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 'immune system'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:50:55 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968496&cid=t_100889_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2011%2F06%2F24%2Fantibiotics-in-vaccines%2F Antibiotics are in your vaccines. On June 2, 2011, The New York Times posted an online editorial that caught my eye, “The High Cost of Cheap Meat,” in which small doses of antibiotics in animal feed were discussed as the probable cause of the growing concern over an ineffectiveness in eliminating bacterial ‘super bugs’ that are overwhelming our immune systems and the practice of medicine. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/03/opinion/03fri3.html However, this ‘gem’ really sums up the issue: Last week, the Natural Resources Defense Council, joined by other advocacy groups, sued the Food and Drug Administration to compel it to end the nontherapeutic use of penicillin and tetracycline in farm animals. I must admit that was music to my ears. I’ve been promoting that ever since I lear... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968496 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 10:41:33 +0100 4968496 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642579&cid=t_100889_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1219 Cold season is upon us and if we are run down and tired we are more susceptible to infection. Because nature has a way of  preparing your body for pregnancy, your immune system is being suppressed in order keep the pregnancy viable. So building your immune system is the first line of defense to stave off those winter cold germs. From eating germ fighting foods to taking supplements, you can get through your pregnancy with little or no illness. Follow this link for more information. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642579 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:59:25 +0100 4642579 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3746687&cid=t_100889_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2F187954%2F Link Between HPV and Skin Cancer: A new study suggests that the risk for developing squamous cell carcinoma is higher if you have HPV, especially if you’re taking drugs like glucocorticoids to suppress the immune system. (via US News and World Report) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3746687 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:40:16 +0100 3746687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3733040&cid=t_100889_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007316.html The telomere caps on chromosomes shorten as you age. A prospective study finds shorter telomeres are linked to a higher risk of cancer. Peter Willeit, M.D., of Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria, and colleagues conducted a study to assess the association between leukocyte telomere length and risk of both new-onset cancer and cancer death. Leukocyte telomere length was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (laboratory technique used to analyze DNA) in 787 participants, free of cancer in 1995, and part of the prospective, population-based Bruneck Study in Italy. The primary outcomes analyzed included the incidence of new cancer and cancer mortality over a follow-up period of 10 years (1995-2005). During follow-up, a total of 92 of 787 participants (11.7 percent)...... FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3733040 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3733040 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3721836&cid=t_100889_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2Fg0Qr3YelFYA%2F Invasive Thymoma           The thymus gland is in the upper part of the mediastinum (chest) behind the sternum and extending upwards into the root of the neck.  It is a small organ (reaching its maximum weight of about 1 ounce during puberty) that slowly decreases in size during adulthood and is gradually replaced by fat tissue.  During fetal development and childhood, the thymus produces white blood cells, called lymphocytes, that travel to lymph nodes (bean-sized collections of immune system cells) throughout the body.  There they help the immune system protect the body from infections.  The thymus contains two types of cells: epithelial cells and lymphocytes.  Thymic epithelial cells are the cells that line the thymus, and are the origin cells of thymoma and thymic carcino... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3721836 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:54:45 +0100 3721836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3666045&cid=t_100889_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fdo-all-indian-infertile-women-have-tb.html I seem to be seeing an epidemic of tuberculosis ( TB ) these days ! Practically all Indian patients who come to me have been treated with anti TB drugs ! Most gynecologists now routinely test theendometrium ( uterine lining) for TB using a new generation of fancy ( and very expensive !) tests such as PCR ( polymerase chain reaction) . In the past, the only test available for making a diagnosis of TB was by growing the TB bacillus in the laboratory; or by finding tubercles on histological examination. However, both these methods are quite insensitive.This is why PCR was introduced with great hope. This test amplifies a specific segment of DNA and labs believed that finding DNA sequences unique to the tubercle bacillus in the endometrial tissue would help to make a unequivocal diagnosis of T... