#immune cell infiltration

[charlietheepicwriter7]

Why is it always Hellva Boss earworms that make me come up with ideas?

So, during the whole Freakshow thing, it wasn't true mind control. Danny was definitely affected, but it messed with his self esteem and emotions to the point where he damaged all of his relationships and is considering running away. Freakshow, who was a little bit smarter in this, then reveals that he knows Danny's a halfa and hey, why don't you join my ghost circus while you figure some things out.

So Danny becomes a clown because he's always liked clowns, and if you've seen the new episode, you know what happens next

and over the course of a few years, Freakshow isolates Danny from his family and friends, indoctrinates him into the crime side of business, and gaslights Danny into thinking he's nothing without him. Danny loves performing, but is so beaten down that he thinks he can't leave even if that's what he wants. Danny's a famous performer at this point, even if no one knows his real identity. The other ghosts aren't really a comfort since they're mind controlled.

The Justice League, specifically Young Justice, already know that Circus Gothica is a crime ring, but have no evidence to get them arrested bc the ghosts (who they think are just metas) are too good. The leader during the thefts (Danny) is the only one they've ever been able to get close to. Maybe at some point, Tim!Robin and Danny get trapped and Danny has a panic attack for failing Freakshow? Something happens that makes Tim convinced Danny isn't a criminal willingly, but he can't convince the others.

Danny and Klarion somehow end up dating. Freakshow joins the light, probably, and the two work really well together. Klarion asks Danny out, and Danny was really reluctant since he hasn't had... anyone, in years, but they date and it's just another thing for Freakshow to hold over his head.

Eventually, Freakshow gets the inkling that Danny isn't working as hard as he should be so he puts "Greatest Clown in the World" contest, and tells Danny that all the clowns who don't win will be immediately killed.

Danny is horrified, but he can only care about himself right now, so he's working his ass off.

(Meanwhile, in Gotham, the Joker tried to join, but the Batman broke in, stole all his bones, and left him in the hospital for a few months)

So Danny's putting his all into this performance, but Young Justice finds out about the murder bit and infiltrates with, IDK, disguised Nightwing? Klarion is also there to support his man.

Danny ends up tying with Nightwing, and the tie-breaker is a three minute performance and whoever's more entertaining wins. Danny has a panic attack during Nightwing's performance and Tim and Klarion team up to talk to Danny.

Danny's convinced he will be nothing without Freakshow (literally, he might fully die), so while Klarion helps him feel better about his skills, Tim finally gets the deets about Danny's whole situation. Tim logics that Freakshow mindcontrolling this other dimensional species + Danny is half this species = Danny is being mind controlled, pissing off Klarion while Danny thinks back to what happened when Circus Gothica first came to town.

His irrational anger at family and friends, his desperate need for approval from Freakshow, how he never even considered going independent, how he thought he was immune to the mind control staff despite being half ghost.... He's pissed. He wants to quit.

So he tells Tim that YJ needs to get the staff during his performance; without it, Freakshow wouldn't be able to mind control anyone. And he goes on to give his performance.

As for that... look, 2 Minute Notice is an amazing song with amazing choreography. the only thing i would add would be a quad somersault during the trapzee part.

Danny proves himself as an amazing clown, Freakshow gets arrested since Danny is willing to testify against him, the ghosts are free, and Klarion later murders Freakshow in a cell because that's his boyfriend, you pathetic excuse of a warlock.

"Freakshow, you sad sack of shit! Fuck you!"

[ghostbsuter]

Ghostbsuter's Masterlist!

Every prompt and idea (outside of the multiple parts: section) is free to use! Have fun. Feel free to credit me as well when you do.

Got a prompt yourself? Drop it into my inbox! Chatting is fine too, haha.

・゜-: ✧ :-

Multiple parts:

Batclan and Catband

Selina is Danny's mom, recently got engaged to Bruce, and now they're meeting!

[ part 1 | part 2 | part 3 ]

The house of Nightingale & Constantine | #the house of Constantine and Nightingale have infinite beef

Batman called for help.

Now, with Phantom's help and Constantines, they might have a chance. If only he knew those two were rivals and enemies in terms of dark houses.

[ chapters: 1 | ] [ao3] (soon!)

[ snippets: part 1 | part 2 | part 3 ]

[ chap 1 snap-shot ]

Wonder MOM

Danny is a godling, born from the stars and son of Diana. Batman rescued him from abduction, and that's how the JL finds out about the son of WW.

[ part 1 ]

Twins, minus the Demon

Demon Twins Au, Damian and Danyal are the sons of the bat, demon and cat.

Implied and referenced past/current Bruce/Selina/Talia throuple.

[ part 1 ]

Magicians way

Danny is the son of Zatanna and John, member of the Young Just us and well... sometimes things don't go as planned.

[ part 1 | 1/4 ]

Team effort

Danny is a member of the Teen Titans!

[ part 1 | part 2 soon! ]

.・゜-: ✧ :-

Stand alones:

Birthday present (read the reblogs!) | (Martian appreciation)

High on fear (read the reblogs!) | (ghosts really like emotions)

Joker's Jr. or not? | (danny being the son of joker and harley)

He's Danny | (Joker's Jr. or not? continuation)

Titan missing! | (phantom is teen titans member and amity got kidnapped)

Wingman | (steph x sam)

Dog-napped | (cujo at it again ft. baby assassin)

One way to crush | (Dani crushing on Lian)

Speed running romance | (Dick x Jazz x Babs)

The Fries | (Nora going ghost)

Arson and consequences | (Roy!!)

Babysitting trouble | (baby yeti outside!)

Visitation | (Sam and young justice)

Syn eclipse | (being chased)

Elephant | (beast boy trolling)

Sibling rivalry | (just dan and danny things)

Team Bonding!!! | (JL + Danny get kidnapped)

Halloween skull | (supersons)

Young Justice Dark | (JLD + their own Jr.)

Actor au | (Team Phantom)

Human born | (Zatanna)

Death defying (not the ship) | (undying)

A massive Rabbit Hole | (Clark&Bruce&Elle)

Moon rejects | (Ghost explanation for the dumb)

Sir, please, that sweet sour sauce is NOT running away. | (Dick&Danny)

.・゜-: ✧ :-

Bats!!

Prompts and snippets of adventures Danny has with various Bats.

College student shaped stray | (dami befriends teen dad danny)

Mom!cass | (time shenanigans end with conspiracy theories)

Calico (read the reposts!) | (nighttime activities as family bonding)

Paranoia | (bonding activity between Duke and Danny)

Harsh truth | (the plans start the moment Ra's fell)

Meta-child | (dick centric)

Villain magnet | (just danny being danny)

Sweet revenge | (danny and bruce)

Diplomatic immunity | (danny in gotham)

Little Brother | (Danny is a drake)

Another Cain | (Danny Cain)

Buying your own mercenary! | (Danny in his deadpool arc)

Grayson's stray | (one police officer picks up a kid)

Robin manifestation!Danny | (child of gotham)

Governmental shit that is (read the reblogs!) | (dead tired)

1 (+3) new child | (scooby doo but its Danny-Johnny-Kitty-Ember and shadow)

Cell buddies | (Dami and Danny)

Its not a habit | (Tim and danny)

Keeping up with the waynes | (wes theories and denial)

Straying Twins | (demon twins)

Bat plans | (robin needs a new buddy)

Mantles | (cass prepares)

How to spot | (night shift bats)

Apologies | (timetravel is a great plot)

Play along! | (Agnes and Beatrice)

Spoiler alert! | (steph and danny)

Infiltration | (dick and danny)

Doubled | (talia and danny)

Strange animal | (damian)

Left and collected | (everlasting trio + baby tim)

Please leave | (he won't leave)

Annoyance at Patrol | (Red Hood shenanigans)

Catnapped | (Red Hood shenanigans ||)

Time anomaly | (Jason Todd and Danny)

Psychopomp! | (Danny doing his new Job)

.・゜-: ✧ :-

WONDER W

Prompts and snippets with the one and only! Wonder Woman!

