Effects of levetiracetam on bone mineral density and bone metabolism in patients with epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The effects of levetiracetam (LEV) on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolism are currently inconclusive, and this study was designed to answer this question. METHODS: Citations from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases (up to February 4, 2024) were reviewed. The effects of LEV on BMD as well as bone metabolism indicators were measured by calculating the standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024509560). RESULTS: A total of 612 individuals from 13 studies were included in the present analysis. Of the items related to bone metabolism, LEV was found to be associated significantly with decreased serum calcium with an SMD of -0.47 (95 % CI, -0.77- -0.16; p = 0.04). However, changes in other markers (including serum phosphorus, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone) were not statistically significantly correlated with the use of LEV (p > 0.05). Also, when compared to the control groups, the changes in BMD of the observation groups were not significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of LEV may significantly reduce serum calcium in patients with epilepsy, and regular monitoring of bone metabolism-related indicators is recommended.

Association between serum phosphate, magnesium, calcium and aortic valve sclerosis: a propensity score-matched case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: Aortic valve sclerosis has been proposed to signify greater cardiovascular risk; the correlation between serum trace elements and aortic valve sclerosis has been reported. Therefore, an in-depth exploration of the risk factors for aortic valve sclerosis and early intervention may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. METHODS: In this study, Patients with aortic valve sclerosis and non-aortic valve sclerosis who underwent echocardiographic diagnosis in the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region during the period from 2019 to 2021 were selected for this study. The correlation between aortic valve sclerosis and serum phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium levels was explored using the propensity score matching technique by pairing the two groups of patients 1:1. RESULTS: A total of 1,533 non-aortic valve sclerosis and 1,533 aortic valve sclerosis patients were included. Logistic regression analysis showed that serum magnesium [OR: 0.346; 95%CI: 0.227, 0.528] and serum calcium [OR: 7.022; 95%CI: 4.755, 10.369] were influential factors. Patients with low, intermediate, and high serum magnesium levels had a significantly lower risk of aortic valve sclerosis compared to patients with very low micronutrient levels (p < 0.05). Comparatively, patients with low or high serum calcium levels had an elevated risk of aortic valve sclerosis (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum magnesium may have a protective role against aortic valve sclerosis, while both low and high levels of serum calcium could be risk factor for the condition. These serum micronutrients may be indications of cardiovascular disease risk prediction or prevention, and more research is required.

Impact of Calcium Phosphate Product on Acute Kidney Injury and Mortality: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: This study aims to assess the association between admission-corrected serum calcium phosphate (CaPO4) levels and the risks of in-hospital acute kidney injury (AKI) and mortality, hypothesizing a dose-dependent relationship between serum CaPO4 concentrations and the likelihood of developing AKI. METHODS: This large retrospective cohort study analyzed hospitalized adult patients who had serum calcium, phosphate, and albumin levels measured within 24 hours of admission between January 2014 and December 2018. Piecewise regression was employed to identify the optimal CaPO4 cutoff values for predicting in-hospital AKI and mortality. Subsequently, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the risks of in-hospital AKI and mortality associated with these cutoff values. RESULTS: A total of 2,116 patients were included in the study. The incidence rates of AKI for patients with CaPO4 levels ≤27 and >27 mg2/dL2 were 9.6% and 10.9%, respectively. The bilinear association pattern revealed the lowest risk of AKI at a CaPO4 level of 27 mg2/dL2. Piecewise regression analysis showed that each 1 mg2/dL2 increase in CaPO4 level above the 27 mg2/dL2 cutoff was associated with increased risks of in-hospital AKI and mortality, with OR of 1.048 (95% CI: 1.030-1.065) and 1.048 (95% CI: 1.032-1.065), respectively. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate a critical relationship between elevated serum CaPO4 levels and increased risks of in-hospital AKI and mortality, with a notable cutoff at CaPO4 >27 mg2/dL2.

The correlation between serum calcium levels and prognosis in patients with severe acute osteomyelitis.

