Prevalence of anemia in relation to socio-economic factors in elderly Polish population: the results of PolSenior study.

Anemia is an independent risk factor for functional decline and mortality among older adults. Since mild anemia in older people is often under-diagnosed and ignored, its prevalence needs precise determination and recognition of predisposing factors. None of the previous studies based on the data obtained from the representative elderly population identified the influence of socio-economic factors on the prevalence of anemia. PolSenior was a cross-sectional population-based study performed on the nationally representative sample of Polish seniors. Complete blood count was assessed in 4003 respondents aged 65 years or above (1910 women) divided into six five-year cohorts and a reference group of 622 people aged 55 - 59 years (333 women). Anemia was defined based on the WHO criteria: Hb < 12.0 g/dL in women and Hb < 13.0 g/dL in men. The following socio-economic factors were evaluated through the multiple logistic regression analysis: education level, marital status, place of residence, living arrangements and self-reported poverty. The prevalence of anemia in older persons standardized for the population was 10.8% (17.4% of the study group) and was more frequent in men than in women (20.8% versus 13.6%). The frequency of anemia progressed with age from 5.3% in the youngest to 37.7% in the oldest cohort, and the progression was higher in men. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed the link between anemia and age in both genders, as well as unmarried status and urban dwelling in men. When age was not taken into account, logistic regression showed the link between anemia and unmarried status, urban place of residence (both genders), and low level of education (women only). Among seniors, those poorly educated, unmarried and city inhabitants require intense screening for anemia.

Comparison of the biocompatibility of phosphate-buffered saline alone, phosphate-buffered saline supplemented with glucose, and dianeal 3.86%.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the effects of intraperitoneal infusion of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4), of PBS supplemented with 3.86% glucose (G), and of standard dialysis solution [Dianeal 3.86%: Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Deerfield, IL, U.S.A. (D)] on intraperitoneal inflammation in dialyzed rats. METHODS: After catheter implantation, rats were infused on day 1 with PBS, on day 3 with PBS+G, on day 5 with D, and on day 7 again with PBS (PBS-2). After a 4-hour dwell, dialysate samples were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: All dialysate parameters studied [dialysate cell count, neutrophil:macrophage ratio (Ne:Ma), and total protein], except tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), were comparable during both PBS infusions. During dialysis with PBS+G, the inflammatory response was suppressed as compared with the first dialysis with PBS (cell count, p < 0.001; Ne:Ma, p < 0.05; TNFalpha, p < 0.001; total protein, p < 0.001). During dialysis with D, peritoneal inflammatory parameters were further suppressed (cell count, p < 0.001 vs PBS and p < 0.01 vs PBS+G; Ne:Ma, p < 0.001 vs PBS and p < 0.05 vs PBS+G; TNFalpha, p < 0.001 vs PBS and p < 0.001 vs PBS+G; total protein, p < 0.001 vs PBS and p < 0.01 vs PBS+G). CONCLUSIONS: Hypertonicity of the dialysis fluid suppresses intraperitoneal inflammatory parameters in rats. The suppression was even more severe when Dianeal 3.86% was used. That finding could be due to the low pH and presence of GDPs in the fluid.

Hypertonicity of dialysis fluid suppresses intraperitoneal inflammation.

We studied acute and chronic intraperitoneal inflammation during dialysis performed in rats injected with phosphate-buffered saline alone (PBS) or PBS supplemented with glucose (Glu) or with mannitol (Man). In acute experiments, the result of a first dialysis with PBS in every rat (dialysis I) was compared with a second dialysis performed 24 hours later (dialysis II) using a different dialysis fluid: either PBS with 3.86 g/dL Man or PBS with 3.86 g/dL Glu. In rats exposed to hypertonic dialysis solutions (both Glu and Man), inflammatory reaction was decreased (cell count: p < 0.05; nitric oxide secretion: p < 0.05; protein in dialysate: p < 0.05). In control animals treated only with PBS (dialysis I and dialysis II), the inflammatory reactions during dialysis I and dialysis II were comparable. In chronic experiments, rats were dialyzed with the tested fluids for four weeks. Weekly, dialysate samples were taken and analyzed. At the end of the study, cell counts and protein losses were higher in the PBS-treated rats than in the other groups (cell count: p < 0.05, Glu vs PBS, and p < 0.05, Man vs PBS; protein in dialysate: p < 0.001, Glu vs PBS, and p < 0.01, Man vs PBS). We conclude that hypertonicity of the dialysis fluid inhibits the inflammatory reaction in the peritoneal cavity during peritoneal dialysis.

