Prospective observational study to evaluate risk factors for falls in institutionalized elderly people: the role of cystatin C.

Aim: To evaluate the role of balance and gait disorders, comorbidities and laboratory abnormalities in the occurrence of falls in an institutionalized elderly population.

Methods: We made a non-interventional, prospective, observational study in elderly institutionalized people. Comorbidities and information on treatments were obtained.

Relationship of -55C/T polymorphism of uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) gene with metabolic syndrome by ATP III classification.

Background And Aims: The relation of -55C/T polymorphism of uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) with metabolic syndrome (MS) has been evaluated only in one previous study with contradictory results. The aim of our study was to investigate the association of -55C/T polymorphism of UCP3 gene with MS.

Design: A population of 817 obese Caucasian patients was analyzed in a cross-sectional survey.