scholarly journals HNP-1 and HBD-1 as Biomarkers for the Immune Systems of Elite Basketball Athletes

Antibiotics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaela Pero ◽  
Mariarita Brancaccio ◽  
Cristina Mennitti ◽  
Luca Gentile ◽  
Adelaide Franco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
White Blood Cells ◽  
Muscle Metabolism ◽  
Free Testosterone ◽  
Strenuous Exercise ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Human Defensins

Acute or strenuous exercise is sometimes related to upper respiratory tract infections in athletes. Practicing intense and regular exercise can lead to incorrect activation of the immune system, causing athletes to be excluded from training programs and competitions. Defensins are small antimicrobial peptides that are part of the innate immune system and dynamically involved in several biological activities. In this study, we highlight the role of human defensins in competitive basketball athletes. In particular, we consider the behavior of alpha- and beta-defensins together with white blood cells in a cohort of players. Moreover, we focus our attention on cortisol, a physiological indicator of stress, and testosterone, both of which are human hormones involved in muscle metabolism. The free-testosterone/cortisol ratio is considered to be an indicator of overtraining among athletes. This paper provides an up-to-date information of the role of human defensins as self-defense molecules during a continuous stressor such as long-term exercise, and it recognizes them as potential markers of infection.

scholarly journals Vitamin D and respiratory infections

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (04) ◽  
pp. 355-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando De Sa Del Fiol ◽  
Silvio Barberato-Filho ◽  
Luciane Cruz Lopes ◽  
Cristiane De Cassia Bergamaschi
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Metabolizing Enzymes ◽  
Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
Adults And Children ◽  
Tract Infections

Vitamin D or 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2 D) has a well-established role in calcium homeostasis. In recent years, the discovery of vitamin D-metabolizing enzymes and vitamin D receptor (VDR) in the lungs and various cells of the immune system has led to numerous studies conducted to evaluate its role in respiratory functions and, in particular, upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). A PubMed literature search was done using vitamin D and respiratory infections as key words. Only clinical studies were considered. This study aimed to review recent clinical and epidemiological studies conducted in adults and children, and to evaluate the functional role of vitamin D in respiratory infections. The evaluated studies show an important immunomodulatory role of vitamin D, which reduces the incidence and risk of URTIs, both in children and in adults. Combating URTIs can be done prophylactically, associating the use of vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae with strengthening the immune system through supplementation with vitamin D. These actions can significantly contribute to reducing the number of URTIs, the use of antibiotics, and consequently, the rates of antimicrobial resistance.

scholarly journals A role of oropharyngeal microbiota in developing acute and chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 359-367
Author(s):  
I. I. Ababii ◽  
L. A. Danilov ◽  
M. K. Maniuc ◽  
P. I. Ababii ◽  
S. S. Ghinda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Chronic Tonsillitis ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Tract Infections

Currently, a rise in incidence of polyethological inflammation of the upper respiratory tract mucosa paralleled by altered resident and transient microbiota displaying in many cases increased antibiotic resistance has been noted. Opportunistic microbes play a major role in developing inflammatory process in Pirogov–Waldeyer’s ring. An inflammatory process occurring in the tonsillar lymphatic tissue results in host systemic complications. Fighting against acute and chronic infections of the upper respiratory tract holds the main task in pediatric otorhinolaryngology, as they can consequently elicit the cardiovascular, genitourinary and musculoskeletal complications. The results of studies examining this issue remain very contradictory, which accounted for a need to conduct our study on the territory of Moldova featured with mixed climatic conditions. Here, we wanted to study a role of microbial factor in etiopathogenesis of chronic tonsillitis in children. Bacteriological microbiota data for superficial palatine tonsils were obtained form 608 children subdivided into 5 groups: group I — 333 children with compensated chronic tonsillitis; group II — 87 children with decompensated chronic tonsillitis; group III — 91 children with acute upper respiratory tract infections (comparison group); group IV — 48 children with acute upper respiratory tract infections treated with antibiotic therapy; group V — 49 apparently healthy children (control group). It was found that β-hemolytic streptococcus exerting high sensitivity to virtually all antibiotics groups was detected in 17.4% of children with acute tonsilar inflammatory processes and decompensated defense in the lymphatic pharyngeal ring compared to 3.5% in control group. Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated in all study groups ranging within 4.8–21.7%, including 14% in apparently healthy children characterized by reduced antibiotics sensitivity. The data obtained suggest that sickly children with acute and chronic upper respiratory tract infections constitute a risk group for developing somatic diseases. The high incidence of Streptococcus pneumoniae indicates a need for performing immunoprophylaxis, use of therapeutic vaccination as a up-to-date, combined approach in treatment of such pediatric cohort.

