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Biomedical subjects

R D Cape

Publications and source records attributed to R D Cape.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Acute confusional states and dementia in the elderly: the role of dehydration/volume depletion, physical illness and age.

A prospective study was undertaken to investigate the incidence and aetiology of acute confusional states in physically ill old people. The subjects were 71 patients aged 70 years or over who were admitted as emergencies to a general medical unit. Mental testing revealed that: (a) one in six patients had an acute confusional state on admission; and (b) one in four patients had evidence of dementia. The presence of dehydration/volume depletion at the time of admission was estimated by various parameters which were brought together to form a new index called the 'dehydration score'. There was a definite statistical association between high degrees of dehydration/volume depletion and poor mental function. Advanced age, on the other hand, appeared to increase the risk of dehydration/volume depletion only slightly. It was also found that a patient's mental score was a much better guide to prognosis than age. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1980

Perspective of health in old age.

The elderly are often depicted as a deprived, disabled group of depressed people. A group of 385 elderly subjects drawn at random from those who lived in their own homes in the City of London, Ontario, or in Grey and Bruce Counties in Southwestern Ontario, were studied to assess their degree of disability, consumption of drugs, and need for health care. The method of sampling is described in detail. The proportion of cooperative subjects in the available chosen samples ranged from 80 to 92 percent. The results showed that disability, as assessed by lack of competence in five activities of daily living, ranged from about 6 percent at age 65 to over 35 percent at age 85. Within the previous year, only 15 percent of the subjects had not seen their family physician, and 36 percent had visited the doctor's office three or more times. Those living at home consumed an average of 1.6 drugs per person. In an institutional sample of 100 subjects, 12 percent were fully independent and had no obvious need to be in an institution; their consumption of drugs was more than twice that in the community sample. Old age is not necessarily a disabling period of life. On balance, it can offer more hope and fulfillment than despair.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1978

Pseudohypertension in the elderly.

1. Direct intra-arterial blood pressure (radial artery) has been compared with indirect blood pressures using a regular sized adult cuff and a thigh cuff, with a mercury sphygmomanometer, in 24 hypertensive patients aged 62--84 years, and in 16 hypertensive patients aged 29--59 years. 2. The patients were studied because they were suspected of having a false elevation of their indirect blood pressure, since they had diastolic pressures over 100 mmHg, without hypertensive retinopathy, cardiac hypertrophy, or nephropathy. 3. Indirect diastolic pressure was falsely elevated by 30 mmHg or more in 12 out of 24 of the subjects over age 60, and in four of the 16 of those under age 60. Pseudohypertension (indirect diastolic greater than 100 mmHg, direct diastolic greater than 90 mmHg) was present in 12 subjects over age 60 and 5 under age 60. 4. Errors in indirect measurement of blood pressure are a serious problem, particularly in the elderly. Direct intra-arterial measurement may be useful in the management of hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Alzheimer's disease and HLA.

Thrity-four unrelated patients with Alzheimer's disease were typed for HLA-A, -B and -C serological determinants. HLA-Cw3 was increased over control antigen frequencies. This difference lost significance when corrected for the number of antigens tested.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed1977

Square pegs in round holes: a study of residents in long-term institutions in London, Ont.

A large random sample of people in the long-term institutions (homes for the aged, nursing homes and continuing care hospitals) of London, Ont. was studied to assess the suitability of these people, according to physical and mental status, for the institution in which each resided. The results indicated a relative need for beds in homes for the aged and nursing homes. A high proportion (29% to 54%) of people in the three types of institutions were unsuitably placed. Greater flexibility is needed in institutional arrangements, and institutions should be examined for their potential to provide support in maintaining the elderly at home. The findings of this study add some weight to the arguments of those calling for more and better home care programs for the disabled.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1977

Mean cerebral transit time in demented and normal elderly persons.

The mean cerebral transit time (MCTT) was measured in 31 elderly subjects, approximately half of whom suffered from chronic dementing illness. The results indicated a significant correlation between the MCTT and arm-to-head circulation time. Both times increased significantly with age. There was no difference in MCTT between demented and non-demented patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1977

Predicting mortality after elective abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy in the elderly.

40 non-emergency cases of abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy were reviewed. Of the 20 cases who died during the follow-up period, a significant number had more evidence of pre-existing multiple diseases than had the survivors. The results of the study suggest that there is an association between the amount of coincident disease, length of survival, and mortality following elective abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1976

An immunological approach to dementia in the elderly.

A study into the relationship of immune change in the serum and the presence of senile dementia is reported. Three groups were studied, senile dementia, cerebrovascular disease and subjects without evidence of brain disease. All were aged 65 years and over. The immunofluorescent studies showed an excess of antineuronal reactivity and a fall in antinuclear antibody in females with senile dementia. There was no significant difference between the groups in respect of immunoglobulins, slide latex and a complement fixation test, against a variety of tissues. The significance of the findings in relation to other published results is discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1975

Assessment of iron stores in old people.

Iron deficiency is the commonest cause of anaemia in the old. Anaemia is a useful indicator of morbidity, occurring much more frequently in individuals referred to hospital. Isolated serum iron estimations are often misleading. A study of 34 cases in whom serum iron, iron-binding capacity and bone marrow were examined showed that the percentage saturation of the binding capacity remains a good method of assessing iron stores.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acute effects of oral pyridostigmine on memory and cognitive function in SDAT.

This study reports the effects of the anticholinesterase pyridostigmine on cognitive function in 15 elderly patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT). Each patient was given placebo and pyridostigime 60 mg orally four times over 26 hours, with a seven day washout between, using a randomized double-blind cross-over design. There was no significant improvement in cognitive function following placebo or pyridostigmine. We did not perform any preliminary dose-finding trials to find the optimum dose of pyridostigmine, but gave the drug in a predetermined fixed dosage to each patient. We conclude that with this dosage, pyridostigmine did not significantly improve cognitive function more than placebo in this group of elderly patients.

Administration, Oral↗