Immune system | Page 40 of 57

Anthrax :: New finding points way to foiling anthrax’s tricks

Anthrax, when inhaled, is nearly always fatal, in part because the bacteria have a very effective way of stealing iron from human cells to reproduce. This involves two molecules, siderophores, that compete with the body’s own iron-transport molecules. UC Berkeley researchers have now found that humans produce a protein that sidelines one of these siderophores, but not the other. A drug that blocks the second siderophore should be able to stop anthrax in its tracks.

Wheezing :: Infants wheeze less in homes with multiple dogs

Living in a home with multiple dogs may help reduce an infant’s risk for developing wheezing in the first year of life, according to new research from the University of Cincinnati (UC).

Liver Cancer :: Pharmexa has started phase II trial in liver cancer with GV1001

The HeptoVax trial is a phase II trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of GV1001 in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (“HCC” or “liver cancer”). The trial will enrol patients from three centres in Spain, France and Germany.

Healthcare :: Novartis highlights strong R&D pipeline, plans for multiple new product launches

Novartis unveiled today new data on its promising pipeline amid plans for multiple new product approvals and launches over the next two years. Many of these anticipated approvals are for potentially best-in-class medicines that would advance treatment standards for patients with hypertension, diabetes, cancer and other diseases.

Flu :: Painkillers may threaten power of vaccines

With flu-shot season in full swing and widespread anticipation of the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, a new University of Rochester study suggests that using common painkillers around the time of vaccination might not be a good idea.

Esophageal Cancer :: Combination Therapy Shows Promise for Treating Advanced Esophageal Cancer

Combining radiation and chemotherapy with Erbitux, a cancer-targeting agent that attacks specific receptors on the surface of tumor cells, is showing promising results in treating patients with advanced esophageal cancer.

Diabetes :: Reverse type 1 diabetes – NIH lab

New data published in the Nov. 24 issue of Science provide further support for a protocol to reverse type 1 diabetes in mice and new evidence that adult precursor cells from the spleen can contribute to the regeneration of beta cells.

Pilot study successful in taming allergic reactions to food

Children who were allergic to eggs were able to essentially overcome their allergy by gradually consuming increased quantities of eggs over time, researchers at Duke University Medical Center and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences have found in a small pilot study.

HIV :: Chinese HIV cases increased 30% – China

Chinese state media said that reported cases of HIV/AIDS increased upto 30 percent in 2006, compared to the year previous, with intravenous drug use the main source of infection. Of the reported cases, 40,667 have developed into AIDS, it said.

Immunity :: Autoimmune disease triggered if T cells miss a single protein early on

Scientists have discovered that autoimmunity can be triggered in the thymus, where the immune system’s T cells develop, if T cells fail to recognize just one of the body’s thousands of proteins as “self.”