Vitamin D - roles in women's reproductive health?

In the past few years a growing interest in vitamin D can be observed in the lay and biomedical literature due to findings demonstrating a low vitamin D status in the population. In addition to its importance for the regulation of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis recent epidemiologic studies have observed relationships between low vitamin D levels and multiple disease states. This secosteroid hormone also regulates the expression of a large number of genes in reproductive tissues implicating a role for vitamin D in female reproduction. In this report we summarize the recent evidence that vitamin D status influences female reproductive and pregnancy outcomes. Human and animal data suggest that low vitamin D status is associated with impaired fertility, endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. Evidence from observational studies shows higher rates of preeclampsia, preterm birth, bacterial vaginosis and gestational diabetes in women with low vitamin D levels. However, confirmation of experimental observations establishing an association of vitamin D deficiency with adverse reproductive outcomes by high quality observational and large-scale randomized clinical trials is still lacking. The determination of optimal 25(OH)D3 levels in the reproductive period and the amount of vitamin D supplementation required to achieve those levels for the numerous actions of vitamin D throughout a woman's life would have important public health implications

Vitamin D prevents endothelial progenitor cell dysfunction induced by sera from women with preeclampsia or conditioned media from hypoxic placenta

Context: Placenta-derived circulating factors contribute to the maternal endothelial dysfunction underlying preeclampsia. Endothelial colony forming cells (ECFC), a sub-population of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), are thought to be involved in vasculogenesis and endothelial repair. Low vitamin D concentrations are associated with an increased risk for preeclampsia. Objective: We hypothesized that the function of human fetal ECFCs in culture would be suppressed by exposure to preeclampsia-related factors-preeclampsia serum or hypoxic placental conditioned medium- in a fashion reversed by vitamin D. Design, Setting, Patients: ECFCs were isolated from cord blood of uncomplicated pregnancies and expanded in culture. Uncomplicated pregnancy villous placenta in explant culture were exposed to either 2% (hypoxic), 8% (normoxic) or 21% (hyperoxic) O2 for 48 h, after which the conditioned media (CM) was collected. Outcome Measures: ECFC tubule formation (Matrigel assay) and migration were examined in the presence of either maternal serum from preeclampsia cases or uncomplicated pregnancy controls, or pooled CM, in the presence or absence of 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3. Results: 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 reversed the adverse effects of preeclampsia serum or CM from hypoxic placenta on ECFCs capillary-tube formation and migration. Silencing of VDR expression by VDR siRNA, VDR blockade, or VEGF pathway blockade reduced ECFC functional abilities. Effects of VDR or VEGF blockade were partially prevented by vitamin D. Conclusion: Vitamin D promotes the capillary-like tubule formation and migration of ECFCs in culture, minimizing the negative effects of exposure to preeclampsia-related factors. Further evaluation of the role of vitamin D in ECFC regulation and preeclampsia is warranted. © 2014 Brodowski et al

Enhanced susceptibility to infections in a diabetic wound healing model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Wound infection is a common complication in diabetic patients. The progressive spread of infections and development of drug-resistant strains underline the need for further insights into bacterial behavior in the host in order to develop new therapeutic strategies. The aim of our study was to develop a large animal model suitable for monitoring the development and effect of bacterial infections in diabetic wounds.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fourteen excisional wounds were created on the dorsum of diabetic and non-diabetic Yorkshire pigs and sealed with polyurethane chambers. Wounds were either inoculated with 2 × 10⁸Colony-Forming Units (CFU) of <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>or injected with 0.9% sterile saline. Blood glucose was monitored daily, and wound fluid was collected for bacterial quantification and measurement of glucose concentration. Tissue biopsies for microbiological and histological analysis were performed at days 4, 8, and 12. Wounds were assessed for reepithelialization and wound contraction.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Diabetic wounds showed a sustained significant infection (>10⁵CFU/g tissue) compared to non-diabetic wounds (p < 0.05) over the whole time course of the experiment. <it>S. aureus</it>-inoculated diabetic wounds showed tissue infection with up to 8 × 10⁷CFU/g wound tissue. Non-diabetic wounds showed high bacterial counts at day 4 followed by a decrease and no apparent infection at day 12. Epidermal healing in <it>S. aureus</it>-inoculated diabetic wounds showed a significant delay compared with non-inoculated diabetic wounds (59% versus 84%; p < 0.05) and were highly significant compared with healing in non-diabetic wounds (97%; p < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Diabetic wounds developed significantly more sustained infection than non-diabetic wounds. <it>S. aureus </it>inoculation leads to invasive infection and significant wound healing delay and promotes invasive co-infection with endogenous bacteria. This novel wound healing model provides the opportunity to closely assess infections during diabetic wound healing and to monitor the effect of therapeutical agents <it>in vivo</it>.</p

Vitamin D - roles in women's reproductive health?

