Infectious disease can be any disease caused by invasion by a pathogen which subsequently grows and multiplies in the body. Infectious diseases are the result of damaging microorganisms obtaining access to the body, and not being repelled or destroyed by the immune system.
MIT researchers develop better way to detect food allergies — New technique can analyze individual immune cells – About 30 percent of Americans believe they have food allergies. However, the actual number is far smaller, closer to 5 percent, according to a recent study commissioned by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
Study examines family lineage of King Tut, his possible cause of death – Malaria and bone abnormalities appear to have contributed to the death of Egyptian pharaoh King Tutankhamun, revealed by researchers.
Each pound at birth lowers risk of developing TB — Just one more pound may help a newborn avoid tuberculosis later in life. – Researchers at the University of Michigan looked at how much protection additional birth weight added against developing the disease years later. They found that every 1.1 pounds of birth weight decreases the risk of developing tuberculosis later by 46 percent among identical twins.
Severity of H1N1 influenza linked to presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae – The presence of the Streptococcus pneumoniae in samples that can be easily obtained in clinics and emergency rooms may predict risk of severe disease in H1N1 pandemic influenza.
Leprosy susceptibility genes reported in New England Journal of Medicine paper — Largest genome-wide association study of an infectious disease – In the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) of leprosy and the largest GWAS on an infectious disease, scientists at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and 26 institutes in China identified seven genes that increase an individual’s susceptibility to leprosy.
MRSA leads to worse outcomes, staggering expenses for surgical patients – Post surgical infections significantly increase the chance of hospital readmission and death and cost as much as $60,000 per patient, according to Duke University Medical Center researchers who conducted the largest study of its kind to date.
New study finds MRSA on the rise in hospital outpatients — Seven-fold increase in potentially lethal superbug. – Superbug MRSA poses a greater health threat than previously known and is making its way into hospitals, according to a study in the Emerging Infectious Diseases.
La Jolla Institute finds previous seasonal flu infections may provide some level of H1N1 immunity – Previous influenza infections may provide at least some level of immunity to the H1N1 “swine” flu, revealed by researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology, US.
HIV care providers applaud Congress’ extension of Ryan White program – The U.S. Congress has extended the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, helping to ensure that more than half a million low-income, uninsured, or underinsured people living with HIV/AIDS have access to lifesaving care.
Pregnant women need flu shots — it’s safe to get an influenza (flu) shot during pregnancy. – Pregnant women should be sure to get all their flu shots as soon as the vaccines become available this year to protect them against both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 (swine) flu.