Morphometric study of the lens in staged human embryos.

In 32 embryos of developmental stages 13 to 23 the measurements of the eye and lens were made. It was shown that the speed of growth of the eye and lens is at a maximum between 19 and 23 stages. Beginning from stage 19 the lens acquires ellipsoidal shape.

Morphometric study of the human embryonic retina.

In 33 embryos the retinal thickness and neuronal density was investigated. Diameter of the eye in relation to embryonic age increases linearly to stage 20 and after this period is more pronounced. Thickness of the external nuclear layer increases slowly in the investigated period. The internal nuclear layer appears at stage 17 and in increases in thickness fourfold to the end of embryonic period.

Morphometric study of the cornea in human embryos.

Morphometric study was conducted on 28, serially sectioned staged human embryos. The cornea is of equal thickness during its early development (stages 15-17). During developmental stages 18 and 19 (7th week) it is thicker in the central part. In the last embryonic week the peripheral part of the cornea becomes thicker than its central part. The performed study elucidates structural differentiation during development of the cornea.

[Spontaneous Pulfrich's effect in patients with dysfunction of the optic nerve]. / Spontaniczne zludzenie Pulfricha u pacjentów z dysfunkcjq nerwu wzrokowego.

Twenty patients with various dysfunctions of the optic nerve were subjected to examinations by means of a test based on the Pulfrich's phenomenon. The Pulfrich's effect was observed in 18 among them. The survey of the phenomenon was continued in 5 patients in the course of the treatment. It was detected that the dimension of the spontaneous Pulfrich's illusion diminishes gradually tending towards norm. The results obtained assure us of the usefulness of the application of the Pulfrich's effect as a diagnostic test in ophthalmology and neurology.

[Clinical description of pseudoexfoliation of the lens capsule]. / Charakterystyka kliniczna rzekomego zluszczania sie torebki soczewki.

The authors presented their clinical observation of 75 cases of pseudoexfoliation syndrome. The most frequent reasons for admission were glaucoma (65%) and cataract (27%). The diagnosis of pseudoexfoliation of lens capsule was made basing on the examination of the anterior segment of the eyeball with slit lamp. Glaucoma that occurs with the pseudoexfoliation of lens capsule is of secondary, open angle nature.

[Use of Pulfrich's phenomenon in ophthalmological diagnosis]. / Zastosowanie zjawiska Pulfricha w diagnostyce okulistycznej.

The Pulfrich effect is a simply observable visual stereo phenomenon arising when the visual latency for one eye is longer than for the another. In the paper the review of the literature devoted to the application of this phenomenon for the ophthalmological diagnosis is presented. The authors come to the conclusion that the Pulfrich effect can be successfully used in clinical practice as an indicator of many ophthalmological disorders especially of optic neuritis.

The effect on renal structure and function of late-life-introduced caloric restriction (CR) in rats.

Previous studies have shown that life-long caloric restriction in rats protects the kidneys from age-dependent injury. In this study, we analyzed whether late-life-introduced caloric restriction has a similar effect. The study lasted 12 months. Three groups of animals were analyzed: rats fed "ad libitum" (AD, n = 9), rats on 60% caloric restriction (CR, n = 9), and rats fed "ad libitum" for the first six months of their life then switched to 60% caloric restriction thereafter (LCR, n = 9). At the end of the study kidney function was assessed and kidney samples were analyzed histologically. Serum creatinine and urine albumin were higher in AD than in both CR and LCR (P < 0.001). Creatinine clearance (Cl(cr)) corrected for body weight was lowest in AD and comparable in CR and LCR. Similarly Cl(cr) corrected for kidney weight was lower in AD than in both CR and LCR (P < 0.05). Severe albuminuria was observed only in AD. In CR and LCR the amount of albumin excreted was comparable (AD vs. CR, P < 0.0001; AD vs. LCR, P < 0.001). In morphometric analysis, the mean size of the glomeruli was higher in AD than in both CR and LCR (P < 0.01). Similar results were found for the mesangial area (AD vs. CR, P < 0.001; AD vs. LCR, P < 0.01) and for mesangial cell counts (AD vs. CR, P < 0.001; AD vs. LCR, P < 0.05). No difference was found between CR and LCR in morphometry. In conclusion, our study indicates that late-life introduction of caloric restriction reverses most of the structural and functional changes observed in the kidneys of "ad libitum"-fed rats.