ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Vitamin D has significant effects on the immune system and thereby on the pathogenesis of rosacea. However, there is a lack of information on the vitamin D status and vitamin D receptors (VDRs) of patients with rosacea. AIM: To evaluate the role of vitamin D in rosacea susceptibility. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted, enrolling patients with rosacea and healthy controls (HCs). Five VDR gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (Cdx2, FokI, ApaI, BsmI and TaqI) and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3 ] levels were compared between patients and HCs. RESULTS: The study enrolled 60 patients (M/F: 14/46) and 60 age- and sex-matched HCs (M/F: 14/46). Age (mean ± SD) was 48 ± 11 years for both groups. The serum 25(OH)D3 levels (median ± interquartile range) were higher in patients with rosacea (12.9 ± 6.8 ng/mL) than in HCs (10.5 ± 3.7 ng/mL) (P < 0.001). Subjects with high serum 25(OH)D3 levels had a 1.36-fold increased risk of rosacea (95% CI 1.17-1.58). Heterozygous and mutant ApaI polymorphisms increased rosacea risk by 5.26-fold (95% CI 1.51-18.35) and 3.69-fold (95% CI 1.19-11.48), respectively, whereas mutant TaqI polymorphisms decreased the risk by 4.69 times (95% CI 1.37-16.67). Heterozygosity for Cdx2 alleles increased rosacea risk, whereas wildtype ApaI and mutant TaqI alleles decreased it. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that an increase in vitamin D levels may contribute to the development of rosacea. ApaI and TaqI polymorphisms, and heterozygous Cdx2, wildtype ApaI and mutant TaqI alleles were significantly associated with rosacea. These results indicate a possible role of vitamin D and VDR pathways in the pathogenesis of rosacea, although causality could not be assessed.
Subject(s)
Receptors, Calcitriol/genetics , Rosacea/metabolism , Vitamin D/analogs & derivatives , Vitamin D/blood , Adult , Alleles , Case-Control Studies , Female , Heterozygote , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Rosacea/diagnosis , Rosacea/pathology , Skin Diseases/metabolism , Skin Diseases/pathology , Vitamin D/metabolismABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To investigate new inflammatory markers in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux and determine whether these inflammatory parameters change in response to laryngopharyngeal reflux treatment. METHODS: Complete blood count was evaluated to obtain platelet count and mean platelet volume and calculate neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio. Laryngopharyngeal reflux patients underwent three-month lansoprazole treatment. RESULTS: The study included 45 laryngopharyngeal reflux patients (9 men (20 per cent); mean age, 37.4 ± 11.6 years) and 35 healthy age- and sex-matched controls (7 men (20 per cent); mean age, 38.6 ± 8.9 years). The study group had significantly higher platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios and lower mean platelet volumes than the control group (p = 0.004 and p = 0.047, respectively). There was a significant correlation between platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios and initial inflammatory symptoms (reflux symptom index, p = 0.025; reflux finding score, p = 0.013). There was also a significant correlation between mean platelet volume increase and symptom resolution in the first and third months of treatment (p = 0.04 and p = 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSION: Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, a new inflammatory marker of chronic inflammation, was significantly higher in laryngopharyngeal reflux patients. Moreover, these patients had significantly lower mean platelet volume values, which increased with post-treatment symptom improvement.
