Severe early childhood caries affects millions of children worldwide and remains one of the most destructive forms of tooth decay. Although bacteria are known to play a central role in the disease, identifying the microbes actively involved in lesion progression has remained a challenge. In a new study, researchers combined DNA and RNA sequencing to investigate microbial communities residing within carious lesions, offering new insights into the biological processes that drive this debilitating childhood condition.

New research has found that eating habits that align most closely with a woman’s existing routine show promise for losing postpartum baby weight, especially for mothers earlier in the postpartum period. The study identified key factors impacting eating timing and perceived barriers to various chrononutrition approaches, with the ability to share a family evening meal emerging as particularly important. The findings in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (JAND), published by Elsevier, are an important step towards informing the development of chrononutrition interventions for postpartum weight management.