scholarly journals Influence of Febrile Neutropenia Period on Plasma Viscosity at Malignancy

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Tek ◽  
Selami Kocak Toprak ◽  
Efe Hasdemir ◽  
Samed Rahatli ◽  
Aysegül Yesilkaya
Keyword(s):  
Febrile Neutropenia ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Normal Values ◽  
Blood Rheology ◽  
Plasma Viscosity ◽  
Elevated Plasma ◽  
Microcirculatory Blood Flow ◽  
Acute Phase Reactants ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Neutropenic Episode

Cancer, chemotherapy, and infections all together make changes in blood rheology and may affect the defense mechanisms by changing the thrombocyte function and endothelial cell. We have examined changes of blood rheology on plasma viscosity to put on probable following criteria for starting the treatment of febrile neutropenia immediately. A total of 27 postchemotherapy patients (16 males and 11 females) with febrile neutropenia diagnosed according to international guidelines have been included into the study. The plasma viscosity of the patients whose febrile neutropenia has been successfully treated was also measured to assess the impact of the duration of neutropenia on viscosity. The plasma viscosities of the patients were significantly higher during neutropenic episode than in nonneutropenic state () except for alkaline phosphatase. All study parameters, particularly acute phase reactants, were statistically similar during both states. In the correlation of analysis with study parameters and stages, significant correlation was not observed between plasma viscosity alteration and leukocyte-neutrophil alteration, also other study parameters. We have demonstrated significantly elevated plasma viscosity in our patients during febrile neutropenic episode. Despite normal values of various parameters known to trigger plasma viscosity, particularly fibrinogen, it can be easily argued that the main mechanism may be the endothelial injury during infectious process and immune response mediated microcirculatory blood flow alterations.

The Impact of Plant Bioactive Compounds on Aging and Fertility of Diverse Organisms: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (13) ◽  
pp. 1287-1299
Author(s):  
Muhammad Akram Mohd Noordin ◽  
Mahanem Mat Noor ◽  
Wan Mohd Aizat
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Bioactive Compounds ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Antioxidant Defense ◽  
Senior Citizens ◽  
Aging Population ◽  
Human Clinical Trial ◽  
Fertility Reduction ◽  
The Impact

It is expected that in 2050, there will be more than 20% of senior citizens aged over 60 years worldwide. Such alarming statistics require immediate attention to improve the health of the aging population. Since aging is closely related to the loss of antioxidant defense mechanisms, this situation eventually leads to numerous health problems, including fertility reduction. Furthermore, plant extracts have been used in traditional medicine as potent antioxidant sources. Although many experiments had reported the impact of various bioactive compounds on aging or fertility, there is a lack of review papers that combine both subjects. In this review, we have collected and discussed various bioactive compounds from 26 different plant species known to affect both longevity and fertility. These compounds, including phenolics and terpenes, are mostly involved in the antioxidant defense mechanisms of diverse organisms such as rats, mites, fruit flies, roundworms, and even roosters. A human clinical trial should be considered in the future to measure the effects of these bioactive compounds on human health and longevity. Ultimately, these plant-derived compounds could be developed into health supplements or potential medical drugs to ensure a healthy aging population.

Association of elevated plasma viscosity with small vessel occlusion in ischemic cerebral disease

2014 ◽  
Vol 133 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina C. Grotemeyer ◽  
Ralf Kaiser ◽  
Karl-Heinz Grotemeyer ◽  
Ingo W. Husstedt
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Viscosity ◽  
Small Vessel ◽  
Elevated Plasma ◽  
Vessel Occlusion ◽  
Cerebral Disease

scholarly journals Stress, Burnout, and Resilience among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Emergency: The Role of Defense Mechanisms

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5258
Author(s):  
Mariagrazia Di Giuseppe ◽  
Gianni Nepa ◽  
Tracy A. Prout ◽  
Fabrizio Albertini ◽  
Stefano Marcelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Personal Accomplishment ◽  
Traumatic Experience ◽  
Psychological Resources ◽  
Defensive Functioning ◽  
The Impact

