scholarly journals Vitamin D Levels Are Reduced at the Time of Hospital Admission in Sicilian SARS-CoV-2-Positive Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3491
Author(s):  
Agostino Gaudio ◽  
Andrea Murabito ◽  
Antonella Agodi ◽  
Arturo Montineri ◽  
Pietro Castellino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Hospital Admission ◽  
Clinical Course ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Clinical Severity ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Positive Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Vitamin D Levels ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Low Levels

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses a worldwide healthcare challenge that needs an efficient response. Unfortunately, to date there is no highly effective treatment, so a deep understanding of COVID-19 risk factors could be an important step in treating the disease. Vitamin D affects the immune system in many different ways, and other authors already found that COVID-19 patients have low levels of vitamin D. In our retrospective study, we evaluated the vitamin D status at the time of hospital admission in 50 COVID-19 patients in Sicily, which is the southernmost region of Italy, and compared them with 100 control subjects matched for age and sex. Our data showed markedly low levels of vitamin D in patients with a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but no association was found with inflammation markers or clinical severity. Vitamin D levels were reduced at the time of hospital admission in Sicilian SARS-CoV-2-positive patients, but it is not clear whether this condition has an impact on the clinical course of COVID-19.

Novel and sensitive detection systems for the vitamin D receptor — in situ-reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunogold cytochemistry

1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
A P Mee ◽  
L K Davenport ◽  
J A Hoyland ◽  
M Davies ◽  
E B Mawer
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Vitamin D Receptor ◽  
Human Kidney ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Low Levels

ABSTRACT The receptor for the active metabolite of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D3, known as the vitamin D receptor (VDR), belongs to the steroid hormone nuclear receptor superfamily. We have developed novel methods for detection of VDR mRNA and protein within a human promyelomonocytic cell line, HL-60. Using the newly developed technique of in situ-reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (IS-RT-PCR), low levels of VDR mRNA could be amplified and demonstrated unequivocally within these cells, and also within a human kidney proximal tubule cell line, CL-8. Use of a novel immunogold cytochemical technique has allowed clear and sensitive detection of VDR protein expression within the HL-60 cells. Further development of IS-RT-PCR has allowed us to apply this technique to tissue sections. We have shown clear amplification of VDR transcripts within sections of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded human kidney and liver. These techniques will be useful to localise specifically the VDR within cell types that contain low levels of mRNA and protein, and will permit further investigation of the role played by 1,25(OH)2D3 in cellular regulatory mechanisms.

scholarly journals Vitamin D, SARS-CoV-2 and Causal Associations in Transversal Studies: The Time-Series Analysis to Reveal Potential Confounders. Comment on Gaudio et al. Vitamin D Levels Are Reduced at the Time of Hospital Admission in Sicilian SARS-CoV-2-Positive Patients. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 3491

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 6793
Author(s):  
Cristiano Ialongo ◽  
Antonella Farina ◽  
Raffaella Labriola ◽  
Antonio Angeloni ◽  
Emanuela Anastasi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Time Series ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Time Series Analysis ◽  
Hospital Admission ◽  
The State ◽  
Series Analysis ◽  
Vitamin D Levels ◽  
Time Of Admission

We read with great interest the paper by Gaudio and colleagues on vitamin D and on the state of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at the time of admission [...]

scholarly journals Personal and Environmental Risk Factors at Birth and Hospital Admission: Direct and Vitamin D-Mediated Effects on Bronchiolitis Hospitalization in Italian Children

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 747
Author(s):  
Marco Zaffanello ◽  
Giuliana Ferrante ◽  
Salvatore Fasola ◽  
Michele Piazza ◽  
Giorgio Piacentini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Hospital Admission ◽  
Environmental Risk ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Spring Season ◽  
Serum Vitamin D ◽  
Mediated Effects ◽  
Vitamin D Levels

Seasonal variations in UV-B radiation may influence vitamin D status, and this, in turn, may influence the risk of bronchiolitis hospitalization. The aim of this study was using a causal inference approach to investigate, simultaneously, the interrelationships between personal and environmental risk factors at birth/hospital admission (RFBH), serum vitamin D levels and bronchiolitis hospitalization. A total of 63 children (<2 years old) hospitalized for bronchiolitis (34 RSV-positive) and 63 controls were consecutively enrolled (2014–2016). Vitamin D levels and some RFBH (birth season, birth weight, gestational age, gender, age, weight, hospitalization season) were recorded. The discovered RFBH effects on the risk ok bronchiolitis hospitalization were decomposed into direct and vitamin-D mediated ones through Mediation Analysis. Winter-spring season (vs. summer-autumn) was significantly associated with lower vitamin D levels (mean difference −11.14 nmol/L). Increasing serum vitamin D levels were significantly associated with a lower risk of bronchiolitis hospitalization (OR = 0.84 for a 10-nmol/L increase). Winter-spring season and gestational age (one-week increase) were significantly and directly associated with bronchiolitis hospitalization (OR = 6.37 and OR = 0.78 respectively), while vitamin D-mediated effects were negligible (1.21 and 1.02 respectively). Using a comprehensive causal approach may enhance the understanding of the complex interrelationships among RFBH, vitamin D and bronchiolitis hospitalization.

scholarly journals CYP27B1 Gene Polymorphism rs10877012 in Patients Diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 998
Author(s):  
Maria Latacz ◽  
Jadwiga Snarska ◽  
Elżbieta Kostyra ◽  
Konrad Wroński ◽  
Ewa Fiedorowicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Fragment Length Polymorphism ◽  
Intestinal Cells ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
The Third ◽  
Pcr Rflp ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Peripheral Leukocytes

