scholarly journals Cancer and Cancer-Related Fatigue and the Interrelationships With Depression, Stress, and Inflammation

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 502-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Weber ◽  
Kylie O’Brien

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common symptom experienced in cancer patients. Depression, anxiety, and stress are associated with cancer. Depression and anxiety are also associated with CRF. At the cellular level, much is known about the impact of stress on the body generally, and its potential role in cancer. Stress, anxiety, and depression have been found to depress the immune system. Depression and stress have also been found to create inflammatory changes in the body and there is emerging evidence that inflammation is involved in cancer pathogenesis and in CRF. This article examines the relationships between stress, anxiety, depression, and cancer; relationships between anxiety and depression and CRF; and what happens at the cellular level, including impact on the immune system and emerging evidence of the role of inflammation in CRF. It also reports on research in relation to some Chinese herbal medicines that may be used to treat CRF.

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 3956
Author(s):  
Camilla Barbero Mazzucca ◽  
Davide Raineri ◽  
Giuseppe Cappellano ◽  
Annalisa Chiocchetti

Nutrition and immunity are closely related, and the immune system is composed of the most highly energy-consuming cells in the body. Much of the immune system is located within the GI tract, since it must deal with the huge antigenic load introduced with food. Moreover, the incidence of immune-mediated diseases is elevated in Westernized countries, where “transition nutrition” prevails, owing to the shift from traditional dietary patterns towards Westernized patterns. This ecological correlation has fostered increasing attempts to find evidence to support nutritional interventions aimed at managing and reducing the risk of immune-mediated diseases. Recent studies have described the impacts of single nutrients on markers of immune function, but the knowledge currently available is not sufficient to demonstrate the impact of specific dietary patterns on immune-mediated clinical disease endpoints. If nutritional scientists are to conduct quality research, one of many challenges facing them, in studying the complex interactions between the immune system and diet, is to develop improved tools for investigating eating habits in the context of immunomediated diseases.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 42-46
Author(s):  
Yu K Churilov ◽  
Yu B Moiseev ◽  
I I Richei

The impact of unfavorable factors of aviation flight causes a significant strain in the flight crew of the functional state of the body, including various parts of the immune system. To date, research on the problems of interaction between different parts of the immune system in flight personnel in the process of professional adaptation is practically absent. In this regard, a study was conducted of immunological reactivity according to calculated data from 100 pilots of fighter aircraft and 102 pilots of other types of aircraft. The data obtained indicate significant dissociation of the flight composition in the immune system and changes in its reactivity. Studies of immunological reactivity in terms of integral leukocyte indices seem promising and, in combination with other methods of clinical and functional diagnostics, will expand the possibilities of assessing the overall functional status of pilots in the process of medical examination.


Author(s):  
Mukhtar H. Ahmed ◽  
Arez Hassan ◽  
Judit Molnár

AbstractThe World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus, named as SARS-CoV-2, as a global pandemic in early 2020 after the disease spread to more than 180 countries leading to tens of thousands of cases and many deaths within a couple of months. Consequently, this paper aims to summarize the evidence for the relationships between nutrition and the boosting of the immune system in the fight against the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. This review, in particular, assesses the impact of vitamin and mineral supplements on the body’s defence mechanisms against SARS-CoV-2. The results revealed that there is a strong relationship between the ingestion of biological ingredients like vitamins C–E, and minerals such as zinc, and a reduction in the effects of coronavirus infection. These can be received from either nutrition rich food sources or from vitamin supplements. Furthermore, these macromolecules might have roles to play in boosting the immune response, in the healing process and the recovery time. Hence, we recommend that eating healthy foods rich in vitamins C–E with zinc and flavonoids could boost the immune system and consequently protect the body from serious infections. Graphical Abstract


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 79-84
Author(s):  
Gupta BL ◽  
Prasad G

Hyperglycemia has been the primary metabolic condition for the origin of diabetic complications. The glucose in the cell is underutilized due to diminished entry of glucose into the cell and down-regulation of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway. The PPP is the potential pathway in maintaining the defense of the cell through GPx, GR, GSH, and GSSG. Particularly, GPx and GSH levels diminish in diabetes. Constipation in diabetes also plays an important role in decreasing the immune system as the excess glucose in the gut lining enhances the number of gut bacteria and fungi. Antioxidants have not been proved to enhance the immune and defense of cells in diabetes but the exhibitory roles of herbal medicines have been potential in exaggerating the immune and defense system by their unknown modulators and enhancers molecules. Turmeric and black pepper have been proven to enhance the immune and defense of the body in diabetics.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl Currie ◽  
Takara A. Motz ◽  
Jennifer L Copeland

