Posts tagged Immune
Study explores link between alexithymia and auto-immune disease
This paper, which explores the link between the inability to express emotions (alexithymia) and an auto-immune disease (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), failed to find any statistical significant associations. One possible explanation to this finding relies on the fact that alexithymia could prompt physical or somatic symptoms, but not in a direct causal relation. SLE patients present high psychological distress and need for a stable doctor-patient More >
Study explores link between alexithymia and auto-immune disease
This paper, which explores the link between the inability to express emotions (alexithymia) and an auto-immune disease (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), failed to find any statistical significant associations. One possible explanation to this finding relies on the fact that alexithymia could prompt physical or somatic symptoms, but not in a direct causal relation. SLE patients present high psychological distress and need for a stable doctor-patient More >
Study explores link between alexithymia and auto-immune disease
This paper, which explores the link between the inability to express emotions (alexithymia) and an auto-immune disease (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), failed to find any statistical significant associations. One possible explanation to this finding relies on the fact that alexithymia could prompt physical or somatic symptoms, but not in a direct causal relation. SLE patients present high psychological distress and need for a stable doctor-patient More >
Study explores link between alexithymia and auto-immune disease
This paper, which explores the link between the inability to express emotions (alexithymia) and an auto-immune disease (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), failed to find any statistical significant associations. One possible explanation to this finding relies on the fact that alexithymia could prompt physical or somatic symptoms, but not in a direct causal relation. SLE patients present high psychological distress and need for a stable doctor-patient More >
Study explores link between alexithymia and auto-immune disease
This paper, which explores the link between the inability to express emotions (alexithymia) and an auto-immune disease (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), failed to find any statistical significant associations. One possible explanation to this finding relies on the fact that alexithymia could prompt physical or somatic symptoms, but not in a direct causal relation. SLE patients present high psychological distress and need for a stable doctor-patient More >
Study explores link between alexithymia and auto-immune disease
This paper, which explores the link between the inability to express emotions (alexithymia) and an auto-immune disease (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), failed to find any statistical significant associations. One possible explanation to this finding relies on the fact that alexithymia could prompt physical or somatic symptoms, but not in a direct causal relation. SLE patients present high psychological distress and need for a stable doctor-patient More >
Signaling pathway reveals mechanism for B cell differentiation in immune response
An article in Science Signaling by researchers at the RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology (RCAI) has clarified for the first time the mechanism governing differentiation of B cells into antibody-producing plasma cells. The finding establishes a role for the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway in B cell differentiation, a key step toward the development of B cell-targeted drugs for treatment of autoimmune diseases More >
Valuable insight into immune response
An article in Science Signaling by researchers at the RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology (RCAI) has clarified for the first time the mechanism governing differentiation of B cells into antibody-producing plasma cells. The finding establishes a role for the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway in B cell differentiation, a key step toward the development of B cell-targeted drugs for treatment of autoimmune diseases More >
Valuable insight into immune response
An article in Science Signaling by researchers at the RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology (RCAI) has clarified for the first time the mechanism governing differentiation of B cells into antibody-producing plasma cells. The finding establishes a role for the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway in B cell differentiation, a key step toward the development of B cell-targeted drugs for treatment of autoimmune diseases More >
Researchers reveal how immune system distinguishes between beneficial and pathogenic organisms
The human gut is filled with 100 trillion symbiotic bacteria-ten times more microbial cells than our own cells-representing close to one thousand different species. "And yet, if you were to eat a piece of chicken with just a few Salmonella, your immune system would mount a potent inflammatory response," says Sarkis K. Mazmanian, assistant professor of biology at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
Salmonella and its More >
Subset of self-destructive immune cells may selectively drive diabetes
ScienceDaily (Apr. 21, 2011) New research identifies a distinctive population of immune cells that may play a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetes. The research, available online in the April 21st issue of Immunity, sheds new light on the pathogenesis of diabetes and may lead to the development of new more selective therapeutic strategies for diabetes and other autoimmune diseases of the accessory organs of the digestive system.
