[Vitamin D ­ from the past antirachitic factor to new pleiotropic substance].

Vitamin D is known for almost 100 years. Since time of its discovery, numerous studies on vitamin D function in the human body were performed. Considered from the beginning as an important factor in rickets prevention, thanks to the continuous development of knowledge, vitamin D is regarded now as an important factor from the point of view of the whole body homeostasis. Newly-find features of vitamin D allow to use this substance concentration in serum as a biomarker of general health and create opportunities of vitamin D use in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. The aim of this article is to present basic function of vitamin D in human body, sources of this substance, its metabolism and molecular mechanism of action, taking into account the evolution of the state of knowledge about Vitamin D - from early researches leading to its discovery, through the finding of its basic functions to the present studies on vitamin D mechanisms of action at molecular and genomic level.

Vitamin D deficiency and anemia is highly prevalent and dependent on the etiology of heart failure: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Anemia and vitamin D deficiency are common factors in chronic heart failure (CHF). The aim of this study was to assess vitamin D levels as well as its binding protein and anemia in relation to a cause of CHF: coronary heart disease, valvular disease and cardiomyopathy. METHODS: One hundred and sixteen consecutive patients (36 females and 80 males) with CHF were admitted for percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Hemoglobin concentration, serum creatinine, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and its binding protein-VDBP were measured. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia was 22%. BNP was the highest in the group with coronary artery disease. Ejection fraction was the lowest in cardiomyopathy group. 25(OH)D was lowest in valvular disease group, significantly lower than in the coronary artery group. A similar pattern of change showed vitamin D binding protein. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (level below 20 ng/mL) in the whole group was 95%, in 49% of the patients 25(OH)D was below 10 ng/mL. In univariate analysis 25(OH)D correlated with hemoglobin, red blood cell count, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume and BNP in patients with CHF in the whole group. In multiple regression analysis, predictors of 25(OH)D were estimated, glomerular filtration rate, BNP and valvular disease. CONCLUSIONS: 25(OH)D deficiency is common in CHF patients. Valvular disease is associated the most severe vitamin D deficiency and worsened kidney function. A higher prevalence of anemia in CHF due to coronary heart disease may be associated with wider use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and acetylsalicylic acid. Heart and kidney function are predictors of 25(OH)D level in the patients of this study.

Ultrasound assessment of the jugular and vertebral veins in healthy individuals: selected physiological aspects and morphological parameters.

AIM: Ultrasound assessment of morphological parameters of the internal jugular veins and vertebral veins in healthy individuals as well as their dependence on the patient's position. MATERIAL: The examinations were conducted in 185 healthy individuals (101 females and 84 males) aged 18-89. Ultrasound examinations were conducted with the use of a linear probe with the frequency of 5-9 MHz in the supine (0°) and sitting position (90°). RESULTS: In 154 cases (83.2%) on the left side and in 150 cases (81.1%) on the right side, the jugular veins were completely closed in the sitting position. In 31 cases (16.8%) on the left side and in 35 cases (18.9%) on the right side, they were merely narrowed. By contrast with the jugular veins, the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the vertebral veins was greater in the sitting position than in the supine position in a statistically significant way. The CSA values of the jugular veins in the supine position ranged from 0 cm(2) to 4.3 cm(2). There were no statistically significant differences in the CSA between men and women. The cross-sectional area of the right jugular vein in the supine position was greater in a statistically significant way than that of the left jugular vein. In this study population, the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the jugular veins on both sides amounted to 8.5:1. CONCLUSIONS: The width of the jugular and vertebral veins significantly varies depending on the patient's position. The range of the CSA values for the jugular veins is broad, which should be taken into account when interpreting imaging findings. The internal jugular veins can show considerable asymmetry.

Ultrasound assessment of the caliber of the arteries in the lower extremities in healthy persons - the dependency on age, sex and morphological parameters of the subjects.

AIM: The aim of this paper was to evaluate the caliber of the following arteries in the lower extremities: the common femoral artery, superficial femoral artery, popliteal artery, posterior tibial artery and dorsalis pedis artery and to determine the relation of the calibers to age, sex and morphological parameters of the body such as weight, height and BMI of the subject. MATERIAL: Two hundred and twenty-eight healthy persons aged 18-81 were examined (average ±SD; 43.1±16.71): 134 women aged 19-74 (43.2±15.63) and 94 men aged 18-81 (43±18.22). METHODS: The study was conducted with the use of a linear probe of 7.5 MHz frequency. The vascular caliber was assessed after the color map (color Doppler) was placed on a B-mode image. RESULTS: The average and standard deviation values for the calibers of examined vessels were determined. The calibers of all vessels examined in the group of men were statistically significantly larger than those in the group of women. No statistically significant differences between the calibers of the right and left sides were determined. The statistically significant correlations were specified between the age and the caliber of the examined vessels; positive for large femoral arteries and negative for the arteries of the crus and foot. Positive, statistically significant correlations between the caliber and the height, weight and BMI were also reported. CONCLUSIONS: The reported calibers of the arteries in the lower extremities and their relation to age, sex and morphological parameters of the subjects enable the differentiation of the physiological remodeling of the vessels from the pathological processes in e.g. atherosclerosis or hypertension.