Placental vitamin D metabolism and its associations with circulating vitamin D metabolites in pregnant women.

Little is known about placental vitamin D metabolism and its impact on maternal circulating vitamin D concentrations in humans. This study sought to advance the current understanding of placental vitamin D metabolism and its role in modulating maternal circulating vitamin D metabolites during pregnancy. Nested within a feeding study, 24 healthy pregnant women (26-29 wk of gestation) consumed a single amount of vitamin D (511 IU/d from diet and a cholecalciferol supplement) for 10 wk.

The Human Microbiome in the Fight Against Tuberculosis.

AbstractThe human microbiome is an intriguing potentially modifiable risk factor in our arsenal against , the leading infectious disease killer globally. Previous studies have shown associations between the human microbiome and pulmonary disease states; however, etiological links between the microbiome and tuberculosis (TB) infection or disease remain unclear. Immunomodulatory roles of the microbiome may prove to be a critical asset in the host response against TB, including in preventing TB infection, reducing progression from latency, mitigating disease severity, and lowering the incidence of drug resistance and coinfections.