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3666045 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:43:00 +0100 3666045 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648457&cid=t_100889_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F182150%2F Get 25% off EBOOST Pink Lemonade and Fight Breast Cancer: For every box of EBOOST Pink Lemonade sold, EBOOST will donate $10 to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Plus, Blisstree readers get 25% off! Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648457 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:18:58 +0100 3648457 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644741&cid=t_100889_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fblisstree-readers-get-25-off-eboost-energy-drink-and-help-support-breast-cancer-research%2F Are you or a loved one grappling with breast cancer? If so, EBOOST and Blisstree understand the long road and challenges ahead. That’s why for every box of pink lemonade that EBOOST sells, they’ll donate a full $10 of the proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Together, we can give hope to millions of women and their families – and help wipe out this terrible disease once and for all. The EBOOST Healthy Energy Drink contains a special blend of vitamins and minerals that activate the four vital elements of performance: ENERGY, IMMUNITY, RECOVERY, and FOCUS, delivering sustained energy that lasts. EBOOST has teamed up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure® to raise money for breast cancer awareness with an exclusive offer for Blisstree readers. A box of 20 EBOOST pink lemon... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644741 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:11:10 +0100 3644741 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607465&cid=t_100889_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fhand-sanitizer-gels-4-things-to-know-before-you-squirt%2F photo: Thinkstock Check out our roundup of three allegedly all-natural hand sanitizer gels. Sure, instant hand sanitizer gels have made it a little easier to stay clean on-the-go. They’re great for hospital waiting rooms and other places where germs run rampant, or after your ride on public transportation. But hand sanitizer gels won’t work unless you use them properly. Here’s how: 1. Buy hand sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol – anything less won’t kill viruses and bacteria as well. 2. Squirt a lot onto your hand – doctors recommend a blob the size of a silver dollar. There needs to be enough gel to wet the entire back and front of your hands, since a sanitizer only kills germs with which it has direct contact. Rub the gel into your hands for at least... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607465 Fri, 28 May 2010 14:59:01 +0100 3607465 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3560194&cid=t_100889_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Feboost-pink-lemonade-25-off-for-blisstree-readers-to-fight-breast-cancer%2F Have you or someone you know been affected by breast cancer? If so, EBOOST and Blisstree understand the long road and obstacles ahead. That’s why for every box of pink lemonade that EBOOST sells, they will donate a full $10 of the proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Together, we can give hope to millions of women and their families – and help wipe out this terrible disease once and for all. The EBOOST Healthy Energy Drink contains a special blend of vitamins and minerals that activate the four vital elements of performance: ENERGY, IMMUNITY, RECOVERY, and FOCUS, delivering sustained energy that lasts. EBOOST has teamed up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure® to raise money for breast cancer awareness with an exclusive offer for Blisstree readers. A box of 20 EBO... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3560194 Wed, 12 May 2010 16:45:26 +0100 3560194 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3549394&cid=t_100889_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=3342245&cid=t_100889_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.rawvoice.com%2Fpmn_twiv%2Fwww.twiv.tv%2FTWiV072.mp3 Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, and Rich Condit This week the TWiV team explains CRISPR/Cas, the immune system of bacteria and archaea, how novel viruses are discovered by deep sequencing of small RNAs, and the relationship between dry weather and outbreaks of West Nile virus infection. This episode is sponsored by Data Robotics Inc. Use the promotion code VINCENT to receive $50 off a Drobo or $100 off a Drobo S. Win a free Drobo S! Contest rules here. Download TWiV #72 (62 MB .mp3, 85 minutes) Subscribe to TWiV (free) in iTunes , at the Zune Marketplace, by the RSS feed, or by email. Links for this episode: Review on the CRISPR/cas system of bacteria and archaea Virus discovery by sequencing small virus-derived RNAs (paper one and two) Dry weather induces outbre... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3342245 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:30:37 +0100 3342245 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3342625&cid=t_100889_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F006997.html Another reason to make sure you get enough vitamin D: the ability to respond to infections. Vitamin D plays a key role in activating killer T cells after those cells detect a viral or bacterial pathogen. Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have discovered that Vitamin D is crucial to activating our immune defenses and that without sufficient intake of the vitamin, the killer cells of the immune system – T cells - will not be able to react to and fight off serious infections in the body. For T cells to detect and kill foreign pathogens such as clumps of bacteria or viruses, the cells must first be 'triggered' into action and 'transform' from inactive and harmless immune cells... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3342625 Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3342625 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3283340&cid=t_100889_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2Ffinding-narcolepsy-target.html A new study provides evidence to support the idea that narcolepsy is an autoimmune disorder.A decade ago it was discovered that people with narcolepsy lack brain cells that make “hypocretin.” This is a hormone that helps promote wakefulness. The finding helped explain why people with narcolepsy have episodes of uncontrollable sleepiness.But why do these brain cells die in people with narcolepsy? Last year the Sleep Education Blog reported on a new study. It suggested that the immune system attacks and destroys the brain cells by mistake. In August another study reported that this attack may be triggered by an infection.Now Swiss and French researchers report that they may have identified a specific target of the autoimmune attack that causes narcolepsy. It is a protein called Tribbles ... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3283340 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:20:00 +0100 3283340 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3254586&cid=t_100889_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fnew-information-from-the-fda-on-tysabri%2F As if progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) wasn’t a big enough word to get out of our mouths and a big enough concept around which to get our brains…now there’s immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS)! This morning, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted notice to the neurologic community (and thus they believe to patients) that the risk of developing PML increases with the number of doses one receives.  In the same MedWatch bulletin the FDA mentions another adverse event which is, “characterized by a severe inflammatory response” and can create serious issues for people even after return of the immune system to normal function. As of last week, the number of confirmed cases of PML for patients using Tysabri as their MS disease modifying ther... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3254586 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:42:05 +0100 3254586 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3244078&cid=t_100889_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F02%2F05%2Fcan-vitamin-d-keep-you-infection-free%2F On Wednesday morning I had a nice chat over coffee with Oliver Gillie, a writer and researcher with a particular interest in vitamin D. We spent much of our time talking about the role vitamin D may have in a wide range of conditions including role in a range of conditions including cancer, diabetes, [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3244078 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:10:31 +0100 3244078 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3212289&cid=t_100889_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F006902.html This study has been published in the... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3212289 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3212289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3104978&cid=t_100889_86_f&fid=38272&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaikaspoetnik.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F12%2F18%2Foverproduction-of-th1-and-th17-cytokines-may-be-the-clue-to-why-some-h1n1-patients-get-very-ill%2F The present H1N1 influenza virus (nvH1N1, nv=new variant) behaves very differently from other influenza strains. The majority of nvH1N1 infections are mild and self-limiting in nature, but a small percentage of the patients require hospitalization and sometimes emergency care. Unlike the seasonal flu virus, the people who seem to suffer serious complications from this [...] (Source: Laika's MedLibLog) Laika's MedLibLog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3104978 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:15:30 +0100 3104978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3063299&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F06%2F10-reasons-i-quit-smoking%2F You’re almost there. You want to quit. In fact, 80 percent of your brain is sure you can. But 20 percent insists that you can’t. How do you make it over to the other side without falling SPLAT on your face? Do this. Make a list. Of ten reasons you should quit. Here’s mine. 1. Smoking Made Me Sick For real. Within a few minutes of inhaling a few cigarettes, my throat would start to tickle and my head would begin hurt. The day after a binge, I’d wake up with a nasty cold that kept me in bed when I had a million things to do. Smoking shrinks your blood vessels, clogs up your lungs, and wears down your immune system. Your body is less able to fight off bacteria and viruses, so, yes, you get sick. And there’s of course the lung cancer and increased chances of heart... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3063299 Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:30:28 +0100 3063299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2939375&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_depression_and_immunity_a_role_for_t_cells.htm Brain Behav Immun. 2009 Oct;doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2009.09.009 Depression and immunity: A role for T cells? Miller AH. Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia Much attention has been paid to the potential role of the immune system in the pathophysiology of major depression in humans. While activation of innate immune responses currently dominates the research landscape, early studies in depressed patients demonstrating impairment in acquired immune responses, in particular T cell responses, may warrant further consideration. Intriguing data suggest that activated T cells may play an important neuroprotective role in the context of both stress and inflammation. For example, generation of autoreactive T cells through immunization with central nervous system (CNS) specific antigens h... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2939375 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:06:00 +0100 2939375 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2876251&cid=t_100889_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FwUSQad178nc%2F This may sound like a sales pitch, but it’s not. If you’re having problems with your memory, or you want to improve it, then you might want to closely follow the research from this German team  of scientists. Published in the journal for experimental biology (FASEB Journal), German scientists discovered that administering a nasal spay containing interleukin-6 improved the memory of it subjects! According to the paper, Interleukin-6 exerts “neuromodulating influences on the brain, with promoting influences on sleep”. The researchers hypothesized that IL-6 could help consolidate our memories better during sleep, so they administered a nasal spray of IL-6 to test subjects after they read several short stories before bed. The control and test subjects slept and, the next morning... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2876251 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:31:00 +0100 2876251 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2865736&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fdoes_depression_cause_inflammation_or_is_it_caused_by_it.htm Cindy Fox Aisen - Indiana University School of Medicine Which comes first, depression or inflammation? To help solve this long standing chicken and egg conundrum, researchers led by Jesse Stewart, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis asked two critical questions. Does depression lead to elevated inflammatory proteins in the human body? Or does an increase in these proteins lead to depression? They found that the answer to the first question appears to be "yes," and the answer to the second question may be "no" among healthy adults. The researchers report that depressive symptoms are associated with increases over time in interleukin-6, an inflammatory protein that predicts cardiovascular events. In contrast, levels of interleukin-6 wer... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2865736 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:23:00 +0100 2865736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2838990&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_ptsd_is_associated_with_an_excess_of_inflammatory_.htm CONCLUSIONS. Current studies suggest an excess of inflammatory actions of the immune system in individuals with chronic PTSD. High levels of inflammatory cytokines have also been linked to PTSD vulnerability in traumatized individuals. There is also evidence that excessive inflammation is in part due to insufficient regulation by cortisol. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. An excess of inflammatory immune activity may contribute to health declines in individuals with PTSD, and treating PTSD symptoms may reduce these risks. (Glossary link added; ed.) Source...     © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comment:  Prediction: In the future, anxiety disorders and depression will be primarily regarded as the effects of a dysfunctioning immune system and not as mental disorders. (Source: Latest... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2838990 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:30:00 +0100 2838990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2820375&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Facute_stress_may_have_anti_cancer_benefits.htm Ruthann Richter - Stanford University Public speaking, anyone? Or maybe a big job interview? Dry your palms and take a deep, calming breath; there may be a silver lining. Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have shown that, at least in laboratory mice, bouts of relatively short-term stress can boost the immune system and protect against one type of cancer. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of this occasional angst seem to last for weeks after the stressful situation has ended. The finding is surprising because chronic stress has the opposite effect — taxing the immune system and increasing susceptibility to disease. "This is the first evidence that this type of short-lived stress may enhance anti-tumor activity," said Firdaus Dhabhar, PhD, associate professor o... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2820375 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:10:00 +0100 2820375 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2778499&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_imbalance_between_pro_and_antiinflammatory_cytok.htm Discussion: These results suggest that an imbalance between the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 and IL-10), and between Th1 and Th2 cytokines (INF-γ or TNF-α and IL-4) occurred in untreated depressed patients. Both EA and fluoxetine had an anti-inflammatory effect by reducing IL-1ß. EA treatment also restored the balance between Th1 and Th2 systems by increasing TNF-α and decreasing IL-4. (Glossary links added; ed.) Source... © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart New York. All rights reserved. (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2778499 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:09:00 +0100 2778499 