Comparison of Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Functions in Elderly Patients and Healthy Young Volunteers

To compare the polymorphonuclear leukocyte [PMN] functions [phagocytosis and intracellular killing activity] of elderly patients with healthy young volunteers. Fifty-nine elderly patients who had various diseases [cancer, hypertension and diabetes mellitus, DM] and 10 healthy young volunteers were included in this study. Ficoll-Hypaque gradient centrifugation was used to isolate PMNs from venous blood containing EDTA [0.1 g/ml]. Phagocytosis and intracellular killing activity of neutrophils were assayed using a modification of Alexander's method, in which serum opsonins, number of neutrophils and number of microorganisms are standardized in order to detect both increases and decreases in phagocytosis and intracellular killing as well as combined abnormalities of these two functions. The least significant difference test was used to compare the results in the two groups. Phagocytic activity of PMNs from patients with cancer was significantly higher than that of healthyyoung volunteers [p < 0.05] and elderly patients with hypertension and DM [p < 0.05]. There was no statistical difference between the phagocytic activity of PMNs from elderly patients with hypertension and DM and healthy young volunteers [p > 0.05]. The intracellular killing activity of PMNs from elderly patients with hypertension, DM and cancer was significantly lower than that of healthy young volunteers [p = 0.001, p < 0.0001, p = 0.003, respectively]. The intracellular killing activity of PMNs from elderly patients was significantly decreased when compared with that of healthy young volunteers. Ageing, chronic diseases and drugs used in the treatment of these elderly patients may be the cause for decreased intracellular killing activity

Relationship between insulin-like growth factor 1 and bone mineral density in men aged over 65 years

To determine the association between insulin growth factor 1 [IGF-1] and bone mineral density [BMD] in men over 65 years of age. Subjects and Forty-one male patients aged 65-88 years without a history of drug use or illness which is known to affect BMD were enrolled in the study. The control group consisted of 20 healthy men [19-62 years old]. An immunoradiometric assay was used to measure IGF-1 levels. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to determine BMD at the proximal femur and lumbar spine. A detailed questionnaire was used to assess the epidemiological findings. The men over 65 years of age had a lower mean IGF-1 level [102.04 +/- 36.65 vs. 196.62 +/- 84.86 ng/ml] and a lower mean BMD at the femoral neck, trochanter and intertrochanteric zones, Ward's triangle and total hip than the controls. No statistically significant association was observed in the BMD of the lumbar vertebrae between the patients and controls. IGF-1 levels were strongly and negatively correlated with age [p < 0.0001, r = -0.82]. Logistic regression analysis showed that low IGF-1 levels were strongly associated with osteopenia of the total hip, femoral neck, trochanter and intertrochanteric zone. The finding shows that low serum IGF-1 levels were associated with an increased risk of hip osteopenia and, hence, at least partly responsible for the osteopenia observed in men aged 65 years or over

Osteodystrophy in Posthepatitic Cirrhosis

This study investigated the incidence and severity of hepatic osteody strophy in patients with posthepatitic liver cirrhosis, and the role of hepatocellular injury in bone loss. Twenty-four patients (15 females and 9 males, mean age 49 +/- 13 years) with posthepatitic cirrhosis were enrolled in this study. The control group consisted of 22 healthy age and sex matched adults. The bone mineral density (BMD) was evaluated by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry of the L1-L4 vertebral bodies. A detailed questionnaire was used to assess the epidemiological findings. A statistically significant decrease in BMD of the patients was observed. There were no significant differences in the alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, osteocalcin, free testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and estradiol levels, oral calcium intake, urinary calcium, phosphorus and hydroxypyroline excretion between patients and controls. The control group smoked more cigarettes, consumed more coffee and meat, and were exposed the sun light for a longer period than the study group. Multiple regression analysis showed that osteopenia depends significantly on the extent of liver disease. The data shows that the patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis had osteopenia, and that cirrhosis was a direct and independent risk factor.