Association between vitamin D levels and lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D has relationships with pathogenesis and inflammation pathways in many diseases. Its deficiency may make clinicians think not only of supplementation but also of presence of other diseases. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between vitamin D levels and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), given that reduced levels are related to increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. DESIGN AND SETTING: Case-control study conducted in the cardiovascular surgery and family medicine departments of a hospital in Turkey. METHODS: A total of 280 participants were included: 140 each in the DVT and control groups. Basic clinical characteristics, comorbidities and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were recorded and then compared between the groups. Serum 25(OH)D levels were also evaluated separately in three subgroups (sufficient, insufficient and deficient). RESULTS: Serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower in the DVT group than in the controls (P < 0.001). Females in the DVT group had lower 25(OH)D levels than those in the control group (P = 0.002). Nonetheless, the median 25(OH)D level (16.41 ng/ml) of the control group was still below the reference value. Logistic regression analysis showed that 25(OH)D was a significant predictor of DVT. Weight, height and body mass index, which all presented interaction, were significant in the logistic regression analysis but not in individual analyses. CONCLUSION: The serum vitamin D levels of DVT patients were lower than those of controls. If the results obtained from our study are supported by further large-scale randomized controlled trials, vitamin D replacement may be brought into the agenda for protection against DVT.

Association between vitamin D levels and lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis: a case-control study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Vitamin D has relationships with pathogenesis and inflammation pathways in many diseases. Its deficiency may make clinicians think not only of supplementation but also of presence of other diseases. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between vitamin D levels and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), given that reduced levels are related to increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. DESIGN AND SETTING: Case-control study conducted in the cardiovascular surgery and family medicine departments of a hospital in Turkey. METHODS: A total of 280 participants were included: 140 each in the DVT and control groups. Basic clinical characteristics, comorbidities and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were recorded and then compared between the groups. Serum 25(OH)D levels were also evaluated separately in three subgroups (sufficient, insufficient and deficient). RESULTS: Serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower in the DVT group than in the controls (P < 0.001). Females in the DVT group had lower 25(OH)D levels than those in the control group (P = 0.002). Nonetheless, the median 25(OH)D level (16.41 ng/ml) of the control group was still below the reference value. Logistic regression analysis showed that 25(OH)D was a significant predictor of DVT. Weight, height and body mass index, which all presented interaction, were significant in the logistic regression analysis but not in individual analyses. CONCLUSION: The serum vitamin D levels of DVT patients were lower than those of controls. If the results obtained from our study are supported by further large-scale randomized controlled trials, vitamin D replacement may be brought into the agenda for protection against DVT.

Intraperitoneal Nigella sativa for prevention of postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate intraperitoneal administration of Nigella sativa (NS) to prevent postoperative intraperitoneal adhesion (PPA) after surgical manipulation of rat uterine horn. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two forms of NS were used in the study (Volatile oil (NSVO) and the ethanolic extract (NSEE)). A total of 50 rats were randomly assigned to the sham group (n = 10), control group (n = 10), NSVO group (n = 10), NSEE group (n = 10), and the Seprafilm group(n = 10). After 14 days, rats were sacrificed. Adhesions were examined macroscopically, and degree of adhesions was scored. A part of horn was excised, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase activities as well as malondialdehyde levels were evaluated, and histological score was calculated. RESULTS: Total microscopic score of the NSEE group was significantly lower than the control group (p = .001) and was marginally significantly lower than the seprafilm group (p = .005). Collagen formation score was higher in the seprafilm group compared to the sham and NSEE groups (p < 0.001, p = .003, respectively). Apoptotic cells were lower in the NSEE group compared to the control group (p = .003) and also lower in the NSEE and NSVO groups compared to the seprafilm group (p = .001, p < .001, respectively). Only SOD activity was higher in the NSVO and seprafilm groups compared to the control group (p < .001). CONCLUSION: NSEE form seems to have a possible effect in the prevention of PPAs. This may occur by its effect in decreasing collagen formation and by decreasing apoptosis in the injured tissues. NSVO form seems to induce SOD. Therefore, combined use of NSVO with seprafilm may increase the adhesion preventive effect of seprafilm.

Alleviation of kidney damage induced by unilateral ureter obstruction in rats by Rhodiola rosea.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of Rhodiola rosea extract in terms of alleviating the renal damage induced by unilateral ureter obstruction (UUO) in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty Wistar albino male rats were divided into five groups: (I) Control, (II) UUO 7 days, (III) UUO 7 days+extract,(IV) UUO 14 days, and (V) UUO 14 days+extract. Seven or 14 days after the initiation of the experimental procedure, the left kidneys of rats in all five groups were removed for histological examination, and their blood was drawn for biochemical measurements. RESULT: Median malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels were, respectively, 39.4 (5.04) nmol/mL and 25.8 (8.01) nmol/minute/mL in group I, 77.9 (12.38) nmol/mL and 5.8 (1.95) nmol/minute/mL in group II, 48.7 (12.1) nmol/mL and 9.1 (2.3) nmol/minute/mL in group III, 58.5 (23.83) nmol/mL and 8.4 (2.1) nmol/minute/mL in group IV, and 44.8 (4.97) nmol/mL and 13.8 (3.73) nmol/minute/mL in group V. There was a statistically significant difference among the groups in terms of MDA and GPx levels (p<0.05 for both). The median numbers of apoptotic cells were 1 (1), 8 (2.25), 3 (1.25), 23.5 (9), and 7 (I) in groups I, II, III, IV, and V, respectively. There was a statistically siginificant difference among the groups in terms of apoptotic cell number (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: R. rosea extract was shown to alleviate the renal damage induced by UUO through its antioxidant effects. The mechanism by which R. rosea extract causes these effects merits further investigation.