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PubMed2002

Fiber-optic evanescent-field laser sensor for in-situ gas diagnostics.

A compact, rugged and portable fiber-optic evanescent-field laser sensor is developed for the detection of gaseous species in harsh environments such as volcano fumaroles or industrial combustion of glass furnaces. The sensor consists of an optical multi-mode fused silica fiber with jacket and cladding removed and the bare fiber core in direct contact with the surrounding molecules. The beam of a single-mode DFB diode laser with an emission wavelength centered at 1.5705 microm is coupled into the fiber. At the other end of the fiber an infrared detector is used to record the transmitted infrared laser light intensity. Due to the frustrated total reflection (FTR) and the attenuated total reflection (ATR) the laser intensity is attenuated when passing through the fiber. The FTR is related to a change of the index of refraction while the latter one is related to a change of the absorption coefficient. While tuning the DFB laser wavelength across absorption lines of molecules surrounding the fiber a spectral intensity profile is measured. Voigt functions are fitted to the recorded intensity profiles to estimate relative molecule concentrations. In this paper results from first field measurements at the volcano site 'Solfatara' in Italy are reported that use such a sensor device for simultaneous detection of H2S, CO2 and H2O directly in the gas stream of a volcano fumarole.

Carbon Dioxide↗
PubMed2026

Early-stage trajectories of social-occupational functioning and long-term functional outcome prediction in early psychosis: A 12-year follow-up of the randomized controlled trial on extended early intervention.

BACKGROUND: Functional impairment in psychosis often persists despite symptomatic remission. There is a paucity of research examining early-course psychosocial functioning trajectories, and none has been conducted to examine relationship between the trajectories and prospective long-term functional outcomes in early psychosis sample. METHODS: We conducted 12-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial on extended early intervention for first-episode psychosis to identify early-course social-occupational functioning trajectories and their baseline predictors and associations with 12-year outcomes. Participants who completed Social and Occupational Functioning Scale (SOFAS) scores at three or more timepoints between baseline and 3-year follow-up were included in the study. Premorbid adjustment, illness characteristics, symptom severity, functioning, and treatment profiles were assessed. Latent growth mixture modeling was employed to derive early-course social-occupational functioning trajectories based on SOFAS scores over 3-year follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 148 participants were included in this study, with 106 patients having completed the 12-year follow-up. Our results identified four distinct trajectories, including persistently-good class, gradually-improved class, suboptimal-stable class, and persistently-poor class. Patients in persistently-poor class had more severe negative symptoms at baseline compared to patients in persistently-good class. Patients with persistently-poor trajectory had worse long-term outcomes than those with other classes in the majority of functional measures at 12-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients were classified in early-stage suboptimal or poor functional trajectories. Above one-fourth of the participants exhibited persistently-poor social-occupational functioning trajectory, which predicted worse functional outcomes at 12-year follow-up. These findings highlighted the importance of tracking functional changes during the initial years of illness.

Humans↗
PubMed1997

Protein kinase C isoenzymes in rat and human cardiovascular tissues.

1. We have compared the expression of protein kinase C (PKC) activity and immuno-detectable isoenzymes in cytosolic and membrane extracts of rat and human cardiovascular tissues (heart, kidney, aorta, saphenous vein). Experiments were performed in raw extracts and upon combined diethylaminoethylcellulose (DEAE) and phenylsepharose column chromatography. 2. PKC activity that bound to DEAE mostly eluted with 200 mM NaCl. DEAE-purified PKC from all tissues except rat kidney bound almost quantitatively to phenylsepharose and eluted with 0.5-0 M NaCl. 3. Immunoblots with an antibody against classical PKCs and the activator profile for phosphatidylserine, diolein and Ca2+ revealed that the PKC from rat kidney, which did not bind to phenylsepharose, was most probably due to a proteolytically-generated, constitutively active PKC which is not under the control of a regulatory subunit. 4. Studies in the reference tissue, rat brain, demonstrated that all PKC isoenzymes investigated (classical PKCs alpha, beta, gamma, new PKCs delta, epsilon, eta, theta, and atypical PKCs zeta, lambda, iota) have similar DEAE and phenylsepharose chromatography elution profiles. In the functional assay an inhibitor of all known PKC isoenzymes, bisindolylmaleimide, and a specific inhibitor of classical PKCs, Gö 6976, both inhibited PKC from rat brain completely and with high potency indicating that the functional assay preferentially detects classical PKC isoenzymes. 5. Each PKC isoenzyme had a tissue-specific expression profile which was similar in rat and man. The classical PKC alpha, the new PKCs delta and epsilon and all atypical PKCs were detectable in most tissues, whereas the PKC beta and PKC gamma were not detected in any pheripheral tissue; PKC eta and PKC theta were found in some tissues. 6. We conclude that combined DEAE and phenylsepharose chromatography is useful to enrich and detect PKC isoenzymes; no major species differences in tissues-specific expression patterns appear to exist between rat and man.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Low-dose angiotensin II receptor antagonists and angiotensin II-converting enzyme inhibitors alone or in combination for treatment of primary glomerulonephritis.

