Assessment of vitamin D receptors in alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia

Introduction: Alopecia Areata (AA) is a hair disorder characterised by non-scarring, patchy loss of hair from scalp and other parts of the body. For the treatment of AA, topical steroid is one of the first line therapeutic options. Topical vitamin D analogue Calcipotriol has immunomodulatory action. Vitamin D receptors (VDR) are present in the hair follicles,therefore for treatment of AA topical vitamin D analogue Calcipotriol can be considered. Aim: To comparatively evaluate the role in terms of efficacy of topical vitamin D analogue Calcipotriol when used along with topical Clobetasol in comparison to topical Clobetasol used alone for AA treatment. Materials and Methods: In this randomised, open label, clinical study, sixty patients (age 20-32 years) diagnosed with AA were randomly assigned into two groups, thirty patients in each from Sept 2019 to Feb 2020. Topical Clobetasol (0.05%) was applied on the affected area twice a day for 24 weeks by Group A patients. While both topical Clobetasol (0.05%) and topical Calcipotriol (0.005%) was applied on the affected area twice daily for 24 weeks by Group B patients. Parametery like Age, Serum Hydroxy Vitamin D (25(OH)D) and SALT Score were mesured at baseline. At regular intervals of time (i.e baseline, 6,12,24 weeks), SALT (Severity Of Alopecia Tool) score was evaluated. Mean values of the data were evaluated using student's t-test and chi-square test based on whether the data was quantitative or qualitative in nature respectively. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: With respect to age and gender distribution both the groups were comparable (p>0.05). For patients of group A and group B the mean values of SALT score at baseline were 10.45±5.25 and 9.85±4.95, respectively (p=0.65). In patients of Group A and Group B towards the end of 24 weeks the mean values of SALT score decreased to 5.98±4.32 (p=0.0007) and 3.66±3.53 (p=0.0001), with a greater decrease in SALT score seen in Group B (p=0.05) i.e., the group in which patients were treated with topical calcipotriol 0.005% along with topical Clobetasol 0.05%. Conclusion: Topical calcipotriol 0.005% lotion used along with topical Clobetasol 0.05% lotion had higher efficacy than topical Clobetasol 0.05% lotion used alone, in the treatment of AA.

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1615: Testicular Maturation Arrest to Testis Cancer - is there a Spectrum of Expression of Vitamin D Receptors and a Role for Vitamin D Treatment

The Journal of Urology ◽

10.1016/s0022-5347(18)33807-2 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 175 (4S) ◽

pp. 520-521

Author(s):

Ajay K. Nangia ◽

Vince Memoli ◽

Alan Schned ◽

Oya Hill ◽

Catherine E. Schwender

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Testis Cancer ◽

Maturation Arrest ◽

Vitamin D Receptors

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Potential predictive marker of treatment effectiveness in patients with osteopenic syndrome after surgical menopause

GYNECOLOGY ◽

10.26442/20795696.2020.4.200188 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 39-42

Author(s):

Yansiiat Z. Zaydieva ◽

Elena V. Kruchinina ◽

Olga S. Gorenkova ◽

Elena Yu. Polyakova ◽

Elena N. Kareva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Combination Therapy ◽

Vitamin D Receptor ◽

Surrogate Marker ◽

Predictive Marker ◽

Expression Level ◽

Mineral Density ◽

Vitamin D Receptors ◽

Surgical Menopause

Introduction. Patients with surgical menopause have a risk for osteopenic syndrome (OS). Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) in combination with calcium and vitamin D promotes increase in bone mineral density (BMD). The expression level of vitamin D receptor in mononuclear fraction cells (MNFC) of blood can be considered as a predictive marker of effectiveness of OS therapy. Aim. To search a molecular predictive marker of the effectiveness of OS treatment. Materials and methods. The study included 100 women aged 4055 years with a duration of surgical menopause from 12 months to 6 years. The criterion for including patients in the study was the absence of contraindications to the use of MHT. The subject of the study was the determination of BMD by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, polymerase chain reaction diagnostics of the level of expression of vitamin D genes, estradiol and progesterone receptors, determination of 25-OH vitamin D in the blood. Results. Analysis of 12-month OS therapy effectiveness evaluated with a surrogate marker BMD. The increase in BMD up to 34% per year was treated as absence of negative dynamics, more than 4% per year as positive one. Significant effect of combination therapy compared with MHT on BMD in patients with surgical menopause with a low baseline level of BMD (due to hypovitaminosis D) is associated with the anti-inflammatory, bone-protective effect of vitamin D. In both groups of patients not responding; to the prescribed therapy we were able to conduct a comparative analysis of expression level of the target molecules in the MNFC before the start of treatment. The efficacy of MHT and combination therapy for BMD disorders is positively associated with the expression level of vitamin D receptors in MNFC before treatment. Therefore, the vitDR mRNA level is a potential predictive marker of the effectiveness of OS treatment. The expression levels of nuclear estradiol beta receptor and membrane receptor for progesterone in MNFC before treatment showed an upward trend in women responding to therapy. Conclusion. The expression level of the vitamin D receptor in MNFC of blood is significantly lower in the group of women with no/insufficient effect on 12-month combined therapy. This indicator can be considered as a predictive marker of the effectiveness of OS therapy.

