human
***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: RATIONALE Vitamin D has been shown to be involved in the host immune response toward Mycobacterium tuberculosis . OBJECTIVES To test whether vitamin D supplementation of patients with tuberculosis ( TB ) improved clinical outcome and reduced mortality . METHODS We conducted a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial in TB clinics at a demographic surveillance site in Guinea-Bissau . We included 365 adult patients with TB starting antituberculosis treatment ; 281 completed the 12-month follow-up . The intervention was 100,000 IU of cholecalciferol or placebo at inclusion and again 5 and 8 months after the start of treatment . MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The primary outcome was reduction in a clinical severity score ( TBscore ) for all patients with pulmonary TB . The secondary outcome was 12-month mortality . No serious adverse effects were reported ; mild hypercalcemia was rare and present in both arms . Reduction in TBscore and sputum smear conversion rates did not differ among patients treated with vitamin D or placebo .  Overall mortality was 15 % ( 54 of 365 ) at 1 year of follow-up and similar in both arms ( 30 of 187 for vitamin D treated and 24 of 178 for placebo ; relative risk , 1.19 [ 0.58 - 1.95 ] ) . HIV infection was seen in 36 % ( 131 of 359 ) : 21 % ( 76 of 359 ) HIV-1 , 10 % ( 36 of 359 ) HIV-2 , and 5 % ( 19 of 357 ) HIV-1 + 2 . CONCLUSIONS Vitamin D does not improve clinical outcome among patients with TB and the trial showed no overall effect on mortality in patients with TB ; it is possible that the dose used was insufficient . Clinical trial registered with www.controlled-trials.com/is rct n ( IS RCT N35212132 ) RATIONALE Vitamin D was used to treat tuberculosis ( TB ) in the preantibiotic era . Prospect i ve studies to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on antimycobacterial immunity have not previously been performed . OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on antimycobacterial immunity and vitamin D status . METHODS A double-blind r and omized controlled trial was conducted in 192 healthy adult TB contacts in London , United Kingdom . Participants were r and omized to receive a single oral dose of 2.5 mg vitamin D or placebo and followed up at 6 weeks . MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The primary outcome measure was assessed with a functional whole blood assay ( BCG-lux assay ) , which measures the ability of whole blood to restrict luminescence , and thus growth , of recombinant reporter mycobacteria in vitro ; the readout is expressed as a luminescence ratio ( luminescence postinfection/baseline luminescence ) . IFN-gamma responses to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens early secretory antigenic target-6 and culture filtrate protein 10 were determined with a second whole blood assay . Vitamin D supplementation significantly enhanced the ability of participants ' whole blood to restrict BCG-lux luminescence in vitro compared with placebo ( mean luminescence ratio at follow-up , 0.57 , vs. 0.71 , respectively ; 95 % confidence interval for difference , 0.01 - 0.25 ; p=0.03 ) but did not affect antigen-stimulated IFN-gamma secretion . CONCLUSIONS A single oral dose of 2.5 mg vitamin D significantly enhanced the ability of participants ' whole blood to restrict BCG-lux luminescence in vitro without affecting antigen-stimulated IFN-gamma responses . Clinical trials should be performed to determine whether vitamin D supplementation prevents reactivation of latent TB infection . Clinical trial registered with www . clinical trials.gov ( NCT 00157066 ) AIM to compare the vitamin D group of pulmonary tuberculosis patients with a placebo group in terms of clinical improvement , nutritional status , sputum conversion , and radiological improvement . METHODS sixty seven tuberculosis patient visiting the Pulmonary Clinic , of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital , Jakarta , from January 1st to August 31st , 2001 were included in this study . The subjects were r and omised to receive vitamin D ( 0.25 mg/day ) or placebo in a double blind method , during the 6th initial week of Tb treatment . The rate of sputum conversion , complete blood counts , blood chemistry as well as radiologic examination were evaluated . RESULTS there were more male patients than females ( 39:28 ) , 78.7 % were in the productive age group , 71.6 % had low nutritional status , 62.4 % with low education level , and 67.2 % with low income . One hundred percent of the vitamin D group and only 76.7 % of the placebo group had sputum conversion . This difference is statistically significant ( p=0.002 ) . CONCLUSION the sputum conversion had no correlation with the hemoglobin level , blood clotting time , calcium level , lymphocyte count , age , sex , and nutritional status . There were more subjects with radiological improvement in the vitamin D group Malnutrition is common in pulmonary tuberculosis ( TB ) , and may impair survival . The objective of this study was to assess effects of multi-vitamin/mineral ( MVM ) and zinc ( Zn ) supplementation during TB treatment on mortality . Patients diagnosed with sputum-positive pulmonary TB in Mwanza , Tanzania , were r and omised , using a two-by-two factorial design , to Zn ( 45 mg ) or placebo , and MVM ( vitamins A , B , C , D , E , and selenium and copper ) or placebo .  