The impact of dawn to sunset fasting on immune system and its clinical significance in Covid-19 pandemic

Damaged or disabled tissue is life-threatening due to the lack of proper treatment. Many conventional transplantation methods like autograft, iso-graft and allograft are in existence for ages, but they are not sufficient to treat all types of tissue or organ damages. Stem cells, with their unique capabilities like self-renewal and differentiate into various cell types, can be a potential strategy for tissue regeneration. However, the challenges like reproducibility, uncontrolled propagation and differentiation, isolation of specific kinds of cell and tumorigenic nature made these stem cells away from clinical application. Today, various types of stem cells like embryonic, fetal or gestational tissue, mesenchymal and induced-pluripotent stem cells are under investigation for their clinical application. Tissue engineering helps in configuring the stem cells to develop into a desired viable tissue, to use them clinically as a substitute for the conventional method. The use of stem cell-derived Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) is being studied to replace the stem cells, which decreases the immunological complications associated with the direct administration of stem cells. Tissue engineering also investigates various biomaterials to use clinically, either to replace the bones or as a scaffold to support the growth of stemcells/ tissue. Depending upon the need, there are various biomaterials like bio-ceramics, natural and synthetic biodegradable polymers to support replacement or regeneration of tissue. Like the other fields of science, tissue engineering is also incorporating the nanotechnology to develop nano-scaffolds to provide and support the growth of stem cells with an environment mimicking the Extracellular matrix (ECM) of the desired tissue. Tissue engineering is also used in the modulation of the immune system by using patient-specific Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) and by modifying the physical features of scaffolds that may provoke the immune system. This review describes the use of various stem cells, biomaterials and the impact of nanotechnology in regenerative medicine.

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Conventional and Organic Honeys as a Source of Water- and Ethanol Soluble Molecules with Nutritional and Antioxidant Characteristics

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26123746 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (12) ◽

pp. 3746

Author(s):

Magdalena Polak-Śliwińska ◽

Małgorzata Tańska

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Activity ◽

Immune System ◽

Vitamin C ◽

Geographical Area ◽

Production Method ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Organic Production ◽

Organoleptic Characteristics ◽

Nutritional Characteristics ◽

The Impact

The benefits of natural honeybee products (e.g., honey, royal jelly, beeswax, propolis, beevenom and pollen) to the immune system are remarkable, and many of them are involved in the induction of antibody production, maturation of immune cells and stimulation of the immune system. The type of plants in the geographical area, climatic conditions and production method have a significantly influence on the nutritional quality of honey. However, this variability can influence consumer liking by the sensory attributes of the product. The aim of this work was to compare the most popular honeys from Poland in terms of nutritional value, organoleptic properties and antioxidant activity. In the study, five varieties of honey (honeydew, forest, buckwheat, linden and dandelion) from conventional and organic production methods were tested. The nutritional characteristics of honey samples included acidity, content of water, sugars, vitamin C, HMF and phenolics (total and flavonoids), while honey color, taste, aroma and consistency were investigated in the organoleptic characteristics. The antioxidant activity was determined in water- and ethanol-soluble honey extracts using DPPH and ORAC tests. The results showed that organoleptic and nutritional characteristics of popular Polish honeys differ significantly in relation to plant source and production method. The significant effect of honey variety on the content of HMF, saccharose and phenolics, as well as acidity and antioxidant capacity were noted. The impact of variety and variety × production method interaction was significant in the case of the content of vitamin C, glucose and fructose. A visible difference of buckwheat and forest honeys from other samples was observed. The highest content of total phenolics with antioxidant activity based on the SET mechanism was found in buckwheat honeys, while forest honeys were richer in flavonoids.

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Neonatal Immune System Ontogeny: The Role of Maternal Microbiota and Associated Factors. How Might the Non-Human Primate Model Enlighten the Path?