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Vitamin D and Sleep Regulation: Is there a Role for Vitamin D?

Current Pharmaceutical Design ◽

10.2174/1381612826666200310145935 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (21) ◽

pp. 2492-2496 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Fiammetta Romano ◽

Giovanna Muscogiuri ◽

Elea Di Benedetto ◽

Volha V. Zhukouskaya ◽

Luigi Barrea ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Sleep Disorders ◽

Vitamin D Deficiency ◽

Sleep Apnea Syndrome ◽

Regulatory Mechanisms ◽

Sleep Regulation ◽

Vitamin D Receptors ◽

Obstructive Sleep ◽

The Impact

Background: Vitamin D exerts multiple pleiotropic effects beyond its role in calcium-phosphate metabolism. Growing evidence suggests an association between hypovitaminosis D and sleep disorders, thus increasing the interest in the role of this vitamin in the regulatory mechanisms of the sleep-wake cycle. Objective: The study aimed to explore and summarize the current knowledge about the role of vitamin D in sleep regulation and the impact of vitamin D deficiency on sleep disorders. Methods: The main regulatory mechanisms of vitamin D on sleep are explained in this study. The literature was scanned to identify clinical trials and correlation studies showing an association between vitamin D deficiency and sleep disorders. Results: Vitamin D receptors and the enzymes that control their activation and degradation are expressed in several areas of the brain involved in sleep regulation. Vitamin D is also involved in the pathways of production of Melatonin, the hormone involved in the regulation of human circadian rhythms and sleep. Furthermore, vitamin D can affect sleep indirectly through non-specific pain disorders, correlated with alterations in sleep quality, such as restless legs syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Conclusions: : Vitamin D has both a direct and an indirect role in the regulation of sleep. Although vitamin D deficiency has been associated to sleep disorders, there is still scant evidence to concretely support the role of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention or treatment of sleep disturbances; indeed, more intervention studies are needed to better clarify these aspects.

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Recent Advancement in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Leprosy

Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1568026618666181025100434 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 18 (18) ◽

pp. 1550-1558

Author(s):

Muhammad Aamir ◽

Asma Sadaf ◽

Sehroon Khan ◽

Shagufta Perveen ◽

Afsar Khan

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Drug Treatment ◽

Mycobacterium Leprae ◽

Neglected Diseases ◽

Specific Drug ◽

Genetic Studies ◽

Vitamin D Receptors ◽

Micro Rnas ◽

Leprosy Patients ◽

Skin Biopsies

Background: Many of the tropical diseases are neglected by the researchers and medicinal companies due to lack of profit and other interests. The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is established to overcome the problems associated with these neglected diseases. According to a report published by the WHO, leprosy (Hansen's disease) is also a neglected infectious disease. Methods: A negligible amount of advancements has been made in last few decades which includes the tools of diagnosis, causes, treatment, and genetic studies of the bacterium (Mycobacterium leprae) that causes leprosy. The diagnosis of leprosy at earlier stages is important for its effective treatment. Recent studies on vitamin D and its receptors make leprosy diagnosis easier at earlier stages. Skin biopsies and qPCR are the other tools to identify the disease at its initial stages. Results: Until now a specific drug for the treatment of leprosy is not available, therefore, Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) is used, which is hazardous to health. Besides Mycobacterium leprae, recently a new bacterium Mycobacterium lepromatosis was also identified as a cause of leprosy. During the last few years the genetic studies of Mycobacterium leprae, the role of vitamin D and vitamin D receptors (VDR), and the skin biopsies made the treatment and diagnosis of leprosy easier at early stages. The studies of micro RNAs (miRNAs) made it easy to differentiate leprosy from other diseases especially from tuberculosis. Conclusion: Leprosy can be distinguished from sarcoidosis by quantitative study of reticulin fibers present in skin. The treatment used until now for leprosy is multi-drug treatment. The complete genome identification of Mycobacterium leprae makes the research easy to develop target specified drugs for leprosy. Rifampicin, identified as a potent drug, along with other drugs in uniform multi-drug treatment, has a significant effect when given to leprosy patients at initial stages. These are effective treatments but a specific drug for leprosy is still needed to be identified. The current review highlights the use of modern methods for the identification of leprosy at its earlier stages and the effective use of drugs alone as well as in combination.

