Several theories have been proposed to explain the etiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) until present. However, limited data are available regarding the impact of vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency on scoliosis. Previous studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are prevalent in adolescents, including AIS patients. A series of studies conducted in Hong Kong have shown that as many as 30% of these patients have osteopenia. The 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 level has been found to positively correlate with bone mineral density (BMD) in healthy adolescents and negatively with Cobb angle in AIS patients; therefore, vitamin D deficiency is believed to play a role in AIS pathogenesis. This study attempts to review the relevant literature on AIS etiology to examine the association of vitamin D and various current theories. Our review suggested that vitamin D deficiency is associated with several current etiological theories of AIS. We postulate that vitamin D deficiency and/or insufficiency affects AIS development by its effect on the regulation of fibrosis, postural control, and BMD. Subclinical deficiency of vitamin K2, a fat-soluble vitamin, is also prevalent in adolescents; therefore, it is possible that the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is related to decreased fat intake. Further studies are required to elucidate the possible role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis and clinical management of AIS.
Adolescent ; Bone Density ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Calcifediol ; Fibrosis ; Hong Kong ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Scoliosis ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin K ; Vitamin K 2 ; Vitamins

A 4-week-old infant presented with a coagulation disorder resulting from a vitamin K deficiency. The vitamin K deficiency was caused by neonatal cholestasis due to biliary atresia. Jaundice, hepatomegaly and pale stools are the predominant presenting symptoms of biliary atresia, none of which were recognized in our patient before admission. However, the patient presented with bleeding caused by vitamin K deficiency. She was fully breastfed and had received adequate doses of vitamin K at birth and from the age of 1 week. In case of a hemorrhagic diathesis due to neonatal cholestasis, timely identification of treatable underlying disorders, in particular biliary atresia, is important because an early surgical intervention results in a better prognosis. Meticulous history taking and a thorough physical exam can be decisive for an early diagnosis and subsequent intervention.
Biliary Atresia ; Cholestasis* ; Early Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhagic Disorders* ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Infant ; Jaundice ; Parturition ; Prognosis ; Vitamin K ; Vitamin K Deficiency

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recently, many cases of vitamin K-dependent coagulopathy of unknown origin have been reported. Such patients lack any relevant family history and have no systemic disease, raising suspicion of superwarfarin intoxication. We evaluated individual risk factors causing coagulopathy and hemorrhagic symptoms in patients with suspected superwarfarin intoxication. In addition, we determined how to effectively treat vitamin K-dependent coagulopathy caused by suspected superwarfarin intoxication. METHODS: Seven patients with suspected superwarfarin intoxication who lacked any definitive history of rodenticide ingestion were included. Thirty-one patients initially diagnosed with rodenticide poisoning were also included. We performed a retrospective chart review of all subjects and examined clinical data including patient demographics and medical histories. RESULTS: Patients initially diagnosed with rodenticide poisoning were divided into two groups, one of which had a laboratory abnormality (prothrombin time [PT] > 13 seconds) and another group with PTs in the normal range. There was no significant difference between the two groups in any of age, gender, the extent of chronic alcohol consumption, the causative rodenticide, psychiatric problems, ingestion of drugs interacting with warfarin, the extent of intoxication, or the type of ingestion attempt. The albumin level of the former group was significantly lower than that of the latter group (p = 0.014). Furthermore, a significant difference between the two groups was evident in terms of simultaneous ingestion of rodenticide and alcohol (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with superwarfarin poisoning did not exhibit any complication. When such complications were evident, they were associated with serum albumin level and coingestion of rodenticide and alcohol.
4-Hydroxycoumarins/*poisoning ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alcohol Drinking/adverse effects/blood ; Anticoagulants/*poisoning ; Blood Coagulation/*drug effects ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Prothrombin Time ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Rodenticides/*poisoning ; Serum Albumin/metabolism ; Vitamin K/*blood ; Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding/blood/*chemically induced/diagnosis/therapy ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
4-Hydroxycoumarins/*poisoning ; Anticoagulants/*poisoning ; Blood Coagulation/*drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Rodenticides/*poisoning ; Vitamin K/*blood ; Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding/*chemically induced

