#neutrophil activity

[biology-geology-beaches-india]

TSRNOSS. Page 239.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Some Allergy Vocabulary

for your next poem/story

Allergic crease - A crease or pale line that develops across the lower part of the nose because of frequent upward wiping of the nose.

Angioedema - (or edema) Swelling

Dander - Material that is shed from the body of humans and animals that have fur, hair, or feathers.

Dust mite - A small mite invisible to the naked eye. Dust mites are widely distributed in homes and dust mite allergy is a major cause of asthma and allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

Elemental diet - A diet of predigested liquid containing amino acids, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, and glucose.

Eosinophils - Cells that circulate in the blood. They attack tissues at the site of an allergic reaction causing damage.

Erythema - Reddening of the skin.

Macrophages - Scavengers whose job is to engulf or eat up infecting germs and even infected cells. Macrophages also help to overcome infection by secreting signals that help activate other cell types to fight against infections.

Monocytes - Cells that circulate in the blood and become macrophages in the tissues. These cells are very important in alerting the immune system about an infection.

Neutropenia - A condition that results when the body does not have enough neutrophils, an important white blood cell that fights infections. The lower your neutrophil count, the more vulnerable you are to infectious diseases.

Pollen count - (or a mold count) Is based on the measurement of the number of grains of pollen or mold spores in a cubic meter of the air. The higher the count, the greater the chance that people suffering from hay fever will experience symptoms when they are outdoors or exposed to outdoor air.

Pruritus - Itching

Urticaria - The medical word for hives, which are itchy, raised lumps that can vary in position from hour to hour or day to day.

Wheal - A raised whitish itchy lump, which occurs after skin prick test or after contact with an allergen and is a term also used to describe the individual lump seen in hives.

Wheeze - A whistling sound that can occur in the breathing tubes or airways. It is important to make your doctor aware of wheezing that reoccurs. Wheezing is often a symptom of asthma or COPD, but it may be related to temporary respiratory conditions such as pneumonia or bronchitis.

Sources: 1 2 3 ⚜ More: Word Lists

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive (Daily updates!)

BY: Carmen Leitch

New studies have provided novel insights into long COVID, which continues to affect millions of people worldwide. The exact rates of the disease are hard to determine because of variations in clinical criteria, and other differences such as differing standards for who is included or excluded from a long COVID diagnosis or study. According to a July 2024 study in The Lancet, the rates of long COVID following an acute infection range from 50 to as much as 85 percent of people who were hospitalized for COVID-19 and unvaccinated; 10 to 35 percent of people who were not hospitalized and not vaccinated, and about ten percent of vaccinated people.

Scientists are still working to determine the causes of long COVID, which may vary or include several factors depending on who is affected and what their health history might be. Some research has found evidence of active infection in people with long COVID. But in that study, half of the long COVID patients did test negative for viral proteins, suggesting that there are multiple causes of the illness.

Symptoms of long COVID include but are not limited to: fatigue, fever, malaise, coughing, chest pain, headaches, sleep problrms, anxiety, diarrhea or constipation, joint pain, and rash. Long term complications may include increased risk of diabetes, blood clots, and heart problems.

A 2022 study reported in Nature Medicine determined that heart dysfunction could be one reason for the symptoms of long COVID, even after a mild infection.

A recent report published in Nature Microbiology has shown that there were abnormally high levels of inflammatory signaling molecules called cytokines in patients with long COVID.

The scientists found that these cytokines could damage heart calls called cardiomyocytes. Since these cells are responsible for the pumping action of the heart, problems with those cells may help explain long COVID symptoms like chest pain and heart palpitations. A heart condition known as POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) has also been associated with long COVID.

Unrelated, recent work reported in the Journal of Autoimmunity and Frontiers in Immunology, has discovered two proteins that could serve as biomarkers for long COVID, and may help explain the mechanisms underlying some cases of the disease. This work showed that people with long COVID carry abnormally high levels of proteins called galectin-9 and artemin in their blood.

These patients also had unusually high levels of certain immune cells known as neutrophils and monocytes, which may cause inflammation. There were also abnormally high levels of killer T cells that were exhausted. Long COVID patients were also deficient in immune cells that can fight infection, called lymphocytes. The researchers noted that neutrophils that are under stress often release galactin-9, which can boost inflammation.

Another recent study from this group, reported in The Lancet Microbe found no evidence of persistent infection in long COVID patients, challenging studies that have found the opposite and highlighting the complexities and sometimes confounding nature of this highly variable disorder.

Studies:

www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01136-X/fulltext www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.com/article/S1198-743X(24)00432-4/abstract www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-02000-0 www.nature.com/articles/s41564-024-01838-z pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9287587/ www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S089684112400101X?via%3Dihub www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1443363/full www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(24)00280-5/fulltext

[mleprae]

Opinion on how cells at work handled cancer cells? Also just general opinions on it I'd love to hear them

I'm reeeaaally glad they took cancer cells as a tragedy and not as another monster of the week type of situation, there's a lot of things you can do with cancer narratively from its biology.(My favorite one from this "genre" has to be Shin godzilla, if you, like me, take Godzilla to be much like a walking teratoma, uncontrollable growth of cells that do anything to survive) I also try to do the same thing with my own OC lore of weird flesh angels

Just wished they developed more though... cancer, as a metaphor, (to me) speaks of sympathy for the other, it's an ugly duckling kind of situation. You were born monstruous, this was not your fault (nor it is anyone else's), and for that you must die. You can try to fit in (as the cancer in the anime did for like, 10 minutes) but the attempts come off more of a caricature of normalcy than anything else, like some sort of alien wearing human skin, an alien who will eventuall grow larger than the skin it wears. They seem to hint at this at some point, but never go in depth about it, but then again I'm not used to quick forms of media, they had a short 23mins to do it so I'm not gonna dwell on it

But Cells at work does mostly focus on the biological part which is fine (and mostly the appeal), sure it's not Cancer's fault for being born this way, but its presence is an attack to the homeostasis of the body, it needs to get rid of it. In a biological sense it's hard to defend Cancer. rip.

