Factors associated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D level in Chinese hospitalized patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective cohort study.

We aimed to investigate the factors associated with vitamin D deficiency and changes in 25 (OH)D levels, as well as the impact of those changes on disease activity and renal function among SLE patients. This retrospective cohort study was based on the medical records of SLE patients hospitalized between 2010 and 2021. We collected relevant information from this patient population. Logistic regression analysis was employed to determine the factors associated with vitamin D deficiency and increased 25 (OH)D levels, and we calculated the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) accordingly. At baseline, among the 1257 SLE patients, the median and interquartile range of 25 (OH)D levels were 14 (9, 20) ng/ml, with 953 (75.8%) patients exhibiting 25 (OH)D deficiency (< 20 ng/ml). The presence of 25 (OH)D deficiency was found to be associated with renal involvement and a high glucocorticoid (GC) maintenance dose. Among the 383 patients who were followed up for an average of 18 months, an increase of at least 100% in 25 (OH)D levels was positively associated with a decreased GC maintenance dose and vitamin D3 supplementation, with adjusted odds ratios(OR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) of 2.16 (1.02, 4.59) and 1300 (70, 22300), respectively. Furthermore, an increased level of 25 (OH)D was significantly associated with a decrease in the Disease Activity Index 2000 score and the urinary protein/creatinine ratio. Patients with SLE have low vitamin D levels, especially those with impaired kidney function. Increased 25 (OH)D levels can be achieved through supplementation with high doses of vitamin D3 and are associated with improvements in disease activity and the urinary protein/creatinine ratio.

[Coix lachryma jobi L varma-yuan induces apoptosis of jurkat cell line in acute T lymphoblast leukemia and its mechanism].

The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-proliferation and pro-apoptosis effect of Coix lachrymajobi L varma-yuan on acute T lymphoblast leukemia cell line Jurkat cells and its mechanism. Jurkat cells were treated with Coix lachrymajobi L varma-yuan of various concentrations (0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6 mg/ml) for 24h. The inhibitory ratio was measured by Cell Counting Kit-8. The effects of Coix lachrymajobi L varma-yuan on apoptosis of Jurkat cells were determined by Hoechst 33258, PI and Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. The mitochondrial membrane potential was analyzed by JC-1 staining. The results demonstrated that Coix lachrymajobi L varma-yuan inhibited the proliferation of Jurkat cells, and induced chromatin condensation and fragmentation (characteristic of apoptosis) and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. In conclusion, Coix lachrymajobi L varma-yuan can inhibit the cell proliferation and induce the apoptosis of Jurkat cells. These effects relate to loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. These results suggest that Coix lachrymajobi L varma-yuan may be of value in treating lymphoma.

[Grape seed extract inhibits the growth of prostate cancer PC-3 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibitory effect of grape seed extract (GSE) on the growth of prostate cancer PC-3 cells. METHODS: PC-3 cells were treated with GSE at the concentration of 100, 200 and 300 microg/ml for 24, 48 and 72 hours, respectively. The the inhibitory effect of GSE on the growth of the PC-3 cells and the kidney cells of SD rats was determined by MTT reduction assay, with primarily cultured kidney cells of 1-3 days old SD rats as the normal control. RESULTS: GSE significantly inhibited the growth of PC-3 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, but had only a mild inhibitory effect on the kidney cells. CONCLUSION: GSE inhibits the growth of prostate cancer PC-3 cells and can be used as a new drug for the treatment of prostate cancer.