OBJECTIVE: The renin-angiotensin system is thought to be involved in the progression of chronic renal diseases of both diabetic and non-diabetic origin. It has been confirmed that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) reduce urinary protein excretion and attenuate the development of renal injury. Clinical data comparing the renal effects of ACEIs and ARBs, either singly or in combination, are scarce and usually concern the use of standard or high doses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, 9-month study of the effects of low doses of losartan (25 mg; n = 18) versus enalapril (10 mg; n = 18) versus the combination of losartan (25 mg) and enalapril (10 mg) (n = 16) on proteinuria, kidney function and metabolic profile in 54 patients with biopsy-proven chronic glomerulonephritis, hypertension and normal or slightly impaired kidney function. The clinical evaluation and laboratory tests were performed before treatment (baseline) and after 3 and 9 months of therapy. RESULTS: After 3 months, significant decreases in proteinuria were observed in all groups: losartan, 22.6% (p = 0.02); enalapril, 43% (p = 0.012); and combined therapy, 63% (p = 0.001). This anti-proteinuric effect was even greater after 9 months of therapy: losartan, 44.2% (p = 0.02); enalapril, 49.6% (p = 0.02); and combined therapy, 51% (p = 0.003). There was no significant difference between losartan and enalapril with respect to their impact on proteinuria level. Proteinuria reduction was significantly greater in patients receiving combined therapy in comparison with losartan treatment after 3 months of therapy (p = 0.02). Creatinine clearance and serum creatinine were stable during the entire study period in all patients. No significant changes in lipids, serum uric acid or protein levels were observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that proteinuria is reduced by low doses of losartan or enalapril. The combination of these drugs seems to be beneficial and may offer an additional renoprotective effect. This needs to be confirmed in a study with a larger sample size.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ego function as a correlate of addiction.

Eighty-nine substance abusers in an urban treatment facility completed the self-report version of the Ego Function Assessment as well as the Addiction Severity Index. Statistical analyses delineate ego functions that relate to specific disruptions in the social and psychological adaptation of the substance abuser. Distinct profiles of ego functions are highlighted based on patterns of intravenous drug injection. Education levels are showen to correlate with ego function strengths. Results are interpreted from the social perspective of drug abuse.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Examination of care-planning needs for elderly newly admitted to an acute care setting.

This study examined characteristics of elderly people newly admitted to an acute care setting who should be included in routine care planning. The mean serum albumin for the 137 participants was 3.0 g/dL, and 75% (n = 102) needed assistance with activity/transfer and going up stairs. Of the participants, 32.4% (n = 44) experienced some degree of either fecal or urinary incontinence. Use of the nutritional, functional, and cognitive profile developed from this study will enable nurses and medical personnel to better plan care to prevent functional decline and improve nutritional status during hospitalization of elderly patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2006

Electron bubbles in helium clusters. I. Structure and energetics.

