PURPOSE: Although vitamin D deficiency is more commonly found in cancer patient than in non-cancer patients, there have been little data regarding the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in cancer patients at the very end of life. We examined vitamin D deficiency in terminally ill cancer patients and related factors. METHODS: This study was based on a retrospective chart review of 133 patients in a hospice ward. We collected data regarding age, sex, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level, cancer type, physical performance, current medications and various laboratory findings. We investigated factors related to serum vitamin D levels after multivariate adjustment for potential confounders. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D<20 ng/mL was considered deficient and <10 ng/mL severely deficient. RESULTS: Ninety-five percent of the patients were serum vitamin D deficient. Severe vitamin D deficiency was more common in male patients, non-lung cancer patients, H2 blocker users and non-anticonvulsant users. Elevated levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were also associated with low serum vitamin D levels. Multiple regression analysis showed that severe vitamin D deficiency was associated with male gender (aOR 3.82, 95% CI: 1.50~9.72, P=0.005), H2 blocker users (aOR 3.94, 95% CI: 1.61~9.65, P=0.003) and elevated serum ALT levels (aOR 4.52, 95% CI: 1.35~15.19, P=0.015). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent among terminally ill cancer patients. Severe vitamin D deficiency was more common in male patients, H2 blocker users, and patients with elevated ALT levels.
Alanine Transaminase ; Hospices* ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Terminally Ill ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin D Deficiency*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the blood quality of blood banks.

METHODSHBsAg, Anti-HCV, Anti-HIV were detected by enzyme linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). Treponema pallidum was detected by Trust or rapid plasma regain card test (RPR) before August 2001 and ELISA was used afterwards. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was detected by Reitman-Frankel before December 1999 and by continuous monitoring assay afterwards. Results were compared between (1) sampling and spot check, (2) different determent methods, (3) two kinds of reagents with different antigen coating.

RESULTSSeventy-two (8.28 per thousand ) of the 8,699 plasma samples were found unqualified with levels of anti-HCV, ALT, HBsAg, Treponema pallidum and anti-HIV 24 (2.76 per thousand ), 19 (2.18 per thousand ), 16 (1.84 per thousand ), 7 (0.80 per thousand ), 6 (0.69 per thousand ), respectively. There were significant differences between different determent methods and different reagents, but only ALT showed significant difference in the sampling and spot check.

CONCLUSIONThe unqualified samples were associated with testing methods, quality of reagents as well as ability and responsibility of the staff.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Blood Banks ; standards ; Blood Donors ; Blood-Borne Pathogens ; isolation & purification ; China ; D-Alanine Transaminase ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; HIV Antibodies ; blood ; HIV Seropositivity ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; blood ; Humans ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo further understand chronic severe hepatitis (CSH) and to improve the level of diagnosis and treatment and to explore the methods to reduce the fatality rate of CSH through analysing the factors related to prognosis of CSH.

METHODSThe factors related to prognosis from 520 cases with CSH were analyzed by SPASS and STATA software.

RESULTS1. The fatality rate in cases with age > or = 40 years was higher than that in cases with age <40 years (P<0.001), there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in sex and pathogenic basis of CSH; 2. The fatality rate rose in cases with WBC > or = 10.0 x 10(9) per liter or platelet <100 x 10(9) per liter; 3. The fatality rate increased gradually with the ratio of aspartic aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) and serum total bilirubin (TBil), appearance of deviation of TBil and ALT, decrease in prothrombin activity (PTA), total cholesterol (TC), cholinesterase and albumin (Alb) (P<0.001). 4. The fatality rate increased with appearance of complications such as ascites, electrolyte disturbance, spontaneous peritonitis and so on (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONSThe important factors related to prognosis were age, > or = 40 years, WBC 10.0 x 10(9) per liter or platelet <100 x 10(9) per liter; the ratio of AST/ALT, TBil, Tc, cholinesterase, Alb and complication, to monitor dynamically laboratory indexes such as TBil, PTA, Tc, cholinesterase and so on and to prevent and cure various complications are important measures to reduce the fatality rate of CSH.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Child ; Cholinesterases ; blood ; D-Alanine Transaminase ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Female ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; blood ; complications ; mortality ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Serum Albumin ; analysis ; Thrombin ; analysis