Survival status was ascertained at the end of the 8-month TB treatment and supplementation period . Of 499 TB patients , 213 ( 43 % ) had HIV . The mean weight gain at 7 months was 6.88 kg ( 95 % CI 6.36 , 7.41 ) . Zn and MVM combined , but neither alone ( interaction , P=0.03 ) , increased weight gain by 2.37 kg ( 95 % CI 0.91 , 3.83 ) , irrespective of HIV status . Survival status at 8 months was determined for 422 patients ( 84.6 % ) , of which fifty-two ( 12.3 % ) had died . Among fifty-two deaths , there were no effects of MVM ( relative risk ( RR ) 0.73 ; 95 % CI 0.43 , 1.23 ) and Zn ( RR 0.76 ; 95 % CI 0.46 , 1.28 ) . However , among HIV co-infected patients , marginally significant effects of both MVM ( RR 0.60 ; 95 % CI 0.34 , 1.05 ) and Zn ( RR 0.63 , 95 % CI 0.37 , 1.08 ) were seen , and MVM and Zn combined reduced mortality ( RR 0.29 ; 95 % CI 0.10 , 0.80 ; interaction ratio 0.52 ) . In conclusion , supplementation with MVM , including Zn , during treatment of pulmonary TB may reduce mortality in those co-infected with HIV . A r and omised trial of the effect of the combined intervention used in this study should be conducted in a different setting to confirm the finding BACKGROUND Tuberculosis ( TB ) often coincides with nutritional deficiencies . The effects of micronutrient supplementation on TB treatment outcomes , clinical complications , and mortality are uncertain . METHODS We conducted a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial of micronutrients ( vitamins A , B complex , C , and E , as well as selenium ) in Dar es Salaam , Tanzania . We enrolled 471 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and 416 HIV-negative adults with pulmonary TB at the time of initiating chemotherapy and monitored them for a median of 43 months . RESULTS Micronutrients decreased the risk ofTB recurrence by 45 % overall ( 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 7 % to 67 % ; P = .02 ) and by 63 % in HIV-infected patients ( 95 % CI , 8 % to 85 % ; P = .02 ) . There were no significant effects on mortality overall ; however , we noted a marginally significant 64 % reduction of deaths in HIV-negative subjects ( 95 % CI , -14 % to 88 % ; P = .08 ) . Supplementation increased CD3 + and CD4 + cell counts and decreased the incidence of extrapulmonary TB and genital ulcers in HIV-negative patients . Micronutrients reduced the incidence of peripheral neuropathy by 57 % ( 95 % CI , 41 % to 69 % ; P < .001 ) , irrespective of HIV status . There were no significant effects on weight gain , body composition , anemia , or HIV load . CONCLUSIONS Micronutrient supplementation could improve the outcome in patients undergoing TB chemotherapy in Tanzania BACKGROUND Higher intake of calcium and vitamin D has been associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer in epidemiologic studies and polyp recurrence in polyp-prevention trials . However , r and omized-trial evidence that calcium with vitamin D supplementation is beneficial in the primary prevention of colorectal cancer is lacking . METHODS We conducted a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial involving 36,282 postmenopausal women from 40 Women 's Health Initiative centers : 18,176 women received 500 mg of elemental calcium as calcium carbonate with 200 IU of vitamin D3 [ corrected ] twice daily ( 1000 mg of elemental calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D3 ) and 18,106 received a matching placebo for an average of 7.0 years . The incidence of pathologically confirmed colorectal cancer was the design ated secondary outcome . Baseline levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D were assessed in a nested case-control study . RESULTS The incidence of invasive colorectal cancer did not differ significantly between women assigned to calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and those assigned to placebo ( 168 and 154 cases ; hazard ratio , 1.08 ; 95 percent confidence interval , 0.86 to 1.34 ; P=0.51 ) , and the tumor characteristics were similar in the two groups . The frequency of colorectal-cancer screening and abdominal symptoms was similar in the two groups . There were no significant treatment interactions with baseline characteristics . CONCLUSIONS Daily