• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.453-456
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• 2007

This report described an outbreak of blindness caused by hypovitaminosis A in Hanwoo (Korean native cattle) in Gyeongsangbukdo province, Korea. The diagnosis was based on clinical findings, analysis of diet, and concentration of vitamin A and carotene in serum and/or feedstuff. Thirty eight of 48 cows were found to be affected. The causative diet contained higher levels of crude protein, net energy and crude fat and lower level of total fiber and crude fiber. Surprisingly, vitamin A was not detected in the causative diet. Treatment of vitamin A to Hanwoo that had blindness did not induce further progress of the symptom. Furthermore, there were no additional diseases detected. Based on the observations described above, this case was diagnosed as hypovitiminosis A.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Pathology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2003

From February to September in 1996, a lot of blind cattle were reported in Dangjin Area of Chungnam Province. Blindness were observed in the 143 calves of the 1,496 calves from 79 farms. Blind cattle were found only in the farms where green pasture was not fed. After administration of vitamin A as the type of feed additives and parenteral injection, the blindness cases were not occurred in those farms. Both pupils were totally dilated with the absence of pupillary light reflex in all blind cattle. In the ophthalmoscopic examination, the fundus revealed multi focal linear white mottling which was more severe in nontapetal fundus than tapetal fundus. Serum vitamin A concentration was as low as 4.1 ,$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl in the calves of the affected farms. Narrowing of optic foramen, retinal degeneration and optic disc atrophy were shown in pathological findings.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2014

Purpose: Neonatal late-onset hypocalcemia is defined as hypocalcemia developed after postnatal 3 days and associated with hypoparathyroidism, high phosphate diets and vitamin D deficiency. We experienced the increment of neonatal late onset hypocalcemia over 1 year. We tried to evaluate the relationship between late onset hypocalcemia and maternal hypovitaminosis D. Methods: The medical records in the neonates with late-onset hypocalcemia during January 2007 to July 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Among those patients, 17 paired sera of mothers and neonates had collected. The levels of 25-OH vitamin D (25OHD) and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were measured and were compared with neonate and the mother. Results: The mean gestational age was $38^{+1}$ weeks, and the mean body weight was 2,980 g. The onset time of hypocalcemia was 5.9 days of age. Most of them (88.2%) were feeding with formula and no one was only breast milk feeding. Of the 17 patients, 13 were born in spring or in winter. The median levels of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, iPTH and 25OHD were 7.0 mg/dL, 8.6 mg/dL, 191.0 U/L, 57.2 pg/mL and 24.0 ng/mL in neonates. The levels of 25OHD of 6 neonates were <20 ng/mL. A total of 16 mothers were considered vitamin D-deficient (<20 ng/mL), and vitamin D insufficient (20<25OHD<30 ng/mL). Conclusion: Neonatal late-onset hypocalcemia in our study seems to be influenced by maternal vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency. Sun tanning and vitamin D supplements from winter to spring would be helpful to prevent maternal vitamin D deficiency, one of the causes of neonatal late-onset hypocalcemia.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.158-164
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D deficiency is common in hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study was to identify whether or not sun exposure and dietary vitamin D intake have effects on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The objective was to identify the main determinants of serum vitamin D status in the study subjects. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 47 HD patients (19 males and 28 females) was performed. We assessed serum 25(OH)D and $1,25(OH)_2D$ levels between August and September 2012 and analyzed the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in HD patients. To evaluate the determinants of serum 25(OH)D levels, we surveyed dietary vitamin D intake, degree of sun exposure, and outdoor activities. To compare biological variables, serum 25(OH)D was stratified as below 15 ng/ml or above 15 ng/ml. RESULTS: Mean 25(OH)D and $1,25(OH)_2D$ levels were $13.5{\pm}5.8ng/ml$ and $20.6{\pm}11.8pg/ml$, respectively. The proportions of serum 25(OH)D deficiency (< 15 ng/ml), insufficiency (15-< 30 ng/ml), and sufficiency (${\geq}30ng/ml$) in subjects were 72.4%, 23.4%, and 4.3%, respectively. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in female patients was 78.6%, whereas that in males was 63.2% (P = 0.046). Vitamin D intake and sun exposure time were not significantly different between the two stratified serum 25(OH)D levels. Dietary intake of vitamin D did not contribute to increased serum 25(OH)D levels in HD patients. The main effective factors affecting serum 25(OH)D status were found to be the sun exposure and active outdoor exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Hypovitaminosis D is common in HD patients and is higher in females than in males. Sun exposure is the most important determinant of serum 25(OH)D status in HD patients.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.78-82
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• 1984