Spiderman meme | (featuring Dani and Diana)

Demigods (read the reblogs!) | (fake it till u make it)

.・゜-: ✧ :-

SUPERS

Prompts and snippets with the local superfam

Metropolis | (hiding)

Twitter beef | (ft. Superman)

Super representative | (confused Clark kent)

New kid dropped | (they're so confused)

Fake it till u make it | (Jon dug his grave)

Civilian life | (danny is just trying to live)

School way | (Jon and Danny meet!)

Clone Club covers | (kon jumps in as elle)

.・゜-: ✧ :-

SPEEDSTERS!!!

Prompts and snippets of adventures Danny has with various Speedsters.

Bart & Danny | timetraveler & immortal (read the reposts!)

Bart & Danny | playdates

Barry & Danny | Found family via Villain

Bart/Danny | Crushing

Bart & Danny | displaced

.・゜-: ✧ :-

Godly shenanigans | #Billy and Danny are brothers in crime and losers in costumes

Prompts and snippets of Billy and Danny trying to survive in the world of adults.

JL's own trouble kids

Double the trouble

Pranksters in disguises

Grounded

Challenge

.・゜-: ✧ :-

Anything with Connie

Prompts and snippets of various ways of Danny interacting with John Constantine.

Troubled and Dad shaped

Imprisoned but not dead?

Breaking in

Hell adventures

Zones

Rush hour

He when (head wanted, not alive)

Haunted menace

Nail polish

[samaelzdraws]

Transmechanicus Biologis Study Log #726//Expunged

Magos Xanthor Vell, Formerly of Ryza Forge - Log Date: 943.M41

Location: Designation Nullius-57, Segmentum Obscurus

“Knowledge, even forbidden, cannot be unwitnessed.”

Subject: Xenobiological Study of Orkoid Symbiosis with Alien Fungal Organism: Golden Cordycep and Host Species “Gargantuan Hammerfist Champignat”

Status Note: This record is no longer recognized by the Mechanicus due to the heretical nature of my affection for the greenskin xenos. I continue my studies in exile, sustained by the machine-logic of truth and the song of biological revelation. Praise the Omnissiah, even if He no longer hears me.

INITIAL DISCOVERY

Upon my fifth solar cycle surveying Nullius-57—a geothermically volatile world rife with fungal ecologies and Orkoid spore-nodes—I came across a remarkable insectoid entity. The local feral Ork population (primitive even by greenskin standards) referred to this beast as “Hammer-Hands-Big-Bug.” My own designation, however, is the Gargantuan Hammerfist Champignat.

Vital statistics:

• Height: Approximately 6 meters at rest (measured dorsally)

• Length: ~25 meters from anterior claw-socket to abdominal tip

• Locomotion: Octopedal with significant muscle mass in posterior three pairs of legs—capable of near-sonic percussion via specialized forelimb mandibles

• Diet: Primarily fungivorous; secondary carnivorous behavior observed against smaller insectoid competition

The Hammerfist’s mandibles exhibit convergent morphology with Terran Odontodactylus scyllarus (mantis shrimp), able to deliver percussive strikes potent enough to shatter basalt. On three occasions I recorded the creatures engaging in territorial duels—sonic vibrations from the impact alone rendered smaller fauna comatose. A marvel of biomechanical design.

THE GOLDEN CORDYCEP

During a dissection of a deceased specimen (likely deceased due to fungal overgrowth from local sporepits), I noticed a peculiar golden-hued fungal growth adorning the abdominal chitin, clustered near soft tissue seams and around neural ganglia.

At first I assumed Cordycep sp. parasitica, given the obvious fungal infiltration. However, tissue scans revealed a non-destructive relationship: mycoproteins were reinforcing torn muscle fiber and emitting localized biochemical signals promoting regeneration.

Subsequent histological assays and auspex-readings confirmed: this is no parasitism. It is symbiosis. The fungus integrates with the host’s immune response, stimulating cell mitosis and supplying metabolic resources drawn from its own photosynthetic conversion and fungal substrate digestion.

I designate this species: Mycocladium aureum symbiotica.

FERALS AND FUNGUS

The true revelation came when I observed the feral Orks interacting with the Hammerfist carcass. A group of five, evidently local hunters, approached the deceased creature. One of them—massive even by Ork standards—was grievously wounded. The entire right hemisphere of his face had been sheared away, likely by a hammerfist blow.

Without ceremony, the Ork scooped the golden mold with his crude bone-dagger and slathered it directly into the wound. I recorded every detail:

• Within eight hours, the bleeding had ceased.

• By thirty-six hours, rudimentary tissue regrowth was visible—ruddy green with streaks of golden fungal weave.

• In three days, the Ork had returned to hunting, now sporting a partial fungal exo-plate over the affected region.

The Orks believe the fungus is a form of divine ichor, a gift from Gork (or possibly Mork). Some wear its dried form as ritual armor or chew it during rites of battle-healing. Crude. Inefficient. And yet… functional.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

I remain in exile. But I am not alone. The Orks tolerate me—barely. Some call me “Squig-brain-with-light(glowing)-eyes.” I take it as a term of endearment.

My laboratory is mobile. My data is redundant across twelve cortical backups. One day, perhaps, the Imperium will learn to see past its fear. Until then, I watch. I record. I learn.

And when the Hammer-Hands-Big-Bugs thunder through the canyons, I listen. For in the rhythm of their strike lies a pattern.

I am getting more and more accustomed to this new lifestyle

[covid-safer-hotties]

Alopecia on the Rise After COVID, Study Suggests - Published Jan 10, 2024

by Shannon Firth

The incidence of alopecia areata significantly increased after COVID-19, a nationwide study involving more than half a million South Koreans found.

In a propensity score-matched analysis, incidence of the autoimmune form of hair loss was 82% higher for individuals with versus those without a prior COVID infection (43.19 vs 23.61 per 10,000 person-years; adjusted HR 1.82, 95% CI 1.60-2.07), reported Jin Park, MD, PhD, of Jeonbuk National University Medical School in Jeonju, South Korea, and colleagues.

Higher incidence was seen in all groups older than 20 years, with a greater risk observed both in women and men, they detailed in a JAMA Dermatologyopens in a new tab or window research letter.

The study also revealed an increased incidence of telogen effluvium -- rapid hair loss triggered by stress or other changes to the body -- among the cohort with COVID compared with the control group (adjusted HR 6.40, 95% CI 4.92-8.33).

"These findings support the possible role of COVID-19 in AA [alopecia areata] occurrence and exacerbation, although other environmental factors, such as psychological stress, may have also contributed to AA development during the pandemic," Park and co-authors added. "Plausible mechanismsopens in a new tab or window of AA following COVID-19 include antigenic molecular mimicry between SARS-CoV-2 and hair follicle autoantigens, cytokine shifting, and bystander activation."

Alopecia areata "occurs in susceptible individuals by environmental triggers, such as viruses, vaccinations, and psychological stress," the researchers said, adding that while reports ofopens in a new tab or window documented new onset, exacerbation, and recurrence of alopecia areata after COVID have been increasing, evidence linking alopecia areata to COVID has been limited. Danilo Del Campo, MD, a dermatologist with the Chicago Skin Clinic, described the study findings as "more confirmatory" than "surprising."

"Anything that can stimulate the immune system can trigger other problems, and alopecia areata, in particular, stems from a strong immune reaction," he told MedPage Today.

He likened the immune system to a web of "secret spies," constantly "on the hunt" for infiltrators. Sometimes it simply has the wrong target -- in this case hair stem cells instead of virus cells -- which is known as antigenic molecular mimicry.

