Levels of 25(OH)D <50 nmol/L were classed as deficient. Data on vitamin supplement usage were recorded for all participants at interview.

Results: Vitamin D deficiency was common in patients with CD (63%) and significantly higher in winter than summer (68% v 50%; p<0.001, chi(2)). Notably, the deficiency rate remained high even in summer (50%). On regression analysis, 25(OH)D levels were inversely associated with winter season. ABT-737 chemical structure Disease-specific factors for lower serum 25(OH)D levels were longer disease duration and smoking. Overall, 43% of patients reported using a vitamin

D-containing supplement, primarily at low dosages (200-400 IU/d); however, this level of supplement did not prevent deficiency. For the majority of CD patients, 25(OH)D remained below

optimal levels proposed to confer bone and immune health benefits.

Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency was common in patients with CD and associated with longstanding disease, smoking and winter. While over 40% of patients used a vitamin D-containing supplement, the dosages were inadequate to prevent deficiency. Appropriate vitamin D screening and supplementation should be considered in the context of health promotion of outpatients with CD. (C) 2011 European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“The pathomechanisms of pain resulting from lumbar disc herniation have not been fully elucidated. Prostaglandins selleck and cytokines generated at the inflammatory site produce associated pain; however, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids are sometimes ineffective in patients. Tetrodotoxin-sensitive voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels are related to sensory transmission in primary sensory nerves. The sodium channel NaV1.7 has emerged as an attractive analgesic target. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pain-related behavior and expression of NaV1.7 in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) after combined sciatic nerve compression

and nucleus pulposus (NP) application in rats.

Rats were divided AL3818 manufacturer into three groups and underwent either sciatic nerve compression with NP for 2 s using forceps (n = 20), sham operation with neither compression nor NP (n = 20), or no operation (controls, n = 20). Mechanical hyperalgesia was measured every second day for three weeks using von Frey filaments. NaV1.7 expression in L5 DRG was examined 7 and 14 days after surgery using immunohistochemistry. The number of neurons immunoreactive for NaV1.7 was compared among the three groups.

Mechanical hyperalgesia was found over the 14-day observation in the nerve compression plus NP application group, but not in the sham-operated or control groups (P < 0.05). NaV1.7 expression in L5 DRG was up-regulated in the nerve compression plus NP application group, compared with sham-operated and control rats (P < 0.01).