scholarly journals Undernutrition, infection and immune function

2000 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip C. Calder ◽  
Alan A. Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Immune Function ◽  
Maternal Education ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Diarrhoeal Disease ◽  
The Body ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Nutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Quality Water ◽  
Tract Infections

AbstractUndernutrition and infection are the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the developing world. These two problems are interrelated. Undernutrition compromises barrier function, allowing easier access by pathogens, and compromises immune function, decreasing the ability of the host to eliminate pathogens once they enter the body. Thus, malnutrition predisposes to infections. Infections can alter nutritional status mediated by changes in dietary intake, absorption and nutrient requirements and losses of endogenous nutrients. Thus, the presence of infections can contribute to the malnourished state. The global burden of malnutrition and infectious disease is immense, especially amongst children. Childhood infections impair growth and development. There is a role for breast-feeding in protection against infections. Key nutrients required for an efficient immune response include vitamin A, Fe, Zn and Cu. There is some evidence that provision of the first three of these nutrients does improve immune function in undernourished children and can reduce the morbidity and mortality of some infectious diseases including measles, diarrhoeal disease and upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Not all studies, however, show benefit of single nutrient supplementation and this might be because the subjects studied have multiple nutrient deficiencies. The situation regarding Fe supplementation is particularly complex. In addition to immunization programmes and improvement of nutrient status, there are important roles for maternal education, improved hygiene and sanitation and increased supply of quality water in the eradication of infectious diseases.

Nutritional Recommendation for COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 753-757
Author(s):  
Anagha Gulhane ◽  
Shamli Hiware
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Immune Function ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Issue ◽  
System Quality ◽  
Life Phase ◽  
Global Health Issue ◽  
Nutritional Recommendation

It is the most unreliable truth that anybody can get infected by the COVID-19, and nobody can escape from the danger of getting tainted by the virus. Yet, the line of hope is that anyone and everyone can boost their resistance, thus avoid the risk of getting affected by the illness. The immunity of humans pulls down as they grow older. If their immune system is robust, them falling sick is feeble. If their resistance is weak, them getting ill is sound. Several factors affect the immune system and its ability, including its nourishment. A two-way connection between nutrition, infection and immunity presents. Changes in one part will affect the others part in our body that's the nature's rule. Well defined immune system quality which is present between each life phase may influence the type, generality and the degree of infections. At the same time, low nutrition to the body will decrease the immune function and expose the body to the danger of getting infected by infectious diseases. Different quantity of micronutrients is required for increasing the immunity power of our body. Generally the vitamins A,C,D,E,B2,B6,B12, iron, zinc and selenium.The deficiencies of micronutrients are acknowledged as a global health issue, and also low nutrition makes it prone to establishes the infections in the body.

scholarly journals Morbidity and Mortality Patterns in Children Admitted to Hospital in Thai Binh, Vietnam: A Five-year Descriptive Study with a Focus on Infectious Diseases

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thi Dung Pham ◽  
Van Thuan Hoang ◽  
Thi Loi Dao ◽  
Xuan Duong Tran ◽  
Duc Long Phi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Favourable Outcome ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Gastrointestinal Infections ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Future Evaluation ◽  
Point Of Care Tests

The objective of this study was to describe the overall pattern of morbidity and mortality of children seen at the Thai Binh Pediatric Hospital in Vietnam, with a focus on infectious diseases. A retrospective review of hospitalisation records was conducted from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2019. Data were obtained from a total of 113,999 records. The median age of patients was 18 months, with 83.98% of patients aged <5 years. Infectious diseases accounted for 61.0% of all cases. The most prevalent diseases were lower respiratory tract infections (32.8%), followed by gastrointestinal infections (13.3%) and confirmed influenza (5.4%). Most infections were not microbiologically documented. A total of 81.4% patients received at least one antibiotic. Most patients (97.0%) were hospitalised for less than 15 days. Regarding outcomes, 87.8% patients were discharged home with a favourable outcome. 12.0% were transferred to the Vietnam National Children’s Hospital because their condition had worsened and 0.1% died. In total, infectious diseases accounted for 40.4% of deaths, followed by neonatal disorders (34.6%). Our data serves a basis for the identification of needs for diagnostic tools and for future evaluation of the effect of the targeted implementation of such facilities. Point-of-care tests, including real-time PCR assays to identify common pathogens should be implemented for more accurate diagnosis and more appropriate antibiotic use.

