Blood test can predict rheumatoid arthritis early

Blood test can predict rheumatoid arthritis before symptoms arise — Study confirms elevated cytokine levels are early indicator of disease – Researchers from University Hospital in Umea, Sweden, have identified several cytokines, cytokine-related factors, and chemokines that increase significantly prior to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease onset.

Gene Deaf1 may play a role in type 1 diabetes

Found: A gene that may play a role in type 1 diabetes – Stanford University’s researchers have identified a gene that may play a role in the development of type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body’s insulin-producing cells.

2 new locations of genes causing multiple sclerosis

Aussie and Kiwi researchers make double MS genetic discovery – 2 new locations of genes causing multiple sclerosis. – Two new locations of genes responsible for multiple sclerosis are discovered which will help to unravel the causes of MS and other autoimmune disease, revealed by Australian and New Zealand researchers

Breastfeeding reduces multiple sclerosis relapse in women

Breastfeeding associated with a reduced risk of relapse in women with multiple sclerosis – Women with multiple sclerosis who breastfeed exclusively for at least two months appear less likely to experience a relapse within a year after their baby’s birth, according to a report that will appear in the August print issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Narcolepsy is an autoimmune disorder

Narcolepsy is an autoimmune disorder, Stanford researcher says. Genetic study confirms the immune system’s role in narcolepsy. – Ten years ago, Stanford University School of Medicine scientist Emmanuel Mignot, MD, PhD, and his colleagues made headlines when they identified the culprit behind the sleep disorder narcolepsy.

Potential preventative therapy for Type 1 diabetes

Potential preventative therapy for Type 1 diabetes – Scientists believe they may have found a preventative therapy for Type 1 diabetes, by making the body’s killer immune cells tolerate the insulin-producing cells they would normally attack and destroy, prior to disease onset.

Stem cells to repair the body

Scientists call up stem cell troops to repair the body using new drug combinations – Scientists have tricked bone marrow into releasing extra adult stem cells into the bloodstream, a technique that they hope could one day be used to repair heart damage or mend a broken bone, in a new study published today in the journal Cell Stem Cell.

First embryonic stem cells from rats

USC researchers derive first embryonic stem cells from rats. Finding represents major breakthrough for biomedical research. – Researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) have, for the first time in history, derived authentic embryonic stem (ES) cells from rats. This breakthrough finding will enable scientists to create far more effective animal models for the study of a range of human diseases.

Cancer drug bortezomib effectively treats transplant rejections

Cancer drug bortezomib ? used to treat multiple myeloma – effectively treats organ transplant rejections. – University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers have discovered a new therapy for transplant patients, targeting the antibody-producing plasma cells that can cause organ rejection.

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