Prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in elderly women living in urban area of Khon Kaen province, Thailand.

This study included 106 volunteer elderly women who were living in an urban area of Khon Kaen province. The mean (+/-SD) of age and of serum 25(OH)D concentration of these elderly women was 69.42 (+/-6.77) years and 33.32 (+/-7.14) ng/ml respectively. There was a significant inverse relationship between serum 25(OH)D and PTH concentration. Serum PTH concentration started to increase steeply when serum 25(OH)D concentration declined < or = 35 ng/ml and increased significantly when serum 25(OH)D concentration declined < or = 30 ng/ml. Furthermore mean (+/-SD) of serum 25(OH)D concentration in the group of osteopenia and osteoporosis of femoral neck was 35.25 (+/-6.77) and 30.92 (+/-6.49) ng/ml respectively. As a result, the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in these selected elderly women would be at least 34.9 per cent, or as high as 65.1 per cent.

Different mechanism of bone loss in ageing women and men in Khon Kaen Province.

The changes of vitamin D status and biochemical markers of bone turnover have been reported with aging. In this study we determined age-related levels of vitamin D and biochemical markers of bone turnover in the general adult population between the ages of 20 and 84 years who were living in Khon Kaen province in northeastern Thailand. Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D was determined as an indicator of vitamin D status. Serum total alkaline phosphatase and N-terminal mid fragment osteocalcin were measured as biochemical markers of bone formation and serum C-terminal fragment of type I collagen was measured as a marker of bone resorption. The levels of serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D were high in the Khon Kaen population. Men had higher levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D than did women. However, there were no changes with age in either sex. In women, all biochemical markers of bone turnover increased with age after the fourth decade. The sharp increase was observed in the sixth decade which was around the menopausal age. In contrast, in men all biochemical markers of bone turnover except serum total alkaline phosphatase had a tendency to decrease with age. CONCLUSION: There was no evidence of vitamin D deficiency in a Khon Kaen population. In addition, serum vitamin D levels did not decline with ageing. Women and men showed different changes of biochemical markers of bone turnover with ageing indicating gender difference in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis.

Differences in bone mineral density and lifestyle factors of postmenopausal women living in Bangkok and other provinces.

Decreased bone mineral density (BMD) with age is an increasing health problem, especially for postmenopausal women. Multiple factors have been reported to affect BMD including both genetic and environmental factors such as calcium intake and physical activity. For Thailand, people residing in different regions may differ in BMD due to these factors. However, there is a paucity of data concerning this issue. The objectives of this study were to identify the lifestyle factors which may influence BMD and to investigate the association between BMD and these factors in postmenopausal women who have been living in Bangkok and other provinces in Thailand. Subjects consisted of 466 postmenopausal women aged 46-90 years including 236 Bangkokians (116 early postmenopausals and 120 late postmenopausals) and 230 non-Bangkokians (134 early postmenopausals and 96 late postmenopausals). All were healthy and ambulatory. BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA, Expert XL). Calcium intake was assessed by food-frequency questionnaire. Data were expressed by mean + /- SEM. There were 22 per cent (n=52), 5.9 per cent (n=14), and 4.2 per cent (n=10) of postmenopausal Bangkokians while 13.9 per cent (n=32), 4.3 per cent (n=10), and 2.2 per cent (n=5) of postmenopausal non-Bangkokians who had low BMD at spine, femoral neck, and at both sites, respectively. Spine BMD (SPBMD) and femoral neck BMD (FNBMD) increased significantly across the quartiles of calcium intake in both groups of subjects (P<0.05) and a significant difference was found between the lowest and the highest quartiles of calcium intake (P<0.05). Moreover, BMD at both regions was shown to be correlated with calcium intake, exercise and sunlight exposure in these subjects (P<0.001). Further analysis revealed higher BMD at spine (0.992 + 0.02 vs 0.945 +/- 0.02 g/cm2, P<0.05) and at femur (0.780 +/- 0.01 vs 0.740 +/- 0.01 g/cm2, P<0.05), calcium intake (348.9 +/- 12.7 vs 316.3 +/- 8.0 mg/day, P<0.05), exercise (2.8 +/- 0.1 vs 2.4 +/- 0.1 h/wk, P<0.001) and sunlight exposure (2.9 +/- 0.06 vs 1.9 +/- 0.04 h/day, P<0.001) were found in late postmenopausal women in other provinces than their counterparts in Bangkok. Nevertheless, no significant difference of BMD at both sites, calcium intake and exercise was found in the early postmenopausal groups of these two areas. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant differences in BMD and lifestyle factors between late postmenopausal women in Bangkok and other provinces. Environmental factors especially calcium intake, exercise and sunlight exposure, may influence BMD in late postmenopausal Thai women.

