Immune System News and Research

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New treatment for dry eye syndrome (keratoconjunctivitis sicca)

Researchers in the department of ophthalmology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson played an important role in the development of Restasis, the first alternative to artificial tears for the treatment of dry eye syndrome.

21 May 2004

Zinc may help to accelerate recovery from pneumonia

The addition of zinc to standard antimicrobial treatment may accelerate recovery from pneumonia, say researchers in this week's issue of The Lancet.

20 May 2004

Cell division can be halted in multiple ways, with implications for cancer

Brown University researchers have found that there are multiple independent ways to stop cell division, a phenomenon that prevents the spread of genetic mutation, which can make cells cancerous. Results of this research, along with an accompanying editorial, were published in the current issue of the journal Molecular Cell.

20 May 2004

Network formed to tackle potentially fatal reaction to smallpox vaccine

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), launched the Atopic Dermatitis and Vaccinia Network (ADVN), a nationwide research group that seeks to reduce the risk of eczema vaccinatum (EV), a severe and potentially deadly complication of smallpox immunization.

19 May 2004

Study comparing the efficacy of REMICADE® to Azathioprine alone and in combination With REMICADE®

Centocor, Inc., and Schering-Plough Corporation announced today the initiation of the SONIC (Study of Immunomodulator Naive patients in Crohn's Disease) trial that will evaluate the efficacy of REMICADE® (infliximab) versus azathioprine, a conventional immunosuppressive agent, alone and versus the combination of both drugs for the treatment of patients with Crohn's disease.

18 May 2004

Manipulation of the body’s own natural killer cells to destroy cells containing the HIV virus

Current treatments for HIV block the virus from replicating, but don’t kill the cells that contain HIV. The existence of these HIV-harboring cells -- often called the “latent” or “resting reservoir” -- is regarded by many to be the main obstacle to finding a cure for HIV.

18 May 2004

FDA today alerted consumers not to purchase or use a recalled lot of DU brand nasal decongestant spray

FDA today alerted consumers not to purchase or use a recalled lot of DU brand nasal decongestant spray (distributed by Drugs Unlimited, of Puerto Rico) because it may be contaminated with Burkholderia cepacia – a bacterium that could cause serious, potentially life-threatening infections in some patients. Individuals with compromised immune systems, especially those with cystic fibrosis, could be at risk.

17 May 2004

International plan to rid the world of dirty dozen most toxic chemicals known to humankind

The 2001 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) enters into force on Monday, May 17, marking the start of an ambitious international effort to rid the world of PCBs, dioxins and furans, and nine highly dangerous pesticides.

17 May 2004

NASA and Stanford to develop technologies for physiological monitoring of humans

NASA and Stanford University are launching an exciting new joint venture to develop technologies, instruments and systems to conduct physiological monitoring of humans in support of basic and applied space biology research.

15 May 2004

Influenza vaccine does provide protection against influenza in most asthma patients taking inhaled steroids

The influenza vaccine protected asthma patients who use inhaled steroids against type A flu, although its protection against type B flu was significantly reduced in those taking high doses of inhaled steroids, said a researcher from Baylor College of Medicine in a recent publication.

15 May 2004

Risk of artery plaques increased by use of HIV drugs

An Italian study has provided evidence that HIV drugs called protease inhibitors may increase the risk of artery "plaques."

15 May 2004

3 people with drug-resistant HIV become first to undergo a new form of gene therapy

The idea is to use a modified form of HIV to deliver an "antisense" gene to the immune cells that HIV infects. This is integrated into the cells' genome, and stays there until a cell is infected. Then it is switched on, and produces RNA complementary to the "sense" RNA encoding a viral protein. In theory, the RNAs should bind together, blocking viral replication.

14 May 2004

New Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research

In their mission to improve transplant access and outcomes for patients, the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP) and the Medical College of Wisconsin’s International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry and Autologous Blood and Marrow Transplant Registry (IBMTR/ABMTR) have created the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR.)

14 May 2004

Study of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for severe, treatment-resistant lupus

The study will include a basic research component to examine the roles of B and T cells, white blood cells in the immune system, in triggering lupus symptoms.

14 May 2004

New research program to focus on human beta cell regeneration and its potential role to cure type-1 diabetes

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) have announced a new program today called the Regeneration of Beta Cell Function (RBCF) to focus on human beta cell regeneration and its potential role to cure type-1 diabetes.

14 May 2004

Minority women are disproportionately impacted by the autoimmune disease lupus

There is an urgent need for more education and research to address the fact that minority women are disproportionately impacted by the autoimmune disease lupus

14 May 2004

Breastfeeding decreases risk of heart disease later in life

A recent UK study of 216 teenagers, published in the Lancet, found that breastfeeding in infancy is likely to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease in later life.

14 May 2004

Genomed treatment helps bald eagles with West Nile virus encephalitis

GenoMed, Inc. a Next Generation Disease Management company that uses its expertise in genomics to improve clinical outcomes in as many species as possible, announced today that two non-profit groups which care for wild birds with West Nile virus encephalitis, including American bald eagles, will be using the Company's patent-pending treatment this season.

13 May 2004

Cholesterol-lowering drugs could treat multiple sclerosis

Drug treatments for MS are expensive and only partially effective. Recent knowledge that statins promote an anti-inflammatory response from the immune system suggest a potential in the treatment of MS.

13 May 2004

Phase 3 trial of Ceplene in acute myeloid leukemia meets primary trial endpoint

Maxim Pharmaceuticals has announced the results of an international Phase 3 clinical trial testing the combination of Ceplene (TM) plus interleukin-2 (IL-2) in 320 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in complete remission.

12 May 2004

Immune System News and Research

New treatment for dry eye syndrome (keratoconjunctivitis sicca)

Zinc may help to accelerate recovery from pneumonia

Cell division can be halted in multiple ways, with implications for cancer

Network formed to tackle potentially fatal reaction to smallpox vaccine

Study comparing the efficacy of REMICADE® to Azathioprine alone and in combination With REMICADE®

Manipulation of the body’s own natural killer cells to destroy cells containing the HIV virus

FDA today alerted consumers not to purchase or use a recalled lot of DU brand nasal decongestant spray

International plan to rid the world of dirty dozen most toxic chemicals known to humankind

NASA and Stanford to develop technologies for physiological monitoring of humans

Influenza vaccine does provide protection against influenza in most asthma patients taking inhaled steroids

Risk of artery plaques increased by use of HIV drugs

3 people with drug-resistant HIV become first to undergo a new form of gene therapy

New Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research

Study of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for severe, treatment-resistant lupus

New research program to focus on human beta cell regeneration and its potential role to cure type-1 diabetes

Minority women are disproportionately impacted by the autoimmune disease lupus

Breastfeeding decreases risk of heart disease later in life

Genomed treatment helps bald eagles with West Nile virus encephalitis

Cholesterol-lowering drugs could treat multiple sclerosis

Phase 3 trial of Ceplene in acute myeloid leukemia meets primary trial endpoint

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