This study was undertaken to investigate congenital microphthalmia occurred at a pig farm in Gyeongbug province. These microphthalmic piglets composed of 20 piglets farrowed by three different sows(1, 11 and 8 piglets by No.1, 2 and 3 sow, respectively) that were apparently normal during pregnancy and after parturition. Attempts were made to know epidemiological findings and histopathological changes of these piglets and the results were summarized as follows; 1. One piglet from No. 1 sow exhibited staggering and incoordination and remained alive, but 19 piglets from No. 2 and 3 sow died between 3 and 20 minutes after birth. 2. In histopathological finding, hypoplasia and edema of all organs were observed in all piglets, and significant of lesions related to infection of microrganisms were not observed. 3. The cause of microphthalmia was considered as hypovitaminosis A in the sown intaked only barley barn before and during early pregnancy.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.10
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• pp.417-423
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• 2013

Vitamin D is an essential component of bone and mineral metabolism; its deficiency causes growth retardation and skeletal deformities in children and osteomalacia and osteoporosis in adults. Hypovitaminosis D (vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency) is observed not only in adults but also in infants, children, and adolescents. Previous studies suggest that sufficient serum vitamin D levels should be maintained in order to enhance normal calcification of the growth plate and bone mineralization. Moreover, emerging evidence supports an association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels and immune function, respiratory diseases, obesity, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, infection, allergy, cancers, and cardiovascular diseases in pediatric and adolescent populations. The risk factors for vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency in the pediatric population are season (winter), insufficient time spent outdoors, ethnicity (non-white), older age, more advanced stage of puberty, obesity, low milk consumption, low socioeconomic status, and female gender. It is recommended that all infants, children, and adolescents have a minimum daily intake of 400 IU ($10{\mu}g$) of vitamin D. Since the vitamin D status of the newborn is highly related to maternal vitamin D levels, optimal vitamin D levels in the mother during pregnancy should be maintained. In conclusion, given the important role of vitamin D in childhood health, more time spent in outdoor activity (for sunlight exposure) and vitamin D supplementation may be necessary for optimal health in infants, children, and adolescents.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 1985

Vitamin C is known as an integral element for the formation and maintenance of intercellular supporting structures. Ascorbic acid has been used for the treatment of certain poisonings and hypovitaminosis(scurvy) but also known as a powerful reducing agent, and can kill a variety of bacteria and detoxify bacterial exotoxins including various clostridial exotoxins in vitro. For viruses, vitamin C inactivates herpes virus, vaccinia virus and influenza virus and has been used for the prevention and treatment of the common cold. Thus ascorbic acid plays an important role in antimicrobial action. Scurvy also promotes the development of tubercles in experimentally infected guinea pig and the tuberculosis patients require more vitamin C than normal persons. However there is no reports that ascorbic acid could inhibit the growh of M. tuberculosis. In this paper, antibacterial effects of ascorbic acid against M. tuberculosis were studied. The results are as follows: 1. The single use of the ascorbic acid exhibited antibacterial effect in vitro against $5{\times}10^3/ml$ of M. tuberculosis $H_{37}$ Rv at the concentration of ascorbic acid 0.625mg/ml over 3 hours exposure and 0.05mg/ml over 9 hours exposure. 2. In vivo mice administered with ascorbic acid 50mg/day for 5, 10 and 15 days respectively were protected from M. tuberculosis $2LD_{50}$, $3LD_{50}$, $4LD_{50}$ and $5LD_{50}$ given intravenously.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.1188-1193
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• 2007

Purpose : The prevalence of rickets in the world is on the rise not only in developing but also in developed countries. In Korea, breastfeeding has increased. There have been few studies on the possible association of rickets with breastfeeding. The purpose of this study was to identify the development and the clinical presentation of subclinical rickets in breastfed infants. Methods : We investigated patients who were breastfed and had hypovitaminosis D in the blood from May 2006 to April 2007, and who were diagnosed with vitamin D deficient rickets from May 2003 to April 2006. We evaluated the results of blood tests, x-rays and other relevant information in the medical record. A questionnaire that included questions on the diet of patients, the mothers activity during pregnancy and place of residence was administered. Results : Twelve patients (66%: male, 34%: female) were enrolled in this study. There were eight in the asymptomatic and four in the symptomatic group. The median age for each group was 8 months (range 4-11 month) and 5.5 months (5-8 month). All patients in the symptomatic group were breastfed until diagnosed. In the asymptomatic group, they were breastfed for four to six months, and then weaned with only thin rice soup and vegetables. Nine patients had a vitamin D concentration below 20 ng/mL and three patients had levels between 20 and 29 ng/mL. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were elevated in both groups. There were statistically significant $25-OHD_3$ levels in the blood in both groups (P=0.008). Ten of the patients (83%) also had iron deficient anemia. Conclusion : Vitamin D deficiency and subclinical rickets has been identified in Korea. However, the prevalence of this disease has not been determined. The main limitation of this study was the small number of patients and the absence of a control group.