Another explanation is that COVID infection leads to a "huge influx of cytokines," which has other downstream effects. Alternatively, it may be that hair stem cells are too close to infected cells or to "helper cells" trying to clean the infected cells, and are inadvertently targeted, known as bystander activation.

Shoshana Marmon, MD, PhD, of New York Medical College in New York City, told MedPage Today in an email that while the "plausible mechanisms" described by Park and his team are "theoretically sound, their specific roles in the context of COVID-19 and alopecia areata require further empirical validation through research and clinical studies."

For their propensity score-matched study, the authors used data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency-COVID-19-National Health Insurance Service cohort from October 2020 through September 2021. The cohort included 259,369 patients with COVID and 259,369 patients without COVID. Patients were matched along demographic characteristics and comorbidities.

Looking at clinical subtypes, incidence of patchy alopecia areata or alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis (AT/AU) were higher in patients with COVID, at 35.94 and 7.24 per 10,000 person-years, respectively, as compared with 19.43 and 4.18 per 10,000 person-years among controls. Meanwhile, the prevalence of alopecia areata and AT/AU was 70.53 and 12.39 per 10,000 person-years in the COVID group versus 52.37 and 8.97 per 10,000 person-years in controls.

"During the study period, the age- and sex-adjusted incidence and prevalence of AA [alopecia areata] and AT/AU in COVID-19-infected patients were considerably higher than in the prepandemic period in Korea, in which incidence and prevalence of AA and AT/AU remained constant from 2006 to 2015," they wrote.

Park and team acknowledged "potential detection or misclassification bias" in their study, despite using validated sensitivity analyses with several matching variables. They said that "further studies are necessary to validate the association between different populations and elucidate the causal relationship between the two conditions."

Study Link: jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/2813824 (PAYWALLED)

[twilightkitkat]

I am not so well versed in the comics but how exactly does Logan purge poisons out of his system? Does he vomit or get diarrhea? Does it get disgested and leave his body naturally when he goes to the toilet? Does he cough it out? Sweat it out? Does it depend on what kind of poison? I'm just so curious

His healing factor works to eliminate foreign substances through enhanced metabolic processes.

In normal people, the body has multiple stages of reactions to poison. The immune system sends out white blood cells and antibodies to fight against toxins and antigens. Phagocytes (a type of white blood cells) essentially swallow microorganisms and foreign substances whole then proceed to break them down.

Additionally, the liver detoxifies and breaks down many poisons. It's why alcohol consumption negatively affects the liver—it's technically a poison and the liver works overtime to try to purge it from your system.

Finally, poison can also be expunged through diarrhea or vomiting as you said.

The exact process he would undergo would depend on the type of poison. His symptoms would likely be a reflection of the symptoms normal people would experience, except his body would manage to deal with it much more quickly. For example, if he got food poisoning, he'd likely throw up immediately due to his higher metabolism instead of several hours later. Then his body would completely finish in a few minutes at most by attacking any remaining foreign substances.

As for more intense poisoning, I assume the liver and immune system would do most of the work internally. He could throw up most of it if it was a poison he directly ingested, but for poisons that infiltrate the bloodstream, his white blood cells and liver would have to do some heavy lifting.

The answer basically comes down to it depends. His body is capable of quickly regenerating blood and liver cells needed to combat poison internally, and it's also capable of trying to expel it externally. His body deals with poison in a much quicker and more effective way than normal people, but it still undergoes the same steps.

[darkmaga-returns]

Part I: The Spike Protein and Its Implications

Dr. Trozzi began by dissecting the central role of the spike protein in both SARS-CoV-2 and mRNA vaccines. He described how these vaccines use lipid nanoparticles to deliver modified mRNA into human cells, instructing the body to produce spike proteins. This process, while intended to stimulate immunity, has led to widespread and unintended consequences.

Weaponization of the Spike Protein: Dr. Trozzi revealed that the spike protein encoded in the vaccines has been genetically engineered to include harmful modifications, such as a furin cleavage site, which increases toxicity, and the removal of hemagglutinin esterase, which naturally counteracts clot formation. These modifications make the spike protein more dangerous than its natural counterpart.

Translation Errors and Contaminants: The modified mRNA in these vaccines is prone to translation errors, leading to the production of random protein fragments that can trigger autoimmune diseases. Additionally, independent research has uncovered contaminants, including plasmid DNA fragments and SV40 promoter sequences, which are known to facilitate the integration of foreign genetic material into human cells. These contaminants raise serious concerns about manufacturing quality and long-term safety.

Systemic Damage: Unlike traditional vaccines, which target specific areas of the body, the lipid nanoparticles in mRNA vaccines allow spike proteins to spread to critical organs, including the brain, heart, ovaries, and testes. This widespread distribution amplifies the potential for harm, contributing to conditions such as myocarditis, reproductive health issues, and neurological disorders.

[helloiamadrawer]

ʙᴏʏꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ! ᴋɪʟʟᴇʀ ᴛ ʜᴄꜱ (sfw & nsfw)

SFW

He's such a softie for you but yk he sure ain't showing it in front of his squad (totally shows you off anyway because a certain neutrophil has one and now he thinks it's like a competition lol)

Hugs from him are always the best and most secure because have you seen his arms?? You would give anything to be suffocated by those biceps and not to mention his scent, always smells like he hopped fresh out the shower (mans showers 2 times maybe 3 times daily cause of the consistent training, even maybe melting off some stress from yelling at all those naive t cells)

Kisses from Killer vary, if he has to go and infiltrate on a mission it'll be short and sweet, if he's cooped up in his office/dorm alone, long and lingering. If he's feeling rough with you he'll push the limit a bit and shove his tongue down your throat

If you two go out together in public his hand will either be around your waist or interlaced with your hand, he's just silently letting everyone know that you belong to one of the strongest immune cells in the body (in his sense that is)

Dates could be just dining at the Peyer's Patch, having a good time in general:)

NSFW (under cut)

Killer T= a menace in the bedroom when it comes to you.

One time he snuck up on you trying on his black button up shirt and somehow the way it flowed over most of your figure is what made him want to fuck you with it on...and off too.

Has stamina like an animal, could probably fuck you senseless through half the night until you pass out (he will definitely get you through it, promise :) )

There are times when he just wants to wake you up with some nice, sensual morning oral and nothing else, just wants to taste you and nothing but you. His amber eyes are darkened with lust as he eats out your slutty hole, not even caring if it takes all day for you to cum on his face.

At least if t makes you feel good, that's all that matters to him.

Speaking of menace, growling during the act and it only gets louder when he's close to his high.

Not to mention, his big and skillful hands don't do just exterminating viruses...

Bruising your hips with ease as he plows his cock into your sopping cunt, admiring your fucked out expression on your face he likes so much.

Or choking you...