The experience of working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 healthcare crisis has presented a cumulative traumatic experience that affects healthcare professionals’ well-being. Psychological resources such as resilience and adaptive defense mechanisms are essential in protecting individuals from severe stress and burnout. During September 2020, 233 healthcare workers responded to an online survey to test the impact of demographic variables, COVID-19 exposure, and psychological resources in determining stress and burnout during the COVID-19 emergency. Frontline workers reported higher scores for stress, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization (p < 0.001) as compared to colleagues working in units not directly serving patients with COVID-19. Mature defensive functioning was associated with resilience and personal accomplishment (r = 0.320; p < 0.001), while neurotic and immature defenses were related to perceived stress and burnout. Stress and burnout were predicted by lower age, female gender, greater exposure to COVID-19, lower resilience, and immature defensive functioning among healthcare professionals (R2 = 463; p < 0.001). Working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic appears to provoke greater stress and burnout. On the other hand, resilience and adaptive defense mechanisms predicted better adjustment. Future reaction plans should promote effective programs offering support for healthcare workers who provide direct care to patients with COVID-19.

Blood rheology in acute mountain sickness and high-altitude pulmonary edema

1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 934-938 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. H. Reinhart ◽  
B. Kayser ◽  
A. Singh ◽  
U. Waber ◽  
O. Oelz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Edema ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
Acute Mountain Sickness ◽  
Blood Rheology ◽  
Plasma Viscosity ◽  
Erythrocyte Deformability ◽  
Erythrocyte Aggregation ◽  
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema ◽  
Mountain Sickness ◽  
Low Altitude

The role of blood rheology in the pathogenesis of acute mountain sickness and high-altitude pulmonary edema was investigated. Twenty-three volunteers, 12 with a history of high-altitude pulmonary edema, were studied at low altitude (490 m) and at 2 h and 18 h after arrival at 4,559 m. Eight subjects remained healthy, seven developed acute mountain sickness, and eight developed high-altitude pulmonary edema. Hematocrit, whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte aggregation, and erythrocyte deformability (filtration) were measured. Plasma viscosity and erythrocyte deformability remained unaffected. The hematocrit level was lower 2 h after the arrival at high altitude and higher after 18 h compared with low altitude. The whole blood viscosity changed accordingly. The erythrocyte aggregation was about doubled 18 h after the arrival compared with low-altitude values, which reflects the acute phase reaction. There were, however, no significant differences in any rheological parameters between healthy individuals and subjects with acute mountain sickness or high-altitude pulmonary edema, either before or during the illness. We conclude that rheological abnormalities can be excluded as an initiating event in the development of acute mountain sickness and high-altitude pulmonary edema.

scholarly journals Mineral Micronutrients in Asthma

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 4001
Author(s):  
Dominika Zajac
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Redox Status ◽  
Chronic Inflammatory Disease ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Medical Issues ◽  
Persistent Inflammation ◽  
The Impact

Asthma represents one of the most common medical issues in the modern world. It is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by persistent inflammation of the airways and disturbances in redox status, leading to hyperresponsiveness of bronchi and airway obstruction. Apart from classical risk factors such as air pollution, family history, allergies, or obesity, disturbances of the levels of micronutrients lead to impairments in the defense mechanisms of the affected organism against oxidative stress and proinflammatory stimuli. In the present review, the impact of micronutrients on the prevalence, severity, and possible risk factors of asthma is discussed. Although the influence of classical micronutrients such as selenium, copper, or zinc are well known, the effects of those such as iodine or manganese are only rarely mentioned. As a consequence, the aim of this paper is to demonstrate how disturbances in the levels of micronutrients and their supplementation might affect the course of asthma.

scholarly journals Case Report: Successful Response to Intravenous Immunoglobulin and Steroid Pulses in a Renal Transplant Recipient With Severe Covid-19 Disease and Associated Acute Allograft Failure

