ABSTRACT
Objectives: To determine the effect of sunshine on the blood level of vitamin D3 deficient patients working in open agriculture fields
Study Design: This is a cross sectional, prospective and descriptive study
Place And Duration: Fatima hospital, Baqai Medical University, from Jan 2010 to Dec 2011
Methodology: All adult patients between 18 and 50 years old who were working in open agricultural fields and were attending outpatient departments with unexplained chronic skeletal aches and pains were advised to get their Vitamin D3 blood level along with other relevant blood tests They had no obvious cause of aches and pains. These patients were advised to expose their body to sunlight for three months, at least half an hour daily. No supplement in the form of Vitamin D was given. Blood level of Vitamin D3 was repeated at monthly intervals
Results: In this study 500 patients were studied. Out of these 470 [94%] were females and 30 [6%] were males. Deficient levels of Vitamin D3 were found in all male and 468 [99.57 %] female patients while 2 females [0.42%] were found to have an insufficient level of Vitamin D3 in serum. Not a single patient showed improvement in three months' time
Conclusion: Vitamin D3 deficiency and insufficiency were seen in workers in open fields who were exposed to sunlight for more than six hours daily. Exposure to sunlight is not having a positive effect on improvement of vitamin D3 level incur patients. Without supplements it is not possible to improve Vitamin D level
ABSTRACT
The retinoids are classes of chemical compounds that are related chemically to vitamin A. Retinoids are used in medicine, primarily due to the way they regulate epithelial cell growth. Retinoids are used in the treatment of many diverse diseases and are effective in the treatment of a number of dermatological conditions such as inflammatory skin disorders, skin cancers, disorders of increased cell turnover e.g. psoriasis and photo aging. Common skin conditions treated by retinoids include acne and psoriasis. These compounds being widely used have serious documented side effects including myalgia and arthralgia. We present a case where an 18 years male patient was given Isotretinoin a higher generations of retinoid, for his acne and after taking it for three days he presented in emergency department with severe hips pain, unable to stand and walk. This case has indicated that hip pain can be a result of a side effect of retinoids and its derivatives or new generation of retinoids