Reptilian Innate Immunology and Ecoimmunology: What Do We Know and Where Are We Going?

Reptiles, the only ectothermic amniotes, employ a wide variety of physiological adaptations to adjust to their environments but remain vastly understudied in the field of immunology and ecoimmunology in comparison to other vertebrate taxa. To address this knowledge gap, we assessed the current state of research on reptilian innate immunology by conducting an extensive literature search of peer-reviewed articles published across the four orders of Reptilia (Crocodilia, Testudines, Squamata, and Rhynchocephalia). Using our compiled dataset, we investigated common techniques, characterization of immune components, differences in findings and type of research among the four orders, and immune responses to ecological and life-history variables. We found that there are differences in the types of questions asked and approaches used for each of these reptilian orders. The different conceptual frameworks applied to each group has led to a lack of unified understanding of reptilian immunological strategies, which, in turn, have resulted in large conceptual gaps in the field of ecoimmunology as a whole. To apply ecoimmunological concepts and techniques most effectively to reptiles, we must combine traditional immunological studies with ecoimmunological studies to continue to identify, characterize, and describe the reptilian immune components and responses. This review highlights the advances and gaps that remain to help identify targeted and cohesive approaches for future research in reptilian ecoimmunological studies.

Rural cardiac rehabilitation: a 20-year success story.

INTRODUCTION: Data are lacking on long-term participation in a clinically supervised cardiac rehabilitation program in a rural setting. We sought to determine whether there were sustained improvements in physiologic measures and discover what restorative and deteriorative processes took place over time. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of patients who were enrolled for a least 1 year in the Healthy Hearts Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. Data from stress tests were tracked for up to 18 years to determine whether there were any sustained improvements and what factors were associated with restorative and deteriorative processes. RESULTS: We analyzed data from 85 participants. The mean age of the participants was 72 years, and the mean length of participation was 8 years. Duration of stress testing significantly (p < 0.01) increased by a mean of 15% from the first year to the second year, with a corresponding increase in estimated metabolic equivalent of task (MET) level (Cohen d = 0.82). The increase in duration was sustained into the ninth year, with an overall increase of 35% compared with the first year of testing. After the ninth year, the duration and estimated MET levels declined. CONCLUSION: Participants in the cardiac rehabilitation program demonstrated improved duration of stress testing, and stable rate-pressure product, blood pressure and resting heart rate during long-term participation in the program.

INTRODUCTION: On manque d'information sur la participation à long terme aux programmes de réadaptation cardiaque avec supervision clinique en milieu rural. Nous avons donc cherché à déterminer si ces programmes entraînent une amélioration physiologique permanente et à décrire les processus de guérison et d'aggravation qui surviennent au fil du temps. MÉTHODES: Nous avons procédé à une analyse rétrospective des dossiers de patients qui ont participé au programme Healthy Hearts pendant au moins 1 an. Des données sur leurs résultats aux épreuves d'effort sur une période maximale de 18 ans ont été recueillies pour déterminer la présence d'améliorations durables et mettre en évidence les facteurs associés à la guérison et à l'aggravation. RÉSULTATS: Nous avons étudié les dossiers de 85 patients; la durée de participation moyenne était de 8 ans, et l'âge moyen des participants, de 72 ans. La durée de l'épreuve d'effort a connu une augmentation significative de 15 % en moyenne (p < 0,01) de la première à la deuxième année, associée à une hausse correspondante de l'équivalent métabolique (MET) estimé (d de Cohen = 0,82). Cette augmentation s'est poursuivie jusqu'à la neuvième année, où la durée était supérieure de 35 % à celle de la première année. Par la suite, la durée de l'épreuve et le MET estimé ont commencé à diminuer. CONCLUSION: Au cours de leur participation prolongée au programme, les patients ont réussi à augmenter la durée de leur épreuve d'effort, et le produit de leur tension systolique par la fréquence des contractions cardiaques, leur pression artérielle et leur fréquence cardiaque au repos sont demeurés stables.

Comparing adjustment to an ostomy for three groups.

Three groups of persons with fecal ostomies (those with permanent ostomies as a result of disease (n = 13), those with temporary ostomies as a result of disease (n = 16), and those with temporary ostomies as a result of trauma (n = 18) were interviewed with various instruments to explore the psychosocial impact of an ostomy. The three groups did not differ significantly with respect to their scores on the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale, the Reintegration to Normal Living Index, or the Meaning in Life Scale. Those with a temporary ostomy as result of trauma had significantly higher Escape-Avoidance, Positive Reappraisal, Accepting Responsibility, and Planful Problem Solving subscores on the Ways of Coping instrument. The differences in coping scores may relate to adjustment to the violent act at the same time as the ostomy. These observations add to ostomy research because research about persons with temporary ostomies, especially those caused by a gunshot injury, is scarce.