Abstract Background Allostatic load (AL) is an aggregate measure of wear and tear on the body due to the chronic activation of the stress response system. The goal of this study was to examine the association between racially-motivated housing discrimination and AL score within a sample of Indigenous university students.Methods Data for this cross-sectional study were collected from Indigenous adults attending university in a small city in western Canada between 2015 and 2017 ( N = 104; Mean age = 27.8 years). An item adapted from the Experience of Discrimination Scale was to assess racially-motivated housing discrimination in the past 12 months. AL was measured as a composite of 7 biomarkers assessing neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune system function. Bias-corrected and accelerated bootstrapped linear regression models were used to examine associations adjusting for age, income, parenthood, and other situations in which discrimination had been experienced.Results Indigenous university students who experienced racially-motivated housing discrimination in the past year (16.8% of the sample) had an average AL score of approximately 4, which was almost double that of their peers who had not. In an adjusted model. racially-motivated housing discrimination was associated with a-1.5 point increase in AL score. This model explained 35% of the adjusted variance in AL score, of which racially-motivated housing discrimination explained 24% ( R 2 Change = 0.24, F Change = 32.52, Sig. F Change p <0.001).Conclusions Indigenous adults who experienced racially-motivated housing discrimination in the past year had early and more pronounced wear and tear on neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune system functioning in young and middle adulthood than Indigenous peers who did not. These findings combine with others to highlight the need for increased efforts to prevent racially-motivated housing discrimination in urban centres.


Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 536
Author(s):  
Heidi Haavik ◽  
Imran Khan Niazi ◽  
Nitika Kumari ◽  
Imran Amjad ◽  
Jenna Duehr ◽  
...  

The current COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the need to find healthcare solutions that boost or support immunity. There is some evidence that high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) controlled vertebral thrusts have the potential to modulate immune mediators. However, the mechanisms of the link between HVLA controlled vertebral thrusts and neuroimmune function and the associated potential clinical implications are less clear. This review aims to elucidate the underlying mechanisms that can explain the HVLA controlled vertebral thrust--neuroimmune link and discuss what this link implies for clinical practice and future research needs. A search for relevant articles published up until April 2021 was undertaken. Twenty-three published papers were found that explored the impact of HVLA controlled vertebral thrusts on neuroimmune markers, of which eighteen found a significant effect. These basic science studies show that HVLA controlled vertebral thrust influence the levels of immune mediators in the body, including neuropeptides, inflammatory markers, and endocrine markers. This narravtive review discusses the most likely mechanisms for how HVLA controlled vertebral thrusts could impact these immune markers. The mechanisms are most likely due to the known changes in proprioceptive processing that occur within the central nervous system (CNS), in particular within the prefrontal cortex, following HVLA spinal thrusts. The prefrontal cortex is involved in the regulation of the autonomic nervous system, the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and the immune system. Bi-directional neuro-immune interactions are affected by emotional or pain-related stress. Stress-induced sympathetic nervous system activity also alters vertebral motor control. Therefore, there are biologically plausible direct and indirect mechanisms that link HVLA controlled vertebral thrusts to the immune system, suggesting HVLA controlled vertebral thrusts have the potential to modulate immune function. However, it is not yet known whether HVLA controlled vertebral thrusts have a clinically relevant impact on immunity. Further research is needed to explore the clinical impact of HVLA controlled vertebral thrusts on immune function.


Author(s):  
Cristina A Martinez ◽  
Ina Marteinsdottir ◽  
Ann Josefsson ◽  
Gunilla Sydsjö ◽  
Elvar Theodorsson ◽  
...  

