Immune System News and Research

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RNA analysis can identify rejection in lung transplant patients

Recent data from the Lung Allograft Rejection Gene expression Observational (LARGO) study provides compelling evidence that profiling gene expression in peripheral blood can detect organ rejection in lung transplant patients.

1 May 2007

Vaccine to cope with viral diversity in HIV

The ability of HIV-1 to develop high levels of genetic diversity and acquire mutations to escape immune pressures contributes to our difficulties in producing a vaccine.

30 Apr 2007

The convergence of embryonic and cancer signaling pathways: role in tumor cell plasticity

In earlier work, Northwestern University scientist Mary J.C. Hendrix and colleagues discovered that aggressive melanoma cells (but not normal skin cells nor less aggressive melanoma cells) contain specific proteins similar to those found in embryonic stem cells.

30 Apr 2007

Green tea may help prevent bone destruction in arthritis

In rheumatoid arthritis, a person's own immune system attacks the joints by activating the synovial tissue that lines the body's movable joints, causing inflammation, swelling, pain and eventually erosion of the bone and cartilage and deformation of the joint.

30 Apr 2007

Chinese herb Lei Gong Teng stops formation of cysts in polycystic kidney disease in lab

Using a compound from a centuries-old Chinese traditional medicine, Yale University researcher Dr. Craig Crews has been able to prevent the formation of kidney-destroying cysts in a mouse model of polycystic kidney disease.

30 Apr 2007

Green tea may soothe pain of rheumatoid arthritis

According to the latest research a compound in green tea may provide therapeutic benefits to people with rheumatoid arthritis.

30 Apr 2007

Ratio of women stricken with MS rockets by 50% each decade

According to a study in the United States although women have always had a greater susceptibility for developing Multiple Sclerosis (MS) than men, the numbers have rocketed in the last six decades.

29 Apr 2007

Antiquated plumbing causes six premmies to die

The deaths of six premature babies at a hospital in Canada three years ago has been attributed to bacteria found in the building's aging water pipes.

29 Apr 2007

World's first microRNA knockout mouse

A role for a microRNA in the immune system has been shown by study of one of the world's first microRNA knockout mouse, reported in Science.

27 Apr 2007

Scientists develop method to convert normal human blood cells into

Cancer researchers led by Dr. John Dick at Ontario Cancer Institute (OCI) have developed a method to convert normal human blood cells into "human" leukemia stem cells.

27 Apr 2007

University of Nottingham tackles Helicobacter pylori

The occurrence of the disease is currently thought to be due to several factors including the toxic nature of the infecting strain, the genetic susceptibility of the host, and environmental factors.

26 Apr 2007

Cure for African sleeping sickness

Studies of the enzyme CTP synthetase in the parasite Trypanosoma brucei have brought researchers at Umeå University in Sweden closer to a cure for African sleeping sickness.

26 Apr 2007

New treatment Candida fungi - fewer side effects

A new treatment for Candida species of fungi which can cause thrush and sepsis (a life-threatening infection leading to fever, hypotension, and shock) has proven equally effective as the existing treatment in a drug trial.

26 Apr 2007

Rational development of adjuvants for use in vaccination

A recent study published in Immunology Letters, the official journal of the European Federation of Immunological Societies (EFIS), describes strategies for selective priming of B cells using various adjuvants.

25 Apr 2007

Scientists discover important step in cortisol production

When a person's under stress or injured, the adrenal gland releases cortisol to help restore the body's functions to normal.

25 Apr 2007

Chuck out the barbecue!...toxins produced damage the health

Just as summer is coming in and many are dusting off the barbecue a new study says barbecued food may not be that healthy.

24 Apr 2007

FDA panel recommends new HIV drug Maraviroc

Approval is expected to be granted in the United States for a new drug to treat HIV infections.

24 Apr 2007

Professor Marc Feldmann wins top lifetime achievement award

The academic who developed a treatment for autoimmune diseases that has helped millions of patients around the world last night received a prestigious lifetime achievement award at this year's European Inventor of the Year awards.

24 Apr 2007

BioMS Medical announces lead investigator in phase III multiple sclerosis trial

BioMS Medical Corp has announced Dr. Clyde E. Markowitz as the lead investigator in the United States for the Company's pivotal phase III clinical trial of its lead drug, MBP8298, for the treatment of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

24 Apr 2007

Chitin compound causes allergic inflammation

The beetle's back and the crab's shell owe their toughness to a common compound called chitin that now appears to trigger airway inflammation and possibly asthma, UCSF scientists have found.

24 Apr 2007