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Cureus 2021 Apr 5;13(4):e14312. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Internal Medicine, Wright Patterson Air Force Base/Wright State University, Dayton, USA.

Scurvy is a rare disease which can manifest in a variety of presentations. Classically, scurvy is associated with poor dentition and bleeding diatheses. Rarely, scurvy can present with life-threatening hemodynamical instability. Read More

J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev 2021 05 6;5(5). Epub 2021 May 6.

From the Department of Orthopedics, Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences, Anayara, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India (Dr. Nazeer, Dr. Ravindran, and Dr. Katragadda); the Department of Orthopedics, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India (Dr. E. N. Muhammed); the Department of Pediatrics, Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences, Anayara, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India (Dr. Titus); and Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India (Dr. M. N. Muhammed).

Scurvy is rare in the present world and is mostly found in children with abnormal dietary habits and physical and mental disabilities. Scurvy can present in various forms, mimicking several common diseases, thus making the diagnosis difficult. Spontaneous epiphyseal separation is known to occur in scurvy, although rarely reported. Read More

Anatol J Cardiol 2021 May;25(5):355-359

Department of Cardiology, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD.

Int J Paleopathol 2021 Apr 23;33:128-136. Epub 2021 Apr 23.

Human Variation and Identification Research Unit, School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.

Objective: Real industrialization was late to arrive in South Africa and was associated with the development of mining in its northern regions. This paper explores the development and spread of infectious diseases (particularly tuberculosis), against the backdrop of metabolic disease.

Materials: Published data regarding skeletons from various mining sites and historical information are collated, including information from the early accessions into the Raymond A. Read More

J Med Biogr 2021 Apr 24:9677720211002205. Epub 2021 Apr 24.

Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, 2348Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

Ernest Shackleton, an accomplished Antarctic explorer, developed a life-threatening illness during the Discovery Antarctic expedition of 1901-4. His documented signs and symptoms included inflamed gums attributed to scurvy, severe dyspnea, and exercise intolerance, presenting in a setting of nutritional deficiency. Physical examinations at a later date, also following a prolonged diet of limited fresh food, revealed a pulmonary systolic murmur. Read More

Pediatr Blood Cancer 2021 Apr 21:e29070. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Case Rep Med 2021 30;2021:5519937. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Geisinger Medical Center, 100 N Academy Ave, Danville, PA 17822, USA.

Introduction: Pulmonary hypertension secondary to scurvy is a rare manifestation that historically has not been well studied and is only described in a handful of case reports.

Case: Our case is about a 35-year-old female with a history significant for drug and tobacco abuse, obesity, poor diet, anxiety, and major depressive disorder who was found to have severe pulmonary hypertension in the setting of vitamin C deficiency (<0.01 mg/L). Read More

Pediatr Res 2021 Apr 12. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Background: Asphyxial cardiac arrest (CA) is a significant cause of death and disability in children. Using juvenile Osteogenic disorder Shionogi (ODS) rats that, like humans, do not synthesize ascorbate, we tested the effect of ascorbate deficiency on functional and histological outcome after CA.

Methods: Postnatal day 16-18 milk-fed ODS and wild-type Wistar rats underwent 9-min asphyxial CA (n = 8/group) or sham surgery (n = 4/group). Read More

Radiol Case Rep 2021 May 10;16(5):1148-1152. Epub 2021 Mar 10.

Division of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St SW; Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

We present a rare case of pediatric scurvy in a 9-year-old male who presented with nontraumatic knee pain. MRI was obtained due to the puzzling presentation. MRI demonstrated a systemic bone marrow abnormality which led to a conversation with the clinician and further elucidation of an extremely narrow diet lacking sufficient vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Read More

Intern Med J 2021 Mar;51(3):452-453

Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Cureus 2021 Feb 5;13(2):e13158. Epub 2021 Feb 5.

Department of Safety, Health and Environment, School of Management and Technology, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Porto, PRT.

Scurvy is a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency, historically associated with long sea voyages, periods of famine and war. Currently, it is often misdiagnosed and underreported, as physicians tend to consider it a disease of the past. We present the case of a 79-year-old female who was admitted to the Emergency Department complaining of pruritus. Read More

SN Compr Clin Med 2021 Feb 27:1-3. Epub 2021 Feb 27.

