Are 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D fluctuations in cardiac surgery related to age and clinical outcome*?
Circulating 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels fluctuate in relation to cardiac surgery. Low 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels are associated with inflammatory processes and age-related differences in clinical outcome. Future studies should determine whether therapies aimed at treating low 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels can improve the outcome in older cardiac surgery patients.
This study demonstrates a relationship between maternal respiratory viral infection in pregnancy and wheezing illness in infants of mothers with asthma. Viral infections are the most common cause of asthma exacerbations in pregnancy, and infants of asthmatic mothers are at increased risk of asthma themselves. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms involved.