MATERIALS AND METHODS: TGBII was performed in male Wistar rats (3 to 5 months, 150 to 300 g) which underwent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) for 20 minutes, then reperfused for 10 days (BCCAO group, n = 6). Two groups of BCCAO were treated with intraperitoneal injection of calcitriol 0.125 μg/kgBW (VD1 group) and 0.5 μg/kgBW (VD2 group). The spatial memory function was tested using a probe test with Morris water maze (MWM). mRNA expression of BAX and SOD2 were assessed by the RT-PCR method. Meanwhile, immunohistochemical staining was used for identification of SOD2 protein. Statistical analysis is tested using one-way ANOVA followed by post-hoc LSD.
RESULTS: MWM showed a shorter duration in target quadrant of BCCAO group than the SO group, which is associated with BAX upregulation and SOD2 downregulation. The VDtreated groups had longer duration probe test compared to BCCAO. Furthermore, VD-treated groups had a longer duration in probe test with lower mRNA expression of BAX and higher expression of SOD2. However, there was no significant difference in VD1 and VD2. Immunostaining showed a reduced SOD2 signal in pyramidal cell of CA1 area in BCCAO group and ameliorated in VD1 and VD2 groups.
CONCLUSION: Vitamin D ameliorates memory function and attenuates oxidative stress and apoptosis in the TGBII model.
Material and Methods: This retrospective cohort study conducted in Turkey included 73 patients diagnosed with PV or ET according to WHO criteria between 2012 and 2018. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as 25-OH vitamin D < 20 ng/mL. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) V617F mutation.
Results: Vitamin D deficiency was found in 66.7% of PV and 74.2% of ET patients. The median follow-up time of ET and PV patients was 48 months and 47 months, respectively. Patients with the JAK2 mutation had a higher prevalence of a history of thrombosis and age older than 65 years. There was a significant relationship between JAK2 positivity and vitamin D deficiency.
Conclusion: There was a remarkably higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in JAK2 mutation-positive ET and PV patients. These patients should be carefully evaluated for vitamin D deficiency. More studies are required to further investigate the association between JAK2 and vitamin D.
METHODS: Predialysis CKD patients were included in this cross-sectional study. Patient demographics, medical/medication histories, and laboratory parameters (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), creatinine, phosphate (P), calcium, albumin, and intact-PTH (i-PTH)) were collected and compared among patients with various CKD stages. The association between 25(OH)D and these parameters was determined by multiple linear regression.
RESULTS: A total of 196 patients with mean ± SD eGFR of 26.4 ± 11.2 mL/min/1.73 m2 was included. Vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D concentration < 15 ng/mL) and insufficiency (25(OH)D concentration 16 - 30 ng/mL) was found in 29.1% and 57.7% of the patients, respectively. Mean ± SD serum 25(OH)D was 20.8 ± 9.3 ng/mL. Female patients had lower vitamin D concentrations than males (16.9 ng/mL vs. 23.9 ng/mL; p < 0.001). Vitamin D levels were also higher in Chinese (22.3 ng/mL) than Malay (17.3 ng/mL) and Indian (13.1 ng/mL) patients (p < 0.05). Nonadjusted analyses showed higher i-PTH concentration in vitamin D deficient patients (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Despite being a sun-rich country all year round, the majority (86.8%) of predialysis CKD patients in Singapore have suboptimal vitamin D status. Lower vitamin D concentrations were found in females and in those with darker skin tone. Vitamin D deficient patients also tended to have higher i-PTH levels.
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between primary aldosteronism (PA) with bone biochemical markers and to assess bone mineral density in patients with primary aldosteronism.
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: A total of 939 subjects were examined (37.5% with PA). Patients with PA had significantly higher serum parathyroid hormone, lower serum calcium, higher urine calcium excretion and higher serum alkaline phosphatase compared to patients without PA, with no significant difference in serum vitamin D between both groups. Bone mineral density of lumbar spine, femoral neck and total neck of femur were similar between two groups. With PA treatment, there was a significant increment in serum calcium and reduction in serum parathyroid hormone.
CONCLUSIONS: PA is associated with hypercalciuria with subsequent secondary hyperparathyroidism. This potentially affects bone health. We recommend this to be part of complication screening among patients with PA.