In this paper we present a theoretical study of the structure, energetics, potential energy surfaces, and energetic stability of excess electron bubbles in ((4)He)(N) (N=6500-10(6)) clusters. The subsystem of the helium atoms was treated by the density functional method. The density profile was specified by a void (i.e., an empty bubble) at the cluster center, a rising profile towards a constant interior value (described by a power exponential), and a decreasing profile near the cluster surface (described in terms of a Gudermannian function). The cluster surface density profile width (approximately 6 A) weakly depends on the bubble radius R(b), while the interior surface profile widths (approximately 4-8 A) increase with increasing R(b). The cluster deformation energy E(d) accompanying the bubble formation originates from the bubble surface energy, the exterior cluster surface energy change, and the energy increase due to intracluster density changes, with the latter term providing the dominant contribution for N=6500-2 x 10(5). The excess electron energy E(e) was calculated at a fixed nuclear configuration using a pseudopotential method, with an effective (nonlocal) potential, which incorporates repulsion and polarization effects. Concurrently, the energy V(0) of the quasi-free-electron within the deformed cluster was calculated. The total electron bubble energies E(t)=E(e)+E(d), which represent the energetic configurational diagrams of E(t) vs R(b) (at fixed N), provide the equilibrium bubble radii R(b) (c) and the corresponding total equilibrium energies E(t) (e), with E(t) (e)(R(e)) decreasing (increasing) with increasing N (i.e., at N=6500, R(e)=13.5 A and E(t) (e)=0.86 eV, while at N=1.8 x 10(5), R(e)=16.6 A and E(t) (e)=0.39 eV). The cluster size dependence of the energy gap (V(0)-E(t) (e)) allows for the estimate of the minimal ((4)He)(N) cluster size of N approximately 5200 for which the electron bubble is energetically stable.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Determinants of the rate of right ventricular pressure rise by Doppler echocardiography: potential value in the assessment of right ventricular function.

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is common and the rate of right ventricular (RV) pressure rise in early systole can be obtained from the TR velocity profile. Right ventricular function has important implications in patients with valvular heart disease. Fifty five patients with mild or moderate TR and a wide range of pulmonary artery (PA) pressures were studied. The RV dP/dt was obtained as the ratio of the calculated rise in RV pressure from 0.5 m/s to 1.5 m/s of the TR velocity signal (8 mmHg based on simplified Bernoulli equation) to the time taken for this change. The RV dP/dt correlated positively with PA systolic pressure (r = 0.73, p < 0.001), tricuspid anular plane systolic excursion which is an echocardiographic index of RV ejection systolic function (r = 0.45, p < 0.001) and left ventricular (LV) fractional shortening (r = 0.40, p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that all these three parameters independently influenced RV dP/dt (multivariate R = 0.83) accounting for 69% of its variability. In conclusion, it is suggested that right ventricular dP/dt is easily obtainable from Doppler TR velocity signal. It is influenced independently in a positive manner by PA systolic pressure and RV and LV systolic function. Despite its predominant dependence on PA systolic pressure, it may give useful insight into RV systolic function for a given level of PA pressure. It may also be useful for longitudinal follow up of the RV function in patients with heart disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Computational prediction of operons in Synechococcus sp. WH8102.

We computationally predict operons in the Synechococcus sp. WH8102 genome based on three types of genomic data: intergenic distances, COG gene functions and phylogenetic profiles. In the proposed method, we first estimate a log-likelihood distribution for each type of genomic data, and then fuse these distribution information by a perceptron to discriminate pairs of genes within operons (WO pairs) from those across transcription unit borders (TUB pairs). Computational experiments demonstrated that WO pairs tend to have shorter intergenic distances, a higher probability being in the same COG functional categories and more similar phylogenetic profiles than TUB pairs, indicating their powerful capabilities for operon prediction. By testing the method on 236 known operons of Escherichia coli K12, an overall accuracy of 83.8% is obtained by joint learning from multiple types of genomic data, whereas individual information source yields accuracies of 80.4%, 74.4%, and 70.6% respectively. We have applied this new approach, in conjunction with our previous comparative genome analysis-based approach, to predict 556 (putative) operons in WH8102. All predicted data are available at (http://www.cs.ucr.edu/~xin/operons.htm) for public use.

Computational Biology↗
PubMed2005

The BTB-kelch protein LZTR-1 is a novel Golgi protein that is degraded upon induction of apoptosis.

