Clinical Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Drugs (Discontinued) - Volume 2, Issue 1, 2015

Exacerbations of asthma are treated with oral corticosteroid medications which are associated with various adverse effects that impact negatively on patient adherence. Historically oral corticosteroid use has been associated with weight gain, increased appetite and dietary intake, though new evidence suggests that these effects are not associated with short term use. Impaired response to oral corticosteroids is also an issue in some patients due to steroid resistance. A new study suggests that inflammometry can be used to guide patient selection for oral corticosteroid therapy to improve responses. While oral corticosteroids remain the mainstay of treating asthma exacerbations, clinicians should give consideration to using inflammometry for patient selection and providing guidance on the likelihood and management of adverse effects.

Besides regulating the humoral immunity, the B cell activating factor (BAFF) has also a crucial role in promoting pathogenic Th17 cell responses: the activity of the cytokine is manifested in autoimmune disorders but also in the inflammatory disease caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Thus, current evidence suggests that BAFF antagonism may be efficacious in Th17 cell-driven diseases.

Two extraction methods: microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and extraction by convection heating were used to assess the active antioxidant ingredients from Uva di Troia Canosina grape pomace. MAE gave higher yields in the recovery of resveratrol (70 μg/g versus 20 μg/g) as assessed by capillary electrophoresis (CE) analysis. The MAE was also advantageous as it allowed reduced extraction times: 15 minutes versus 30 minutes required by conventional heating extraction. However, both methods gave extracts endowed with comparable antioxidant activity as demonstrated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging assay (IC50 = 106±48 μg/mL versus 110±34 μg/mL, respectively). The observed antioxidant effect of the MAE extract appears to be correlated with the detected resveratrol concentration while other unidentified antioxidants may contribute to the radical scavenging effect of the extract obtained by convection heating. In agreement with previous results, our study underlays the possibility that the antioxidant properties of Uva di Troia Canosina grape could be attributed to resveratrol along with other polyphenols. Considering the multifunctional medicinal and health effects of resveratrol, the MAE method herein proposed may be considered as an efficient way to obtain resveratrol from Uva di Troia Canosina grapes.

Nasal delivery of influenza vaccines offers several advantages when compared with parenteral administration. First, nasal immunization induces both mucosal secretory IgA (SIgA) as well as blood-derived antibodies (Abs) while parenteral delivery only induces the latter type of response. Second, nasal delivery induces cell-mediated immunity (CMI) including cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses in both mucosal and parenteral lymphoid tissues. Finally, it has established now that mucosal delivery of influenza vaccines induces effective homologous as well as heterosubtypic immunity to influenza virus strains. Generally, influenza vaccines developed thus far include inactivated virions, subcomponents including the surface components hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) or live-attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIV), all of which have been used successfully when given nasally to experimental animals. Thus far, only one LAIV for human, i.e., FluMist® has been approved and used as a nasal vaccine in USA. However, the use of FluMist® is restricted to healthy individuals two - fifty years old. Further, LAIVs have a potential risk of secondary transmission of the vaccine virus from recent vaccinees to non-immune, high-risk individuals. Inactivated, component-based influenza nasal vaccines require a mucosal adjuvant in order to be effective. However, use of a classical enterotoxin-based adjuvant given nasally with influenza vaccine elicited the Bell’s palsy syndrome at an unacceptable level and was withdrawn from the market. To this end, new safe and effective mucosal adjuvants have developed which are currently being tested in humans. Finally, recombinant HA and new generation of NA proteins are being developed in egg-free, cell- or tissue-culture systems. In summary, new generation of licensed nasal influenza vaccines are being developed through a better understanding of the innate a acquired mucosal immune system.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to observe neuroprotective effects of hypoxia preconditioning#136;HP#137;in primary culture newborn SD rat hippocampus neurons and 3-n-butylphalide#136;NBP) against oxygen glucose deprivation/ reoxygenation (OGD/R) injury, and investigate the possible mechanisms against ischemic reperfusion injury. Methods: After 7-days culture, the hippocampal neurons were initially divided into three groups: normal control group, simple hypoxia group and HP group. Later, we established OGD30min/R8h model. So, the hippocampal neurons were eventually divided into five groups: normal control group, OGD/R model group, OGD/R+3-n-butylphalide (NBP) groups#136;0.1μmol/L, 1μmol/L and 10μmol/L). Bcl-2 and neuroglobin (NGB) expression of cells in each group were analyzed by immunocytochemistry. The mRNA expression of Bcl-2 and NGB in each group was analyzed by RT-PCR. Results: The results showed that the protein and mRNA levels of Bcl-2 and NGB were significantly increased in the HP group compared to the hypoxia group (P < 0.01). In the OGD/R model, NBP groups also showed a significantly increased expression of proteins Bcl-2 and NGB compared to the OGD/R (P < 0.05); Different concentration of NBP drugs showed a significantly increased expression of proteins Bcl-2 and NGB with the increase in NBP concentration (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The neuroprotection of HP and NBP may share the same possible mechanisms and have endogenous neuroprotection by up regulating the mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2 and NGB.

