Background: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is a common concern. A high prevalence of VDD has been reported among pregnant women in different countries. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of VDD in the first trimester of pregnancy. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 267 pregnant women (before 14 weeks of gestation). The level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured. Demographic data (age, educational level, season of blood sampling, and vitamin D supplementation intake) were collected using a questionnaire. Results: Based on the results of the study, 205 out of 267 subjects (76.8%) had deficient vitamin D levels (<20 ng/mL), 39 (14.6%) had insufficient levels (20-29 ng/mL), and 23 (8.6%) had sufficient levels (≥30 ng/mL). In addition, 133 women (49.8%) had severe VDD. VDD was more prevalent in autumn/winter than in spring/summer (P=0.03). The prevalence of VDD was higher among the younger age group than in the older group (P=0.04). In multivariate analysis, the only variable that was significantly associated with low vitamin D status was taking supplements. Those who were not receiving vitamin D supplements had higher odds of VDD status (adjusted odds ratio=77.3, 95% CI 23.9-249.6). Conclusion: VDD is a public health problem in the first trimester of pregnancy. Greater awareness among healthcare providers and the community is required for prevention and appropriate treatment.

Grass carp were exposed to two therapeutic concentrations of copper sulfate (10 mgxL-1 in 1 hour and 1 mgxL-1 in 24 hours). Twenty-four hours after the copper sulfate baths, the histopathology of the gills was studied. The observed lesions in gills after short and long term baths were: mucus coagulation and accumulation of cellular debris on the epithelium of lamellae and inter lamellar regions, lamellar edema, hemorrhage, hyperplasia, epithelial cell necrosis, congestion and aneurysm (telangiectasis) in the secondary lamellae. In the 24 hour copper sulfate bath, the percentage of gill lesions that were observed correlated directly with the copper sulfate concentration (p0.05). Epithelial necrosis (89% in 10 mgxL-1 for 1 h) was the most prevalent lesion in these groups.