scholarly journals Dehydroepiandrosterone Treatment Is Not Beneficial to the Immune Response to Influenza in Elderly Subjects*

1997 ◽  
Vol 82 (9) ◽  
pp. 2911-2914
Author(s):  
H. D. Danenberg ◽  
A. Ben-Yehuda ◽  
Z. Zakay-Rones ◽  
D. J. Gross ◽  
G. Friedman
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Antibody Titer ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Double Blind Study ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Dhea Treatment

Abstract Background. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a native steroid with an immunomodulating activity that was suggested to counterregulate some phenomena of immunosenescence. Recently, it was shown to reverse the age-associated decline of immune response against influenza vaccine in aged mice. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of DHEA on the immunization of elderly volunteers against influenza. Methods. Seventy-one elderly volunteers age 61–89 yr were enrolled in a prospective randomized, double-blind study to receive either DHEA (50 mg qd p.o. for four consecutive days starting two days before immunization) or placebo. Antibody response to the vaccine was measured before and 28 days after vaccination. Results. DHEA treatment significantly increased serum DHEA-sulfate (DHEA-S). No enhancement in established immunity was observed. A significant decrease in attainment of protective antibody titer (1:40 or higher) against the A/Texas strain in subjects with nonprotective baseline antibody titer was recorded following DHEA treatment compared with placebo (52% vs. 84%, P < 0.05). Baseline DHEA-S serum levels were inversely related to attainment of immunization in DHEA-treated subjects. Influenza-like morbidity during the winter was low in the study group with no difference between the DHEA and placebo groups. Conclusions. Although highly effective in aged rodents, a short course of DHEA treatment did not improve the age-related declined response to immunization against influenza in human subjects. Higher baseline DHEA-S levels are not predictive of better immunization against influenza in the elderly.

An Overview of Fluoxetine in Geriatric Depression

1988 ◽  
Vol 153 (S3) ◽  
pp. 105-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. Feighner ◽  
William F. Boyer ◽  
Charles H. Meredith ◽  
Gordon Hendrickson
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The Body ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Aging Brain ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Geriatric Depression ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Age Related

During the past 75 years, the proportion of elderly individuals in the USA has grown twice as fast as the general population. Depression in this age-group occurs four times more frequently than in the general population (Butler, 1975), and the suicide rate for people over 65 years of age is 15 times greater than that of the general population (Lehman, 1980).The elderly may be more susceptible to depression due to biological and/or psychosocial variables. Elderly people experience significant losses associated with increasing age, including death of spouse and friends, loss of work, social status, and physical and mental abilities (Lehman, 1980). The biogenic amine hypothesis suggests that the aging brain may experience a decrease in the functional availability of neurotransmitters (Lehman, 1980); this decrease may also play a role in the aetiology of depression.Due to age-related changes in the body, the elderly can be more sensitive to drug therapy. Older patients may require careful dosage adjustments and may also be more prone to experiencing drug-related adverse events. The elderly often receive medication for various indications, and drug interactions are a concern (Thompson et al, 1983). Therefore, efficacy and safety studies of new antidepressants in elderly patients are particularly important. We pooled data from both double-blind and open-label studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fluoxetine in geriatric outpatients with DSM-III major depression. Positive results of fluoxetine in the treatment of geriatric depression were reported in one of these studies (Feighner & Cohn, 1985). The favourable safety and side-effect profile of fluoxetine in the general population has been discussed elsewhere (Wernicke, 1985). Plasma concentrations of fluoxetine in elderly subjects are similar to those in younger individuals (I.emberger et al, 1985). These findings, combined with a lack of cardiovascular effects (Fisch, 1985), and low lethality with overdose, indicated promise for fluoxetine as a geriatric antidepressant.

scholarly journals Extra Virgin Olive Oil Prevents the Age-Related Shifts of the Distribution of HDL Subclasses and Improves Their Functionality

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2235
Author(s):  
Alyann Otrante ◽  
Amal Trigui ◽  
Roua Walha ◽  
Hicham Berrougui ◽  
Tamas Fulop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Olive Oil ◽  
Virgin Olive Oil ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Extra Virgin Olive Oil ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
High Density ◽  
Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Young Subjects