Correlation of apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism to serum lipid concentrations in healthy Thais.

This study determined the genotype distribution of apolipoprotein E (apo E) gene and its relation to serum lipids in 217 healthy Thais consisting of 79 males and 138 females. Serum total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations were determined by enzymatic-colorimetric methods, while serum LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were calculated using Friedewald formula. Apo E genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP. Out of 217 subjects, apo E genotype frequencies were 5.5 per cent for E2/E2, 12.4 per cent for E2/E3, 81.1 per cent for E3/E3 and 0.9 per cent for E4/E4. In men, advancing age was associated with increased serum TC (r = 0.28, P < 0.05) and LDL-C (r = 0.27, P < 0.01). Subjects having the E2 allele had lower TC (r = -0.27, P < 0.05) and LDL-C. (r = -0.25, P < 0.05). Age and apo E genotypes were not associated with HDL-C and TG in men. In women, increasing age was related to higher serum TC (r = 0.45, P < 0.001), LDL-C (r = 0.44, P < 0.001), TG (r = 0.40, P < 0.001) and lower HDL-C (r = -0.36, P < 0.001). The presence of E2 allele was related to lower TC (r = -0.24, P < 0.001), LDL-C (r = -0.26, P < 0.001), TG (r = -0.15, P < 0.05) and higher HDL-C (r = 0.20, P < 0.01) independent of age and menopausal status. We concluded that the epsilon 4 allele of apo E gene is rare in Thais. The presence of the epsilon 2 allele is associated with a more favorable lipid profile and there is a sexual dimorphism concerning the effect of apo E genotype on serum HDL-C and TG.

Evaluation of five commercial kits for free thyroxine estimation by comparison with equilibrium dialysis method in nonthyroidal illness.

Five commercial kits for estimating FT4 in serum of 59 euthyroid control and 38 patients with severe NTI were studied: one non analog method (Gammacoat two step RIA, Clinical Assay) and four different analog methods (Amerlex-M RIA, Amersham; Enzymun test competitive enzyme immunoassay, Boehringer Mannheim; Amerlite chemiluminescence immunoassay, Kodak Clinical Diagnostics; Berilux chemiluminescence immunoassay, Behring) compared with equilibrium dialysis (Eq) method. Serum FT4 estimates in NTI patients measured by all commercial kits in this study yielded results comparable with those by equilibrium dialysis. The proportions of serum FT4 values concordant with FT4 (Eq) in each kit were 76.3, 76.3, 76.3, 68.4 and 78.9 per cent respectively. The percentage of NTI patients who had serum FT4 values lower than the reference levels of the methods used were 21.2, 26.3, 7.9, 15.8, 18.4 and 18.4 per cent respectively. No patient with low serum FT4 (Eq) level had subnormal or high serum TSH value. However, 4 out of 6 patients with high serum FT4 (Eq) values had depressed serum TSH values. All of them also had elevation of serum FT4 estimates measured by all kits. Serum FT4 estimates measured by all methods correlated well with FT4 (Eq) levels within the NTI group.

Serum vitamin D, parathyroid hormone and biochemical markers of bone turnover in normal Thai subjects.