Members of the BTB-kelch superfamily play important roles during fundamental cellular processes, such as the regulation of cell morphology, migration, and gene expression. The BTB-kelch protein LZTR-1 is deleted in the majority of DiGeorge syndrome patients and is believed to act as a transcriptional regulator. However, functional and expression profiling studies of LZTR-1 have not been performed thus far. Therefore, we examined the subcellular localization and function of LZTR-1 to gain insights into its biological role. Analysis of the primary structure of the protein revealed six N-terminal kelch motifs and two BTB/POZ domains at the C terminus within LZTR-1. Confocal analysis of the subcellular distribution of LZTR-1 using the Golgi markers GM130, Golgin-97, and TGN46 identified a localization of LZTR-1 exclusively on the cytoplasmic surface of the Golgi network that is mediated by its second BTB/POZ domain. In contrast to most other BTB-kelch proteins, LZTR-1 did not co-localize with actin. Treatment with brefeldin A did not lead to redistribution of LZTR-1 to the endoplasmic reticulum but caused its relocalization in dispersed, punctuated structures that were also positive for GM130. These data demonstrate that LZTR-1 is a Golgi matrix-associated protein. Upon induction of apoptosis, LZTR-1 was phosphorylated on tyrosine residues and subsequently degraded; that could be rescued partially by the addition of the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk and the proteasome inhibitors lactacystin and MG132. Taken together, our experiments identify LZTR-1 as the first BTB-kelch protein that exclusively localizes to the Golgi network, and the binding of LZTR-1 to the Golgi complex is mediated by its second BTB/POZ domain.

Actins↗
PubMed1998

Dyspnea in obese healthy men.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine whether obese, apparently healthy individuals experience dyspnea at rest and, if so, whether their pulmonary function test (PFT) profile and maximal respiratory pressures are different from obese, healthy subjects without dyspnea. DESIGN: Prospective, open. SETTING: Pulmonary function test laboratory, Veterans Administration Medical Center. PATIENTS: Twenty-three obese male subjects (each with a body mass index [BMI] of > 28 kg/m2) with an FEV1 level and an FEV1/FVC ratio > or = 80% of predicted and no coexisting conditions. Fifteen complained of dyspnea, where eight denied having it, at rest. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Standard PFT parameters and maximum static inspiratory (P(Imax)) and expiratory (P(Emax)) mouth pressures were determined. Subjects with dyspnea had similar age and height but larger body weight (113.9+/-5.0 vs 97.4+/-2.6 kg, p = 0.03) and BMI (37.4+/-1.6 vs 31.8+/-0.7 kg/m2, p = 0.02) than subjects without dyspnea, and a greater number of them were current or previous smokers. Forced expiratory flow at 75% vital capacity (54.9+/-6 vs 75.5+/-7% predicted, p = 0.05), maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV; 90.2+/-3.8 vs 107.8+/-9.3% predicted, p = 0.05), and P(Emax) (77+/-2 vs 97.8% predicted, p = 0.007) were significantly reduced in the group of subjects with dyspnea. Large airway function (FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC ratio), lung volumes, and gas exchange parameters were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Some obese, but otherwise healthy, individuals experience dyspnea at rest. Reduced P(Emax) and MVV combined with greater body mass and peripheral airway disease are most likely responsible for the sensation of dyspnea in these individuals.

Dyspnea↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Functional urethral obstruction in 3 dogs: clinical and urethral pressure profile findings.

Three dogs with dysuria and urine retention caused by excessive functional urethral resistance are described. All dogs had clinical histories and urologic signs that previously would have been classified as detrusor-urethral dyssynergia. Diagnosis of functional urinary obstruction was established by exclusion of anatomic urinary obstruction and confirmed by urethral pressure profilometry. In 2 cases, multiple pressure deflections recorded in the urethral pressure profile suggested spasm of urethral musculature, whereas in a 3rd dog, abnormally high pressures were recorded along a portion of the proximal urethra. Functional urinary obstruction was associated with prostatitis in 1 dog and with a history of urethral calculi in 1 dog, and no underlying disorder could be identified in the remaining dog. All 3 dogs improved with medical treatments that included alpha adrenergic antagonists. The etiology, diagnosis, and pharmacologic management of functional urinary obstruction are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ribonucleosides in human milk. Concentration profiles of these minor constituents as a function of the nursing time.

