Cancer :: Natural mechanism for immune suppression paves way for cancer trials
A natural mechanism pirated by tumors and HIV to evade the immune response is opening the door to better treatment for these conditions, researchers say.
Immune system
Herbal :: Think herbal supplements are safe ?
People are mixing supplements, herbs and over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs to cure themselves of ills, unaware that they could be making themselves sicker, says George Grossberg, M.D., director of the division of geriatric psychiatry at Saint Louis University.
Cholesterol :: Vitamin B niacin boosts HDL cholesterol good cholesterol
New discoveries offer promise for developing drugs that improve on the therapeutic profile of niacin, the inexpensive, time-tested B-vitamin that boosts levels of HDL cholesterol ? the ?good? cholesterol with the potential to protect people against heart attacks and stroke, scientists reported today.
Transplant :: Transplanting organs from animals to humans — what are the barriers?
Given the huge shortage of donor organs, researchers have been trying to find ways to transplant animal organs across different species (known as “xenotransplantation”), with the eventual aim of transplanting animal organs into humans.
HIV :: Cornell researcher helping develop quick, cheap HIV AIDS test
A Cornell researcher is working to help develop a quick, simple and cheap immune-system test for people in the developing world. It could help HIV/AIDS sufferers in the poorest countries get appropriate treatment to extend their lives, possibly by as much as 10 to 15 years.
Skin Cancer :: Grape seed compounds may prevent skin cancer by boosting immune system
Chemicals obtained from grape seed extract show promise in animal studies as a way to prevent sunlight-induced skin cancer when used as a dietary supplement, according to researchers at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.
Tai Chi :: Practicing Tai Chi boosts immune system in older adults
Tai chi chih, the Westernized version of the 2,000-year-old Chinese martial art characterized by slow movement and meditation, significantly boosts the immune systems of older adults against the virus that leads to the painful, blistery rash known as shingles, according to a new UCLA study.
Blood Disorder :: FDA approves first-of-its-kind drug to treat rare blood disorder
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Soliris (eculizumab), the first product for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare type of blood disorder that can lead to disability and premature death. Soliris is classified as an Orphan Drug and is a new molecular entity containing an ingredient not previously marketed in the United States.
Zinc :: Zinc supplementation found to reduce mortality in older children
A clinical trial conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public concluded that daily zinc supplements reduced the risk of death among children aged 12 to 48 months by 18 percent. However, the researchers did not find any significant reduction in mortality among children 1 to 11 months of age.
Pancreatic Cancer :: Liverpool to trial new pancreatic cancer therapy
Patients in Liverpool are to trial a new therapy for pancreatic cancer — a disease which sees most sufferers die within a year of diagnosis.