Cumulative proportions of patients reporting one or several risk factors and resulting number-to-screen.

<p>Cumulative proportions of patients reporting one or several risk factors and resulting number-to-screen.</p

Multiple analyses confirm the association of serum 25(OH)D concentration with Breslow thickness of primary melanomas.

<p>Additional statistical tests, including gender and time of blood draw in multiple analyses, confirmed our finding that serum 25(OH)D concentrations are associated with Breslow thickness of primary melanomas (n = 307; 17 Patients were excluded from this cohort due to missing clinical data). Considering Breslow thickness of primary melanomas as dependent and gender, season of blood draw as well as serum 25(OH)D concentration as independent variables, the adjusted serum 25(OH)D concentration effect resulted in a p-value of 0.013.</p><p>Multiple analyses confirm the association of serum 25(OH)D concentration with Breslow thickness of primary melanomas.</p

Serum 25(OH)D concentrations are associated with survival of melanoma patients.

<p>When dividing the cohort of melanoma patients according to their serum 25(OH)D concentrations into quartiles, a significant difference in survival from time of diagnosis between the 1^st (lowest serum 25(OH)D concentrations; 4–9.86 ng/ml) and 4^th (highest serum 25(OH)D concentrations; 24.4–59.6 ng/ml) quartiles is found (p = 0.049). Kaplan-Meier analysis shows a median OS of melanoma patients in the 1^st quartile (n = 81) of 80 months, while in contrast patients in the 4^th quartile (n = 81) have a median OS of 195 months. Age at time of venipuncture has no significant influence on OS (p = 0.2). Tumor stage has a significant influence on OS with p-values<10⁻³ and 0.002 for tumor stages 4 and 3, respectively. This finding may be due to a dependence of tumor stage on 25(OH)D level (3a). Comparing the survival of melanoma patients venipunctured in winter (Nov-Jan) (n = 57) and summer (May-Jul) (n = 92) with each other, no significant difference is observed. The median survival in the winter cohort is 62 months as compared to 57 months in the summer cohort (n = 149; p = 0.056) (3b). The female gender (195 month, n = 150) has a significant longer OS compared to the male gender (141 month, n = 174) (p = 0.003) (3c).</p

Risk factor distribution of the study population and MRSA carriers.

<p>Risk factor distribution of the study population and MRSA carriers.</p

Prevalence of <i>spa</i> types in nursing homes in Saarland, Germany.

<p>The number of different <i>spa</i> types is given per LTCF (identical numbering as in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0153030#pone.0153030.g001" target="_blank">Fig 1</a>). <i>spa</i> type t003 (grey), t504 (light grey), not classified <i>spa</i> types (white), other <i>spa</i> types (black).</p

MRSA prevalence in nursing homes in Saarland, Germany.

<p>Shown is the MRSA prevalence (MRSA cases in percent) of the various LTCF sorted by result. The dots represent the expected rate of MRSA prevalence based to the LTCF pre-study information; the dashed line shows the mean MRSA rate throughout the entire study population.</p

Serum 25(OH)D concentrations are associated with Breslow thickness of primary melanomas.

<p>Median Breslow thickness (black horizontal line) in melanoma patients is shown (1a) (<10 ng/ml = 1.9 mm, n = 77; 10–20 ng/ml = 1.4 mm, n = 122; >20 ng/ml = 1 mm, n = 108; total n = 307; p = 0.002). 17 Patients were excluded from this cohort due to missing clinical data. Boxes represent the values within the 25th and 75th percentiles (1a). We report evidence of an inverse J-shaped curve (p = 0.033), indicating that high serum 25(OH)D concentrations (>40 ng/ml) may be associated with thicker primary melanomas as well. Median Breslow thickness and 25(OH)D serum concentration at time of diagnosis from melanoma patients is shown (<10 ng/ml = 1.9 mm [ci 95%: 1.3–2.5], n = 77; 10–20 ng/ml = 1.4 mm [ci 95%: 1.1–1.8], n = 122; 20–30 ng/ml = 1.00 mm [ci 95%: 0.73–1.5], n = 65; 30–40 ng/ml = 0.8 mm [ci 95%: 0.4–1.85], n = 31; 40–50 ng/ml = 1.155 mm [ci 95%: 0.65–2.7], n = 8; >50 ng/ml = 1.25 mm [ci 95%: 0.5–2.0], n = 4; total n = 307; p = 0.033). 17 Patients were excluded from the cohort due to missing clinical data (1b).</p

Univariate analysis of risk factors associated with MRSA colonisation.

<p>Univariate analysis of risk factors associated with MRSA colonisation.</p

Multiple analyses confirm that median serum 25(OH)D concentrations are significantly lower in melanoma patients as compared to controls.

<p>Additional statistical tests, including age and time of blood draw (BMI data were not available) in multiple analyses and ANOVA, confirmed that median serum 25(OH)D concentrations are significantly lower in melanoma patients as compared to controls. Considering 25(OH)D as dependent and sex, age, season of blood draw as well as group as independent variables, the adjusted group effect resulted in a p-value of 0,012.</p><p>Multiple analyses confirm that median serum 25(OH)D concentrations are significantly lower in melanoma patients as compared to controls.</p

25(OH)D concentration, age, season and Breslow thickness of primary melanomas.

<p>We found significant (p<0.001) variations in serum 25(OH)D concentrations throughout the seasons in melanoma patients (n = 324), with a peak in autumn (Aug-Oct) (median = 21.3 ng/ml) and a low in springtime (Feb-Apr) (median = 10.15 ng/ml) (2a). An association of Breslow thickness and season was not observed (p = 0·543, n = 307), 17 patients from the cohort were excluded due to missing clinical data (2b). Additionally, we found (p = 0.07) age-related differences in Breslow thickness of primary melanomas (20–51 yrs.: median = 1.1 mm; 52–66 yrs.: median = 1.2 mm; >67 yrs.: median = 1.8 mm) (2c). Boxes represent the values (median) within the 25^th and 75^th percentiles.</p