Evaluation of the Effect of Vitamin D Treatment on Cardiac Function in Non-Obese Female Adolescents with Vitamin D Deficiency in Türkiye: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency may cause adverse effects on the cardiovascular system as well as many other systems. The risk of vitamin D deficiency increases during adolescence, when the growth rate is high, due to reasons such as limited sun exposure, inadequate dietary calcium, and vitamin D intake. AIM: To evaluate the effect of daily 2000 IU vitamin D supplementation for 12 weeks on cardiac function in non-obese adolescent girls with vitamin D deficiency. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out between September 2021 and June 2022. A total of 108 non-obese adolescent girls having 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels below 12 ng/mL were given daily 2000 IU vitamin D orally for 12 weeks. Serum levels of 25(OH)D, alkaline phosphatase, parathormone, calcium, phosphate, and cardiac function were determined before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the 25(OH)D levels were above 20 ng/mL in 90.8% of the adolescents. The parathormone and alkaline phosphatase levels decreased, while the phosphate levels increased. Echocardiographic tissue Doppler studies showed positive changes in some systolic and diastolic function indicators. In addition, the myocardial performance index decreased from 0.42 ± 0.03 to 0.40 ± 0.03 (P < 0.001) in the left ventricle, from 0.43 ± 0.03 to 0.38 ± 0.03 (P < 0.001) in the right ventricle, and from 0.41 ± 0.04 to 0.38 ± 0.02 (P < 0.001) in the interventricular septum after vitamin D treatment as compared to pretreatment. CONCLUSION: It was observed that administration of 2000 IU vitamin D treatment for a period of 12 weeks to non-obese adolescent girls with vitamin D deficiency contributed positively to cardiac systolic and diastolic function.

Effect of chronotype on course of treatment in patients with schizophrenia under long-acting injectable antipsychotic treatment: one-year community mental health center experience.

OBJECTIVE: A chronotype is defined as the behavioral manifestation underlying the biological clock, which is formed by the effects of physical and genetic factors. It has recently been found to be associated with many mental and physical illnesses. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of chronotypes on the treatment course of schizophrenia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a clinical retrospective study. The study population was composed of subjects with schizophrenia who received long-acting, injectable antipsychotic medication. The Demographic Data Form, Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were administered to the patients. In addition, the retrospective follow-up files of the patients for the last year were investigated. The obtained data were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The chronotypes of 97 patients with schizophrenia who volunteered to participate in the study were 38.2% (n = 37) eveningness, 27.8% (n = 27) morningness, and 34% (n = 33) intermediate type. Compared to morningness and intermediate type, eveningness was associated with a higher number of acute exacerbations in patients with schizophrenia, while intermediate type and morningness did not differ significantly from each other. CONCLUSIONS: Our study, as a clinical study, supports the relationship between eveningness and poor prognosis in schizophrenia. It may be helpful to consider the chronotype in the clinical follow-up of patients with schizophrenia and to be aware of individuals with the evening chronotype, which is predicted to have a higher risk of exacerbation.

Reference values for neonatal thyroid volumes in a moderately iodine-deficient area.

BACKGROUND: The reference ranges of thyroid volumes in neonates vary according to the iodine status of a specific region. In different studies, it ranged between 0.47 and 1.62 ml. It has been previously shown that Bursa city was a moderately iodine-deficient area. We therefore aimed at determining normal reference ranges of neonatal thyroid volumes in our moderately iodine-deficient area. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, thyroid volumes of 100 healthy fullterm neonates (51 boys and 49 girls; mean gestational age 38.9+/-1.1 weeks; and mean birth-weight 3370+/-446 g) were measured during the first week of life using thyroid ultrasonography. These data were compared with the gestational age, birth weight, gender, and TSH values of neonates as well as with maternal factors such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, smoking, medication use, and heart disease. RESULTS: All blood samples for TSH were taken during the first 5 days (mean 1.09+/-0.9 days). The mean TSH levels in all male and female neonates were 3.77+/-3.71, 4.57+/-3.61, and 2.93+/-3.66 mIU/l, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (p=0.006). Mean thyroid volumes for all male and female neonates were calculated as 0.82+/-0.18 (range 0.51-2.04), 0.84+/-0.21 (range 0.51-2.04), and 0.80+/-0.14 ml (range 0.58-1.30), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in thyroid volumes with respect to gestational age, birth weight, gender, TSH values of neonates and maternal factors. CONCLUSION: Normal thyroid volumes in neonates vary between different regions. Local reference values should be used in thyroid volume assessment. Our results are in concordance with the literature and can be used as reference values for our region.