Teresa Nieszporek

The Influence of Weight Loss on Serum Osteoprotegerin Concentration in Obese Perimenopausal Women

Objective: To assess the influence of weight reduction therapy on serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) concentration in obese patients and compare these results with normal‐weight controls.

Influence of Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation on Weight and Fat Loss in Obese Women

Background: Dairy products not only reduce the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases but may play a role in the treatment of obesity. As there is some evidence that calcium (Ca) and vitamin D may play a role in effective weight management, we decided to evaluate the influence of Ca and vitamin D supplementation on weight and fat loss in obese women. Material and Methods: Forty obese women were enrolled in this study. Subjects were divided into 2 groups comparable with body mass index (BMI) and age. Group 1 was provided with calcium carbonate and 1-(OH)-vitamin D supplementation. Group 2 was provided with only a diet. Subjects participated in a 3-month weight reduction therapy (balanced diet, modification of life style, and regular physical exercise). Blood samples (serum concentration of Ca, phosphorus (P), parathormone (PTH), 25-(OH)-D3) and clinical characteristics (weight, height, BMI, body composition) were taken at baseline and after the 3-month program. Results: No significant differences of body weight, body fat content, serum parathormone, 25-(OH)-D3 concentration, and plasma total Ca and P concentration were observed between analyzed groups both before and after the treatment. Additionally, we did not observe any significant influence of Ca and vitamin D supplementation on weight and fat loss. Conclusion: Ca plus vitamin D supplementation during a 3-month low caloric diet has no additional effect on weight and fat loss in obese women.

Acute myeloid leukemia in a 38-year-old hemodialyzed patient with von Hippel-Lindau disease

Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL disease) is a hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome caused by mutations of the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene. The gene product, pVHL, regulates the level of proteins that play a central role in protecting cells against hypoxia. Clinical hallmarks of von Hippel-Lindau disease are the development of central nervous system hemangioblastomas, renal cell carcinoma, pheochromocytoma, neuroendocrine tumors and endolymphatic sac tumors.In this article the case of a 38-year old hemodialyzed patient who became ill with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) three years after being diagnosed with von Hippel-Lindau disease is presented.After cytostatic treatment the patient went into complete hematologic remission but there was still residual disease at the genetic level. After consolidation therapy patient developed bone marrow aplasia and severe pneumonia. Despite intensive treatment the patient died from acute respiratory failure.In this paper we present for the first time a case of von Hippel-Lindau disease associated with acute myeloid leukemia. No evidence of relationship between VHL disease and blood cancers has been demonstrated so far. Despite the fact that there is an increased risk of cancer development in hemodialyzed patients, cancer is a relatively rare cause of death in the dialysed population, and the most common malignancies are genitourinary cancers. It seems likely that development of acute myeloid leukemia in patient with VHL disease can be related to epigenetic alterations of the VHL gene, but further studies are needed.