I wished NK and T CD8 did more in this episode, especially NK who is the one most responsible for handling cancer cells (and for the record so do neutrophils, but they seem to do a minor work in cancer cells.)

A veeeery very small detail I liked about the final scene is the Cancer being able to stop the Neutrophil with just saying 'Stop', advanced cancers can soothe and control the innate immune system to survive, and they took this little detail so well to discuss the relationship of cancer and the body

As for the anime, it's fine? I don't watch many animes OTL the choice to make the main WBC guy a neutrophil is interesting, and personally to me I think macrophages should take a much much larger screentime, they do most of the important things and they are sentinel/patrolling cells unlike neutrophils, which are just activated when there's an infection (do not take this as me hating on neutrophils; i dont!! I have a neutrophil tattoo... theyre my favorite granulocytes)

ALSO fun fact! Some cancers are so good at surviving that they become entire new organisms, they are known as transmissable cancers, the most known type of this cancer is the CTVT (canine transmissable veneral tumor)

it's interesting to note that since this is a cancer that became 'independent' and it was originally a dog cell, you can say that it **theoretically** is an single-celled dog, given that it might still contain the dog genome, just corrupted! There are other types of organisms that evolved from cancer, some are interesting for lacking mitochondria within them

[helloiamadrawer]

Neutrophil squad when they're drunk

*le gasp* OMG A CELLS AT WORK NONNIE??

Coming right up!! (sorry if its short but this was fun to write)

Neutrophil Squad when Drunk 🥴

U-1146

The sleepy drunk; tired after four/five shots he's o u t like a light

OR

Gets up on the karaoke stand and starts singing but not good

Its just really bad 🤣

It'd be such a shame if 3803 saw him like that in his pov

he would undergo activation the next day cause you know someone had to tell him

But in reality he has a massive headache and will not get out of bed so hes out of commission poor bb

U-4989

The chatty drunk as in he accidentally spills too much about himself without knowing it ;one of his freinds is going to have to shut him up or hes gonna start a bar figh-

Oh crap, too late hes started a bar fight now he's banned from the bar for life cause it was that bad

Joins 1146 in karaoke lmaoooo

He might have told 3803 that 1146 has a crush on her...immediately forgets everything he has said last night cause he was so drunk lol

Instead of being ashamed of what hes done (a little), few days later he laughs it off cause its all in the past

U-2048

Horny/Flirtier than usual drunk

Tries to hit on every female cell in the bar until 26 strides in and drags him back to where he and his buddies are,

"Hey~26, i bet you have some pretty ass eyes under thise bangs~"

big mistake 2048; when he tries to sweep 26's bangs back he's met with a hard smack to his face 😵 let me insert the streetfighter k.o meme right here

Doesnt wake up and 2626 had to lift the neutrophil over his shoulder to the infirmary

U-2626

He can hold his own pretty good with drinks

Well thats what he thinks until 2048 bursts into his dorm next morning and is throttling him because he sort of made out with him

Now heres how it happened, 2048 doing his annoying round of flirting with the girls, hammered as heck, he drops next to 2626 and whines about hs lack of bitches and he was getting about tired of it, so he took another shot and then kissed him straight on the mouth

Annnnnd let me just say it led into a messy make out session in the bathroom until 2048 had to excuse himself and frew up

Does 26 regret doing that?....a little but at least it shut him up

Gay awakening??🤔

U-2001

The sober one who has to take them all home in the end lolol

Just has two/three drinks (some water on the slide) but has to keep an eye on everyone

*rolls his eyes whilst literally wheeling out four plastered neutrophils on a cart that the red blood cells use for carrying oxygen* 🤣🤣🤣

[heckthis-heckallofthis]

Random headcanons I think of sometimes (Oops! All Friends spinoff)

Dendritic cell doesn't get his cytokine material himself, he employs the M cells in the bars to capture the most horrendous images of immune cells while they're all intoxicated (he wears a feather boa when he's activated <3)

Canon but I don't think a lot of people know, he has good voice acting skills with his singing + narration being pretty good

Leaves his plushies everywhere. Gave one to M cell to see if it'd cheer him up, it did because M cell was happy he tried helping him. Dendritic cell thought it was just because of the cuteness and purity of the lactic acid bacterium

He visits M cell so much, every time M cell rings up the dendritic cells for antigen presentation it's always our beloved Dendritick cell that comes to his bar to get it

Dendritic cell also started out absolutely terrified of bacteria, had to practice very hard with antigen presentation

There is written fiction of the neutrophils, probably a lot of BL let's be real

There is a popular book that is like Twilight but with those weirdos

All neutrophils except for 2145 have colored hair and eyes, I will not elaborate

More of a general thing rather than only friends, but neutrophils definitely have sharper teeth compared to non phagocyte cells

2145 goes to work everyday even on his off days, it's for a free lunch

2145 eats the body of cells right in front of other cells without thinking of the implications, he is enjoying the snack.

His favorite past time is listening to 1235 talk about her day, she is like a radio for him

3033 doesn't have a single creative bone in his body, you ask him to draw something and it barely even looks like what you wanted. He wears all white all the time because he doesn't know what outfits look good with what color, it's terrible.

