Time-dependent variation in immunoparalysis biomarkers among patients with sepsis and critical illness.

Introduction: Immunoparalysis is a state of immune dysfunction characterized by a marked reduction in the immune system's responsiveness, often observed following severe infections, trauma, or critical illness. This study aimed to perform a longitudinal assessment of immune function over the initial two weeks following the onset of sepsis and critical illness.

Methods: We compared ex vivo-stimulated cytokine release from whole blood of critically ill patients to traditional markers of immunoparalysis, including monocyte Human Leukocyte Antigen (mHLA)-DR expression and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC).

Chemical structure characterization of polysaccharides using diffusion ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY).

The potential of DOSY NMR spectroscopy to distinguish the linkage pattern of chemically related polysaccharides was evaluated using β-glucans isolated from yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii). Laminarin from Laminaria digitata was included for chemical shift comparison. Characterization through methylation and 1D/2D NMR analysis showed that all the samples were constituted by →3)-Glcp-(1→; →3,6)-Glcp-(1→; Glcp-(1→ and →6)-Glcp-(1→ linkages.

Time-Dependent Variation in Immunoparalysis Biomarkers Among Patients with Sepsis and Critical Illness.

Immunoparalysis is a significant concern in patients with sepsis and critical illness, potentially leading to increased risk of secondary infections. This study aimed to perform a longitudinal assessment of immune function over the initial two weeks following the onset of sepsis and critical illness. We compared ex vivo stimulated cytokine release to traditional markers of immunoparalysis, including monocyte Human Leukocyte Antigen (mHLA)-DR expression and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC).

Predicting Organ Dysfunction in Septic and Critically Ill Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study Using Rapid Ex Vivo Immune Profiling.

Objectives: While cytokine response patterns are pivotal in mediating immune responses, they are also often dysregulated in sepsis and critical illness. We hypothesized that these immunological deficits, quantifiable through ex vivo whole blood stimulation assays, may be indicative of subsequent organ dysfunction.

Design: In a prospective observational study, adult septic patients and critically ill but nonseptic controls were identified within 48 hours of critical illness onset.

Investigation of the structural and immunomodulatory properties of alkali-soluble β-glucans from Pleurotus eryngii fruiting bodies.

Fungal β-glucans have received a lot of interest due to their proinflammatory activity towards cells of the innate immune system. Although commonly described as (1➔3)-β-glucans with varying degree of (1➔6)-branching, the fungal β-glucans constitute a diverse polysaccharide class. In this study, the alkali-soluble β-glucans from the edible mushroom Pleurotus eryngii were extracted and characterized by GC, GC-MS and 2D NMR analyses.

Comparison of whole blood cytokine immunoassays for rapid, functional immune phenotyping in critically ill patients with sepsis.

Background: Sepsis is characterized by highly heterogeneous immune responses associated with a spectrum of disease severity. Methods that rapidly and sensitively profile these immune responses can potentially personalize immune-adjuvant therapies for sepsis. We hypothesized that the ELLA microfluidic approach to measure cytokine production from the whole blood of septic and critically ill patients would deliver faster, more precise results than the existing optic-driven ELISpot quantification.

Comparing Long-Term Prognosis in Chronic Critically Ill Patients: A Case Series Study of Medical versus Surgical Sepsis.

Chronic critical illness (CCI) is a syndrome characterized by persistent organ dysfunction that requires critical care therapy for ≥14 days. Sepsis and respiratory failure constitute the two primary causes of CCI. A better understanding of this patient population and their clinical course may help to risk-stratify them early during hospitalization.

Preparation of β-Glucan Microparticles with Dectin-1a Binding Properties.

Fungal β-glucans are compounds with the potential to activate the innate immune system, in part through binding to the receptor dectin-1. In the present study, small-scale methods for preparing dectin-1a binding microparticles from alkali-soluble β-glucans were investigated. Mechanical milling was time-consuming and yielded large particles with wide size distributions.

Integrated machine learning approaches for flow cytometric quantification of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in acute sepsis.

Highly heterogeneous cell populations require multiple flow cytometric markers for appropriate phenotypic characterization. This exponentially increases the complexity of 2D scatter plot analyses and exacerbates human errors due to variations in manual gating of flow data. We describe a semi-automated workflow, based entirely on the Flowjo Graphical User Interface (GUI), that involves the stepwise integration of several, newly available machine learning tools for the analysis of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in septic and non-septic critical illness.

