Local anti-inflammatory effect of vitamin D in acute and chronic gouty arthritis

BackgroundVitamin D has immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory properties and important role in bone metabolism. Effects of vitamin D supplementation in musculoskeletal diseases are well known, but it is unknown if local application of vitamin D can have an anti-inflammatory potential.AimsThe aim of this study was to investigate local influence of vitamin D on inflammation, pain, redness and swelling of the affected joint in acute and chronic gouty arthritis. 40 patients with acute gouty arthritis and 40 patients with chronic gouty arthritis were included in study.Methods We did topical application of cholecalciferol in a dose of 180,000 IU daily through seven days on the affected joint for one hour. Local changes of the affected joint such as swelling and redness were observed. Also, serum samples were taken on a 1st, 3rd and 7th day of application in order to measure levels of vitamin D, urates, calcium and C reactive protein.Results We found that local application of vitamin D increased its serum levels in both groups of patients while urates level, swelling, redness and pain was reduced. Effect of vitamin D on pain, redness and inflammation was stronger in a group with acute inflammation.ConclusionLocal application of vitamin D may be linked to the reduction of acute and chronic inflammation in gouty arthritis. Relationship between vitamin D and urates in inflammatory process should be investigated further

Increased bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background and Objectives: Studies of bone mineral density (BMD) in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus have shown conflicting results. We conducted this study to determine whether postmenopausal women with diabetes have higher BMD than non-diabetic women of similar age, and to investigate the relationship between BMD and relevant clinical characteristics in these groups of women. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed lumbar spine, femoral neck, and radius BMD data and other relevant clinical data for 130 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 166 non-diabetic women collected during a voluntary screening for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women without a history of low bone mass or osteoporotic fractures. Results: Women with type 2 diabetes mellitus had significantly higher mean lumbar spine BMD (0.903±0.165 vs. 0.824±0.199, respectively, P< .001) and mean femoral neck BMD (0.870±0.132 vs. 0.832±0.134, respectively, P< .05) than non-diabetic women. In both groups of women, age correlated negatively with BMD levels at all three anatomical sites. Higher body mass index was associated only with higher lumbar spine BMD in both groups. Alkaline phosphatase levels showed a negative correlation with BMD at all sites in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: Postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus have higher BMD levels than non-dia--betic women with similar clinical characteristics, and require a more scrutinized approach in managing low bone mass

Da li organski hleb bez brašna od celih proklijalih zrna pšenice smanjuje oštećenja DNK kod pacijenata sa dijabetesom?

Diabetes is one of the main health concerns, especially in developed countries. During the last few decades, the percentage of diabetic persons is constantly increasing. Although the genetic factors have a strong influence in the development of diabetes, environmental influence (physical inactivity, inadequate nutrition leading to obesity) also have an important impact. The main objective of this investigation was to evaluate the possible influence of organic sprouted whole wheat grain flourless bread Tonus® (product of Trivit, Becej, Serbia) on DNA damage at various stages of progression through type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In addition to control (non-diabetic) subjects we analyzed obese, pre-diabetic and diabetic patients, for a total of four experimental groups. All subjects used to eat Mediterranean diet for at least two years before being included in our study. In each of four groups we had five persons practicing the Mediterranean diet but instead of bread they consumed flourless bread Tonus®. The DNA damage was evaluated on peripheral blood mononuclear cells by alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay at the very beginning (before starting the Tonus® bread diet), and after exactly the three months of consumption of Tonus® bread. Statistical analysis revealed that only in patients with typeDijabetes predstavlja jedan od glavnih zdravstvenih problema, naročito u razvijenim zemljama. Tokom poslednjih nekoliko decenija neprekidno se povećava procenat osoba obolelih od dijabetesa. Mada genetički faktori imaju snažan uticaj na razvoj dijabetesa, uticaji sredine (fizička neaktivnost, nepravilna ishrana koja dovodi do gojaznosti) takođe imaju veliki uticaj na razvoj ove bolesti. Tokom nekoliko poslednjih decenija procenat osoba sa dijabetesom se konstantno povećava. Glavni cilj ovog istraživanja bio je da se proceni mogući uticaj organskog hleba bez brašna od celih proklijalih zrna pšenice, Tonus® (Trivit, Bečej, Serbia) na oštećenja DNK u različitim stadijumima progresije kroz tip 2 dijabetes melitus. Pored kontrolne grupe (zdrave osobe), analizirali smo gojazne, predijabetičare i dijabetičare, što čini ukupno četiri eksperimentalne grupe. Sve osobe su koristile Mediteransku ishranu najmanje dve godine pre nego su uključene u ovu studiju. U svakoj grupi imali smo pet osoba koje su upražnjavale Mediteransku ishranu, ali su umesto uobičajenog hleba konzumirali hleb bez brašna Tonus®. Oštećenja DNK su evaluirana alkalnom verzijom elektoroforeze DNK pojedinačnih ćelija (komet test) na samom početku (pre uvođenja hleba Tonus® u ishranu) i tačno nakon tri meseca konzumiranja hleba Tonus®. Statistička analiza otkrila je da samo kod pacijenata sa dijabetesom tipa 2 konzumiranje Tonus hleba dovodi do smanjenja oštećenja DNK u poređenju sa stepenom oštećenja DNK kod ovih pacijenata pre nego su otpočeli dijetu sa hlebom Tonus. Pretpostaljamo da je pad hiperinsulinemije usled konzumiranja hleba Tonus mogao da bude jedan od glavnih uzroka smanjenja oštećenja DNK