Immunity | Page 3 of 8 | Health Newstrack

29 new genetic variants linked to multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis research doubles number of genes associated with the disease — Critical insight provided into the disease mechanisms behind multiple sclerosis – Scientists have identified 29 new genetic variants linked to multiple sclerosis, providing key insights into the biology of a very debilitating neurological disease. Many of the genes implicated in the study are relevant to the immune system, shedding light onto the immunological pathways that underlie the development of multiple sclerosis.

Surgical removal of tonsils and appendix may lead to heart attack

Surgical removal of the tonsils and appendix associated with risk of early heart attack — But because of the young age of participants, the absolute risk differences were small – The surgical removal of the appendix and tonsils before the age of 20 was associated with an increased risk of premature heart attack in a large population study performed in Sweden. Tonsillectomy increased the risk by 44% (hazard ratio 1.44) and appendectomy by 33% (HR 1.33).

Vitamin D deficiency in pneumonia patients risky

Vitamin D deficiency in pneumonia patients associated with increased mortality – A new study published in the journal Respirology reveals that adult patients admitted to the hospital with pneumonia are more likely to die if they have Vitamin D deficiency.

New GM-SCF therapy to defeating flu shows promise

New approach to defeating flu shows promise – New research on mice has shown that pulmonary administration of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) significantly reduces flu symptoms and prevents death after a lethal dose influenza virus.

New treatment for severe 2009 H1N1 infection

Study suggests possible new treatment for severe 2009 H1N1 infection – Convalescent plasma therapy-using plasma from patients who have recovered from an infection to treat those with the same infection-has been used to treat multiple diseases.

New genomic marker for tuberculosis

New genomic marker for tuberculosis may help identify patients who will develop the disease — Study highlights how blood profiling techniques could change patient care – It may soon be possible to identify patients who will develop tuberculosis, as scientists have identified changes in the blood specific to the disease.

New Parkinson’s gene is linked to immune system

New Parkinson’s gene is linked to immune system – A hunt throughout the human genome for variants associated with common, late-onset Parkinson’s disease has revealed a new genetic link that implicates the immune system and offers new targets for drug development.

Rheumatoid arthritis signaling protein may reverse Alzheimer’s disease

Rheumatoid arthritis signaling protein reverses Alzheimer’s disease in mouse modeln — New study shows GM-CSF reduces AD pathology and eliminates memory loss – A signaling protein released during rheumatoid arthritis dramatically reduced Alzheimer’s disease pathology and reversed the memory impairment of mice bred to develop symptoms of the neurodegenerative disease, a new study by the University of South Florida reports.

Researchers discover genetic link between immune system, Parkinson’s disease

Researchers discover genetic link between immune system, Parkinson’s disease – A team of researchers has discovered new evidence that Parkinson’s disease may have an infectious or autoimmune origin. “Common genetic variation in the HLA region is associated with late-onset sporadic Parkinson’s disease” appears online in Nature Genetics.

Pneumococcal vaccine offers protection to HIV infected

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.