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As a part of an ongoing longitudinal investigation, this study examined relationships between survival and selected immune system parameters in a sample (n = 102) of very old individuals (86-92 years at the time of initial immune system data collection). Analyses were performed comparing initial time-point measurements from those individuals who were alive (n = 75) and those who were deceased (n = 27) two years after initial data collection. Immune system measurements consisted of determination of peripheral blood lymphocytes and lymphocyte subsets, as well as T-cell responses to activation by Concanavalin A. Cluster analysis identified a subgroup associated with nonsurvival which indicated characteristics that included: poor T-cell proliferative responses, high CD8 percentages, and low CD4 and CD19 percentages. This multivariate analysis suggested that combinations of immune system parameters predict two-year survival otherwise not apparent when single immune system parameters were evaluated in the elderly.

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The aim of the study was to compare salivary flow rate, salivary pH, buffer capacity of the saliva, salivary glucose content, and number of Candida albicans, lactobacilli, and Streptococcus mutans in the saliva in age- and sex-matched adult long- and short-duration insulin-dependent diabetics and non-diabetics. Ninety-four long-duration and 86 short-duration diabetics and 86 non-diabetics, aged 20-70 years, participated in the study. Paraffin-stimulated whole saliva was collected. Both long- and short-duration diabetics had a decreased salivary flow rate and an increased salivary glucose content compared with non-diabetics. However, the differences were small. There were no significant differences between the groups in salivary pH, buffer capacity, or bacterial counts.