The BIOFIRE System and Your Immune System

The BIOFIRE System offers syndromic testing for infectious illnesses, allowing healthcare professionals to choose the appropriate test first time. Patients benefit from faster diagnoses and more targeted treatment. Clinicians benefit from better antibiotic stewardship. Labs save money and increase efficiency.

The BioFire Pneumonia Plus Panel (PN panel) analyzes native sputum (including mini-BAL) as well as endotracheal sludge and bronchoalveolar liquids (including mini BAL) for 33 clinically important pathogens and resistance genes to antimicrobials in an hour.

Respiratory

The burning of biomass (wood, plants and other organic material) produces gaseous pollutants and fine particles of matter that negatively impact the respiratory system. Moreover, the environmental problems caused by forest fires like droughts, may be amplified by climate change, thereby increasing their negative impact on human health.

In the United States, wildfire smoke has been associated with hospitalizations for respiratory illnesses, including asthma, COPD and lung cancer. Furthermore, this type of air pollution can be an underlying risk factor for cardiovascular disease and a significant contributing factor to the burden of illness in the most vulnerable populations that include those who are of lower socioeconomic status (SES).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many communities were exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution due to wildfires. The response to public health has been limited to a communication campaign on managing symptoms. This knowledge gap is concerning considering the evidence of potential health risks from continued exposure to smoke and other sources of poor air quality.

Researchers are now looking at how to best protect the public's health in the event of future events of this nature. NIH is funding research on this important public health issue through the BLUE CORAL study as well as its successor, FIRE CORAL.

First time, a prospective study will assess the long-term effects of exposure to smoke from wildfires and other sources. FIRE CORAL enrolls adults who are hospitalized for COVID-19 index episodes and who speak English or Spanish but aren't pregnant. The Fire Coral protocol includes a series of in-person assessments that objectively assess pulmonary function testing and lung imaging, as well as functional assessment.

Smoke and other particles can trigger or worsen respiratory conditions like emphysema COPD, and pneumonia. Smoke exposure can have negative consequences for health. To minimize or avoid these effects, you should avoid outdoor activities and use the EPA "N95" mask. This mask is designed to capture small particles.

Smoke can also cause irritation to the throat and eyes and can cause the nose to run. To minimize symptoms, drink lots of water and take medication to reduce inflammation, such as corticosteroids.

Bloodstream

The bloodstream is your first line of defense against germs that enter your system. Dendritic cells, which are special cells, are like the fire department's call center; they collect the antigens (molecules that trigger an immune response) from invaders and release proteins that signal other white blood cells to come fight them. The total number of white blood cells, differentials, and band cells increased following firefighters' firefighting activities in comparison to levels after strenuous exercise without fire-fighting.

Skin

As the wildfires in California released smoke and ash into the air during winter and fall dermatologists were concerned how that could affect the skin of those who were exposed to it. Maria Wei, a graduate student at University of California, Irvine, is studying how extreme wildfire pollution affects the skin. Her research was published in Scientific Reports on April 22nd.

The research of Wei shows that the temperature of a person's skin varies based on how long the body is exposed to flames. It can take up to two hours for the skin to reach its flash point--the point at which it burns and then turns ashy. It's important not to stay near a fire pit or campfire, and you should always wear protective clothing when out on a hot or humid day.

While it's essential to be aware of the dangers of fire-related pollution, there's no way to stop forest fires from happening. Wei predicts that as climate change causes forests to burn more quickly, the number of people suffering from wildfires will rise. This means that more people will need to wear hats and long sleeves and also thick moisturizers.

It's also worth knowing that atopic dermis (itchy skin) that many people suffer from is often exacerbated by the air pollution from wildfires. It is believed that this is because the particles in smoke can clog pores, making the condition worse.

Another issue is that atopic dermatitis is known to make people more sensitive to UV light, which can be aggravated by smoke from wildfires. This can lead to people looking for tanning salons and apply a tan with less protection.

A treatment using ice and fire can help reduce atopic skin conditions however it is not recommended for anyone with an open wound or rash. Those with active acne should avoid it, and if you're pregnant or breastfeeding it is recommended to stay clear of this treatment completely. The IS Clinical Fire & Ice Facial at Novuskin, Las Vegas' most prestigious membership MedSpa, is an intensive and effective facial that bridges the gap between a mild facial and a peel without having to wait for any downtime. It's designed to resurface the skin, reduce the appearance of rosacea, lessen acne scarring, reduce wrinkles, and promote cell renewal. It's an amazing treatment that will give you a radiant glow.

Infections

The human body is a multi-faceted network of organs and tissues that work to shield us from infection. Infections can be caused by microorganisms such as parasites, viruses, and bacteria that infect healthy cells, causing them to multiply uncontrollably. When this happens your immune system can react by displaying symptoms of illness. These symptoms can range from a runny nose to an upset stomach as well as an increase in fever, swelling of lymph glands, or a rash. The type of infection and its location can impact the symptoms.

Infections can spread in different ways, but the most common is through droplets in the air that remain after sniffling or coughing. https://www.fireplacesandstove.com/categories/bioethanol-fireplaces is how bacterial diseases like strep, tuberculosis and meningococcal disease, as well as viral infections such a common cold and influenza, spread. Some bacterial infections such as skin infections or sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) such as gonorrhea or chlamydia are spread through direct contact with affected tissues or mucous surfaces or indirectly through contaminated surfaces. Some bacterial diseases are transmitted by bugs such as mosquitoes, ticks or fleas. They can be transmitted when they bite you.

The virus and the parasites are small enough to penetrate your bloodstream and infect your cells which can lead to serious diseases such as the common cold and AIDS. Fungi cause many skin conditions such as ringworm and athlete's foot, while some affect the lungs or the nervous system, like the rabies virus.

The BioFire PN Panel utilizes our unique FilmArray technology to analyze an extensive list of pathogens that are involved in upper respiratory infections in sputum or the bronchoalveolar lavage samples. The kit comes with a reagent bag that contains all the chemistry necessary to perform reverse transcription, nested multiplex PCR and detection with a single machine. It's a simple-to-use tool to aid clinicians in identifying and treat patients with various respiratory symptoms. The test has been approved as an Emergency Use Authorization and is available through bioMerieux's CLIA moderate and high-complexity labs.