Evaluation of the immune system status and hematological dyscrasias, among amphetamine and cannabis abusers at Eradah Hospital in Qassim, Saudi Arabia.

This cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the immune system status and hematological disturbances among individuals who abuse amphetamines and cannabis. Substance abuse, particularly of amphetamines and cannabis, has been associated with various adverse effects on the body, including potential impacts on the immune system and hematological parameters. However, limited research has been conducted to comprehensively assess these effects in a cross-sectional design. Additionally, fungal infections are on the rise internationally, and immune-compromised people are particularly susceptible. The study will recruit a sample of amphetamine and cannabis abusers (n = 50) at the Eradah Hospital in the Qassim Region of Buraydah and assess their sociodemographic and biochemical variables, including blood indices and differential WBC indices, liver, and kidney profiles. Additionally, 50 sputum samples in total were cultured for testing for fungus infections. To obtain the descriptive statistics, the data was imported into Microsoft Excel and subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS 22.0. Amphetamine and cannabis abuser's sociodemographic variables analysis observed that the majority (52%) were aged 18-30, with 56% in secondary school. Unemployment was a significant issue, and most had no other health issues. The majority (50%) had 5-10 years of abuse, while 32% had less than 5 years, and only 18% had been drug abusers for more than 10 years. There were significant changes (p < 0.001) in all different leukocyte blood cells, including neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. Furthermore, a microscopic examination of blood films from individuals who misuse the combination of the medications "amphetamine and cannabis" reveals hazardous alterations in Neutrophils. Out of 50, 35 sputum samples showed positive growth on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) with chloramphenicol antibiotic, indicating a unicellular fungal growth. The present study explores the immune system and hematological disturbances linked to amphetamine and cannabis abuse, providing insights into health risks and targeted interventions. The findings complement previous research on drug users' hematological abnormalities, particularly in white blood cells. Routine hematological tests help identify alterations in homeostatic conditions, improving patient knowledge and preventing major issues. Further research is needed on multi-drug abuse prevention, early detection, and intervention. The cross-sectional design allows for a snapshot of the immune system and hematological status among abusers, laying the groundwork for future longitudinal studies. Key Words: Drug Effect, Immunity, Epidemiology, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation.

Effect of Heat-Treated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum nF1 on the Immune System Including Natural Killer Cell Activity: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study.

Heat-treated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum nF1 (HT-nF1) increases immune cell activation and the production of various immunomodulators (e.g., interleukin (IL)-12) as well as immunoglobulin (Ig) G, which plays an important role in humoral immunity, and IgA, which activates mucosal immunity. To determine the effect of HT-nF1 intake on improving immune function, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted on 100 subjects with normal white blood cell counts. The HT-nF1 group was administered capsules containing 5 × 1011 cells of HT-nF1 once a day for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks of HT-nF1 intake, significant changes in IL-12 were observed in the HT-nF1 group (p = 0.045). In particular, the change in natural killer (NK) cell activity significantly increased in subjects with low secretory (s) IgA (≤49.61 µg/mL) and low NK activity (E:T = 10:1) (≤3.59%). These results suggest that HT-nF1 has no safety issues and improves the innate immune function by regulating T helper (Th)1-related immune factors. Therefore, we confirmed that HT-nF1 not only has a positive effect on regulating the body's immunity, but it is also a safe material for the human body, which confirms its potential as a functional health food ingredient.

Global trends in Cryptococcus and its interactions with the host immune system: a bibliometric analysis.

