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Psoriasis is a skin disorder affecting approximately 2–3% of the global population. While research has revealed a strong genetic component, there are few studies exploring the extent to which lifestyle factors influence psoriasis pathogenesis. The aim of this review was to describe the role of lifestyle factors as both a potential cause and treatment for psoriasis. The review also examines the underlying mechanisms through which these lifestyle factors may operate. This narrative review aims to incorporate current knowledge relating to both lifestyle and pathogenetic factors that contribute to and alleviate psoriasis presentation. Studies reporting the effect of an inflammatory diet and potential dietary benefits are reported, as well as insights into the effects of stress, smoking and alcohol, insulin resistance and exercise. Poor nutrition and low Omega 3 fatty acid intake, likely combined with fat malabsorption caused by gut dysbiosis and systemic inflammation, are associated with psoriasis. The data strongly suggest that improvements to disease severity can be made through dietary and lifestyle interventions and increased physical activity. Less conclusive, although worthy of mention, is the beneficial effect of bile acid supplementation. Lifestyle interventions are a promising treatment for psoriasis and its associated co-morbidities. However, gaps and inadequacies exist within the literature, e.g. methodology, absence of a unified scoring system, lack of controlled clinical data and lack of studies without simultaneous usage of biologics or alternative therapies. Future directions should focus on high quality cohort studies and clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well established that vaccination does not affect males and females equally. For example, females generally mount greater antibody responses to vaccination than males, but also suffer more adverse events following vaccination, probably as a result of more robust immunity. Despite this, most researchers in the field of vaccinology do not take biological sex into account when conducting their studies. This omission is likely to lead to a loss of important information in terms of both reactogenicity and immunogenicity following vaccination as well as those suffering adverse events. It also suggests that the vaccine dose in males and females may need to be different in order to achieve the same outcome of protective immunity while minimising reactogenicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccines that do not take a comprehensive endpoint view of the pathogen population they want to tackle early in their developmental process, may find it financially prohibitive to redesign them once they have progressed down a costly regulatory and human trial pathway. Specifically, the lead malaria vaccine candidate RTS,S has limited ability to tackle parasite polymorphism and may induce sex-specific nonspecific effects (NSEs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In Guinea-Bissau we conducted a randomized trial of OPV0 versus No OPV0 to test the effect of not receiving OPV0 on infant mortality and morbidity. In two subgroups of participants, 6-week-old children and 6-month-old children, we investigated the effect of OPV0 on neutralizing antibodies against poliovirus type 1 and 3. Design A subgroup of infants randomized to receive OPV0 or No OPV0 in addition to the usual childhood vaccines were visited at home at 6 weeks or 6 months of age, and a blood sample was collected from the child and the mother. Setting Urban Guinea-Bissau. Main outcome Geometric mean titers (GMT) of neutralizing antibodies and seropositivity (titer ⩾ 1:8) for poliovirus type 1 and 3. Results OPV0 did not affect the overall seropositivity at 6 weeks or 6 months of age for either polio 1 or 3. In 6-week-old infants, not receiving OPV0 was associated with significantly lower GMT for polio 1 and 3 (GMT ratio = 0.52 (95% CI = 0.33–0.79) for polio 1; 0.44 (0.28–0.70) for polio 3), the effect being significant in its own right in boys and in children whose mothers had low antibody levels. In contrast, in 6-month-old infants, not receiving OPV0 was associated with significantly higher GMT for polio 1 (GMT ratio = 2.10 (1.32–3.35)). This was significant in its own right in boys and in children of mothers with high antibody levels. Conclusions OPV0 may contribute to early polio protection, particularly in children of mothers with low antibody levels. However, OPV0 did not contribute to overall polio immunity after subsequent doses of OPV were given, and was associated with significantly lower antibody titers in children of mothers with high antibody levels. However, it did not negatively affect the proportion of seropositive children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Vaccines have non-specific effects (NSE) on subsequent morbidity and mortality from non-vaccine related infectious diseases. Thus NSE refers to any effect that cannot be accounted for by the induction of immunity against the vaccine-targeted disease. These effects are sex-differential, generally being more pronounced in females than males. Furthermore, the NSE are substantial causing greater than fifty percent changes in all cause mortality in certain settings, yet have never been systematically tested despite the fact that millions of children receive vaccines each year. As we strive to eliminate infectious diseases through vaccination programmes, the relative impact of NSE of vaccines on mortality is likely to increase, raising important questions regarding the future of certain vaccine schedules. A diverse group of scientists met in Copenhagen to discuss non-specific and sex-differential effects of vaccination, and explore plausible biological explanations. Herein we describe the contents of the meeting and the establishment of the ‘Optimmunize’ network aimed at raising awareness of this important issue among the wider scientific community. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Parenteral quinine is the most frequently used first line treatment for severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the developed world. Quinine is known to have a number of toxic side effects including cardiotoxicity, ototoxicity and ocular toxicity. Many therefore advocate routine monitoring of quinine levels for patients receiving parenteral therapy. This paper reviews current evidence on the usefulness of quinine level monitoring in the context of 73 adult patients with severe P. falciparum malaria managed by the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London. Combining data from these patients with a comprehensive literature review, we conclude that routine quinine level monitoring in all patients receiving parenteral therapy is seldom appropriate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: We report a female patient with cytomegalovirus (CMV) terminal ileitis and CMV viraemia, associated with a metastatic goblet cell carcinoid (GCC) tumour of the appendix. She was treated with ileocaecal resection followed by ganciclovir. We highlight the importance of vigilant histopathological assessment and discuss the existing literature on gastrointestinal CMV infection in immunocompetent patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• BCG vaccination reduced IFN-γ and MCP-1 responses to heterologous stimulants. • HBV vaccination alone did not alter heterologous cytokine responses. • Males overall produced more IFN-γ and TNF-α compared with females. • HBV co-administration influenced the heterologous effects of neonatal BCG vaccination in a sex-differential manner. Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and hepatitis B (HBV) vaccines are frequently given concomitantly at birth. Neonatal BCG vaccination induces off-target immunological effects. Whether HBV vaccine has immunomodulatory effects is unknown. As off-target effects might vary when vaccines are given simultaneously, this randomised controlled trial aimed to evaluate the influence of neonatal vaccination with BCG and/or HBV on heterologous immune responses. A total of 185 neonates in Australia were randomised to receive either neonatal BCG-Denmark vaccine, HBV vaccine, both (BCG + HBV group), or none (No vaccine group). In-vitro responses to heterologous stimulants were assessed 7 days after vaccination. The influence of (i) randomisation group and (ii) sex on interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) responses was analysed using linear regression. Overall, BCG vaccination alone or with HBV co-administration reduced IFN-γ and MCP-1 responses to heterologous stimulants. HBV vaccination alone did not alter heterologous cytokine responses. In general, males produced more IFN-γ and TNF-α than females. We observed a sex-differential effect in relation to the influence of HBV co-administration on the effect of BCG on heterologous responses. Compared with males in the No vaccine group, males in the BCG + HBV group had lower IFN-γ and MCP-1 responses. In contrast, compared with females in the No vaccine group, females in the BCG group had higher IFN-γ response and lower MCP-1 responses. Neonatal BCG vaccination resulted in lower cytokine responses to unrelated pathogens. HBV co-administration did not have a significant impact on responses overall but influenced the heterologous effects of neonatal BCG vaccination in a sex-differential manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria vaccines aim to induce long lasting protective immunity. Bejon and colleagues propose that levels of rapidly induced (effector memory) interleukin-2 and interferon gamma producing T-cells after vaccination with leading pre-erythrocytic stage vaccines predict the induction of resting memory responses (central memory). Herein we discuss Bejon''s findings in the context of current thinking on the generation and maintenance of T cell memory, with particular emphasis on the role of cytokines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine (BCG), one of the most widely used vaccines, does not only provide protection against tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections, but also has non-specific (heterologous) immunomodulatory effects. In participants in a randomised trial, we investigated the effect of neonatal BCG immunisation on antibody responses to routine infant vaccines given in the first year of life. Antibodies against antigens in the diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines were measured in 91 (45 BCG-vaccinated, 46 BCG-naïve) infants one month after, and in 310 (169 BCG-vaccinated, 141 BCG-naïve) infants seven months after immunisation at 6 weeks, 4 and 6 months of age. In addition, antibodies against meningococcus C, Hib , measles, mumps, and rubella were measured in 147 (78 BCG-vaccinated, 69 BCG-naïve) infants one month after immunisation at 12 months of age. The seroprotection rates for each vaccine and the geometric mean concentrations (GMC) of antibodies were compared in BCG-vaccinated and BCG-naïve infants. At 7 months of age, seroprotection rates were high in both BCG-vaccinated and BCG-naïve infants. At 13 months of age, seroprotection rates were lower than at 7 months of age, particularly for pertussis and a number of pneumococcal antigens, with generally higher rates for the latter in BCG-vaccinated infants. Although not statistically significant, antibody responses in BCG-vaccinated infants were consistently higher against diphtheria, tetanus, and pneumococcal antigens at both 7 and 13 months of age, and against measles and mumps at 13 months of age, but were lower against Hib one month after immunisation at both 7 and 13 months of age. The immunomodulatory effect of BCG on antibody responses to heterologous vaccines adds to the evidence that BCG immunisation at birth has broad heterologous effects on the infant immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged from Wuhan in China before it spread to the entire globe. It causes coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) where mostly individuals present mild symptoms, some remain asymptomatic and some show severe lung inflammation and pneumonia in the host through the induction of a marked inflammatory 'cytokine storm'. New and efficacious vaccines have been developed and put into clinical practice in record time, however, there is a still a need for effective treatments for those who are not vaccinated or remain susceptible to emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant strains. Despite this, effective therapeutic interventions against COVID-19 remain elusive. Here, we have reviewed potential drugs for COVID-19 classified on the basis of their mode of action. The mechanisms of action of each are discussed in detail to highlight the therapeutic targets that may help in reducing the global pandemic. The review was done up to July 2021 and the data was assessed through the official websites of WHO and CDC for collecting the information on the clinical trials. Moreover, the recent research papers were also assessed for the relevant data. The search was mainly based on keywords like Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, drugs (specific name of the drugs), COVID-19, clinical efficiency, safety profile, side-effects etc.This review outlines potential areas for future research into COVID-19 treatment strategies. • More than one year to the COVID-19 pandemic, still no effective drug treatment exists so far. • We have summarized the drugs showing both positive effect and negative effects for their future application. • Veklury (Remdesivir) is the only FDA-approved drug for adult and pediatric patients • Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycin, colchicine and Ivermectin has been removed from the list of potential drugs. • Tocilizumab and Sarilumab has been proven to work and are currently under trials. • Though, Remdesivir has been licensed for emergency and provisional use in different countries, it is not terribly effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]