Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease. When the immune system malfunctions, it causes the skin cells to regenerate faster than normal. This results in rapid cell turnover and a red, scaly rash that covers the skin and can affect all parts of the body, even the fingernails.
We knew that if you inject these nanoparticles into an animal model, the nanoparticles get taken up by antigen presenting cells and this resulted in increased regulatory T-cells and decreased inflammatory disease. However, we did not know how this happens,
"I'm heartbroken to share, due to serious illness, I am unable to perform and very regrettably have to cancel our Stray Cats tour. I know this affects so many people and I am devastated to have to deliver this news. I've been trying everything I can to go on and do these shows, but it is just not possible. I've been looking forward so much to being on stage with my band mates again and playing for all of our amazing fans, and I'm gutted."
Last year, building my career and staying focused on my profession mattered the most to me. I didn't have time for really anything else. I'm used to powering through things. I'm a military spouse and I'm raising kids, but over the course of several months, I noticed my health was declining in ways that didn't feel like typical burnout. I found out I was suffering from the effects of two undiagnosed autoimmune conditions: rheumatoid arthritis and Hashimoto's disease.
I frequently meet patients with lupus whose disease has caused severe neuropsychiatric symptoms, and watching them emerge from their cognitive cocoons after immunosuppressive treatment is always breathtaking. Other autoimmune neurologic phenomena can present in equally bizarre ways. Some people with antiphospholipid syndrome-a condition associated with the formation of blood clots-can experience chorea (involuntary muscle movements)or acute changes in cognition (one of my patients was diagnosed after becoming markedly confused).
Why do 80% of patients with autoimmune diseases, like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroiditis and multiple sclerosis, report that their symptoms first appeared after a period of extreme stress? On first blush, this association seems counter intuitive. When one is stressed, large amounts of the stress hormone cortisol are pumping through your body, and cortisol is amongst the most potent anti-inflammatory hormones your body makes. Logically, when you are stressed, your immune system should be tuned down - not turned up as in autoimmune diseases.