Department of Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, 320 E North Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 USA.

Identifying social determinants of health can help diagnose certain nutritional deficiencies. By overcoming these barriers, we can prevent future hospitalizations and better public health. We present a unique case where a 46-year-old man presents with bilateral lower extremity swelling secondary to vitamin C deficiency. Read More

JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 2021 Mar 5. Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Acute Care Pharmacy Services, University of Kentucky HealthCare, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

Ascorbic acid (AA) is an essential nutrient with many physiologic roles not limited to the prevention of scurvy. Beyond its role as a supplement, it has gained popularity in the acute care setting as an inexpensive medication for a variety of conditions. Because of limitations with absorption of oral formulations and reduced serum concentrations observed in acute illness, intravenous (IV) administration, and higher doses, may be needed to produce the desired serum concentrations for a particular indication. Read More

Nutrients 2021 Feb 13;13(2). Epub 2021 Feb 13.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.

Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) has been known as an antioxidant for most people. However, its physiological role is much larger and encompasses very different processes ranging from facilitation of iron absorption through involvement in hormones and carnitine synthesis for important roles in epigenetic processes. Contrarily, high doses act as a pro-oxidant than an anti-oxidant. Read More

Clin Exp Dermatol 2021 Mar 2. Epub 2021 Mar 2.

Dermatology Department, Kingston Hospital, Galsworthy Road, Kingston upon Thames, UK.

Kans J Med 2021 12;14:51-52. Epub 2021 Feb 12.

Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, KS.

Pediatr Int 2021 Mar 27;63(3):358-360. Epub 2021 Feb 27.

Division of Child Neurology, Chiba Children's Hospital, Chiba, Japan.

An Bras Dermatol 2021 Mar-Apr;96(2):257-258. Epub 2021 Jan 31.

Dermatology Department, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, SR, Brazil.

J Pediatr Orthop 2021 Mar;41(3):e279-e284

Penn State College of Medicine.

Introduction: Scurvy, or vitamin C deficiency, is rare. The goal of this study is to highlight the common risk factors and identify the orthopaedic presentation of scurvy in children.

Methods: A retrospective chart and radiograph review was performed of all patients consulted to the pediatric orthopaedic service from 2010 to 2019 who ultimately had the diagnosis of scurvy confirmed by an abnormally low serum vitamin C level. Read More

Nutr Rev 2021 Feb 1. Epub 2021 Feb 1.

Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Context: The World Health Organization set the recommended daily vitamin C intake, henceforth referred to as ascorbic acid (AA), on the basis of scurvy prevention. Double-blind AA depletion-repletion studies suggest that this recommended AA dose may be too low to prevent microvascular fragility.

Objectives: (1) To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials on whether AA supplementation leads to a reduced gingival bleeding tendency, a manifestation of microvascular fragility; and (2) to relate AA plasma levels to retinal hemorrhaging, another manifestation of microvascular fragility. Read More

J Clin Med 2021 Jan 19;10(2). Epub 2021 Jan 19.

Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, "L.Sacco" Hospital, 20157 Milano, Italy.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) may be associated with extra-intestinal manifestations. Among these, mucocutaneous manifestations are relatively frequent, often difficult to diagnose and treat, and may complicate the course of the underlying disease. In the present review, a summary of the most relevant literature on the dermatologic manifestations occurring in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases has been reviewed. Read More

J R Coll Physicians Edinb 2020 12;50(4):444-450

Druim Bàn, Camuscross, Isleornsay, Isle of Skye, IV43 8QS, UK, Email:

This paper examines the emergence of scurvy in several parts of Lowland Scotland during 1847. At ÿ rst the condition was not recognised because of a mistaken, persistent belief that scurvy was only seen at sea, despite the work of James Lind who showed that sea and land scurvy were one and the same. Professor Christison failed initially to recognise the disease and wrongly thought it was caused by a lack of milk in the diet; colleagues elsewhere correctly attributed scurvy to the loss of the potato in the diet of the poor. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2021 Jun 3;60(6):761-762. Epub 2021 Jan 3.