Some dietary carbohydrates are quite healthy when consumed as part of a balanced diet, while others can be toxic, especially if overconsumed. They can be simple sugars, oligo- or polysachharides. Simple sugars like fructose, glucose and sucrose have a high glycemic index. Polysaccharides are compounds consisting of a large number of monosaccharides linked glycosidically and have a low glycemic index. Water-soluble polysaccharides and polysaccharide-protein complexes can enhance and/or activate immune responses in macrophages and the complement system. For example, six kinds of α-galactosylceramides (α-GalCers) from the marine sponge Agelas mauritianus have potent anti-tumor activities. Their discovery led to the development of a synthetic α -GalCer for treating autoimmune diseases and cancer. It activates invariant natural killer T-cells (iNKTs) by binding to CD1 receptors on antigen-presenting cells. There are also esters made from reactions between fatty acids and glucose, called fatty acid glycosides. Several of these have been isolated from the popular fruit called noni (Morinda citrifolia). They have been shown to inhibit inflammation and activate cannabinoid 2 (CB2), but inhibit cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors, while decreasing the production of IL-4 and increasing the production of IFN-γ. Many other fatty acid glycosides have been tentatively identified in ten out of ten other fruits that were analyzed. So, fatty acid glycosides could be an important, but underappreciated part of the nutritive value and health effects of many fruits.

Insulin resistance is linked to the actions of glucose oxidized low-density lipoprotein (GLDL) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a). Minocycline (M) has documented antioxidant effects. This study investigates the yield of 5-a dihydrotestosterone (DHT) as a marker of redox healing in MG63 osteoblasts in response to TNF-a, glucose (G), G+LDL, M and their combinations. Confluent monolayer cultures of MG63 osteoblasts were incubated with radiolabelled testosterone as substrate and optimal concentrations of TNF-a, G, GLD+L, minocycline and their combinations in multiwell plates for 24h (n=8). The medium was eluted and solvent extracted for metabolites. They were separated by TLC, in a benzene acetone solvent system (4:1 v/v) and quantified using a radioisotope scanner. There were significantly reduced yields of DHT in response to TNF-a, G, G+LDL and their combinations, overcome by M to values significantly above controls (n=8; p<0.001). The other metabolites 5a-androstane-3b, 17b-diol (diol) and 4-androstenedione showed similar and inverse trends to those of DHT respectively. Oxidative responses to glucose, glucose oxidised low density lipoproteins and TNF-a in osteoblasts were overcome by the antioxidant effects of minocycline. MG 63 osteoblasts in culture are a useful model for extrapolating these findings to periodontitis and associated chronic inflammatory diseases.

A case of 64-year-old man was reported who carried to infection clinic with painful red rash affecting the right leg and hip for nearly one month. He had previously been treated with oral and intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics but had not been recovered. A skin biopsy specimen observed marked edema of the upper dermis with a diffused inflammatory infiltrate of the upper dermis consisting mainly of neutrophils. Our patient was diagnosed with Sweet syndrome based on clinical appearance, laboratory investigations and histological findings. He consulted hematology clinic and a diagnosis of Multiple myeloma was made. We considered that physicians should be conscious of this subject, especially in skin lesions with fever because this may be a first sign of an underlying malignancy.

The Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is the most common hereditary disorder of connective tissue, with main manifestations in skin, joints and cardiovascular system. Hyperelasticity of skin, joint hypermobility and fragility of vessels and internal organs are responsible for severe physical disability and loss of autonomy in ADL (activities of daily life). Aim of the Study: To demonstrate efficacy in patients with hereditary disorders of connective tissue of dietary supplements based on collagen hydrolyzate in association with proprioceptive rehabilitation, by Prokin system, in improving postural stability, osteo-articular painful symptoms and bone density for the recovery of autonomy in ADL. Materials and Methods: A patient of 53 years with genetic diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome type Classic (mutation COL1A1) who had several sprains in the lower limbs, complained pain syndrome in the left ankle and right knee, associated with postural instability. We assessed him by WOMAC, VAS pain scale and Tinetti Balance Scale; by proprioceptive multiaxial test of Prokin; and by bone densitometry. Then he underwent 2 cycles of 10 sessions of proprioceptive rehabilitation with Prokin. In addition, he was prescribed therapy for one month with the PROTOCOL dietary supplement of collagen hydrolyzate 1 flc / day. At the end of the 2 cycles, all the previous tests and evaluations were repeated. Results: The comparison between the scores at T0 (one day before treatment) and T1 (one day after treatment) showed a reduction of pain and stiffness and an improvement of physical function (WOMAC scale from 26/96 to 0/96, VAS of pain from "intense" to "no pain". Postural instability measured by Tinetti balance scale reduced at time t1 compared to t0; This finding has been confirmed by proprioceptive test of prokin, with a reduction in the percentage of error (ATE) from 34% to 20%, and the index of instability from 1.2 to 0.80. After a month of therapy PROTOCOL, dietary supplement of hydrolyzed collagen 1 flc / day, a reduction in the T-score at DEXA from -2.6 to -1.6 was documented. Also at clinical examination at T1, we found reduced postural instability in monopodalic standing, and less critical postural changes, with significant improvement of functional independence and quality of life of the patient. Conclusions: The preliminary results show how the integration of a proprioceptive rehabilitation, such as Prokin exercises, with dietary supplementation of collagen can lead to a reduction (in this case a resolution) in pain and a functional improvement and recovery of autonomy in ADL.