Low vitamin D levels have been reported to contribute to the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality, especially stroke. In the present study we therefore evaluated the short-term prognostic value of serum 25(OH)D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) in Chinese patients with AIS (acute ischaemic stroke). From February 2010 to September 2012, consecutive stroke patients admitted to the emergency department at two hospitals in Beijing, China were identified. Clinical information was collected, and the serum concentration of 25(OH)D and NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) were measured at the time of admission. Short-term functional outcome was measured using a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days after admission. Multivariate analyses were performed using logistic regression models. During the inclusion period, 231 patients were diagnosed as having AIS, and 220 completed follow-up. The median serum 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in patients with AIS compared with normal controls [14.2 (10.2-18.9) ng/ml compared with 17.9 (12.5-22.9) ng/ml; P<0.001; values are medians (interquartile range)]. 25(OH)D was an independent prognostic marker of short-term functional outcome and death {0.79 (0.73-0.85) and 0.70 (0.50-0.98) respectively [values are odds rations (95% confidence intervals)]; P<0.01 for both, adjusted for NHISS, other predictors and vascular risk factors} in patients with AIS. In ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve analysis, the prognostic accuracy of 25(OH)D was higher compared with all of the other serum predictors and was in the range of NIHSS score. In conclusion, these findings suggest that 25(OH)D is an independent prognostic marker for death and functional outcome within 90 days in Chinese patients with AIS even after adjusting for possible confounding factors.

Lactobacilli have been shown to inhibit the proliferation of several types of cancer cells, but the effects of vaginal Lactobacilli on cervical cancer cells have seldom been reported. We incubated Caski cells with supernatants of predominant strains in the vagina and investigated their effects on cell growth and the possible mechanisms. Cell-free supernatants of Lactobacillus crispatus, L. jensenii, and L. gasseri were prepared and purified. Caski cells were treated with various concentrations of Lactobacillus supernatants (LS). The effect of LS on cell growth was investigated using MTT assays. The influence of LS on the cell cycle and expression of human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 oncogenes was determined by flow cytometry and RT-PCR, respectively. LS-inhibited Caski cell proliferation caused morphological changes in a pH-independent manner. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that cells exposed to LS exhibited a significant increase of cell number in S phase and a strong decrease of cell number in G2/M phase. Expression of HPV E6 and E7 oncogenes, as well as CDK2 and cyclin A was decreased after treatment with LS, while expression of p21 was increased. Supernatants of L. crispatus, L. jensenii, and L. gasseri have inhibitory effects on the viability of cervical cancer cells via regulation of HPV oncogenes and cell cycle-related genes. Lactobacillus, as a promising treatment for cancer, is being assessed for its effect, and these results provide further evidence in this respect.

The present meta-analysis suggested that GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes are associated with increased risk for senile cataract in Asian populations but not in Caucasian populations. Given the limited sample size, the finding on GST polymorphisms merits further investigation.