Objectives: This manuscript undertakes a systematic examination of the research landscape concerning global Cryptococcus species and their dynamism with the host immune system spanning the past decade. It furnishes a detailed survey of leading knowledge institutions and critical focal points in this area, utilizing bibliometric analysis. Methods: VOSviewer and CiteSpace software platforms were employed to systematically analyze and graphically depict the relevant literature indexed in the WoSCC database over the preceding ten years. Results: In the interval between October 1, 2013, and October 1, 2023, a corpus of 795 publications was amassed. The primary research institutions involved in this study include Duke University, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Sydney. The leading trio of nations, in terms of publication volume, comprises the United States, China, and Brazil. Among the most prolific authors are Casadevall, Arturo; Wormley, Floyd L., Jr.; and Olszewski, Michal A., with the most highly cited author being Perfect, Jr. The most esteemed journal is Mbio, while Infection and Immunity commands the highest citation frequency, and the Journal of Clinical Microbiology boasts the most significant impact factor. Present research foci encompass the intricate interactions between Cryptococcus pathogenesis and host immunity, alongside immune mechanisms, complications, and immunotherapies. Conclusion: This represents the first exhaustive scholarly review and bibliometric scrutiny of the evolving landscapes in Cryptococcus research and its interactions with the host immune system. The analyses delineated herein provide insights into prevailing research foci and trajectories, thus furnishing critical directions for subsequent inquiries in this domain.

Dysregulation of the Immune System in a Natural History Study of 1299 Individuals with Down Syndrome.

Dysregulation of the immune system in individuals with Down syndrome is thought to play a major role in the pathophysiology of many clinical presentations. This natural history of disease study took a comprehensive evaluation of the prevalence of different immune related diagnoses in a cohort of 1299 patients with Down syndrome compared to a 2605 patient control cohort at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York, NY over the past 18 years. We conducted a stepwise analysis of the odds of receiving a diagnosis at the Chapter, Sub-chapter and Diagnosis level of the ICD-CM-10 code system. Individuals in our Down syndrome cohort had higher odds of a diagnosis with inflammatory and autoimmune presentations such as Alopecia areata (OR 6.06, p = 0.01), Other sepsis (OR 4.79, p < 0.001, Purpura and other hemorrhagic conditions (OR 2.31, p < 0.001), and Rosacea (OR 3.11, p < 0.001). They also presented with lower odds of a diagnosis of Herpesviral infection (OR 0.42, p = 0.01), and Viral warts (OR 0.51, p = 0.04). We posit that dysregulation of the immune system in individuals with Down syndrome has impact on infectious diseases, including lowering the incidence of viral disease and increasing its severity. Our data also suggests inflammation and autoimmune mediated diseases, in particular of the skin, are exacerbated in individuals with Down syndrome. Finally, there may be a need for greater clinical attention to non-emergent conditions within the Down syndrome patient population as those can also greatly affect quality of life.

How tumors escape the immune system.

Mutations in the gene for ß-catenin cause liver cancer cells to release fewer exosomes, which reduces the number of immune cells infiltrating the tumor.

Interactions of the Immune System with Human Kidney Organoids.

Kidney organoids are an innovative tool in transplantation research. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether kidney organoids are susceptible for allo-immune attack and whether they can be used as a model to study allo-immunity in kidney transplantation. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived kidney organoids were co-cultured with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), which resulted in invasion of allogeneic T-cells around nephron structures and macrophages in the stromal cell compartment of the organoids. This process was associated with the induction of fibrosis. Subcutaneous implantation of kidney organoids in immune-deficient mice followed by adoptive transfer of human PBMC led to the invasion of diverse T-cell subsets. Single cell transcriptomic analysis revealed that stromal cells in the organoids upregulated expression of immune response genes upon immune cell invasion. Moreover, immune regulatory PD-L1 protein was elevated in epithelial cells while genes related to nephron differentiation and function were downregulated. This study characterized the interaction between immune cells and kidney organoids, which will advance the use of kidney organoids for transplantation research.

A stochastic approach for co-evolution process of virus and human immune system.