Squad Leader would kill himself if he knew, but 3033 dislikes him. It's not for any particular reason, they just don't mesh well. It's okay since Squad Leader doesn't bother 3033 a lot anyways

Canon but I never realized this in 3 years of reading this manga: 3033 doesn't wear his knife straps on his legs if it isn't necessary to use those knives, only wears them when he needs to fight something dangerous.

M cell low-key has trouble eating enough because of his depression. You can directly counter this by getting him foods that expire within a day or two, he hates wasting food so he eats it before it expires.

Actually canon again but I need more people to know: M cell can make balloon animals

The fact that M cell has a lot of random skills in general, I wouldn't he surprised if he knew how to make stained glass art or could do wood carving

Cross reads the smuttiest, most vile BL stories as a past time. If you find his stash he will go insane.

He also enjoys talking to 1235 about squad leader (and then later on about 3033, girl talk)

1235 befriends so many immune cells because just like AE3803 from Main, she is a danger magnet. Everytime she is saved from an immune cell she makes small talk with them no matter how introverted they are (see 2145, NK and Eosinophil)

Helper T cell doesn't remember anything from his thymus days because it was so traumatizing he just blocks out those memories. It's not that he doesn't recognize Squad Leader, it's that his mind won't let him remember.

Squad Leader physically cannot hit another cell without orders, he can hit HT because Squad Leader is filled with so much rage every time he sees HT he just gains the strength to do it.

Also a general HC but I think Reg T cells in general have major face blindness. Unless you're someone close to them they will not recognize you once you do a change of clothes, but it's okay, as long as you still have the right receptors for the body they will protect you.

Eosinophil regularly visits M cell's bar because not only is it good practice for her with minimal casualties (poor M cell) but also it's an unpopular bar so she doesn't need to be so anxious.

B cell tried to hit on Eosinophil exactly once (1) and stopped because she exploded from anxiety and B cell thought she hated him so much she'd rather explode than talk to him

B cell and M cell don't like each other a lot, M cell thinks he's too loud, and B cell thinks he's too much of a downer. Partly the reason why Memory cell visited his bar alone without B cell

If you put NK and Eosinophil in the same room alone, they would just not talk. No conversation between those two. NK thinks Eos is judging her but Eos thinks NK doesn't like her and doesn't want to talk to her.

B cell and Mast cell get along surprisingly well (ignore how in canon Mast cell says he'll never talk to him again if he insults his gacha game girlies again), B cell talks about the pretty cells he sees regularly on the job while Mast cell show him his anime girls. Mutual respect until B cell is like "Well I prefer girls you can actually touch in the real world" in which Mast cell will tell him to shut up

[omnitheist27]

The 40: Catch the Bullet

"To answer your question, you get to be a superhero by believing in the hero within you and summoning him or her forth by an act of will." - Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias

----

@the-ravenclaw-werewolf, @purplemochi20055, @hulkchloron99, and @r3dp4nd4ch1ld

----

I decided to bust out my drawing tablet and use Photoshop again to create a comic for The 40, and I will say...it's a start for me to brush up on my digital illustration skills.

Izuku has come a long way after his year-long intense training regiment compared to his Pre-Character Development self. But the most gracious physical feat he had performed that would make Bakugou jealous and All Might proud, was being able to catch a bullet fired from a revolver.

I was looking over Alan Moore's well-known comic, Watchmen, and was greatly interested in Ozymandias' character and the astonishing physical and mental feats he's able to perform after dedicating himself to training his mind and body by retracing the steps of Alexander the Great by traveling the world. The one thing that interests me about how he managed to become what he is, is through his interview in the second to last issue. Where Adrian firmly believes that anyone can do what he can achieve, as you need to have the belief and willpower to see it through.

And what do you know...Izuku manages to do the impossible after the many trials that await him in the year-long intense training regiment. Reacting immediately upon seeing an unknown assailant pull a revolver on him, and summoning all of his willpower and technique to time his catching of the bullet correctly. However, like with Ozymandias, Izuku's skin was damaged from the bullet due to the obvious friction from the speed it had. But it's still a great accomplishment compared to his pre-training self, as the bullet would've burst through his hand and killed him, never mind the idea that he could actually catch it.

----

Afterward reaction from the other members of The 40.

Spike Spiegel: Shhiieeeeeeeeettt kid...you actually caught it...

Levi Ackerman: Well I'll be damned...

Zuko: Izuku...you did it.

Korra: That...was the most craziest thing you have ever done.

Saitama: ...Good for him...

Mob: That was close!

Edward Elric: How is that possible?

Ishigami Senku: That can't be scientifically possible!

Gojo: Bwa ha ha ha! Amazing!

Hanako: That was close.

Souma: Holy crap!

Mako: Whoo hoo Izuku-kun!

Kobayashi: That was too close for comfort!

Tohru: (worryingly) Izuku-kun!

Chika: Hmm...I must keep a close eye on this one.

Haruka: ...Huh...

Naegi Makoto: He actually caught it!

Ciel Phantomhive: That was...impressive...

Katsuki Yuuri: That took some insane reaction speed.

Shouyou Hinata: Go for it Izuku!

Saiki Kusuo: I knew he would catch it. Looking at you Omnitheist27.

Suzui Ryōta: I wouldn't take a gamble like that.

Heine Wittgenstein: He has come a long way.

White Blood Cell / Neutrophil (U-1146): The medulla oblongata must be very active for him to do that.

Satō Mafuyu: ...