Or forcing your head down, his fingers tangled in locks of your beautiful hair as your mouth goes to work, gagging on his thick cock

"This is what you got yourself into, not me baby~..Beg. Beg for me to fuck up your insides~"

[leafydinosaur]

thomas vs teresa

i will never EVER understand why people side with teresa. "but her mom died-" yeah and like everyone else on earth during that time. every single person during the flare lost someone so idk why people feel bad for her (also before people say anything about her before wicked and her true story and stuff, i read all the books including fever code and kill order so i know everything about her story, thanks.) yeah okay her story is sad but that doesn't mean she's necessarily good. i understand that she's trying to do the "right" thing, and i respect that, but she's literally stupid. wicked's operation is stupid. anyone with more than two brain cells can understand that. instead of spending like a billion dollars on trying to find a cure, wicked should focus on protecting the immune kids instead of torturing and killing them. firstly, wicked found a cure like 15 years too late. basically everyone was dead by then. but let's say that wicked found a cure in the few months of the flare. how would it be transmitted? the flare was artificially made, transmitted by bullets. there would not be enough of the cure for all of the infected. the cure cannot be artificially created (this is stated in scorch trials book and movie) thomas is the only person who can make the cure, but his body cannot produce blood fast enough for everyone on the planet. by this time, wicked should've already realized that finding a cure was a lost cause and should try to save as many immune people as possible. instead of building a multi-million dollar death maze, they should've started creating a safe haven (like the one in the end of death cure.) fortunately, ava paige and jansen aren't complete boneheads, but they built the last city in a very very bad location. you could assume that with the modern technology that wicked has (considering the fact that they literally created teleportation) they would be able to start a new civilization on mars or something. but let's say they couldn't. instead of having the location of the last city public, it should've been built on an island, in the middle of absolutely nowhere. (to prevent angry raiders that aren't immune or newly infected to raiding it or something. kinda like in death cure how they infiltrated the city and everything went to crap.) this would be a temporary location. wicked could send out an army to clear out, for example, iceland or another small country and slowly build their way up to bigger countries. they could build more and more bases and soon enough people would reproduce. the stronger wicked gets, the more cranks they'll be able to clear out with bigger armies. within 10 to 15 years, the world would be mostly clean and wicked would be able to slowly rebuild humanity. there you go. i just solved all of wicked's problems (your welcome ava and jansen, you could repay me with newt's number iykwim.) anyways, this is why i think wicked is stupid and why i don't support teresa (because she supports wicked and also she's the reason why a bunch of people died in the right arm and got newt killed so...) people are allowed to support and like whatever character but in MY opinion, teresa is really stupid or really selfish to sacrifice an entire group of people AND betray her friends to create a cure that will do absolutely nothing.

[transgenderer]

Estivating animals such as lungfish and amphibians form cocoon structures to reduce evaporative water loss in the dry season (17–19). African lungfish live inside their mucus cocoon for months or even years (20). Previous studies described the cocoon of anuran and urodele amphibians as shed epithelial layers, whereas the lungfish cocoon was described as a translucent brownish dried mucus structure (17, 19, 20–23). Estivating lungfish are likely more vulnerable to pathogen attack since they are immobile and continuous skin mucus secretion stops once the cocoon is formed. Thus, we hypothesized that the cocoon may have important immunological functions thus far undescribed. Our histological observations revealed that the lungfish cocoon is not a dead, dry mucus layer but, instead, is a living tissue with a well-defined cellular structure. The thickness of the lungfish cocoon was approximately 350 to 900 μm, although this may vary from body site to body site, and the distance between the epidermis and the cocoon ranged from 15 to 173 μm (Fig. 3A). The cocoon was composed of different cell types including goblet cells, epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and immune cells (Fig. 3B). Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of goblet cells with many secretory mucus granules within the cocoon (fig. S3D). Moreover, abundant nests of cells were observed surrounded by long channels lined by double-layered squamous cells. A series of monolayered vessels running parallel and perpendicular to the main channel were identified. These nests of cells contained endothelium-lined vessels that could potentially serve to transport cells into and within the cocoon (Fig. 3B). Channels were not filled with mucosal secretions based on periodic acid–Schiff staining (Fig. 3C). The cocoon contained abundant granulocytic cells (fig. S2A) that were MPO+, indicating transmigration of granulocytes into the cocoon [fig. S2B; modeled in Fig. 2 (C and D)]. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that during terrestrialization, the flattened smooth epidermis of freshwater fish (Fig. 3E) became a disrupted surface covered by the cocoon where lungfish cells and groups of bacterial cells were observed

Free-swimming lungfish skin is characterized by a columnar mucosal epithelium. (A) Large numbers of multipotent stem cells with alkaline phosphatase activity (fig. S1) can be observed at the interphase between the epidermis and the dermis. Granulocyte deposits in the tissue reservoirs of free-swimming lungfish become mobilized to the skin via peripheral circulation when lungfish begin to sense lack of food and water. (B) Skin remodeling begins, with increasing numbers of granulocytes infiltrating the dermal and epidermal layers resulting in loosening of the basal membrane and inflammation. (C) The cocoon then starts to form by detachment and shedding of the inflamed epidermis. Many granulocytes are part of the cocoon, and they produce ETs in response to the high microbial load. Epithelial cells, goblet cells, and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are also present in the cocoon. The pool of stem cells starts to regenerate the epidermis, while granulocytes continue to arrive from reservoirs maintaining an inflammatory state. (D) In the next stages of estivation (end of the induction phase), the lungfish skin shows complete flattening of the epidermis and goblet cell exhaustion. The cocoon has several layers derived from multiple rounds of epidermal shedding and regeneration, and stem cell numbers are severely reduced. Granulocytes in the cocoon continue to undergo ETosis and are still elevated in the epidermis and dermis compared to free-swimming controls. It is unknown whether the cocoon continues to thicken beyond 2 weeks after terrestrialization

(source) when lungfish hide in the dirt in the dry season, their skin dissolves into a living cocoon full of immune cells! they have huge reservoirs of white blood cells at all times, so if they suddenly dry out they can pump them into the cocoon

[toxycodone]

Homelander x oc stuff *twirls hair*

for context:

Cam is my OC. He’s trans masc. his powers let his cells infiltrate others bodies and assimilate them (effectively killing them). But Vought labs figured out his cells can also be used to assist others (basically they’d operate as extra white blood cells and buff immune systems to people he cares abt)

this is during the “Vought goes conservative” arc. So they’re making Cam pretend to be a girl to the public and not be trans publically anymore.

cw. Homelander being an asshole, gender dysphoria, angst.

—

The dress is nice. Form fitting. There’s even a cute bow around the waist.

It’s disgusting.

Cam gives a once over in the mirror, grimacing as he looks at his reflection. Now, he’s always been a fan of cute clothes and fashion. But this is…

“Nice, isn’t it?” That usually familiar feeling of a gloved hand on his shoulder is almost foreign now. “you look cute. Really pretty.”

His shoulders tense at Homelander’s voice. The malice behind it palpable. Just a simple article of clothing represents control akin to a dog’s collar. The boy’s leashed to Homelander’s desires and ideals.

“I could kill you right now.”

No real emotion is behind the sentence. Cam states it merely as a fact. He can’t exactly say no to this predicament, but he’s allowed the grace of voicing his discontent.

Homelander isn’t phased. The blonde turns Cam around, leering at him with interest.

“Why don’t you do it, then?”Homelander challenges the young Supe, raising a brow.

“You could infect me right now. Kill me. Stop all this madness.“

Cam’s unable to form a response. Homelander knows the extent of his powers, just how destructive they can be. The aging Supe before him could be made quick work by his powers. A threat from him is nothing to take lightly.

“You know, I’ve noticed you hanging around the lab more often. I thought you hated that place.”

The blonde moves to the pile of clothes on the bed, perusing the frills and rosy hues to select another piece to weigh heavy on Cam’s conscious.

“Then I pieced it together. There’s a reason you’re going down there. You made a friend, huh?”

Cam grips the fabric of his dress. Homelander just smirks.

“I read their files on you. Interesting stuff. Turns out you’re not a total monster. Your powers can be used for good. To help people.”

Homelander settles on a denim skirt. If his thoughts weren’t on a more pressing matter at the moment, Cam would be throwing a fit about the length—or lack thereof.

The Supe turns back to him now. A terrifying grin settles on his on face.

“So you can take the chance if you want. You either kill me.” He shrugs, circling his prey. “Or you’ll know for a fact that you can’t deny my influence, even on a microscopic level, that you’ll obey me.”

Cam grits his teeth. He wants to scream. Turn everyone in this place and turn them into bloody, mangled monsters. But knowing Homelander could rise from the ashes makes the idea a lost cause.

“I think you already know the outcome.”

It didn’t have to be said. But Homelander does it anyway to add salt to the wound. Fuel his own ego.

The skirt’s thrust against Cam’s chest now with enough force to knock him off kilter.

“Strip.”