Objective: To explore the relationship between serum calcium levels and the prognosis of severe acute osteomyelitis, and to assess the effectiveness of calcium levels in prognostic evaluation. Methods: Relevant patient records of individuals diagnosed with severe acute osteomyelitis were obtained for this retrospective study from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV). The study aimed to assess the impact of different indicators on prognosis by utilizing COX regression analysis. To enhance prognostic prediction for critically ill patients, a nomogram was developed. The discriminatory capacity of the nomogram was evaluated using the Area Under the Curve (AUC) of the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve, in addition to the calibration curve. Result: The study analyzed a total of 1,133 cases of severe acute osteomyelitis, divided into the survivor group (1,025 cases) and the non-survivor group (108 cases). Significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of age, hypertension, sepsis, renal injury, and various laboratory indicators, including WBC, PLT, Ca2+, CRP, hemoglobin, albumin, and creatinine (P<0.05). However, no significant differences were found in race, gender, marital status, detection of wound microbiota, blood sugar, lactate, and ALP levels. A multivariate COX proportional hazards model was constructed using age, hypertension, sepsis, Ca2+, creatinine, albumin, and hemoglobin as variables. The results revealed that hypertension and sepsis had a significant impact on survival time (HR=0.514, 95% CI 0.339-0.779, P=0.002; HR=1.696, 95% CI 1.056-2.723, P=0.029). Age, hemoglobin, Ca2+, albumin, and creatinine also showed significant effects on survival time (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant impact on survival time was observed for the other variables (P>0.05). To predict the survival time, a nomogram was developed using the aforementioned indicators and achieved an AUC of 0.841. The accuracy of the nomogram was further confirmed by the ROC curve and calibration curve. Conclusion: According to the findings, this study establishes that a reduction in serum calcium levels serves as a distinct and standalone predictor of mortality among individuals diagnosed with severe acute osteomyelitis during their stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) within a span of two years.

[The Value of sFLC and Serum Calcium in the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Multiple Myeloma Patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of serum free light chain (sFLC) and serum calcium ion in the diagnosis and prognosis of multiple myeloma (MM). METHODS: Forty patients with MM treated in Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2018 to January 2022 were selected as the observation group, and 40 healthy volunteers were selected as the control group. The differences of sFLC-κ、sFLC-λ、sFLC-κ/λ, serum calcium ions, etc between the two groups were compared. Meanwhile, the differences of sFLC-κ、sFLC-λ、sFLC-κ/λ, serum calcium ions, etc in different international staging systems (ISS), chemotherapy efficacy and prognosis patients were analyzed. RESULTS: The levels of sFLC-κï¼»(98.39±21.19) vs (12.01±4.45) mg/Lï¼½, sFLC-λï¼»(210.20±45.54) vs (14.10±5.11) mg/Lï¼½ and proportions of hypocalcemia （65% vs 0） in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05), while sFLC-κ/ λ ratio［（0.44±0.10） vs (0.87±0.12)ï¼½ and serum calcium ions ［（1.98±0.46） vs （2.42±0.40）mmol/Lï¼½ were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The sFLC-κ, sFLC-λ, the proportion of hypocalcemia and the course of hypocalcemia in ISS stage III patients in the observation group were significantly higher than those in stage I and II patients (P < 0.05), while sFLC-κ/λ ratio, and serum calcium ions were significantly lower than those in stage I and II patients (P < 0.05). The levels of sFLC-κ ［（107.76±21.22） vs （94.67±20.11）mg/Lï¼½, sFLC- λ［（245.54±41.12） vs （205.54±50.22）mg/Lï¼½ of patients with hypocalcemia in the observation group was significantly higher than those without hypocalcemia (P < 0.05), while the sFLC-κ/λ ratio was significantly lower than those without hypocalcemia ［（0.42±0.04） vs （0.47±0.06）；P < 0.05ï¼½. The levels of sFLC-κ ï¼»(107.29±20.14） vs （ 91.11±18.92）mg/Lï¼½, sFLC-λ［（247.98±42.26） vs （179.29±39.32）mg/Lï¼½ in patients with ineffective chemotherapy were significantly higher than those in patients with effective chemotherapy (P < 0.05), while the sFLC-κ/λ ratio was significantly lower than those in patients with effective chemotherapy ï¼»(0.43±0.10) vs (0.50±0.09)；P < 0.05）］. The area under the ROC curve for sFLC-κ, sFLC-λ, sFLC-κ/λ predicting ineffective chemotherapy was 0.803, 0.793 and 0.699 respectively, P < 0.05. There was no significant difference in sFLC-κ, sFLC-λ, sFLC-κ/λ ratio, serum calcium ion, hypocalcemia ratio and hypocalcemia course between survival and death patients (P >0.05). CONCLUSION: sFLC and serum calcium are related to ISS stage of MM patients. sFLC level has a certain value to predict the curative effect of chemotherapy in MM patients. However, the prognostic values of sFLC and serum calcium are not yet confirmed for MM patients.

