THE PLASMA LEVELS OF 25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D IN PATIENTS WITH VARIOUS LIVER DISEASES AND THE RESPONSE OF 25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D TO VITAMIN D TREATMENT

ABSTRACT. The mean plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) were measured before and after the administration of 2000 units of daily oral vitamin D₂ for a period of 2 weeks in 9 normal infants and children, 7 infants with neonatal hepatitis and persistent neonatal hepatitis, and 4 infants with congenital biliary atresia. The mean plasma level of 25-OH-D increased significantly from 19.5±3.7 (S.E.) ng/ml to 34.0±6.8 (S.E.) ng/ml after administration of vitamin D₂ in controls ( p <0.05). The mean plasma level of 25-OH-D also increased from 8.0±2.1 (S.E.) ng/ml to 22.1±2.6 (S.E.) ng/ml after vitamin D treatment in hepatitis group ( p <0.05). In patients with congenital biliary atresia, vitamin D treatment did not affect the plasma levels of 25-OH-D.     

Longitudinal study of the mental health of caregivers caring for elderly patients with dementia: Effect of institutional placement on mental health

Abstract  One hundred and three family caregivers of relatives with dementia were longitudinally surveyed to examine the course of caregivers' mental health after the relatives had been placed in full-time care facilities. Mental health was assessed twice, with a 6-month interval, using the Japanese version of the 60-item General Health Questionnaire. The degree of social dysfunction was significantly reduced within 6 months after placement, while the other indicators of mental health (e.g. anxiety-insomnia, depression, somatic symptom and psychiatric morbidity) were not reduced within this term. However, anxiety-insomnia and psychiatric morbidity were significantly reduced more than 6 months after placement. Analyses by caregivers' lineal relations to the relatives indicated that only daughters-in-law showed a significant decrease in anxiety-insomnia and a marginal reduction in psychiatric morbidity. This study suggests that caregivers' social dysfunction was more greatly reduced than anxiety-insomnia and psychiatric morbidity within a relatively short term after placement, and that its effects on mental health might vary with the lineal relations.