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Rosa-Guerrero ◽  
Antonio Trujillo-Aguilera ◽  
Juan Molina ◽  
Ana Navas ◽  
Cristina López-Martín ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intravenous Immunoglobulin ◽  
Normal Population ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Bolus Administration ◽  
Cytokine Storm ◽  
Ivig Infusion ◽  
Acute Phase Reactants ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Treatment Onset ◽  
The Impact

The impact of Covid-19 pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 on transplanted populations under chronic immunosuppression seems to be greater than in normal population. Clinical management of the disease, particularly in those patients worsening after a cytokine storm, with or without allograft impairment and using available therapeutic approaches in the absence of specific drugs to fight against the virus, involves a major challenge for physicians. We herein provide evidence of the usefulness of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) combined with steroid pulses to successfully treat a case of Covid-19 pneumonia in a single-kidney transplanted patient with mechanical ventilation and hemodialysis requirements in the setting of a cytokine storm. A rapid decrease in the serum level of inflammatory cytokines, particularly IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, MCP-1 and IL-10, as well as of acute-phase reactants such as ferritin, D-dimer and C-reactive protein was observed after the IVIG infusion and methylprednisolone bolus administration with a parallel clinical improvement and progressive allograft function recovery, allowing the patient’s final discharge 40 days after the treatment onset. The immunomodulatory effect of IVIG together with the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive potential of steroids could be an alternative strategy to treat severe cases of Covid-19 pneumonia associated with an uncontrolled inflammatory response in transplanted populations.

scholarly journals The impact of Temporal Artery Biopsy for the diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis in clinical practice in a tertiary University Hospital

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Kaltsonoudis ◽  
E Pelechas ◽  
A Papoudou-Bai ◽  
E.T. Markatseli ◽  
M Elisaf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Giant Cell Arteritis ◽  
Giant Cell ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Unknown Origin ◽  
Temporal Artery ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Temporal Artery Biopsy ◽  
Acute Phase Reactants ◽  
Anemia Of Chronic Disease ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTBackgroundTemporal artery biopsy (TAB) is useful in assisting with giant cell arteritis (GCA) diagnosis but lacks sensitivity. The aim of our study was to assess the diagnostic impact of TAB histology in patients with suspected GCA on hospital admission.MethodsA prospectively maintained database was queried for all TABs performed between 1-1-2000 until 31-12-2017 at the University Hospital of Ioannina. Thus, inclusion criteria were made on the grounds of every patient that underwent a TAB during the above-mentioned period, regardless of demographic, clinical and laboratory data.ResultsTwo hundred forty-five TABs were included (149 females and 96 males), with a mean age of 64.5 (±3.5) years. The mean symptoms duration until admission to the hospital was 8.6 (±1.3) weeks and all had elevated acute phase reactants on admission. The reasons of admission were fever of unknown origin (FUO) in 114 (46.5%) patients, symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in 84 (34.3%), new headache in 33 (13.5%), anemia of chronic disease (ACD) in 8 (3.32%) and eye disturbances in 6 (2.5%) patients. Positive results were found in 49 (20%) TABs. More specifically, in 14% of patients with FUO, 21% in those with PMR, while in patients with a new headache the percentage was 27%. Finally, 5 out of 6 (83.3%) of patients with ocular symptoms and only one (12.5%) of those suffering from ACD. Visual manifestations and FUO are correlated with a positive TAB.ConclusionIt seems that TAB is useful in assisting with GCA diagnosis, but lacks sensitivity.

Platelet-mediated proteolytic down regulation of the anticoagulant activity of protein S in individuals with haematological malignancies

2012 ◽  
Vol 107 (03) ◽  
pp. 468-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilze Dienava-Verdoold ◽  
Marina R. Marchetti ◽  
Liane C. J. te Boome ◽  
Laura Russo ◽  
Anna Falanga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein C ◽  
Normal Values ◽  
Anticoagulant Activity ◽  
Activated Protein C ◽  
Protein S ◽  
Intact Protein ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Independent Protein

