. The observations were made every two to three weeks. No systematic significant change with time was observed for any of the three drugs for the percentage of patients asleep at 10 pm or 6 am or for the number of awakenings. Nor was any difference found between the three drugs in respect of these variables. There was no significant change in somatic or mental variables according to the geriatric rating schedule. The results indicate that dixyrazine, nitrazepam and amylobarbitone retain their hypnotic effect in geriatric patients during continuous use for a six-month period. No side effects were observed that influenced the patient' behaviour. The results do not support the view that barbiturates, i.e. amylobarbitone are inappropriate as hypnotics in the elderly patient.

Aged↗

Back symptoms in nursing aides in a geriatric hospital. An interview study with special reference to the incidence of low-back symptoms.

The incidence of back symptoms, particularly in the lumbar region, was investigated in 267 female nursing aides in a geriatric hospital. The overall incidence of low-back symptoms was 46.8%. Low-back insufficiency was present in 40%, lumbago in 18.4% and sciatica in 7.6%. Nursing aides with low-back symptoms had a higher incidence of cervical and thoracic spine symptoms than those without low-back symptoms. Recurrence of low-back symptoms had been common, appearing in 82%. Nursing aides with lowback symptoms considered their work more stressful to the spine than those without low-back symptoms. No relationship was found between different kinds of lifting technique and the incidence of low-back symptoms.

Adolescent↗