Hasegawa Langa: ... 

Killua Zoldyck: While impressive for someone like Izuku, I've seen greater reaction time.

Kamado Tanjirou: Yeah! Izuku-san!

Kuroko Tetsuya: ...

Okumura Rin: I've got to train harder if I want to do that.

Fujioka Haruhi: That really was close.

Emma: Go Izuku!

Serinuma Kae: I've got to read Observepeople again!

L: To possess the will needed to pull that off...

Shiota Nagisa: I'm not sure if I want to do that...

Legoshi: So humans are capable of such feats.

Suzuki Iruma: I wonder if learning to catch a bullet would come in handy for school?

Fujinuma Satoru: That...is something you don't see every day.

Feliciano Vargas (North Italy): I'm starting to get flashbacks of Japan wanting to cut bullets.

----

Canon MHA cast reaction:

Midoriya Inko: (bawling) IZZUUUUUKKUUU!!!

All Might: (in English) Oh my...oh my...GOODNESS!!!

Bakugou Katsuki: Tch! I would've caught it as well!

Uraraka Ochako: You did it Deku-kun!

Iida Tenya: WHILE I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND SUCH ACTION, I WILL ADMIT MIDORIYA-SAN'S EFFORT!

Todoroki Shouto: Midoriya...

Asui Tsuyu: That was reckless Midoriya-san, but good job.

Mineta Minoru: HE'S INSANE!!! Although he was pretty cool.

Kirishima Eijiro: MANLY!!!

Shinso Hitoshi: Could I do that...

Togata Mirio: POWER!!!

Izumi Kota: Kick his ass Izuku!

Eri: D-D-Do your best Deku!

Shouta Aizawa: (to the rest of Class 1-A) If I catch any of you performing a stunt like that...

[pandemic-info]

Fungal microbiota sustains lasting immune activation of neutrophils and their progenitors in severe COVID-19 | Nature Immunology

We found that elevated levels of Candida albicans immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies marked patients with severe COVID-19 (sCOVID-19) who had intestinal Candida overgrowth, mycobiota dysbiosis and systemic neutrophilia.

...

These findings suggest that gut fungal pathobionts may contribute to immune activation during inflammatory diseases, offering potential mycobiota-immune therapeutic strategies for sCOVID-19 with prolonged symptoms.

study in Nature Immunology suggests that an excess of certain gut fungi, including Candida albicans, may contribute to severe COVID-19 or long COVID-19 through inflammation; antifungal treatments in mice showed potential in alleviating these effects.

study in Nature Immunology suggests that an excess of certain gut fungi, including Candida albicans, may contribute to severe COVID-19 or long COVID-19 through inflammation; antifungal treatments in mice showed potential in alleviating these effects.

[science-lover33]

Complement system

1. Activation: The complement system can be activated through three main pathways: the classical pathway, the alternative pathway, and the lectin pathway. Each pathway involves different initiating events but converges on a common cascade of reactions.

2. Cascade of Reactions: Once activated, the complement system triggers a cascade of enzymatic reactions that result in the cleavage of complement proteins. This cascade ultimately leads to the formation of several key components, including C3b, C4b, and C5b.

3. Opsonization: C3b and C4b are opsonins, which means they can bind to pathogens and label them for phagocytosis by immune cells like macrophages and neutrophils. This enhances the removal of pathogens from the body.

4. Inflammation: Complement activation also results in the release of small peptides called anaphylatoxins, such as C3a and C5a. These peptides promote inflammation by increasing blood vessel permeability and attracting immune cells to the site of infection.

5. Membrane Attack Complex (MAC): The final step of complement activation involves the assembly of the membrane attack complex (MAC). C5b, C6, C7, C8, and multiple C9 molecules come together to form the MAC, which can create pores in the membranes of target cells, leading to cell lysis and destruction of pathogens.

References:

1. Walport, M. J. (2001). Complement. First of two parts. New England Journal of Medicine, 344(14), 1058-1066.

2. Ricklin, D., Hajishengallis, G., Yang, K., & Lambris, J. D. (2010). Complement: a key system for immune surveillance and homeostasis. Nature Immunology, 11(9), 785-797.

3. Merle, N. S., Church, S. E., Fremeaux-Bacchi, V., & Roumenina, L. T. (2015). Complement system part I – molecular mechanisms of activation and regulation. Frontiers in Immunology, 6, 262.

Please note that for the most current and detailed medical information on the complement system, I recommend consulting recent textbooks or academic journals in immunology and microbiology.

[robinlmaoo]

SO I WAS PLAYING WITH A PICREW AND HAD A BRAINWAVE

i present to you…

cells at work ✨MAGIC AU✨

ok i know this may sound absurd (and not medically accurate at ALL) but hear me out

picrew link btwwww: https://picrew.me/en/image_maker/22819

ramble under the cut:

The Body

The Body is a vast magical kingdom inhabited by many different types of Cells (what the inhabitants of this world are called). The Cells work in tandem to keep their kingdom up and running, with each cell having their own unique role to play. Monsters sometimes come through rips in space-time that sometimes appear in the sky, or through the portals which the kingdom attains its fuels and nutrients its needs to survive. So, the Cells have to be ever vigilant against these foreign invaders lest they seek a bit of their flesh too.

Here are just some of the residents of this strange world:

B-Cells (also known as Plasma Cells)

(this is my oc, b-1808…)

B cells are magic warriors who shoot holy/magic water (antibodies) from their palms at monsters (bacteria) to vanquish them. basically hydrokinesis but antibodies! They are often seen with Memory Cells in battle, who I will elaborate more on in the next part:

Memory B Cells (or just memory cells)

(this is my other oc, N-1712)

Memory Cells are long-lived acolytes that dedicate their entire lives to studying past attacks on the kingdom by foreign invaders and remembering information on them to help the immune system (The Body’s defence force, basically) fight them off better in the future.

