The Human Immune System - Assignment Example

? THE HUMAN IMMUNE SYSTEM by Data Presentation andAnalyzing Data for WBC, Cytotoxicity, and Serum levels for the 34 tested contaminant-exposed volunteers is rearranged in descending order to present the largest and the small values recorded in the tests. This is repeated in all categories as dictated by the time factor of 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. The relevance and inclusion criterion for this arrangement is due to the fact that data is presented randomly and does not match particular test subjects. Therefore, rearranging the data to follow a numerical chronology makes it easy for analyzing with regards to values and figures. The analysis was simulated using DASSGUI software upon which frequencies are generated for both control subjects and contaminant-exposed volunteers. Results are chronologically analyzed to indicate the highest and lowest figures of the collected data as dictated by the time intervals as well as their frequencies as dictated by the size of the data. From the analysis of the data, the p-value is that the control volunteers exhibited lower figures in the Serum Ig levels and higher WBC count in all periodic categories. For the contaminant-exposed volunteers, p-values of >0.1 and not more than 0.75 were used with the range of 0-1 applied. True and false values were determined by the data set that is featured in the p-value scale between0.5-1.0 and 0.0-0.49 respectively. With regards to the examined data, the contaminant-exposed volunteers exhibited higher cytotoxicity as compared to the control volunteers (n= 34 for every data set). However, regarding the number of volunteers subjected to the test, it is obvious that some entries in both categories differed remarkable such that, control volunteers in some cases have more cytotoxicity levels than contaminant-exposed volunteers. Graph 1: Contaminant-exposed volunteers (Appendix A) Graph 2: Control Volunteers (Appendix B 2. Measuring Parameters Measuring Cell Mediated Cytotoxicity by Post Labeling Surviving Target Cells The commonly accepted technique for measuring the cell mediated cytotoxicity is the 51 Cr release assay (CRA). However, some disadvantages are shown when this assay uses human peripheral blood mononucleated cells as effector & target cells. There is a low uptake of 51 Cr by PHA simulated lymphocytes to the random release. In attempts to develop cytotoxicity assay recommended for humans, the use of 14 C-TdR is recommended to label surviving cells after touching base with effector cells (Porzsolt, et al. 2008). Measuring Total White Blood Cell (WBC) Count WBC can be measured in two different ways: firstly, the total number of WBC in a microliter of blood, expressed as an absolute number of ‘X’ thousands of WBC; and secondly, percentile expression of each of the five white blood cells (also known as differential method). Measuring Total Serum Immunoglobulin Using the paper radioimmunosorbent testis used in the measurement of total serum immunoglobulin for patients with type I hypersensitivity. This is tested using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Helminthic antigens, DiA (Dirofilariaimmitis), SetariadigitataSeA, and BrugiaMalayi (BmA). DiA and BmA are saline extracts of worms from adults and can be obtained from the Laboratory for Parasitic Diseases, USA, NIH, and/or NiAND. SeA is an extract of the tissue culture medium RPMI 1640. Sera from control groups and patients are tested at a dilution of 1/800 (Gonzalez-Quintela et al. 2010). 3. Further Matching of Test Subjects Alcohol Consumption Influence on the results of the test is likely to be affected by more than just age, sex, and absence of pre-existing diseases. Alcohol consumption in test subjects will influence the results because the serum IgA levels increase parallel with alcohol consumption. Heavy drinkers are likely to showcase the highest Serum IgA levels as compared to abstainers. On the contrary, Serum IgG and IgM do not showcase the same behavior as they tend to decrease for moderate drinkers as compared to abstainers. These observations are likely due to the fact that Serum IgA is higher in alcoholic cirrhosis than non-cirrhotic alcohol liver disease (Taal, et al, 1980). Serum IgG concentrations are lower in moderate drinkers than abstainers (Buckley, 1986). Smoking Smoking will influence the results of the test given that it tends to lower the IgG levels for smokers than for non-smokers. IgA and IgM levels in smokers and non-smokers do not have a significant difference. This is because smoking is negatively associated with low IgA levels. As such, smoking will influence the results, hence, the relevance of matching the test subjectsin this category as well. Metabolic Abnormalities With regards to testing immunoglobulin levels, obesity tends to increase the IgA levels. In addition, it is found that serum IgA levels are increased in individual with any metabolic abnormality such as abnormal obesity, hyperglycemia, high blood pressure, and hypertriglyceridemia. However, according to contemporary research, IgA elevations in patients with obesity and metabolic syndrome rare unknown. Regardless of whether the association between metabolic abnormalities and elevation of serum IgA levels are unknown, test subjects have to be matched according to their conditions to avoid mixed up or inaccurate data in other categories (Martin, et al. 1984). 4. Other Parameters For Contaminant-Induced Immuno-Modulation In Humans Circulatinglymphocyte subpopulations Going by the specification of the test at hand, the presence of pre-existing diseases is a controlled variable that has no effect to the study results. However, controlling for the pre-existing disease variable, circulating lymphocyte subpopulations is another parameter that can be measured. Its association with pre-existing disease is that it is affected by cell-mediated immune mechanisms in diabetes mellitus. In poorly controlled diabetes cases, marked depression of lymphocyte transformation upon which, diabetes is classified as a pre-existing disease which may temper with the PHA response of reflecting to inadequately correct metabolic disturbance. However, study shows that genetics are not associated with circulating lymphocyte subpopulations and effects on immunologic abnormality. This parameter is measured by flow cytometry and cell-mediated immunity. Cytokine Levels Cytokine levels make a parameter that can be considered in the testing of contaminant-induced immune-modulation in humans. With regards to the fact that corticosteroids inhibit T-cell proliferation in antigen simulation of T cells. For patients with stiff-man syndrome, high doses of steroids induce remission regardless of the fact that no effects on antibody titres may be witnessed. Hence fore, the overdose of steroids may cause stiff-man syndrome upon which contamination of the body may result to aninduced remission – Cytokine levels are therefore considerable candidates as contaminant-induced immune-modulation-testing parameters (Piccolo, et al. 1988). Reference List Buckley, R. H. (1986), Humoral Immunodeficiency. ClinImmunolImmunopathol. 1986;40:13–24. [PubMed] Gonzalez-Quintela, A., Alende, R., Gude, F., Campos, J., Rey, J., Meijide M., Fernandez-Merion, C., & Vidal, C. (2010), Serum Levels of Immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM)) in a general adult population and their relationship with alcohol consumption, Smoking, and Common Metabolic Abnormalities.ClinImmunolImmunopathol. Martin, D.M., Vroon DH, Nasrallah SM. (1984), Value of Serum Immunoglobulins In The Diagnosis Of Liver Disease. Liver,4th ed.:214–18. [PubMed] Piccolo G, Cosi V, Zandrini C, et al. (1988), Steroid-Responsive And Dependent Stiff-Man Syndrome: A Clinical And Electrophysiologic Study In Two Cases. Ital J NeurolSci;9. pp. 559–77. Porzsolt, F., Goldman, S., Heit, W., Heimpel, H. (2008), Measurement of Cell Mediated Cytotoxicity by Post-Labeling Surviving Target Cells.John Wiley & Sons, , p. 33. Taal, B.G., Schalm S.W., de Bruyn, A.M., de Rooy FW, Klein F.(1980), Serum Igm in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis. ClinChim Acta;108:457–63. [PubMed] APPENDIX A: Screenshot of Contaminant-exposed Volunteers Analysis APPENDIX B: Snapshot of Control Volunteers’ Analysis Read More