supplementation of calcium with vitamin D for seven years had no effect on the incidence of colorectal cancer  among postmenopausal women . The long latency associated with the development of colorectal cancer , along with the seven-year duration of the trial , may have contributed to this null finding . Ongoing follow-up will assess the longer-term effect of this intervention . ( Clinical Trials.gov number , NCT00000611 . ) Abstract Objective : Parasitic infestations are known to elicit T-helper lymphocyte type 2 ( Th-2 ) reactions , characterized by a pronounced eosinophila and high IgE levels . In humans both elevated specific IgE levels and eosinophil counts are associated with resistance to reinfection with schistosomiasis . This study aim ed to establish whether the Th-2 reaction could be enhanced with calcitriol ( vitamin D3 ) . Calcitriol has been shown to cause a shift from Th-1 to Th-2 type reactions when applied locally to the skin . Methods : Fifty-nine patients with Schistostomahaematobium infection were r and omized to one of four treatment modalities , i.e. ( a ) praziquantel ( PZQ ) 60 mg · kg−1orally on day 1 , ( b ) PZQ 60 mg · kg−1 on day 1 plus calcitriol 1 μg per day orally for 5 consecutive days , ( c ) calcitriol 1 μg per day for 5 consecutive days or ( d ) placebo . Blood for differential counts , eosinophil cationic protein ( ECP ) , specific IgE and IgG to whole-worm antigen , as well as urine sample s for egg counts , were collected on days 0 and 21 . Results : Baseline values did not differ significantly between the groups . Calcitriol alone result ed in significant increases in circulating lymphocytes ( median increase of 5.5 % ) and the percentage of eosinophil vacuolization ( mean increase 28 % ) . It , however , significantly decreased ECP levels ( mean decrease 46 % ) . PZQ in combination with calcitriol significantly enhanced production of specific IgE ( mean increase 213 % ) and IgG ( mean increase of 170 % ) and tended to increase eosinophil vacuolization ( mean increase 22 % ) . All these changes also differed significantly from those in the placebo group . The specific IgE and IgG levels were also significantly higher than the already increased levels seen with PZQ treatment only . ECP levels were 
    Output:
    
agent
Serious adverse events attributable to vitamin D supplementation were rare across all studies .
On the basis of studies review ed to date , the strongest evidence supports further research into adjunctive vitamin D therapy for tuberculosis , influenza , and viral upper respiratory tract illnesses .
***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: RATIONALE Vitamin D has been shown to be involved in the host immune response toward Mycobacterium tuberculosis . OBJECTIVES To test whether vitamin D supplementation of patients with tuberculosis ( TB ) improved clinical outcome and reduced mortality . METHODS We conducted a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial in TB clinics at a demographic surveillance site in Guinea-Bissau . We included 365 adult patients with TB starting antituberculosis treatment ; 281 completed the 12-month follow-up . The intervention was 100,000 IU of cholecalciferol or placebo at inclusion and again 5 and 8 months after the start of treatment . MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The primary outcome was reduction in a clinical severity score ( TBscore ) for all patients with pulmonary TB . The secondary outcome was 12-month mortality . No serious adverse effects were reported ; mild hypercalcemia was rare and present in both arms . Reduction in TBscore and sputum smear conversion rates did not differ among patients treated with vitamin D or placebo .  Overall mortality was 15 % ( 54 of 365 ) at 1 year of follow-up and similar in both arms ( 30 of 187 for vitamin D treated and 24 of 178 for placebo ; relative risk , 1.19 [ 0.58 - 1.95 ] ) . HIV infection was seen in 36 % ( 131 of 359 ) : 21 % ( 76 of 359 ) HIV-1 , 10 % ( 36 of 359 ) HIV-2 , and 5 % ( 19 of 357 ) HIV-1 + 2 . CONCLUSIONS Vitamin D does not improve clinical outcome among patients with TB and the trial showed no overall effect on mortality in patients with TB ; it is possible that the dose used was insufficient . Clinical trial registered with www.controlled-trials.com/is rct n ( IS RCT N35212132 ) RATIONALE Vitamin D was used to treat tuberculosis ( TB ) in the preantibiotic era . Prospect i ve studies to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on antimycobacterial immunity have not previously been performed . OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on antimycobacterial immunity and vitamin D status . METHODS A double-blind r and omized controlled trial was conducted in 192 healthy adult TB contacts in London , United Kingdom . Participants were r and omized to receive a single oral dose