Persistent changes in calcium-regulating hormones and bone turnover markers in living kidney donors more than 20 years after donation.

In a previous study, we observed decreased 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and increased bone turnover markers in living kidney donors (LKDs) at 3 months and 36 months after kidney donation. In our recent survey-based study, we found no increased risk of fractures of all types but observed significantly more vertebral fractures in LKDs compared with matched controls. To elucidate the long-term effects of kidney donation on bone health, we recruited 139 LKDs and 139 age and sex matched controls from the survey-based participants for further mechanistic analyses. Specifically, we assessed whether LKDs had persistent abnormalities in calcium- and phosphorus-regulating hormones and related factors, in bone formation and resorption markers, and in density and microstructure of bone compared with controls. We measured serum markers, bone mineral density (BMD), bone microstructure and strength (via high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography and micro-finite element analysis [HRpQCT]), and advanced glycation end-products in donors and controls. LKDs had decreased 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations (donors mean 33.89 pg/mL vs. controls 38.79 pg/mL, percent difference = -12.6%; P < .001), increases in both parathyroid hormone (when corrected for ionized calcium; donors mean 52.98 pg/mL vs. controls 46.89 pg/mL,% difference 13%; P = .03) and ionized calcium levels (donors mean 5.13 mg/dL vs. controls 5.04 mg/dL; P < .001), and increases in several bone resorption and formation markers versus controls. LKDs and controls had similar measures of BMD; however, HRpQCT suggested that LKDs have a statistically insignificant tendency toward thinner cortical bone and lower failure loads as measured by micro-finite element analysis. Our findings suggest that changes in the hormonal mileu after kidney donation and the long-term cumulative effects of these changes on bone health persist for decades after kidney donation and may explain later-life increased rates of vertebral fractures.

Identifying novel acute pancreatitis sub-phenotypes using total serum calcium trajectories.

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis (AP) has heterogeneous clinical features, and identifying clinically relevant sub-phenotypes is useful. We aimed to identify novel sub-phenotypes in hospitalized AP patients using longitudinal total serum calcium (TSC) trajectories. METHODS: AP patients had at least two TSC measurements during the first 24 h of hospitalization in the US-based critical care database (Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-III (MIMIC-III) and MIMIC-IV were included. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify calcium trajectory phenotypes, and patient characteristics and treatment outcomes were compared between the phenotypes. RESULTS: A total of 4518 admissions were included in the analysis. Four TSC trajectory groups were identified: "Very low TSC, slow resolvers" (n = 65; 1.4% of the cohort); "Moderately low TSC" (n = 559; 12.4%); "Stable normal-calcium" (n = 3875; 85.8%); and "Fluctuating high TSC" (n = 19; 0.4%). The "Very low TSC, slow resolvers" had the lowest initial, maximum, minimum, and mean TSC, and highest SOFA score, creatinine and glucose level. In contrast, the "Stable normal-calcium" had the fewest ICU admission, antibiotic use, intubation and renal replace treatment. In adjusted analysis, significantly higher in-hospital mortality was noted among "Very low TSC, slow resolvers" (odds ratio [OR], 7.2; 95% CI, 3.7 to 14.0), "moderately low TSC" (OR, 5.0; 95% CI, 3.8 to 6.7), and "Fluctuating high TSC" (OR, 5.6; 95% CI, 1.5 to 20.6) compared with the "Stable normal-calcium" group. CONCLUSIONS: We identified four novel sub-phenotypes of patients with AP, with significant variability in clinical outcomes. Not only the absolute TSC levels but also their trajectories were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality.

