MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'autoimmune'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:56:49 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182094&cid=t_147407_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fhow-dry-i-am-day-to-day-life-with-sjogrens-syndrome%2F Many of us who live with autoimmune diseases wonder how many different ones we can have. Sometimes they seem to be piling up on us in a world in which one usually has one disease, we can have several. There are times they “bleed” into each other like sand art when the tide rises and life can become very confusing. There is something about we mere mortals that drives us on to find a name for our suffering. Usually, we know something is wrong long before we get a label from a doctor. It often involves seeing many physicians and hearing their guesses as to what we have wrong with us. Each of them cannot know everything but the good ones do know what to do about it when they don’t know; they send you to a specialist. We keep the appointments because, secretly, we need to know our sym... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182094 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:42:14 +0100 5182094 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181744&cid=t_147407_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FZqyldJVBAKM%2F Venus Williams has pulled out of the U.S. Open, citing Sjögren’s syndrome, a chronic — and treatable — autoimmune disease. Like other autoimmune diseases, Sjögren’s strikes women more frequently than it does men. People with the condition can develop a raft of symptoms – here’s a list from the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation. The most common, however, are dry eyes and a dry mouth, caused by the body’s attacks on its own salivary glands and tear ducts For many people, Sjögren’s symptoms will be relatively mild – - dry eyes, and mouth, joint pain and general fatigue, according to Victoria Shanmugam, a rheumatologist at Georgetown University Medical Center who isn’t involved in Williams’ care. Some people will have a more serious p... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181744 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:00:21 +0100 5181744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592394&cid=t_147407_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-new-treatment-for-lupus%2F2011.03.15 Lupus, an autoimmune disease, [recently] turned up on the front page of the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). It cropped up, also, on the first page of the New York Times business section, and elsewhere. Scientific American published a nice online review just now. The reason is that the FDA has approved a new monoclonal antibody for treatment of this condition. The drug belimumab (Benlysta), targets a molecule called BlyS (B-lymphocyte Stimulator). The newspapers uniformly emphasize that this drug marks some sort of triumph for Human Genome Sciences, a biotech company that first reported on BlyS in the journal Science way back in 1999. BlyS triggers B cells to produce antibodies that in patients with lupus tend to bind and destroy their own cells’ needed machinery, causing various joint, lung... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592394 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:00:36 +0100 4592394 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4565902&cid=t_147407_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fniche-science-and-targeted-medicines-vs-magic-bullets%2F2011.03.09 Maybe you read the other day in The New York Times that the pharmaceutical industry has a problem. Big blockbuster drugs like Lipitor are going off patent and the industry leaders don’t have new blockbusters showing promise to replace them. So the big companies search for little companies with new discoveries and they consider buying them. Industry observers think the days of $5 billion-a-year drugs to lower cholesterol or control diabetes may be past for awhile, and the companies will have smaller hits with new compounds for autoimmune conditions and cancer. When I saw my oncologist for a checkup yesterday — the news was good — we chatted about the article and the trend toward “niche science.” We welcomed it. We didn’t think — from our perspective — the wor... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4565902 Wed, 09 Mar 2011 22:30:58 +0100 4565902 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3972888&cid=t_147407_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Falternative-medicine-how-non-traditional-methods-cured-me%2F photo via Lemondrop We thought our readers would enjoy Wendy Shanker’s post on Lemondrop about how alternative medicine helped her manage her rare autoimmune disease. You know you would be so much healthier if you would just eat some kale? I know I would. But every time I go into the health food store craving a smoothie I look at the menu and think: “I should get the kale/beet/carrot/celery special. That would be so beneficial for my system!” Then I walk out of there with the peanut butter/banana special instead. I’ll order it with soy instead of dairy to rationalize that I’m doing a good thing for myself. But why didn’t I get the kale? Shouldn’t my brain’s long-term desire for wellness outweigh my sweet tooth’s demand for instant gra... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3972888 Wed, 15 Sep 2010 14:30:57 +0100 3972888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3742248&cid=t_147407_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpatient-stories-about-hair-loss%2F2010.07.10 The New York Times has a series called “Patient Voices” which gives insights from the patients with the disease, physical and emotional changes in their lives, and accommodations made. The most recent series is on patients with alopecia (hair loss). “The Voices of Alopecia” by Tara Parker-Pope (July 6, 2010): This week, Patient Voices explores alopecia, an autoimmune disease that leads to a few bald patches to the loss of every hair on a person’s body. To hear what it’s like to live with alopecia, listen to the Patient Voices audio slideshow that features adults, children and their parents who are coping with the condition. Listen to these seven people tell what it’s like to live with alopecia: - Matt Kelly, 43, lost his hair at age 38 over a 6 week time... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3742248 Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:00:00 +0100 3742248 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577357&cid=t_147407_87_f&fid=34816&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHonestMedicine%2F%7E5%2FeCzXKjcAzsY%2FBERKSON%2520on%2520BIHARI.mp3 Last Sunday, the world lost a truly wonderful man: Dr. Bernard Bihari, a medical hero, and one of my personal heroes, as well. Dr. Bihari was the genius who discovered that a very low dose of naltrexone, a drug that had been approved at a higher dose by the FDA for another purpose entirely, could help people with some of the most difficult-to-treat diseases. Thanks to Dr. Bihari, tens of thousands (some say hundreds of thousands) of people with multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, HIV/AIDS and even cancer are now living better lives. Many are symptom-free. Dr. Bihari had the highest of credentials: a Bachelors degree from Cornell, and his MD degree from Harvard. But he never lost sight of his true mission: to lessen the suffering of real people. And that he did.I’ve been... HONEST MEDICINE: My Dream for the Future blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577357 Wed, 19 May 2010 04:30:45 +0100 3577357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3549394&cid=t_147407_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2Fzn91CQRIZoQ%2F           Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a serious disorder that occurs when the body’s defense (immune) system mistakenly attacks part of the nervous system.  This leads to nerve inflammation that causes muscle weakness.  