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9060584 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 584

Author(s):

Natalia Nunez ◽

Louis Réot ◽

Elisabeth Menu

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Mode Of Delivery ◽

Microbial Colonization ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Primate Model ◽

Neonatal Immune System ◽

Gastrointestinal Colonization ◽

The Impact ◽

Human Primate

Interactions between the immune system and the microbiome play a crucial role on the human health. These interactions start in the prenatal period and are critical for the maturation of the immune system in newborns and infants. Several factors influence the composition of the infant’s microbiota and subsequently the development of the immune system. They include maternal infection, antibiotic treatment, environmental exposure, mode of delivery, breastfeeding, and food introduction. In this review, we focus on the ontogeny of the immune system and its association to microbial colonization from conception to food diversification. In this context, we give an overview of the mother–fetus interactions during pregnancy, the impact of the time of birth and the mode of delivery, the neonate gastrointestinal colonization and the role of breastfeeding, weaning, and food diversification. We further review the impact of the vaccination on the infant’s microbiota and the reciprocal case. Finally, we discuss several potential therapeutic interventions that might help to improve the newborn and infant’s health and their responses to vaccination. Throughout the review, we underline the main scientific questions that are left to be answered and how the non-human primate model could help enlighten the path.

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The patients’ perspective on coordinated action for cancer and AMR

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.1153 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

K Apostolidis

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Immune System ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Cancer Treatments ◽

Unique Challenge ◽

Coordinated Action ◽

The Impact ◽

Patients Perspective

Abstract The speaker will present the perspective of the cancer patients, and the challenges they encounter across the spectrum of care and what measures they consider relevant in terms of prevention, diagnosis, treatment and, indeed, to raise awareness of the impact of AMR on rendering cancer treatments ineffective. She will elaborate on survivorship, and on the impact of AMR on the quality of life of patients, their carers, and families. Emphasis will be given on the implications of modern therapies, such as immunotherapy, representing a unique challenge in terms of better understanding the effect on overall health of patients, with the effect they have the immune system, further weakening the patient and leaving him/her exposed to infections potentially of higher risk than cancer itself.

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T Cells Limit Accumulation of Aggregate Pathology Following Intrastriatal Injection of α-Synuclein Fibrils

Journal of Parkinson s Disease ◽

10.3233/jpd-202351 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-19

Author(s):

Sonia George ◽

Trevor Tyson ◽

Nolwen L. Rey ◽

Rachael Sheridan ◽

Wouter Peelaerts ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Immune System ◽

B Cells ◽

Substantia Nigra ◽

Adaptive Immune System ◽

Proteinase K ◽

T And B Cells ◽

Adaptive Immune ◽

Immunocompromised Mice ◽

The Impact

Background: α-Synuclein (α-syn) is the predominant protein in Lewy-body inclusions, which are pathological hallmarks of α- synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Other hallmarks include activation of microglia, elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as the activation of T and B cells. These immune changes point towards a dysregulation of both the innate and the adaptive immune system. T cells have been shown to recognize epitopes derived from α-syn and altered populations of T cells have been found in PD and MSA patients, providing evidence that these cells can be key to the pathogenesis of the disease. Objective To study the role of the adaptive immune system with respect to α-syn pathology. Methods: We injected human α-syn preformed fibrils (PFFs) into the striatum of immunocompromised mice (NSG) and assessed accumulation of phosphorylated α-syn pathology, proteinase K-resistant α-syn pathology and microgliosis in the striatum, substantia nigra and frontal cortex. We also assessed the impact of adoptive transfer of naïve T and B cells into PFF-injected immunocompromised mice. Results: Compared to wildtype mice, NSG mice had an 8-fold increase in phosphorylated α-syn pathology in the substantia nigra. Reconstituting the T cell population decreased the accumulation of phosphorylated α-syn pathology and resulted in persistent microgliosis in the striatum when compared to non-transplanted mice. Conclusion: Our work provides evidence that T cells play a role in the pathogenesis of experimental α-synucleinopathy.

