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A Review of Essential Microelements in the Immune System
Ionut-Iulian Lungu,
Ioana Babarus,
Liliana Oniciuc,
Alina Stefanache
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 1, March 2022
Pages:
1-4
Received:
6 November 2021
Accepted:
29 December 2021
Published:
14 April 2022
Abstract: The immune system is the set of cells and organs that intervene in the body's defense against certain antigens, foreign to the body. This set includes both elements with rapid action and thus belonging to non-specific immunity, and also, elements that provide a slower response, but, with high specificity against each antigen. Nonspecific immunity sums up both cellular and humoral elements, which react quickly on foreign substances and microorganisms. On the other hand, adaptive immunity is based on the existence of lymphocytes, which develop a response, albeit slower, with a high specificity through antibodies secreted by B lymphocytes. Zinc deficiency is the second most widespread micronutrient deficiency. This compound is indispensable for the human body because it is a cofactor for many enzymes including alkaline phosphatase, dismutase superoxide, metalloproteinases. Moreover, zinc is included in the structure of growth and transcription factors and it participates in the cell communication within the immune system. Selenium is an essential trace element, being involved in many biological processes. It is part of a structural component of the amino acid selenocysteine, one of 25 selenoproteins, which are involved in the body's immune defense. Raising the awareness of iron deficiency, recent studies emphasize that it is the most common mineral deficiency worldwide. As it is already well known, iron is particularly important in the transport of oxygen, but its essential roles are not only limited to that. Besides, it is a constituent part of some metalloproteins and a cofactor for many other enzymes. Moreover, iron takes part of ATP synthesis. Therefore, the lack of iron has multiple repercussions on the whole organism, including the immune system.
Abstract: The immune system is the set of cells and organs that intervene in the body's defense against certain antigens, foreign to the body. This set includes both elements with rapid action and thus belonging to non-specific immunity, and also, elements that provide a slower response, but, with high specificity against each antigen. Nonspecific immunity s...
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The Effect of cART on Platelets/Lymphocytes Ratio and Viral Load Indices in HIV+ Subjects Initiating Therapy in a Tertiary Hospital in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Beatrice Wobiarueri Moore-Igwe,
Ransom Baribefii Jacob,
Serekara Gideon Christian,
Evelyn Mgbeoma Eze
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 1, March 2022
Pages:
5-10
Received:
17 February 2022
Accepted:
15 March 2022
Published:
31 May 2022
Abstract: Background: In other to enhance immune response and remove completely the danger of disease associated with AIDS, commencement of combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) is advocated. Common among HIV positive subjects are diseases such as cardiovascular conditions among others which happen when there is distortion in the gut mucosa, existence of co-infections, and long-term cART effect which gives room to vicious cycle that impairs on immune activities and inflammation. Inflammatory predictors which reveal the danger of morbidity and mortality are raised in HIV disease. A novel marker for inflammation – Platelet/Lymphocyte ratio (PLR), is a prognostic tool for assessing inflammation, atherosclerosis and platelet activation. Aim: This study was aimed at assessing prospectively, cART effect on the PLR and coagulation indices in HIV positive subjects presenting to commence cART in Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. Methods: Six milliliters of venous blood was collected from each participants into EDTA bottles at entry into the study, after 3 months and 6 months on cART respectively for Full Blood Count using a 3-part Sysmex XP300 and HIV Viral Load using RT-PCR Cobas TaqMan version 1.5 Results: A total of 40 subjects were recruited, with a mean age of 36.20 years, 14 (35%) of them were males. Mean PCV, Platelet: Lymphocyte ratio and HIV VL at Month 0 were 31.65±7.30%, 7.82±2.90 and 215767.85 ± 360338.04cp/ml respectively. There was a statistically significant increase (p <0.001) in the haematocrit by the 6th month on cART, the reduction in Platelet: Lymphocyte count and of HIV VL by the 6th month was also significant (P<0.001). Interestingly, PLR positively correlated with the VL at baseline (0.3676), however, there was a negative correlation at 3 months (-0125) and 6 months (-0.028). Conclusion: From this work it is clear that all the cases in this regard, confirm the fact that cART remarkably drops the viral load and inflammation in HIV positive subjects; nevertheless, it also shows that a low-level inflammation continues which probably leads to chronic inflammatory state, morbidity and mortality in this group of subjects.
Abstract: Background: In other to enhance immune response and remove completely the danger of disease associated with AIDS, commencement of combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) is advocated. Common among HIV positive subjects are diseases such as cardiovascular conditions among others which happen when there is distortion in the gut mucosa, existence of...
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Eosinophil Levels in Blood of COVID-19 Patient’s VS Seasonal Allergy
Taha Luqman Bilgrami,
Hira Saleem
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 1, March 2022
Pages:
11-14
Received:
23 April 2022
Accepted:
20 May 2022
Published:
31 May 2022
Abstract: Eosinophilia, a peripheral blood with eosinophil count of more than 450 cells per microliter has been linked to allergies, medication responses, among others. However, the reduction in eosinophil levels has been particularly found to be having linkage with SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study aims at comparing COVID-19 patients' peripheral blood eosinophil levels to seasonal allergy patients' eosinophil counts to determine whether there is a link between eosinophil numbers and COVID-19 disease severity. Data was obtained from the review of the electronic medical records of 300 confirmed COVID-19 patients, alongside their clinical features were obtained. Data collected was then subjected to retrospective cohort analysis. Eosinopenia was found in 73.7 percent, 86.7 percent, and 94.3 percent of patients in the mild, moderate, and severe categories, respectively (p value 0.002). When compared to patients with moderate and severe illnesses, patients with critical disease had significantly lower eosinophil levels. Results from this study shows that increase in COVID-19 severity is associated with a significant drop in peripheral eosinophil levels, and that eosinopenia was present in the majority of COVID-19 patients. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is indicated as a particularly good model for studying the potential pathogenic effects of eosinophils and eosinophilic inflammation.
Abstract: Eosinophilia, a peripheral blood with eosinophil count of more than 450 cells per microliter has been linked to allergies, medication responses, among others. However, the reduction in eosinophil levels has been particularly found to be having linkage with SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study aims at comparing COVID-19 patients' peripheral blood eosino...
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