The skin of certain frogs, including this foothill yellow-legged frog, contains secretions that may lead to new antibiotics to fight infections that shrug off the effects of existing antibiotics. – Frog skin contains natural substances that could be the basis for a powerful new genre of antibiotics, revealed by researchers.
Banana plantain fibers could treat Crohn’s disease – Crohn’s is a condition that affects one in 800 people in the UK and causes chronic intestinal inflammation, leading to pain, bleeding and diarrhoea. Researchers are working with biotechnology company, Provexis, to test a new plantain based food product that could treat patients with the disease.
Primary care doctors get little information about chronic sinusitis — Georgetown researcher says advances go unnoticed because they are not reported in targeted publications – Facial pain. Nasal congestion. Postnasal drip. Fatigue. These are hallmark signs of chronic sinusitis, a swelling of tissue in the nasal and sinus cavity. The illness strikes millions of Americans each year and is one of the top five reasons patients visit their primary care doctor.
Body’s own proteins may lead the way in global fight against tuberculosis – Protein CCL5 protects against Mycobacterium tuberculosis by attracting protective immune cells, which help control bacterial growth, revealed in a new research published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology.
Can bacteria make you smarter? — Exposure to bacteria can increase learning behavior. – Exposure to specific bacteria in the environment, already believed to have antidepressant qualities, could increase learning behavior according to research presented today at the 110th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in San Diego.
Studies document risks associated with common acid-suppressing medications – Proton pump inhibitors, medications that suppress acid in the stomach, appear to be associated with fractures in postmenopausal women and bacterial infections in many patients, and higher doses do not appear any more beneficial for treating bleeding ulcers.
State Public Health Director Announces Tuberculosis Cases Hit Record Low Despite Recent Outbreak — Illinois still ranks 5th in the nation for highest number of TB cases – In recognition of World Tuberculosis Day, Dr. Damon T. Arnold, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), announced an all time low for the number of new tuberculosis (TB) cases in Illinois.
Drug resistant tuberculosis now at record levels, says WHO – World Health Organization – In some areas of the world, one in four people with tuberculosis (TB) becomes ill with a form of the disease that can no longer be treated with standard drugs regimens, a World Health Organization (WHO) report says.
Pneumococcal vaccine offers protection to HIV-infected African adults in clinical trial – A clinical trial of a vaccine against a major cause of pneumonia and meningitis has shown that it can prevent three out of four cases of re-infection in HIV-infected adults in Africa.
An apple a day? Study shows soluble fiber boosts immune system – Soluble fiber – found in oats, apples, and nuts, for starters reduces the inflammation associated with obesity-related diseases and strengthens the immune system, revealed by researchers.