Internal Medicine Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.

J Ethnopharmacol 2021 Apr 28;270:113762. Epub 2020 Dec 28.

College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences, University of the District of Columbia, USA. Electronic address:

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Hibiscus species (Family: Malvaceae) have long been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of maladies such as abscesses, bilious conditions, cancer, cough, fatigue, gastrointestinal discomfort, fever, veisalgia, cardiovascular disorders, neurosis, scurvy, and urinary tract disorders. Its antioxidants have the capacity to destroy free radicals that damage cells and increase risk of inflammatory conditions such as metabolic syndrome, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

Aim Of The Study: This review synthesizes findings from animal studies and clinical trials to assess effectiveness of hibiscus for treating biomarkers of metabolic syndrome including hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein, obesity, and hypertension. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2020 Dec 18;13(12). Epub 2020 Dec 18.

Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.

A 58-year-old woman presented with a 1-week history of lower limb bruising. She had a medical history of recurrent metastatic colon cancer with a sigmoid colectomy and complete pelvic exenteration leading to colostomy and urostomy formation. She had malignant sacral mass encroaching on the spinal cord. Read More

Nutr Clin Pract 2020 Dec 23. Epub 2020 Dec 23.

Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.

An 18-year-old man presented to our hospital with muscular pain, diffuse petechiae, spontaneous thigh ecchymosis, edema and pain of the right knee, bilateral pretibial subcutaneous nodules, and gingival hypertrophy and hemorrhage. His history was positive for a mixed anxiety-depressive disorder and a restrictive diet caused by self-diagnosed food allergies. Skin lesions appeared like hyperkeratotic papules with coiled hairs and perifollicular hemorrhages. Read More

ACS Sens 2021 01 25;6(1):275-284. Epub 2020 Dec 25.

Key Laboratory of Polyoxometalate Science of Ministry of Education, National & Local United Engineering Laboratory for Power Batteries, Key Laboratory of Nanobiosensing and Nanobioanalysis at Universities of Jilin Province, Department of Chemistry, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130024, China.

Fully integrated nanodevices that allow the complete functional implementation without an external accessory or equipment are deemed to be one of the most ideal and ultimate goals for modern nanodevice design and construction. In this work, we demonstrate the first example of a bendable biofuel cell (BFC)-based fully integrated biomedical nanodevice with simple, palm-sized, easy-to-carry, pump-free, cost-saving, and easy-to-use features for the point-of-care (POC) diagnosis of scurvy from a single drop of untreated human serum (down to 0.2 μL) by integrating a bendable and disposable vitamin C/air microfluidic BFC (micro-BFC) (named iCard) for self-powered vitamin C biosensing with a custom mini digital LED voltmeter (named iBox) for signal processing and transmission, along with a ″built-in″ biocomputing BUFFER gate for intelligent diagnosis. Read More

PLoS One 2020 21;15(12):e0243369. Epub 2020 Dec 21.

Department of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

After the Battle Dunbar between English and Scottish forces in 1650, captured Scottish soldiers were imprisoned in Durham and many hundreds died there within a few weeks. The partial skeletal remains of 28 of these men were discovered in 2013. Building on previous osteological work, here we report wide-ranging scientific studies of the remains to address the following questions: Did they have comparable diet, health and disease throughout their lives? Did they have common histories of movement (or lack of movement) during their childhoods? Can we create a collective biography of these men? Strontium and oxygen isotope analysis of tooth enamel investigated childhood movement. Read More

Pathology 2020 Dec 11. Epub 2020 Dec 11.

Pathology Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital Laboratory, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.

CJC Open 2020 Nov 19;2(6):716-718. Epub 2020 Jul 19.

Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Louis Pradel Hospital, Bron, France.

A 42 year-old patient presented with circulatory failure and lactic acidosis. Clinical features, later coupled with biological tests, led to the diagnosis of wet beriberi syndrome and scurvy. Echocardiography showed a pattern of thiamine deficiency with high cardiac output and low vascular resistance. Read More