[The factor analysis results of the relationship of socio-demographic, clinical and functional indicators with the likelihood of identifying age-related disorders in the population in North-Western Russia].

By using the method of factor analysis (principal component method) the determinants of disease in elderly and senile patients were searched with an estimate of their influence degree in the population of the North-West Russia. The data from medical records of 712 patients of both sexes aged 59 to 98 years were analyzed. The factor 1 proved to be associated with: marital status, living conditions, family relationships, bad habits, appearance, cough, diet, hearing and vision, laxatives, joint health, ability to move and sleep disturbances. Factor 2 combined diseases of older: cerebral stroke, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmia, diabetes, kidney disease, obesity, thyroid disease, Parkinson's disease, lung disease, anemia, arthritis, osteoporosis, the number of surgeries and joint diseases. The factor 3 was found to self-association ability before and after admission to the assessment of the patients' mental state for MMSE test after admission. It is concluded that the development of age-related (especially the musculoskeletal system pathology) is associated with social characteristics and living conditions of patients, and treatment of the most age-related diseases requires consideration of comorbidity.

[Telomere length in the population of long-lived persons of North-West region of Russia].

Interdisciplinary study of telomere length, polymorphism of genes of renin-angiotensin (ACE) and serotonin (5HTR2A and 5HTTPR) systems in population of aged and old inhabitants of the North-West of Russia was conducted, in their relations to data from clinical and geriatric anamnesis, and psychological functioning. Regular link between telomere length and respondent's age was demonstrated in subgroups of old respondents and long-livers, by method of factor analysis.

[Distribution of serotonin transporter 5-HTTLPR gene polymorphism in population of the North-West of Russia].

Genetic polymorphism of the promotor zone of the gene of serotonin transporter (5HTT) is related to adaptive ability of humans, along with ability of conducting emotional control. Consequently, 5HTT polymorhisms form a constructive model of enhanced resistance to psychoemotional strain in aged humans. The paper is dedicated to tracing back relations between 5HTT polymorphic variants, and psychological characteristics of the long-livers of the North-Western Russia, as well as the geriatric ones.

[Distribution of structural polymorphisms of angiotensin-converting enzyme and serotonin receptor 5-HT2A genes among long-livers of North-Western Russia].

In the group of long-livers of the North-West of Russia, I/D polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene and C102T polymorphism of serotonin receptor (5-HT2A) gene were studied. No reliable differences in allele frequency of these genes between long-livers and young people were detected. Nevertheless, highly pronounced difference in the A1/A2 allele frequency of 5-HT2A gene between populations of the North-West of Russia, on the one hand, and of the USA, on the other hand, was discovered (i.e. 0.397(A1), 0.603(A2), and 0.615(A1), 0.385(A2), respectively). Differences of this kind between the two populations deserve special consideration, conditioning the necessity of further detailed analysis of other genes of the serotonin system in the populations of other regions of Russia.

[Some indices of lipids metabolism and antioxidant profile in geriatric patients with arterial hypertension].

Arterial hypertension contributes essentially into development of chronic heart failure and chronic ischemia of the brain, which results in social dependence of geriatric patients. One of the important factors in the development of arterial hypertension is the state of lipids peroxidation. Misbalance among the products of lipids peroxidation and components of antioxidation defense system revealed in cardiovascular diseases (mainly in arterial hypertension and heart failure) promotes progress of these diseases and premature aging of an organism. The therapy aimed at normalization of the oxidative profile of the patients with arterial hypertension should include prolonged beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium antagonists, statines and polyvitamin complexes with vitamins A and E.

[Methodological and practical problems in standardization in geriatrics].

The review covers methodological problems in developing the medical economic standards aimed at higher effectiveness and quality of work of geriatric departments. The main methodological problems are polymorbidity of geriatric patients and decreasing functional ability requiring a long-term medical and social rehabilitation. The standard in geriatrics is understood as an average minimum of medical and social services to be provided to a patient for the purpose to keep on or improve his functional ability. These standards appointed for geriatric departments have not been developed till now. This article emphasizes particular qualities of geriatric patients on which grounds the standards for medical and social assistance to be provided for the elderly and senile patients are formed. The medical economic standard is the base documents while forming the protocols of treatment geriatric patients with concrete nosological forms.