Infectious diseases have long been a shaping force in human history, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of their dynamics. This study introduces a co-evolution model that integrates both epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics. Utilizing a system of differential equations, the model represents the interactions among susceptible, infected, and recovered populations for both ancestral and evolved viral strains. Methodologically rigorous, the model's existence and uniqueness have been verified, and it accommodates both deterministic and stochastic cases. A myriad of graphical techniques have been employed to elucidate the model's dynamics. Beyond its theoretical contributions, this model serves as a critical instrument for public health strategy, particularly predicting future outbreaks in scenarios where viral mutations compromise existing interventions.

The role of the immune system in early-onset schizophrenia: identifying immune characteristic genes and cells from peripheral blood.

BACKGROUND: Early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) is a type of schizophrenia (SCZ) with an age of onset of < 18 years. An abnormal inflammatory immune system may be involved in the occurrence and development of SCZ. We aimed to identify the immune characteristic genes and cells involved in EOS and to further explore the pathogenesis of EOS from the perspective of immunology. METHODS: We obtained microarray data from a whole-genome mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs); 19 patients with EOS (age range: 14.79 ± 1.90) and 18 healthy controls (HC) (age range: 15.67 ± 2.40) were involved. We screened for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using the Limma software package and modular genes using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). In addition, to identify immune characteristic genes and cells, we performed enrichment analysis, immune infiltration analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis; we also used a random forest (RF), a support vector machine (SVM), and the LASSO-Cox algorithm. RESULTS: We selected the following immune characteristic genes: CCL8, PSMD1, AVPR1B and SEMG1. We employed a RF, a SVM, and the LASSO-Cox algorithm. We identified the following immune characteristic cells: activated mast cells, CD4+ memory resting T cells, resting mast cells, neutrophils and CD4+ memory activated T cells. In addition, the AUC values of the immune characteristic genes and cells were all > 0.7. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that immune system function is altered in SCZ. In addition, CCL8, PSMD1, AVPR1B and SEMG1 may regulate peripheral immune cells in EOS. Further, immune characteristic genes and cells are expected to be diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets of SCZ.

Massage on the prevention of breast cancer through stress reduction and enhancing immune system.

INTRODUCTION: Housewives are a population at high risk of breast cancer due to repeated or chronic exposure to stress. Prevention in a simple yet evidence-based manner is needed. METHODS: This study is a narrative review of the potential of massage as breast cancer prevention through stress and immune system mechanisms. RESULTS: Massage is able to prevent chronic stress through improved sleep and fatigue and lower stress levels. Prevention of chronic stress will maximize the function of cells that eliminate cancer cells, such as B cells, T cells, and natural killer (NK) cells, and improve the balance of Foxp3 Tregulator cells. Partnered delivery massage will bring effective benefits for stress reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Massage can provide indirect prevention of breast cancer, and partnered delivery massage can be a good choice to reduce stress.

Voices: Challenges and opportunities in regulating the immune system.

The rise of immunotherapy and mRNA vaccines has underscored the power of modulating the immune system for a desired response. In this Voices piece, the Cell Chemical Biology editors ask researchers from a range of backgrounds: what are some major challenges and opportunities facing the field in coming years?

Pharmacological effects of ginseng and ginsenosides on intestinal inflammation and the immune system.

Intestinal inflammatory imbalance and immune dysfunction may lead to a spectrum of intestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and gastrointestinal tumors. As the king of herbs, ginseng has exerted a wide range of pharmacological effects in various diseases. Especially, it has been shown that ginseng and ginsenosides have strong immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory abilities in intestinal system. In this review, we summarized how ginseng and various extracts influence intestinal inflammation and immune function, including regulating the immune balance, modulating the expression of inflammatory mediators and cytokines, promoting intestinal mucosal wound healing, preventing colitis-associated colorectal cancer, recovering gut microbiota and metabolism imbalance, alleviating antibiotic-induced diarrhea, and relieving the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. In addition, the specific experimental methods and key control mechanisms are also briefly described.

Implications of Kynurenine Pathway Metabolism for the Immune System, Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis, and Neurotransmission in Alcohol Use Disorder.

