Su Jok therapy by twist and seed method of therapy to reduce the level of fear on COVID-19’s patient: a case series

Patients with COVID-19 not only experience suffering from physiological symptoms but also psychological dimensions such as fear. Fear is part of life and the threat of self-existence will increase the fear level. Increased levels of fear will influence the process of healing by disturbing the immunity function. This case series reports the results of Su Jok therapy using the twist and seed method of therapy in reducing the level of fear of patients with COVID-19. Twenty cases of respondents with the average level of fear toward COVID-19 of ≥4 were included in this case reports. Fear level was measured by using the fear scale measurement (FSM). Su Jok therapy was conducted by twisting (120 times) and putting fenugreek seed on the joint of the patients’ index finger in Triorigin fixed joint correspondent of fear. Posttest of fear scale was measured after intervention in the intervals 5, 10 and 15 minutes. In all three interval measurements, there were significant improvements in the fear scale before and after Su Jok therapy (p=0.0001, p<0.05).

CRP Enhances the Innate Killing Mechanisms Phagocytosis and ROS Formation in a Conformation and Complement-Dependent Manner

Phagocytosis and the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in phagocytic leukocytes are an effective killing mechanism of the innate host defense. These cellular processes of innate immunity function in a complex interplay with humoral factors. C-reactive protein (CRP) in its activated, monomeric isoform (mCRP) has been shown to activate immune cells via the classical complement pathway. We investigated the complement-dependent effects of monomeric CRP (mCRP) on neutrophils and monocyte subtypes using complement-specific inhibitors by both flow cytometry and confocal fluorescence microscopy. We demonstrate that CRP-induced ROS generation is a conformation-specific and complement-dependent process in leukocyte subsets with classical monocytes as the primary source of ROS amongst human monocyte subsets. Elucidation of this complex interplay of CRP and complement in inflammation pathophysiology might help to improve anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategies.

Case Report: Central Nervous System Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome Related to Bacterial Meningitis

Central nervous system immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (CNS-IRIS) describes clinical characteristics that may be observed in previously immunocompromised patients during rapid restoration of immunity function in the presence of a pathogen. There have been no reports about CNS-IRIS related to bacterial meningitis so far. Here, we report a 24-year-old pregnant female patient with bacterial meningitis. Her clinical and neuroradiological condition worsened after induced labor despite great effective anti-infective therapy. CNS-IRIS was considered. Corticosteroids were administered, and the patient gradually recovered. We present the first case of CNS-IRIS associated with bacterial meningitis.

Gut microbiota metabolite urolithin B attenuates intestinal immunity function through regulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling in aging mice

Urolithin B (Uro B), one of the major subcategories of urolithins (microbiota metabolites) found in various tissues after ellagitannin consumption, has been shown to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The...

Wheat germ glycoprotein regionally modulates immunosuppressed mouse intestinal immunity function from early life to adulthood

Wheat germ glycoprotein (WGP) is widely used due to its nutritional benefits and biological activity.

Diabetes mellitus and SARS-CoV-2 infection: pathophysiologic mechanisms and implications in management

Introduction: Currently, diabetes mellitus (DM) as well as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are major public health issues worldwide. Background: It has been suggested that patients with DM are more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection and suffer from more severe forms of the disease. Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus and Google search engines. Results: Angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) is the major receptor of SARS-CoV-2 in the human host. The differential expression of ACE2 in the lungs of patients with DM makes them more susceptible to COVID-19. Additionally, acute or chronic hyperglycemia renders individuals in an immune-suppressive state, with impaired innate and adaptive immunity function, contributing also to the severity of COVID-19 infection among patients with DM. Other factors contributing to a more severe course of COVID-19 include the co-existence of obesity in T2DM; the endothelial inflammation induced by the SARS-CoV-2 infection, which aggravates the endothelial dysfunction observed in both T1DM and T2DM; and the hypercoagulability presented in COVID-19 infection that increases the thrombotic tendency in DM. Conclusion: This review summarizes the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the co-existence of both pandemics as well as the current recommendations and future perspectives regarding optimal treatment of inpatients and outpatients with DM in the era of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Notably, the current recommended drugs for the treatment of severe COVID-19, dexamethasone and remdesivir, may cause hyperglycemia, an adverse effect that physicians should bear in mind, when caring for patients with DM and COVID-19.

Guiqi Baizhu Decoction Alleviates Radiation Inflammation in Rats by Modulating the Composition of the Gut Microbiota

The gut microbiota is important in metabolism and immune modulation, and compositional disruption of the gut microbiota population is closely associated with inflammation caused by ionizing radiation (IR). Guiqi Baizhu decoction (GQBZD) is a medicinal compound used in traditional Chinese medicine with anti-inflammatory and antioxidation effects, especially in the process of radiotherapy. However, the effect of GQBZD on reducing the damage to the normal immune system in radiotherapy remains unclear. Here, we show that GQBZD reduces body weights, water intake, food intake, diarrhea level and quality of life score, and inflammation and enhances immunity function in rats treated with X-ray radiation. Meanwhile, our data indicate that GQBZD not only reverses IR-induced gut dysbiosis as indicated change of α-diversity and β-diversity of microbiota, the composition of Desulfovibrio, Bacteroides, and Parabacteroides, except for Roseburia and Lachnoclostridium, but also maintains intestinal barrier integrity and promoting the formation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). GQBZD can also reduce the level of phosphorylation P65 (p-P65). Our results demonstrate that GQBZD can significantly alleviate the inflammatory responses and improve the immune damage against IR, and may be used as prebiotic agents to prevent gut dysbiosis and radiation-related metabolic disorders in radiotherapy.

NHR-49 Acts in Distinct Tissues to Promote Longevity versus Innate Immunity

ABSTRACTAging and immunity are inextricably linked and many genes that extend lifespan also enhance immunoresistance. However, it remains unclear if longevity-enhancing factors modulate immunity and longevity by distinct or shared mechanisms. Here, we demonstrate that the Caenorhabditis elegans pro-longevity factor, NHR-49, also promotes resistance against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but modulates immunity and longevity by spatially and mechanistically distinct mechanisms. Fenofibrate, an agonist of NHR-49’s mammalian functional homolog, PPARα, enhanced worm immunoresistance in an NHR-49-dependent manner. NHR-49 expression is increased by germline ablation, an intervention that extends lifespan, but lowered by pathogen exposure. NHR-49 acted in multiple somatic tissues to promote longevity, whereas, it’s pro-immunity function was mediated by neuronal expression. The canonical NHR-49 target genes, acs-2 and fmo-2, were upregulated by germline loss, but infection triggered fmo-2 downregulation and acs-2 upregulation. Interestingly, neither gene conferred resistance against Gram-negative Pseudomonas, unlike their reported roles in immunity against Gram-positive pathogens. Thus, NHR-49 is differentially regulated by interventions that bring about long-term changes (lifespan extension) vs. short-term stress (pathogen exposure) and in response it orchestrates distinct outputs, including pathogen-specific transcriptional programs. Overall, our study demonstrates the independent control of immunity and longevity by a conserved regulatory protein.