Autoimmune Disease News and Research

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Autoimmune Disease is a condition in which the body recognizes its own tissues as foreign and directs an immune response against them.

DNA methylation identified as potential anti-TNF response biomarker for RA

DNA methylation has been identified as a potential biomarker of response to etanercept and adalimumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) according to preliminary results from one of the largest methylome-wide investigations of treatment response to anti-TNF therapies.

12 Jun 2014

Obese patients with rheumatoid arthritis have higher disease activity scores

A new study presented today at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress showed that obese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have higher DAS (disease activity) scores than non-obese patients, irrespective of their disease stage.

12 Jun 2014

New research collaboration aims to develop better therapies for autoimmune diseases

Seattle Children's Research Institute and biotechnology company Kineta, Inc. today launched the Alliance for Children's Therapeutics (ACT), a first-of-its-kind pediatric research and funding collaboration designed to speed development of new medications for children and teens with lupus nephritis and other autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

11 Jun 2014

Wistar findings suggest means of boosting initial immune response

Your first response to an infectious agent or antigen ordinarily takes about a week, and is relatively weak. However, if your immune system encounters that antigen a second time, the so-called memory response is rapid, powerful, and very effective.

10 Jun 2014

Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (PJIA): an interview with Dr. Kramer, VP, Immunology and Infectious Diseases Medical Unit, Genentech

Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (PJIA) is a type of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), a group of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) diseases that manifests in multiple ways in children.

3 Jun 2014

Study uncovers marijuana's potential to treat autoimmune diseases

A team of University of South Carolina researchers led by Mitzi Nagarkatti, Prakash Nagarkatti and Xiaoming Yang have discovered a novel pathway through which marijuana can suppress the body's immune functions. Their research has been published online in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

3 Jun 2014

Dentists’ awareness can improve oral health of scleroderma patients

A survey of dentists in Massachusetts suggests that their confidence in treating patients with scleroderma may be related to their familiarity with the autoimmune disease.

30 May 2014

Scientists discover group of lymphocytes that protects against intracellular infection

The innate immune system recognizes infectious agents such as viruses and bacteria. A group of lymphocytes known as "innate lymphoid cells" or ILCs plays a central role in the defense of the human body against infective agents.

28 May 2014

ILCs play central role in defense of human body against infective agents

26 May 2014

Longer looks: How doctors treat patients; myths about Obamacare; curing cancer

Many years ago I spent a lunch hour in a doctors' dining room eavesdropping on two white-coated men of a certain age idly discussing a colleague who worked at the city hospital next door.

23 May 2014

AbbVie receives HUMIRA orphan drug designation from FDA for treatment of non-infectious uveitis

AbbVie announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted HUMIRA orphan drug designation for the treatment of non-infectious intermediate, posterior, or pan-uveitis, or chronic non-infectious anterior uveitis, a group of rare but serious inflammatory diseases of the eye.

21 May 2014

Biovision provides list of businesses, projects selected for Investor Conference and Catalyzer sessions

Biovision, the annual forum on future-oriented research in life sciences, today announces the list of biotech and medtech companies and projects selected for the Investor Conference and Catalyzer sessions. Awards will be presented during the closing ceremony.

20 May 2014

DNA-directed RNA interference and hepatitis C: an interview with Carl Stubbings, Chief Business Officer, Benitec Biopharma

RNA interference (RNAi) is a naturally occurring process, which cells can use to silence, or ‘turn off’ unwanted genes.

From Quest Diagnostics 19 May 2014

Scientists reveal how and why immune system's B cells respond only to true threats

The immune system's B cells protect us from disease by producing antibodies, or "smart bullets," that specifically target invaders such as pathogens and viruses while leaving harmless molecules alone.

16 May 2014

Autoimmune epilepsy diagnostics: an interview with Dr. Joseph J. Higgins, Medical Director, Neurology, Athena Diagnostics, a business of Quest Diagnostics

Epilepsy is a group of neurological disorders often characterized by seizures and cognitive impairment due to electrical disturbances in the brain.

From Quest Diagnostics 14 May 2014

SGK1 enzyme, asthma and cancer therapies: an interview with Dr. Jonathan D. Powell, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center

SGK1 stands for serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1. SGK1 is a member of the AGC kinase family, which is a huge family of kinases.

13 May 2014

Book about Virginia Mason's journey to transform health care receives 2014 Shingo Award

A new book about Virginia Mason's journey to transform health care has received the 2014 Shingo Research and Professional Publication Award, becoming the second volume about the health system to earn this prize.

9 May 2014

UH biomedical engineer receives ALR grant to study cause of lupus nephritis

In the U.S. alone, more than 1.5 million people have lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system turns against itself, attacking a person's healthy tissue, cells and organs. The symptoms can range from debilitating pain and fatigue to organ failure.

6 May 2014

Free educational event for patients with Graves' disease and thyroid eye disease

The Massachusetts Eye and Ear and the Graves' Disease & Thyroid Foundation will host a free educational event for patients living with Graves' disease and thyroid eye disease on Saturday, May 10 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Mass. Eye and Ear's Meltzer Auditorium, 3rd floor, 243 Charles Street, Boston, Mass., 02114.

30 Apr 2014

Virginia Mason receives "A" for patient safety in Hospital Safety Score program

Virginia Mason is again rated as one of the safest hospitals in the U.S by The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit organization using the collective leverage of large purchasers of health care to drive improvements in safety, quality and affordability.