ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Contradictory findings have recently been published on the association between atopic dermatitis (AD) severity and vitamin D deficiency. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration and AD severity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2011 to March 2013 in dermatology departments in adults and children with a diagnosis of AD. The severity of AD was assessed using the SCORAD and PO-SCORAD indexes and serum 25(OH)D concentrations were determined for all patients. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included: 30 with severe AD and 30 with mild-to-moderate AD. The 25(OH)D concentration was lower in patients with severe AD than in patients with mild-to-moderate AD (15.9 ± 8.3 ng/mL vs. 21.5 ± 8.2 ng/mL; P=0.01). There was a negative correlation between 25(OH)D concentration and respectively, SCORAD (r=-0.47; P<0.001) and PO-SCORAD (r=-0.4; P=0.004) values. The correlation between 25(OH)D concentrations and SCORAD values remained valid after adjustment for age, phototype and season. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated an association between vitamin D deficiency and AD severity but showed no causal link between these variables. Confounding variables such as sun exposure and socioeconomic status were not recorded. A large-sale, comparative interventional study could confirm a real link between these two variables.
Subject(s)
Dermatitis, Atopic/diagnosis , Vitamin D Deficiency/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Biomarkers/blood , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Dermatitis, Atopic/complications , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Risk Factors , Severity of Illness Index , Vitamin D/analogs & derivatives , Vitamin D/blood , Vitamin D Deficiency/blood , Vitamin D Deficiency/complicationsABSTRACT
A case is reported of irreversible damage being caused to a permanent programmable pacemaker by electrocautery used in the epigastric region. The pacemaker was rapidly replaced, and the patient had no adverse effects of this accident. The use of monopolar electrocautery in patients who have one of the new generation of programmable pacemakers is very dangerous. Bipolar forceps can reduce the level of interference between electrocautery units and pacemaker electrodes. With programmable pacemakers, the generator instruction manual should be consulted before surgery, as placing a magnet on the generator may not necessarily convert it to the asynchronous mode. When the use of electrocautery is unavoidable, external cardiac pacing electrodes should be placed on the patient, with an external cardiac pacemaker ready.