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Cancer is dependent on so-called cancer stem cells that initiate and maintain the cancer cell population. Stem cells are described in normal tissue as low-frequent, self-renewing cells with a multi- or pluripotent differentiation potential. The true characteristics of the cancer-initiating cells are still not entirely known, but it is obvious that identifying these cells will enable us to better understand the biology of cancer. In this article, we focus on normal haematopoietic stem cells and cancer stem cells in leukaemia and multiple myeloma.

In order to assess the proportion of geriatric patients in a medical department, all of the inpatients admitted to the Medical Department of Hørsholm Hospital during the period 19.3.1987-15.4.1987 were assessed in view of the geriatric clinical picture. The criteria for assessment as a geriatric patient were established in advance and included: Presence of several medical problems inhibition of functions and social problems and an estimated need for prolonged hospitalization to solve these problems, including rehabilitation. Out of 191 inpatients, 15 (8%) were considered to be geriatric patients. These 8% were all aged 60 years or more, were hospitalized for an average of 23 days and used 21% of the total number of bed days. The remaining patients aged more than 60 years were hospitalized for an average of nine days and comprised 47% of the total number of inpatients and used 49% of the bed days. The geriatric patients differed, in addition, from the other patients aged over 60 years in that 85% compared with 58% were readmitted within a period of two years. No difference in the mortality was observed during a period of two years. This investigation supports previous suppositions about the proportion of geriatric patients and indicates that assessment as to whether a geriatric patient is concerned or not may be made already during the first 24 hours in hospital.

As part of a total project concerning description and effects of the coordinating efforts of home nurses in connection with admission to and discharge from hospital of persons over the age of 65 years, the functional capacity and the subjective parameters: quality of life, self-assessed health and loneliness were registered on discharge and two months later. In order to assess the effect of intervention, the intervention group was compared with a control group. No differences in the functional capacity could be demonstrated on discharge or after two months. No differences could be demonstrated in the subjective parameters either. The effect of the home nurses' efforts in the total project could be measured as a reduction in the number of institution-days in the intervention group. These results suggest that, in further attempts to reduce the risk of complications in recently discharged elderly patients, further assistance of the functional capacity should be added to the forms of intervention described.