Production of IL2 and IL3 in syngeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions of BALB/c mice are elevated during a period of moderate dietary protein deficiency

Nutritional Aspects of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic: an Insight

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review elaborates the role of malnutrition in PLHIV (people living with HIV) in the context of COVID-19 and emphasis the need of supplementation, dietary intervention, and nutritional counselling in the post-COVID era. One of the most critical challenges among HIV/AIDS patients is malnutrition since it weakens the immune system and increases risk to opportunistic infections. In HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection, weight loss is prevalent due to reduced nutritional consumption, malabsorption, abnormal metabolism, and antiretroviral therapy. Sufficient nutrition is required for optimal immune function, as a result, food therapy is now considered an important adjuvant in the treatment of HIV patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

Nutritional intervention, such as the use of dietary supplements, can help to prevent nutrient deficiency, lowering the death risk among malnourished HIV population. Immunocompromised individuals are at very high risk for COVID-19 and malnutrition increases the risk of infection by multiple folds. Interventions, such as nutrition education and counselling are important, to improve the condition of HIV Patients by optimising their nutritional status.

SUMMARY

A balanced diet should be one of the most important priorities in preventing PLHIV against the potentially deadly consequences of COVID-19. It is to be ensured that HIV-positive persons continue to get enough and appropriate assistance, such as nutrition and psychological counselling, in the context of COVID-19 infection. The use of telemedicine to maintain nutritional intervention can be beneficial. To meet their nutritional needs and minimise future difficulties, PLHIV infected with COVID-19 should get specialised nutritional education and counselling.

Confounding influences of malnutrition and Plasmodium falciparum and Schistosoma haematobium infections on haematological parameters in school children in Muyuka, Cameroon

Background

School-aged children (SAC) are a high-risk demographic group for infectious diseases and malnutrition. The objective of this study was to assess the burden and the effect of Plasmodium falciparum and Schistosoma haematobium infections on the haematological indices in SAC and the confounding influence of malnutrition on the outcomes.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in SAC 4–14 years old living in Ikata, Bafia and Mile 14-Likoko in Muyuka, Cameroon. Anthropometric measures of malnutrition were obtained and blood samples collected were used for detection of malaria parasites by Giemsa-stained blood films using light microscopy and complete blood count analysis using an automated haematology analyser. Urine samples collected were used to detect micro haematuria with the aid of reagent strips and the eggs of S. haematobium by urine filtration technique. Multiple linear regression model was used to examine influence of independent variables on haematological parameters.

Results

Out of the 606 SAC examined, the prevalence of single infections with Plasmodium or S. haematobium and co-infection with both parasites was 16.2, 16.3 and 8.3%, respectively. Overall, malaria parasite (MP), urogenital schistosomiasis, malnutrition, anaemia, haematuria, microcytosis and thrombocytopenia was prevalent in 24.4, 24.6, 25.9, 74.4, 12.2, 45.4 and 11.1% of SAC, respectively. A significant linear decline (P = 0.023) in prevalence of P. falciparum infection with the severity of stunting was observed. Factors that significantly influenced haematological parameters included haemoglobin: age, stunting and MP; haematocrit: age and MP; white blood cell count: age; red blood cell count; age and MP; lymphocyte counts: stunting; mean cell volume: age; mean cell haemoglobin: age and stunting; mean cell haemoglobin concentration: sex, stunting and red cell distribution width-coefficient of variation: sex, age and stunting.

Conclusions

Malnutrition, Plasmodium and S. haematobium infections are common while anaemia is a severe public health problem in Muyuka, Cameroon. The interaction between haematological parameters with malaria parasites as well as linear growth index was negative and other interactions indicate systemic inflammation. While findings provide contextual intervention targets to ensure the judicious use of the limited resources, there is need for regular monitoring and proper treatment to improve the health of the underserved population.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-021-06201-9.

Malnutrition Essentials for Neurologists and Neurosurgeons: A Review of the Literature

Malnutrition still causes deaths in the world today and protein energy malnutrition (PEM) is characterized by increased oxidative stress, immune deficiency, and development of various infections. Even today, however, it is an underrecognized and undertreated entity in neurology and neurosurgery. In this article, we therefore seek to review the available literature regarding various factors affecting surgical outcome of children with malnutrition undergoing some neurosurgical interventions including shunt surgery and traumatic brain injury in intensive care unit, in addition to its effects upon oxidative stress status and immunity. Furthermore, we attempt to provide essential knowledge of malnutrition affecting surgical outcome of patients with PEM. Based on available evidence in the published literature, it is concluded that it is a serious public health problem characterized by increased oxidative stress, immune deficiency, and development of various infections.