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the association between vitamin D and metabolic syndrome in patients with psychotic disorders. METHODS: The study enrolled 302 community-dwelling patients with psychotic disorders. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, including blood pressure, physical activity, and dietary habit were gathered. Laboratory examinations included vitamin D, lipid profile, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, liver function, and renal function. Vitamin D insufficiency was defined as <20 ng/mL. Clinical characteristics associated with vitamin D insufficiency were identified. RESULTS: Among the 302 participants, 236 patients (78.1%) had a vitamin D insufficiency and 97 (32.1%) had metabolic syndrome. Vitamin D insufficiency was significantly associated with the presence of metabolic syndrome (p=0.006) and hypertension (p=0.017). Significant increases in triglycerides and alanine transaminase were observed in the group with a vitamin D insufficiency (p=0.002 and 0.011, respectively). After adjusting for physical activity and dietary habit scores, vitamin D insufficiency remained significantly associated with metabolic syndrome and hypertension. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D insufficiency was associated with metabolic syndrome and was particularly associated with high blood pressure, although the nature, direction and implications of this association are unclear.
Alanine Transaminase ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Fasting ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Liver ; Motor Activity ; Psychotic Disorders* ; Schizophrenia ; Triglycerides ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

PURPOSE: Vitamin D deficiency is a condition widespread throughout the world. Recent studies have suggested that vitamin D deficiency was associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adolescents. METHODS: The data were obtained from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2008–2014. A total of 3,878 adolescents were included in the study. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration <20 ng/mL and suspected NAFLD was defined as an alanine transaminase concentration >30 U/L. RESULTS: Vitamin D deficiency was noted in 78.9% of the studied population. Age, body mass index, waist circumference, and blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in adolescents with suspected NAFLD than in adolescents without suspected NAFLD, while the mean vitamin D level was significantly lower in adolescents with suspected NAFLD. The multivariate-adjusted odds of suspected NAFLD were higher with increased age, male gender, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Individuals with vitamin D deficiency were at higher risk of suspected NAFLD (odds ratio, 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–2.95) after adjusting for age, gender, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency was associated with suspected NAFLD, independent of obesity and metabolic syndrome, in adolescents.
Adolescent ; Alanine Transaminase ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Cholesterol ; Glucose ; Humans ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity ; Triglycerides ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins ; Waist Circumference

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of a 3 week low calorie diet (LCD) and a 9 week of behavior modification (BM) program on the weight loss, mineral and vitamin status in 22 obese women. The subject were healthy, obese (PIBW > 120%) women aged 20 - 50 Yr and not taking any medications known to influence body composition, mineral or vitamin metabolism During the LCD program, subjects were provided commercial liquid formulas with 125 kcal per pack and were instructed to have a formula for replacement of one meal and at least one regular meal per day within the range of daily 800 - 1200 kcal intake. During the BM program the subjects weekly attended the group nutrition counseling session to encourage themselves to modify their eating behavior and spontaneously restrict their energy intakes. The BM program focused on stimulus control, control of portion sizes and modification of binge eating and other adverse habits. The initial mean energy intake of subjects was 2016.9 +/- 129.8 kcal (100.8% of RDA) and dropped to 1276.5 +/- 435.7 kcal at the end of a 3 week of LCD program and elevated to 1762 +/- 329.3 kcal at the end of a 9 week of BM program. Carbohydrate, protein and fat intakes were significantly decreased at the end of the LCD but carbohydrate was the only macro nutrient that showed significant decrease (p < 0.05) at the end of the BM program compared to baseline. Calcium and iron intakes decreased significantly (p < 0.01, respectively) with no significant changes in other micronutrients at the end of the LCD. The mean weight of the subjects decreased from 73.8 +/- 8.0 kg to 69.2 +/- 7.7 kg with LCD and ended up with 67.7 +/- 7.1 kg after 9 weeks of BM. The 3 weeks of LCD reduced most of the anthropometric indices such as BMI, PIBW, fat weight, wast-to-hip ratio and subscapular and suprailiac skinfold thickness. The 9 weeks of behavior modification showed slight change or maintenance of each anthropometric measurements. Weight loss and decreased WHR with the diet program induced significantly decreased systolic blood pressure. SGOT, SGPT and serum insulin levels with improved serum lipid profiles. Biochemical parameters related to iron status such as hemoglobin, hematocrit were significantly decreased (p < 0.01) at the end of the LCD. But their mean values were within normal range. The mean serum 25 (OH) vitamin D3 level significantly increased after whole diet program. Serum folate level significantly decreased after 12 weeks of diet program. In conclusion 3 weeks of LCD brought 4.6 kg reduction in body weight without risk of iron, zinc or vitamin D deficiency and 9 weeks of the BM was effective to maintain nutritional status with slightly more weight reduction (1.5 kg). However calcium intake and serum folate should be monitored during the LCD and BM because of increased risk of deficiencies..
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Behavior Therapy* ; Blood Pressure ; Body Composition ; Body Weight ; Bulimia ; Calcium ; Caloric Restriction* ; Cholecalciferol ; Counseling ; Diet ; Energy Intake ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Insulin ; Iron ; Meals ; Metabolism ; Micronutrients ; Nutritional Status* ; Portion Size ; Reference Values ; Skinfold Thickness ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamins ; Weight Loss ; Zinc