Prevalence and definition of sarcopenia in community dwelling older people. Data from the Berlin aging study II (BASE-II).

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia describes the age-associated loss of muscle mass, strength and function. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of sarcopenia in a cohort of community dwelling elderly people living in Berlin, Germany, according to the criteria proposed by current consensus statements and to study the respective impact on self-reported physical performance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 1405 participants from the Berlin aging study II (BASE-II). The appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) was assessed with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), muscle strength was measured by hand grip strength and the timed up and go" test (TUG) was performed as a functional parameter to reflect mobility. RESULTS: The prevalence of sarcopenia was 24.3 % in terms of reduced SMI only and considerably lower for sarcopenia with reduced grip strength (4.1 %) and sarcopenia with limited mobility (2.4 %). Only 0.6 % of the participants fulfilled all three criteria. Of the subjects with a normal SMI, 8.6 % had reduced grip strength and 5.1 % had limited mobility, whereas 1.3 % subjects fulfilled both criteria. Participants with reduced strength or function reported severe difficulties in performing physical tasks significantly more often than participants with normal or reduced SMI alone (p <0.029-p <0.0001). CONCLUSION: In BASE-II low skeletal muscle mass was much more frequent than reduced grip strength or poor function. Reduced strength and function were found to be associated with a greater impact on physical performance than reduced muscle mass. Low SMI does not seem to be a prerequisite for low strength or limitations in mobility.

Magnetic dipole moment of the doubly-closed-shell plus one proton nucleus 49Sc.

The nucleus 49Sc, having a single f(7/2) proton outside doubly magic 48Ca (Z=20, N=28), is one of the very few isotopes which makes possible testing of the fundamental theory of nuclear magnetism. The magnetic moment has been measured by online ß NMR of nuclei oriented at milli-Kelvin temperatures to be (+)5.616(25) µ(N). The result is discussed in terms of a detailed theory of the structure of the magnetic moment operator, showing excellent agreement with calculated departure from the f(7/2) Schmidt limit extreme single-particle value. The measurement completes the sequence of moments of Sc isotopes with even numbers of f(7/2) neutrons: the first such isotopic chain between two major shells for which a full set of moment measurements exists. The result further completes the isotonic sequence of ground-state moments of nuclei with an odd number of f(7/2) protons coupled to a closed subshell of f(7/2) neutrons. Comparison with a recent shell-model calculation of the latter sequence is made.

Studies on some paraclinical indices on intoxication in horses from freshly cut Jimson weed (Datura stramonium)-contaminated maize intended for ensiling.

Monitoring of changes in some blood laboratory parameters in 34 horses after ingesting freshly harvested maize that was to be used for ensiling, heavily contaminated with young Datura stramonium plants, is described. For a 7-day period the following parameters were monitored: haemoglobin content (HGB), red blood cell counts (RBC), white blood cell counts (WBC), haematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), differential white cell counts (DWC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), protein fractions, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total bilirubin (TB), direct bilirubin (DB), blood glucose (Glu), total protein (TP), globulin (Glob) and albumin (Alb). The intoxication was accompanied by erythrocytosis, leukocytosis, regenerative left shift neutrophilia, lymphopaenia, eosinopaenia, increased haematocrit values, low erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hyperglycaemia, bilirubinaemia, hypoproteinaemia and increased activity of AST and LDH. No changes occurred in the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), albumin, globulin and globulin fractions (alpha 1, alpha 2, beta 1, beta 2 and gamma). The blood parameters returned to normal between post-intoxication days 2 and 5. The observed changes in clinical chemistry indices could be used in the diagnosis, differential diagnosis and prognosis of Jimson weed intoxication.

Clinical and pathological studies on intoxication in horses from freshly cut Jimson weed (Datura stramonium)-contaminated maize intended for ensiling.