1196 and 1146 respectively! (i’m sorry they didn’t have black eye color so i had to settle for the darkest which was purple 😭

Neutrophils (more commonly known by the umbrella term White Blood Cells) are ghost-like warriors who can warp their body into a cloud of mist-like substance to engulf bacteria, destroying them from the outside in. This often grotesque process is known as phagocytosis. Many of them also carry with them blades to subdue their opponents before “eating” them. The morbidity of the way they fight leads many cells in the body to be afraid of them, and this is the reason why there is a lot of stigma and discrimination surrounding Neutrophils.

Red Blood Cells (also known as Erythrocytes)

aa1253 and ae3803 ^^

For a long time, it was thought that Red Blood Cells were just ordinary cells who just so happened to like the colour red way more than the average Cell does. Turns out, they’re the only race of Cell who can carry one of the most important fuel substances for The Body to sustain itself— Oxygen. Many other cells simply cannot even handle this curious substance, with it slipping between their hands like air, but only, and only Red Blood Cells seem to carry it with ease. That is why they run around The Body, delivering Oxygen that comes from The Lungs, to other organs who need this vital resource to keep running.

Not only are Erythrocytes couriers of Oxygen, they possess a curious ability to kill off foreign invaders using the oxygen they have on hand— if any Erythrocyte is brave enough to walk up to a bacteria to challenge it, anyway. This process has been coined Oxycytosis, though many Red Blood Cells dislike doing this as it robs them of their precious oxygen and they have to go all the way back to The Lungs to get another batch of it.

Macrophage

Macrophages live complicated lives. For one, you can see them caring for and raising young blood cells in the nurseries of the Bone Marrow, but then you can also find them around the body ruthlessly killing off any foreign invaders who dare to harm the body they reside in. They have the ability of phagocytosis too, though it is not as well known as Neutrophil’s phagocytosis.

Dendritic Cell

These kinds of cells are kind of like messengers, relaying information between the active and innate immune system, like from Macrophage to Helper T Cell. They can be activated using Polysaccharides made from Lactic Acid Bacteria, and that allows them to in turn, activate other cells, releasing cytokines to “motivate” them to fight harder.

It is noteworthy that they also possess some fighting capability themselves, as immune cells, so they are not one to be kicked around!

Eosinophil’s phagocytosis and Bacteria/Virus fighting capabilities may pale in comparison to those of other immune cells, but don’t underestimate her. She eliminates a whole different kind of pathogen other white blood cells can’t eliminate— parasites, like Anisakis etc.

Ok that’s it i’m tired you get more another day bye

[biology-geology-beaches-india]

TSRNOSS, page 73.

[giulliadella]

WE HAVE SOLVED THE MYSTERY OF WHY CELLS HATE NEUTROPHILS SO MUCH IN CAW

So, last night, my boyfriend and I got into some random discussion about programmed cell death and some new breakthroughs in medicine, you know, the usual things you talk about with your boyfriend at 1 AM. It is well known that leftover bodies of dead cells are phagocytosed (literally consumed) by macrophages. And that’s why I always wondered why aren’t cells scared of macrophages as much as they are of neutrophils, since neutrophils don’t consume the dead cells. With my limited understanding of immunity (which we technically don’t learn a lot about in biology) I thought that neutrophils only consumed invader bacteria and fungi.

And OH BOY was I wrong about that.

Because (and yes I have spent whole night researching this, I’ll provide the links to papers in the end lol) neutrophils are little freaks and not only do they phagocytose leftovers of cells they actually cause them to die in the first place. This happens during infections, especially with viruses that cause the excess release of cytokines (like Coronaviridae). Cytokines activate neutrophils who basically just follow the signal towards the infection site and there all hell breaks loose. Neutrophils phagocytose bacteria and virions (those are viruses that haven’t infected a cell yet) which is fine, but they also degranulate and NETose. I’ll explain this in simple terms to my best ability.

Degranulation is when granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils and mastocytes are all different granulocytes) release their granules which are kind of like little sacks inside their cytoplasm which contain various chemicals. Releasing these chemicals happens when the cell receives appropriate stimulus, the little granules expel their contents out of the cell’s interior. In the case of neutrophils, granules contain very toxic compounds that cause the formation of free radicals which damage DNA and proteins of the surrounding cells, as well as granules filled with digestive enzymes which, well, digest the surrounding tissues.

NETosis is a special type of cell death specific to neutrophils in which they literally degranulate pieces of their own, or their mitochondrial DNA together with more toxic compounds. This creates a net of DNA strands called chromatin which entangles invading bacteria and severely damages them and also marks them for phagocytosis by macrophages. But this process is not well controlled and some of that chromatin and toxic compounds can land onto neighboring cells which is, as you can conclude, very bad for them.

With these two abilities at hand, neutrophils are very well equipped to kill cells and destroy tissue. Which is good in cases when the cells are infected and the tissue is damaged, but their quite aggressive methods can damage healthy cells in the area as well, some of them will die and neutrophils will phagocytose their dead particles. 

Basically, to neutrophils every infection is a huge kill and eat all you can buffet. They literally phagocytose until they physically cannot anymore and then go to the spleen or bone marrow to die. They also allow macrophages to consume them and thus pass on the antigens for antigen presentation which influences further immune response. But they can also cause a lot of damage, especially if cytokine storm happens and they completely lose control. This is what causes SARS and it can kill you if it’s severe enough. 

