Immune System News and Research

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TNF therapy does not raise cancer risk in RA patients; overall cancer risk comparable to those not taking immunosuppressive drugs

A recent study by Swedish researchers found that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients did not experience an elevated cancer risk in the first 6 years after starting anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy.

29 Oct 2009

Scientists identify genetic mutations that may put individuals at increased risk of fungal infections

Two genetic mutations that may put individuals at increased risk of fungal infections have been identified by scientists from UCL and Radboud University, increasing understanding about the genetic basis of these infections and potentially aiding the development of new treatments.

29 Oct 2009

U.S. Department of Defense funds Rush University Medical Center for gastrointestinal microorganism research

The human body contains billions of microorganisms, and microbial cells found in the human gut are estimated to outnumber human cells by ten-to-one in healthy adults. However, little is known about the ways in which these minute life forms influence health and disease.

28 Oct 2009

Pure Protein develops soluble Class II human leukocyte antigens

Pure Protein, L.L.C., a biopharmaceutical company specializing in diagnostic and therapeutic reagents for use in immunology research and development, has announced that Chief Scientist William Hildebrand, Ph.D., and his team, have developed soluble Class II human leukocyte antigens (HLA). This represents a significant technology breakthrough that can dramatically impact multiple pharmaceutical and medical sectors and has enormous market potential. Autoimmune disease is a key area of interest for HLA research and product development.

28 Oct 2009

Third quarter 2009 financial results announced by DJO

DJO Incorporated (“DJO” or the “Company”), a global provider of medical device solutions for musculoskeletal health, vascular health and pain management, today announced financial results for its operating subsidiary, DJO Finance LLC (“DJOFL”), for the third quarter of 2009, ended September 26, 2009.

28 Oct 2009

Fastest supercomputer used to create an evolutionary genetic HIV family tree

Supporting Los Alamos National Laboratory's role in the international Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology (CHAVI) consortium, researchers are using the Roadrunner supercomputer to analyze vast quantities of genetic sequences from HIV infected people in the hope of zeroing in on possible vaccine target areas.

28 Oct 2009

Scientific breakthrough to derive human parthenogenetic stem cell lines from unfertilized human eggs

International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO) (www.internationalstemcell.com) and Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York (RMA of New York) have shown that immature, unfertilized human eggs can be used to create “parthenotes” from which human parthenogenetic stem cell lines may be derived. Immature eggs are normally discarded during standard in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures due to their inability to create an embryo.

28 Oct 2009

BPA-free Bornfree baby bottles reduce colic and middle-ear infections

Parents looking to protect their babies from potentially harmful chemicals are today being advised to buy BornFree(TM), the world's leading brand for baby bottles and feeding devices free from Phthalates, PVC and Bisphenol-A (BPA), which is now available across the UK.

28 Oct 2009

Roche's high-throughput sequencing technology used for high-resolution HLA genotyping

A study published this month in the journal Tissue Antigens reports that researchers at Roche Molecular Systems in Pleasanton, CA have used high-throughput sequencing technology from 454 Life Sciences, a Roche Company, to carry out high-resolution human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotyping in research samples.

27 Oct 2009

Starting Grant from ERC to LMU junior researchers

Two junior researchers from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit-t (LMU) in Munich shall each receive a Starting Grant from the European Research Council (ERC). Professor Jens Michaelis, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Privatdozent Dr. David V-hringer, Institute of Immunology, shall receive grants amounting to 1.4 and 1.7 million Euros over five years. With its Starting Grant, the ERC supports highly creative researchers in order to encourage pioneering frontier research.

27 Oct 2009

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics presents additional data from its ICT-107 Phase I clinical trial

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd., a biotechnology company that is focused on the development of novel immune-based cancer therapies, today announced additional data from its Phase I clinical trial evaluating ICT-107, the Company’s dendritic-cell based cancer vaccine product candidate for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

27 Oct 2009

NCMLS organises immunology congress at Nijmegen

How do cells in our immune system recognise dangerous invaders and hazardous cells, such as cancer cells? Answers to this and similar questions are evolving rapidly. A large contributor worldwide to the field of immunology is the NCMLS, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences of the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre. The NCMLS is organising an important scientific congress on this very topic, for which the absolute world top immunology experts are coming to Nijmegen.