Ribonucleosides are secreted as products of cellular RNA and ribonucleotide metabolism into physiological fluids such as blood, milk and urine. Unmodified and modified ribonucleosides have been detected in the micromolar range as minor constituents in the milk of different mammals. In addition to the common nucleosides adenosine, cytidine, guanosine, inosine and uridine, modified components such as 1-methyladenosine, 1-methylguanosine, 1-methylinosine, N2-methylguanosine, N2-dimethylguanosine, N6-carbamoyl-L-threonyladenosine, pseudouridine and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-N-ribofuranoside (AICAR) have been identified and most of them quantified in samples of human and/or bovine and/or goat's milk. From these investigations it is known that nucleosides, in analogy to nucleotides, show a typical species-specific pattern. Longitudinal studies have been carried out to determine the concentration profiles of the individual ribonucleosides in the milk of humans as a function of the nursing time.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Functional lymphocyte subset assessment of the Th1/Th2 profile in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis by flowcytometric analysis of peripheral lymphocytes.

BACKGROUND: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) results from a parenchymal infiltration by Th1 T cell clones that ultimately may cause tissue destruction. We analysed here whether the quantitative assessment of the cytokine profile in peripheral lymphocytes could help for the evaluation of patients with HT. METHODS: We added to a flow cytometric evaluation of lymphocyte subpopulations, an assay to identify specific Th1 and Th2 functional subsets. Whole blood diluted in RPMI was activated with PMA and ionomycin for 4h at 37 degrees C in the presence of brefeldin. Immunophenotyping of samples was performed with PerCP-Cy5.5-conjugated CD3, and APC-conjugated CD4 antibodies. After staining for surface antigens, red cells were lysed and white cells were permeabilized. Intracellular cytokines were detected with FITC-conjugated INFgamma (Th1) and PE-conjugated IL-4 (Th2) monoclonal antibodies (mabs). RESULTS: Twenty-three consecutive patients were selected based on the detection of anti TPO ab concentration equal or higher than 600 UI/L. They were compared to 17 healthy control subjects (with undetectable TPO abs). The lymphocyte count and the proportion of the different lymphocyte subsets (T cells, B cells, NK cells, T-CD4+, T-CD8+, Th1 CD3, Th2 CD3, Th1 CD4, Th2 CD4 cells) were alike when both groups were compared. A significant difference appeared when the Th1/Th2 ratio measured on CD3 T cells was considered. This ratio was significantly increased in HT patients when compared to controls (24.91+/-2.9 vs. 15.5+/-1.4 (mean +/- SEM); p <0.05). When the same analysis was performed on CD4 T cells, the Th1/Th2 ratio was again higher in HT patients, although without reaching significance (13.5+/-1.9 vs. 8.8+/-0.6; p >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the Th1 context analysed in peripheral lymphocytes is dominant in HT patients. Flowcytometry could be used as a diagnostic tool to better understand the pathogeny and the outcome of destructive autoimmune thyroiditis.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Black/white differences in health status and mortality among the elderly.

Grade of membership (GOM) representations are used to characterize and compare the health status of a very heterogeneous sample of blacks and whites in an elderly cohort of 2,806 noninstitutionalized men and women living in New Haven, Connecticut. They were interviewed in 1982 as part of the Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (EPESE). Ideal profiles based on functional disabilities, chronic diseases, and selected biomedical and behavioral risk factors are constructed empirically. Each individual in the sample is represented by a set of GOM scores, interpreted as degrees of similarity of his or her health record to each of the profiles. Four profiles emerge from GOM analyses: healthy elderly, elderly with cognitive impairment, elderly with impairment in mobility function and physical performance and with selected chronic conditions, and elderly with major limitations in activities of daily living and multiple chronic conditions. Although elderly blacks and whites generally have similar configurations of profiles, there are important differences, especially when chronic conditions are related to specific types of functional impairments. Questions about and claims for black/white mortality crossovers at older ages, usually addressed with aggregate data, are examined conditional on GOM scores that correspond to diverse combinations of disabilities (or lack thereof) together with housing characteristics of cohort members (e.g., whether they live in public housing for the elderly or in owned or rented housing in the community).

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2004

A three-dimensional theoretical model incorporating spatial detection uncertainty in continuous detector PET.