The association between low serum calcium level and new-onset atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the relationship between serum calcium (SC) levels and the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. METHODS: This retrospective, observational cohort study consecutively enrolled patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021. Patients with a previous history of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter or requiring concomitant cardiac surgery were excluded. A logistic regression model was used to determine predictors of POAF. Multivariable adjustment, inverse probability of treatment weighting and propensity score matching were used to adjust for confounders. Moreover, we conducted univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses on preoperative and postoperative SC and ionized SC levels. RESULTS: The analysis encompassed 12 293 patients. The POAF rate was significantly higher in patients with low SC level than those without (1379 [33.9%] vs 2375 [28.9%], P < 0.001). Low SC level was associated with an increased odds ratio of POAF (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.27 [1.18-1.37], P < 0.001). Inverse probability of treatment weighting and propensity score matching analyses confirmed the results. The increased POAF rate in low SC level group still existed among subgroup analysis based on different age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, CHA2DS2-VASc and magnesium. CONCLUSIONS: Low SC level indicates elevated POAF risk in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery even after the adjustment for age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, echocardiographic parameters and laboratory markers.

Reference values for serum calcium in neonates should be established in a population of vitamin D-replete subjects.

INTRODUCTION: Serum calcium is frequently measured during the neonatal period, and is known to be influenced by the vitamin D status. We hypothesized that the 25OHD concentration may influence the lower limit of the serum calcium normal range in neonates. METHODS: We included in our prospective cohort study 1002 mother-newborn pair recruited from April 2012 to July 2014, in two centers located in the neighborhoods of Paris, France, whose serum calcium was measured at 3 days of life. We established, after exclusion of outliers, a 95% confidence interval (CI) for serum calcium 1) in our whole population of 1002 neonates, 2) in neonates with a cord blood 25OHD concentration ≥ 30 nmol/L, and 3) in those with a 25OHD ≥ 50 nmol/L. RESULTS: The mean serum total calcium was 2.46 ± 0.13 nmol/L [95% CI: 2.19-2.72 mmol/L], 2.47 ± 0.25 mmol/L [95% CI: 2.22-2.72 mmol/L], and 2.50 ± 0.25 mmol/L [95% CI: 2.25-2.75 mmol/L] in the whole group, in the 514 neonates with 25OHD ≥ 30 nmol/L, and in the 202 neonates with 25OHD ≥ 50 nmol/L respectively. The lower limit of the 95% range was significantly higher in neonates with 25 OHD ≥ 30 nmol/L (p<0.05) and ≥ 50 nmol/L (p<0.001) than in the entire cohort. CONCLUSION: We show that the lower limit of the normal serum calcium range is higher in groups with a higher 25OHD than in unselected subjects. We propose that the reference range for serum calcium in neonates is 2.25 to 2.75 mmol/L.

Dietary calcium is inversely associated with hepatitis B virus infection: an analysis of US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2020.

BACKGROUND: There have been studies on the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and diet. We hypothesized HBV infection is related to dietary calcium intake, but the evidence is limited. This study aimed to examine whether dietary calcium intake is independently related to HBV infection in the United States population. METHODS: A total of 20,488 participants aged over 20 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), conducted from 2007 to 2020, were included in this study. Pearson correlation was used to test the association between dietary calcium and serum calcium. The relationships of HBV infection with dietary calcium and serum calcium were assessed by logistic regression models. RESULTS: There was a weak correlation between dietary calcium and serum calcium (r = 0.048). Logistic regression models indicated that HBV infection had a linear negative correlation with dietary calcium (OR 0.37; 95%CI 0.19, 0.76). For each additional 10 mg dietary calcium, the possibility of HBV infection was reduced by 63%. Hepatitis B positive participants had lower serum calcium content than negative participants. Stratified analysis shown the linear relationship between calcium and HBV infection varied among sex, race/ethnicity, and body mass index. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated HBV infection was linearly and inversely correlated with dietary calcium. The current study is expected to offer a fresh perspective on reducing HBV infection.

