Postoperative tetany in Graves disease: important role of vitamin D metabolites. (1/1662)

OBJECTIVE: To test the authors' hypothesis of the causal mechanism(s) of postoperative tetany in patients with Graves disease. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Previous studies by the authors suggested that postoperative tetany in patients with Graves disease occurs during the period of bone restoration and resulted from continuation of a calcium flux into bone concomitant with transient hypoparathyroidism induced by surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was carried out to investigate sequential changes in serum levels of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), calcium and other electrolytes, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), and bone metabolic markers in 109 consecutive patients with Graves disease who underwent subtotal thyroidectomy. RESULTS: Preoperative serum iPTH levels negatively correlated with ionized calcium levels and positively correlated with 1,25(OH)2D or 1,25(OH)2D/25OHD. After the operation, there was a significant decline in levels of ionized calcium, magnesium, and iPTH. Serum iPTH was not detected in 15 patients after surgery. Four of these 15 patients, and 1 patient whose iPTH level was below normal, developed tetany. Preoperative serum ionized calcium levels were significantly lower, and iPTH levels were higher, in the 5 patients with tetany than in the 11 patients who did not develop tetany despite undetectable iPTH levels. The tetany group had significantly lower serum 25OHD levels and higher 1,25(OH)2D levels, and had increased 1,25(OH)2D/25OHD as an index of the renal 25OHD-1-hydroxylase activity than those in the nontetany group. These results suggest that patients with a high serum level of iPTH as a result of low serum calcium levels (secondary hyperparathyroidism) are susceptible to tetany under conditions of hypoparathyroid function after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative tetany occurs in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism caused by a relative deficiency in calcium and vitamin D because of their increased demand for bone restoration after preoperative medical therapy concomitant with transient hypoparathyroidism after surgery. Calcium and vitamin D supplements may be recommended before and/or after surgery for patients in whom postoperative tetany is expected to develop.  (+info)

Regulation of PiT-1, a sodium-dependent phosphate co-transporter in rat parathyroid glands. (2/1662)

A cDNA encoding an Na+-Pi co-transporter, termed rat PiT-1, has now been isolated from rat parathyroid. Expression of rat PiT-1 in Xenopus oocytes revealed that it possesses Na+-dependent Pi co-transport activity. The amount of PiT-1 mRNA in the parathyroid of vitamin D-deficient rats was reduced compared with that in normal animals, and increased markedly after administration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Furthermore, the abundance of PiT-1 mRNA in the parathyroid was much greater in rats fed a low-Pi diet than in those fed a high-Pi diet. Thus, rat PiT-1 may contribute to the effects of Pi and vitamin D on parathyroid function.  (+info)

An endocytic pathway essential for renal uptake and activation of the steroid 25-(OH) vitamin D3. (3/1662)

Steroid hormones may enter cells by diffusion through the plasma membrane. However, we demonstrate here that some steroid hormones are taken up by receptor-mediated endocytosis of steroid-carrier complexes. We show that 25-(OH) vitamin D3 in complex with its plasma carrier, the vitamin D-binding protein, is filtered through the glomerulus and reabsorbed in the proximal tubules by the endocytic receptor megalin. Endocytosis is required to preserve 25-(OH) vitamin D3 and to deliver to the cells the precursor for generation of 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D3, a regulator of the calcium metabolism. Megalin-/- mice are unable to retrieve the steroid from the glomerular filtrate and develop vitamin D deficiency and bone disease.  (+info)

Clinical and subclinical vitamin D deficiency in Bradford children. (4/1662)

A survey of the vitamin D status of Bradford schoolchildren was carried out in April 1973, employing conventional biochemistry, radiology, and measurement of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol levels. Biochemical evidence of rickets was present in 45% of the Asians. When re-examined in September, several children showed spontaneous biochemical resolution; nevertheless, radiological abnormalities were present in 12% of the original sample. No evidence of rickets was detected in the smaller White sample. Minor biochemical abnormalities were present in 9 of the 40 West Indian children. A study of admissions of Bradford hospitals in the 4 years 1969-1972 inclusive confirmed that clinical vitamin D deficiency was confined to Asians except for a few cases of infantile rickets in White children. The probability that one Asian child in 40 may require admission during the period from birth to adolescence emphasizes the urgent need for the introduction of prophylactic measures.  (+info)

