Balance and mobility performance as treatable risk factors for recurrent falling in older persons.

Background And Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine whether easily measurable measures for balance and muscle strength predicted recurrent falling as well as sophisticated measurements, and to examine which of the modifiable risk factors were strongest associated with recurrent falling.

Methods: The study was performed in a subsample (n=439, aged 69-92 years) of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA). Balance, muscle strength, physical activity, and performance tests were assessed.

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and cognitive decline in older persons.

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) deficiency may be involved in cognitive deficits seen with aging, and in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. The objective of this study was to investigate whether IGF-I is associated with cognitive performance and 3-year cognitive decline in 1318 subjects, aged 65-88 years. Cross-sectionally, IGF-I was directly related to information processing speed, memory, fluid intelligence, and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, but these associations did not remain significant after adjustment for age and other factors.

Prevention of hip fractures by external hip protectors: a randomized controlled trial.

Context: Several randomized controlled trials have been performed to examine the effectiveness of external hip protectors in reducing the incidence of hip fractures, but the results are controversial.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of hip protectors in reducing the incidence of hip fractures in an elderly high-risk population.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Randomized controlled trial of elderly persons aged 70 years or older, who have low bone density, and are at high risk for falls.

Different cognitive functions in relation to falls among older persons. Immediate memory as an independent risk factor for falls.

It is not clear which specific cognitive function is strongest related to falls. To investigate this, not only "general cognitive functioning," but also "nonverbal and abstract reasoning," "information processing speed," and "immediate memory" were related to falls. Furthermore, relevant effect modifiers, confounders, and mediators were identified.

Daily oral pamidronate in women and men with osteoporosis: a 3-year randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial with a 2-year open extension.

The efficacy and safety of oral pamidronate was examined in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in women and men with established osteoporosis. Seventy-eight postmenopausal women and 23 men with at least one prevalent vertebral fracture were randomized separately to 150 mg/day of pamidronate or placebo for 3 years followed by 150 mg/day of pamidronate for an additional 2 years. In addition, all patients received 400 U/day of cholecalciferol and 500 mg/day of elemental calcium.

Bone histomorphometric and biochemical marker results of a 2-year placebo-controlled trial of raloxifene in postmenopausal women.

Raloxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator that has been shown to increase bone density. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of raloxifene on bone tissue by studying bone biopsy specimens before and after 2 years of raloxifene or placebo therapy. The women in this study were participants of the double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study, the Multiple Outcomes of Raloxifene Evaluation (MORE) trial.

Extraintestinal Complications of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Extraintestinal complications of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are often secondary to the underlying disease. Therefore, the first priority is to get active IBD into remission with medications, since surgery for IBD is not indicated for the treatment of extraintestinal complications. Symptoms of extraintestinal complications usually can be treated with simple agents; the treatment of patients with refractory symptoms and the use of more complex drug regimens should be done in cooperation with specialists on affected organ systems.