Vitamin D Deficiency and the Risk of Recurrent Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

Background Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of positional vertigo. It is a short-lived (seconds) rotatory attack of vertigo in relation to the position of the head. Vitamin D deficiency may be one of the causes leading to BPPV. As there is no relevant local study from Iraq, this study aimed to evaluate the association between BPPV and vitamin D deficiency. Methodology This retrospective, case-control study was conducted at the otolaryngology clinic of Al-Ramadi Teaching Hospital during a 26-month duration. The study included 40 patients clinically diagnosed with BPPV and 80 individuals as controls. Detailed information regarding the demographic and clinical characteristics was obtained from each participant. Serum vitamin D and calcium levels were measured for each participant. Results Both cases and controls were matched regarding age and gender. Serum vitamin D level in cases (15.458 ± 6.14 ng/mL) was lower than controls (23.604 ± 12.58 ng/mL), with a p-value of 0.0001 and large clinical effect size (0.8). Vitamin D deficiency was found in 35 cases and 37 controls, with a highly significant difference (p = 0.0001) and an odds ratio of 8.135. Vitamin D deficiency in BPPV patients with recurrence (12.615 ± 4.096 ng/mL) was lower than those without recurrence (18.3 ± 6.611 ng/mL), with a highly significant difference (p = 0.002) and small clinical effect size (0.3). Older age and vitamin D deficiency were risk factors for recurrence according to the multinominal logistic regression test (p < 0.05). Conclusions Vitamin D deficiency might cause the occurrence and recurrence of BPPV. Older age might be a risk factor for BPPV recurrence.

The Impact of Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation Prior to Thyroidectomy on Mitigating Postoperative Hypocalcemia.

Background Hypocalcemia remains the most frequent complication after thyroidectomy. It can either be transient or permanent, and patients often find it unpleasant due to its association with prolonged hospitalization. The objective of this study was to determine the role of preoperative calcium and vitamin D supplementation in preventing hypocalcemia after subtotal/total thyroidectomy. Material and methods This quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Department of General Surgery, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, Pakistan, from January 2023 to July 2023. We utilized non-probability purposive sampling. Patients undergoing total thyroidectomy were recruited and followed until discharge to ascertain outcomes. They were divided into two groups: Group A received vitamin D (200,000 IU) one week preoperatively as single intramuscular dose and calcium (1 gm) orally two times daily for one week preoperatively, while Group B served as the control. Venous blood samples were taken post-surgery, on the second and seventh day and at day 30 to assess hypocalcemia. Chi-square test was employed, comparing hypocalcemia in both groups with a p-value ≤0.05 considered significant. Results One hundred thirty-two patients underwent subtotal/total thyroidectomy, with 46.2% (n = 61) being male and 53.8% (n = 71) female. The mean age of these patients was 37.12 ± 6.22 years, ranging from 20 to 50 years, and 57.6% (n = 76) were aged over 35 years. More than half (55.3%, n = 73) hailed from rural areas, while 4.7% (n = 59) resided in urban locales. Among the patients, 15.9% (n = 21) had a history of diabetes, and 24.2% (n = 32) were hypertensive. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 23.32 ± 2.41 kg/m2, with 7.6% (n = 10) classified as obese. The mean preoperative serum calcium level was 9.87 ± 1.07 mg/dL. Postoperatively, the mean serum calcium level was 8.74 ± 0.83 mg/dL. Both Group A (preoperative vitamin D and calcium supplementation) and Group B (control) demonstrated comparable baseline characteristics before undergoing thyroidectomy. The incidence of postoperative hypocalcemia was notably lower in Group A, with only 4.5% (n = 3) experiencing this complication. By contrast, 24.2% (n = 16) of patients in Group B, the control group, developed hypocalcemia (P = 0.001). Conclusion Our study supports the use of preoperative calcium and vitamin D supplementation in patients undergoing thyroidectomy to combat hypocalcemia. The treated group showed significantly lower hypocalcemia compared to the untreated group B. We recommend preoperative calcium and vitamin D supplementation for all thyroidectomy patients to reduce related morbidities and hospitalization duration.