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The psychotropic effect of vitamin D supplementation on schizophrenia symptoms

BMC Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12888-021-03308-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Aras Neriman ◽

Yilmaz Hakan ◽

Ucuncu Ozge

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Negative Symptoms ◽

Metabolic Diseases ◽

Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽

Sunlight Exposure ◽

Antipsychotic Treatment ◽

Serum 25Ohd ◽

Vitamin D Receptors ◽

Vitamin D Levels ◽

The Mean

Abstract Background Schizophrenia is a multifactorial disease involving interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Vitamin D has recently been linked to many metabolic diseases and schizophrenia. Vitamin D plays essential roles in the brain in the context of neuroplasticity, neurotransmitter biosynthesis, neuroprotection, and neurotransmission. Vitamin D receptors are demonstrated in most brain regions that are related to schizophrenia. However, very few studies in the literature examine the effects of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) on schizophrenia symptoms. Methods This study aimed to examine the effects of vitamin D replacement on positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. Serum 25OHD levels of 52 schizophrenia patients were measured. SANS and SAPS were used to evaluate the severity of schizophrenia symptoms, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test: CV4 was used for cognitive assessment. The study was completed with 40 patients for various reasons. The patients whose serum 25OHD reached optimal levels after vitamin D replacement were reevaluated with the same scales in terms of symptom severity. The SPSS 25 package program was used for statistical analysis. The Independent-Samples t-test was used to examine the relationship between the variables that may affect vitamin D levels and the vitamin D level and to examine whether vitamin D levels had an initial effect on the scale scores. Results The mean plasma 25OHD levels of the patients was 17.87 ± 5.54. A statistically significant relationship was found only between the duration of sunlight exposure and 25 OHD level (p < 0.05). The mean SANS and SAPS scores of the participants after 25OHD replacement (23.60 ± 15.51 and 7.78 ± 8.84, respectively) were statistically significantly lower than mean SANS and SAPS scores before replacement (51.45 ± 17.96 and 18.58 ± 15.59, respectively) (p < 0.001 for all). Only the total attention score was significantly improved after replacement (p < 0.05). Conclusion The data obtained from our study suggest that eliminating the 25OHD deficiency together with antipsychotic treatment can improve the total attention span and positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. The 25OHD levels should be regularly measured, replacement should be started when necessary, and the patients should be encouraged to get sunlight exposure to keep optimal 25OHD levels.

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Does vitamin D supplementation prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection in military personnel? Review of the evidence

BMJ Military Health ◽

10.1136/bmjmilitary-2020-001686 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. bmjmilitary-2020-001686

Author(s):

Iain T Parsons ◽

R M Gifford ◽

M J Stacey ◽

L E Lamb ◽

M K O'Shea ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Vitamin D Supplementation ◽

Vitamin D Status ◽

Military Studies ◽

Vitamin D Receptors ◽

Area Of Interest ◽

Military Populations ◽

Tract Infections ◽

Recruit Training

For most individuals residing in Northwestern Europe, maintaining replete vitamin D status throughout the year is unlikely without vitamin D supplementation and deficiency remains common. Military studies have investigated the association with vitamin D status, and subsequent supplementation, with the risk of stress fractures particularly during recruit training. The expression of nuclear vitamin D receptors and vitamin D metabolic enzymes in immune cells additionally provides a rationale for the potential role of vitamin D in maintaining immune homeostasis. One particular area of interest has been in the prevention of acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs). The aims of this review were to consider the evidence of vitamin D supplementation in military populations in the prevention of ARTIs, including SARS-CoV-2 infection and consequent COVID-19 illness. The occupational/organisational importance of reducing transmission of SARS-CoV-2, especially where infected young adults may be asymptomatic, presymptomatic or paucisymptomatic, is also discussed.

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Vitamin D Status in Children with Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Journal of Child Science ◽

10.1055/s-0041-1731076 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (01) ◽

pp. e120-e124

Author(s):

Duaa M. Raafat ◽

Osama M. EL-Asheer ◽

Amal A. Mahmoud ◽

Manal M. Darwish ◽

Naglaa S. Osman

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Serum Level ◽

Dilated Cardiomyopathy ◽

Smooth Muscles ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy ◽

Vitamin D Receptors ◽

Left Ventricular Dimensions ◽

And Function ◽

Ventricular Dimensions

AbstractDilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the third leading cause of heart failure in pediatrics. The exact etiology of DCM is unknown in more than half of the cases. Vitamin D receptors are represented in cardiac muscles, endothelium, and smooth muscles of blood vessels suggesting that vitamin D could have a vital cardioprotective function. This study aimed to assess serum level of vitamin D in children with idiopathic DCM and to correlate the serum level of vitamin D with the left ventricular dimensions and function. This study is a descriptive cross-sectional single-center study, includes 44 children of both sexes, diagnosed as idiopathic DCM. Serum level of vitamin D was assessed and correlated with the left ventricular dimensions and function. Mean age of studied children was 6.08 ± 4.4 years. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 90.9% of children with idiopathic DCM with a mean level 13.48 ng/mL. There was a negative correlation between vitamin D level and fraction shortening and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter in children with DCM. Vitamin D level is not only significantly low in children with idiopathic DCM but it is also significantly correlated with the degree of left ventricular dysfunction.

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