A 13-year old girl visited emergency medical center presenting with nasal bleeding and gross hematuria. She had no growth retardation, nor history of abnormal bleeding. Her initial blood test results showed normal platelet counts, normal liver enzyme level but prolonged prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. On admission, she showed massive but intermittent bleeding until the 15th hospital day. Evaluation including coagulation factor assay was done and the results were compatible with vitamin K deficiency. She was treated with vitamin K intramuscular injection 7 times and intermittent transfusion of red blood cells, platelets and fresh frozen plasma. After that, all of her blood test results returned to normal levels including coagulation tests concomitent with resolving symptoms. In that there were no proof of underlying diseases that can cause vitamin K deficiency, she was diagnosed as idiopathic transient vitamin K deficiency.
Adolescent ; Blood Coagulation Factors ; Emergencies ; Epistaxis ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Hematologic Tests ; Hematuria ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Liver ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Plasma ; Platelet Count ; Prothrombin Time ; Vitamin K ; Vitamin K Deficiency

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Coagulation Disorders ; Blood Coagulation Factors ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Vitamin K ; Vitamin K Deficiency ; Young Adult

Vitamin K intake has been reported as an essential factor for bone formation. The current study was conducted under the hypothesis that insufficient vitamin K intake would affect inflammatory markers and bone mineral density in young adult women. The study was a cross-sectional design that included 75 women in their 20s. Physical assessments, bone mineral density measurements, 24-hr dietary recalls, and biochemical assessments for high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and percentages of undercarboxylated osteocalcin (%ucOC) were performed. An analysis of vitamin K nutritional status was performed comparing first, second, and third tertiles of intake based on %ucOC in plasma. Vitamin K intake levels in the first, second, and third tertiles were 94.88 +/- 51.48 microg, 73.85 +/- 45.15 microg, and 62.58 +/- 39.92 microg, respectively (P < 0.05). The T-scores of the first and third tertiles were 1.06 and -0.03, respectively, indicating that bone mineral density was significantly lower in the group with lower vitamin K intake (P < 0.05). There was a tendency for different serum hs-CRP concentrations between the first (0.04 +/- 0.02) and third tertiles (0.11 +/- 0.18), however this was not statistically significant. Regression analysis was performed to identify the correlations between vitamin K nutritional status, inflammatory markers, and bone mineral density after adjusting for age and BMI. Serum hs-CRP concentrations were positively correlated with vitamin K deficiency status (P < 0.05). And bone mineral density, which was represented by speed, was negatively correlated with vitamin K deficiency status (P < 0.05). In conclusion, status of vitamin K affects inflammatory status and bone formation. Therefore, sufficient intake of vitamin K is required to secure peak bone mass in young adult women.
Bone Density ; C-Reactive Protein ; Female ; Humans ; Nutritional Status ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis ; Plasma ; Vitamin K ; Vitamin K Deficiency ; Vitamins ; Young Adult

Cerebral Hemorrhage ; etiology ; therapy ; Drainage ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Prognosis ; Vitamin K Deficiency ; complications

Acute renal infarction is an uncommon disease that is often misdiagnosed initially because of its nonspecific presentation. Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of thromboembolic event, but renal infarction can also occur in patient with special conditions such as hypercoagulable states. Protein S deficiency is a rare cause of the hypercoagulable states and induces both venous and arterial thrombosis. Protein S are a vitamin K dependent plasma protein that serves as a cofactor for the anticoagulant effects of activated protein C. Patients deficient in protein S is prone to recurrent thromboembolic disease. We reported a case of acute renal infarction that was associated with type II protein S deficiency in a 38-year old patient without underlying cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Humans ; Infarction ; Plasma ; Protein C ; Protein S ; Protein S Deficiency ; Thrombophilia ; Thrombosis ; Vitamin K

Binder syndrome is a maxillonasal dysostosis characterized by midface and nasal hypoplasia. It is sometimes associated with short terminal phalanges of fingers and toes and transient radiological features of chondrodysplasia punctata. It is associated with vitamin K deficiency during pregnancy. We describe here a baby with Binder syndrome who was born from mother with cholelithiasis during pregnancy.
Cholelithiasis ; Chondrodysplasia Punctata ; Dysostoses ; Finger Phalanges ; Humans ; Infant ; Maxilla ; Maxillofacial Abnormalities ; Mothers ; Nose ; Pregnancy ; Toes ; Vitamin K ; Vitamin K Deficiency