Effect of Feeding a Calcium Chloride Supplement on Sow Stillbirth Rate.

The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of daily calcium chloride (CaCl2) supplementation from day of entry into the farrowing house until day of farrowing (6.4 ± 0.3 d) on stillbirth rates. Landrace × Large White sows (parities 4 to 6; n = 53) were offered 40 g/d CaCl2 (n = 28) or served as controls (n = 25). The morning before their estimated farrowing date, a blood sample was obtained from 25 sows for calcium measurement and a urine sample from 22 sows for pH measurement. The feeding of CaCl2 decreased urinary pH compared to the control group (p < 0.001), indicative of an induced metabolic acidosis, but there was no effect of feeding CaCl2 on serum calcium concentrations or the incidence of stillbirths. Nonetheless, regardless of treatment, sows with higher serum calcium concentrations (>2.5 vs. <2.5 mmol) or lower urine pH (<7.0 vs. >7.0) had fewer stillborn piglets (p < 0.001 for both). While showing that low serum calcium levels will increase stillbirth rates, our data indicate that the administration of 40 g/d CaCl2 for 6 d prior to farrowing was not sufficient to increase serum calcium or decrease stillbirth incidence.

Assessment of Hounsfield Units and Factors Associated with Fragmentation of Renal Stones by Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy: A Computerized Tomography Study.

The success rate of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is influenced by various factors, including stone density, and is determined through computed tomography scans in terms of Hounsfield units (HU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective single-center study was conducted in the King Fahad Hospital. Sixty-seven adult patients with renal and ureteric stones were selected randomly and enrolled in the study. Their ages ranged from 20 to 69 years. The patients were examined with non-contrast enhancement (NCCT) to assess the HU of their stones and were consequently treated with ESWL. RESULTS: Of the 67 patients, 37.3% had stones that were completely fragmented, while 62.7% had stones that were partially fragmented. The HU, location of the stone, multiplicity of the stone, and patient age were found to be significant factors contributing to stone fragility (p-values < 0.05). The HU data were found to have a positive significant linear correlation with serum calcium (r = 0.28, p-value = 0.036), while serum acid had a negative correlation (r = -0.55, p-value < 0.001). Thus, the probability of calcium-containing stone formation increases with increased HU. In contrast, uric acid stone formation likely develops with decreasing HU with serum uric acid. Renal stones in patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension were not completely fragmented compared to those without clinical history. CONCLUSIONS: Mean HU, location of the stone, laterality, stone status, and the number of ESWL sessions are the most significant factors affecting stone fragility. CT attenuation values can predict the composition of stones from serum calcium and uric acid examinations. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are risk factors for renal stone fragmentation.

The effect of serum calcium on the association of depression with infertility among U.S. women.

