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In 776 primary care patients serum vitamin D level was measured in month of september showing deficiency (<50 nmol/l) in 45,1%, severe deficiency (<30 nmol/l) in 9,8% and serum levels below the recommended target level of 75 nmol/l in 88,9% of cases. Three possible symptoms of vitamin D deficiency were assessed by a visual analogue scale (0-10): fatigue, muscle weakness, and muscle and joint pain. A significant correlation between muscle weakness and degree of vitamin D deficiency was shown (p=0,04), whereas there was no correlation in the two other symptoms. However, patients with vitamin D deficiency more frequently reported fatigue (p=0,02) and muscle weakness (p=0,009) than patients without deficiency did, and no difference was seen concerning muscle and joint pain.

Objective: Comparison of four different assays for routine diagnosis of urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis infections., Methods: Samples from 285 female patients were tested using each of the following tests: PCR (Amplicor Chlamydia trachomatis), ELFA (VIDAS Chlamydia), cell culture and direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA)., Results: C. trachomatis was detected by PCR in 13 endocervical swab specimens obtained from 189 female patients (6.9%). Among 13 PCR-positive samples, 10 tested positive by cell culture and DFA, and 8 were positive by ELFA. For 3 patients with pregnancy-related complications, a positive result was obtained by PCR only. Each of the 96 urethral swabs proved to be negative., Conclusions: PCR is more sensitive than cell culture, DFA and ELFA, especially in the context of C. trachomatis infection during pregnancy. In addition and in order to avoid false-negative PCR results, a careful collection of epithelial cells infected with C. trachomatis is imperative.