of 2.5 mg vitamin D or placebo and followed up at 6 weeks . MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The primary outcome measure was assessed with a functional whole blood assay ( BCG-lux assay ) , which measures the ability of whole blood to restrict luminescence , and thus growth , of recombinant reporter mycobacteria in vitro ; the readout is expressed as a luminescence ratio ( luminescence postinfection/baseline luminescence ) . IFN-gamma responses to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens early secretory antigenic target-6 and culture filtrate protein 10 were determined with a second whole blood assay . Vitamin D supplementation significantly enhanced the ability of participants ' whole blood to restrict BCG-lux luminescence in vitro compared with placebo ( mean luminescence ratio at follow-up , 0.57 , vs. 0.71 , respectively ; 95 % confidence interval for difference , 0.01 - 0.25 ; p=0.03 ) but did not affect antigen-stimulated IFN-gamma secretion . CONCLUSIONS A single oral dose of 2.5 mg vitamin D significantly enhanced the ability of participants ' whole blood to restrict BCG-lux luminescence in vitro without affecting antigen-stimulated IFN-gamma responses . Clinical trials should be performed to determine whether vitamin D supplementation prevents reactivation of latent TB infection . Clinical trial registered with www . clinical trials.gov ( NCT 00157066 ) AIM to compare the vitamin D group of pulmonary tuberculosis patients with a placebo group in terms of clinical improvement , nutritional status , sputum conversion , and radiological improvement . METHODS sixty seven tuberculosis patient visiting the Pulmonary Clinic , of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital , Jakarta , from January 1st to August 31st , 2001 were included in this study . The subjects were r and omised to receive vitamin D ( 0.25 mg/day ) or placebo in a double blind method , during the 6th initial week of Tb treatment . The rate of sputum conversion , complete blood counts , blood chemistry as well as radiologic examination were evaluated . RESULTS there were more male patients than females ( 39:28 ) , 78.7 % were in the productive age group , 71.6 % had low nutritional status , 62.4 % with low education level , and 67.2 % with low income . One hundred percent of the vitamin D group and only 76.7 % of the placebo group had sputum conversion . This difference is statistically significant ( p=0.002 ) . CONCLUSION the sputum conversion had no correlation with the hemoglobin level , blood clotting time , calcium level , lymphocyte count , age , sex , and nutritional status . There were more subjects with radiological improvement in the vitamin D group Malnutrition is common in pulmonary tuberculosis ( TB ) , and may impair survival . The objective of this study was to assess effects of multi-vitamin/mineral ( MVM ) and zinc ( Zn ) supplementation during TB treatment on mortality . Patients diagnosed with sputum-positive pulmonary TB in Mwanza , Tanzania , were r and omised , using a two-by-two factorial design , to Zn ( 45 mg ) or placebo , and MVM ( vitamins A , B , C , D , E , and selenium and copper ) or placebo .  Survival status was ascertained at the end of the 8-month TB treatment and supplementation period . Of 499 TB patients , 213 ( 43 % ) had HIV . The mean weight gain at 7 months was 6.88 kg ( 95 % CI 6.36 , 7.41 ) . Zn and MVM combined , but neither alone ( interaction , P=0.03 ) , increased weight gain by 2.37 kg ( 95 % CI 0.91 , 3.83 ) , irrespective of HIV status . Survival status at 8 months was determined for 422 patients ( 84.6 % ) , of which fifty-two ( 12.3 % ) had died . Among fifty-two deaths , there were no effects of MVM ( relative risk ( RR ) 0.73 ; 95 % CI 0.43 , 1.23 ) and Zn ( RR 0.76 ; 95 % CI 0.46 , 1.28 ) . However , among HIV co-infected patients , marginally significant effects of both MVM ( RR 0.60 ; 95 % CI 0.34 , 1.05 ) and Zn ( RR 0.63 , 95 % CI 0.37 , 1.08 ) were seen , and MVM and Zn combined reduced mortality ( RR 0.29 ; 95 % CI 0.10 , 0.80 ; interaction ratio 0.52 ) . In conclusion , supplementation with MVM , including Zn , during treatment of pulmonary TB may reduce mortality in those co-infected with HIV . A r and omised trial of the effect of the combined intervention used in this study should be conducted in a different setting to confirm the finding BACKGROUND Tuberculosis ( TB ) often coincides with nutritional deficiencies . The effects of micronutrient supplementation on TB treatment outcomes , clinical complications , and mortality are uncertain . METHODS We conducted a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial of micronutrients ( vitamins A , B complex , C , and E , as well as selenium ) in Dar es Salaam , Tanzania . We enrolled 471 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and 416 HIV-negative