Fusion Protein Targeted Antiviral Peptides: Fragment-Based Drug Design (FBDD) Guided Rational Design of Dipeptides Against SARS-CoV-2

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 938-947
Author(s):  
Sounik Manna ◽  
Trinath Chowdhury ◽  
Piyush Baindara ◽  
Santi M. Mandal
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Drug Design ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Fusion Protein ◽  
Fusion Process ◽  
Viral Fusion ◽  
Enveloped Viruses ◽  
Antiviral Peptides ◽  
Target Sites ◽  
Tract Infections

: Infectious diseases caused by viruses have become a serious public health issue in the recent past, including the current pandemic situation of COVID-19. Enveloped viruses are most commonly known to cause emerging and recurring infectious diseases. Viral and cell membrane fusion is the major key event in the case of enveloped viruses that is required for their entry into the cell. Viral fusion proteins play an important role in the fusion process and in infection establishment. Because of this, the fusion process targeting antivirals become an interest to fight against viral diseases caused by the enveloped virus. Lower respiratory tract infections casing viruses like influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) are examples of such enveloped viruses that are at the top in public health issues. Here, we summarized the viral fusion protein targeted antiviral peptides along with their mechanism and specific design to combat the viral fusion process. The pandemic COVID-19, severe respiratory syndrome disease is an outbreak worldwide. There are no definitive drugs yet, but few are in on-going trials. Here, an approach of fragmentbased drug design (FBDD) methodology is used to identify the broad spectrum agent target to the conserved region of fusion protein of SARS CoV-2. Three dipeptides (DL, LQ and ID) were chosen from the library and designed by the systematic combination along with their possible modifications of amino acids to the target sites. Designed peptides were docked with targeted fusion protein after energy minimization. Results show strong and significant binding affinity (DL = -60.1 kcal/mol; LQ = - 62.8 kcal/mol; ID= -71.5 kcal/mol) during interaction. Anyone of the active peptides from the developed libraries may help to block the target sites competitively to successfully control COVID-19.

Clinical Study of Gud-Amalaka Yoga in Garbhini Mutrakrichra w.s.r to Urinary Tract Infections during Pregnancy

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep Kumar Rajan ◽  
Rajnish Gautam ◽  
Pankaj Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Woman ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
The Body ◽  
Premature Delivery ◽  
Healthy Baby ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Long Term Result ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Prompt Attention

Healthy mother and healthy baby are foremost aim of antenatal care. Progressive anatomical and physiological changes during pregnancy are not only confined to the genital organs however within other systems of the body too, some may be felt as discomfort by a pregnant woman. A pregnant woman having pain or burning micturition, fever with chills, nausea, vomiting and cloudy urine having bad smell can be diagnosed as having Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). UTI is most common bacterial infection encountered during Pregnancy and troublesome to the woman suffering from it. Pyelonephritis, premature delivery and other risk such as PROM, IUGR etc. can be the long term result of UTI hence prompt attention is requisite. In the present study Gud-Amalaka Yoga has been tried in 15 patients for evaluation of its clinical efficacy and adverse / side effects if any. It was observed that Gud-Amalaka Yoga showed better results (25% patients were moderately improved, 75% patients were mildly improved). None of the patient reported any adverse effect during or after the treatment.

scholarly journals Respiratory tract infections in children with allergic asthma on allergen immunotherapy during influenza season

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuyun Li ◽  
Dongming Wang ◽  
Lili Zhi ◽  
Yunmei Zhu ◽  
Lan Qiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Allergic Asthma ◽  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Allergen Immunotherapy ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Influenza Season ◽  
The Body ◽  
History Of ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Stage 1

AbstractTo describle how respiratory tract infections (RTIs) that occurred in children with allergic asthma (AA) on allergen immunotherapy (AIT) during an influenza season. Data including clinical symptoms and treatment history of children (those with AA on AIT and their siblings under 14 years old), who suffered from RTIs during an influenza season (Dec 1st, 2019–Dec 31st, 2019), were collected (by face to face interview and medical records) and analyzed. Children on AIT were divided into 2 groups: stage 1 (dose increasing stage) and stage 2 (dose maintenance stage). Their siblings were enrolled as control. During the study period, 49 children with AA on AIT (33 patients in stage 1 and 16 patients in stage 2) as well as 49 children without AA ( their siblings ) were included. There were no significant differences in occurrences of RTIs among the three groups (p > 0.05). Compared with children in the other two groups, patients with RTIs in stage 2 had less duration of coughing and needed less medicine. Children on AIT with maintenance doses had fewer symptoms and recovered quickly when they were attacked by RTIs, which suggested that AIT with dose maintenance may enhance disease resistance of the body.

scholarly journals Respiratory viral infections in the elderly

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 175346662199505
Author(s):  
Alastair Watson ◽  
Tom M. A. Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Respiratory Viruses ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Respiratory Viral Infections ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Prolonged Hospital

With the global over 60-year-old population predicted to more than double over the next 35 years, caring for this aging population has become a major global healthcare challenge. In 2016 there were over 1 million deaths in >70 year olds due to lower respiratory tract infections; 13–31% of these have been reported to be caused by viruses. Since then, there has been a global COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused over 2.3 million deaths so far; increased age has been shown to be the biggest risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Thus, the burden of respiratory viral infections in the elderly is becoming an increasing unmet clinical need. Particular challenges are faced due to the interplay of a variety of factors including complex multimorbidities, decreased physiological reserve and an aging immune system. Moreover, their atypical presentation of symptoms may lead to delayed necessary care, prescription of additional drugs and prolonged hospital stay. This leads to morbidity and mortality and further nosocomial spread. Clinicians currently have limited access to sensitive detection methods. Furthermore, a lack of effective antiviral treatments means there is little incentive to diagnose and record specific non-COVID-19 viral infections. To meet this unmet clinical need, it is first essential to fully understand the burden of respiratory viruses in the elderly. Doing this through prospective screening research studies for all respiratory viruses will help guide preventative policies and clinical trials for emerging therapeutics. The implementation of multiplex point-of-care diagnostics as a mainstay in all healthcare settings will be essential to understand the burden of respiratory viruses, diagnose patients and monitor outbreaks. The further development of novel targeted vaccinations as well as anti-viral therapeutics and new ways to augment the aging immune system is now also essential. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.

Role of cannabinoids in various diseases: A review

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simran Kaur ◽  
Nikita Sharma ◽  
Arpita Roy
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Metabolic Disorders ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Cannabis Sativa ◽  
Endocannabinoid System ◽  
Psychological Disorders ◽  
Bioactive Compound ◽  
The Body ◽  
Therapeutic Aspect

Background: The plant, Cannabis sativa is heavily explored and researched with many industrial and pharmaceutical applications. The medicinal and therapeutic role of cannabis Sativa has been summarized in the paper, citing its mechanism of action and influence on the human body. Diseases like metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, and psychological disorders pose negative and long-term drastic effects on the body like neurodegeneration and other chronic system failures. Several existing literature has proved its effectiveness against such diseases. Objectives: This review aims to provide an overview of the role of cannabinoids in various diseases like metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, and psychological disorders. Method: Various e-resources like Pubmed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were thoroughly searched and read to form a well-informed and information-heavy manuscript. Here we tried to summaries the therapeutic aspect of Cannabis sativa and its bioactive compound cannabinoids in various diseases. Result: This review highlights the various constituents which are present in Cannabis sativa, the Endocannabinoid system, and the role of cannabinoids in various diseases Conclusion: Recent research on Cannabis has suggested its role in neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, sleep disorders, pediatric diseases, and their analgesic nature. Therefore, the authors majorly focus on the therapeutic aspect of Cannabis sativa in various diseases. The focus is also on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and its role in fighting or preventing bacterial, parasitic, fungal, and viral infections.

Risk factors for colonization and infection by resistant microorganisms in kidney transplant recipients

2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (suppl 6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Taminato ◽  
Richarlisson Borges de Morais ◽  
Dayana Souza Fram ◽  
Rogério Rodrigues Floriano Pereira ◽  
Cibele Grothe Esmanhoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Kidney Transplant ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Epidemiological Surveillance ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Transplant Recipients ◽  
Kidney Transplant Recipients ◽  
Tract Infections

ABSTRACT Objectives: to assess the prevalence of colonization and infection by multidrug-resistant bacteria in patients undergoing kidney transplantation and identify the rate of infection, morbidity and mortality and associated risk factors. Methods: a prospective cohort of 200 randomly included kidney transplant recipients. Epidemiological surveillance of the studied microorganisms was carried out in the first 24 hours and 7 days after transplantation. Results: ninety (45%) patients were considered colonized. Female sex, hypertension and diabetes (p<0.005), dialysis time (p<0.004), length of stay after transplantation, delayed renal function, and length of stay were identified as risk factors. The microorganisms were isolated from surgical site, bloodstream and urinary tract infections. Conclusions: colonization by resistant microorganisms in kidney transplant patients was frequent and risk factors associated with infection were identified. The results should guide the care team in order to minimize morbidity and mortality related to infectious causes in this population.

The Basics of Microbiology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Werner Solbach
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Laboratory Diagnosis ◽  
Asymptomatic Infection ◽  
The Body ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Hygiene Measures

Microorganisms constitute 70 percent of the biomass on Planet Earth. Comparatively few species are adapted to colonize human surfaces and form a complex Meta-Organism with manyfold mutual benefits. Occasionally, microorganisms may overcome the barriers of the skin and mucosal surfaces and may multiply locally or in multiple sites inside the body. This process is called infection. Infections can be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, helminths, and fungi. Immediately after infection, numerous defense mechanisms of the immune system are activated to combat replication of the microbes. There is a balance between microorganism and human defense mechanisms, which may lead to either asymptomatic infection or result in a wide spectrum of symptoms from mild to severe disease and even death. The most important factors in the diagnosis of infectious diseases are a careful history, physical examination and the appropriate collection of body fluids and tissues. Laboratory diagnosis requires between 2 and 72 hours. Wherever possible, antibiotics should only be used when sufficient evidence of efficacy is available. Then, however, they should be used as early as possible and in high doses. In addition to everyday hygiene measures, vaccination is the most effective measure to prevent infectious diseases.

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