Abstract In the past few years a growing interest in vitamin D can be observed in the lay and biomedical literature due to findings demonstrating a low vitamin D status in the population. In addition to its importance for the regulation of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis recent epidemiologic studies have observed relationships between low vitamin D levels and multiple disease states. This secosteroid hormone also regulates the expression of a large number of genes in reproductive tissues implicating a role for vitamin D in female reproduction. In this report we summarize the recent evidence that vitamin D status influences female reproductive and pregnancy outcomes. Human and animal data suggest that low vitamin D status is associated with impaired fertility, endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. Evidence from observational studies shows higher rates of preeclampsia, preterm birth, bacterial vaginosis and gestational diabetes in women with low vitamin D levels. However, confirmation of experimental observations establishing an association of vitamin D deficiency with adverse reproductive outcomes by high quality observational and large-scale randomized clinical trials is still lacking. The determination of optimal 25(OH)D3 levels in the reproductive period and the amount of vitamin D supplementation required to achieve those levels for the numerous actions of vitamin D throughout a woman's life would have important public health implications.</p

Feeding of <i>Hermetia illucens</i> Larvae Meal Attenuates Hepatic Lipid Synthesis and Fatty Liver Development in Obese Zucker Rats

The present study tested the hypothesis that dietary insect meal from Hermetia illucens (HI) larvae attenuates the development of liver steatosis and hyperlipidemia in the obese Zucker rat. To test the hypothesis, a 4-week trial with male, obese Zucker rats (n = 30) and male, lean Zucker rats (n = 10) was performed. The obese rats were assigned to three obese groups (group O-C, group O-HI25, group O-HI50) of 10 rats each. The lean rats served as a lean control group (L-C). Group L-C and group O-C were fed a control diet with 20% casein as protein source, whereas 25% and 50% of the protein from casein was replaced with protein from HI larvae meal in the diets of group O-HI25 and O-HI50, respectively. The staining of liver sections with Oil red O revealed an excessive lipid accumulation in the liver of group O-C compared to group L-C, whereas liver lipid accumulation in group O-HI25 and O-HI50 was markedly reduced compared to group O-C. Hepatic concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol, C14:0, C16:0, C16:1, C18:0, C18:1, the sum of total fatty acids and hepatic mRNA levels of several genes associated with lipid synthesis and plasma concentration of cholesterol were markedly higher in group O-C than in group L-C, but lower in group O-HI50 than in group O-C (p < 0.05). In conclusion, partial replacement of casein by HI larvae meal attenuates liver steatosis and dyslipidemia in obese Zucker rats. This suggests that HI larvae meal serves as a functional food protecting from obesity-induced metabolic disorders

Effect of Ecdysterone on the Hepatic Transcriptome and Lipid Metabolism in Lean and Obese Zucker Rats

Conflicting reports exist with regard to the effect of ecdysterone, the predominating representative of steroid hormones in insects and plants, on hepatic and plasma lipid concentrations in different rodent models of obesity, fatty liver, and diabetes, indicating that the effect is dependent on the rodent model used. Here, the hypothesis was tested for the first time that ecdysterone causes lipid-lowering effects in genetically obese Zucker rats. To test this hypothesis, two groups of male obese Zucker rats (n = 8) were fed a nutrient-adequate diet supplemented without or with 0.5 g ecdysterone per kg diet. To study further if ecdysterone is capable of alleviating the strong lipid-synthetic activity in the liver of obese Zucker rats, the study included also two groups of male lean Zucker rats (n = 8) which also received either the ecdysterone-supplemented or the non-supplemented diet. While hepatic and plasma concentrations of triglycerides and cholesterol were markedly higher in the obese compared to the lean rats (p < 0.05), hepatic and plasma triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations did not differ between rats of the same genotype fed the diets without or with ecdysterone. In conclusion, the present study clearly shows that ecdysterone supplementation does not exhibit lipid-lowering actions in the liver and plasma of lean and obese Zucker rats

