Differential impact of pegfilgrastim, a recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor, on the neutrophil count of male and female deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii).

Background: An increasing body of research implicates inflammatory processes, including alterations in the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), in the pathophysiology of psychiatric illness. The deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) is commonly studied for its naturalistic expression of compulsive-like behaviour. Towards future efforts to gain an understanding of how innate and adaptive immune processes might be involved in this model, we aimed to study the effects of pegfilgrastim, a pegylated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (g-CSF) analogue, on the NLR of both male and female deer mice.

Ongoing rabies outbreak in dogs of unprecedented scale and human cases in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, South Africa, up to 13 February 2022.

More than 430 cases of rabies have been confirmed in dogs in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality of South Africa since July 2021. We describe the ongoing outbreak, its geographical spread and six related human deaths that have occurred. Further investigation of the outbreak and vaccination of the dog population is required.

Nutritional immunity: the impact of metals on lung immune cells and the airway microbiome during chronic respiratory disease.

Nutritional immunity is the sequestration of bioavailable trace metals such as iron, zinc and copper by the host to limit pathogenicity by invading microorganisms. As one of the most conserved activities of the innate immune system, limiting the availability of free trace metals by cells of the immune system serves not only to conceal these vital nutrients from invading bacteria but also operates to tightly regulate host immune cell responses and function. In the setting of chronic lung disease, the regulation of trace metals by the host is often disrupted, leading to the altered availability of these nutrients to commensal and invading opportunistic pathogenic microbes.

Diabetes Text-Message Self-Management Support Program (SMS4BG): A Pilot Study.

Background: The increasing prevalence of diabetes and costly long-term complications associated with poor glycemic control are issues facing health services worldwide. Diabetes self-management, with the support of health care providers, is critical for successful outcomes, however, frequent clinical contact is costly. Text messages via short message service (SMS) have the advantage of instant transmission at low cost and, given the ubiquity of mobile phones, may be the ideal platform for the delivery of diabetes self-management support.