Quantum, Brain, and Immunity Triangle in Mental Health and Neurosciences

Immunopsychiatry is a fledgling research field with great potential in the etiological research of psychotic disorders and can turn out to be helpful in finding novel treatment strategies and repurposing existing therapeutic agents. The clinical applications of Neuroquantology complement some of the etiological views of psychotic disorders that are evolving in immunopsychiatry. The pathogenesis of psychotic process may involve an underlying immune disturbance leading to neuro-quantological disorders. The cytokine storm that occurs due to COVID-19 and the resulting neurotoxic effects illustrate how an autoimmune reaction can potentially form psychotic symptoms through the mediation of the brain. Studying the interconnection between neurotransmission and immunity has significant relevance in the etiopathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. Immunopsychiatry alone may not be adequate to explain the development of psychotic symptoms, but Neuroquantology and immunopsychiatry complement each other in this endeavor. An expanded model of the brain–mind consciousness complex is required to understand the intricacies of psychotic symptomatology and contributions from Neuroquantology are highly enrichening. The claims of the practitioners of quantum immunotherapies need further exploration. Quantum-brain and immunity triangle can result in a huge paradigmatic shift in our understanding of psychiatric disorders and the evolving landscape of immunopsychiatry and clinical Neuroquantology warrant further promotion.

Clinical and Cytometric Study of Immune Involvement in a Heterogeneous Cohort of Subjects With RASopathies and mTORopathies

RASopathies and mTORopathies are groups of genetic syndromes associated with increased activation of the RAS-MAPK or the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway, resulting in altered cell proliferation during embryonic and postnatal development. The RAS-MAPK and the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathways are connected to each other and play a crucial role in adaptive immunity. However, with the exception of Activated PI3K delta syndrome (APDS), immune function has not been deeply studied in these disorders. We collected clinical and immunophenotypic data of a cohort of patients with RASopathies and mTORopathies. Overall, we enrolled 47 patients (22 females, 25 males, age 2–40 years): 33 with neurofibromatosis type 1, 11 Noonan syndrome and 3 Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome. 8 patients reported a history of invasive infections requiring hospitalization and intravenous antibiotic therapy. Only 3 patients reported a history of unusual, difficult-to-treat or deep-seated infection. Adenotonsillectomy was performed in 11 patients (24%). However, in most cases (83%) patients' parents did not perceive their child as more prone to infections than their peers. Lymphocyte subpopulations were analyzed in 37 of the 47 patients (16 female, 21 males, age 1–40 years). Among the studied lymphocyte subsets, the only consistent alteration regarded an increased percentage of immature B cells (recent bone marrow emigrants) in 34 out of 37 (91,9%) patients, and an increased percentage of double negative T cells in 9 patients. In conclusion, although borderline immune abnormalities were present in a significant proportion of subjects and adenotonsillectomy was performed more frequently than expected for the general population, no major immune disturbance was found in this cohort of patients.

Neuroendocrine Modulation of the Immune Response after Trauma and Sepsis: Does It Influence Outcome?

Although the treatment of multiple-injured patients has been improved during the last decades, sepsis and multiple organ failure (MOF) still remain the major cause of death. Following trauma, profound alterations of a large number of physiological systems can be observed that may potentially contribute to the development of sepsis and MOF. This includes alterations of the neuroendocrine and the immune system. A large number of studies focused on posttraumatic changes of the immune system, but the cause of posttraumatic immune disturbance remains to be established. However, an increasing number of data indicate that the bidirectional interaction between the neuroendocrine and the immune system may be an important mechanism involved in the development of sepsis and MOF. The aim of this article is to highlight the current knowledge of the neuroendocrine modulation of the immune system during trauma and sepsis.

Revisiting pharmacological potentials of Nigella sativa seed: a promising option for COVID-19 prevention and cure

Black cumin (Nigella sativa) seed and its active compounds have been historically recognized as an effective herbal panacea that can establish a balanced inflammatory response by suppressing chronic inflammation and promoting healthy immune response. The essential oil and other preparations of N. sativa seed have substantial therapeutic outcomes against immune disturbance, autophagy dysfunction, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, bacterial and viral infections. Compelling evidence in the therapeutic efficiency of N. sativa along with the recent computational findings are strongly suggestive of combating recently emerged COVID-19 pandemic. Also, being an available candidate in nutraceuticals, N. sativa could be immensely potential and feasible to prevent and cure COVID-19. However, further studies including clinical trials are essential to investigate the efficiency and detailed mechanism of N. sativa under specific pathophysiological conditions of COVID-19. The current review was aimed at revisiting the pharmacological benefits of N. sativa seed and its active metabolites that may constitute a potential basis for developing a novel preventive and therapeutic strategy against COVID-19.