Nerve Ultrasound as Helpful Tool in Polyneuropathies

Background: Polyneuropathies (PNP) are a broad field of diseases affecting millions of people. While the symptoms presented are mostly similar, underlying causes are abundant. Thus, early identification of treatable causes is often difficult. Besides clinical data and basic laboratory findings, nerve conduction studies are crucial for etiological classification, yet limited. Besides Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), high-resolution nerve ultrasound (HRUS) has become a noninvasive, fast, economic and available tool to help distinguish different types of nerve alterations in neuropathies. Methods: We aim to describe typical ultrasound findings in PNP and patterns of morphological changes in hereditary, immune-mediated, diabetic, metabolic and neurodegenerative PNP. Literature research was performed in PubMed using the terms ‘nerve ultrasound’, neuromuscular ultrasound, high-resolution nerve ultrasound, peripheral nerves, nerve enlargement, demyelinating, hereditary, polyneuropathies, hypertrophy’. Results: Plenty of studies over the past 20 years investigated the value of nerve ultrasound in different neuropathies. Next to nerve enlargement, patterns of nerve enlargement, echointensity, vascularization and elastography have been evaluated for diagnostic terms. Furthermore, different scores have been developed to distinguish different etiologies of PNP. Conclusions: Where morphological alterations of the nerves reflect underlying pathologies, early nerve ultrasound might enable a timely start of available treatment and also facilitate follow up of therapy success

Nerve Ultrasound as Helpful Tool in Polyneuropathies

Background: Polyneuropathies (PNP) are a broad field of diseases affecting millions of people. While the symptoms presented are mostly similar, underlying causes are abundant. Thus, early identification of treatable causes is often difficult. Besides clinical data and basic laboratory findings, nerve conduction studies are crucial for etiological classification, yet limited. Besides Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), high-resolution nerve ultrasound (HRUS) has become a noninvasive, fast, economic and available tool to help distinguish different types of nerve alterations in neuropathies. Methods: We aim to describe typical ultrasound findings in PNP and patterns of morphological changes in hereditary, immune-mediated, diabetic, metabolic and neurodegenerative PNP. Literature research was performed in PubMed using the terms ‘nerve ultrasound’, neuromuscular ultrasound, high-resolution nerve ultrasound, peripheral nerves, nerve enlargement, demyelinating, hereditary, polyneuropathies, hypertrophy’. Results: Plenty of studies over the past 20 years investigated the value of nerve ultrasound in different neuropathies. Next to nerve enlargement, patterns of nerve enlargement, echointensity, vascularization and elastography have been evaluated for diagnostic terms. Furthermore, different scores have been developed to distinguish different etiologies of PNP. Conclusions: Where morphological alterations of the nerves reflect underlying pathologies, early nerve ultrasound might enable a timely start of available treatment and also facilitate follow up of therapy success

Effect of villous explant conditioned medium (2% O₂, 8% O₂, 21% O₂ CM) and 1,25(OH)₂ vitamin D₃ on capillary-tube formation in a Matrigel assay.

<p>ECFCs were cultured in endothelial basal medium (EBM) +25% CM (A–C). Capillary-tube formation (average total tubule length per microscopic field) was analyzed after 14 h by visual microscopy at 2.5 magnification. Data are expressed as percentage of control (2A: 8% O₂ CM+0 nM vitamin D₃; 2B: NCM+0 nM vitamin D₃). Results represent mean values of total tubule length ± SEM of at least 9 independent experiments; *<i>P<0.05</i> vs. control, C: Representative photomicrographs of ECFCs after plating on Matrigel cultured in EBM+25% v/v CM. Scale bar represents 750 µm.</p

Effect of 1,25(OH)₂ vitamin D₃ and the inhibitors pyridoxal-5-phosphate, SU5416 and vitamin D receptor (VDR) small interfering (si)RNA on ECFC capillary-tube formation or migration.

<p>ECFCs were incubated with uncomplicated pregnancy sera (A) or preeclampsia sera (B) or 2% O₂ villous explant conditioned medium (C), and in the presence or absence (control) of 0.5 mM pyridoxal-5-phophate, 0.5 µM SU5416, VDR siRNA, or non-targeting (scrambled) siRNA. The effects of each of these exposures were additionally examined both in the absence (vehicle) or presence of 10 nM 1,25(OH)₂ vitamin D₃. Total tubule lengths (A, B) or migration (C) were determined and expressed as percent relative to control. Results represent mean ± SEM of at least 4 independent experiments. *<i>P</i><0.05 compared to control. Other significant differences (P<0.05) are indicated by the horizontal bars.</p