No abstract

This study has shown an effect of rosuvastatin on vitamin D metabolism, with an increase in both 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. This may be an important pleiotropic effect whereby rosuvastatin reduces mortality in patients with coronary artery disease. Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between statins and vitamin D metabolism.

This study demonstrated a significant impairment in endothelial function and increased insulin resistance in patients with psoriasis. This is a comprehensive study for identifying atherosclerotic risk factors in psoriasis. We suggest that psoriatic patients should be paid attention for atherosclerosis and its risk factors.

Several studies have shown that low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease and an increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels protects against cardiovascular disease. In this study, we aimed to compare the effects of rosuvastatin and fluvastatin on vitamin D metabolism. The study population consisted of 134 hyperlipidemic patients who had not previously been treated with lipid lowering medications. Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to rosuvastatin 10 mg or fluvastatin 80 mg XL during the study. Lipid parameters, 25 hydroxyvitamin-D, and bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) were obtained at baseline and after 8 weeks of rosuvastatin and fluvastatin treatment. Sixty-nine patients were administered rosuvastatin, and 65 patients fluvastatin. Total Cholesterol and LDL cholesterol decreased after 8 weeks of both rosuvastatin and fluvastatin treatments. Rosuvastatin was significantly more effective than fluvastatin on lowering total (P < 0.001) and LDL cholesterol (P < 0.001). There was a significant increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D with rosuvastatin treatment (P < 0.001), whereas no significant change in 25-hydroxyvitamin D was observed with fluvastatin treatment. Mean BALP fell from 18.5 to 9.6 u/I (P < 0.001) with rosuvastatin and from 17.0 to 12.8 with fluvastatin (P = 0.004). There was no significant difference in BALP levels between rosuvastatin and fluvastatin treatment (P = 0.368). The present study demonstrated that 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels increased with rosuvastatin treatment; whereas fluvastatin treatment had no effect on 25-hydroxyvitamin D. This disparity could be related to the potency or the bioavailability of these two statins. Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between statins and the vitamin D physiology.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between vitiligo and insulin resistance (IR). A total of 96 subjects were included in the study; 57 patients with vitiligo and 39 subjects in an age and a body mass index-matched control group. In fasting blood samples, insulin, C-peptide, glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured. IR was calculated with the homeostasis model assessment-IR (HOMA-IR) method. Comparison of the vitiligo and the control groups revealed that patients with vitiligo had higher IR (2.3 vs. 2.0, p < 0.01), higher insulin and C-peptide levels (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively), higher LDL/HDL ratio and lower HDL-C levels (p < 0.01, p < 0.0001, respectively). Systolic blood pressures of patients with vitiligo were also higher compared with control subjects (p < 0.01). Further experimental and clinical studies are needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this association.

Results of the present study demonstrated that metabolic syndrome, diabetes and gallstone size were associated with CGD. Further prospective studies are needed to understand the clinical importance of this association.

Background/Aim: To investigate the effects of acitretin treatment on insulin resistance (IR) and adipokines, particularly retinol-binding protein (RBP)-4. Methods: Thirty-four patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and a control group of 34 healthy volunteers were recruited in the study. Screening for the parameters was performed before starting and after 3 months of acitretin treatment in the psoriasis group. The control group was only evaluated at the beginning of the study and did not receive placebo. We could not compare our results with a placebo control group because of ethical reasons. Results: Basal adiponectin (p = 0.01), insulin (p < 0.0001) levels and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) IR (p < 0.0001) were significantly higher in psoriasis patients. After the treatment, insulin (p = 0.014), C peptide (p = 0.011), RBP-4 (p < 0.0001) levels and HOMA-IR (p = 0.008) decreased significantly. Posttreatment leptin (p = 0.036) levels were significantly lower than those of the controls. Posttreatment adiponectin (p = 0.005) and insulin (p = 0.048) levels were higher than those of the controls. Conclusions: This study showed for the first time that RBP-4 levels and IR are decreased significantly with acitretin treatment. This finding is very important in psoriasis patients because psoriasis may cause insulin resistance and diabetes. Further experimental and clinical studies are needed to clarify the effect of acitretin on adipocyte structure and behavior.

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is frequently encountered in the general population. Since it is generally asymptomatic, these patients are mostly identified through routine screening or evaluation of non-specific symptoms. It has been suggested as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, mean platelet volume (MPV), which is a determinant of platelet function, is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate MPV values in subclinical hypothyroidic patients when they were subclinical hypothyroidic and became euthyroidic after 12 weeks of levothyroxine replacement therapy. Sixty patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and 78 euthyroid healthy subjects matched for age, gender and body mass index were enrolled in the study. None of the study subject had diabetes, hypertension or dyslipidemia. All the study subjects were evaluated by biochemical and platelet parameters. Subclinical hypothyroidic patients were then reevaluated with the same parameters when they became euthyroid after 12 weeks of levothyroxine treatment. Platelet counts and metabolic parameters, except serum triglyceride and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) levels, were similar between the two groups. Serum triglyceride and MPV values were significantly higher (pTG=0.007 and pMPV<0.001) while HDLC levels were lower (pHDLC=0.008) in the subclinical hypothyroidic group. MPV was found to be correlated with only antithyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibody levels (P<0.001). MPV values were decreased after subclinical hypothyroidic patients became eythyroid. However, post-treatment MPV values were still higher (p=0.035) in the patient group than in control group. These results suggest that subjects with SCH are susceptible to increased platelet activation and increased MPV values which contribute to increased risk of cardiovascular complications.