The sera from 158 healthy Thai volunteers (77 males and 81 females), aged 20-80 years, were studied. The vitamin D status, parathyroid gland activity and the magnitude of bone turnover were assessed by measurement of serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D), intact parathyroid hormone (N-tact-PTH), osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase. The mean serum 25-OH-D, N-tact-PTH, osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase concentrations in men were 67.4 +/- 31.6 (S.D.) [Range (R): 20.6-147.1 ng/ml], 23.3 +/- 10.3 (R: 5.6-56.6 pg/ml) 3.4 +/- 1.5 (R: 1.2-10.5 ng/ml), and 19.9 +/- 6.6 (R: 7.5-35.7 IU/L), respectively, and the mean levels in women were 42.4 +/- 23.9 (R: 13.8-127.8 ng/ml), 26.1 +/- 11.3 (R: 10.5-68.7 pg/ml), 3.7 +/- 2.1 (R: 0.5-11.5 ng/ml), and 19.5 +/- 6.0 (R: 9.1-41.5 IU/L), respectively. There is no evidence of vitamin D deficiency in ambulatory elderly Thais. Serum N-tact PTH increased with advancing age in both men and women whereas increasing serum osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase with age were observed only in women. In addition, serum alkaline phosphatase correlated to serum osteocalcin only in women suggesting an increase in bone turnover after menopause. These basic data would be useful for the study of metabolic bone diseases in Thai population.

Evaluation of a new direct radioimmunoassay for serum thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies.

The measurement of serum TPO Ab and Tg Ab by a new direct sensitive RIA in this study are quantitative and provided a convenient system. When compared to the commonly used PH technique for TM Ab and Tg Ab, this RIA determination appears to be more sensitive than by PH, since it enabled detection of TPO Ab and/or Tg Ab in sera that were negative by PH. Thus, this RIA determination should be more widely used in a clinical laboratory.

The performances of newer free thyroxine assays vs equilibrium dialysis.

The performances of 5 different commercial kits for the measurement of serum FT4 concentration; Amerlex-M Free T4 RIA, Gammacoat 125I FT4 2 step RIA, Enzymune-test FT4, Amerlite FT4, Berilux FT4 were compared with equilibrium dialysis. All assays demonstrated FT4 values in good correlation with those measured by equilibrium dialysis (r = 0.84-0.89, p < 0.001). The intra-assay coefficients of variation were good and comparable. All methods yielded good separation of uncomplicated hypo/hyperthyroid patients from euthyroid controls. However, only equilibrium dialysis gave consistently normal results of FT4 values throughout pregnancy. All methods other than equilibrium dialysis gave falsely low values in majority of women in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

Screening for congenital hypothyroidism in Thailand: has its time come?

The incidence of congenital hypothyroidism at Ramathibodi Hospital was approximately 1:2,486-1:3,843 livebirths, comparable to those found in other industrialized countries. The screening program utilizing TSH measured by a kit manufactured in Thailand was accurate and cost-benefit. It is time to organize TSH screening at least in a university hospital in Thailand to prevent the social burden of raising mentally-handicapped children.

Treatment of endometriosis with gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (buserelin).

The results of treatment of endometriosis with intranasal buserelin is convincing. The drug effectively suppresses serum estradiol to the menopausal level. Clinical improvement and regression of endometriotic lesions were observed during treatment. Thus, buserelin offers an alternative medical treatment of endometriosis. Further studies of the effects of GnRH agonist on bone mass are needed.

The efficacy of lisuride in the treatment of hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea.

Thirteen women with hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea were treated with lisuride (Dopergin, Schering AG, Germany). The dosage of lisuride was started with 0.1 mg per day and increased to 0.2 mg per day after one week of treatment. Further increment of the drug depended on clinical and laboratory responses of the patients. One patient dropped out from the study due to marked nausea and dizziness. In ten out of twelve patients serum prolactin decreased to normal. Most patients received lisuride 0.2-0.4 mg per day. Only one got more than 0.4 mg per day. Two patients whose serum prolactin levels did not decrease to normal range had uterine bleeding, quite regularly. Menstrual cycle resumed within 23 to 141 days. All galactorrhea disappeared during treatment. Two of five patients who desired pregnancy became pregnant during the treatment. The course and outcome of pregnancies were normal. Common side effects of lisuride treatment were nausea and dizziness. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that lisuride is another effective prolactin inhibiting agent even at low dose. This drug provides an alternative treatment to bromocriptine.