In recent years, there has been a marked increase in interest in the role of the kynurenine pathway (KP) in mechanisms associated with addictive behavior. Numerous reports implicate KP metabolism in influencing the immune system, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and neurotransmission, which underlie the behavioral patterns characteristic of addiction. An in-depth analysis of the results of these new studies highlights interesting patterns of relationships, and approaching alcohol use disorder (AUD) from a broader neuroendocrine-immune system perspective may be crucial to better understanding this complex phenomenon. In this review, we provide an up-to-date summary of information indicating the relationship between AUD and the KP, both in terms of changes in the activity of this pathway and modulation of this pathway as a possible pharmacological approach for the treatment of AUD.

Cancer Builds a Noxious Partnership with Psychologic Stress.

I was recently surprised to hear a medical doctor on a TV show refute the role of stress in cancer, assuming that "the whole population would have cancer if this was the case." This statement illustrates a long and winding road since Hippocrates suggested the potential relationship between cancer and psychologic disturbances. The 20th and 21st centuries have finally witnessed the evidence of how physical or psychosocial stress situations contribute to the development and progression of cancer, and it is now assumed that psychologic stress does affect multiple aspects of cancer such as angiogenesis, immunologic escape, invasion, and metastasis. The 2010 publication by Sloan and colleagues in Cancer Research achieved a mechanistic step toward the understanding of how physical distress enhances metastasis through perturbation of the tumor immune system and paves the way for future cancer research in psychoneuroimmunology. This Landmark commentary places this publication in the historical context of science, discusses major advances in the field, and asks questions to be answered while drawing perspectives on the key role of the peripheral and central nervous systems in cancer. See related article by Sloan and colleagues, Cancer Res 2010;70:7042-52.

The senescence journey in cancer immunoediting.

Cancer progression is continuously controlled by the immune system which can identify and destroy nascent tumor cells or inhibit metastatic spreading. However, the immune system and its deregulated activity in the tumor microenvironment can also promote tumor progression favoring the outgrowth of cancers capable of escaping immune control, in a process termed cancer immunoediting. This process, which has been classified into three phases, i.e. "elimination", "equilibrium" and "escape", is influenced by several cancer- and microenvironment-dependent factors. Senescence is a cellular program primed by cells in response to different pathophysiological stimuli, which is based on long-lasting cell cycle arrest and the secretion of numerous bioactive and inflammatory molecules. Because of this, cellular senescence is a potent immunomodulatory factor promptly recruiting immune cells and actively promoting tissue remodeling. In the context of cancer, these functions can lead to both cancer immunosurveillance and immunosuppression. In this review, the authors will discuss the role of senescence in cancer immunoediting, highlighting its context- and timing-dependent effects on the different three phases, describing how senescent cells promote immune cell recruitment for cancer cell elimination or sustain tumor microenvironment inflammation for immune escape. A potential contribution of senescent cells in cancer dormancy, as a mechanism of therapy resistance and cancer relapse, will be discussed with the final objective to unravel the immunotherapeutic implications of senescence modulation in cancer.

Innate immune activation in neurodegenerative diseases.

Activation of the innate immune system following pattern recognition receptor binding has emerged as one of the major pathogenic mechanisms in neurodegenerative disease. Experimental, epidemiological, pathological, and genetic evidence underscores the meaning of innate immune activation during the prodromal as well as clinical phases of several neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and frontotemporal dementia. Importantly, innate immune activation and the subsequent release of inflammatory mediators contribute mechanistically to other hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases such as aberrant proteostatis, pathological protein aggregation, cytoskeleton abnormalities, altered energy homeostasis, RNA and DNA defects, and synaptic and network disbalance and ultimately to the induction of neuronal cell death. In this review, we discuss common mechanisms of innate immune activation in neurodegeneration, with particular emphasis on the pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and other receptors involved in the detection of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs).