BACKGROUND: So far, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and mortality were shown to have a U-shaped relationship. Additionally, high HDL-C levels increase the risk of developing a variety of diseases. However, a paucity of data exists regarding the characteristics of people with high HDL-C levels. The aim of this study was to assess the demographics and characteristics of patients with high HDL-C levels and compare their features with normal and low HDL-C groups.
METHODS: As a cross-sectional, matched case-control study, a total of 510 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) were enrolled in the study and categorized into three matched groups according to their HDL-C concentrations. The studied groups were matched by their age and gender. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves were designed to evaluate the relationship between height, blood pressure, triglyceride, and vitamin D concentrations with the probability of having high HDL-C levels. Furthermore, violin plots were conducted to illustrate the distribution of continuous variables within each group.
RESULTS: This study showed that having high HDL-C (more than 70 mg/dL) compared to having low HDL-C (less than 40 mg/dL in men and 50 mg/dL in women) was significantly associated with height (OR 0.918, 95% CI 0.866-0.974), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (0.941, 0.910-0.972), vitamin D (0.970, 0.941-0.999), and triglyceride (0.992, 0.987-0.998) serum concentrations. Further analysis investigated that having high HDL-C levels compared to desired HDL-C levels (40 ≤ HDL-C levels < 70 in men and 50 ≤ HDL-C levels < 70 in women) was inversely associated with having SPB values greater than 130 mmHg. Besides, sufficient vitamin D levels (above 20 ng/ml) could 0.349 times decrease the odds of having high HDL-C versus normal HDL-C levels.
CONCLUSIONS: Sufficient vitamin D levels, SPB values higher than 130 mmHg, as well as increased triglyceride levels, were inversely associated with having high HDL levels. However, higher height values were associated with a decreased likelihood of having high HDL.

UNASSIGNED: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by cartilage degradation, bone remodeling, and pain. Recent evidence suggests that Vitamin D insufficiency, alterations in parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, and dyslipidemia may play roles in the pathophysiology of OA, affecting calcium homeostasis and bone health. We investigated the association between Vitamin D, PTH levels, lipid profile, and calcium homeostasis in OA patients.
UNASSIGNED: This case-control study involved 200 participants, divided into OA and control groups, at a tertiary care center from April to May 2023. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, PTH, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and calcium were measured. Statistical analysis was conducted to assess correlations between these biomarkers and OA status.
UNASSIGNED: OA patients demonstrated significantly lower Vitamin D levels and higher PTH and total cholesterol levels compared to controls. Vitamin D insufficiency was prevalent, with a notable correlation between decreased Vitamin D levels, elevated PTH, and dyslipidemia. These findings suggest a potential metabolic interplay affecting OA progression and symptomatology.
UNASSIGNED: The study highlights a significant association between Vitamin D insufficiency, altered PTH levels, and lipid dysregulation in OA patients, underscoring the importance of assessing these parameters in the clinical management of OA. Further research is needed to explore the therapeutic implications of correcting Vitamin D insufficiency and lipid abnormalities in OA.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate vitamin-D levels effect on the survival/success and on marginal bone levels of dental implants.
METHODS: Patients with peri-implant disease and healthy control patients with functionally loaded dental implants were included in this retrospective case-control study. Forty patients with 201 implants were in the diseased-cohort, while thirty-three patients with 90 implants were in the control-cohort. Patient blood 25(OH)D levels were assessed through quantitative blood test. The correlation between abnormal 25(OH)D levels and disease status of each patient was assessed using Fisher\'s exact tests. The correlation of each implant\'s outcomes with vitamin-D status was assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Mann-Whitney U tests.
RESULTS: Patients with blood 25(OH)D levels >70 ng/mL (hypervitaminosis-D) had a 21.1-fold increase in the risk of implant failure or severe peri-implant bone loss regarding patients with intermediate (>30, ≤70 ng/mL) levels. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that implants in the hypervitaminosis-D cohort had a survival probability of 73.7 % (95 % CI:56.5-84.5 %) at 19-years after surgery, compared to 95 % for implants in patients with intermediate 25(OH)D levels (95 % CI:88.3-97.9 %). Additionally, implants in the hypervitaminosis-D cohort lost bone faster than implants in the intermediate cohort. These results were specific to the patient cohort with elevated blood 25(OH)D levels and not observed in patients taking vitamin-D supplementation. The impact of hypervitaminosis-D was enriched for implants in the maxilla, and not as apparent for implants in the mandible.
CONCLUSIONS: Blood 25(OH)D levels >70 ng/mL were correlated with adverse implant outcomes, including implant failure and peri-implant bone loss, especially in the maxilla.
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that hypervitaminosis D may be a previously unidentified risk factor for dental implant complications and should be further investigated to elucidate the underlying mechanism.

OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D is known to influence the risk of cardiovascular disease, which is a recognized risk factor for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). However, the relationship between vitamin D and SCA is not well understood. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the association between vitamin D and SCA in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients compared to healthy controls.
RESULTS: Using the Phase II Cardiac Arrest Pursuit Trial with Unique Registration and Epidemiologic Surveillance (CAPTURES II) registry, a 1:1 propensity score-matched case-control study was conducted between 2017 and 2020. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D) levels in patients with OHCA (454 cases) and healthy controls (454 cases) were compared after matching for age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, and lifestyle behaviors. The mean vitamin D levels were 14.5 ± 7.6 and 21.3 ± 8.3 ng/mL among SCA cases and controls, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was used adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, lifestyle behaviors, corrected serum calcium levels, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGRF). The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for vitamin D was 0.89 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87-0.91). The dose-response relationship demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency was associated with SCA incidence (severe deficiency, aOR 10.87, 95% CI 4.82-24.54; moderate deficiency, aOR 2.24, 95% CI 1.20-4.20).
CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency was independently and strongly associated with an increased risk of SCA, irrespective of cardiovascular and lifestyle factors, corrected calcium levels, and eGFR.

Telogen effluvium is characterized by excessive hair shedding usually following a stressful event. Ferritin has been used in clinical practice as a biomarker of nonanemic iron deficiency in cases of telogen effluvium. During the years of the COVID19 pandemic, telogen effluvium was reported as a part of post covid manifestations. As ferritin was also a biomarker for inflammation in cases with covid infection, this study was designed to evaluate the value of ferritin in cases with postcovid telogen effluvium one hundred patients recovering from covid 19 for 4-12 weeks were included in the study, detailed drug and laboratory history was obtained and serum ferritin level was measured. the mean serum level of ferritin among telogen effluvium patients was significantly lower than controls (68.52 ± 126 and 137 ± 137.597 ug/L respectively). Patients with telogen effluvium used significantly more azithromycin and ivermectin and significantly less vitamin C, D, lactoferrin and zinc than the controls Although serum ferritin is lower among telogen effluvium patients, it was still higher than the cutoff value for diagnosing nonanemic iron deficiency, we suggest that it will not be a good biomarkers in these cases. Our secondary outcomes showed that dietary supplements used during active infection such as vitamin C, D, lactoferrin and zinc might have a preventive value on postcovid hair loss, while azithromycin and ivermectin could have a negative long term effect on telogen effluvium.

BACKGROUND: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a long-term autoimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction, causing muscle weakness and fatigue as its primary clinical features. Vitamin D is crucial for both the autoimmune response and skeletal muscle function.
METHODS: Here, we presented a case report documenting the substantial improvement in symptoms experienced by a patient who underwent subtotal gastrectomy for gastric cancer following high-dose Vitamin D supplementation. The patient developed generalized MG two months after the surgery and did not respond adequately to pyridostigmine therapy, experiencing a progressive deterioration of the condition. A significant reduction in vitamin D concentration was observed following subtotal gastrectomy. In response, high-dose vitamin D supplementation was administered to the patient. Within one week of treatment, swallowing symptoms improved, enabling the consumption of a small amount of liquid food. By the second week, substantial swallowing and neck function improvements were evident. After one month, the patient regained the ability to straighten the neck while walking and consumed a regular diet despite persistent difficulties chewing hard food.
CONCLUSIONS: This case underscores the therapeutic potential of vitamin D in alleviating MG symptoms, particularly in individuals with compromised vitamin D levels following gastrectomy. The observed improvements present a new perspective on the possible involvement of vitamin D supplementation in the management of postoperative MG cases.

OBJECTIVE: Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by hypertension and proteinuria mostly after 20 weeks of gestation. It affects 2-8% of pregnancies worldwide, with detrimental consequences for both mother and foetus. Evidence, suggests that genetic factors, including vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms, could contribute to PE complexity. However, their role in the Ghanaian population remains underexplored. We assessed the interplay between Vitamin D, VDR gene variants and preeclampsia risk in Ghanaian women.
METHODS: This unmatched case-control study was conducted at Kumasi South Hospital, Ghana, from June to November 2022. A total of 162 participants consisting of 62 PE cases and 100 normotensive controls were enrolled. Clinical and obstetric data were collected. Blood samples were also collected for DNA extraction and vitamin D assay. Genotyping of VDR Fok1 and Bsm1 gene variants was performed using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis whereas Vitamin D levels were estimated using sandwich ELISA. Statistical analyses were computed with SPSS version 25 and GraphPad prism version 8.0. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: Vitamin D concentration were significantly lower in the PE group (p < 0.0001). Vitamin D deficiency (aOR = 3.311, 95% CI: 1.584-6.921, p = 0.0010) was significantly associated with a three-fold increase in preeclampsia risk, whilst VDR gene variants, particularly the \"bb\" genotype (cOR = 0.227, 95% CI: 0.055-0.944, p = 0.0410) was associated with reduced risk of PE. There was no association between the distribution of Fok1 genotypes and PE.
CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights a significant association between vitamin D deficiency and an increased risk of PE among Ghanaian women. However, the VDR gene variant, \"bb\", genotype, for Bsm1 reduces the risk of PE.

Multiple sclerosis is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by demyelination of nerves within the central nervous system. The prevalence of the disease is increasing. Cases with varying severity are observed. Multiple sclerosis is accompanied by severe osteoporosis, which may lead to fractures and may compromise patient mobility. The aim was to describe the case of a patient with multiple sclerosis who developed severe osteoporosis with multiple fractures. A female patient was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 52. At the age of 63, she presented with a fracture of the right femur. She was treated surgically with total arthroplasty. Osteoporosis was diagnosed and treatment was initiated. Seven months later the patient fell upon the fractured leg and developed a periprosthetic femoral fracture. She was treated with open reduction and internal fixation. Thereafter, bisphosphonates were administered. The patient can now walk with difficulty, independently, without orthotic help. In this case report, we have presented a case of multiple sclerosis who developed severe osteoporosis with multiple fractures.

Background Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. It is characterized by dyslipidemia, hormonal imbalances, and metabolic dysfunctions. Vitamin D deficiency may be implicated in the pathogenesis of PCOS, potentially exacerbating its metabolic syndrome. However, the exact interplay between these factors remains underexplored. Aim This study aimed to evaluate serum levels of vitamin D and its association with modalities of PCOS among women with PCOS and healthy controls.  Methods This was a hospital-based case-control study where 60 women newly diagnosed with PCOS and 56 non-PCOS controls were consecutively recruited within a 10-month period. The women aged 20-40 were recruited at the gynecology clinics of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and Lagos Island Maternity Hospital. PCOS was diagnosed using the Rotterdam\'s criteria. The biodata, anthropometry, clinical features, serum vitamin D, cortisol, progesterone, testosterone, estradiol, prolactin, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), insulin, fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) levels of PCOS-diagnosed women were assessed and compared with those of women without PCOS. The exclusion criteria comprised known diabetics, women with gynecological pathologies such as fibroids, and women on medications affecting the study analytes or hormones. Statistical analyses included chi-square or Fisher\'s exact tests for categorical variables, student t-test for continuous variables, and Pearson\'s correlation for assessing relationships between continuous variables. The significance level was set at p<0.05 and a confidence interval of 95%. Results Individuals with PCOS exhibited a younger mean age (26.90±3.73 versus 29.95±5.00 years, p=0.001) and a higher prevalence of irregular menstrual patterns (46.7% versus 14.3%, p=0.0001) and acne (58.3% versus 37.5%, p=0.025). Moreover, PCOS was associated with elevated levels of TC (p = 0.03), TG (p = 0.03), LDL-C (p = 0.014), FBG (p = 0.001), LH:FSH ratio (p = 0.002), AMH (p = 0.0001), and testosterone (p = 0.003), but low progesterone (p = 0.001) and vitamin D (p = 0.033), alongside a higher incidence of vitamin D deficiency (33.3% versus 26.1%) and insufficiency (66.7% versus 56.5%). Additionally, significant but weak correlations were observed between serum vitamin D levels and waist-hip ratio (r = 0.4, p = 0.016) and FBG (r = -0.4, p = 0.036) in the PCOS group, suggesting potential metabolic implications. Conclusion The PCOS subjects in this study had decreased vitamin D and progesterone levels, with elevated concentrations of testosterone, AMH, lipid profile (TC, LDL, and TG), FBG, and LH:FSH ratio. Studies on the therapeutic effect of vitamin D administration in managing PCOS will need to be further evaluated.

Adequate vitamin D (VD) intake during pregnancy is needed for fetal development and maternal health maintenance. However, while there is no doubt regarding its importance, there is not a unified recommendation regarding adequate intake. The main aim of our study was to measure the VD serum level of studied women, together with its potential influencing factors: demographic (i.e., age, level of education, relationship status and type of residence), conception and pregnancy related factors. Results are based on secondary data analyses of a retrospective case-control study of 100 preterm and 200 term pregnancies, where case and control groups were analyzed together. Data collection was based on a self-administered questionnaire, health documentation, and maternal serum VD laboratory tests. VD intake was evaluated by diet and dietary supplement consumption. According to our results, 68.1% of women took some kind of prenatal vitamin, and only 25.9% of them knew about its VD content. Only 12.1% of included women reached the optimal, 75 nmol/L serum VD level. Higher maternal serum levels were associated with early pregnancy care visits (p = 0.001), assisted reproductive therapy (p = 0.028) and advice from gynecologists (p = 0.049). A correlation was found between VD intake and serum levels (p < 0.001). Despite the compulsory pregnancy counselling in Hungary, health consciousness, VD intake and serum levels remain below the recommendations. The role of healthcare professionals is crucial during pregnancy regarding micronutrients intake and the appropriate supplementation dose.