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An Efficient Photodynamic Therapy Treatment for Human Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9010192 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 192 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Alexandre Quilbe ◽

Olivier Moralès ◽

Martha Baydoun ◽

Abhishek Kumar ◽

Rami Mustapha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Photodynamic Therapy ◽

Immune System ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Folate Receptor ◽

Mice Model ◽

Gene And Protein Expression ◽

The Impact

To date, pancreatic adenocarcinoma (ADKP) is a devastating disease for which the incidence rate is close to the mortality rate. The survival rate has evolved only 2–5% in 45 years, highlighting the failure of current therapies. Otherwise, the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT), based on the use of an adapted photosensitizer (PS) has already proved its worth and has prompted a growing interest in the field of oncology. We have developed a new photosensitizer (PS-FOL/PS2), protected by a recently published patent (WO2019 016397-A1, 24 January 2019). This photosensitizer is associated with an addressing molecule (folic acid) targeting the folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) with a high affinity. Folate binds to FOLR1, in a specific way, expressed in 100% of ADKP or over-expressed in 30% of cases. The first objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of this PS2-PDT in four ADKP cell lines: Capan-1, Capan-2, MiapaCa-2, and Panc-1. For this purpose, we first evaluated the gene and protein expression of FOLR1 on four ADKP cell lines. Subsequently, we evaluated PS2’s efficacy in our cell lines and we assessed the impact of PDT on the secretome of cancer cells and its impact on the immune system. Finally, we evaluate the PDT efficacy on a humanized SCID mouse model of pancreatic cancer. In a very interesting way, we observed a significant increase in the proliferation of activated-human PBMC when cultured with conditioned media of ADKP cancer cells subjected to PDT. Furthermore, to evaluate in vivo the impact of this new PS, we analyzed the tumor growth in a humanized SCID mice model of pancreatic cancer. Four conditions were tested: Untreated, mice (nontreated), mice with PS (PS2), mice subjected to illumination (Light only), and mice subjected to illumination in the presence of PS (PDT). We noticed that the mice subjected to PDT presented a strong decrease in the growth of the tumor over time after illumination. Our investigations have not only suggested that PS2-PDT is an effective therapy in the treatment of PDAC but also that it activates the immune system and could be considered as a real adjuvant for anti-cancer vaccination. Thus, this new study provides new treatment options for patients in a therapeutic impasse and will provide a new arsenal in the fight against PDAC.

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On the diverse and opposing effects of nutrition on pathogen virulence

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2019.1220 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 286 (1906) ◽

pp. 20191220 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Victoria L. Pike ◽

Katrina A. Lythgoe ◽

Kayla C. King

Keyword(s):

Infectious Disease ◽

Immune System ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Anthropogenic Factors ◽

Anthropogenic Activity ◽

Pathogen Virulence ◽

Disease Outcomes ◽

Host Nutrition ◽

Opposing Effects ◽

The Impact

Climate change and anthropogenic activity are currently driving large changes in nutritional availability across ecosystems, with consequences for infectious disease. An increase in host nutrition could lead to more resources for hosts to expend on the immune system or for pathogens to exploit. In this paper, we report a meta-analysis of studies on host–pathogen systems across the tree of life, to examine the impact of host nutritional quality and quantity on pathogen virulence. We did not find broad support across studies for a one-way effect of nutrient availability on pathogen virulence. We thus discuss a hypothesis that there is a balance between the effect of host nutrition on the immune system and on pathogen resources, with the pivot point of the balance differing for vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Our results suggest that variation in nutrition, caused by natural or anthropogenic factors, can have diverse effects on infectious disease outcomes across species.

