Characteristics of the ageing skin, xerosis cutis and its complications

Abstract As life expectancy has prolonged nowadays, interest has increased to change patterns of life, which include improving the consequences of skin ageing through slowing the ageing process. There are two main processes of skin ageing either intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic ageing reflects genetic background in which skin appears thin with exaggerated expression lines. However, extrinsic ageing is caused by external factors such as smoking, excessive use of alcohol, poor nutrition and sun exposure. Extrinsically aged skin appears predominantly not only by wrinkles, but also by pigmented lesions such as freckles, lentigines and patchy hyperpigmentation, and depigmented lesions such as guttate hypomelanosis. Epidermal and dermal atrophy, rough skin texture, flushing, erythema, telangiectasias, dilated pores and loss of tone and elasticity are also other signs of skin aging. Over the past few years, the use of Mesobotox has broadened and it is now commonly used as rejuvenation procedure with different dilutions. Our work aimed to compare between three commonly used dilutions of Mesobotox regarding its efficacy and safety, as this comparison was not done previously. Aim of the study The aim of this work is to evaluate and compare between different dilutions of Mesobotox in mid and / or lower facial rejuvenation. Patients and methods We included 30 patients complaining of facial wrinkles. Patients were divided into three equal groups to study three different dilutions of Mesobotox 1:5, 1:7 and 1:10. Assessment of treatment response was done using 3D Antera camera. Results Assessment of treatment response using Antera camera in 1:5 dilution revealed statistically significant improvement in all the parameters (periorbital and midface) with more evident improvement after 1 month of treatment compared to after 6 months of treatment. With 1:7 dilution and 1:10 dilution, response revealed statistically significant improvement in most of the parameters (periorbital and midface) with more evident improvement after 1 month of treatment compared to after 6 months of treatment.

The demand for health care and social welfare services for the elderly has increased and in Japan, there is a need in the social system to improve the quality of life, especially for those who are disabled. This article directs attention to bed-ridden elderly persons from the standpoint of social problems attending economic development and population changes based on data from Japan, the United States, Sweden, and OECD countries. Compared to the United States, there are more bed-ridden elderly in Japan, and inadequate public resources for caring. Physicians, nurses, care workers, and rehabilitation specialists such as physiotherapist and occupational therapist per 1000 aged sixty-five or over are 89.5 in Japan while 237.4 in Sweden. Japan has the fewest such health and welfare personnel among developed countries. Even with increases in such personnel through the New Gold Plan, future increase in aged population would off-set the effect and the problem of providing care for the elderly remains.

Background: After coronary artery disease and cancer, stroke is the third commonest cause of death in the developed countries. Mortality risk is quite variable among stroke patients. Careful and early risk evaluation of each patient is therefore important. Electrolyte imbalance is a common phenomenon after stroke, particularly in the elderly. This research will provide the information regarding electrolyte imbalance in stroke patients.Objective: To find out prevalence of different type of electrolyte imbalance between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients. Method: This short term prospective observational study was done in Medicine dept. of MMCH. We valuated 50 patients of Stroke admitted in hospital. Venous blood sample was collected for electrolyte. Additional clinical data was recorded including detailed complications of Stroke.Results: Out of 50 patients of Stroke the percentage of hypernatremia, hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hyperchloremia, hypochloremia, metabolic acidosis and metabolic alkalosis were higher in patients with Hemorrhagic stroke (27.3%,18.2%, 9.1%,18.2%, 45.5%, 18.2% and 9.2% respectively) than ischemic stroke patients (3.6%,7.1%, 3.6%, 0%, 3.6%, 0%, and 2.6% respectively).TAJ 2016; 29(1): 39-42

Due to the aging of population there is a need for reevaluation of the importance and the necessity of elderly people’s participation in the life of society and as a result reevaluation of the methods of their adjustment. Modern “third aged people” want to continue living in the habitual rhythm of life, being the full participants of the society even after their retirement. The social portrait of a modern elderly differs significantly from the one 15-20 years ago. The level of medicine in the developed countries provides them with good state of health and therefore they can retain high level of social and emotional activity. Using several countries (Japan, Australia, Canada,) as an example the article aims to present different ways of inclusion of elderly people in socially useful activities in order to solve the problems of the modern society, in other words, to suggest how third aged people may be helpful. The article sums up that giving the opportunity of social and professional activity to the elderly people helps them to prevent social maladjustment and arising feeling of needlessness after the termination of active employment.

