The knowledge of symptoms of hypoglycaemia of 45 consecutive elderly diabetic patients was assessed during a structured interview and compared with that of an age-matched non-diabetic control group. Twenty-three (88%) patients taking oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHAs) and six (32%) insulin-treated patients denied any knowledge of hypoglycaemia. There was no significant difference in knowledge of 14 symptoms of hypoglycaemia between the non-diabetic controls and the combined diabetic (OHA and insulin) groups, but insulin-treated patients were slightly more knowledgeable than patients taking OHAs. Fourteen (54%) of the OHA group were taking either glibenclamide or chlorpropamide which have been associated with severe and prolonged hypoglycaemia. Elderly diabetic patients are unlikely to respond to the warning symptoms of hypoglycaemia and caution should therefore be exercised when prescribing for these patients.

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The use of amphotericin B, liposomal or non-liposomal preparations at low doses, for prophylaxis of IFI in high-risk LT patients, is associated with a low incidence of serious fungal infection. In this randomised study, low-dose amBisome prophylaxis was associated with an increased likelihood of successful discharge from the ICU.

Erythrocyte folate levels were compared among 25 young healthy subjects (mean age, 27 years), 29 healthy subjects aged over 75 living in the community, 62 subjects (mean age, 75) admitted to a geriatric assessment ward (acute illnesses), and 32 subjects (aged over 65) in a ward for long-term physical or mental illnesses. Overall, the female/male sex ratio varied from 2:1 to 3:1. For the three elderly groups, the incidence of low erythrocyte folate levels (less than 100 mmicrogram/100 ml) were 24 percent, 16 percent, and 18 percent, respectively. For the young group, the mean value would be over 296 mmicrogram/100 ml. Dietary folate deficiency may often account for low folate blood levels in the elderly, but other factors should also be implicated, e.g., the ability to absorb folate.