adults with pulmonary TB at the time of initiating chemotherapy and monitored them for a median of 43 months . RESULTS Micronutrients decreased the risk ofTB recurrence by 45 % overall ( 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 7 % to 67 % ; P = .02 ) and by 63 % in HIV-infected patients ( 95 % CI , 8 % to 85 % ; P = .02 ) . There were no significant effects on mortality overall ; however , we noted a marginally significant 64 % reduction of deaths in HIV-negative subjects ( 95 % CI , -14 % to 88 % ; P = .08 ) . Supplementation increased CD3 + and CD4 + cell counts and decreased the incidence of extrapulmonary TB and genital ulcers in HIV-negative patients . Micronutrients reduced the incidence of peripheral neuropathy by 57 % ( 95 % CI , 41 % to 69 % ; P < .001 ) , irrespective of HIV status . There were no significant effects on weight gain , body composition , anemia , or HIV load . CONCLUSIONS Micronutrient supplementation could improve the outcome in patients undergoing TB chemotherapy in Tanzania BACKGROUND Higher intake of calcium and vitamin D has been associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer in epidemiologic studies and polyp recurrence in polyp-prevention trials . However , r and omized-trial evidence that calcium with vitamin D supplementation is beneficial in the primary prevention of colorectal cancer is lacking . METHODS We conducted a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial involving 36,282 postmenopausal women from 40 Women 's Health Initiative centers : 18,176 women received 500 mg of elemental calcium as calcium carbonate with 200 IU of vitamin D3 [ corrected ] twice daily ( 1000 mg of elemental calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D3 ) and 18,106 received a matching placebo for an average of 7.0 years . The incidence of pathologically confirmed colorectal cancer was the design ated secondary outcome . Baseline levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D were assessed in a nested case-control study . RESULTS The incidence of invasive colorectal cancer did not differ significantly between women assigned to calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and those assigned to placebo ( 168 and 154 cases ; hazard ratio , 1.08 ; 95 percent confidence interval , 0.86 to 1.34 ; P=0.51 ) , and the tumor characteristics were similar in the two groups . The frequency of colorectal-cancer screening and abdominal symptoms was similar in the two groups . There were no significant treatment interactions with baseline characteristics . CONCLUSIONS Daily supplementation of calcium with vitamin D for seven years had no effect on the incidence of colorectal cancer  among postmenopausal women . The long latency associated with the development of colorectal cancer , along with the seven-year duration of the trial , may have contributed to this null finding . Ongoing follow-up will assess the longer-term effect of this intervention . ( Clinical Trials.gov number , NCT00000611 . ) Abstract Objective : Parasitic infestations are known to elicit T-helper lymphocyte type 2 ( Th-2 ) reactions , characterized by a pronounced eosinophila and high IgE levels . In humans both elevated specific IgE levels and eosinophil counts are associated with resistance to reinfection with schistosomiasis . This study aim ed to establish whether the Th-2 reaction could be enhanced with calcitriol ( vitamin D3 ) . Calcitriol has been shown to cause a shift from Th-1 to Th-2 type reactions when applied locally to the skin . Methods : Fifty-nine patients with Schistostomahaematobium infection were r and omized to one of four treatment modalities , i.e. ( a ) praziquantel ( PZQ ) 60 mg · kg−1orally on day 1 , ( b ) PZQ 60 mg · kg−1 on day 1 plus calcitriol 1 μg per day orally for 5 consecutive days , ( c ) calcitriol 1 μg per day for 5 consecutive days or ( d ) placebo . Blood for differential counts , eosinophil cationic protein ( ECP ) , specific IgE and IgG to whole-worm antigen , as well as urine sample s for egg counts , were collected on days 0 and 21 . Results : Baseline values did not differ significantly between the groups . Calcitriol alone result ed in significant increases in circulating lymphocytes ( median increase of 5.5 % ) and the percentage of eosinophil vacuolization ( mean increase 28 % ) . It , however , significantly decreased ECP levels ( mean decrease 46 % ) . PZQ in combination with calcitriol significantly enhanced production of specific IgE ( mean increase 213 % ) and IgG ( mean increase of 170 % ) and tended to increase eosinophil vacuolization ( mean increase 22 % ) . All these changes also differed significantly from those in the placebo group . The specific IgE and IgG levels were also significantly higher than the already increased levels seen with PZQ treatment only . ECP levels were 
    Output:
    