scholarly journals Distribution of leukocyte subpopulation among students threatened by failure

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 3807-3812
Author(s):  
Aziez Chettoum ◽  
Kamilia Guedri ◽  
Zouhir Djerrou ◽  
Rachid Mosbah ◽  
Latifa Khattabi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
White Blood Cells ◽  
Significant Development ◽  
Biological Assays ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Student Volunteers ◽  
White Blood Cell Counts ◽  
Academic Year ◽  
The Brain

Psychoneuroimmunology or the study of the relationships between the brain and the immune system is an area of research that has experienced significant development over the decade. Stress does not appear without consequences on the state of health, the role of fears, emotions and significant constraints in the appearance of organic and mental diseases. In this research, we studied the effect of stress and anxiety during exams at the end of the academic year (2018/2019) on the distribution of leukocyte subpopulations and the immune system, questionnaires has been completed by student volunteers, to estimate the anxio-depressive comorbidities through the (HADS) test during and outside exams, and in the same time we asked them for a blood sample the next morning day to carry out some biological assays (CBC). We also found that stress during exams caused a change in the distribution of different types of white blood cells, a total decrease in white blood cell counts with neutropenia and lymphopenia were found in students during exams compared to controls, and an increase in monocyte and other types of polymorphonuclear levels in students during exams compared to controls. Other tests measuring the effects of stress on specific functions of the immune system can be used.

The Role of Bacterial Interference in Otitis, Sinusitis and Tonsillitis

2005 ◽  
Vol 133 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Itzhak Brook
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Bacterial Flora ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Bacterial Interference

Bacterial interactions that include antagonism (interference) and synergism help maintain balance between the members of the normal endogenous flora. Alpha-streptococci that predominate in the normal respiratory tract flora attracted most attention in studies of bacterial interference. Other organisms that possess interfering characteristics in upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are nonhemolytic streptococci, and Prevotella and Peptostreptococcus spp. The production of bacteriocins by some microorganisms is one of the important mechanisms of interference. The role of bacterial interference in the development of URTI and its effect on the eradication of these infections is discussed. These infections include pharyngo-tonsillitis, otitis media, and sinusitis. Treatment with various antimicrobial agents can affect the balance between members of the oro-pharyngeal bacterial flora and interfering organisms. Implantation into the indigenous microflora of low virulence bacterial strains that are potentially capable of interfering with colonization and infection with other more virulent organisms has been used in preliminary studies as a means of coping with the failure of antimicrobials in the treatment of several URTI.

scholarly journals Probiotics Effect on the Immune System

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Cho Kin Ng
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Average Duration ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Tract Infections

Background: Probiotics can provide health benefits to an individual by regulation of the immune system. Many clinical trials have found that probiotics can prevent upper respiratory tracts infections. Aim: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of available trials to investigate the effectiveness of probiotics in the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections in individuals of all ages. Conclusion: Probiotics were found to be better in reducing the number of participants who experienced acute URTI, the average duration per episode of acute URTI, use of antibiotics in URTI related cases and absence due to URTI. Side effects were found to be minor, making probiotics a good candidate for clinical use. This shows that probiotics are effective in preventing acute URTIs. However, due to limited studies and small sample size, the results are subjected to bias and should be interpreted with care.

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