Calcitonin is a major regulator for the expression of renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1alpha-hydroxylase gene in normocalcemic rats. (5/1662)

Regulation of vitamin D metabolism has long been examined by using vitamin D-deficient hypocalcemic animals. We previously reported that, in a rat model of chronic hyperparathyroidism, expression of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1alpha-hydroxylase (CYP27B1) mRNA was markedly increased in renal proximal convoluted tubules. It is believed that the major regulator for the expression of renal CYP27B1 is parathyroid hormone (PTH). However, in the normocalcemic state, the mechanism to regulate the renal CYP27B1 gene could be different, since plasma levels of PTH are very low. In the present study, the effect of PTH and calcitonin (CT) on the expression of renal CYP27B1 mRNA was investigated in normocalcemic sham-operated rats and normocalcemic thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) rats generated by either PTH or CaCl2 infusion. A single injection of CT dose-dependently decreased the expression of vitamin D receptor mRNA in the kidney of normocalcemic sham-TPTX rats. Concomitantly, CT greatly increased the expression of CYP27B1 mRNA in the kidney of normocalcemic sham-TPTX rats. CT also increased the expression of CYP27B1 mRNA in the kidney of normocalcemic TPTX rats. Conversion of serum [3H]1alpha,25(OH)2D3 from 25-hydroxy[3H]vitamin D3 in vivo was also greatly increased by the injection of CT into sham-TPTX rats and normocalcemic TPTX rats, but not into hypocalcemic TPTX rats. In contrast, administration of PTH did not induce the expression of CYP27B1 mRNA in the kidney of vitamin D-replete sham-TPTX rats and hypocalcemic TPTX rats. PTH increased the expression of renal CYP27B1 mRNA only in vitamin D-deficient hypocalcemic TPTX rats. These results suggest that CT plays an important role in the maintenance of serum 1alpha,25(OH)2D3 under normocalcemic physiological conditions, at least in rats.  (+info)

The de novo synthesis of numerous proteins is decreased during vitamin D3 deficiency and is gradually restored by 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 repletion in the islets of langerhans of rats. (6/1662)

Since both the release and de novo biosynthesis of insulin are severely decreased by vitamin D3 deficiency and improved by 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) repletion following a 6-h delay in the rat, the present experiments investigated the effects of vitamin D3 deficiency on the biosynthesis of heavier molecular weight proteins using electrophoretic separation. Gel protein staining by Coomassie blue showed very different profiles for islets protein production from 4-week vitamin D3-deficient rats compared with normal islets. The pattern was characterised by a decrease in high molecular weight proteins, concomitantly accompanied by an increase in low molecular weight proteins. This tendency was partially reversed in vivo by 1,25(OH)2D3 repletion treatment for 7 days and was evident after only 16 h of treatment. In parallel with these in vivo observations, which represent a static index of islets protein production, a kinetic study was performed in vitro by a double-labelling method allowing us to measure the de novo synthesis of proteins in islets during a strong 16.7 mM glucose stimulation. Comparison of 3H and 14C labelled samples was achieved via coelectrophoresis to avoid experimental artefacts. The study of the ratio of d.p.m. 3H/d.p.m. 14C for each molecular weight protein in islets stimulated by 16.7 mM glucose (versus basal 4.2 mM glucose) showed an increase in the height of certain peaks: 150, 130 and 8.5 kDa. Under the same conditions, islets from 4-week vitamin D3-deficient rats (versus normal islets) presented a large deficit of numerous newly synthesised proteins and particularly those implicated in the response to glucose stimulation. In vitro repletion of 1,25(OH)2D3 tended to reverse, at least in part, the deleterious effect of vitamin D3 deficiency on the de novo protein synthesis of islets but these effects were gradual. Indeed, there was no detectable effect at 2 h incubation, but 1,25(OH)2D3 increased the 60 to 65 kDa, 55 kDa, and 9 to 8 kDa molecular mass proteins at 4 h, and increased the level of most newly synthesised proteins at 6 h. These data support the hypothesis of a beneficial genomic influence of 1,25(OH)2D3 that occurs progressively within the islets of Langerhans and which may prepare the beta cells for an enhanced response to glucose stimulation.  (+info)