Biologically speaking, neutrophils are very important because they are the first ones to come to the sight of infection and their crazy methods usually finish the things before they get too severe. They themselves produce cytokines that mobilize macrophages and dendritic cells so that more immune cells can join and help them. They also have a role in repairing the tissues they damaged.

However, other immune cells, including macrophages and killer T cells, simply don’t cause as much damage. Neutrophils just go all out, which is why they live for such a short period of time compared to their colleagues (they live for only few days, compared to macrophages who can live up to a month and lymphocytes who can live for months, even years).

So, yeah, my boyfriend and I have concluded (at 4AM this morning) that neutrophils are so feared because they damage tissue, go crazy and violently kill healthy cells by accident, then consume them and that’s not by accident, it’s a mechanism to repair tissues.

I can’t believe I wasted whole night just for this. My boyfriend is also disappointed. But I hope that we finally have an explanation for this mystery. Tell me what you think lol.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8589350/

https://www.nature.com/articles/nri.2017.105

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5820392/#:~:text=Neutrophils%20contribute%20to%20tissue%20injury,detail%20here%20(Kruger%20et%20al.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

By: Himani Chandna

In India, experts said symptoms attributed to long Covid such as fatigue and concentration issues may overlap with common paediatric conditions like stress, anaemia, or viral syndromes, leading to underreporting

Children experience weakened immunity and bacterial infections after suffering from long Covid-19 syndrome, a study published in the medical journal Nature has revealed.

Persistent fatigue was the most common symptom in children with long Covid syndrome, while the majority of children often complained about anxiety.

The study conducted in Budapest, Hungary, investigated children affected by long Covid. The researchers found significant differences in their immune function, which they believe were caused by the Covid-19 infection.

“Neutrophil dysfunction in children with Long Covid syndrome (LCS) may be part of the disease pathogenesis or a predisposing factor," concluded the authors of the study published on November 27.

The researchers focused on a type of white blood cell called neutrophils, which plays a crucial role in combating infections, particularly bacterial ones. They discovered that children with long Covid had neutrophils that were functionally impaired.

“For instance, their ability to attack and swallow harmful bacteria such as Staphylococcus was impaired. This might correlate with the rise of multiple bacterial infections that were reported in Western nations among children after the onset of the pandemic," explained Rajeev Jayadevan, chairman, research cell, at the Indian Medical Association’s Kerala wing.

“After an expected drop following lockdowns, Group A streptococcal infection among younger children had surged in 2022, some of which turned severe. Whether this immune dysfunction accompanying long Covid was responsible for these additional infections is unclear."

What does the study say? To enhance the accuracy, the authors included both healthy children and those who had recovered without complications from Covid-19. Among the children with long Covid, seven of 10 experienced fatigue, while half had a loss of interest and difficulty concentrating. There was no difference in long Covid symptoms between vaccinated and unvaccinated children.

Long Covid Syndrome (LCS) children experienced significantly more symptoms, impairing their quality of life and functioning compared to CG+ group or convalescent children who have recovered from something like a febrile illness.

“Neutrophilic granulocyte dysfunction was found in LCS children, with decreased superoxide-producing activity and phagocytosis compared to CG+. The number of children with LCS complaints correlated significantly with altered neutrophil effector functions," said the study titled ‘Long COVID syndrome in children: neutrophilic granulocyte dysfunction and its correlation with disease severity’.

Neutrophilic granulocyte dysfunction is a problem with a specific type of white blood cells called neutrophils, which are important for fighting infections. These neutrophils are called granulocytes because they contain granules that help them destroy pathogens.

The neutrophils in children with LCS produce less of a molecule called superoxide, which is a chemical used by neutrophils to kill bacteria and other pathogens. Hence, it means that these neutrophils are less effective at destroying and cracking down on harmful invaders like bacteria.

When compared to the CG+ control group who did not have long Covid, their neutrophils did not show these problems.

The number of children with LCS complaints correlated significantly with altered neutrophil effector functions, which means that the severity or presence of symptoms in children with long Covid was closely related to the dysfunction of these neutrophil activities (superoxide production and phagocytosis). In other words, the more severe the symptoms of long Covid, the more likely there was an issue with the neutrophils’ ability to perform these critical immune functions.

However, in India, experts said they are not encountering many such cases in their clinical practice.

“We are not encountering such cases in large numbers. It likely reflects the low prevalence or a shift in disease dynamics," said Dr Maninder Dhaliwal, an expert in paediatric pulmonology at NCR-based Amrita Hospital.

“Another side to the story is that symptoms attributed to long Covid (e.g. fatigue, concentration issues) may overlap with common paediatric conditions like stress, anaemia, or viral syndromes, leading to maybe underreporting."

However, doctors pointed out that this study doesn’t translate to actionable diagnostic tools, therapeutic strategies, or preventive measures, but seems currently to serve more as academic knowledge.

“However, for children presenting with lingering fatigue, brain fog, or other long Covid symptoms, this knowledge may prompt closer monitoring or referral to the right specialists (e.g., immunology, neurology)," Dhaliwal added.

[dragonpigeons]

Hey guys, I wrote two accounts of my time in hospital and after for anyone interested. The first is posted here. The second I will post separately.

Update: Link to Part 2 is here.

---------------

Account I.

Hospital & After: The Physical & Medical Aspects of My Recovery

CW: bodily fluids, blood, needles, minor injuries.

》 Written with Twitter format in mind, edited for Tumblr.

i.