Abstract: The proportion of elderly patients is getting increased in the developed countries as a consequence of which pharmacotherapy takes a more and more important place in the healthcare system. Important biological alterations are characteristic for the elderly subjects, which have effect on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the pharmaceuticals. Gradually decreased kidney function may demand the modification of the administration of the pharmaceuticals. Certain pharmaceuticals and drug-interactions are potentially dangerous for this population. Therefore several factors have to be taken into account in conjunction with the therapy of elderly patients including co-morbidities, cognitive function and the social state. At the same time, the risk–benefit ratio of the pharmaceuticals is the worst among elderly patients with pharmaceutical therapy including polypragmasy. Thus, it is inevitable for the development of geriatric pharmacotherapy that the physiologic alteration of elderly has to be taken into account not only in the daily practice but also during the development and formulation of a pharmaceutical. The present paper gives an overview of the most important factors influencing the pharmacotherapy of the elderly. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(23): 896–907.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the elderly population 50 years of age or older in the developed countries. This review discusses the traditional clinical and histopathological presentation of AMD, epidemiology and genetics component in relation to the current understanding of the vascular nature of the disease. Therapeutic approaches to treat the disease are also included in the review.

The newly industrializing countries seem set to follow many developed countries with a rapid growth in numbers of elderly people. This will throw considerable strain on their resources, particularly in the provision of services and accommodation for this group in society. Hong Kong is a leader amongst the newly industrializing countries, both in terms of its aging population (more than 11 percent of its people are now over 60 years of age) and in terms of economic growth. It has, however, only relatively recently embarked upon a comprehensive and integrated program to provide a wide range of accommodation for the elderly. This includes sheltered housing within Hong Kong's well-known public housing schemes, old people's homes, care-and-attention homes, and infirmaries. The private sector has also been growing rapidly in the 1980s with a considerable recent increase of old people's homes. A voluntary code of conduct for this sector was introduced in late 1986, but concerns remain about the quality of care and the rapid growth of private homes in the territory. The approaches to the provision of accommodation for the elderly are set in the context of Hong Kong's overall social policy development. Whilst the experience of relatively wealthy Hong Kong may not prove to be of relevance for the majority of Third World countries, it is argued that it may provide a model for other newly industrializing countries.

Background The increase in the number of elderly persons in developing countries has not had a corresponding increase in social and health care support systems for the elderly. There is a substantial difference in the quality of healthcare received by older people in developing and developed countries. Elderly persons in developing countries including Ghana are increasingly becoming marginalised and isolated. There is, however, limited evidence of healthcare challenges and expectations by elderly persons in Ghana. This study explored healthcare challenges and expectations of elderly persons to inform policy that could lead to improved quality of life for elderly persons in Ghana. Materials and methods Qualitative exploratory descriptive study design was used in conducting this study. Semi-structured interviews were used in collecting data from 30 participants from three regions in Ghana (10 from each region). Data analysis was carried out through content analysis. Results Four themes were extracted from data. These themes were: 1. Inadequate information from health workers regarding care of the older person. 2. Queuing frustrations. 3. Financial burden. 4. Focused elderly care demand. Conclusion The elderly in Ghana experience challenges of healthcare which include inadequate information, queuing frustrations and financial burdens. Elderly persons also have expectations of healthcare which include having dedicated professionals and units that will attend to them during their hospital visits. Academic and clinical gerontology experts could collaborate and help improve gerontology knowledge of health workers through workshops and conferences. Improving knowledge of health workers in gerontology may be a positive step towards meeting healthcare expectations of older Ghanaians.

A “silver economy” can drive economic growth. The key condition is effective demand, determined by the number of financially secure members of the elderly population. The aim of this study is to assess the conditions of the Russian “silver economy”, identify the constraints on its growth, and develop recommendations for their elimination to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. We applied multivariate statistical analysis methods. The absolute and structural numbers of elderly people in Russia were found to not differ much from those in the developed countries of Europe. Their financial support exhibits several important features. A state pension plays a key role in financing the needs of Russian pensioners. Income from labor occupies the second position. Asset-based reallocations are negligible. Public programs will improve the standard of living of current pensioners. For future pensioners, it is important to increase the income received from asset-based reallocations. Russian pensioners were found to have had a negative experience of participation in the funded pension system. It is necessary to stimulate the voluntary participation of future pensioners in the funded pension system and to change the regulation of the investment activities of pension managers. In general, the formation of conditions favorable to the “silver economy” may turn it into a driver of sustainable development in Russia.

Till the end of the twentieth century, aging was considered an issue of the developed countries. However, given the rapidly aging population in developing countries, coupled with the rapidly changing socio-economic and cultural contexts like urbanization, increasing women participation, individualism, and nuclear families, it has been acknowledged that aging poses greater challenge to these countries owing to resource constrains and lack of political commitment. India is undergoing a rapid demographic transition with 104 million older adults in 2011, which is projected to triple by 2050. This transition poses challenges for the health and social systems, and there is an urgent need to strengthen these system with inclusive policies and developmental approaches. This chapter highlights population aging issues and initiatives undertaken to address aging issues in India by critically reviewing the efforts made at global as well as national levels over the years against emerging challenges.