Prevalence of vitamin D depletion among morbidly obese patients seeking gastric bypass surgery

BACKGROUND: Abnormalities in calcium and vitamin D metabolism have been reported after bariatric surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate vitamin D nutritional status among morbidly obese patients before gastric bypass surgery. METHODS: We prospectively studied 279 morbidly obese patients seeking gastric bypass surgery for vitamin D nutritional status as assessed by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level. In addition, serum samples were analyzed for calcium, alkaline phosphatase (AP), intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 43 +/- 9 years; 87% of the study patients were women, and 72% were white. Serum calcium and AP levels were normal in 88% and 89% of the patients, respectively. Vitamin D depletion, defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level Vitamin D depletion was significantly more prevalent in the African-American patients than in the white patients (91% vs 48%; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Before gastric bypass surgery, a majority of morbidly obese patients have vitamin D depletion and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Studies evaluating the effects of gastric bypass on vitamin D metabolism must consider preoperative vitamin D nutritional status.     

Vitamin D receptor genotype and risk of osteoporotic hip fracture in elderly women of Utah: an effect modified by parity

Introduction The associations between vitamin D receptor (VDR) Bsm I and Fok I genotypes, parity, and risk of osteoporotic hip fracture were evaluated in a statewide population-based case-control study in Utah.Methods Women age 50–89 years with hip fracture (n=882) were ascertained via surveillance of 18 Utah hospitals from 1997 to 2001. Age-matched controls were randomly selected (n=897). Participants were interviewed in their homes, and blood samples were collected for genotyping.Results In logistic regression analyses that controlled for multiple confounders, Bsm I VDR genotype but not Fok I genotype was associated with risk of osteoporotic hip fracture (OR bb vs. BB genotype: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.50, 0.95). In similar analyses, no overall association was observed between parity status and risk of osteoporotic hip fracture. However, the effect of VDR genotype was modified by parity status. Among nulliparous women (n=140), Bsm I genotype was not associated with risk of hip fracture (OR bb vs. BB: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.28, 2.4); among primiparous women (n=133), bb genotype was associated with increased risk of hip fracture (OR bb vs. BB: 3.30; 95% CI: 0.96, 11.29); among multiparous women (n=1,400), bb genotype was associated with decreased risk of hip fracture (OR bb vs. BB: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.42, 0.84).Conclusion VDR Bsm I genotype was associated with risk of hip fracture in Utah women, and this effect was modified by parity status. Hormonal or lifestyle factors related to parity may underlie this interaction.     

Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy and vitamin B12 deficiency

Background Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a maternally inherited optic neuropathy caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). It is also believed that several epigenetic factors have an influence on the development of LHON.Methods A case series was observed.Results Three patients who developed bilateral optic neuropathy are presented. All patients had a primary LHON mutation in their mtDNA, but also a subnormal vitamin B12 serum level at the time of presentation.Conclusions The clinical picture of optic neuropathy associated with vitamin B12 deficiency shows similarity to that of LHON. Both involve the nerve fibres of the papillomacular bundle. The present case reports suggest that optic neuropathy in patients carrying a primary LHON mtDNA mutation may be precipitated by vitamin B12 deficiency. Therefore, known carriers should take care to have an adequate dietary intake of vitamin B12 and malabsorption syndromes like those occurring in familial pernicious anaemia or after gastric surgery should be excluded.     

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations of New Zealanders aged 15 years and older

Introduction Vitamin D plays an important role in bone health. Our purpose was to measure serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and their determinants in a national sample (n=2,946) of New Zealanders aged 15 years and over.Findings Mean (99% CI) serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were 47 (45–50) nmol/l in women and 52 (49–55) nmol/l in men. Mean concentrations in New Zealand European and Others (NZEO, n=2,440), Mori (n=370), and Pacific (n=136) were 51 (49–53), 42 (38–46) and 37 (33–42) nmol/l, respectively. Three percent of New Zealanders had serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations indicative of deficiency (≤17.5 nmol/l); 48% and 84% were insufficient based on cutoffs of ≤50 and ≤80 nmol/l. Determinants of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in women were age, ethnicity, obesity, latitude and season; determinants in men were ethnicity and season. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in women declined with age; mean concentration was 13 (8–18) nmol/l lower in women 65 years or older and 9 (5–13) nmol/l lower in women 45–64 years compared with women 15–18 years. Spring to summer differences in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D were 31 (28–34) and 28 (25–31) nmol/l in women and men, respectively. Obese women had lower vitamin status than normal-weight women by 6 (3–10). Women living in the South Island had a mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D that was 6 (3–9) nmol/l lower than women living in the North Island. Ethnicity and season are the major determinants of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in New Zealanders.Conclusion The high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in New Zealanders, particularly in older women, may warrant strategies to improve vitamin D status.     

Subtype determination of soma-dendritic α2-autoreceptors in slices of rat locus coeruleus