My family and I, we lived a normal existence. My mother was healthy. My father enjoyed a laid-back life but was otherwise healthy. My brother had lactose intolerance but was otherwise fit and healthy.

I had lived a normal life for the past three decades. I was regarded as fit and healthy. I liked to be active. I went for walks often. I ate a balanced diet. I got over illnesses normally. I had no allergies.

The symptoms began 2-3 years ago. More worries started to accumulate. There were more things to consider, more to do, and more to take responsibility for. And, damningly, what seemed like less time to have to deal with them all.

Everything was piling up in me physically. My body was hoarding all the things I wasn't facing and running away from. My body began to suffer under the weight of it all.

My body was slowly dying.

In May ‘24, my ankles started swelling. It built up quickly over the month and reached up my legs and hips. I finally went to my GP. She saw how serious it was via blood & urine tests. My results were off the charts. I was sent to the hospital right away.

At the hospital, they saw my blood count dropping. I had to have a blood transfusion. It helped my bloods somewhat, but I was still building up fluid and wasn't passing much urine. There was still something wrong with my body. I was still unwell.

They did more blood tests and found an antibody reading, which was also off the charts. The doctors told me I had SLE lupus nephritis. My own body was attacking my kidneys, which meant I couldn't pass urine and get rid of the fluid retention.

ii.

I was given a number of injections and IVs over the next few days. A boost to my low WBCs and neutrophils, prophylactic antibiotics, insulin to lower my potassium level, glucose to keep my blood sugars up, steroids to stabilise the lupus and stop the levels from rising higher.

Soon after, they put me on daily steroids in tablet form, along with a bunch of other pills - antibiotics, antifungal, antirheumatic, minerals, diuretics. They seemed to help keep my body stabilised. Though I did start getting side effects and symptoms.

I had insomnia and woke up often in the night. I also began having strange dreams. They felt like everything was submerged underwater. I couldn't understand what people were saying or doing. Also, my bowels were acting up, and I had to go to the toilet often.

All the while, my swelling continued to increase. I had to wait a few days to be transferred to another hospital. It became more difficult to stand and walk day by day. It was like moving with a bunch of clay wrapped around my feet and legs.

The only people I ended up talking to on a daily basis were my mother, who came to visit me every day with home cooked meals, and my brother via DMs. Everything just got too much, too fast. I had to make a lot of life-critical decisions in a short span of time.

Despite all that, I did find myself with time to think. I found myself thinking how crazy it was that my own body would choose to attack itself. I also found myself accepting that it did and what it meant.

Lupus was here to stay. Lupus would be my companion for life.

iii.

In the meantime, my kidney function dropped to 10%. I had a kidney biopsy done. The results were on the lighter side. There was no scarring but a lot of inflammation. The glomeruli were damaged quite severely, but they would be able to recover. My kidneys could heal.

Something interesting happened during all of this mayhem. I had small swollen lymph nodes for the past two years, which finally went away after the first antibiotic and steroid IVs. It was like the trash had been taken out. I felt I could think clearly for the first time in years.

One of the things I realised was that for nearly all my life, I had been caught up in the most trivial of things. Am I being ignored? Did I do something wrong? Do people even like my art? Does anyone actually like me?

I had used my energy on the wrong things. I came to realise, within the four white walls of my minimally-furnished ward room with a crappy plastic bed to sleep on, the more important things in life. Family. Friends. Community. Network.

The doctors proceeded to the next phase of my treatment. Though lupus had been stabilised by the steroids, my immune system needed to be suppressed in order to lower the levels.

Cyclophosphamide is a chemotherapy drug and, at standard doses, is the standard used to treat lupus patients. They explained the procedure and the risks. The first main risk was hemorrhagic cystitis. The second was infertility.

Since I didn't want children, it was a simpler decision for me to make. I had my first dose of the drug the next day. I didn't feel anything. The doctors told me it would kick in after 7-10 days.

Throughout the days, they continued to poke me like a pin cushion, checking my daily blood levels. My arms and hands were covered in bruises by the end. Some nurses were better than others. One had a shaky hand. I bled and bruised with them the most.

On my last day, the trend in my blood results showed improvement. My kidney function went from 10 to 14%. I was discharged that afternoon and waited for my meds. I chatted with an elderly man. I had chocolate biscuits. I was content.

iv.

My father picked me up and drove me back home. I took my first step out of the hospital after two weeks. Though it was summer, the weather greeted me with a cool, cloudy ambience. I opened my arms and welcomed it. I breathed in the fresh air. I smiled.

I was happy to be back in a comfortable bed and in the company of my family again. The environment was much better, more peaceful. I wasn't disturbed at odd hours of the night by nurses checking my vitals or giving me meds to eat.

My troubles weren't exactly over yet. I continued to have heart palpitations, and my swelling continued to increase over the next two days. I got worried that I would no longer be able to move. I feared I would have to be bed bound.

On the third day of being home, I finally felt myself getting lighter. I was passing more urine and going to the toilet more often. I gained 20kg+ since the start of the swelling. I went from 70+ down to 67 by day five.

On day six, things hit me like a truck. The chemotherapy drug had kicked in. My heart palpitations were hard and numerous. I grew exhausted. Even getting up to go to the toilet took so much out of me. I was down for the count for the following days.

I had to think about how to spend my energy each day. I prioritised eating, resting and going to the toilet. If I had an appointment, I'd try to prepare the day before. There were periods where I'd have more energy, and I'd make use of those.