METHODS: One-hundred and twenty-one women (mean age 59 (± 4) years) were randomized into two groups: control (n = 60; regular milk, 428 mg calcium per day) or intervention (n = 61; fortified milk at 1200 mg calcium, 96 mg magnesium, 2.4 mg zinc, 15 μg vitamin D and 4 g FOS-inulin per day). At baseline, weeks 12, 24, 36 and 52, parathyroid hormone (PTH), C-Telopeptide of Type I Collagen (CTx-1), Procollagen I Intact N-Terminal propeptide (PINP) and vitamin D levels were assessed. Bone density (BMD) was measured at baseline and week 52 using a GE Lunar iDXA.
RESULTS: Body mass index, lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD did not differ between groups at baseline. Over 52 weeks, mean plasma 25 (OH) D3 levels increased to 74.8 nmol/L (intervention group) or remained at 63.1 nmol/L (control group) (p
INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D has been suggested to play a role in muscle health and function, but studies so far have been primarily in older populations for falls prevention and subsequent risk of fractures.
METHODS: Vitamin D status was assessed in a healthy young adults from sunny climate countries (n = 71, aged 19-42 years) with 56% seen within 3 months of arriving in Aberdeen [newcomers; median (range) time living in the UK = 2 months (9-105 days)] and the remainder resident for >6 months [residents; 23 months (6-121 months)]. Participants attended visits every 3 months for 15 months. At each visit, fasted blood samples were collected for analysis of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], parathyroid hormone (PTH), carboxy-terminal collagen crosslinks (CTX) and N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (P1NP). Maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) were performed for grip strength (both arms) and for maximal isometric strength of the knee extensors (right knee).
RESULTS: There were small seasonal variations in 25(OH)D concentrations within the newcomers and residents, but no seasonal variation in bone turnover markers. There was a positive, albeit small, association between 25(OH)D and knee extensor maximal isometric strength. Mixed modelling predicted that for each 1 nmol/L increase in 25(OH)D, peak torque would increase by 1 Nm (p = 0.04).
CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that vitamin D may be important for muscle health in young adults migrating from sunnier climates to high latitudes, yet the potential effect is small.
CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 61-year-old Malay female with worsening bilateral limb weakness, paresthesia, and severe carpopedal spasm a week after receiving subcutaneous denosumab for osteoporosis. She had a history of gastric bypass surgery 20 years ago. Post gastric bypass surgery, she was advised and initiated on lifelong calcium, vitamin D, and iron supplementations that she unfortunately stopped taking 5 years after surgery. Her last serum blood tests, prior to initiation on denosumab, were conducted in a different center, and she was told that she had a low calcium level; hence, she was advised to restart her vitamin and mineral supplements. Laboratory workup revealed severe hypocalcemia (adjusted serum calcium of 1.33 mmol/L) and mild hypophosphatemia (0.65 mmol/L), with normal magnesium and renal function. Electrocardiogram showed a prolonged QTc interval. She required four bolus courses of intravenous calcium gluconate, and three courses of continuous infusions due to retractable severe hypocalcemia (total of 29 vials of 10 mL of 10% calcium gluconate intravenously). In view of her low vitamin D level of 33 nmol/L, she was initiated on a loading dose of cholecalciferol of 50,000 IU per week for 8 weeks. However, despite a loading dose of cholecalciferol, multiple bolus courses, and infusions of calcium gluconate, her serum calcium hovered around only 1.8 mmol/L. After 8 days of continuous intravenous infusions of calcium gluconate, high doses of calcitriol 1.5 μg twice daily, and 1 g calcium carbonate three times daily, her serum calcium stabilized at approximately 2.0 mmol/L. She remained on these high doses for over 2 months, before they were gradually titrated down to ensure sustainability of a safe calcium level.
CONCLUSION: This case report highlights the importance of screening for risk factors for iatrogenic hypocalcemia and ensuring normal levels before initiating denosumab. The patient history of bariatric surgery could have worsened the hypocalcemia, resulting in a more severe presentation and protracted response to oral calcium and vitamin D supplementation.