The immune function is closely related to iron (Fe) homeostasis and allostasis. The aim of this bioinformatics-assisted review was twofold; (i) to update the current knowledge of Fe metabolism and its relationship to the immune system, and (ii) to perform a prediction analysis of regulatory network hubs that might serve as potential biomarkers during stress-induced immunosuppression. Several literature and bioinformatics databases/repositories were utilized to review Fe metabolism and complement the molecular description of prioritized proteins. The Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) was used to build a protein-protein interactions network for subsequent network topology analysis. Importantly, Fe is a sensitive double-edged sword where two extremes of its nutritional status may have harmful effects on innate and adaptive immunity. We identified clearly connected important hubs that belong to two clusters: (i) presentation of peptide antigens to the immune system with the involvement of redox reactions of Fe, heme, and Fe trafficking/transport; and (ii) ubiquitination, endocytosis, and degradation processes of proteins related to Fe metabolism in immune cells (e.g., macrophages). The identified potential biomarkers were in agreement with the current experimental evidence, are included in several immunological/biomarkers databases, and/or are emerging genetic markers for different stressful conditions. Although further validation is warranted, this hybrid method (human-machine collaboration) to extract meaningful biological applications using available data in literature and bioinformatics tools should be highlighted.

Despite being preventable and treatable, malaria still puts almost half of the world\'s population at risk. Thus, prompt, accurate and sensitive malaria diagnosis is crucial for disease control and elimination. Optical microscopy and immuno-rapid tests are the standard malaria diagnostic methods in the field. However, these are time-consuming and fail to detect low-level parasitemia. Biosensors and lab-on-a-chip devices, as reported to different applications, usually offer high sensitivity, specificity, and ease of use at the point of care. Thus, these can be explored as an alternative for malaria diagnosis. Alongside malaria infection inside the human red blood cells, parasites consume host hemoglobin generating the hemozoin crystal as a by-product. Hemozoin is produced in all parasite species either in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. Furthermore, hemozoin crystals are produced as the parasites invade the red blood cells and their content relates to disease progression. Hemozoin is, therefore, a unique indicator of infection, being used as a malaria biomarker. Herein, the so-far developed biosensors and lab-on-a-chip devices aiming for malaria detection by targeting hemozoin as a biomarker are reviewed and discussed to fulfil all the medical demands for malaria management towards elimination.

Our report involves a case of hemichorea caused by the nonketotic hyperosmolar state. We have analyzed the clinical data and relevant features of a patient who presented herself to the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University. The patient had unilateral involuntary movements for 1 month. We discovered that her blood glucose levels were very high. The patient underwent computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), indicating right basal ganglia lesion. Control of the patient\'s blood glucose plus supportive treatment resulted in a significant improvement of her clinical state.

Heme proteins perform various biological functions ranging from electron transfer, oxygen binding and transport, catalysis, to signaling. Although adopting proper native states is very important for these functions, progresses in representative heme proteins, including cytochrome c (cyt c), cytochrome b5 (cyt b5), myoglobin (Mb), neuroglobin (Ngb), cytochrome P450 (CYP) and heme-based sensor proteins such as CO sensor CooA, showed that various native functions, or new functions evolved, are also closely associated with non-native states. The structure and function relationship of heme proteins in non-native states is thus as important as that in native states for elucidating the precise roles of heme proteins in biological systems.

Due to the significance of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in biological systems and its practical applications, the development of efficient electrochemical H(2)O(2) sensors holds a special attraction for researchers. Various materials such as Prussian blue (PB), heme proteins, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and transition metals have been applied to the construction of H(2)O(2) sensors. In this article, the electrocatalytic H(2)O(2) determinations are mainly focused on because they can provide a superior sensing performance over non-electrocatalytic ones. The synergetic effect between nanotechnology and electrochemical H(2)O(2) determination is also highlighted in various aspects. In addition, some recent progress for in vivo H(2)O(2) measurements is also presented. Finally, the future prospects for more efficient H(2)O(2) sensing are discussed.

Six-coordinated heme groups are involved in a large variety of electron transfer reactions because of their ability to exist in both the ferrous (Fe(2+)) and ferric (Fe(3+)) state without any large differences in structure. Our studies on hemes coordinated by two histidines (bis-His) and hemes coordinated by histidine and methionine (His-Met) will be reviewed. In both of these coordination environments, the heme core can exhibit ferric low spin (electron paramagnetic resonance EPR) signals with large g(max) values (also called Type I, highly anisotropic low spin, or highly axial low spin, HALS species) as well as rhombic EPR (Type II) signals. In bis-His coordinated hemes rhombic and HALS envelopes are related to the orientation of the His groups with respect to each other such that (i) parallel His planes results in a rhombic signal and (ii) perpendicular His planes results in a HALS signal. Correlation between the structure of the heme and its ligands for heme with His-Met axial ligation and ligand-field parameters, as derived from a large series of cytochrome c variants, show, however, that for such a combination of axial ligands there is no clear-cut difference between the large g(max) and the \"small g-anisotropy\" cases as a result of the relative Met-His arrangements. Nonetheless, a new linear correlation links the average shift delta of the heme methyl groups with the g(max) values.

In vitro, human monocytes avidly ingest hemozoin (HZ) that modifies a number of monocyte functions. Inhibitory effects: inhibition of: PMA-elicited respiratory burst, ability to killing and repeat phagocytosis, activity of NADPH-oxidase and PKC, expression of ICAM-1, integrin-CD11c, MHC-class-II (IFN-gamma-mediated), differentiation to functional, antigen-presenting dendritic cells. Stimulatory effects: increase in phagocytosis-related respiratory burst and accumulation of lipoperoxidation products; induction of metalloproteinase-9 and pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Mechanism of action: HZ generates by nonenzymatic catalysis large amounts of lipoperoxidation products, such as monohydroxy derivatives of arachidonic (HETE) and linoleic (HODE) acid, and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE). Several HZ effects were reproduced by supplementation with plausible concentrations of HETE or HNE, the first most likely via interaction with PPAR-receptors, the second via adduct or crosslinks formation with critical targets.

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