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly occurring cancer worldwide. Intestinal cells are CYP27B1 gene expression sites and, as a consequence, they are capable of converting pro-vitamin D into the active paracrine and autocrine forms. It was demonstrated that rs10877012 polymorphism in the CYP27B1 gene influenced the circulating vitamin D level. This provided a rationale for determining the role that this polymorphism plays in the risk of developing colon cancer. In this study, we investigated the association of rs10877012 (T/G) polymorphism in the CYP27B1 gene with CRC susceptibility. The study population (n = 325) included CRC patients (n = 106) and healthy controls (n = 219). DNA was extracted from peripheral leukocytes and analyzed for the CYP27B1 polymorphism using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. We found an association between the presence of the T allele at the polymorphic site (odds ratio (OR) = 2.94; 95% CI 1.77–4.86; p < 0.0001) and a decreased CRC incidence.

scholarly journals Eliminating false positives in a qPCR assay for the detection of the uidA gene in Escherichia coli

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 382-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Kibbee ◽  
Natalie Linklater ◽  
Banu Örmeci
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Qpcr Assay ◽  
Uida Gene ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Taq Polymerase ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Gene Copies ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Low Levels

Due to contaminant Escherichia coli DNA present in recombinant Taq polymerase reagents, it is not possible to reliably detect low levels of E. coli in samples using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. Native Taq polymerase was successfully used in this study to detect five uidA gene copies (5 fg of genomic DNA) of the uidA gene.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 covid-19 vaccines against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe covid-19 outcomes in Ontario, Canada: test negative design study

BMJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. n1943 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Chung ◽  
Siyi He ◽  
Sharifa Nasreen ◽  
Maria E Sundaram ◽  
Sarah A Buchan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hospital Admission ◽  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Vaccine Effectiveness ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Design Study ◽  
Symptomatic Infection ◽  
Polymerase Chain

AbstractObjectiveTo estimate the effectiveness of mRNA covid-19 vaccines against symptomatic infection and severe outcomes (hospital admission or death).DesignTest negative design study.SettingOntario, Canada between 14 December 2020 and 19 April 2021.Participants324 033 community dwelling people aged ≥16 years who had symptoms of covid-19 and were tested for SARS-CoV-2.InterventionsBNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) or mRNA-1273 (Moderna) vaccine.Main outcome measuresLaboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and hospital admissions and deaths associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Multivariable logistic regression was adjusted for personal and clinical characteristics associated with SARS-CoV-2 and vaccine receipt to estimate vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection and severe outcomes.ResultsOf 324 033 people with symptoms, 53 270 (16.4%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 and 21 272 (6.6%) received at least one dose of vaccine. Among participants who tested positive, 2479 (4.7%) were admitted to hospital or died. Vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection observed ≥14 days after one dose was 60% (95% confidence interval 57% to 64%), increasing from 48% (41% to 54%) at 14-20 days after one dose to 71% (63% to 78%) at 35-41 days. Vaccine effectiveness observed ≥7 days after two doses was 91% (89% to 93%). Vaccine effectiveness against hospital admission or death observed ≥14 days after one dose was 70% (60% to 77%), increasing from 62% (44% to 75%) at 14-20 days to 91% (73% to 97%) at ≥35 days, whereas vaccine effectiveness observed ≥7 days after two doses was 98% (88% to 100%). For adults aged ≥70 years, vaccine effectiveness estimates were observed to be lower for intervals shortly after one dose but were comparable to those for younger people for all intervals after 28 days. After two doses, high vaccine effectiveness was observed against variants with the E484K mutation.ConclusionsTwo doses of mRNA covid-19 vaccines were observed to be highly effective against symptomatic infection and severe outcomes. Vaccine effectiveness of one dose was observed to be lower, particularly for older adults shortly after the first dose.

scholarly journals Quantitation of group A rotavirus by real-time reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction: Correlation with clinical severity in children in South India

2004 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gagandeep Kang ◽  
Miren Iturriza-Gomara ◽  
Jeremy G. Wheeler ◽  
Premila Crystal ◽  
Bindhu Monica ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
South India ◽  
Clinical Severity ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Group A Rotavirus ◽  
Group A ◽  
Polymerase Chain

scholarly journals Patterns in the Parathyroid Response to Sodium Bicarbonate Infusion Test in Healthy Volunteers

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodossis S. Papavramidis ◽  
Olympia E. Anastasiou ◽  
Ioannis Pliakos ◽  
Nick Michalopoulos ◽  
Mike Polyzonis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Sodium Bicarbonate ◽  
Healthy Volunteers ◽  
Infusion Test ◽  
Normal Individuals ◽  
Vitamin D Levels ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Bicarbonate Infusion ◽  
Sodium Bicarbonate Infusion

Background. The sodium bicarbonate infusion test evaluates the function of the parathyroid glands. The present study aims to evaluate the range of parathyroid response in healthy individuals and the potential influence of various factors.Methods. Fifty healthy volunteers were subjected to the test. Levels of vitamin D, calcium, albumin, and PTH were measured before infusion. PTH was measured at 3, 5, 10, 30, and 60 minutes after infusion.Results. A curve describing the response of parathyroids to the test was drawn. Twenty percent of the subjects had blunted PTH response. No significant difference was observed between normal and blunted responders concerning age, BMI, baseline PTH, or calcium levels. Nonetheless, there was a significant difference in vitamin D levels (P=0.024).Interpretation. The test is easy to perform and may be used for everyday screening. It has to be clarified whether our observations are, at least partly, produced due to the presence of individuals with a constitutively blunted response or if low levels of vitamin D decrease the ability of the parathyroids to respond. Whichever the case, PTH response of normal individuals to sodium bicarbonate infusion test is more varied than previously thought and vitamin D levels influence it.

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