Effect of immobilization on vitamin D status and bone mass in chronically hospitalized disabled stroke patients. (7/1662)

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of immobilization upon vitamin D status and bone mass in chronically hospitalized, disabled, elderly patients following stroke. DESIGN: cross-sectional study. SETTING: Department of geriatric neurology in a Japanese hospital. SUBJECTS: 129 chronically hospitalized, disabled, elderly stroke patients and 28 age-matched controls. RESULTS: We observed a deficiency of both 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-[OH]2D; 24.3 pg/ml) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations (25-OHD; 11.7 ng/ml) in stroke patients compared with controls. A high serum ionized calcium (mean; 2.648 mEq/l) was an independent determinant of the Barthel index (66) and 1,25-[OH]2D. When the patients were categorized into three groups by 25-OHD level (deficient, insufficient and sufficient), there was no difference in the mean 1,25-[OH]2D levels. Parathyroid hormone levels were normal or low and did not correlate with 25-OHD. Serum bone turnover variables and bone mineral density (BMD) of the second metacarpal in patients were significantly decreased compared to control subjects. Independent determinants of BMD included Barthel index, 25-OHD and 1,25-[OH]2D. CONCLUSIONS: 1,25-[OH]2D deficiency in immobilized stroke patients is not caused by substrate (25-OHD) deficiency but by hypercalcaemia. Immobilization-induced hypercalcaemia may inhibit parathyroid hormone secretion and thus 1,25-[OH]2D production, resulting in decreased BMD. Immobilization itself also may be responsible for decreased BMD. Exogenous 1,25-[OH]2D (calcitriol) rather than dietary vitamin D supplementation may be required in disabled elderly stroke patients who have a deficiency of 1,25-[OH]2D in order to prevent hip fractures, which frequently occur in this population.  (+info)

Low bone mineral density in adults with cystic fibrosis. (8/1662)

BACKGROUND: Patients with cystic fibrosis have several risk factors for the development of low bone mineral density (BMD). To identify the prevalence and clinical correlates of low BMD in adult patients with cystic fibrosis, densitometry was performed in 151 patients (83 men) aged 15-52 years. METHODS: BMD was measured in the lumbar spine (L1-4) using dual energy x ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT). It was also measured in the proximal femur (total hip and femoral neck) using DXA, and in the distal and ultra distal forearm using single energy x ray absorptiometry (SXA). Biochemical markers of bone turnover, vitamin D levels, parathyroid hormone levels, and a variety of anthropometric variables were also assessed. RESULTS: The mean (SD) BMD Z score was -0.73 (0.85) in the distal forearm, -0.31 (0.92) in the ultra distal forearm, -1.21 (1. 18) in the lumbar spine using DXA, -0.56 (1.36) in the lumbar spine using QCT, -1.25 (1.30) in the femoral neck, and -1.01 (1.14) in the total hip. 34% of patients had a BMD Z score of -2 or less at one or more skeletal sites. Body mass index (0.527, p = 0.01), percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (0.388, p = 0.01), and physical activity (0.249, p = 0.05) were positively related to the mean BMD Z score. Levels of C reactive protein (-0.328, p = 0. 01), parathyroid hormone (-0.311, p = 0.01) and biochemical markers of bone turnover (osteocalcin -0.261 and bone specific alkaline phosphatase -0.249, p = 0.05) were negatively related to the mean BMD Z score. Vitamin D insufficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D <15 ng/ml) was prevalent (53/139 patients, 38%) despite supplementation with 900 IU vitamin D per day. CONCLUSIONS: Low bone density is prevalent in adult patients with cystic fibrosis. Current levels of vitamin D supplementation appear to be inadequate.  (+info)