[thecreaturecodex]

Protean, Heputwisa

"King of Spades" © deviantArt user RayEtherna, accessed at her gallery here

[More proteans! I went for the mammalian design for this protean as an homage to D&D's arcanaloths, especially the Planescape depiction of them as hyper-competent conspiracy masterminds. To go with that theme, I gave it a number of SLAs drawn from Ultimate Intrigue, which is a book I haven't used much. As a reminder, all of my proteans have names that are anagrams for people who are thematically linked to their purview. See if you can figure it out! There's also a reference to an upcoming protean lord I'm working on, although it might be a while before that comes to fruition.]

Protean, Heputwisa CR 18 CN Outsider (extraplanar) This creature looks like an unusual combination of canine and serpentine forms. Its head is like that of an exaggerated jackal, with a long muzzle and pointed ears. A mane of hair grows along its neck and shoulders, which is accentuated by jagged spines. Similar spines grow from the wrists above its clawed hands, and along its long serpentine lower body.

A heputwisa is a powerful protean that embodies conspiracies and lies. They craft and cultivate rumors, spreading them from person to person and watching them mutate and take a life of their own. Few heputwisa are content with a single conspiracy at once, and they often stoke multiple false beliefs at once, some of which are at odds with each other. Some create their own conspiracies more directly, forming cells of rebels that plot against the status quo, or infiltrating a lawful organization to disrupt it and stymie its efforts. Some heputwisas are content to merely create criminal networks or incite revolutions, whereas others seek nothing less than the breakdown of consensus reality.

Heputwisas usually enter combat in disguise, taking the shape of another as an apparent betrayal. Their combats are often as much for show as they are to inflict physical damage, and they may flee after a couple of rounds if they feel they have made their point. The bite of a heputwisa causes its victims’ bodies to revolt against themselves, suffering warpwave after warpwave. Perhaps most dangerous is their ability to disrupt teamwork with their sheer presence. A heputwisa might float over an army squadron invisibly, causing their tactics to fall apart without lifting a finger.

Heputwisas are among the most solitary of the proteans, as they typically view others of their own kind as rivals. Two heputwisas in the same area will usually devote their energy and resources to uncovering the other’s conspiracies, which results in escalation and frequently violence. Only the presence of a protean lord can cause heputwisas to work together, and even then usually at some distance, each contributing to part of a greater conspiracy. The protean lord Etna is one of the greatest patrons of heputwisas, and at least a half dozen of these proteans are sewing seeds of dissent to achieve her ultimate, ambitious goal of regime change in Hell.

Heputwisa             CR 18 XP 153,600 CN Large outsider (chaos, extraplanar, protean) Init +10; Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft., Perception +29 Aura betrayal (30 ft., Will DC 29), cloak of chaos (DC 25)

Defense AC 33, touch 20, flat-footed 26 (-1 size, +6 Dex, +1 dodge, +4 deflection, +13 natural) hp 312 (25d10+175) Fort +21, Ref +24, Will +23; +8 vs. mind-influencing DR 15/lawful; Immune acid, divination; Resist electricity 10, sonic 10; SR 29 Defensive Abilities amorphous anatomy, freedom of movement, mind blank

Offense Speed 30 ft., fly 90 ft. (perfect) Melee bite +33 (2d6+9 plus lingering warpwave), 2 claws +33 (1d8+9), tail slap +31 (2d8+4 plus grab) or touch +33 (ego whip) Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft. Special Attacks constrict (4d8+9), ego whip, sneak attack +3d6 Spell-like Abilities CL 20th, concentration +27 Constant—cloak of chaos (self only, DC 25), mind blank, tongues At will—aura alteration, compulsive liar (DC 19), greater teleport (self plus 50 lbs only), invisibility, paranoia (DC 19), rumormonger (DC 19), suggestion (DC 20) 3/day—confusion (DC 21), deceitful veneer (DC 21), quickened glibness, quickened greater dispel magic, modify memory (DC 22), they know (DC 21) 1/day—crime wave (DC 24), demand (DC 25), mislead (DC 23), pox of rumors (DC 25), word of chaos (DC 24)

Statistics Str 29, Dex 23, Con 24, Int 24, Wis20, Cha 25 Base Atk +25; CMB +35 (+39 grapple); CMD 46 (cannot be tripped) Feats Combat Expertise, Deceitful, Dodge, Great Fortitude, Greater Vital Strike, Improved Feint, Improved Vital Strike, Improved Initiative, Multiattack, Power Attack, Quicken SLA (glibness, greater dispel magic), Vital Strike Skills Appraise +28, Bluff +35, Diplomacy +31, Disguise +35 (+55 to resemble a specific person), Fly +22, Intimidate +31, Knowledge (history, planes) +31, Knowledge (arcana, local, nobility) +28, Perception +29, Sense Motive +29, Spellcraft +28, Stealth +26, Use Magic Device +28 Languages Abyssal,Common, Protean, tongues SQ change shape (greater polymorph), perfect copy

Ecology Environment any land or urban (Maelstrom) Organization solitary Treasure standard

Special Abilities Aura of Betrayal (Su) All creatures within 30 feet of a heputwisa must succeed a DC 29 Will save or become filled with dissension. Creatures that fail their saves are no longer treated as allies to other creatures and can't provide flanking, use or benefit from teamwork feats or aid another actions, or allow other creatures to move through their space. Any spell or effect that requires a willing target fails if used on an affected creature, and even harmless effects require an attack roll (if applicable) and require affected creatures to attempt a saving throw to resist their effects (if a save is allowed). In addition, if a creature casts a beneficial spell or uses a beneficial supernatural ability (such as channel energy) while in the area of the aura of betrayal, it must succeed a DC 29 Will save or include the heputwisa in the effect. This is a mind-influencing effect, and the save DC is Charisma based. Change Shape (Su) A heputwisa can change shape at will, but does not gain the healing benefit as is usual for a protean. Constrict (Ex) A heputwisa’s constriction deals bludgeoning and piercing damage. Ego Whip (Su) The touch of a heputwisa inflicts severe doubt. A creature touched by a heputwisa is affected by an ego whip IV spell (CL 25th, Will DC 29). A heputwisa can inflict this penalty along with one of its melee attacks as a swift action. Lingering Warpwave (Su) A creature bitten by a heputwisa must succeed a DC 29 Fortitude save or be affected by a warpwave. Each round, it must attempt another DC Fortitude save—if it fails, it is affected by a warpwave again until it succeeds a save to end the effect. A dispel chaos or similar effect removes a lingering warpwave. The save DC is Constitution based. Perfect Copy (Ex) A heputwisa can masquerade as a specific individual using its change shape ability, gaining a +20 to all Disguise checks to appear as that individual.

[gildedworld]

Lady Delphine

Overview

Name: Selike, (real name unknown), currently assuming the identity of Lady Delphine

Nickname(s) :

Current Alias: Lady Delphine

Title(s) : High Priestess of the Order of the Phoenix, Lady

Species: Homo Primus

Birthday: unknown

Ethnicity: southern European

Affiliation : the Order of the Phoenix

Base of Operations: Kringala Hemsins

Appearance and physical features

Appearance :

Lady Delphine appears to be a tall woman of regular stature with dark brown hair down to her waist and dark brown eyes. Physically, Lady Delphine appears to be a regular woman, except she hasn't aged a single day since the day she died.

Unusual features:

Perhaps the most unusual feature of Selike is that he has no features - his true form is just a pool of black goo with no limbs, appendages, or face. Over the years, his physical body has deteriorated beyond repair, and thus, Selike always maintains the outward appearance of one of his victims, at the time when he consumes them - currently, it's Lady Delphine.

Powers and Abilities

Personality

Selike has no personality of his own - he is solely motivated to be immortal and will do anything to achieve this goal and destroy anyone who tries to stop him in achieving it.