Type More >
Boosting The Immune System To Fight Cancer
A molecule that lies dormant until it encounters a cancer cell, then suddenly activates and rouses the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells directly, marks the latest step in scientists’ efforts to tap the body’s own resources to fight the disease.
The developers of the technology at the University of Rochester Medical Center dub it the “Pacman strategy” because it hinges upon molecular machines produced in abundance by tumors to chew More >
AACR: Immune Therapy Slows Colon Cancer
Action Points Note that this study was published as an abstract and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Note that in a phase III trial a chemo-immunotherapy appeared to be superior in terms of progression-free survival compared with FOLFOX-4 poly-chemotherapy as a frontline treatment for advanced colorectal carcinoma without additional More >
Major depression linked to premature aging of immune cells: Study
Certain cases of major depression are associated with premature aging of immune cells, which may make people more susceptible to other serious illness, according to findings from a new UCSF-led study.
The findings indicate that accelerated cell aging does not occur in all depressed individuals, but is dependent upon how long someone is depressed, particularly if that depression goes untreated. The study was published online in March 2011 More >
Link between chronic depression and accelerated immune cell aging
ScienceDaily (Apr. 5, 2011) Certain cases of major depression are associated with premature aging of immune cells, which may make people more susceptible to other serious illness, according to findings from a new UCSF-led study.
The findings indicate that accelerated cell aging does not occur in all depressed individuals, but is dependent upon how long someone is depressed, particularly if that depression goes untreated. The study was More >
Human immune system can help predict recurrence, overall breast cancer survival
A study published in Cancer Discovery, the newest journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, debuting here at the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011, held April 2-6, showed how evaluating the immune response in the tumor microenvironment may help researchers better target therapy in breast cancer.
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, demonstrated that the level of macrophages and CD8+ T-cells, two key components More >
Study shows immune therapy can prevent pregnancy in mammals including humans
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have shown that it is possible to immunize mammals to control fertility. They say their technique could possibly be used on other mammals — including humans — because fertility hormones and their receptors are species-non-specific and are similar in both females and males. For pets, the technique could be an alternative to castration and adverse effects of hormone administration.
In the Feb. More >
Novel Immune Therapy For Pancreatic Cancer: Drug Stimulates Immune System To Attack ‘Scaffolding’ Around Tumors
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center have discovered a novel way of treating pancreatic cancer by activating the immune system to destroy the cancer’s scaffolding. The strategy was tested in a small cohort of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, several of whose tumors shrank substantially. The team believes their findings – and the novel way in which they uncovered them – could lead to quicker, less expensive More >
Novel immune therapy for pancreatic cancer developed
ScienceDaily (Mar. 24, 2011) Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center have discovered a novel way of treating pancreatic cancer by activating the immune system to destroy the cancer’s scaffolding. The strategy was tested in a small cohort of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, several of whose tumors shrank substantially. The team believes their findings — and the novel way in which they uncovered them — could More >
Novel immune therapy for pancreatic cancer developed
ScienceDaily (Mar. 24, 2011) Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center have discovered a novel way of treating pancreatic cancer by activating the immune system to destroy the cancer’s scaffolding. The strategy was tested in a small cohort of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, several of whose tumors shrank substantially. The team believes their findings — and the novel way in which they uncovered them — could More >
Immune system misinterprets threats and attacks body’s own cells and tissue
Many chronic diseases are the result of the body’s immune system mistakenly perceiving that the body is under attack from foreign bodies. A counterattack is then launched – an inflammatory response meant to vanquish the intruder. In reality, the immune system has misinterpreted the threat and is actually attacking the body’s own cells and tissue.
Unless this situation is rectified, an inflammation can become chronic and eventually lead to More >
Gut bacteria and state of immune system influence personality
A lot of chatter goes on inside each one of us and not all of it happens between our ears.
Researchers at McMaster University discovered that the "cross-talk" between bacteria in our gut and our brain plays an important role in the development of psychiatric illness, intestinal diseases and probably other health problems as well including obesity.
"The wave of the future is full of opportunity as we think about how More >