Interleukin

A Matter of Salt- Cystic Fibrosis Dating back from the Middle Ages, European Folklore warned, “woe is the child who tastes salty from a kiss on the brow, for he is cursed, and soon must die”. These children were considered hexed, with death in childhood being common. Though the cause was unknown at the time, this warning referenced children born with cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is a disease caused by a gene mutation, changing a protein that regulates the movement of salt in and out of…

Statins represent a class of cholesterol-lowering agents used for the treatment of dyslipidemia (abnormal amount of lipids) and the reduction of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk. Their broad and potent effects on the lipid profile and cholesterol-independent pleiotropic cardioprotective effects positioned them among the most prescribed medications worldwide. Statins were introduced in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a novel group of cholesterol-lowering drugs in attempt to offer…

activity, showed a growth of stem cells which are essential to form new brain cells (Jaret). Another benefit that can be brought from stress is enhancement in the immune system (Higuera). Moderate stress causes the body to produce a chemical named interleukins. This chemical gives a boost to the immune system to protect the body. Therefore, a person can count on good stress to prevent or heal them from any infection or cold.…

Antecedents of frailty According to Walker & Avant (2005), antecedents of a concept are events which have to take place before a concept occurs. From the literature reviewed, the antecedents of frail older adults include cellular and molecular changes, individualization and cumulative factors, system dysregulations and system impairments as described below: Cellular and Molecular Changes: at this level accumulating cellular and molecular destruction becomes decisive, because the processes of…

Introduction The immune system is a collection of cells, tissues and molecules that protect our body from toxins and microbes in the environment. It serves as our defense against molecules that our body does not recognize as its own. This system contains two divisions: the innate immune system and adaptive immune system. Both systems differ in the types of cells produced and the time and length in mounting a response. Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic inflammatory disease including…

5. How does Leishmania tropica evade the immune system? Leishmania tropica surface molecule glycoprotein 63 (gp36) is found throughout the parasite surface and has the potential to degrade immunoglobulins, complement factors, and lysosomal proteins (Olivier et al. 2005). Gp36 can cleave C3b into an inactivated form and C3bi will appear on the surface of the membrane and hinders the formation of C5 convertase (Gupta et al. 2013). It is also able to use C3bi to bind to complement receptor 3…

(Move to treatment??) Researchers have discovered that the fight against invading B. anthracis begins with the first infected cell. They found that the impacted macrophages will instantly communicate with other immune cells to warn them of the distress and develop a strategy in order to survive. The key signaling molecule that is involved in the survival strategy is adenosine triphosphate or ATP, which is a basic currency of energy transfer used by all organisms for various biochemical processes…

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a classification of the most common form of sickle cell disease. This class of sickle cell disease is genetic and is caused by the homozygous mutation of the beta-hemoglobin gene (beta S allele) in red blood cells [2]. Individuals who are diagnosed with sickle cell anemia have deformed (sickle shaped) red blood cells that have a lower lifespan [3]. This causes irreversible tissue damage and causes a vaso-occlusive crisis, which is pain in the abdomen, bones and chest…

Cancer Stem Cells Stem cells play an important role in the creation of complex structures within the human body, and they can also produce tumors. The properties of stem cells have a large implementation of how cancerous stem cells survive and replicate. Elimination of these cancer stem cells presents a complex challenge because in order to remove the stem cell it must first be targeted and eradicated using critical therapeutic approaches. The properties of cancer stem cells are used to develop…

Asthma is a common household word that many people use day to day. The word Asthma is often misused and usually correlated with obesity. Asthma is a chronic disease involved in the airways of the lungs. Asthma is the inflammation of these airways that allow air to travel in and out of the lungs, bringing the body necessary oxygen. Due to the inflammation, the tissue surrounding the airways can become swollen and the muscles involved with breathing can tighten, which can cause the symptoms…