By Kristine Burneko, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, APHN-BC Introduction Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines the tridirectional interaction of psychological processes, neurological activity, and immune function. Within clinical practice, PNI provides the mechanistic foundation for mind–body medicine, an evidence-based approach that complements conventional biomedical care by enhancing psychophysiological regulation and response to concurrent treatmen

Imagine this, you’re sitting in class, tissues stacked like a fortress, eyes watering like you just watched the saddest anime scene ever, and your nose is running like it has a personal vendetta. Every five minutes it’s another “achoo!” You wonder, “Am I cursed, allergic, or just catching a cold AGAIN?” Knowing the difference actually saves you a ton of suffering. A person sneezing. Allergic rhinitis and common cold are often confused. People take the wrong meds, suffer unnec

A Vulnerable Airway Lining: Where Asthma Begins Asthma begins in the thin lining of the airways, which normally acts like a protective shield against allergens, pollution, smoke, and other irritants. In people with asthma, this protective layer becomes weakened and “leaky.” The tiny connections between airway cells loosen, allowing irritants to slip through more easily. When this happens, the airway lining sends out distress signals -called alarmins- that alert the immune sy

Have you ever had smallpox? It’s a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that killed an estimated 300 to 500 million people in the 20th century. If you were born in 1980 or later, you most likely haven’t had it. This is because, in 1980, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared smallpox eradicated. But how? Population immunization is a public health strategy that protects communities from infectious diseases by using vaccines. The more people who are vaccinated, the

Vaccines are one of the most powerful assets in medicine, as they prevent countless infections and save many lives each year. Their success comes from their ability to train the immune system by teaching it how to recognize and respond to disease-causing pathogens without causing illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and Cleveland Clinic, vaccines expose the body to a harmless version or component of a pat

Introduction In recent years, a new class of cancer treatments called T-cell engagers (TCEs) has begun to change how doctors think about fighting cancer. These therapies work by bringing the body’s own immune system directly into battle against cancer cells, a powerful idea that’s now turning into reality. T-cell engagers are a type of “bispecific antibody”, meaning they can attach to two different targets at once: one part of the drug binds to a cancer cell, and the other pa

Introduction CAR-T cell therapy stands as one of the most groundbreaking innovations in cancer treatment in recent years. By “reprogramming” a patient's own immune cells to recognize and attack cancer cells, this personalized therapy offers the prospect of cure for various hematologic malignancies—including lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma. Yet behind the miracle of CAR-T lies a significant economic burden. Due to its highly complex manufacturing and administration pr

By Vanessa Muller, PharmD As a pharmacist in Washington State, I see every day how access to vaccines protects our communities. The ability for patients to walk into a pharmacy and receive recommended vaccines without delay isn’t a coincidence, it reflects deliberate state policies designed to make prevention straightforward and equitable. In September 2025, Washington joined California, Oregon, and later Hawaii to form the West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA) a regional partner

All of us are familiar with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, popularly known as HIV, as it has been one of the most dreaded viruses in the world for a long time. HIV infection has long been one of the world’s most challenging and stigmatised conditions, and despite decades of awareness efforts and scientific progress, misconceptions still surround it. Once you contract HIV, unfortunately, there is no cure. However, advances in treatment and prevention have transformed HIV in

Introduction Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common type of adult leukemia and one of the most aggressive blood cancers. It mainly affects older adults and is marked by the rapid buildup of abnormal white blood cells that crowd out healthy ones. Standard treatments like chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation can help some patients, but many—especially older individuals—either cannot tolerate these treatments or eventually relapse. In recent years, scientists have

Image from VUMC NEWS Influenza viral infection causes the flu- We have all had the flu and experienced the symptoms that come along with it, including fever, chills, coughing, runny nose, fatigue. Generally, within a few days we are able to recover, however, there are some individuals that are at high risk to whom the flu can be quite dangerous. Generally, we are accustomed to the fact that every year there are seasonal flu outbreaks and epidemics, however, there can also be

By Anne Denk, RN, BSN   People often have a fever when they are sick. A fever is a tool the immune system uses to fight off infection. Neutropenic fever occurs in individuals with a low neutrophil count. Neutrophils are the most common type of white blood cell. Neutrophils are the first cells that attack foreign intruders in the body. They fight off infection. When someone has a low neutrophil count and a fever, it is referred to as “neutropenic fever.” Many things can cause

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common autoimmune inflammatory neurological disease. Around 2.2 million people are affected by this condition globally, and it presents with a wide variety of symptoms. When you have MS, your body’s own defence system, also known as the immune system, mistakenly attacks healthy parts of the nervous system. This causes damage to the protective covering around nerve fibres, or myelin, through a process called demyelination. As a result, the t

Understanding Peanut Allergy and the Role of Palforzia   Peanut allergy affects 1-2% of people in the United States, making it one of the most common food allergies (1). This happens when the immune system mistakes proteins in peanuts for harmful substances. When this occurs, the body releases chemicals that trigger allergic reactions, which can range from mild symptoms to life-threatening anaphylaxis (2).   Peanuts are legumes, not tree nuts, and are related to soybeans, pea

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease which affects the structure of neurons. While there is no known exact cause for multiple sclerosis, there are treatments available to change the course of the disease.

I first heard about PANDAS when I was around ten years old, and to be honest it sounded unreal. The idea that harmless strep throat could spark lasting changes in a child’s behavior felt more like fiction than fact. Yet, for many families, PANDAS is a life-changing reality. What Exactly Is PANDAS? PANDAS stands for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections.  It’s a subset of a broader condition known as PANS ( Pediatric Acute-on

The Hidden Risk in Childhood Allergies Severe allergic reactions, known as anaphylaxis, can become fatal within minutes. In the United States, deaths among young children are rare, but when they occur, they highlight preventable gaps in recognition, treatment, and equitable access to care. How Common Are Fatal Allergic Reactions? National data from 1999–2010 recorded 2,458 anaphylaxis-related deaths across all ages. Most involved medications in older adults, but fatal food re

When we think about the protective mechanisms our body utilizes to protect us against infections, the first thought is our immune system....

In the United Kingdom, around 9,700 women are diagnosed with endometrial (womb) cancer annually, making it the most common gynaecological...

Allergies occur when the body’s immune system overreacts to usually non-harmful foreign substances. For example, when you ingest, inhale,...