Lady Delphine herself was a powerful telepath who also exhibited telekinetic abilities. As one of the victims of Selike, he has also been able to adopt these abilities and use them himself. It's through these abilities that he was able to shroud himself and insulate himself, despite infiltrating and manupilating the Order to fulfill his own agenda.

Selike himself is a powerful shapeshifter who has the ability to molecularly shift the formation of his biological cells at will to change his appearance and thereby assume the form of other humans, mutants, and animals. Selike is able to do this by "consuming" his victims, thereby absorbing their entire organic matter, memories and consciousness, and abilities into his own being. Once absorbed, Selike can call on these victims at any point, physically shape-shifting into their form and utilizing their abilities as his own. Some of the absorbed abilities include:

DNA duplication, spontaneous cell regeneration, Intangibility, cosmic fire and infernal control, immunity to magic and mimicry, premonition, mind and body exchange, Mind Control, Soul gathering, Dematerialization, telepathy, telekinesis, and flight. Because of this, Selike is one of the most dangerous mutants to walk the earth.

Relationships

History

It's unclear how old selike truly is or where selike's origins are from. Based on the degeneration of his true physical form, it's believed that possibility could have been one of the earliest mutants to exist on Earth.

Despite this, Selike is not immortal. Selike hunte his victims in order to continue to live and extend his own life, using his victims as fuel. It can be assumed that he has been hunting for centuries, even before Lady Delphine.

Selike met and consumed Lady Delphine in 1370, in a church somewhere in the Sicilian countryside. Lady Delphine herself had been a mutant with powerful telepathic and telekinetic abilities and was a part of a group of mutants who called themselves the Order of the Phoenix, believing that an ancient cosmic entity named the Phoenix manifested itself as a Viking Queen called Rhiannon and bestowed on those whom she favored. They also believed the abilities of the Phoenix were beyond normal mutant abilities- they believed that the next manifestation of the Phoenix would restore balance and order in the world, as Queen Rhiannon did during her time.

The Order mandated themselves with identifying the next manifestation of the Phoenix - this entailed categorizing and cataloging all mutant activity to identify potential manifestations. Once a manifestation was identified, they would "validate" by placing the unsuspecting mutant under strenuous conditions, often resulting in their death - if a manifestation revived themselves beyond this, that would confirm to the Order that they wrote the true manifestation of the Phoenix.

Selike quickly realized that the Order provided him with the perfect opportunity to hunt. In fact, they hunted for him - they identified the mutants, and he consumed them with the Order believing that there had been no true manifestation of the Phoenix since Queen Rhiannon, which of course, was true.

Over the centuries, Selike managed to hunt thousands of mutants through the Order, amassing their memories and abilities within his being.

In 2000, something finally changed. A scout of the Order confirmed the appearance of an infant Rosaria that seemingly appeared out of thin air. This infant had not been born in any medical facility, nor had it been sighted with any adult. Seemingly out of thin air, the infant appeared on the steps of an orphanage wrapped in a yellow blanket in the middle of a December night, absolutely unbothered by the snow and the cold. The infant was discovered the next morning by a Catholic nun who rushed to take the infant Rosaria inside the orphanage. A month later, Rosaria was adopted by the Huntingtons.

The scout kept close tabs on Rosaria and the Huntingtons, reporting back to Lady Delphine and the Order, until they finally lost her in 2014 due to an unexplainable lapse in time and memory seemingly.

Rosaria was finally identified again by the Order through increasingly powerful bursts of telepathic energy around 2018. By then, given the sheer strength of Rosaria's abilities, it was all but confirmed that she was the manifestation of the phoenix the Order had been searching for.

Moreover, the Order felt that the Xavier Academy and Professor X would not be able to help navigate and guide channeling the phoenix as well as they would. And thus, the plan was developed. The Order convinced high-ranking officials in the United States government of the threat of Xavier Academy and it's students, arguing that it would be better to neutralize the students and Professor X's growing "army of mutants " before it was too late. Lady Delphine of course was instrumental in this as she hunted a high ranking official, assumed his identity, and gave the order go invade the Academy. In conjunction to this, Lady Delphine in her assumed identity was also a part of the invasion as one of the soldiers and helped subdue Rosaria, placing her in a telepathic-induced Coma to allow the Order to transport her back go Kringala Hemsins.

At Kringala Hemsins, Rosaria was watched closely. Still in a telepathic-induced coma, her organic functions were suspended one by one , temporarily rendering her dead. Meanwhile, Selike, assuming the identity of Lady Delphine once more, was convinced of Rosaria being the manifestation of the Phoenix. Even when she was dead, Selike found that Rosaria's mind was still very much alive - he was unable to overwhelm it.

Eventually, Rosaria would channel the Phoenix and revive herself in 2022, breaking through the telepathic-induced coma. By then, selike knew that Rosaria was far too strong for him to consume. Thus, he resumed the hunt, now turning and hunting members within the Order itself to try to gain enough power to rival and overwhelm Rosaria in order to consume her. After all, the Phoenix could not be consumed in its natural state - it had to be done in its physical manifestation as Rosaria.

Selike felt one of the ways to deliberately weaken Rosaria was by isolating her , leading to a deteriorating mental state. He had hoped that she would eventually come to trust the Order and Lady Delphine enough to let down her guard and by doing so, he'd be able to consume her.

Of course, this didn't work out quite as Selike had hoped as Rosaria asked for her brother, James Huntington to be brought to Kringala Hemsins. After James arrival, it became clear to everyone that James was the only person she trusted. Selike had decided by then that the way to manupilate Rosaria then was through James - to ultimately consume him and assume his identity.

Selike had his opportunity in 2028, where James' controversial speech left him once again in the spotlight. Hoping to manupilate the Order against James, Selike assuming the identity of Lady Delphine, attempted to "neutralize" him by covertly consuming him. Only, Selike was stopped by Rosaria, who had negated a few members of the Order in the process as well.

Not wanting his own identity as Selike to be exposed, Selike assuming the identity of Lady Delphine, stood down and left James alone, hoping to recalibrate and identity another way to get Rosaria to drop her guard down enough for him to consume her. After all, after Selike consumes the Phoenix, he'd assume it's immortality to.

Other

[nursingwriter]