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1487. Pneumonia due to Co-Infection in the ICU: Detection and Clinical Significance

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.1668 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S745-S746

Author(s):

Casey S Zelus ◽

Michael Blaha ◽

Kaeli Samsom ◽

Jasmine R Marcelin ◽

Trevor C Van Schooneveld ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Significance ◽

Diagnostic Testing ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Significant Risk Factor ◽

Categorical Variables ◽

Chi Square ◽

Mechanically Ventilated ◽

Critical Care Units ◽

Outcomes Measures ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Pneumonia is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, with increasing interest in the detection and clinical significance of co-infection. However, the impact of methodology to obtain lower respiratory samples along with the utility of various microbiological diagnostic testing remains unclear. Methods A single-center retrospective analysis was performed on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples obtained from mechanically ventilated adults treated in critical care units from August 2012 to December 2017. BAL methodology (bronchoscopic vs blinded), microbiological diagnostic testing, and outcomes measures were obtained. Associations between categorical variables were assessed using Chi-Square or Fisher’s exact tests. Kruskal Wallace tests analyzed differences in distributions of measures between categories based on number of organism types detected. SAS software version 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Results Analysis of the 803 samples that met inclusion criteria found a significant linear association between mortality and number of organism types detected by BAL, with 30 day mortality rates of 43.0%, 47.8%, and 58.3% among those with zero, one, and two or more organisms respectively (p = 0.003). Comparing BALs with at least one organism isolated, the detection of viruses specifically was associated with increased mortality, with the presence and absence of viral organisms corresponding to 56.3% and 46.5% mortality at thirty days (p = 0.03). No association was found between mortality and isolation of acid-fast bacilli, bacteria, or fungi. Co-infection was detected more frequently among bronchoscopic BALs than blinded BALs (26.3% vs 8.6%, p < 0.0001), with more viruses detected bronchoscopic BALs (41.9% vs 13.1%, p < 0.0001), and more bacteria in blinded BALs (41.8% vs 33.0%, p = 0.01). 30 Day Mortality vs Isolation of Specific Organism Types from BAL Number of Organism Types Isolated from BAL Compared to BAL Methodology BAL Methodology vs Isolation of Specific Organism Types Conclusion Co-infection in mechanically ventilated adult patients with pneumonia appears to be a significant risk factor for mortality, with the detection of viral organisms potentially playing an independent role. Within this population, bronchoscopic BALs may have a valuable diagnostic and prognostic methodology. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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Clinical significance of prostatic-urethral angulation on the treatment outcome of patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia treated with tamsulosin hydrochloride

Archivio Italiano di Urologia e Andrologia ◽

10.4081/aiua.2015.3.238 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 87 (3) ◽

pp. 238

Author(s):

Hassan El-Tatawy ◽

Tarek Gameel ◽

Mohammed Abo El-enen ◽

Ayman Hagras ◽

Ayman Mousa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia ◽

Clinical Significance ◽

Treatment Efficacy ◽

Specific Antigen ◽

Prostatic Hyperplasia ◽

Final Conclusion ◽

P Value ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Group A ◽

The Impact

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of the prostatic-urethral angulation (PUA) on the treatment efficacy of selective alpha-1A receptor blocker in male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). Materials and methods: A total of 80 patients with LUTS/BPH and with mean age 53.3 ± 6.3 (range 47-70) were included in our prospective comparative study. The patients were classified into 2 groups as a consecutive cases 40 in each one depending on the PUA either ≤ 35° (group A) or > 35° (group B). PUA and different prostatic parameters were measured using transrectal ultrasound. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), the International Prostate Symptom Score and quality of life score (IPSS/QoL score), maximum flow rate (Q<sub>max</sub>), and postvoid residual (PVR) volume were compared between the groups. The clinical significance of PUA was evaluated after 8 weeks of medical treatment with tamsulosin hydrochloride 0.4 mg daily. Results: Baseline evaluation (pre-treatment) for both groups were comparable to each other with no clinically significant difference regarding age, PSA, IPSS/QoL score, Qmax and PVR volume (P-value > 0.05). Comparison of parameters after 8 weeks showed that tamsulosin hydrochloride improved the total IPSS and all subscores (P < 0.001), QoL (P = 0.001), Q<sub>max</sub> (P = 0.002), and PVR (P = 0.04) in group A (Table 1). Conclusion: Tamsulosin hydrochloride appears to be less effective in improving IPSS/Qol score, Qmax and PVR in patients with lager PUA. The PUA might be a predictor for the treatment efficacy of α-blockers and more studies are warranted in the future before the final conclusion.

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