This study aimed to explored the association between depressive symptoms and infertility among U.S. women, and the effect of serum calcium on this association. We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2018), relating to women aged 20-45 years. Depressive symptoms were determined using the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9 scores ≥10), and interview data were used to identify self-reported infertility. Of 2708 women (mean age: 32.7 ± 7.5 years), 274 were depressed and 12.0 % self-reported being "ever-infertile." Depressive symptoms were associated with infertility in multivariable logistic regression (OR, 1.62; 95 % CI, 1.11-2.38). Depressive symptoms were associated with infertility among participants who were obese (OR, 1.68; 95 % CI, 1.03-2.74), had not received psychological counseling (OR, 1.60; 95 % CI, 1.03-2.50), were antidepressant users (OR 3.22; 95 % CI, 1.15-9.00), and had high serum calcium levels (OR, 2.05; 95 % CI, 1.25-3.35). A significant interaction between serum calcium and depression was observed for infertility (P = .038, interaction likelihood ratio test). In sensitivity analyses, the association between depressive symptoms and infertility remained after excluding women aged ≥35 years (OR, 1.87; 95 % CI, 1.08-3.23), lowering the cut-off for PHQ-9 scores (≥5) (OR, 1.48; 95 % CI, 1.12-1.96), excluding women with some gynecological diseases (OR, 1.63; 95 % CI, 1.07-2.49), and using inverse probability of treatment weighting (OR, 1.64; 95 % CI, 1.17-2.31). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that depression is associated with infertility among U.S. women and serum calcium may have an effect on the association. Interventions such as serum calcium reduction, weight management and psychosocial counseling for infertility treatment in individuals with depression may be integrated into routine clinical practice. Additionally, more caution could be exercised when using antidepressants.

Osteoporosis: Investigations and Monitoring.

Background: Osteoporosis is characterized by microarchitectural disruption of the bone, decrease in bone mineral density, and increased skeletal fragility and risk of fracture. Osteoporosis occurs due to the decoupling of bone formation and bone resorption, with a significant increase in resorption. This review article focuses on the role of laboratory investigations in the diagnosis and monitoring of treatment in patients with osteoporosis. Methods: This review article collected literature from various databases using keywords such as 'Laboratory investigations', 'Osteoporosis', 'Diagnosis', 'Monitoring', and 'Bone turnover markers'. Results and Discussion: Laboratory investigations, including serum calcium, alkaline phosphatase, vitamin D, and parathormone, are commonly performed tests to exclude secondary causes of osteoporosis and monitor the response to therapy. The biochemical markers of bone turnover are newly emerged tests for monitoring individual patients with osteoporosis. These markers are classified as bone formation and resorption markers, measurable in both serum and urine. The use of these markers is limited by biological and analytical variability. The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine and the International Osteoporosis Foundation recommend serum procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide as the bone formation marker and ß-form of C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (ß-CTx-1/ß-CrossLaps) as the marker of choice, using standardized procedures. However, in specific cases, such as patients with chronic renal disease, CTx-1 is replaced by the resorption marker tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b, as its levels are not affected by renal excretion. Conclusion: Bone turnover markers have emerged as tools for the assessment of osteoporosis, using standardized procedures, and are useful in monitoring therapy and treatment compliance.

Analysis of serum calcium change trajectories and prognostic factors in patients with acute type A aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the correlation between serum calcium changes and short-term prognosis of patients with acute type A aortic dissection. METHODS: Patients who underwent acute type A aortic dissection surgery at Fujian Heart Medical Center between June 2019 and June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 383 patients were enrolled. According to the changing track of serum calcium in patients after acute type A aortic dissection, three potential category tracks were determined: high-level (n = 85), medium-level (n = 259), and continuous low-level groups (n = 39). Using the medium-level group as the control, regression analysis showed that poor prognosis risk was increased in the group with continuous low serum calcium (odds ratio = 2.454, P < 0.05) and in the group with continuous low serum calcium > 48 h (odds ratio = 3.595, P < 0.05). Age (odds ratio = 1.063, P < 0.001), body mass index (odds ratio = 1.138, P < 0.05), hypertension (odds ratio = 3.697, P < 0.05), and the highest lactic acid within 72 h after surgery(odds ratio = 1.093, P < 0.05) were independent risk factors for poor prognosis after aortic dissection. CONCLUSION: Continuous low serum calcium was an independent predictor of poor prognosis in patients with acute type A aortic dissection.

Serial Estimation of Serum Calcium and Ionic Calcium Level for Early Detection of Hypocalcemia After Total/Completion Thyroidectomy.