27 Oct 2009

Adenosine deaminase enzyme therapy offers hope for priapism

For men coping with painful erections lasting for long periods of time, or priapism, new research published online in The FASEB Journal (http://www.fasebj.org) offers hope. That's because researchers from the United States and China show that the enzyme adenosine deaminase may prevent priapism from progressing to penile fibrosis, a condition associated with the build up of scar tissue and eventual impotence.

27 Oct 2009

Comprehensive, risk-based screening guidelines for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers

Drawing on years of experience in cancer research and patient care, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center released today the most comprehensive, risk-based screening guidelines publicly available to date for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers.

27 Oct 2009

Issuance of patents for Idera Pharmaceuticals' TLR-targeted compounds announced

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDRA) today announced the issuance of patents covering its novel Toll-like Receptor (TLR) - targeted compounds. The Company’s TLR-targeted compounds are based on synthetic DNA and RNA, which it refers to as immune modulatory oligonucleotides, or IMO®.

27 Oct 2009

Mechanisms to control protein organization and cell-cell interaction in the immune system discovered

In a process essential to the immune system's response to infection, dendritic cells responsible for identifying pathogens communicate with the T-cells that destroy the infectious agents. To achieve this, the dendritic cells must be correctly activated and migrate to the lymph nodes where they must adhere firmly to T-cells.

27 Oct 2009

Arzerra drug approved by FDA for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Arzerra (ofatumumab) for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a slowly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

27 Oct 2009

Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease may be at risk for developing non-melanoma skin cancer

Findings from a new retrospective cohort study presented at the American College of Gastroenterology's 74th Annual Scientific meeting in San Diego indicate that patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), especially those receiving the thiopurine class of medications to treat IBD, may be at risk for developing non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC).

27 Oct 2009

Sperm can transmit HIV to macrophages and dendritic cells

Sperm, and not just the fluid it bathes in, can transmit HIV to macrophages, T cells, and dendritic cells (DCs), report a team led by Ana Ceballos at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina.

27 Oct 2009

FDA files complaint against sandwich manufacturer; company allegedly failed to correct violations

The U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has filed a complaint for permanent injunction against Rel's Foods Inc. (Rel's), of Oakland, Calif., seeking to stop the company from manufacturing, producing, and selling adulterated food products.

27 Oct 2009

Immune System News and Research

TNF therapy does not raise cancer risk in RA patients; overall cancer risk comparable to those not taking immunosuppressive drugs

Scientists identify genetic mutations that may put individuals at increased risk of fungal infections

U.S. Department of Defense funds Rush University Medical Center for gastrointestinal microorganism research

Pure Protein develops soluble Class II human leukocyte antigens

Third quarter 2009 financial results announced by DJO

Fastest supercomputer used to create an evolutionary genetic HIV family tree

Scientific breakthrough to derive human parthenogenetic stem cell lines from unfertilized human eggs

BPA-free Bornfree baby bottles reduce colic and middle-ear infections

Roche's high-throughput sequencing technology used for high-resolution HLA genotyping

Starting Grant from ERC to LMU junior researchers

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics presents additional data from its ICT-107 Phase I clinical trial

NCMLS organises immunology congress at Nijmegen

Adenosine deaminase enzyme therapy offers hope for priapism

Comprehensive, risk-based screening guidelines for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers

Issuance of patents for Idera Pharmaceuticals' TLR-targeted compounds announced

Mechanisms to control protein organization and cell-cell interaction in the immune system discovered

Arzerra drug approved by FDA for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease may be at risk for developing non-melanoma skin cancer

Sperm can transmit HIV to macrophages and dendritic cells

FDA files complaint against sandwich manufacturer; company allegedly failed to correct violations

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