The Expression of Vitamin D Receptor on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Patients with Psoriasis.

Vitamin D plays an important role in psoriasis, but its involvement in pathogenesis remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with psoriasis and healthy controls and to study the effects of the Etanercept treatment on VDR expression on PBMCs in patients with psoriasis. Twenty patients with moderate to severe psoriasis received treatment with Etanercept for 24 weeks.

The Effect of Phototherapy on Systemic Inflammation Measured with Serum Vitamin D-Binding Protein and hsCRP in Patients with Inflammatory Skin Disease.

Vitamin D plays a role in inflammatory skin disease, but the exact mechanisms and the clinical significance remain unclear. According to the free hormone hypothesis, it is the free concentration of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) that is biologically active. Vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) acts as the major transporter of vitamin D in the circulation, and DBP concentration defines the free 25(OH)D levels.

The Effect of Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B Phototherapy on Free and Total Vitamin D Serum Levels in Mild to Severe Plaque Psoriasis.

Vitamin D plays an important role in skin inflammation in psoriasis. The beneficial effects of ultraviolet light B (UVB) phototherapy in psoriasis are partly attributed to UVB-induced increase of vitamin D levels. In clinical practice, total 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels are measured to assess sufficiency, but it might be more accurate to measure free 25(OH)D levels.

Depressive symptoms, anxiety and academic motivation in youth: Do schools and families make a difference?

This longitudinal study aimed to examine the association between depressive and anxiety symptoms and academic motivation by gender, and whether positive school and family factors would be associated with academic motivation, in spite of the presence of such symptoms. Study participants were predominantly economically disadvantaged youths aged 13-15 years in a Northeastern US urban public school system. The Social and Health Assessment (SAHA) served as the basis for a survey undertaken in 2003 and 2004 with information being used from students who participated at both time points (N = 643).