Multiple Sclerosis Etiology Multiple sclerosis, some researchers argue, constitutes "a disease of unknown etiology," which reportedly implies a single causal organism triggers MS. Numerous infectious agents suspected as possible etiological agents include: "the corona, measles, Epstein-Barr, herpes simplex type 6, and canine distemper viruses, the human T-cell lymphotrophic virus (HTLV)-I, an 'MS-associated agent' and, most recently, Chlamydia." (Poser 12) No one has been able to confirm any these infectious agents, however, this contention continues even though competent investigators routinely utilize sophisticated techniques to conduct exhaustive searches. (Poser 12) Numerous steps leading to the development process of MS remain invisible and unidentified. The contemporary consensus regarding MS. Albeit, posits it likely evolves from a genetically susceptible subject, of the immune system's activation by various viral agents, consequently initiating a pathogenetic surge ultimately contributing the myelin sheath and axon being destroyed. (Poser 12) Multiple sclerosis (MS) constitutes the current, most common neurological illness in North America and Europe. MS, Doughty reports, affects approximately 2.5 million individuals worldwide. At times, the complex, daunting aspects of MS contribute to challenging individuals, with MS, mentally, physically personally, socially, and vocationally. Accompanying challenges continually confront individuals with MS with critical crossroads in life and require relevant rationale choices be made by them and/or those who work with and care for this particular population. Population and the geographic location both reportedly influence the frequency of MS. Current research reflects that white persons of northern European descent who live in temperate climates are more frequently diagnosed with MS, an observation suggesting genetic, as well as, environmental factors may influence the frequency of MS. Anderson et al., cited by Wilson and Islam, estimates approximately 250,000-350,000 cases of MS were diagnosed in 1990, the incidences of MS (noting total population of approximately 250 million) equates to a prevalence of approximately 1 case per 1000 population. This amounts to half the prevalence of MS in northern Europe, which equates to two cases per 1000 population. Wilson and Islam define MS as: "an inflammatory demyelinating condition of the central nervous system (CNS) traditionally deemed autoimmune in nature. White matter tracts are affected, including those of the cerebral hemispheres, infratentorium, and spinal cord." The locality where MS lesions or plaques may develop in CNS white matter may vary. Clinical presentations of MS may also be dissimilar. Frequently, the ongoing lesion formation in MS fosters physical disability and, in some cases, leads to cognitive decline. MS characteristics include its unpredictable nature, the time delay between the onset of symptoms and the confirmed MS diagnosis, as well as, the physiological and psychological symptomatology (collective symptoms MS) ranges potentially present in an individual with MS. As common in a number of other autoimmune conditions, the MS patient's immune system attack its host, likely due to exposure to a molecular sequence mimicking the host tissue's molecular sequence. Wilson and Islam explain that even though the immune trigger has not yet been identified, the targets are known to be myelinated CNS tracts. In inflamed areas, the blood-brain barrier breaks down, accompanied by perivascular lymphocytic and monocytic infiltration. "Focal destruction of myelin ensues, with axonal damage, gliosis, and the formation of sclerotic plaques. Gradually, cumulative damage results in significant loss of white matter and a reduction in total brain volume." (Wilson and Islam) MRI Images The following figures compare MRI images of a "normal" brain with one of a person with MS. Point-resolved spectroscopic study performed in MS patient reflects " slightly decreased N-acetylaspartate peak and a mildly elevated choline peak;... findings... compatible with demyelination with neuronal loss and increased cell membrane turnover." (Wilson and Islam) Challenging Characteristics MS can adversely impact a number of body functions with symptoms displayed as: pain, speech and visual impairment, loss of memory, muscle weakness, loss of coordination, depression, numbness, and bowel and bladder problems. Sexual dysfunction may also be experienced by individuals with MS. According to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, MS affects as many as 400,000 people in the U.S. Approximately, 2.5 million individual may be affected throughout the world. Most individuals diagnosed with MS are females between 20 and 50 years old. ("RNew MRI Finding") Out of the four classifications of MS, the two most prevalent types include relapsing-remitting and secondary-progressive. Individuals with relapsing-remitting MS experience symptom flare-ups, followed with times when MS does not progress. A person with secondary- progressive MS, however, undergoes an initial period of relapsing-remitting MS, followed by MS steadily progressing. ("RNew MRI Finding") Resources in the book review of Multiple Sclerosis: A Guide for Rehabilitation and Health Care Professionals, edited by Rumrill and Hennessey, Doughty reports that in addition to exploring the challenging characteristics of MS, this work depicts a vital virile volume of information relating to MS. Basically, in Multiple Sclerosis: A Guide for Rehabilitation and Health Care Professionals, contributing authors, including nurses, individuals with MS, and others knowledgeable about the illness offer the reader a comprehensive, interdisciplinary view of MS. This work includes topic areas, germane to lives of individuals with MS, as at the end of each chapter, the contributing authors, with MS, wrote personal prospective relating to particular issues presented in each chapter (Doughty). Hennessey and Rumrill, cited by Doughty, orient the reader to MS, as they present credible context and prepare the foundation for information accessible in subsequent chapters. The physiological and psychological impacts on issues, including family and community concerns, employment and/or lack of career development are also related to the reader. Randall T. Schapiro enhances introductory information relating strategies on how to best manage MS, while also encouraging the reader to apply relevant knowledge to daily life challenges and issues. Lynn C. Koch and Connie J. McReynolds, cited by Doughty, examine symptom management issues, along with psychological factors for individuals with MS. Peggy a. Crawford, cited by Doughty, discusses how MS may affect an individual's children, his/her marital relationship, as well as other family members. Koch and McReynolds, cited by Doughty, examine parenting issues. Nancy Cooper, Wendy Sullivan, and Rosemary Zuck, Doughty notes, focus on challenging contemporary, community living issues for individuals with MS, as they provide information on community-based care programs such as respite care, adult day programs, and assisted living facilities. The authors also share information regarding services the National MS Society in local area(s) offer. Other components covered in Multiple Sclerosis: A Guide for Rehabilitation and Health Care Professionals include: Techniques aimed to foster and/or strengthen independence among individuals with MS. Career development and employment issues for individuals with MS, including physiological and psychological factors that affect the critical rate of unemployment among individuals with MS. Wilson and Islam note the following known characteristics about MS: Race: MS is most prevalent in white persons of northern European descent (Hauser, 1994). Sex: Male-to-female ratio is approximately 1:2 (Noseworthy, 2000). Age: MS is a disease of early adulthood. Onset has been documented in patients aged 2-74 years, although the disease usually appears between the late teenage years and the fourth decade of life, peaking at approximately age 35 years. In men, the onset is slightly later than in women (Hauser, 1994). Anatomy: MS is a demyelinating CNS disorder, and it may affect any central white matter. Lesions are commonly located in the optic nerves and tracts, throughout the supratentorial and infratentorial white matter, and along the myelinated tracts of the spinal cord. Locations may include the corpus callosum, cerebellar white matter, and corticospinal tracts. Clinical Diagnosis: A diagnosis of MS is made on the basis of clinical findings by using supporting evidence from ancillary tests such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination for oligoclonal banding and MRI. Clinical course: The clinical course of MS can follow different patterns, and this observation has led to the classification of distinct types of MS. The most common form of MS is termed relapsing-remitting MS, in which progression involves symptoms of neurologic dysfunction frequently followed by partial or complete clinical recovery. In relapsing-remitting MS, global clinical deterioration has traditionally been attributed to cumulative deficit due to incomplete recovery from repeated occurrences of individual relapses. Recently, however, this cumulative deficit has been questioned, because evidence increasingly suggests an ongoing background neurologic deterioration that is independent of the relapses.... (Wilson and Islam) New Insight An ASNA News Release on August 28, 2007, entitled "RNew MRI Finding Sheds Light on Multiple Sclerosis Disease Progression," purports that from the use of magnetic resonance (MR) images of the brain, researchers recently delineated a previously unrecognized abnormality related to the progression of MS, and the disability accompanying this disease. Based on these findings, "Rohit Bakshi, M.D., associate professor of neurology and radiology at Harvard Medical School and director of clinical MS-MRI at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Partners MS Center in Boston; leader of this study contends, "physicians may be able to diagnose multiple sclerosis more accurately and identify patients at risk for developing progressive disease." ("RNew MRI Finding") The following questions and answers to the FDA Consumer Quiz relate several prominent points about MS (Appendix contains full test text): At what age is multiple sclerosis most frequently diagnosed? A d.) between 20 and 50. Studies have shown that people with multiple sclerosis who exercise: c.) have less fatigue How many people in the United States are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis every week? A b.) about 200 ("Take the FDA Consumer") Dealing with