Hypersensitivity News and Research

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Hypersensitivity is an exaggerated response by the immune system to a drug or other substance.

Stress might actually be beneficial to health

New research has surprisingly shown that stress, generally thought to be bad for the immune system by lowering the body's ability to fight off disease, on a short-term basis might actually be beneficial.

6 Apr 2005

Stress may enhance the body's ability to fight the flu

Short bouts of intense social stress improved the ability in the mice to recover from the flu. The stress apparently did so by substantially boosting the production of specialized immune cells that fought the virus.

3 Apr 2005

Estrogen, SERMS reduce asthma impact by halting constriction

For years, anecdotal evidence suggested that ovulating or pregnant women or post-menopausal women taking estrogen supplements, experienced fewer asthma attacks and less severe asthma symptoms, strongly suggesting that perhaps estrogen affects airway smooth muscle function by preventing the hyperresponsiveness characteristic of asthma and other chronic lung diseases.

3 Apr 2005

Supermarket bakery workers are at considerable risk of developing work related asthma

The researchers looked at 239 employees from 20 in-store bakeries for a supermarket chain. They collected data from questionnaires on a number of respiratory symptoms including chest tightness, breathing difficulties, chest wheezing or whistling, running or itchiness of the nose and eyes and sneezing. They also used skin prick tests to check for allergies associated with baking.

26 Jan 2005

FDA licenses Sanofi pasteur vaccine for protection against meningococcal disease

Sanofi pasteur, the vaccines business of the sanofi-aventis Group, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has licensed Menactra (Meningococcal [Groups A, C, Y and W-135] Polysaccharide Diphtheria Toxoid Conjugate Vaccine) for protection against meningococcal disease in adolescents and adults aged 11-55 years.

17 Jan 2005

Abraxane, first in a new class of albumin-bound nanotechnology for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer

Abraxane (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension), a next generation taxane, and the first in a new class of albumin-bound nanotechnology, was approved for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

9 Jan 2005

FDA approves Abraxane for metastatic breast cancer

American Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. and American Bioscience, Inc. (ABI) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Abraxane for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin-bound) in metastatic breast cancer.

9 Jan 2005

Evidence suggests that changes in the bacteria and fungi in the gastrointestinal tract can intensify the immune system's reaction to common allergens

If you want to avoid allergies or asthma, scientists at the University of Michigan Medical School suggest you start paying more attention to what's in your gut.

23 Dec 2004

FDA approves Enablex for the treatment of overactive bladder

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Enablex® (darifenacin) extended-release tablets (7.5mg and 15mg) for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency and frequency.

22 Dec 2004

Detrol LA significantly reduces symptoms of overactive bladder

Pfizer today announced results of a comprehensive six-year review of efficacy and safety data for Detrol LA (tolterodine tartrate extended release capsules) indicating that Detrol LA significantly reduces symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB) with a low occurrence of side effects, and should be considered first-line therapy.

13 Dec 2004

FDA approval of cream to treat bacterial vaginosis

KV Pharmaceutical Company has announced that it has received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market Clindesse (clindamycin phosphate) Vaginal Cream, 2%, a single-dose prescription cream therapy indicated to treat bacterial vaginosis ("BV").

3 Dec 2004

FDA approval of Tysabri, for the treatment of multiple sclerosis

Biogen and Elan Corporation have announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Tysabri (natalizumab), as treatment for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) to reduce the frequency of clinical relapses.

24 Nov 2004

Wyeth gets approval for needle-less syringe for the treatment of hemophilia

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals has announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the ReFacto Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant) R2 Kit, the first needle-less reconstitution device with a prefilled diluent syringe for hemophilia.

14 Sep 2004

Regular exercise boosts immune system in older men

As it turns out, judging by the reaction strength of their immune system to an unknown, but harmless, protein antigen, it’s possible for men over 70 to mount an immune response similar to that produced by much younger men -- if they get regular moderate physical activity of about six hours a week.

25 Aug 2004

Pfizer drug effectively treats overactive bladder symptoms

Women with mixed incontinence, a combination of overactive bladder and stress incontinence, reported a greater treatment benefit for overactive bladder symptoms from DETROL® LA (tolterodine tartrate extended release capsules) than placebo, according to new study results published in the August issue of Urology.

21 Aug 2004

Methods using preventive analgesia to treat pain after surgery before it develops

York University Professor Joel Katz is studying methods of preventing or significantly reducing pain after surgery by employing preemptive or preventive analgesia to treat pain before it develops.

17 Aug 2004

Misfiring proteins linked to sick feeling of type 2 diabetics

After a series of studies in the laboratory of Dr. Gregory Freund, a clearer picture is emerging: A disruption of signaling proteins in the immune system may be responsible for the inflammation that makes someone with type 2 diabetes feel sick and increases the risk of serious complications.

29 Jul 2004

Plan B has been shown to reduce the risk of pregnancy by 89 percent

Barr Pharmaceuticals has announced that its subsidiary, Duramed Pharmaceuticals has submitted a formal response in support of its Supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for an Over-the-Counter (OTC) Plan B(R) emergency contraceptive product.

23 Jul 2004

Women with a condition called vulvodynia process pain differently

The researchers tested 17 women with vulvodynia and 23 similar women without pain at 23 sites throughout the vulva and at the deltoid muscle, the shin and the thumbnail to assess pain tolerance. They found the women with vulvodynia had lower tolerance at all sites than the women without vulvodynia.

13 Jul 2004

Unique project to find out if mobile phone masts, have an adverse effect on our health

Researchers at the University of Essex, England are embarking on the first phase of a unique project to find out if mobile phone masts, have an adverse effect on our health.

29 Jun 2004