Eventually, it did get easier as I learned how to manage my symptoms. Eat well, but don't overeat to reduce my palpitations. Eat fibre to keep the bowels moving. Drink fluids to keep hydrated. Rest often to conserve my energy.

v.

Since then, I've been getting better as the days go. It's been a rough and bumpy ride throughout. My symptoms and needs seem to change by the day. I have to adjust through trial and error.

Sometimes I get it wrong. Sometimes I get it right. Often, there's conflicting info on the Web. I have to take it all with a grain of salt (which is almost literally all I can have with my kidney injury) and find what works for me. I've learnt a lot. There's still more to learn.

Every day brings something new. I still get scared when something unwanted or unexpected happens. I still panic and rush to resolve the problem as if a meteor is about to hit the planet. I'm learning to just stop and do nothing. Calm myself. Observe.

I'm a high-strung person who tends to jump to the worst conclusions. I believe that with enough discipline and focus, I can change this for the better. It will take patience. It will take time. Something I thought I didn't have enough of. Now I know that I do.

There is time for everything. I just have to make it by cutting out the unnecessary and focusing on what truly matters.

Before, I squandered my time and energy. Now, I will spend them wisely as I recover and return to a new normality.

---

[science-sculpt]

The Immune System's All-Star Team: The Mighty Cells That Protect You

Your body is like a bustling city, constantly facing threats from outside invaders like viruses and bacteria. Thankfully, you have a team of dedicated defenders keeping you safe: your immune cells! Our immune system is a marvel of biological defense, tirelessly safeguarding our bodies from harmful invaders like bacteria, viruses, and parasites. At the forefront of this defense are numerous types of immune cells, each with its unique functions and capabilities. Did you know the average adult has about 2 trillion white blood cells, which contain most immune cells? That's more people than live in China! These tiny warriors come in different shapes and sizes, each with unique superpowers to protect you. Let's meet some of the key players:

The Innate Force: First up, we have the innate immune system. This frontline defense acts fast and nonspecifically, providing immediate protection against any threat. The key players: 1. Neutrophils: Think of these guys as the city's SWAT team. They're the first responders, rushing to attack invaders with toxic chemicals and swallowing them whole with their arsenal of enzymes! These are the most abundant immune cells, are short-lived but highly effective. Unfortunately, they die in the fight, leaving behind a green gooey mess (pus) that signals infection.

2. Macrophages: These are the veterans, the wise generals of the immune system. They go beyond mere engulfing, processing antigens (foreign molecules) and presenting them to other immune cells for recognition and attack. They also act as scavengers, cleaning up debris and orchestrating healing. These are the cleaners and recyclers. They gobble up dead neutrophils, debris, and even worn-out cells, keeping your city sparkling clean.

3. Natural Killer (NK) Cells: These are the ninjas of the immune system. They silently patrol, sniffing out suspicious cells infected with viruses or even cancer and eliminating them with a swift punch. The Adaptive Arsenal:

The Adaptive Arsenal: If the innate system fails, the adaptive immune system steps in. This highly specific defense remembers past encounters and tailors its response to each unique threat. The cells of adaptive immune system are:

B Cells: These are the antibody factories, producing highly specific proteins called antibodies that neutralize pathogens and toxins. Each B cell produces a unique antibody, like a lock and key, targeting specific invaders. They whip up special proteins called antibodies that lock onto specific invaders, like sticky notes, marking them for destruction.

T Cells: These are the generals, coordinating the entire defense. There are different types of T cells:

Helper T Cells: These are the commanders, directing and coordinating the immune response through chemical signals. They activate B cells, macrophages, and other immune cells, orchestrating a multi-pronged attack.

Cytotoxic T Cells: These are the elite soldiers, directly targeting and eliminating infected cells or cancer cells. They recognize and bind to specific enemy markers, unleashing a lethal attack.

Memory T Cells: These are the veterans, remembering past encounters with invaders and helping the immune system respond faster next time.

The Unsung Heroes: Beyond these main players, numerous other immune cells contribute to our defense. These include:

Dendritic cells: These antigen-presenting cells capture and process pathogens, presenting their fragments to T cells for activation. They're like the scouts, gathering enemy intel and relaying it to the command center.

Mast cells: These cells reside in tissues and release inflammatory chemicals in response to allergens or parasites. They're like the alarm system, alerting the immune system to local threats.

Eosinophils: These specialize in fighting parasitic infections, releasing toxic chemicals to neutralize them.

Basophils: These are involved in allergic reactions and contribute to wound healing.

The beauty of the immune system lies in its intricate collaboration. These diverse cell types work together in a complex and beautiful dance, each playing a specific role to achieve a common goal: protecting our health. They communicate extensively through chemical signals, creating a complex network of interactions. Imagine B cells producing antibodies that bind to a pathogen, flagging it for destruction. Macrophages engulf and eliminate the tagged pathogen, while T cells coordinate the attack and eliminate any infected cells. Dendritic cells present captured fragments to T cells, priming them for future encounters. This seamless cooperation ensures a swift and effective response to any threat.

Your immune system is constantly learning. Each time you get a vaccine or fight off an infection, your immune cells create memory T cells, making you more resistant to future attacks. Understanding these cellular heroes can help us appreciate the incredible machinery that keeps us healthy and appreciate the importance of maintaining a strong immune system. It also allows us to make informed decisions about supporting our immune system. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, getting adequate sleep, managing stress, and consuming a balanced diet can all contribute to a robust immune response.

[theoddvet]

Have some cool Signet Ring cells scattered through a very active yet sterile pleural effusion consisting of vacuolated macrophages, neutrophils, and rather upset mesothelial (lining) cells!