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) maintain cholesterol homeostasis through the role they play in regulating reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), a process by which excess cholesterol is transported back to the liver for elimination. However, RCT can be altered in the presence of cardiovascular risk factors, such as aging, which contributes to the increase in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The present study was aimed at investigating the effect of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) intake on the cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) of HDL, and to elucidate on the mechanisms by which EVOO intake improves the anti-atherogenic activity of HDL. A total of 84 healthy women and men were enrolled and were distributed, according to age, into two groups: 27 young (31.81 ± 6.79 years) and 57 elderly (70.72 ± 5.6 years) subjects. The subjects in both groups were given 25 mL/d of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) for 12 weeks. CEC was measured using J774 macrophages radiolabeled with tritiated cholesterol ((3H) cholesterol). HDL subclass distributions were analyzed using the Quantimetrix Lipoprint® system. The HDL from the elderly subjects exhibited a lower level of CEC, at 11.12% (p < 0.0001), than the HDL from the young subjects. The CEC of the elderly subjects returned to normal levels following 12 weeks of EVOO intake. An analysis of the distribution of HDL subclasses showed that HDL from the elderly subjects were composed of lower levels of large HDL (L-HDL) (p < 0.03) and higher levels of small HDL (S-HDL) (p < 0.002) compared to HDL from the young subjects. A multiple linear regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between CEC and L-HDL levels (r = 0.35 and p < 0.001) as well as an inverse correlation between CEC and S-HDL levels (r = −0.27 and p < 0.01). This correlation remained significant even when several variables, including age, sex, and BMI as well as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and glucose levels (β = 0.28, p < 0.002, and β = 0.24, p = 0.01) were accounted for. Consuming EVOO for 12 weeks modulated the age-related difference in the distribution of HDL subclasses by reducing the level of S-HDL and increasing the level of intermediate-HDL/large-HDL (I-HDL/L-HDL) in the elderly subjects. The age-related alteration of the CEC of HDL was due, in part, to an alteration in the distribution of HDL subclasses. A diet enriched in EVOO improved the functionality of HDL through an increase in I-HDL/L-HDL and a decrease in S-HDL.

Decreased Neutrophil Cyclic AMP Response to Isoprenaline Stimulation in the Elderly

1983 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. G. Cotter ◽  
K. O'Malley
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Population Heterogeneity ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Young Subjects ◽  
Drug Free

1. Neutrophils from drug-free elderly subjects produced approximately 50% less cyclic AMP in response to isoprenaline than did neutrophils from young subjects. A significant difference in basal cyclic AMP levels was also evident (elderly 2.8 ± 0.37; young 4.9 ± 0.36 pmol of cAMP/107 cells; P < 0.05). 2. With a range of anti-neutrophil monoclonal antibodies no evidence of age-related neutrophil population heterogeneity was found. 3. These findings indicate that the age-related decline in β-adrenoceptor responsiveness is not due to changes in the neutrophil population. 4. The present results support the hypothesis that there is a generalized decline in β-adrenoceptor-mediated responsiveness in the elderly.

Evidence for diminished visceral pain with aging: studies using graded intraesophageal balloon distension

1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (1) ◽  
pp. G1-G3 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Lasch ◽  
D. O. Castell ◽  
J. A. Castell
Keyword(s):  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Visceral Pain ◽  
Threshold Value ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Balloon Distension ◽  
Intraesophageal Balloon Distension

Graded intraesophageal balloon distension (IEBD) has been utilized in the past to evaluate esophageal pain thresholds. With use of a technique that we have found to provide reproducible results for pain thresholds, two groups of normal individuals without esophageal symptoms or diabetes were studied. Group 1 included 10 "young" (age < 65 yr) individuals (mean age 27 yr, range 18-57 yr). Group 2 included 17 individuals age 65 yr or greater (mean age 72.5 yr, range 65-87 yr). Catheters with latex balloons (Wilson-Cook) were used in all 27 subjects with the balloon located 10 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter. Sequential inflations of 2-ml increments were performed until a total volume of 2 ml above the point of pain or to a maximum of 30 ml was reached. A series of two sequential inflations were performed on each subject on the day of the testing, and the mean value was taken to indicate pain threshold volumes for all 27 subjects. In the group of elderly volunteers, 5 subjects felt no pain even at the maximum inflatable volume of the balloon (30 ml) and were assigned a maximum threshold value of 30 ml. Mean pain threshold volumes for the young subjects was 17 +/- 0.8 ml of air (+/- SE) and for the elderly subjects was 27 +/- 1.4 ml (P < 0.01 and 95% confidence interval = 7.1-13.3). Our conclusion is that IEBD results in the esophagus indicate an age-related decrease in human visceral pain threshold.

scholarly journals Effects of Loigolactobacillus coryniformis K8 CECT 5711 on the Immune Response of Elderly Subjects to COVID-19 Vaccination: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Nutrients ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 228
Author(s):  
Anxo Fernández-Ferreiro ◽  
Francisco J. Formigo-Couceiro ◽  
Roi Veiga-Gutierrez ◽  
Jose A. Maldonado-Lobón ◽  
Ana M. Hermida-Cao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Nursing Home Residents ◽  
Vaccination Schedule ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Iga Antibody ◽  
Specific Igg ◽  
Antibody Levels

Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, with a high risk of developing severe disease and a reduced immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial to assess the effect of the consumption of the probiotic Loigolactobacillus coryniformis K8 CECT 5711 on the immune response generated by the COVID-19 vaccine in an elderly population was performed. Two hundred nursing home residents >60 yrs that had not COVID-19 were randomized to receive L. coryniformis K8 or a placebo daily for 3 months. All volunteers received a complete vaccination schedule of a mRNA vaccine, starting the intervention ten days after the first dose. Specific IgG and IgA antibody levels were analyzed 56 days after the end of the immunization process. No differences between the groups were observed in the antibody levels. During the intervention, 19 subjects had COVID-19 (11 receiving K8 vs. 8 receiving placebo, p = 0.457). Subgroup analysis in these patients showed that levels of IgG were significantly higher in those receiving K8 compared to placebo (p = 0.038). Among subjects >85 yrs that did not get COVID-19, administration of K8 tended to increase the IgA levels (p = 0.082). The administration of K8 may enhance the specific immune response against COVID-19 and may improve the COVID-19 vaccine-specific responses in elderly populations.

A Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Study Demonstrates the Clinical Efficacy of a Novel Herbal Formulation for Relieving Joint Discomfort in Human Subjects with Osteoarthritis of Knee

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 511-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasu Karlapudi ◽  
Anjaneya Venkata Vara Prasad Mungara ◽  
Krishanu Sengupta ◽  
Barbara A. Davis ◽  
Siba Prasad Raychaudhuri
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Efficacy ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Blind Study ◽  
Double Blind Study ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Osteoarthritis Of Knee ◽  
Herbal Formulation

A Double-Blind Study Comparing the Effectiveness of Cromolyn Sodium and Sustained-Release Theophylline in Childhood Asthma

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-459
Author(s):  
Clifton T. Furukawa ◽  
Gail G. Shapiro ◽  
C. Warren Bierman ◽  
Michael J. Kraemer ◽  
Daniel J. Ward ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Challenge Test ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Cromolyn Sodium ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Double Blind Study ◽  
Office Visits ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Asthma In Children

The effectiveness of cromolyn sodium and theophylline on asthma in children was compared during a 3-month trial. Forty-six children (aged 5 to 15 years) with asthma were assigned at random to cromolyn or theophylline (Theo-Dur) treatment groups. Each subject received theophylline placebo or cromolyn placebo in addition to the active drugs. A methacholine challenge test was done at the start of the study to document asthma and was repeated during the third month. The theophylline dosage was regulated to obtain serum levels of 10 to 15 µg/mL by a physician not involved directly with patient care. Forty patients completed the study. Both theophylline and cromolyn treatment groups showed improvement from base-line status in terms of symptom scores, pulmonary function, and decreased use of inhaled albuterol. Patients treated with theophylline had more side effects and required more frequent office visits than those treated with cromolyn. Both groups had decreased sensitivity to methacholine, and for one statistical test patients treated with cromolyn improved significantly. These results indicate that cromolyn is as effective as theophylline in treating mild to moderate asthma in children; additional benefits were fewer side effects and a possible decrease in bronchial hyperactivity.

Replacement Therapy in Hemophilia Patients with Inhibitors

1979 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.S. Shapiro
Keyword(s):  
Factor Viii ◽  
Antibody Titer ◽  
Hemophilia A ◽  
Double Blind Study ◽  
Cooperative Study ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
High Degree ◽  
High Treatment ◽  
Dependent Factor

Approximately 15% of patients with hemophilia A develop inhibitors to Factor VIII. These inhibitors have a high degree of specificity for Factor VIII procoagulant activity. Inhibitor patients seem to fall into 2 groups: roughly 3/4 are “strong” responders, whose Factor VIII antibody titer rises substantially after exposure to Factor VIII, while the remainder are “weak” responders, whose antibody level remains below 3-5 Bethesda units/ml despite exposure to Factor VIII. The latter group can be treated successfully with Factor VIII, although the dose required may be greater than in non-inhibitor patients. The “strong” responders can be treated with Factor VIII if their antibody titer is very low, although anamnesis will ensue within 3-4 days, reaching a maximum in 10-20 days. When antibody titers are high, treatment can be extremely difficult. Use of Factor VIII may still be possible, when combined with massive plasmapheresis; otherwise treatment with vitamin K-dependent factor concentrates may be attempted. A variety of such concentrates is available, both “non-activated” and “activated”. The former type of product may have become less useful for the treatment of inhibitor patients in recent years. The NTH Cooperative Study of Factor VIII Inhibitors in Hemophilia A has recently conducted a double-blind study of Konyne and Proplex in the treatment of Inhibitor patients. These results will be presented.

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