Comparison of Rapid Cytokine Immunoassays for Functional Immune Phenotyping.

Background: Cell-based functional immune-assays may allow for risk stratification of patients with complex, heterogeneous immune disorders such as sepsis. Given the heterogeneity of patient responses and the uncertain immune pathogenesis of sepsis, these assays must first be defined and calibrated in the healthy population.

Objective: Our objective was to compare the internal consistency and practicality of two immune assays that may provide data on surrogate markers of the innate and adaptive immune response.

Water-soluble polysaccharides from Pleurotus eryngii fruiting bodies, their activity and affinity for Toll-like receptor 2 and dectin-1.

The mushroom cell wall contains polysaccharides that can activate cells of the innate immune system through receptors such as Toll-like receptors (TLR) and dectin-1. In the present study, Pleurotus eryngii polysaccharide fractions containing a 3-O methylated mannogalactan and (1→3)/(1→6)-β-d-glucans were isolated and extensively characterized by 2D NMR and methylation analysis. Traces of a (1→3)-α-d-glucan and a (1→2)-α-d-mannan were also observed.

The edible mushroom Albatrellus ovinus contains a α-l-fuco-α-d-galactan, α-d-glucan, a branched (1 → 6)-β-d-glucan and a branched (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan.

Albatrellus ovinus, the sheep polypore, is a large, dense mushroom being rich in cell wall material. Polysaccharides were isolated by sequential extraction, enzymatic treatment and analyzed with respect to monosaccharide composition, glycosidic linkages by methylation and GC-MS as well as NMR spectroscopy. A fucogalactan composed of an (1 → 6)-α-d-galactan backbone with single α-l-Fucp residues attached at O-2 was identified in the hot water extract obtained after treatment with a protease and size exclusion chromatography.

Net primary productivity estimates and environmental variables in the Arctic Ocean: An assessment of coupled physical-biogeochemical models.

The relative skill of 21 regional and global biogeochemical models was assessed in terms of how well the models reproduced observed net primary productivity (NPP) and environmental variables such as nitrate concentration (NO), mixed layer depth (MLD), euphotic layer depth (Z), and sea ice concentration, by comparing results against a newly updated, quality-controlled in situ NPP database for the Arctic Ocean (1959-2011). The models broadly captured the spatial features of integrated NPP (iNPP) on a pan-Arctic scale. Most models underestimated iNPP by varying degrees in spite of overestimating surface NO, MLD, and Z throughout the regions.

Structural characterization of a branched (1→6)-α-mannan and β-glucans isolated from the fruiting bodies of Cantharellus cibarius.

A comprehensive characterization of polysaccharides from the chanterelle was performed. Experiments included both linkage analysis by methylation and GC-MS, monosaccharide composition analysis by methanolysis, SEC-MALLS and several NMR experiments including COSY, HSQC, TOCSY, HSQC-TOCSY, NOESY, and HMBC. A 671kDa (1→6)-linked α-d-mannan with single and short (1→2)-linked side chains (WCcF1b) was isolated from the hot water extract, after protease treatment and fractionation by size exclusion chromatography.

Extended glycan diversity in a bacterial protein glycosylation system linked to allelic polymorphisms and minimal genetic alterations in a glycosyltransferase gene.

Glycans manifest in conjunction with the broad spectrum O-linked protein glycosylation in species within the genus Neisseria display intra- and interstrain diversity. Variability in glycan structure and antigenicity are attributable to differences in the content and expression status of glycan synthesis genes. Given the high degree of standing allelic polymorphisms in these genes, the level of glycan diversity may exceed that currently defined.

The polar high molecular weight fraction of the Agaricus blazei Murill extract, AndoSan™, reduces the activity of the tumor-associated protease, legumain, in RAW 264.7 cells.

AndoSan™ is an extract of Agaricus blazei Murill (AbM; 82.4%), Hericium erinaceum (14.7%), and Grifola frondosa (2.

Effects of orally administered yeast-derived beta-glucans: a review.

