Type 2 inflammatory responses involve both innate and adaptive immune systems and are triggered by exposure to infectious pathogens and environmental antigens, as for example helminths, allergens, and venoms. These responses are characterized by activation of T helper 2 cells and subsequent release of type 2 cytokines, such as interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13, […]
Leprosy—also known as Hansen’s disease—is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae (and, less commonly, Mycobacterium lepromatosis) that results in severe, disfiguring skin sores and peripheral nerve damage in the arms, legs, and skin areas around the body. It’s most prevalent in the developing world, where living conditions are poor and people struggle to access sufficient […]
Peripheral nerve injuries may have devastating consequences—the extent of these consequences is determined by the amount of cellular damage, the site of the lesion, the degree of disruption of the connective-tissue sheaths that surround the nerve, the extent of associated injuries (especially vascular injuries) and the age and health of the patient. In the peripheral […]
Macrophages—the big eaters of the immune system—reside in most tissues. They’re plastic, and change their function depending on the environmental cues they receive. Therefore, they play many different roles. Results from a new study highlight one of these new roles, until now unknown—macrophages grab the broken ends of blood vessels and stick them back together. […]
The world of autism is a diverse one—autism and autism spectrum disorder are general terms for a group of complex and extremely heterogenous life-long neurodevelopmental conditions. Autism is also one of medicine’s greatest challenges. The current general consensus is that autism has multiple causes, and these causes can be as varied as the types of […]
Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is characterized by a gradual and then quickening and irreversible loss of memory and cognitive functioning, with associated behavioral changes. Gerontologist Laura Wayman says: “I tell family caregivers that they need to start thinking of a loved one’s brain like a piece of Swiss cheese, which has […]