Spontaneous intoxication in 34 horses after ingesting freshly harvested maize that was to be used for ensiling and heavily contaminated with young Datura stramonium plants, is described. The clinical status of all horses was monitored for 7 days, and included body (rectal) temperature, respiratory and heart rates, colour and moistness of visible mucosae, changes in pupil size, appetite, thirst, general behaviour, locomotion, sensory perceptions, urination and defaecation. The intoxication was accompanied by altered clinical status, namely mild hyperthermia, tachycardia, polypnoea, dyspnoea and shallow breathing, mydriasis, dry oral, rectal, vaginal and nasal mucosae, acute gastric dilatation and severe intestinal gas accumulation, anorexia to complete refusal of feed, decreased or absent thirst, absence of defaecation and urination. As a result of the treatment, the clinical parameters normalised between days 2 and 5. Necropsies and pathological studies were performed on two horses that died, revealing toxic liver dystrophy, cardiac lesions and substantial dystrophic and necrotic processes in the kidneys. The observed clinical signs, the pathomorphological changes and the applied therapy could be used in the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of Jimson weed intoxication.

Efficacy of parenteral administration of ivermectin in the control of strongylidosis in donkeys.

Investigations into the efficacy of parenteral ivermectin (Pandex) administration for strongylidosis control in donkeys were carried out. The preparation was applied subcutaneously at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg (1 ml/50 kg body weight). One day prior to the treatment and 14 days post-treatment, individual coprological samples were obtained for faecal nematode egg counts and larval culture. The study was performed on 263 donkeys originating from different regions of Bulgaria. Prior to the treatment and 20 days after that, blood samples were obtained from 64 previously infected animals for monitoring of changes in eosinophil leukocyte counts. The subcutaneous application of ivermectin had an efficacy of 96% in terms of reduction of faecal egg counts. In 92.2% of infected donkeys, a complete reduction of faecal eggs count occurred (0 eggs per gram of faeces epg), whereas in the remaining 7.8% of the infected donkeys, the egg counts were reduced by 72%. The reduction in faecal egg counts did not result in changes in eosinophil counts. The results obtained as well as the lack of local changes after the subcutaneous application of ivermectin in donkeys allow us to recommend its use for control of strongyles in donkeys.

Effect of estradiol on the phosphorylation of rat liver ribosome proteins.

The effect of estradiol on phosphorylation with gamma-32P-ATP of ribosome proteins from polyribosome fraction, isolated from female rat liver is found out. Rats (180 g) used were: sham-operated, ovariectomized and treated after ovariectomy for 11 days with 20 micrograms 17 beta-estradiol-dipropionate per 100 g body weight. The estradiol deficiency after ovariectomy decreased phosphorylation, but the estrogenization of ovariectomized rats increases it twice. In vitro the hormone (1-2 mumol/l) [corrected] also stimulated ribosome protein phosphorylation. It is supposed that the hormone may take part in the regulation of protein synthesis in the translational region of the process.

[The significance of puncture biopsy and cytological diagnosis in the early detection and treatment of carcinoma of the breast]. / Vrednost punkcione biopsije i citoloska dijagnoza u ranom otkrivanju i lecenje karcinoma dojke.

In the period 1980-1987 at the Titov Veles Medical Center 430 women were investigated using native mammographia and punction biopsy with cytological diagnosis. All these investigations were undertaken for the purpose of early discovery of breast cancer. Malignant tumour was cytologically found in 51 women. Only in 6 cases where the cytological findings were negative breast cancer was found through histological analysis. All patients with confirmed breast cancer were operated on applying complete mastectomy. In 19 of these patients metastatic changes in axillary lymph glands were also found.

[Echinococcosis of the liver--10 years' experience]. / Echinococcosis jetre--nase desetogodisnje iskustvo.

According to the world medical literature echinococcus is mostly located in the liver (60%). In the period 1978-1987 42 patients, 22 male and 20 female, were operated upon at the Titov Veles Medical Center. In 27 of these patients echinococcosis on right lobe was found. There were no patients operated of solitary cyst in left lobe. In 6 persons echinococcosis has relapsed and in 4 it was found in other organs. In 5 bi-lobular, patients the most common age group was 30-60 years. In addition to the classical methods computerized tomography (CT), scintigraphy and ultrasound were also used for making diagnosis. The appropriate method of operation was selected depending on the status, size and location of cysts as well as on the changes in surrounding organs and accompanying complications.