Abstract During pregnancy, the immune system is modified to allow developmental developmental tolerance of the semi-allogeneic fetus and placenta to term. Pregnant women suffering from stress, anxiety and depression show dysfunctions of their immune system that may be responsible for fetal and/or newborn disorders, provided that provided that placental gene regulation is compromised. The present study explored the effects of maternal chronic self-perceived stress, anxiety and depression during pregnancy on the expression of immune related-genes and pathways in term placenta. Pregnancies were clinically monitored with the Beck’s Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). A cutoff threshold for BAI/EPDS of 10 divided patients into two groups: Index group (≥10, n = 11) and a Control group (&lt;10, n = 11), whose placentae were sampled at delivery. The placental samples were subjected to RNA-Sequencing, demonstrating that stress, anxiety and depression during pregnancy induced a major downregulation of placental transcripts related to immune processes such as T-cell regulation, interleukin and cytokine signaling or innate immune responses. Expression differences of main immune related genes such as CD46, CD15, CD8α & β ILR7α and CCR4 among others, were found in the index group (P &lt; 0.05). Moreover, the key immune-like pathway involved in humoral and cellular immunity named “Primary immunodeficiency” was significantly downregulated in the index group compared to controls. Our results show that mechanisms ruling immune system functions are compromised at the maternal-fetal interface following self-perceived depressive symptoms and anxiety during pregnancy. These findings may help unveil mechanisms ruling the impact of maternal psychiatric symptoms and lead to new prevention/intervention strategies in complicated pregnancies.


2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan C. Edwards ◽  
Jeffrey D. Bodle

The Consensus Statement of the Third International Congress on Concussion in Sport in November 2008 defined concussion as a “complex pathophysiologic process affecting the brain, induced by traumatic biochemical forces.” Definitions of concussion vary slightly between various professional organizations of neurosurgeons, neurologists, and orthopedic surgeons, but all share the common characteristics of trauma affecting the head or body resulting in transient neurologic deficits or symptoms. Underlying the symptoms of concussion is a complex pathophysiologic process at the cellular level. While concussion is typically thought of as resulting from a direct impact to the head, a concussion can also be sustained as a result of an impact to the body causing the force of the impact to be transmitted to and absorbed by the brain.


2020 ◽  
Vol 245 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-121
Author(s):  
Charles L Phillips ◽  
Bernadette E Grayson

Obesity is an escalating world problem that contributes to the complexity and cost of treatment of metabolic disorders. Obesity is the result of increased storage of energy in the form of adipose tissue, reducing the quality of daily life, and interfering with longevity. Obesity is also a chronic, low-grade inflammatory disorder. The inflammatory processes affect many organ systems with expanded numbers of immune cells and increased cytokine production. Long-term weight loss is difficult to achieve and maintain. Lifestyle modifications, pharmacologic treatments, and surgical methods are increasingly utilized to ameliorate excess body weight and the comorbidities of obesity, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, and cancers. Weight loss is also touted to reduce inflammation. Here we review the current literature on human obesity-related systemic and local changes to the immune system and circulating inflammatory mediators. Further, we consider the impact of weight loss to reduce the burden of inflammation, bearing in mind the different methods of weight loss—behavioral change vs. surgical intervention. Impact statement As the prevalence and severity of obesity expand, the negative impact of excess adiposity affects every system of the body. Given that obesity is a subversive attack on the immune system, weight loss should improve inflammation locally and systemically. Weight management strategies like dieting, exercise, and bariatric surgery, thus have the opportunity to reduce the burden of inflammation.


Author(s):  
Sura A Abdulsattar ◽  
Abdullah H Drywall

  Objective: An interaction between a nanoparticle and the immune system is considered desirable when it may lead to various beneficial medical applications such as vaccines, delivery of drugs, antigens or therapeutics for inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. This study aims to evaluate the impact of some immune proteins by the presence of gold and nickel nanoparticles in sera of toxoplasmosis patients.Methods: A total of 20 patients women with toxoplasmosis aged (20-40 year) attending Central Health Laboratory in Baghdad city for the period (November 2016 to February 2017) and 20 age-matched of women healthy as a control were included in this study.Results: A non-significant increase in the activity and specific activity of protease in the sera of women infected with toxoplasmosis were observed in comparison to their values in the healthy (p˃0.05). While a non-significant decrease in total protein values was reported. The results of effect of nanoparticles showed a decrease in the level of the enzyme in the presence of nanoparticles by 41.3%, while the results showed that inhibition of nickel nanoparticles was greater and 43.8%. The results indicated that IgA, IgG, and IgM levels were decreased in the presence of gold nanoparticles. In the same context, both IgA and IgG were shown to be inhibitory in the presence of nickel nanoparticles while the results showed activation of the IgM level with nickel nanoparticles.Conclusion: We conclude from this study that other studies are required to confirm our results and therefore support the possibility of using nickel nanoparticles as a support for the treatment of toxoplasmosis through its dual effect first by reducing the protease, which is essential for survival of the parasite and second by activating IgM level, which enhances the immune defense of the body against the parasite.


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