1,25(OH)2D3 decreases parathyroid hormone (PTH) gene transcription through the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Total body VDR(-/-) mice have high PTH levels, hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and bone malformations. To investigate PTH regulation by the VDR specifically in the parathyroid, we generated parathyroid-specific VDR knockout mice (PT-VDR(-/-)). In both strains, there was a decrease in parathy...

African American men have higher incidence rates of aggressive prostate cancer, where high levels of calcium and serum vitamin D deficient levels play a role in the racial differences in incidence. In this study, we examined associations of serum vitamin D with aggressive prostate cancer to improve our understanding of higher susceptibility of aggressive disease in this racial cohort. From Howa...

Increased dietary calcium intake in the adult spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) has been reported to correct low serum ionized calcium concentration ([Ca++]) and to result in a significant amelioration of the prevailing hypertension. In the present study we examined several parameters of calcium metabolism in young (6-week-old) SHR and compared them with those observed in normotensive Wistar...

introduction: osteoporosis as a public health problem affects the quality of life of many postmenopausal women. a high concentration of zinc is found in bones. it works as a cofactor of some key enzymes essential in bone synthesis and reconstruction.having considered the importance of zinc and calcium for healthy bones and also the prevalence of zinc deficiency, this study was designed to deter...

INTRODUCTION In hypoparathyroidism, calcium supplementation using calcium carbonate is necessary for the hypocalcemia control. The best calcium carbonate intake form is unknown, be it associated with feeding, juice or in fasting. OBJECTIVE The objective was to evaluate the calcium, phosphorus and Calcium×Phosphorus product serum levels of hypoparathyroidism women after total thyroidectomy, fo...

BACKGROUND Remission of disease activity is a characteristic feature of autoimmune endocrine disorders such as Graves' disease, Addison's disease and occasionally in patients with premature ovarian failure. Autoimmunity is also implicated in sporadic idiopathic hypoparathyroidism (SIH) with clinical remission of disease reported in three cases. OBJECTIVE To assess the rate of remission in pat...

The frog’s heart has been found to be a sensitive indicator of the concentration of calcium ions in protein-containing fluids (1). Using the values derived by this method, McLean and Hastings (2) have shown that the total calcium, calcium ions, (Gaff), and total protein of blood serum bear a relationship to one another which apparently follows the law of mass action. Assuming that each molecule...

We used the calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-alpha gene knockout model (Ct/Cgrp null) to determine whether calcitonin and CGRPalpha are required for normal fetal mineral homeostasis and placental calcium transfer. Heterozygous (Ct/Cgrp(+/-)) and Ct/Cgrp null females were mated to Ct/Cgrp(+/-) males. One or two days before term, blood was collected from mothers and fetuses and a...

theophylline, (1,3-dimethylxanthine) is widely used as a smooth muscle relaxant, myocardial stimulant and a diuretic agent. the most frequent use of theophylline is in treatment of acute and chronic asthma as a bronchodilator. to determine the effect of theophylline on serum electrolyte and uric acid, 21 asthmatic children (age range 1,5-7 years) with severe acute asthma and 25 patients with ch...