Reviewing the Significance of Vitamin D Substitution in Monoclonal Gammopathies

The Prognostic Significance of Vitamin D Deficiency in Korean Patients With Multiple Myeloma

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D deficiency is relatively common among patients with multiple myeloma. The prognostic significance of vitamin D deficiency in Asian patients with multiple myeloma remains unevaluated. This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of vitamin D levels in this Korean patient population.

METHODS

From September 2017 to May 2020, 98 patients were enrolled in the study. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of less than 10 ng/mL.

RESULTS

Thirty-six patients (36.7%) had vitamin D deficiency. These patients had significantly lower 2-year progression-free survival rates (44.8% vs. 66.9%, P = .008) and overall survival (OS) rates (2-year OS 47.2% vs. 74.2%, P = .024) compared with those without deficiency. Furthermore, patients who received vitamin D supplementation showed a trend towards improved OS compared with those who did not, with a 2-year OS rate of 51.9% vs. 33.3% (P = .14).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that vitamin D levels are a significant prognostic factor in patients with multiple myeloma.

The Global Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency and Insufficiency in Patients with Multiple Myeloma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy characterized by the exponential growth of malignant plasma cells. Individuals diagnosed with MM exhibit a deficiency in vitamin D and may suffer fatigue, a loss of muscular strength, persistent musculoskeletal aches, and pain. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in individuals diagnosed with MM.

METHODS

We searched five electronic databases using relevant keywords. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the critical appraisal tool developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. We employed a random-effects model and presented the findings in the form of percentages accompanied by 95% confidence intervals (CI). This protocol has been officially registered in PROSPERO under the registration number CRD42021248710.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis comprised a total of eighteen studies and found that, among patients with MM, the occurrence of serum vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was 39.4% (95% CI: 25.8 to 52.9, n = 3746) and 34.1% (95% CI: 20.9 to 47.2, n = 3559), respectively. The findings indicate that a greater proportion of newly diagnosed patients exhibited vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, with rates of 43.0% and 41.6%, respectively, compared to those receiving treatment (rates of 41.6% and 32.3%, respectively). The findings of the sensitivity analyses were consistent, and most of the studies (72.2%) were deemed to be of high quality. The results of Egger's test indicated the absence of publication bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients diagnosed with MM have been found to exhibit significantly elevated levels of both vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency. Therefore, it is recommended to consider vitamin D testing as an additional parameter in the current criteria for the clinical evaluation of MM.

The Anti-Cancer Effect of Cinnamon Aqueous Extract: A Focus on Hematological Malignancies

Cinnamon is an evergreen and tropical plant of the family Lauraceae, growing particularly in Sri Lanka, whose aqueous extract has been tested in different studies to evaluate its possible use as an anti-cancer compound. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments seem to confirm that it acts on various cellular pathways, contributing to down-regulating the activity of molecules that stimulate the proliferation and survival of cells such as the transcription factors NF-KB and AP-1, COX-2, dihydrofolate reductase and pro-angiogenic substances such as VEGF, while up-regulating the function of immune cells against tumors, such as cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. In hematological malignancies, aqueous cinnamon extract has been studied in order to understand if it is possible to count on its help, alone or in combination with traditional drugs such as doxorubicin, to treat patients. The aim of our work is to investigate results from in vitro and in vivo studies about the possible anti-cancer effect of aqueous cinnamon extract in hematological malignancies and the different pathways involved in its action. The possibility of using cinnamon extract in clinical practice is discussed; even if its use could appear very interesting, more studies are necessary to clear the real potentiality of this substance in cancer.

The roles of hepatokine and osteokine in liver-bone crosstalk: Advance in basic and clinical aspects

Both the liver and bone are important secretory organs in the endocrine system. By secreting organ factors (hepatokines), the liver regulates the activity of other organs. Similarly, bone-derived factors, osteokines, are created during bone metabolism and act in an endocrine manner. Generally, the dysregulation of hepatokines is frequently accompanied by changes in bone mass, and osteokines can also disrupt liver metabolism. The crosstalk between the liver and bone, particularly the function and mechanism of hepatokines and osteokines, has increasingly gained notoriety as a topic of interest in recent years. Here, based on preclinical and clinical evidence, we summarize the potential roles of hepatokines and osteokines in liver-bone interaction, discuss the current shortcomings and contradictions, and make recommendations for future research.