Experimental gerontology
-
Experimental gerontology · Nov 2014
Multicenter StudyPrecipitating factors of delirium: stress response to multiple triggers among patients with and without dementia.
Delirium is common and serious acute syndrome among older people precipitated by multiple external factors such as acute illnesses, trauma, surgery, and drugs. The aim of this study was to find possible stressors and causative triggers for acute delirium and compare patients with or without dementia in this respect. ⋯ Most patients had multiple precipitating factors for delirium irrespective of prior dementia. Those with dementia and decreased cognitive reserves needed lower number of etiologies to develop delirium. The profile of causative agents differed among patients with and without dementia.
-
Experimental gerontology · Nov 2014
Age related differences in diaphragm muscle fiber response to mid/long term controlled mechanical ventilation.
Critically ill intensive care patients are subjected to controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV) which has an important association in triggering the impaired muscle function and the consequent delayed weaning from the respirator. ⋯ This study shows an unexpected response of the diaphragm fibers to 5days CMV, demonstrating an increased CSA (p<0.001) in both young and old animals. Furthermore, an observed decreased maximum force of 39.8-45.2% (p<0.001) in both young and old animals compared with controls resulted in a dramatic loss of specific force. We suggest that this increase in CSA and decrease in specific force observed in both the young and old diaphragm fibers is an ineffective compensatory hypertrophy in response to the CMV. These results demonstrate an important mechanism of significant importance for the weaning problems associated with mechanical ventilation.
-
Life expectancy is assumed to rise continuously and consequently global burden of age-associated diseases is expected to increase. All vital organs begin to lose some function during aging with different rates, and the same happens on the lung. ⋯ We here hypothesize that environmental gases, such as cigarette smoke and kitchen pollutants, may accelerate the aging of lung or worsen aging-related events in the lung, leading to defective resolution of inflammation, reduced anti-oxidant capacity and defective disposal of abnormal proteins, and this consequently induces progression of COPD. Recent studies identified some anti-aging small molecules (geroprotectors) that may open up new avenues for the treatment of COPD.