The aim of the present study was to determine the respective role of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on vaginal epithelium and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor expression in ovariectomized rats and vitamin D3 treated rats. Bilateral ovariectomies were performed in 20 mature, non-pregnant Wistar female rats. All the animals were divided into 2 groups consisting of 10 rats each. Group I served as contr...

The adsorption of benzene on the M(111), M(100) and M(110) surfaces of the coinage metals copper (M = Cu), silver (M = Ag) and gold (M = Au) is studied on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) calculations with an empirical dispersion correction (D3). Variants of the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof functionals (PBE, RPBE and RevPBE) in combination with different versions of the dispersion correct...

Isolated rat epidermis possesses a cytosolic 3.5 S receptor-like protein for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. This 3.5S binder has a high affinity (Kd = 1.4 X 10(-10) M) for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and is present in low concentrations (31 fmol of binding sites per mg of cytosol protein). Analog competition for receptor binding revealed the following potency order: 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 > 25-hydrox...

PURPOSE Vitamin D3 is a secosteroid mainly synthesized from the conversion of the skin precursor 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC) to vitamin D3 by ultraviolet (UV) B sunlight. Extrarenal synthesis of vitamin D3 has been reported in many tissues and cells, including barrier sites. This study characterizes the expression of components of vitamin D3 signaling in human ocular barrier cells. METHODS Pr...

PURPOSE To analyze the prevalence and clinical relevance of cyclin D3 abnormalities in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Cyclin D3 immunoreactivity was evaluated in 223 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples of LSCC patients with a mean follow-up of 62.8 +/- 43.2 months. The occurrence of cyclin D3 extra signals was analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridizat...

Four experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of fat-soluble vitamin administration to sows or newborn pigs on plasma vitamin status. In Exp. 1 and 2, a total of 24 and 43 newborn pigs were allotted to control and vitamin treatments (vitamin D3 with variable addition of vitamins A and E) orally or by i.m. injection. In Exp. 3, pigs from Exp. 2 were allotted to 2 treatments (±vitamin...

INTRODUCTION Vitamin D3 supplementation has been reported to prevent lung infections and increase the gene expression of antimicrobial peptides such as cathelicidin. We investigated the effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on the antimicrobial activity of airway surface liquid (ASL) in human subjects. Since smoking can increase the risk of respiratory infections, we also investigated the effect...

BACKGROUND Vitamin D (D) supplements are indispensable for its world-wide deficiency. Controversy continues on ergocalciferol (D2) and cholecalciferol (D3) relative potency as well as on dosing-schedule and sex role in raising 25-hydroxy D (25(OH)D) level, the best indicator of D status. METHODS We randomized 279 adults to daily D2, D3, D2/D3, or placebo; 2-weekly D2 or D3; or 4-weekly D2 or ...