In this paper, we will describe a theoretical model of the spatial uncertainty for a line of response, due to the imperfect localization of events on the detector heads of a positron emission tomography (PET) camera. The forward acquisition problem is modelled by a Gaussian distribution of the position of interaction on a detector head, centred at the measured position. The a posteriori probability that an event originates from a certain point in the field of view (FOV) is calculated by integrating all the possible lines of response (LORs) through this point, weighted with the Gaussian detection likelihood at the LOR's end points. We have calculated these a posteriori probabilities both for perpendicular and oblique coincidences. For the oblique coincidence case it was necessary to incorporate the effect of the crystal thickness in the calculations. We found in the perpendicular incidence case as well as in the oblique incidence case that the probability density function cannot be analytically expressed in a closed form, and it was thus calculated by means of numerical integration. A Gaussian was fit to the transversal profiles of this function for a given distance to the detectors. From these fits, we can conclude that the profiles can be accurately approximated by a Gaussian, both for perpendicular and oblique coincidences. The FWHM reaches a maximum at the detector heads, and decreases towards the centre of the FOV, as was expected. Afterwards we extended this two-dimensional model to three dimensions, thus incorporating the spatial uncertainty in both transversal directions. This theoretical model was then evaluated and a very good agreement was found with theoretical calculations and with geometric Monte Carlo simulations. Possible improvements for the above-described incorporation of crystal thickness are discussed. Therefore a detailed Monte Carlo study has been performed in order to investigate the interaction probability of photons of different energies along their path in several detector materials dedicated to PET. Finally two approaches for the incorporation of this theoretical model in reconstruction algorithms are outlined.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1996

Hospital admission risk profile (HARP): identifying older patients at risk for functional decline following acute medical illness and hospitalization.

OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate an instrument for stratifying older patients at the time of hospital admission according to their risk of developing new disabilities in activities of daily living (ADL) following acute medical illness and hospitalization. DESIGN: Multi-center prospective cohort study. SETTING: Four university and two private non-federal acute care hospitals. PATIENTS: The development cohort consists of 448 patients and the validation cohort consists of 379 patients who were aged 70 and older and who were hospitalized for acute medical illness between 1989 and 1992. MEASUREMENTS: All patients were evaluated on hospital admission to identify baseline demographic and functional characteristics and were then assessed at discharge and 3 months after discharge to determine decline in ADL functioning. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis identified three patient characteristics that were independent predictors of functional decline in the development cohort: increasing age, lower admission Mini-Mental Status Exam scores, and lower preadmission IADL function. A scoring system was developed for each predictor variable and patients were assigned to low, intermediate, and high risk categories. The rates of ADL decline at discharge for the low, intermediate, and high risk categories were 17%, 28%, and 56% in the development cohort and 19%, 31%, and 55% in the validation cohort, respectively. Patients in the low risk category were significantly more likely to recover ADL function and to avoid nursing home placement during the 3 months after discharge. CONCLUSION: Hospital Admission Risk Profile (HARP) is a simple instrument that can be used to identify patients at risk of functional decline following hospitalization. HARP can be used to identify patients who might benefit from comprehensive discharge planning, specialized geriatric care, and experimental interventions designed to prevent/reduce the development of disability in hospitalized older populations.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The assessment of the nutritional status and risk profile of elderly residents].

UNLABELLED: An observational study in a long term geriatric care institution and medical wards, to systematically introduce the assessment of nutritional status, cognitive function and risk profile of residents, allowed the identification of "at risk" patients. METHODS: Data were collected on 198 residents, over a period of 6 months. RESULTS: The mean age was 86.6 years (range 80-99). Some data were not available for 54 patients (i.e. story of weight loss 3 months before admission: all of them had >90 years); 49% of patients were higly dependent and 30% of patients were severely malnourished (malnutrition was prevalent in cancer patients). Of the 19 patients dead during the study 6 were malnuorished, 6 at risk and for 6 a thorough assessment was not possible. DISCUSSION: The prognostic importance weight loss over the last 6 months is widely aknowledged, however this information is not easily retrievable in geriatric populations; demented patients are more at risk of malnutrition. The collection of data on nutritional status allows the identification of patients who need a close surveillance and the implementation of preventive measures.

Aged↗