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- Bixo, Marie, 1957-
(författare)
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Ovarian steroids in rat and human brain : effects of different endocrine states
- 1987
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Ovarian steroid hormones are known to produce several different effects in the brain. In addition to their role in gonadotropin release, ovulation and sexual behaviour they also seem to affect mood and emotions, as shown in women with the premenstrual tension syndrome. Some steroids have the ability to affect brain excitability. Estradiol decreases the electroshock threshold while progesterone acts as an anti-convulsant and anaesthetic in both animals and humans. Several earlier studies have shown a specific uptake of several steroids in the animal brain but only a few recent studies have established the presence of steroids in the human brain.In the present studies, the dissections of rat and human brains were carried out macroscopically and areas that are considered to be related to steroid effects were chosen. Steroid concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay after extraction and separation with celite chromatography. The accuracy and specificity of these methods were estimated.In the animal studies, immature female rats were treated with Pregnant Mare's Serum Gonadotropin (PMSG) to induce simultaneous ovulations. Concentrations of estradiol and progesterone were measured in seven brain areas pre- and postovulatory. The highest concentration of estradiol, pre- and postovulatory, was found in the hypothalamus and differences between the two cycle phases were detected in most brain areas. The preovulatory concentrations of progesterone were low and the highest postovulatory concentration was found in the cerebral cortex.In one study, the rats were injected with pharmacological doses of progesterone to induce "anaesthesia". High uptake of progesterone was found and a regional variation in the formation of 5<*-pregnane-3,20-dione in the brain with the highest ratio in the medulla oblongata.Concentrations of progesterone, 5a-pregnane-3*20-dione, estradiol and testosterone were determined in 17 brain areas of fertile compared to postmenopausal women. All steroids displayed regional differences in brain concentrations. Higher concentrations of estradiol and progesterone were found in the fertile compared to the postmenopausal women.In summary, these studies show that the concentrations of ovarian steroids in the brain are different at different endocrine states in both rats and humans and that there are regional differences in brain steroid distribution.
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| 2. |
- Sandman, Per-Olof, 1950-, et al.
(författare)
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Long-term care of the elderly : A descriptive study of 3600 institutionalized patients in the county of Västerbotten, Sweden
- 1988
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Ingår i: Comprehensive gerontology. Section A, Clinical and laboratory sciences. - 0902-0071. ; 2:3, s. 120-32
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Probands (n = 3607) living in long-term care institutions in the county of Västerbotten were assessed to estimate whether the prevalence of dementia in different types of institutions had changed since a similar survey was made 7 years before. The probands' motoric functions, vision, hearing, speech, prevalence of behavioral disturbances and psychiatric symptoms, work load and use of psychoactive drugs were also investigated with special emphasis on the differences between the demented and the non-demented. About 40% were demented. This proportion of demented patients had increased in somatic long-stay clinics, nursing homes and homes for the aged since 1975. Further, the mean age of the probands and their length of stay had increased in these institutions. Demented probands were more impaired with regard to motor functions, speech, vision, hearing, ADL-functions, behavioral and psychiatric symptoms, and they also imposed a higher work load on the staff than the non-demented. Demented probands were also prescribed psychoactive drugs, i.e. neuroleptics but not minor tranquilizers or antidepressants, more often than the non-demented in accordance with the increased prevalence of behavioral disturbances and psychiatric symptoms.
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| 3. |
- Sandman, Per-Olof, 1950-, et al.
(författare)
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Nutritional status and dietary intake in institutionalised patients with Alzheimer's disease and multifarct dementia
- 1987
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Ingår i: Journal of The American Geriatrics Society. - 0002-8614 .- 1532-5415. ; 35, s. 31-38
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nutritional status, dietary intake, weight change, and mortality were studied in a sample of severely demented, institutionalized patients. Dietary intake was registered during five days in two periods, five weeks apart. A weighing method was used. Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric measurements (weight for height index, triceps skinfold thickness, arm muscle circumference) and determination of circulating proteins (albumin, transferrin, and prealbumin). Energy and/or protein malnutrition was found in 50% of the patients. The mean dietary intake was sufficient according to energy (2059 kcal/day), proteins, vitamins, and minerals. A comparison of patients with or without malnutrition showed no differences in dietary intake, diagnoses, age, length of hospital stay, or duration of illness. However, malnourished patients had had four times as many infectious periods treated by antibiotics as patients with no malnutrition. Thirty-nine of 44 patients lost weight during their hospital stay. There was no correlation between loss of weight, length of hospital stay, or duration of illness.
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