Low Body Mass Index and Low Intelligence Quotient Are Infection Risk Factors in Vagus Nerve Stimulation

BACKGROUND

Risk factors for infection after vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) device implantation represent an important issue but remain unclear. We hypothesized that specific risk factors for infection would be associated with VNS device implantation. This study reviewed patients with epilepsy who underwent VNS device implantation and undertook a statistical analysis of risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI).

METHODS

We reviewed all medical records for patients who underwent VNS therapy in our facility between August 2011 and May 2018. Age, sex, height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), intelligence quotient (IQ), surgical incision opening time, blood loss, epilepsy classification, activities of daily living, and generator replacement were statistically compared between cases with and without SSI.

RESULTS

We performed 208 VNS device implantation surgeries at our facility during the study period. Among these, 150 patients underwent initial implantation, 56 patients underwent first generator replacement, and 2 patients underwent second replacement. Six patients (2.7%) with initial implantation and 3 patients (5.4%) with first replacement showed SSI. Low BMI was a risk factor for infection at initial implantation (P < 0.0012) using a BMI within 1.78 kg/m² of the cutoff for being underweight (100% sensitivity, 25% specificity). Low IQ (P = 0.0015) was also a risk factor for SSI.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified low BMI and low IQ at initial implantation as risk factors for infection.

Synthesis and immunosuppressive activity of new cyclolinopeptide A analogs modified with beta-prolines

Immune response suppressors are used in the medical praxis to prevent graft rejection after organ transplantation and in the therapy of some autoimmune diseases. As a continuation of our previous work searching for new, effective suppressors devoid of toxicity, we present the synthesis, conformational analysis, and biological activity of nonapeptides 1-6, analogs of naturally existing immunomodulatory peptide CLA. New CLA analogs were modified with (S)-beta(2)-iso-proline 7 or (S)-beta(3)-homo-proline 8, respectively. The conformational influence of the beta-iso-proline and beta-homo-proline building blocks was analyzed by NMR spectroscopy. Peptides 1-6 exist as a mixture of four isomers due to cis/trans isomerization of the Xxx-Pro peptide bond. The major isomers of peptides 1, 3, and 4 contain all peptide bonds of the trans geometry. The geometry of the proline-proline bond of the second populated isomer of peptides 3 and 4 is cis. The proline-proline peptide bond is cis for the major isomers of peptides 2, 5, and 6. The peptides were tested for their ability to suppress the proliferative response of mouse splenocytes to T- and B-cell mitogens and the secondary humoral immune response to sheep erythrocytes in vitro in parallel with a reference drug-cyclosporine A. The immunoregulatory actions of the peptides depended on the position and content of proline isomers and were, with some exceptions, strongly inhibitory at the highest dose tested (100 microg/ml). In addition, the peptides were practically devoid of toxicity at that dose. In conclusion, the replacement of Pro by beta-Pro may be useful for fine-tuning CLA immunosuppressive potency and undesirable toxicity.

Dietary protein deficiency in pregnant mice and offspring

Previous studies suggest an association between dermal contact hypersensitivity and preterm delivery. We hypothesized that dietary protein deficiency produces cell-mediated immune hypersensitivity in pregnant animals and their offspring akin to those known to produce tissue damage. We compared the effects of feeding a 20% protein diet (controls) to those of feeding a 10% protein (deficient) diet ad libitum to pregnant BALB/c mice. We measured dermal contact sensitivity to 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) by the increment in ear skin thickness (swelling) 72 h after immunization and parity by the number of viable pups delivered. Dams fed the protein-deficient diet ingested less food, gained less weight and delivered fewer viable pups than the dams fed the control diet. Greater DNFB-stimulated increment in ear skin thickness was found in the protein-deficient mothers and in their offspring than in the control mothers and their offspring. We conclude that dietary protein deficiency limits parity and induces immune hypersensitivity. These findings suggest the potential for dietary protein deficiency to activate a T-cell-mediated branch of the immune response that may put pregnant animals at risk for preterm delivery.