Depression As depression is reportedly the most common psychiatric disorder in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, those caring for MS patients who express any sort of suicidal ideation should be closely monitored and referred for a psychological evaluation. Frequently, MS patients experiencing bouts with depression or suicidal thoughts are not assessed, under assessed, and/or consequently not diagnosed. Unlike some of the other aspects accounting MS, yet similar to some MS, depression can be effectively treated. Numerous reasons contribute to MS patients experiencing depression, according to Wallin. These may include: The psychosocial effects of MS disability. The direct effect of lesions on brain structures that are involved in regulating and maintaining mood state The untoward effects of interferon (IFN)- ? For treating MS, which may be associated with mood changes. Immune dysfunction. (Wallin) Early intervention for depression, Wallin stresses, is vital as relief from depression related to MS can prevent declines in a MS patient's quality of life. It may also prevent a person attempting or completing suicide. (Wallin) Surgical Treatments Deep brain stimulation (DBS), a variation of a surgery from the 1960s, is sometimes still used to treat tremors in MS patients. Surgeries in the past destroyed the thalamus (thalamotomy) or another part of the brain, the globus pallidus (pallidotomy). Today, instead of these type surgeries, which carry significant risk, due to the intentional destruction of part of the brain, deep brain stimulations are performed. When treating MS with DBS, a medical specialist places an electrode with the tip of the electrode in the thalamus (for tremor and multiple sclerosis). The medical specialist leaves the electrode for deep brain stimulation in the brain, connected by a wire to a pacemaker-like device. he/she then implants the stimulating device under the skin over the chest of the MS patient. The device delivers electrical shocks to help to relieve tremors accompanying MS. (Doctors) Doctors) Doctors at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Research at the Cleveland Clinic relate the following questions/answers regarding the surgical treatment of DBS: Can Deep Brain Stimulation Cure MS? No. Electrical stimulation does not cure multiple sclerosis nor does it prevent the disease from getting worse; it helps to relieve the symptom of tremor related to MS. Is Deep Brain Stimulation Considered Experimental? Deep brain stimulation is not experimental. The FDA has approved DBS to treat Parkinson's disease, essential tremor and dystonia. Dystonia is a type of movement disorder characterized by abnormal postures and twisting motions. The FDA has not specifically approved deep brain stimulation of the thalamus to treat multiple sclerosis. However, this does not mean that the treatment is experimental or that it would not be covered by insurance. There are many examples of treatments that are used every day and are standard and accepted but that have not been approved by the FDA. Deep brain stimulation is a way to inactivate parts of the brain without purposefully destroying the brain. Therefore, the risks are much lower. In Who Should Consider Deep Brain Stimulation? There are many important issues to be addressed when considering deep brain stimulation. These issues should be discussed with a movement disorders expert or a specially trained neurologist. Before considering surgery, you should have tried medication first. Surgery should not be undertaken if medications are able to control your symptoms. However, surgery should be considered if you do not achieve satisfactory control through medications. If you are unsure if DBS is right for you, consult a movement disorders expert or a neurologist who has experience with movement disorders. Where Should the Operation Be Performed? The surgery should be performed in a center where there is a team of experts to care for you. This means neurologists and neurosurgeons who have experience and specialized training in doing these types of surgeries. Another thing to consider when deciding where to go for the surgery is to find out how the target (that is the thalamus) is localized. Different centers may perform the surgeries in different ways. It is clear that the chances of benefit and the risks of complications are directly related to how close the electrode is to the correct target. (Doctors) Treatment Options Treatment options for MS, according to the Mayo Clinic, in addition to DPS, include may include medications, physical and occupational therapy, as well as, experimental therapies. Currently, two primary strategies are recommended for MS: Managing the symptoms accompanying MS; Treatment of MS prior to permanent damage contributing to onset of symptoms. The Mayo Clinic utilizes a multidisciplinary approach and offers expertise to help best manage neurological diseases such as MS. Treatment techniques may include: Careful Monitoring Medications to Treat MS Beta Interferons: Interferon beta-1b (Betaseron) and interferon beta-1a (Avonex, Rebif), genetically engineered copies of proteins naturally occurring in the body, reduce MS flare-ups of MS. Glatiramer, an alternative to beta interferons, prescribed if a MS patient experiences relapsing-remitting, like beta interferons, effectively curbs MS attacks. Glatiramer, which blocks the immune system's attack on myelin, has to be injected, once a day, subcutaneously once daily. Medications for Treatment of MS Symptoms Corticosteroids reduce inflammation in nerve tissue and decrease flare-ups' length.. Prolonged use of these medications, however, may cause side effects such as osteoporosis and high blood pressure (hypertension). Muscle Relaxants: Tizanidine (Zanaflex) and baclofen (Lioresal), oral medications treat muscle spasticity. MS patients may experience painful or uncontrollable muscle spasms and/or stiffening, especially in their legs. Medications to Reduce Fatigue may include amantadine (Symmetrel), the antiviral drug or modafinil (Provigil), a medication for narcolepsy, both possess stimulant properties Other Medications may be prescribed to treat accompanying pain, bladder and/or bowel control issues, or depression. Physical and Occupational Therapy strive to help preserve a MS patient's independence by strengthening exercises, and utilizing devices to assist with daily tasks. Counseling sessions such as individual or group therapy may help MS patients and their family members cope with MS in more positive ways, as well as, help them know how to best counter related emotional stress. Special Therapies include: Plasma Exchange involves "removing some blood and mechanically separating the blood cells from the fluid (plasma). Blood cells then are mixed with a replacement solution... returned to the body." Plasma Exchange, however, "is only for people with sudden, severe attacks of MS-related disability who don't respond to high doses of steroid treatment." ("Multiple Sclerosis" Mayo Clinic) Learning to "see" the best way to deal with MS and its accompanying symptoms, this researcher suggests, evolves from not only learning as much as possible about treatment options, but also follow through with day-to-day healthy counters to symptoms. Exercise and positive life-style choices this researcher contends from research, can be serve as extra effective efforts to help ensure one with MS does not experience debilitating, destructive depression. A person with MS, as well as, those who care for him/her could benefit from remembering to note a message that can be dissected from this paper's introduction: "A swollen, pale optic nerve could be a symptom of multiple sclerosis." ("The Eyes Have it;" 50) Although this particular symptom would likely be recognized by a medical specialist, noting other everyday not so subtle symptoms, however, symptoms, does not require a medical degree. As the resource for the introductory posits, this researcher suggests: "The Eyes Have it." Dealing with MS requires, this researcher purports, the ability to train the spirit's eyes to see beyond symptoms that may darken one's spirit. The eyes have it - the ability to make a point to see hope for life, despite challenges MS may present. APPENDIX a Take the FDA Consumer Quiz If the game won't work, you may need to download the Java Plug-in. How's your knowledge of health-related topics such as multiple sclerosis, arthritis, stroke, and skin cancer? Find out by taking our quiz. Hint: The answers to all these questions can be found in the March-April 2005 issue of FDA Consumers) Take any of our past quizzes 1. At what age is multiple sclerosis most frequently diagnosed? a. () during the teen-age years b. () between 10 and 12 c. () between 60 and 70 d. () between 20 and 50 e. () 80 and over 2. Studies have shown that people with multiple sclerosis who exercise: a. () often have relapses triggered by exercise b. () have more fatigue c. () have less fatigue 3. How many people in the United States are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis every week? a. () between 50 and 100 b. () about 200 c. () about 300 d. () more than 500 4. Read the full article

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In line with previous findings, we showed that spike-treated ECs express high levels of cellular adhesion markers... The circulating ICAM1, which could originate from damaged endothelium, may contribute to prolonged inflammation even in recovered and no longer infectious COVID-19 patients, indicating the critical involvement of the endothelium in PASC. Our results showed similar profiles of cytokine and chemokine expression due to SARS-CoV-2 spike activation on human ECs to those observed in COVID-19 patients... This further highlights the crucial role of ECs in the production of various inflammatory cytokines and chemokines contributing to the cytokine storm and excessive inflammatory response, exacerbating the disease in severe COVID-19 patients. Recruitment of immune cells to the surface of spike-activated ECs can lead to infiltration of inflammatory cells and further damage to the surrounding tissue, which can happen independently of an active infection and in different anatomical regions. Different chemokine expression levels and dynamics over time between HPMC and HAoEC suggest a possible EC origin-specific response. Our RNAseq analysis also highlights the distinct transcriptomic signatures and the pathways associated with SARS-CoV-2 spike activation of HPMC and HAoEC. It is therefore necessary to characterize organ-specific vascular responses from organs that are also affected by COVID-19, such as brain and kidneys.

"Just a cold" that makes your immune response destroy your organs.