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Background and Aim: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is the end result of metabolic disorders. It is caused by severe insulin hormone deficiency or effects of insulin. This study aimed at evaluating the association between ketoacidosis and vitamin D3 levels in children with type 1 diabetes. Material and Methods: This was a case-control study. Study population consisted of children with type 1 diabetes referring to Mohammad Kermanshahi Hospital in 2013.The patients were assigned to control and intervention groups. Intervention group had type 1 diabetes with DKA, and control group had type I diabetes without DKA. In both groups five milliliters of blood was taken from every patient to determine 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3serum levels. Also, ABG test was performed to evaluate serum bicarbonate and PH level. Using SPSS version 21, data were analyzed by statistical tests. Results: There was a significant difference between age and vitamin D3 levels in both groups (with DKA and without DKA)(P<0.05). In children with severe acidosis, 20 (95.2%) had vitamin D3 deficiency and one (4.8%) patient had insufficient level of vitamin D3. Consequently, we found a significant relationship between the level of vitamin D3 and ketoacidosis in the children with type I diabetes (P<0.05). Conclusion: Children with severe ketoacidosis were more prone to develop vitamin D3 deficiency. Therefore, timely administration of vitamin D3 can reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes. Keywords: Ketoacidosis, Vitamin D3, Type I diabetes. Received: May 31, 2014 Accepted: Feb 8, 2015

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Background and Aim: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which is characterized by symptoms such as dyspnea and cough is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Limited studies have shown that vitamin D₃ can have a positive impact on reducing the disease severity and preventing exacerbations in the patients with COPD. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the correlation of the serum vitamin D₃ level with the severity of disease in COPD patients referring to the clinic of Ali-Ibn Abi Talib Hospital in Rafsanjan in 2015-2016.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-correlational study included 70 patients with COPD. Diagnosis of COPD was confirmed by spirometry. In all patients, serum vitamin D₃ level was measured then variables such as the severity of the disease (from spirometry score in GOLD criteria), the severity of dyspnea according to MRC dyspnea scale and the number of exacerbations were measured. Using software SPSS 20, data were analyzed by Spearman correlation.
Results: Among 70 COPD patients, 17 (24.2%) had severe vitamin D₃ deficiency and 21 (30%) had insufficient vitamin D₃ level. Significant moderate correlation was observed between the serum vitamin D₃ level and severity of the disease based on the results of spirometry (r=0.587 and p=0.000). Also, vitamin D₃ level showed significant inverse relationships with the frequency of exacerbations (p = 0.000) and the severity of dyspnea (p = 0.05).
Conclusion: The study findings indicated that vitamin D₃ deficiency among COPD patients was prevalent. Moreover, there was a clear association between vitamin D₃ deficiency and the severity of COPD. Therefore, treatment of vitamin D₃ deficiency can potentially prevent the severity and frequency of exacerbations in these patients.