Fenugreek in Management of Immunological, Infectious, and Malignant Disorders
Dilip Ghosh, Prasad Thakurdesai in Fenugreek, 2022
The immune system is a collective terminology comprising of chemicals, cells, and processes involved in the protection of the human body from foreign antigens, such as microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, and toxins as well as cancer cells. (Marshall et al. 2018). The immune system can be divided into two types, namely innate (antigen-independent non-specific) and acquired (antigen-specific and dependent) immunity (Bonilla and Oettgen 2010; Turvey and Broide 2010). The deficiencies in the immune system’s functioning result in the dysfunction of one’s immune system, which is called immunocompromised or immunosuppressed conditions. Primary immune delicacies such as genetic disorders or secondary immune deficiencies are the most common cause of immunosuppression. Most common causes of immunosuppression include medications (glucocorticoids, chemotherapy drugs), surgery (e.g., splenectomy, bone marrow transplantation), trauma/injury, radiation, low oxygen, metabolic disease (e.g., diabetes), infections, old age, and malnutrition.
Aids and Hepatitis
T.M. Craft, P.M. Upton in Key Topics In Anaesthesia, 2021
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was first reported in 1981. An exponential increase in the numbers of seropositive people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been seen world-wide with 30 million thought to be infected by 1998. The virus, a retrovirus, is transmitted through sexual contact, perinatally, and via blood and blood products. It is becoming more common in the heterosexual population and in children. Infection preferentially affects T helper lymphocytes resulting in immunosuppression and the eventual development of ‘AIDS’ in most people infected with the virus. The appearance of symptomatic immunosuppression takes a variable length of time. Opportunistic infections, malignancies (Kaposi’s sarcoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma) and neurological manifestations occur.
Transplantation Tolerance, Microchimerism, and the Two-Way Paradigm
Thomas F. Kresina in Immune Modulating Agents, 2020
Organ tolerogenicity also occurs in humans, especially after liver transplantation [44], but at a slower and unpredictable pace. By October 1995, 12 (28%) of our 42 longest surviving liver recipients (13–1/2 to 26 years post operative) had stopped their immunosuppressive drugs. The nearly equal cumulative duration of the 12 patients off immunosuppression (shaded) and under treatment (shown in black) is evident in Figure 3. At present, however, it is not possible to determine by immuno-logical testing which patients can be weaned from therapy. In a more recent prospective trial [100] that now includes 95 patients [101], weaning was started >5 years post transplantation. In the first 80 cases, in 30% of the recipients, including some with proven microchimerism, rejection developed, necessitating resumption of maintenance immunosuppression (Figure 4). Thus, although many of the long surviving MHC mismatched cadaveric human liver recipients no longer need immuno-suppression, some probably can never aspire to be drug-free. Even in such patients, however, the disseminated donor-derived leukocytes (and their companion organ) apparently can be maintained for a lifetime under continuous immunosuppression.
Combination immunotherapy of PEG-modified preladenant thermosensitive liposomes and PD-1 inhibitor effectively enhances the anti-tumor immune response and therapeutic effects
Published in Pharmaceutical Development and Technology, 2023
Jianwen Zhou, Yao Tong, Wenquan Zhu, Xiaoyu Sui, Xiaoxing Ma, Cuiyan Han
In many tumor types, immune checkpoint blockade therapy (ICT) has achieved inspiring therapeutic effects by interfering with the interactions between immune checkpoints and their receptors (Finck et al. 2020). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved drugs, including CTLA-4 (ipilimumab), PD-1 (nivolumab and pembrolizumab), and PD-L1 (avelumab, atezolizumab, and durvalumab), for treating malignant tumors. However, the poor response rate of ICT or immunologically ‘cold’ tumors have restricted their further development (Le et al. 2015; Galon and Bruni 2019). Immune-related side effects and challenges related to the immunosuppressive TME have hindered its clinical application (Xu et al. 2022). Strategies such as robust T-cell responses and reversal of the immunosuppressive microenvironment can enhance the response to ICT. Specific immunogenic chemotherapy kills tumor cells and induces immunogenic cell death to turn ‘cold’ tumors into ‘hot’ and sensitizes tumor cells to immune checkpoint inhibitors (Rodallec et al. 2018; Zhang et al. 2019). It is well established that immunosuppressive TME plays a critical role in the resistance to antitumor immunotherapies. Reversing immunosuppression is undoubtedly conducive to the restoration of human immunity, which is a substantial foundation for immunotherapy (Peng et al. 2022).
Fertility preservation and realignment in transgender women
Published in Human Fertility, 2023
Erna Bayar, Nicola J. Williams, Amel Alghrani, Sughashini Murugesu, Srdjan Saso, Timothy Bracewell-Milnes, Meen-Yau Thum, James Nicopoullos, Philippa Sangster, Ephia Yasmin, J. Richard Smith, Stephen Wilkinson, Allan Pacey, Benjamin P. Jones
Physicians aiming to provide UTx to transgender women must carefully consider whether or not, as in UTx in women assigned female at birth, the physical and psychological harms are likely to be outweighed by the benefits provided. While the benefits transgender women seek from UTx will generally be like those of other women with absolute uterine factor infertility (AUFI), the risks are potentially significantly greater. Thus, it may be the case that UTx in transgender women will simply prove too risky to justify. If so, then the position of transgender women in this respect would be like other groups excluded on the grounds of risk. This includes women with serious systemic diseases which is currently an exclusion criterion for UTx (Jones, Saso, et al., 2016). In cisgender women, the uterus is removed following the completion of their family, allowing the cessation of immunosuppressive medications. However, if UTx is undertaken to help alleviate gender dysphoria in addition to facilitate the achievement of reproductive aspirations, transgender women may desire permanent UTx, requiring lifelong immunosuppression. A recent perceptions study of transgender women regarding UTx highlighted that more than a third of transgender women (39%) were undecided or may refuse a hysterectomy following completion of their family (Jones, Rajamanoharan, et al., 2020). As the risks associated with immunosuppression, such as cancer and infection, are cumulative, this would increase the associated risk of the process significantly.
Endogenous Endophthalmitis: A 21-Year Review of Cases at a Tertiary Eye Care Centre
Published in Ocular Immunology and Inflammation, 2022
Priya D. Samalia, Sarah Welch, Phillip J. Polkinghorne, Rachael L. Niederer
Endogenous endophthalmitis (EE) is a rare, potentially blinding disease that accounts for fewer than 20% of all cases of endophthalmitis.1–3 EE occurs in the setting of bacteremia or fungemia whereby infection spreads hematogenously from the primary site of infection through the blood-ocular barrier into the eye. Subjects that are more at risk have a history of being immune-compromised to a varying degree, be that secondary to systemic immunosuppressive therapy or malignancy, diabetes, and recent hospitalization.4–8 Intravenous (IV) drug users also have a higher risk.4–8 The organisms giving rise to EE can be fungal or bacterial. Fungal infections are being more commonly seen in subjects with solid organ transplants and IV drug use.4 Bacterial EE on the other hand demonstrates a geographic variation with Gram-negative organisms being more frequent in Asia, whereas in other parts of the world Gram-positive cocci are more prevalent.5,7,9,10
Related Knowledge Centers
- Immune System
- Autoimmune Disease
- Lupus
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
- Efficacy
- Transplant Rejection
- Organ Transplantation
- Graft-Versus-Host Disease
- Sjögren Syndrome