SummaryThe natural anticoagulant protein S contains a so-called thrombin-sensitive region (TSR), which is susceptible to proteolytic cleavage. We have previously shown that a platelet-associated protease is able to cleave protein S under physiological plasma conditions in vitro. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation between platelet-associated protein S cleaving activity and in vivo protein S cleavage, and to evaluate the impact of in vivo protein S cleavage on its anticoagulant activity. Protein S cleavage in healthy subjects and in thrombocytopenic and thrombocythaemic patients was evaluated by immunological techniques. Concentration of cleaved and intact protein S was correlated to levels of activated protein C (APC)-dependent and APC-independent protein S anticoagulant activity. In plasma from healthy volunteers 25% of protein S is cleaved in the TSR. While in plasma there was a clear positive correlation between levels of intact protein S and both APC-dependent and APC-independent protein S anticoagulant activities, these correlations were absent for cleaved protein S. Protein S cleavage was significantly increased in patients with essential thrombocythaemia (ET) and significantly reduced in patients with chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia. In ET patients on cytoreductive therapy, both platelet count and protein S cleavage returned to normal values. Accordingly, platelet transfusion restored cleavage of protein S to normal values in patients with chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia. In conclusion, proteases from platelets seem to contribute to the presence of cleaved protein S in the circulation and may enhance the coagulation response in vivo by down regulating the anticoagulant activity of protein S.

#31: Risk Factors Associated with Mortality due to Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in Pediatric Oncology Patients with Febrile Neutropenia

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S15-S16
Author(s):  
Miguel A Minero ◽  
Asia Castro ◽  
Martha Avilés-Robles
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Septic Shock ◽  
Febrile Neutropenia ◽  
Pediatric Oncology ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Bloodstream Infections ◽  
Oncology Patients ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Infectious processes are frequent complications presented in pediatric patients with cancer. Currently, the indiscriminate use of antibiotics induces resistance to available treatments, creating the emergence of multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDROs). Due to the impact in morbidity and mortality secondary to MDRO infection, we aimed to identify risk factors associated with mortality in infections due to MDROs in pediatric patients with cancer. Methods Case–control study nested in a prospective cohort of pediatric oncology patients with febrile neutropenia (FN) at Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez (HIMFG) in Mexico City from March 2015 to September 2017. MDRO was defined as acquired non-susceptibility to at least one agent in three or more antimicrobial categories. Patients with FN episodes who died from an infection due to MDROs were defined as cases and patients with FN episodes of an infection due to MDROs who did not die were defined as controls. Mucositis, septic shock, PICU stay, and bacterial prophylaxis (Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole) were compared between groups. Descriptive statistics was performed and Pearson χ 2 or Student’s t-test were used to compare risk factors between groups. Results A total of 929 FN episodes were documented, 44.4% episodes occurred in male patients, mean age was 7.9 years, with the population under 5 years being the most represented (68.2%). The most frequent diagnosis was acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 75% followed by rhabdomyosarcoma in 10.5% and acute myeloid leukemia in 9.6%. Prophylaxis (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) was used in 86%, mucositis was present in 9.2% of episodes. 12.1% had septic shock and 4.7% were admitted to PICU. In 148 FN episodes (15.9%) a microorganism was identified, of these 50 (33.7%) were due to an MDROs. Urinary tract infection was the most frequent site (49%), followed by bloodstream infections (47%). K. pneumoniae was the most frequent MDRO in 22.8%, followed by E. coli in 19.2% and P. aeruginosa in 14%. Septic shock was presented in 26% of MDROs infections. Overall mortality was 1.94% and only 0.86% (8) were secondary to MDROs. Of patients with MDRO isolated mortality was 30% (15/50). Mortality associated with bloodstream infection due to MDROs was 25% compared with other source of MDROs infections (3%) (P = 0.01). Septic shock was present in 40% of patients with death due to MDROs infection (P = 0.001). Conclusions In our population of children with FN episodes who had an isolated microorganism, infection due to MDROs are high (33.7%) and MDROs infection-directed mortality was as high as 30%. Bloodstream infections and septic shock were risk factors associated with mortality due to MDROs.

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