The BIOFIRE System and Your Immune System
The BIOFIRE System offers syndromic testing for infectious diseases, allowing healthcare professionals to choose the appropriate test the first time. Patients benefit from quicker diagnosis and a more specific treatment. Clinicians benefit from a better stewardship of antibiotics. Labs gain efficiency and cost savings.
The BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia plus panel (PN panel) analyzes native sputum endotracheal aspirate, and bronchoalveolar specimens (including mini-BAL) for 33 pathogens that are clinically relevant and antimicrobial resistance genes, with semiquantitative results that take less than an hour.
Respiratory
The burning of biomass (wood plants, trees and other organic material) creates gaseous pollutants and fine particles which negatively impact the respiratory system. Climate change can increase the negative effects of forest fires on the health of humans.
In the United States wildfire smoke is associated with hospitalizations caused by respiratory illnesses like asthma, COPD, and lung cancer. This type of pollution can also increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and is a major contributor to the burden of disease among the most vulnerable populations.
During the COVID-19 epidemic, many communities were exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution resulting from wildfires. However the public health response to this environmental issue has been limited and largely focused on communication about symptom management. This knowledge gap is alarming, given the evidence that smoking and other sources of poor quality air can lead to health issues.
Researchers are currently assessing how to best protect the public's health in the event of future events of this nature. NIH is funding research on this crucial public health issue through the BLUE CORAL study and its successor FIRE CORAL.
First time an prospective study will examine the long-term effects of exposure to smoke from wildfires or other sources. FIRE CORAL enrolls adults who are hospitalized for COVID-19 index episodes and speak English or Spanish, but are not pregnant. The protocol for FIRE CORAL includes a battery of tests in-person that objectively measure the pulmonary function test and lung imaging, as well as functional assessments.
Smoke and other particles can trigger or worsen respiratory conditions such as emphysema, COPD, and pneumonia. There are a variety of steps that can be taken to avoid or lessen the negative health effects from short-term exposures to smoke, including abstaining from outdoor activities when it is possible and wearing the EPA's "N95" mask designed to trap fine particles.
Smoking can cause irritation of the throat and eyes and lead to an irritated nose. To minimize symptoms, drink lots of water and take medicines that help reduce inflammation, such as corticosteroids.
Bloodstream
Your bloodstream is at the forefront of fighting germs that enter your body. Dendritic cells, which are special cells, are like your fire department's call centre; they collect the antigens (molecules that trigger an immune response) from germs that are invading your body and then release proteins that trigger other white blood cells to fight them. The total number of white blood cells, differentials, and band cells increased after firefighters' firefighting activities in comparison to levels after intense exercise without firefighting.
Skin
As the wildfires in California produced smoke and ash into the air this past fall and winter dermatologists were concerned how that could affect the skin of people exposed to it. Maria Wei is a graduate student from University of California, Irvine. She investigates how the extreme pollution from wildfires affects the skin. Her research was published on April 22 2012 in Scientific Reports.
The research of Wei shows that the temperature of the skin changes based on how long the body is exposed to flames. It can take up to two hours for the skin of an individual to reach its "flash point"--the moment at which it starts to burn and then turns ashy. It's crucial not to be close to a fire or campfire, and you should always wear protective clothing if out during a hot or humid day.
While it is important to be vigilant against wildfire-related pollution, there's no way to stop forest fires from happening. Wei is predicting that the number of people suffering from the consequences of wildfires will increase as climate change causes more forests to burn. This means that more people will need to wear hats and long sleeves and thick moisturizers.
Wildfire air pollution can also cause atopic dermatitis to the skin, which is a condition that causes itchy skin in a lot of people. She says that the particles in smoke can clog pores and cause atopic skin to become worse.
Atopic dermatitis may make people more sensitive to UV light. This is often exacerbated by smoke from wildfires. This makes people more likely to seek out tanning salons, and it can also cause the skin to get darker with less protection than they should.
While a fire and ice facial can help lessen the effects of atopic dermatitis it's not recommended for anyone who has an open wound or a rash on their face. This treatment is not recommended for those with active acne or if you are pregnant or nursing. The IS Clinical Tabletop Fire Pit Bowl And Extendable Roasting Sticks - https://www.fireplacesandstove.com/products/tabletop-fire-pit-bowl-with-... & Ice Facial at Novuskin, Las Vegas' premiere membership MedSpa offers a thorough and effective facial that bridges the gap between a mild facial and a peel, without requiring any downtime. It is designed to resurface skin, reduce rosacea, decrease the appearance of acne scars and fine lines and also stimulate cellular renewal. This is a great way to give your skin a radiant glow.
Infections
The human body is comprised of a complex set of organs and tissue which work together to guard against infection. Infections are caused by microscopic organisms like bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungus that invade healthy cells and cause them to reproduce beyond control. When this occurs your immune system can respond by displaying symptoms of illness. The symptoms could range from a swollen or achy nose to stomach upset, but they can also include a fever high or swollen glands. You may also experience a rash. The type of infection and the location can impact the symptoms.
Infections can be spread in a variety of ways, but the most common is through airborne droplets that remain after sniffling or coughing. Bacterial diseases such as strep throat, tuberculosis, meningococcal disease, and Legionnaires' disease spread this way, along with some viral infections, such as the common cold and influenza. Some bacterial infections such as skin infections or sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) such as chlamydia or gonorrhea are transmitted by direct contact with infected tissues or mucous surfaces or indirectly by contaminated surfaces. Certain bacterial infections are transmitted by insects such as ticks, fleas, or mosquitoes.
Viruses, parasites, and other microorganisms are tiny enough to enter your bloodstream and infect your cells. This can result in serious illnesses such as the common cold or AIDS. Fungi can trigger skin conditions like athlete's feet and ringworm, while others infect the lungs and nervous system.
The BioFire Panel utilizes our unique FilmArray Technology to test the bronchoalveolar and sputum samples for a comprehensive listing of pathogens involved in upper respiratory infection. The kit comes with a reagent kit that contains all the chemistry necessary to perform reverse transcription as well as nested multiplex PCR detection in a single machine. It's a simple-to-use tool to assist clinicians in identifying syndromic patterns and treat patients with various respiratory symptoms. This test has been granted an Emergency Use Authorization and is available through bioMerieux's CLIA moderate and www.fireplacesandstove.com - https://www.fireplacesandstove.com/products/black-rectangle-tabletop-bio... high complexity labs.