Vitamin D Status and VDR Polymorphisms as Prognostic Factors in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms are involved in a variety of biological processes including cell proliferation, apoptosis, and adhesion in malignant tumors. This study investigated whether vitamin D levels and genetic variations of VDR are risk factors for thyroid cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent surgery for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (n=113) and those with benign thyroid pathology (n=150) were genotyped for VDR gene polymorphisms (ApaI, TaqI, FokI, and BsmI) and their 25(OH)D levels were simultaneously measured. Demographic data and histopathologic reports were also acquired for all patients. RESULTS: Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in the thyroid cancer group (p=0.03). FokI and TaqI polymorphisms were more frequent in the thyroid cancer patients (p<0.001). Compared to control, the proportion of the FokI Ff genotype was increased (p<0.0006) and the proportion of the TaqI Tt genotype was also higher among patients with thyroid cancer (p<0.0001). The Ff genotype of FokI was also associated with multifocality, invasive pattern, and risk for local metastasis. CONCLUSION: The VDR gene polymorphism FokI may be associated with the risk of thyroid cancer and its more aggressive forms.

Metabolic and bone profile in postmenopausal women with and without type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Current studies support the implication of metabolic changes associated with type 2 diabetes in altering bone metabolism, structure and resistance. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a cross-sectional study on postmenopausal women aimed to analyze the differences in metabolic and bone profile in patients with and without type 2 diabetes Methods. We analyzed the metabolic and bone profile in postmenopausal women with and without type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Clinical, metabolic, hormonal parameters, along with lumbar, hip and femoral bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS) were evaluated. RESULTS: 56 women with T2DM(63.57±8.97 years) and 83 non-T2DM (60.21±8.77 years) were included. T2DM patients presented a higher value of body mass index (BMI) and BMD vs. control group (p = 0.001; p = 0.03-lumbar level, p = 0.07-femoral neck and p = 0.001-total hip). Also, BMI correlated positively with lumbar-BMD and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (r = 0.348, p = 0.01; r = 0.269, p = 0.04), correlation maintained even after age and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) adjustment (r = 0.383, p = 0.005; r = 0.237, p = 0.08). Diabetic patients recorded lower levels of 25(OH)D(p = 0.05), bone markers (p ≤ 0.05) and TBS(p = 0.07). For the entire patient group we found a negative correlation between HbA1c level and bone markers: r = -0.358, p = 0.0005-osteocalcin, r = -0.40, p = 0.0005-P1NP, r = -0.258, p = 0.005-crosslaps. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate the presence of altered bone microarchitecture in T2DZ patients according to the TBS score, combined with lower levels of bone markers, with a statistically significant negative correlation between HbA1c level and bone markers.