It is the most frequent acquired (as opposed to inherited) neuropathy.  Nobody knows why or how GBS infects certain individuals and not others.  Its cause is unknown, but it is triggered by a viral or bacterial infection in most patients that somehow causes an autoimmune reaction, i.e. your own immune system attacks your body.  As it is generally seen after an infection, it is called a ‘post infectious autoimmune disease’.  The syndrome may occur at any age, but is most common in people of both sexes between ages 30 and 50.           The ... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3549394 Mon, 10 May 2010 00:34:28 +0100 3549394 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3538408&cid=t_147407_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F05%2F05%2Fsunlights-ability-to-protect-against-multiple-sclerosis-may-go-beyond-vitamin-d%2F Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disorder. At its root, is degeneration of the fatty sheaths that surround the nerve fibres in the brain and spinal column. The degeneration of these sheaths (known as myelin sheaths) disrupt neurological function, and can manifest in any number of ways including physical disability and impaired brain function. It’s [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3538408 Wed, 05 May 2010 22:46:00 +0100 3538408 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3435109&cid=t_147407_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2FXU8sRQXm6ks%2F         Lupus, also known as lupus erythematosus, is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder that occurs mostly in women.  A healthy immune system is one that can protect you from germs and illness.  It makes antibodies which are special chemicals that fight off infection.  With a disease like lupus, the immune system gets confused and begins attacking the healthy cells in your body.  It does this by making autoantibodies, which are antibodies that attack the body’s normal cells.  Lupus produces widely varying symptoms, although joint pain is reported by most patients and skin lesions are common.  Lupus can cause short periods of symptoms alternating with healthy periods, or can progress into a life-threatening disorder affecting the heart, kidneys and other organs.  Peopl... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3435109 Sat, 03 Apr 2010 01:59:36 +0100 3435109 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3383109&cid=t_147407_155_f&fid=38409&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneuropathologyblog.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F03%2Finterferon-gamma-in-pig-pin.html Remember that outbreak of progressive inflammatory neuropathy (PIN) among pig abattoir workers back in 2007? If not, here's my blog post from January '08 summarizing the event. The good Dr. Mark Cohen (pictured at left with pig ears) forwarded me a recently published article following up on the outbreak. Investigators found no infectious etiology; but they did find higher levels of interferon-gamma among PIN patients. Since elevated levels of interferon-gamma has been associated with both acute and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, this finding supports an autoimmune mechanism for PIN. (Source: neuropathology blog) neuropathology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3383109 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:18:00 +0100 3383109 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3370607&cid=t_147407_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F03%2Fclarifying-lada-type-1-diabetes-in-adults.html When I met fellow D-writer Catherine Price for coffee recently, I immediately gushed about everything we had in common: two brunette journalist-types living in the SF Bay Area, both diagnosed a few years ago with LADA (or so I thought). Catherine gave me a sideways look, and then began grilling me about the formal definition [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3370607 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:00:36 +0100 3370607 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3311877&cid=t_147407_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F02%2Fjdrfs-new-adults-with-type-1-toolkit-a-good-start.html One of the common criticisms of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is its overwhelming emphasis on children and parents of children with diabetes — with little to no recognition that kids with diabetes, well… grow up. Or that ever-growing numbers of us are being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as adults. God knows I’ve been [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3311877 Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:00:58 +0100 3311877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3267074&cid=t_147407_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fcartilage-and-its-role-in-my-life%2F For many of you who read this blog and also lead a life of chronic pain, the “bad guy” in your life is called bone. Many of you have suffered injuries of the spine or other bones. Others have contacted diseases of the bones in one of the many forms of rheumatoid disease. They are all different in their approach, advance and insult to the body. For all of us it is important to remember that the human body is a wonder of connections of many types of substances as bones, nerves, ligaments and cartilage all move as one because of that connection. This makes it a bit tricky to diagnose and I believe that’s why physicians so often rely on lab work. It’s difficult for doctor’s to know and actually impossible for them to see within us…X-ray vision is not available for doctor’s unless... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3267074 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:48:21 +0100 3267074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3172176&cid=t_147407_136_f&fid=39025&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Feverythingchangesbook%2F%7E3%2FeRIMicFz4UA%2Fpatients-for-a-moment-down-and-dirty Sifting through the emotional, administrative, and financial trauma of dealing with illness, being sick ultimately all comes back to the body.  So for this installment of Patients for A Moment, we asked that bloggers submit posts about the down and dirty physical world of their disease. Ever pulled a serious MacGyver providing your own home healthcare with saline solution and a turkey baster?  Duncan Cross has and writes about it in on the Duncan Cross post Duncan 1, Hospital 0. “I guess if I had a choice, I’d rather wake up next to some ugly guy that I don’t remember meeting – not that, that has ever happened to me before – because it’s really bad when the party you don’t want to wake up next to is yourself…”  Need I say more about Leslie Rott’s post The Ultimate Co... Everything Changes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3172176 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:33:42 +0100 3172176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3056782&cid=t_147407_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fan-update-on-sues-irritable-bowel-syndrome%2F Every once in awhile I run across articles, have experiences in my own life and learn something from someone else that I believe would be beneficial or at least of interest to all of you. I say this as explanation for the fact today’s blog will be a hodge-podge of things, not necessarily connected. Many of them are anecdotal experiences, not necessarily the subject of some vast scientific study; just little old me trying them out. Just think of me as a human guinea pig with a bit of nursing knowledge to keep myself safe. You will recall I have had, among my dirge of complaints, been fighting irritable bowel syndrome for a number of years. A recent bout of it resulted in a blog not long ago which stirred up a lot of response. Many of the ideas were of great interest to me. Two of them, in... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3056782 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:05:02 +0100 3056782 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3044947&cid=t_147407_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fdiabetes-around-the-world.html Living in the United States, we are often stuck in a bubble of US-centric news.  This is true for diabetes as much as any other topic. But as World Diabetes Day attests to, diabetes is hardly just an American thing. In reality, there’s much more going on in the global diabetes research arena than you [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3044947 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:00:00 +0100 3044947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2934905&cid=t_147407_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fwayback-wednesday-seven-things-worse-than-the-diabetes.html On an overnight trip to Dallas two weeks ago, I broke out in some rather ugly hives — again! My lips poofed up like I’d been slammed with a hockey puck, and my right eye went all ape-like. This lasted for several days.  It was that damn gluten allergy again, I must assume, although for [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2934905 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:00:52 +0100 2934905 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2920427&cid=t_147407_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fhealth-and-girl-stuff.html Maybe that isn’t the most politically correct title for this post; I should grow up and say “women’s issues,” right? Naw. Just like any formerly repressed group, we get to refer to ourselves any way we want. And a girl might just change her mind, you know I’ve been feeling especially frustrated with all [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2920427 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:00:29 +0100 2920427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2862087&cid=t_147407_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2F2009%2F10%2Fendogenous-retroviruses.html are genetic elements representing the result of retrovirus infections and integration of the proviruses into the germline of vertebrates including humans. Retroviruses use the enzyme reverse transcriptase (RT) to transcribe their RNA genome into cDNA and incorporate it into the cellular genome. Infections of germ cells result in the presence of these viruses in the genome all cells of the organism and transmission of these sequneces to the offspring. Only some endogenous retroviruses are replication competent and produce infectious particles; most are defective. Although the role of endogenous retroviruses during tumour development and autoimmune diseases is still unclear, sufficient evidence has accumulated indicating that retroviruses play an important role in physiological processes. E... Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2862087 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:54:00 +0100 2862087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2834387&cid=t_147407_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fi_yQInvwMsY%2F This latest FDA approval would bring relief to more than 7.5 million Americans who suffer from a chronic skin disorder called PSORIASIS, which look like red, thick, scaly patches on the skin. Psoriatic patches, which are usually itchy and painful, are inflamed areas where excessive layers of cells had built up on the skin. And now, after extensive and extended testing, the FDA has approved ustekinumab (Stelara) for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. (See amazing before-and-after photos!) Psoriasis is an auto-immune disease, which means a faulty immune system mistakenly attacks the skin and joints, treating the body like an invader and releasing chemicals that otherwise fight infections and foreign substances. As bad as it already looks, psoriasis affects more than the skin. The dis... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2834387 Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:56:00 +0100 2834387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2832296&cid=t_147407_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fmultiple-sclerosis-why-me%2F I am not, as the title of this blog posting may lead you to believe, wallowing in the fact that I have MS today.  Not feeling sorry for myself, not throwing a pity party, not even bemoaning, just wondering…seriously, why me?! Research seems to be coming out at an increasing pace of late.  Research that is telling us more and more about multiple sclerosis, the disease itself, the aggravating events and anecdotal evidence of some causative factors.  Still I find myself asking “why me?”! I’m a man with a disease which is diagnosed three times more frequently in women. I never had a bout of mononucleosis in my youth (and don’t show evidence in blood work that I was ever exposed/infected without knowing) I’ve never had a major trauma to the head or neck. I’ve never smoked cigar... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2832296 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:31:17 +0100 2832296 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2796693&cid=t_147407_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fanother-diagnosis-in-the-family-lyme-disease.html Up until now it’s been all about me and my #$%@ chronic illness. That wasn’t so bad, for me. Far tougher is the realization that someone you love — someone who’s been the rock of your existence — may not be so invincible after all. Although nothing truly catastrophic has happened, a little [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2796693 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:52:33 +0100 2796693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2641369&cid=t_147407_117_f&fid=38158&url=http%3A%2F%2Famericanacupuncture.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fautoimmune-disease.html As a medical physician for over 50 years, I strive to give you the best medical information on controversial medical subjects and let you, the reader, come to your own conclusions. I have no ties to any organization, pharmaceutical, or lobby group. As an practicing medical acupuncturist since 1982, I find western medicine and medical acupuncture are very complimentary that results in astounding healing in pain management, addictions to cigarettes and food, and a host of other maladies. Let me know how we are doing. Your constructive comments are always appreciated. Click the RSS post button on the upper right hand corner if you would like to receive by email our future medical blogs.Visit http;//www.americanacupuncture.com/ for more detailed information on healing.DO YOU HAVE AN AUTOIMMUNE... Dr. Needles Medical Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2641369 Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:26:00 +0100 2641369 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2561515&cid=t_147407_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fwayback-wednesday-free-gifts-with-diabetes.html I’m taking a cue from my buddy Scott Johnson and other bloggers, and enjoying a look back at what I was on about here a few years ago, via the WayBack Machine.  Here’s what DiabetesMine roughly looked like back in 2005. Wow! In the process, I stumbled on the following post, from April 2005, that [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2561515 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:00:48 +0100 2561515 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512255&cid=t_147407_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fkelly-building-a-crohns-disease-community%2Fimportance-of-diet-in-crohns-disease%2F In the last blog, we touched on the subject of diet, but I want to go a little further with it this week.  What to eat and what not to eat is a really frustrating aspect of Crohn’s disease.  What we could really use is a manual that would tell us what foods to avoid instead of having to do the trial and error method that we all have to currently do.  