The aim of the study was to subclassify the soma-dendritic α₂-autoreceptors in the locus coeruleus (LC) of the rat by means of antagonists. To this end, the frequency of spontaneous action potentials was recorded extracellularly from single LC neurones in brain slices. The neurones fired spontaneously at an average rate of 1 Hz. The selective α₂-adrenoceptor agonist 5-bromo-6-(2-imidazolin-2-ylamino)-quinoxaline (UK 14,304) and noradrenaline decreased the action potential discharge with IC₅₀ values of 5 and 510 nM, respectively. The concentration-inhibition curves of UK 14,304 and noradrenaline were shifted to the right by phentolamine (0.15 μM) and rauwolscine (0.15 μM) but not by prazosin (1 μM). Apparent K _d values of phentolamine were 17 nM (against UK 14,304) and 20 nM (against noradrenaline). Apparent K _d values of rauwolscine were 47 nM (against UK 14,304) and 70 nM (against noradrenaline). (+)-Oxaprotiline (1 μM) suppressed the firing of the neurones within 10 to 33 min. In the continued presence of oxaprotiline, phentolamine and rauwolscine restored firing with EC₅₀ values of 120 and 250 nM, respectively. Prazosin (1 μM) again was ineffective. All three antagonist affinity estimates – against UK 14,304, exogenous noradrenaline and endogenous noradrenaline (that accumulates in the extracellular space in the presence of oxaprotiline) – yield an affinity order phentolamine > rauwolscine >> prazosin, prazosin being ineffective even at a concentration of 1 μM. These findings identify the soma-dendritic α₂-autoreceptors of the LC as the rat variant of the α_2A/D-adrenoceptor, i.e. α_2D. Not only presynaptic but also soma-dendritic α₂-autoreceptors may at least predominantly be α_2A/D throughout the nervous system. Received: 3 March 1997 / Accepted: 21 April 1997     

1 alpha(OH)D3 (ETALPHA) treatment and receptor studies in 16 patients with chronic and myeloproliferative disorders

10 patients with CLL and 2 with CML were treated with gradually increasing doses of 1 alpha(OH)D3, up to 4 micrograms daily during 6 wk. 3 patients with preleukemia and 1 with myelofibrosis were treated with 2 micrograms daily of 1 alpha(OH)D3 for a prolonged period up to 17 wk. The treatment with 1 alpha (OH)D3 did not result in changes of disease parameters in any of the patients under study. Receptor studies for 1,25(OH)2D3 were performed in 8 CLL patients and revealed only 1 patient with increased specific receptor binding capacity. The maximum tolerable dose of 1 alpha(OH)D3 varied individually, but was in the range of 2-4 micrograms daily.     

短串联重复序列HumFGA、D3S1359的法医学应用研究

对短串联重复序列（short tandem repeats，STR）的两个高多态位点HumFGA(human alpha fibrinogen，人类α-纤维蛋白原基因)、D3S1359的法医学应用进行研究，并通过实际检测案件统计结果进行评估。实验结果表明：两位点灵敏度高，分别为0.2、0.5ngDNA；同一性和可重复性均较理想；种属特异性好，常见动物未发现扩增产物，仅灵长类动物（黑叶猴和猕猴）有扩增条带；复合扩增体系效果良好；在352次减数分裂中，D3S1359未发现突变，HumFGA检测到1次，突变率为0.28％；实际案件统计和应用结果也显示两位点是多态性高，实用性强的两个遗传标记系统。HumFGA和D3S1359在法医学个人识别与亲子鉴定案例中有较大应用价值。     

低胆红素血症对机体抗氧化能力和脂质过氧化的影响及VitE的干预效果

目的 :探讨低胆红素血症对机体抗氧化能力和脂质过氧化的不良影响并观察VitE的干预效果。方法 :从体检健康人群中有意选择 4 5例胆红素水平偏高者 (≥ 15 μmol/L)和 4 0例胆红素水平偏低者 (≤ 9μmol/L)作为研究对象 ,抽空腹静脉血检测血清总抗氧化能力 (T -AOC) ,丙二醛 (MDA)及血浆氧化修饰低密度脂蛋白(Ox -LDL) ,并给低胆红素组每人每天口服VitE 10 0mg ,连续 2周 ,复测上述指标。结果 :与高胆红素组比 ,低胆红素组T -AOC明显降低 (P <0 .0 1) ,而MDA和Ox -LDL明显升高 (P <0 .0 5和P <0 .0 1) ,但低胆红素组补充VitE干预后 ,T -AOC显著升高 ,而MDA和Ox -LDL显著降低 (均P <0 .0 1) ,分别达到甚至超过了高胆红素组的相应水平。结论 :低胆红素血症可显著降低机体抗氧化能力 ,促进脂质过氧化 ,但这一不良影响可以通过补充VitE得到有效纠正。     

环孢菌素A和1,2 5(OH)2D3防治实验性自身免疫性甲状腺炎的研究

将猪的甲状腺球蛋白（pTG)100μg/只分别于第0d,第14d皮下注入CBA小鼠体内，制作实验性自身免疫性甲状腺炎（EAT）的动物模型。免免疫干预组从0－28d，治疗组从10－38d单独或者联合应用环孢菌素A（CsA,10mg/kg)灌胃和（或）1,25(OH)2D3(0.2μg/kg）腹腔注射，pTG免疫后第28d，第38d处死小鼠，取甲状腺组织作病理学检查，并检测血清中猪的甲状腺球蛋白抗体（pTGAb)、猪的甲状腺微粒体抗体（pTMAb)。免疫干预组和治疗组联合应用小剂量CsA和1，25（OH）2D3分别使EAT发病率降低44．44％和37．50％。严重病例分别降低71．43％和60．32％，免疫干预组的血清pTGAb,pTMAb的值均降低。提示：小剂量免疫抑制剂CsA和1，25（OH）2D2联合防治EAT有效，并具有协同作用。     

Depressed levels of circulating menaquinones in patients with osteoporotic fractures of the spine and femoral neck

Vitamin K₁ functions in the conversion of glutamate residues, present in certain bone peptides, into the putatively active γ-carboxyglutamate form. We have shown previously that the circulating levels of vitamin K₁ are depressed in osteoporotic patients. However, it is known that menaquinones (vitamin K₂:MK) may be more effective than vitamin K₁ in this conversion of the inactive to active form of glutamate residues. A procedure for measuring such menaquinones has now demonstrated a marked deficiency of MK-7 and MK-8 in patients with osteoporotic fractures. It is suggested that estimates of circulating levels of K₁, MK-7, and MK-8 might provide a biochemical risk marker of osteoporotic fractures.