Yeast-derived beta-glucans (Y-BG) are considered immunomodulatory compounds suggested to enhance the defense against infections and exert anticarcinogenic effects. Specific preparations have received Generally Recognized as Safe status and acceptance as novel food ingredients by European Food Safety Authority. In human trials, orally administered Y-BG significantly reduced the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in individuals susceptible to upper respiratory tract infections, whereas significant differences were not seen in healthy individuals.

Can scientific evidence support using Bangladeshi traditional medicinal plants in the treatment of diarrhoea? A review on seven plants.

Diarrhoea is a common disease which causes pain and may be deadly, especially in developing countries. In Bangladesh, diarrhoeal diseases affect thousands of people every year, and children are especially vulnerable. Bacterial toxins or viral infections are the most common cause of the disease.

Autoactivation of prolegumain is accelerated by glycosaminoglycans.

The cysteine protease legumain participates in several biological and pathological processes including tumour invasion and metastasis. Legumain is synthesized as a zymogen and undergoes pH-dependent autoactivation of the proform in order to reach an enzymatically active form. Here we demonstrate that the naturally occurring polyanionic glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) chondroitin 4-sulphate (C4S), chondroitin 6-sulphate (C6S), chondroitin 4,6-sulphate (C4,6S), heparin, heparan sulphate (HS) as well as chondroitin sulphate (CS)-derived decasaccharides accelerated the autocatalytic activation of prolegumain through ionic interactions in a concentration-, size- and time-dependent manner at pH 4.

The potential of pectin as a stabilizer for liposomal drug delivery systems.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential of different types of pectin as stabilizers for liposomal drug delivery systems. Positively charged liposomes were coated with commercially available and purified low-methoxylated (LM), high-methoxylated (HM) and amidated (AM) pectins. The samples were stored for up to 12 weeks at 4°C, at room temperature and at 35°C.

Do cereal mixed-linked β-glucans possess immune-modulating activities?

β-glucans are known for their immune-modulating properties. However, the heterogeneity of these glucose polymers makes a distinction between the different sources and structures necessary-a fact that has been little allowed for in the literature. We have focused on β-glucans from cereals as they are already used as functional food ingredients due to their established cholesterol lowering effect.

Mesoscale eddies are oases for higher trophic marine life.

Mesoscale eddies stimulate biological production in the ocean, but knowledge of energy transfers to higher trophic levels within eddies remains fragmented and not quantified. Increasing the knowledge base is constrained by the inability of traditional sampling methods to adequately sample biological processes at the spatio-temporal scales at which they occur. By combining satellite and acoustic observations over spatial scales of 10 s of km horizontally and 100 s of m vertically, supported by hydrographical and biological sampling we show that anticyclonic eddies shape distribution and density of marine life from the surface to bathyal depths.

Immunomodulatory activity of dietary fiber: arabinoxylan and mixed-linked beta-glucan isolated from barley show modest activities in vitro.

High intake of dietary fiber is claimed to protect against development of colorectal cancer. Barley is a rich source of dietary fiber, and possible immunomodulatory effects of barley polysaccharides might explain a potential protective effect. Dietary fiber was isolated by extraction and enzyme treatment.

Release and characterization of single side chains of white cabbage pectin and their complement-fixing activity.

A mixture of single side chains from white cabbage pectin were obtained by anion exchange chromatography after applying mild chemical conditions promoting beta-elimination. These pectin fragments were characterized by their molecular weight distribution, sugar composition, 13C-NMR, and MALDI-TOF-MS analysis. These analyses revealed that the large oligosaccharides released by beta-eliminative treatment were composed of alpha-1,5 linked arabinosyl residues with 2- and 3-linked alpha-arabinosyl side chains, and, or beta-1,4 linked galactosyl side chains.

Structural features and complement-fixing activity of pectin from three Brassica oleracea varieties: white cabbage, kale, and red kale.

Leaves of different cabbage species are used both as food and as wound healing remedies in traditional medicine. This supposed wound healing activity might be connected to presence of immunomodulating water soluble polysaccharides. To study this, three different cabbage varieties, white cabbage (W), kale (K), and red kale (RK), were pretreated with 80% ethanol and then extracted with water at 50 degrees C and 100 degrees C for isolation of polysaccharide-containing fractions.