Hypocalcemia is an important and common complication following thyroid surgery. The development of postoperative hypocalcemia is likely to be multifactorial in nature. Patients with acute hypocalcemia may present with numbness of the distal extremities, circumoral paresthesia, and/or carpopedal spasm, laryngospasm, seizure and arrhythmias. In most cases, post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia is temporary, but small percentage (0-12%) are permanent. The present study was a 1-year prospective interventional study conducted at tertiary care center, Jaipur, India. Total 42 patients who underwent thyroidectomy were included in study. Evaluation of Serum and Ionic Calcium Level done Preoperatively and Postoperative at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h and patients who develops hypocalcemia symptoms were recorded and data were analyzed. In our study hypocalcemia was seen in 13 (31%) out of 42 subjects. Ionic calcium in 'All patients' gradually decreased from pre operative 1.28 ± 0.04 mmol/l to 1.14 ± 0.08 mmol/l by 24 h. Highest incidence of hypocalcemia was seen in patients who had Total thyroidectomy + neck dissection (83.3%) compared to other type of thyroid surgery. we concluded that post thyroidectomy transient hypocalcemia is a frequent complication. Serial monitoring of calcium levels preoperatively and postoperatively combined with careful monitoring of signs and symptoms of hypocalcemia is an efficient and cost-effective tool to detect early post thyroidectomy hypocalcemia.

The incidence of chronic diarrhea decreases with increasing serum calcium levels: a cross-sectional study based on NHANES 2005-2010.

BACKGROUND: Chronic diarrhea is difficult to prevent and treat due to its complex etiology and pathogenesis. It places a huge burden on patients and public healthcare. It is known that the regulation of body homeostasis relies heavily on calcium. However, in the general population, the relationship between calcium and chronic diarrhea remains uncertain. METHODS: We assessed the association between serum calcium and diarrhea using data from the 2005-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Serum calcium level was measured from collected blood samples. Diarrhea was assessed using the Bristol Stool Scale (BSFS) (types 1-7). The stability of the results was assessed using logistic regression and sensitivity analysis. The dose-response association between serum calcium and the risk of diarrhea was analyzed using a restricted cubic spline plot. RESULTS: This study included 12,342 participants. In each of the five models, an increased calcium level was negatively associated with the incidence of diarrhea (OR[95%CI]:0.26 [0.13-0.53], 0.28 [0.14-0.58], 0.4 [0.19-0.82], 0.27 [0.11-0.64] and 0.24 [0.10-0.59], respectively). When serum calcium was analyzed as a categorical variable, a significant association between serum calcium and diarrhea prevalence was found. The restricted cubic spline plot showed a linear relationship between serum calcium and diarrhea. Sensitivity analysis confirmed that the results were stable. CONCLUSION: The results of our cross-sectional study suggest that a higher level of serum calcium may reduce the incidence of diarrhea. In the future, this finding should be further validated in a randomized controlled trial.

Experimental rat models for Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

PURPOSE: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune thyroid disease characterized by T lymphocyte-mediated destruction of thyroid follicles. To study the pathogenesis of HT and the efficacy of new substances for its treatment, an easily obtained and adequate to the human disease experimental model is needed. The aim of our study was to find out whether it is possible to induce experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) similar to Hashimoto's thyroiditis by injecting with thyroglobulin (Tg) without using agents that enhance its thyroiditogenicity and without taking into account the genetic sensitivity of animals. METHODS: Wistar rats were immunized with freshly isolated rat Tg or porcine Tg. In 8 weeks, histological studies of the thyroid and parathyroid glands were performed. Thyroid function and total serum calcium level were also evaluated. RESULTS: Immunization with both rat and porcine freshly isolated Tg caused T lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid gland, thyroid follicle atrophy and degradation in Wistar rats. EAT caused by porcine Tg was characterized by greater severity than EAT induced with rat Tg. In 55% of rats with porcine Tg-induced EAT, oxyphilic metaplasia was detected in the parathyroid glands. In addition, low total serum calcium was observed in these rats. CONCLUSION: Two rat models of autoimmune thyroiditis were obtained. EAT caused in Wistar rats by immunization with rat Tg is similar to Hashimoto's thyroiditis. EAT induced with porcine Tg was accompanied by oxyphil cell metaplasia in the parathyroids and hypocalcemia.