There is no manual that is handed out once you obtain your diagnosis of Crohn’s disease that states: ‘if you eat this you will feel bad so avoid it at all costs’.  No, instead, they pretty much don’t tell you anything.  I think that the doctors purposely avoid the topic of diet because it is so different from patient to patient that there really isn’t a specific diet for Crohn’s disease that they can point you to.  But ther... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512255 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:29:40 +0100 2512255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458064&cid=t_147407_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D7141 A drug derived from an ancient herb used in Chinese medicine may be a novel way to target autoimmune diseases. WebMD reports The ancient herb is chang shan, from the root of the blue evergreen hydrangea. It’s been used in Chinese medicine to reduce fever and fight malaria. The herb’s active compound, febrifugine, is too toxic for use as a modern drug. In the 1960s, U.S. Army scientists created a febrifugine derivative called halofuginone as a possible malaria drug, but further study was soon discontinued. More recently, halofuginone was found to reduce skin collagen and was tested as a possible treatment for scleroderma. But until now, nobody knew how the drug worked. That may be because the drug’s target — a specific kind of immune cell called a Th17 cell — ... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458064 Sat, 06 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2458064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405841&cid=t_147407_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F2vem5X-Covs%2F We know type 1 diabetes is as much affected by genes as it is by lifestyle and environment. But a huge international study found that there could be as many as 41 genetic loci that affect the risk of type 1 diabetes! Research on Type 1 Diabetes. Image: Newscom Touted as the largest genetic study into type 1 diabetes, and published in Nature Genetics online this week, the study combined results from two previous studies and found 41 genomic locations were significantly associated with diabetes. The DNA of more than 10,000 people with diabetes from all over the world were studied, including more than 2,300 families with at least two diabetic kids. Another 11,000 people without diabetes were also studied. Of the 41 genes located, the study also found that 18 chromosomal regions that were asso... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405841 Wed, 13 May 2009 23:49:00 +0100 2405841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2402883&cid=t_147407_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fnew-study-suggests-that-narcolepsy-is.html Scientists have made another major breakthrough in understanding the sleep disorder narcolepsy. A new study suggests that it is an autoimmune disorder.Results show that people with narcolepsy are more likely to have a unique variant of a specific gene belonging to T cells. These cells play an important role in the response of the immune system.“Our discovery clearly shows narcolepsy is an autoimmune disease,” study author Dr. Emmanuel Mignot said in a Stanford statement. “We’re now getting the main pieces of what’s happening in narcolepsy.”The NIH reports that one of those pieces involves a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene. People with narcolepsy are likely to have a variant of an HLA gene. Along with T cells, HLA proteins help the immune system identify invaders such as bact... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2402883 Fri, 08 May 2009 17:04:00 +0100 2402883 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2271534&cid=t_147407_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2F1RYMZYibDGA%2F (Double click any word for definition) The frequency of neurologic involvement is generally 5% of all cases of sarcoidosis About two thirds of patients with neurosarcoidosis have a self-limited monophasic illness, the rest have a chronic remitting relapsing course Occurs in adults aged 25-50 years Neurosarcoidosis generally occurs within 2 years of onset of sarcoidosis If diagnosis of sarcoidosis is known then symptoms may not pose diagnostic challenge (however other differential should be kept in mind esp. Infections) Clinical Features Any cranial nerve may be involved Facial nerve most commonly involved - (Heerfordt syndrome - fever, uveitis, facial nerve palsy) Peripheral nerve involvement - Mononeuropathy, mononeuritis multiplex, polyneuropathy Central nervous system involvement may a... Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2271534 Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:30:19 +0100 2271534 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2210666&cid=t_147407_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2FW5fK4UR8p40%2F (Double click any word to bring up definition) Sjogren’s syndrome is an auto-immune disease characterized predominantly by destruction of exocrine glands, particularly salivary and eye glands. May be primary or secondary when it occurs in association with other connective tissue disorders (e.g. Rheumatoid Arthritis) Pathogenesis Auto-immune with a speculative role of molecular mimicry of environmental pathogens Auto-antibody titers (Anti-Ro & Anti-La) do not correlate with disease activity Clinical Criteria Ocular symptoms Persistent, troublesome dry eyes every day > 3 months Recurrent sensation of sand or gravel in the eyes Use of tear substitutes > 3 times/day Oral symptoms Feeling of dry mouth every day > 3 months Recurrent feeling of swollen salivary gland... Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2210666 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:00:28 +0100 2210666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1865775&cid=t_147407_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fsteroids-friend-or-foe%2F Once again, I find myself on the old “downalator.” Reducing my dose of prednisone is not my favorite thing to do. I’ve done it many times in the last 20 years, and it never gets any easier. It’s really a good thing. It just doesn’t feel like it. As usual I will share with you what I and my family have experienced because that’s the view from here. It helps a little that I’m a nurse, gave birth to a nurse and married to a nurse. All of that helps with the jargon and offers a basic understanding of this whole business. Living with autoimmune disease is a very complicated business. As many of you have found, you need all the help you can get. My oldest sister suffered terribly from psoriatic arthritis. Many years ago, when she was first diagnosed, she... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1865775 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:13:59 +0100 1865775 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1454892&cid=t_147407_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fare-autoimmune-disorders-triggered-by-a-virus%2F I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis seven years ago. At that time, physicians were divided about what triggers this autoimmune disorder. While most researchers believed in some kind of an “environmental trigger” for MS as well as most other autoimmune disorders, around thirty percent (including my doctor) leaned toward the idea of a “viral trigger” which sets the body’s immune system upon healthy tissue of the central nervous system. Nowadays, the two camps are far more in balance. On the 31st of this month, I’ll be facilitating a live program on autoimmunity for Pat’s Fund. This first annual event – Seattle Autoimmunity Day -is focused on the fact that one in five people in America live with an autoimmune disorder. One in five, that number is huge! I was also surprised... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1454892 Mon, 19 May 2008 22:38:54 +0100 1454892 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1432738&cid=t_147407_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F287186977%2F Researchers and scientists out of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis discovered a very distinct and precise action of the immune cells that can cause diabetes. Researchers were able to examine the immune cells from isolated insulin-making structures in the pancreas known as the islets of Langerhans. They caught the immune cells, known as dendritic cells, “red-handed”: Carrying insulin and fragments of insulin-producing cells known as beta cells. This can be the first step toward starting a misdirected immune system attack that destroys the beta cells, preventing the body from making insulin and causing type 1 diabetes. Due to dendritic cells being very tiny and minimal in numbers, only about 5 to 10 of them per islet, each of which contains a thousand cells, ... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1432738 Sat, 10 May 2008 00:31:48 +0100 1432738 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1242441&cid=t_147407_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fpractical-can-be-delicious-on-the-anti-inflammatory-diet%2F When it comes right down to living, it is one thing to read or hear advice but it is another thing to apply it to our everyday lives. When our hunger pangs “hit the road” it’s just so much easier to revert to eating the way we were brought up. Change is difficult, especially if you’re in pain, depressed and are dealing with a whole “plateful” of problems already. Today I would like to share a few easy, practical ideas for a healthy diet for those of us who suffer from autoimmune disease which may cause inflammation in joints, skin and major organs. We all need to be practical about the real world we live in. Some of us are the family cooks and have to please spouses and/or children. There are no specific recipes which will eliminate arthritis, just some basic rules or guideline... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1242441 Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:46:27 +0100 1242441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1158494&cid=t_147407_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fis-there-a-gluten-and-arthritis-connection%2F We know celiac disease, or gluten intolerance, as well as the less serious gluten sensitivity, are both due to an autoimmune reaction. The reactions vary in intensity from producing acute anaphylactic shock for some, to skin rashes and digestive upset in others. It is also beginning to be revealed by various studies throughout the country that undiagnosed reactions can lead to the development of other autoimmune diseases. Certainly, many autoimmune diseases are passed down on our DNA but others may develop from years of eating foods which are not working for you. It can be a form of “eating starvation.” Some of these diseases could include MS, rheumatoid arthritis or achy joints in general, osteoporosis, lupus and even cancer. Many individuals, including me, have had years of digestive... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1158494 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:04:59 +0100 1158494 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1085561&cid=t_147407_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F12%2F11%2Fthe-controversy-around-vaccines.html By Dov Michaeli MD, Ph.DSometimes, When I read something extraordinarily egregious or stupid I catch myself shaking my head in disbelief. I even mutter to myself a few choice expletives. Here are 2 items from the New York Times appearing on 2 consecutive days.“ The New Jersey Public Health Council is expected to vote tomorrow on a rule that would require flu vaccines for any child entering day care or preschool. If it is approved, New Jersey would become the first state in the country to impose that mandate. “The flu vaccine is one of four that the council will consider. There is a vaccine that would be given to children entering day care or preschool to protect against pneumonia and two others that would be given to those entering sixth grade: one to guard against meningococca... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1085561 Tue, 11 Dec 2007 03:39:46 +0100 1085561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1068767&cid=t_147407_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F194876647%2F Yale school of Medicine, New Haven has developed the means to establish the depletion of B cells in diabetes and proven to reverse the disease that was established in mice. Pretty darn cool. Up to now scientists have been able to do this with RA, rheumatoid arthritis, but haven’t had the tools to recreate this same type of research among diabetic cells. In the study, autoimmune diabetes–susceptible mice were engineered such that their B cells expressed human CD20. Depletion of B cells in these mice before they showed signs of diabetes, using a single dose of a CD20-specific antibody, delayed and/or reduced the onset of disease. It is truly amazing how we can dissect how our bodies work and recreate different situations to enhance and further science! Share This (Source: Diabete... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1068767 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:45:06 +0100 1068767 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1027079&cid=t_147407_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F11%2F14%2Fworld-diabetes-day-no-child-should-die-of-diabetes.html by Pat SalberToday is the first ever UN-observed World Diabetes Day led by the International Diabetes Federation. It was established as a result of a resolution passed last December by the General Assembly of the UN. The idea behind the Day is to increase visibility of diabetes world-wide.  Hopefully this will lead to better funding, more research, public education, and other resources being applied to the condition.The focus of this year’s World Diabetes Day campaign is diabetes in children and adolescents. Diabetes is one of the most common chronic disease of childhood. Children and teens can develop Type 1 diabetes – an autoimmune disorder in which the insulin producing cells in the pancreas are destroyed – or they can develop Type 2 diabetes – a condit... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1027079 Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:51:25 +0100 1027079 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1003636&cid=t_147407_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2F2007%2F11%2F05%2Fmyasthenia-gravis-a-rare-muscle-weakness-disorder%2F Myasthenia gravis is a rare disorder of muscle weakness. Many confuse this with multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is a central nervous system disorder affecting the insulation (myelin) on nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. In contrast myasthenia gravis is a muscle disease where transmission of electrical impulses to the muscle fail. This results in the muscle not contracting fully, resulting in weakness. This condition can selectively affect the eye muscles, muscles of the head and neck or be generalized affecting all muscle, including the diaphragm. If the diaphragm is involved, patients can have varying degrees of breathing problems, including respiratory failure. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is the standard model of a neurological autoimmune disorder. In autoimmune diseases, the b... Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1003636 Mon, 05 Nov 2007 11:12:57 +0100 1003636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512239&cid=t_147407_129_f&fid=36041&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fchrista-life-with-psoriasis%2Fthe-eyes-have-itpsoriasis-that-is%2F I have psoriasis in my eyes. It forms on the underside of my eyelids and does its utmost to drive me crazy. Thankfully, it doesn’t itch like the rest of me, but it does feel like I have a whole handful of grit in my eye. This first came to light when I started methotrexate. Aside from all the usual charming side effects, I also experienced blisters in my mouth and eventually in my eyes. These horrid little things would chaff my eyes and would then burst filling my eyes with stinging liquid. They would be sore for an hour or two afterwards and then would clear up…only to return again with the next weekly injection. Imagine my delight when I was told that these little monsters were just another of the joys of my disease and that I could expect them to be regular visitors from this ti... Life with Psoriasis blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512239 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 21:01:00 +0100 2512239 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=998687&cid=t_147407_134_f&fid=35137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdiabetesupdate.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fgood-germs-bad-germs.html No, this is not a pun on the title of Gary Taubes' new book. It's the name of a completely different book which should be of great interest to anyone whose diabetes is autoimmune in origin.Good Germs, Bad Germs: Health and Survival in a Bacterial World by Jessica Snyder Sachs, is an up-to-date summary of what we know about how bacteria interact with humans. It's a fascinating story, because after a lifetime of "fighting germs" it seems that scientists are coming to learn that the interaction between bacteria and our bodies is far more complex than was ever realized and we have to work with germs and make alliances with "good germs" in order to survive. Why this relates to diabetes is that the book starts out with several chapters that explore in greater detail than I've seen elsewhere, the... Diabetes Update blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=998687 Thu, 01 Nov 2007 13:49:00 +0100 998687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=979215&cid=t_147407_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F175057032%2Fwhat_is_lupus.html I had the humiliating experience last night of running into an acquaintance. After exchanging pleasantries, I noticed she kept saying things like "Since I got sick" and "Sometimes it's hard for me to stand". I asked her what was wrong and she replied "I've been diagnosed with Lupus". I mumbled something appropriately sympathetic sounding all the while realizing that I didn't have a clue what Lupus was. I had heard of it but didn't KNOW what having Lupus entailed. I decided to research it and here's what I found...What is Lupus:Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease where the body's antibodies attack one's own tissues. It can affect different parts of the body including skin, joints, lung, blood, kidney and brain and its primary sympt... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=979215 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 22:15:01 +0100 979215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512240&cid=t_147407_129_f&fid=36041&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fchrista-life-with-psoriasis%2Fseasonal-affective-disorder-and-seasonally-affected-skin%2F Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a recognized mental health condition, seasonally affected dermis or skin is another thing altogether. And even though I know it’s always going to happen, the onset always makes me feel a little down. Temperatures have dropped dramatically here in the U.K .,and we have had chilly, cold and occasionally damp weather of late. It’s been a case of off with the sandals and into boots and socks, as the prospect of winter moves ever closer, with no regard to the fact that summer was a total washout this year. I guess I am more affected by the sun - or at least by light - than I thought because after just two days encased in socks and boots my ankles are complaining in the best way they know how, by erupting in a ring of sore and itchy scaly patches.... Life with Psoriasis blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512240 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 20:42:08 +0100 2512240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=964794&cid=t_147407_129_f&fid=36041&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Flife-with-psoriasis%2Fchrista%2Fback-to-blackwith-white-flecks%2F I adore winter clothes. I don’t stand out in my long sleeved tops and my thicker tights are common place in the winter months. I also love the rich dark colors, the many shades of black (and I must say I didn’t know there were quite so many shades of black until I tried – and failed miserably - to find a black jacket to match a pair of black trousers!) and the splashes of color all in winter soft thickness. But, of course, this brings along yet another little dilemma…skin shedding and the tell-tale white flaky flecks that show up against the darker fabrics. I am rigorous in my moisturizing routine. Every morning and evening after my shower, I apply either a prescribed lotion or a deep moisturizer depending on the state of my skin, but it seems that no matter how much I moisturize o... Life with Psoriasis blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=964794 Fri, 19 Oct 2007 19:18:22 +0100 964794 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=959070&cid=t_147407_129_f&fid=36041&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Flife-with-psoriasis%2Fchrista%2Fpsoriasis-does-it-itch%2F I spent years listening to my mother argue with various doctors when she asked them to give me something to ease the itching. “Psoriasis does not itch,” one rather pompous medic said. I must have been about 13 years old at this stage, and I looked him straight in the eye and asked, “Doctor, do you have psoriasis?” He told me he did not. Maintaining eye contact, I asked him how on earth he, who did not have psoriasis, could tell me (who does have it) that psoriasis does not itch? He, of course, could not answer. Psoriasis does itch. It itches like nothing else. My husband has woken me in the night because I am scratching. I have woken to find myself, legs in the air raking at my skin until it bleeds, still unable to stop the itching. It seems the more I scratch, the more it itches.... Life with Psoriasis blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=959070 Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:17:12 +0100 959070 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=908822&cid=t_147407_129_f&fid=36041&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Flife-with-psoriasis%2Fchrista%2Fa-collection-of-autoimmune-conditions%2F Quite a number of people have commented that they have psoriasis and … And have then gone on to name other recognized autoimmune conditions. We already know that a percentage of people with psoriasis will go on to develop psoriatic arthritis – that is a given…but did you ever consider any of the other autoimmune conditions that are out there, or have you already started your own little collection? I have had psoriasis for over 40 years and psoriatic arthritis for almost 20, but I also have an autoimmune thyroid condition, which is well-controlled with medication, and I suffer occasional bouts of alopecia areata. That last one, the alopecia, was a real surprise. I woke up one day looking like someone had made crop circles on my scalp. I went to the doctor in tears, and she confirmed ... Life with Psoriasis blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=908822 Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:49:06 +0100 908822 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=868212&cid=t_147407_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F09%2F13%2Fthe-specials-tonight-are-fulminant-and-non-fulminant%2F This study may be the antithesis of conventional wisdom for preventing complications. Staking all hopes on blood sugar control is heavily optimistic. Yes controlling blood sugar does lessen the workload for existing beta cells, and thus extends the lifespan of each beta cell. Research suggests that c-peptide offers protection to beta cells, both from apoptosis (cell death) and encourages new cell growth. This new cell growth applies to beta cells and other cells of the body that endure long-term Type 1 diabetes complications. Diabetics are instructed that maintaining normal blood sugars is the Holy Grail of preventing long-term complications. Yes and no. The truth is controlling your blood sugar will not allow complications of Type 1 diabetes to develop as quickly, presuming you still had ... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=868212 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 868212 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=858254&cid=t_147407_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F9%2F11%2Fmediterranean-diet-and-rheumatoid-arthritis.html  By Dov Michaeli MD, Ph.DClinical researchers at the University of Glasgow published in the September issue of the Annals of the Rhumatic Diseases an unassuming, almost self-effacing study on the effect of diet on rheumatoid arthritis. Here is stated objective of the study: “To overcome obstacles to healthy eating by a community-based intervention promoting a Mediterranean-type diet in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or RA living in socially deprived areas of Glasgow.” What was this modest paper doing amongst all the high-powered papers on the molecular mechanisms of rheumatic diseases and the latest potent therapies based on insights into those mechanisms?The studyMethods: 130 female patients with RA aged 30–70 years (median 55), disease duration 8 years were rec... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=858254 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 01:11:25 +0100 858254 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=830938&cid=t_147407_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F30%2Fbicycling-to-bring-a-cure-closer%2F Filed under: Type 1, Childhood, Research, Fundraisers, Opinion, Blogs, Allie Beatty, Support, PersonalitiesIn two weeks, Bernard Farrell will be riding in the Bike the Miles annual fundraiser to support Dr. Faustman's research to cure Type 1 diabetes. His participation is especially intrinsic because it is one day away from his 35th anniversary of becoming a Type 1 diabetic. Bernard plans to raise $10,000 for Dr. Faustman's research. Last year he raised $7,500. The entire event raised a whopping $301,000! All of this funding is going toward the human trials to cure Type 1 diabetes. After discovering that the insulin-producing islet cells of the pancreas are capable of regeneration, Dr. Faustman now needs to test her treatment, already known to be safe in humans, to see if the effects are a... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=830938 Thu, 30 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 830938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=748911&cid=t_147407_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F21%2Fless-insulin-longer-life%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Diet, ResearchHoward Hughs Medical Experts have discovered the key to a longer life is lower insulin levels. Less insulin helps cells fend off diseases that lead to early death like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. So how does one lower their insulin levels? Caloric restriction by way of eating less carbohydrates. Caloric restriction postpones the onset of life-threatening conditions like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. It may still happen, but at a later age. Scientists manipulated genes in mice to produce 50% less insulin and saw the mice live 18% longer. While lowering insulin throughout the body can lead to a diabetic state, scientists found that allowing insulin levels to be high throughout most of the body, and lowering the... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=748911 Sat, 21 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 748911 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=747149&cid=t_147407_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F20%2Fhistory-underway-in-type-1-diabetes-cure%2F Filed under: Type 1, Childhood, Research, Events, SupportDr. Faustman's lab is currently collecting blood samples from individuals with established Type 1 diabetes. These samples are being used to quantify the number of autoreactive T-cells and develop the adequate dosage for Phase 1 of human trials to cure Type 1 diabetes. The research has been presented and the NIH confirmed it. By reeducating the confused T-cells and instructing them not to attack healthy islets, an apparent cure of established type 1 diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice is possible. Now, Dr. Faustman is collecting human samples to bestow the same cure for diabetes in humans. If you wish to be a part of this revolutionary event for curing Type 1 diabetes, please contact the Clinical Coordinator or call Dr. Faustman's la... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=747149 Fri, 20 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 747149 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682744&cid=t_147407_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F20%2Fdiamyd-clinical-trial-speed-bump%2F Filed under: Type 1, Childhood, Drugs, Research, Opinion, ProductsCircumstances of confusion invalidated a Diamyd clinical trial to protect insulin-producing cells in diabetes patients. This confusion amounts to a speed bump, but Diamyd intends to press on. The company admitted hat the Phase II clinical trial of its gene therapy had been botched following a mix up over which patients received the drug and which got placebo. Diamyd is a vaccine based on GAD65, a major factor for diabetes due to an autoimmune reaction. The company designed the vaccine to reduce the need of insulin injections and prevent the destruction of beta cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. Also, by protecting these cells, it may allow them to regenerate in a non-autoimmune environment, and possibly set the stag... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682744 Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 682744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=874675&cid=t_147407_129_f&fid=36191&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.arthritisblog.org Irani: Vitamin A, also retinal is popularly known and used to keep skin healthy, and claims of it in beauty product is a commonplace thing. Besides, helping to keep your system free from toxins, which otherwise cause damage to your skin, a derivative of Vitamin A — retinoic acid — is found to be capable of fighting some serious and painful diseases like autoimmune, colitis or rheumatoid arthritis. So, while improving night vision, you can well keep those inflammatory risks at bay using the same vitamin dosage. What is needed is manipulation of the amount of the retinoic acid. In a prepared statement, research leader Hilde Cheroutre said, We found that you can control inflammation in a living animal with retinoic acid or you can treat cells with retinoic acid in a test t... Arthritis Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=874675 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 11:06:54 +0100 874675 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=644949&cid=t_147407_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F30%2Ftype-1-vaccination-successfully-tested-on-mice%2F Filed under: Type 1, ResearchI do not like vaccinations. I wonder if they are connected to the autism and diabetes epidemics, even attention-deficit disorders. I do vaccinate my children, just begrudgingly. Yet if there ever was a vaccination against type 1 diabetes, I would be first in line. Researchers in France and Germany have demonstrated you can treat a type 1 diabetic mouse with a vaccination. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system's T cells cannot distinguish between "non-self" and "self", attacking cells of the pancreas that produce insulin. Previously, Drs. Falk and Rotzschke of the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), blocked the misdirected immune system by vaccinating mice with modified structures of the same organ targeted by the de... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=644949 Wed, 30 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 644949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=623318&cid=t_147407_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F5%2F17%2Fgod-illuminated-how-immunity-works.html .Antibodies are an important defense mechanism against all kinds of foreign invaders, be it bacteria, viruses, or toxins. Without this defense we couldn’t survive very long. Remember the ‘bubble boy’? He was a kid who had a genetic defect that deprived him of antibody protection. He had to spend his life in a sterile plastic bubble in order to survive.How do antibodies do it?We are endowed from birth with a library of antibodies that are structurally designed to recognize and bind to these foreign invaders; each antibody recognizes a specific molecule of organism, or something structurally very close to it. This raises several obvious questions:How can the antibody recognize a certain organism from birth, not having seen this organism before? The answer is that the repert... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=623318 Fri, 18 May 2007 01:34:15 +0100 623318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=478738&cid=t_147407_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F03%2F17%2Fa-clue-to-the-rise-in-type-1-diabetes%2F Filed under: Type 1, Childhood, Lifestyle, Research, Daily News, OpinionThousands of pre-school age children are being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as new figures show a dramatic rise over the past 20 years. Between 1985 and 2004, the study conducted by Bristol University, has seen an increase in cases of type 1 diabetes in children under the age of 5 five times the previous average. Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease in which the body fails to produce insulin or makes only a little. One of the theories leading to the rise in type 1 diabetes is due to infants being exposed to exorbitantly clean households. The researchers found that incidence in all children under 15 had doubled. But the incidence of type 1 diabetes in children under the age of five went from .2 cases per 1,000 to... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=478738 Sat, 17 Mar 2007 04:00:00 +0100 478738 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=478743&cid=t_147407_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F03%2F14%2Fjoin-us-dr-p-and-the-diabetes-community%2F Filed under: Type 1, Childhood, Lifestyle, Research, Services, SupportChat live with Dr. Pugliese, an expert on the immunology and genetics of diabetes at The Diabetes Research Institute. His work has been focused on preventing the autoimmune attack that leads to diabetes. This research is very important for future prevention strategies, as well as stopping autoimmune destruction of transplanted islets. Dr. Pugliese's has studied the role of the thymus gland in the immune system and he describes it as the "school for the immune system". All immune cells are forced to pass through the thymus gland where they are exposed to the antigens present throughout the body. Immune cells that bind to these normal antigens are destroyed, thereby preventing the later destruction of healthy cells. If no... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=478743 Wed, 14 Mar 2007 04:00:00 +0100 478743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2523324&cid=t_147407_117_f&fid=35760&url=http%3A%2F%2Frdoctor.com%2Fsymptoms_disease%2Findex.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dview%26id%3D240%26Itemid%3D9 One of my relatives suffered Rheumatoid arthritis in the past. Later she died from complications. The disease is terrible. Being a medical student at that time I was trying to help somehow. Yet, after reading a lot of literature about the disease, I understood that there is no ultimate cure available. Felt Helpless.We know that the disease is an autoimmune disorder. But, as with majority of other autoimmune disorders, the primary cause of the disease is still unknown. Since I did PhD in Immunology besides plain MD, I was dreaming about finding an ultimate cure. Alas. We obviously know a lot about the immune mechanism of the disease. Yet, they look more like consequences of some unknown cause, than the primary reason. (Source: RDoctor Medical Syndication) RDoctor Medical Syndication blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2523324 Wed, 20 Dec 2006 03:34:28 +0100 2523324 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=874681&cid=t_147407_129_f&fid=36191&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.arthritisblog.org Anupam: Yes, I’m on a high now, especially, with these new studies luring me to be more tipsy. This time a new study has come out showing the positive effect of alcohol consumption. According to this new study, moderate alcohol consumption can protect you against some types of arthritis. However, still this fact cannot be claimed with full confidence because this fact has been exhibited from a preliminary that studied the effect of alcohol on mice. During this study, it was found that mice that drank diluted ethanol, their chances of developing autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis reduced to 40% when compared to the mice provided with just water. However, researchers are finding it difficult to come out with firm statement over these findings because they are not very confident abo... Arthritis Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=874681 Tue, 19 Dec 2006 06:31:38 +0100 874681 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2515216&cid=t_147407_117_f&fid=35760&url=http%3A%2F%2Frdoctor.com%2Fsymptoms_disease%2Findex.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dview%26id%3D101%26Itemid%3D2 System: Skin Subject: Lupus Abstract: Lupus affects many sites of the body. Website: www.kavokin.com (http://www.kavokin.com/) Reference: www.rdoctor.com (http://www.rdoctor.com/) (Source: RDoctor Medical Syndication) RDoctor Medical Syndication blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2515216 Fri, 04 Aug 2006 03:08:49 +0100 2515216 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2515217&cid=t_147407_117_f&fid=35760&url=http%3A%2F%2Frdoctor.com%2Fsymptoms_disease%2Findex.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dview%26id%3D100%26Itemid%3D2 System: Skin Subject: Scleroderma Abstract: Scleroderma is a chronic skin disease with board-likehardening and immobility another feature is thevisceral involvement. Website: www.kavokin.com (http://www.kavokin.com/) Reference: www.rdoctor.com (http://www.rdoctor.com/) (Source: RDoctor Medical Syndication) RDoctor Medical Syndication blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2515217 Thu, 03 Aug 2006 09:39:21 +0100 2515217 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2515218&cid=t_147407_117_f&fid=35760&url=http%3A%2F%2Frdoctor.com%2Fsymptoms_disease%2Findex.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dview%26id%3D99%26Itemid%3D2 System: Skin Subject: Lupus Abstract: Since nobody knows the precise cause of the Lupus,nobody knows the ultimate cure. The treatment relievessymptoms and decreases inflammation. Website: www.kavokin.com (http://www.kavokin.com/) Reference: www.rdoctor.com (http://www.rdoctor.com/) (Source: RDoctor Medical Syndication) RDoctor Medical Syndication blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2515218 Thu, 03 Aug 2006 09:37:39 +0100 2515218 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2515219&cid=t_147407_117_f&fid=35760&url=http%3A%2F%2Frdoctor.com%2Fsymptoms_disease%2Findex.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dview%26id%3D98%26Itemid%3D2 System: Skin Subject: Lupus Abstract: Lupus mimics many other diseases. A careful history with analysis assists in the diagnosis. Website: www.kavokin.com (http://www.kavokin.com/) (Source: RDoctor Medical Syndication) RDoctor Medical Syndication blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2515219 Thu, 03 Aug 2006 09:35:57 +0100 2515219