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2730136&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fdepression_cripples_immune_systems_ability_to_fight_cancer.htm By Stephanie Pappas - Stanford School of Medicine Women with breast cancer and depression are at higher risk of cancer recurrence and early death than breast cancer patients without depression, recent research shows. Now, Stanford University School of Medicine and University of Louisville in Kentucky scientists have found evidence that the reason could be the psychiatric disorder's effects on immune cells. The new study published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity found that the more symptoms of depression exhibited by women with metastatic breast cancer, the less intense their immune responses were to seven common bacteria, fungi and yeasts. The researchers also found that patients with more cortisol, an immune-suppressing hormone released at high levels during chronic stress and... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2730136 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:07:00 +0100 2730136 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2691543&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fstreptoccoccus_antibodies_not_the_bacterium_may_induce_panda.htm Study provides new insights into identifying children at risk for autoimmune brain disorders Randee Sacks Levine - Columbia University A new study by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health's Center for Infection and Immunity indicates that pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Tourette syndrome and/or tic disorder may develop from an inappropriate immune response to the bacteria causing common throat infections. The mouse model findings, published online in Molecular Psychiatry, support the view that this condition is a distinct disorder, and represent a key advance in tracing the path leading from an ordinary infection in childhood to the surfacing of a psychiatric syndrome. The research provides new insights into identifying children at risk for autoi... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2691543 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:21:00 +0100 2691543 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2691547&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_inflammation_causes_mood_changes_through_alteratio.htm Conclusions: Inflammation-associated mood deterioration is reflected in changes in sACC activity and functional connectivity during evoked responses to emotional stimuli. Peripheral cytokines modulate this mood-dependent sACC connectivity, suggesting a common pathophysiological basis for major depressive disorder and sickness-associated mood change and depression. Source... © 2009 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2691547 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:51:00 +0100 2691547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2681673&cid=t_100889_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Finfections-may-trigger-narcolepsy.html In May the Sleep Education Blog reported that narcolepsy may be an autoimmune disorder. Research suggests that narcolepsy may develop when the immune system attacks and destroys hypocretin-producing brain cells by mistake. Hypocretin is a hormone that helps promote wakefulness.But what causes this immune system response? A study in the Aug. 1 issue of the journal Sleep shows that bacterial infection may be one trigger.The study involved 200 people with narcolepsy and 200 healthy controls. They were recruited from the U.S., the Czech Republic, Italy and South Korea. Their blood was tested for antibodies that are markers of bacterial infection.Results show that the levels of antibodies related to “streptococcus” were much higher in people with narcolepsy. These levels were highest when b... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2681673 Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:04:00 +0100 2681673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2621839&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fstarve_a_fever_feed_a_cold_dont_be_stressed.htm Barbara Isanski Whether it's getting a cold during exam time or feeling run-down after a big meeting, we've all experienced feeling sick following a particularly stressful time at work or school. Is this merely coincidence, or is it possible that psychological stress can actually make us sick? In a new report published in the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science psychologist Janice K. Kiecolt-Glaser from the Ohio State University College of Medicine reviews research investigating how stress can wreak havoc on our bodies and provides some suggestions to further our understanding of this connection. The field of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) investigates how stress and negative emotions (such as depression and anxiety) affect our health. Over the past 30 years, researchers in this fie... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2621839 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:19:00 +0100 2621839 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2572969&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_interleukin6_is_elevated_in_the_cerebrospinal_flu.htm Conclusions: We propose a role for CSF IL-6 in the symptomatology of suicidal behavior, possibly through mechanisms involving alterations of dopamine and serotonin metabolism. (Glossary links added; ed.) Source...     © 2009 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Comment:  Antidepressants are known to significantly inhibited IL-6 production. [1, 2, 3] This research points to this being one mechanism by which they reduce suicidality. (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2572969 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:36:00 +0100 2572969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2561314&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_clinical_trial_of_adjunctive_celecoxib_treatment_i.htm Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that celecoxib may be an effective adjuvant agent in the management of patients with major depression and anti-inflammatory therapies should be further investigated. (Text has been reformatted for online visual clarity, link added; ed.) Source... Copyright © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2561314 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:41:00 +0100 2561314 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511054&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_antibrain_antibodies_in_adult_patients_with_ocd.htm Conclusions: The majority of adult OCD patients do not seem to have autoimmunity disturbances as compared to a control group. However, a greater percentage of subjects with positive ASLO titres were found among OCD patients. For a small proportion of OCD patients, moreover, autoimmune reactions towards neuronal structures are present although further investigations are needed to demonstrate its etiopathogenetic relevance. Source...     Copyright © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Comment:  This is one of the few studies to consider an auto-immune link to adult OCD. The involvement of the immune system in some cases of the disorder in children is well established (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections). The immune... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511054 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:00:00 +0100 2511054 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2416970&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fimmune_system_gene_polymorphism_linked_to_depression.htm This study has demonstrated that the risk of depression was greatest amongst people who carry a genetic polymorphism of the C-reactive protein (CRP) gene and is not linked to increased levels of CRP, as previous scientific studies had suggested. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein found in the blood in response to inflammation. The CRP gene is located on the first chromosome (1q21-q23). "Until this point, it was not completely clear what role the CRP gene played in the pathogenesis of depression. Unraveling the mechanisms behind depression is very exciting," said Professor Almeida. "The results of our study suggest that these genetic variations lead to a relative deficiency in an individual's ability to address the physiological changes that occur as a result of acute stressful events. T... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2416970 Tue, 19 May 2009 08:53:00 +0100 2416970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2416971&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fcancer_tumors_secrete_depression_promoting_hormone.htm Animal models may help explain mood changes in cancer patients William Harms In a study that could help explain the connections between depression and cancer, researchers at the University of Chicago have used an animal model to find, for the first time, a biological link between tumors and negative mood changes. The team determined that substances associated with depression are produced in increased quantities by tumors and are transmitted to the brain. Additionally, pathways that normally moderate the impact of depression-causing substances are disrupted when a tumor develops. The research further showed that tumors induce changes in gene expression in the hippocampus, the portion of the brain that regulates emotion. Although researchers have long known that depression is a common outcom... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2416971 Tue, 19 May 2009 08:34:00 +0100 2416971 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2416973&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_interleukin1_receptor_antagonist_and_incident_dep.htm Conclusions: In old age, persons with high plasma levels of IL1-ra had a higher risk of developing depressive symptoms over time. These findings suggest a potential causal role for inflammation in the development of depressive symptoms in older persons. Source... © 2009 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2416973 Tue, 19 May 2009 08:13:00 +0100 2416973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2402883&cid=t_100889_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=2387680&cid=t_100889_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fsleep-h1n1-swine-flu-virus.html The H1N1 flu virus, or “swine flu,” has infected people in 20 countries. This includes people in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. How can you protect yourself from this new virus?The CDC advises you to get plenty of sleep. This will help your body to maintain a strong immune system.In January the Sleep Education Blog reported on a study linking sleep and the immune system. Participants were exposed to a “rhinovirus” – the common cold.People who reported sleeping less than seven hours per night were three times more likely to develop a cold. The AASM recommends that adults get seven to eight hours of sleep each night.To keep from getting the flu, the CDC also recommends that you wash your hands often. Keep active, eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid close contact with... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2387680 Mon, 04 May 2009 16:53:00 +0100 2387680 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2323808&cid=t_100889_132_f&fid=35016&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpeanutbutter.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F04%2F07%2Fhupo-psi-par-standard-format-for-protein-affinity-reagents%2F Image via Wikipedia HUPO PSI-PAR: standard format for protein affinity reagents is now available for Public Comment on the PSI Web site for the next 30 days. The public comment period enables the wider community to provide feedback on a proposed standard before it is formally accepted, and thus is an important step in the standardisation process. This message is to encourage you to contribute to the standards development activity by commenting on the material that is available online. We invite both positive and negative comments. If negative comments are being made, these could be on the relevance, clarity, correctness, appropriateness, etc, of the proposal as a whole or of specific parts of the proposal. If you do not feel well placed to comment on this document, but know someone who ... peanutbutter blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2323808 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 08:34:35 +0100 2323808 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2287181&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fenzyme_key_to_inflammationrelated_depression.htm This study demonstrated that mice in which the gene for IDO is knocked out, or in which IDO is chemically blocked, do not exhibit depressive-like effects. The authors conclude that IDO is a necessary step in the development of this immunity-related depression. The compound used in this work to block IDO may have potential as a treatment for depression in instances when immunotherapy such as interferon-a is used. In addition, chronic, low-grade inflammation is a feature not only of infectious diseases, but conditions like cancer, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Depression co-occurs frequently with these common diseases and is associated with poorer prospects for future health. Work in this animal model has the potential to provide insight into the role of chronic inflammation in preci... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2287181 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 07:26:00 +0100 2287181 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2290586&cid=t_100889_117_f&fid=38158&url=http%3A%2F%2Famericanacupuncture.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fmood-changes-from-food-allergies.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 acupuncturist since 1982, I find western medicine and medical acupuncture are very complimentary with astounding results.Visit http;//www.americanacupuncture.com/ for more controversial medical  information.FOOD ALLERGY Early exposure to food allergens can compromise an immature immune system.  Over 25% of Americans have symptoms of food allergies, but only 3% actually have food allergies.  The food allergies are water-soluble glycoproteins of plants and animals.  They stay stable with heat, acid, and proteases. Milk and egg allergies ar... Dr. Needles Medical Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2290586 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:15:00 +0100 2290586 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2190991&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_common_genetic_contributions_to_depressive_symptom.htm Conclusions: Current depressive symptoms are significantly correlated with inflammatory markers. This covariation is due, in large part, to genes that are common to depressive symptoms and inflammation. Source... © 2009 American Psychosomatic Society (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2190991 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:41:00 +0100 2190991 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2190992&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_associations_of_depression_with_creactive_protein.htm Conclusions: Depression and CRP, IL-1, and IL-6 are positively associated in clinical and community samples and BMI is implicated as a mediating/moderating factor. Continuity in clinic- and community-based samples suggests there is a dose-response relationship between depression and these inflammatory markers, lending strength to the contention that the cardiac (or cancer) risk conferred by depression is not exclusive to patient populations. Available evidence is consistent with three causal pathways: depression to inflammation, inflammation to depression, and bidirectional relationships. Source... © 2009 American Psychosomatic Society (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2190992 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:37:00 +0100 2190992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2190555&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F02%2F15%2Freeling-from-rejection%2F Can rejection cause havoc in your life? You bet it can, at least according to a new article appearing in Newsweek. While I don’t think rejection is going to have any long-term effect on your intelligence or your immune system (despite the article’s claims), I could see how it might temporarily increase your aggression toward others and increase your social isolation (at least in the short term): Twenge’s other research has found that rejected individuals also become less social, are more likely to interpret neutral words and behaviors as signs of rejection and score lower on intelligence tests—all from a simple 15-minute activity. And this pain was felt whether the rejection came from someone we want to like us, or someone we couldn’t care less about. “Ther... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2190555 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 01:07:40 +0100 2190555 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2138060&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fearly_life_stress_may_have_consequences_for_immune_function.htm By Todd Neale, Staff Writer, MedPage Today MADISON, Wis., Jan. 27 — Children who go through stressful situations early in life may have weakened immune systems as they enter adolescence, researchers found. Children ages nine to 14 who had been physically abused or had spent time in an orphanage when they were younger had higher levels of antibody to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV) than population controls (P<0.005), Seth Pollak, PhD, of the University of Wisconsin here, and colleagues reported online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. More... © 2004-2009 MedPage Today, LLC. All Rights Reserved. (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2138060 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 07:28:00 +0100 2138060 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2065317&cid=t_100889_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D5690 from the Malaysian Medical Resources Breast Cancer Rates Falling With Reduced Hormone Therapy Use, Immune System Works Better at Night, Women Living With Multiple Generations Have Increased Heart Risks (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2065317 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2065317 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2056066&cid=t_100889_136_f&fid=36070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnetwork.nature.com%2Fpeople%2Fbasanta%2Fblog%2F2008%2F12%2F19%2Four-evolving-allies-against-cancer-cells People following (if only occasionally) this blog do probably agree with the importance of the evolutionary dimension of cancer to study its progression. Although somatic evolution is something that multicellular organisms can use to their advantage, witness the immune system, it is also something to be shielded from: cancer, viruses, bacteria. It is good to read that more and more research groups are considering therapies that take evolution into account. This can range from those therapies that are aware that tumours will evolve towards resistance (to the therapy) to therapies that use evolving populations. Bacteria image from wikipedia: One way to do this would be to use anaerobic bacteria. Not my idea of course, but people have been using anaerobic bacteria to fight cancers. Results a... Cancerevo: Evolution and cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2056066 Mon, 22 Dec 2008 05:48:27 +0100 2056066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1975187&cid=t_100889_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FsiXO_hNplww%2F For all of man’s scientific prowess and evolutionary advancement, we are the helpless victims of this sneaky little villain. Cold viruses have very few genes, so they have one purpose and one alone - to make our lives miserable! So we hack, snort, sneeze and feel awful until this prokaryote decides it has enough of us. There is no cure. We can treat the symptoms, sure, but we’re not fighting the virus. We’re simply "letting it run its course" and that really sucks, right? Here is man, the mighty Goliath, and this puny David of a virus swings at us and down we go, crying for our mommies. The latest research found that it’s not the rhinovirus that causes the cold symptoms. Rather our immune response goes into "overdrive" because this viral infect... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1975187 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:59:53 +0100 1975187 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1969221&cid=t_100889_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2FnclkDZjJgbY%2F var iamInit = function() {try{initIamServingHandler(420,297,269464,"http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/Resources/Css/css2.css")}catch(ex){}}() Well this is super exciting news! “Two popular leukemia drugs, Gleevec and Sutent, kept lab mice from developing type 1 diabetes and put 80 percent of diabetic mice in remission, an international team said on Monday.” The mice that went into remission happened after 8-10 weeks on the drug. Can you imagine the potential for this? It could mean a cure is very close. But we’ve heard that several times over the last few years, so I won’t get (too) excited. Yet. The article further quotes that, “The fact that the treated mice maintained normal blood glucose levels for some time after the drug treatment was stopped suggests ... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1969221 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:35:46 +0100 1969221 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1952358&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fstudy_finds_immune_systemanxiety_link.htm In the first study ever to genetically link the immune system to normal behavior, scientists at Rockefeller and Columbia universities show that mast cells, known as the pharmacologic bombshells of the immune system, directly influence how mice respond to stressful situations. The work chips away at the increasingly stale idea that the two most complex systems in the body have entirely separate modes of operation. Eight years ago, scientists from Columbia University discovered that mast cells travel to the brain from other organs early on in development. "We now knew that mast cells resided in the brain but we didn't know their function," says Rockefeller University's Donald Pfaff, head of the Laboratory of Neurobiology and Behavior. "But we know that they synthesize a large number of impor... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1952358 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:35:00 +0100 1952358 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1911498&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fpsychological_stress_may_make_you_itch.htm Angela Colmone Current research suggests that psychological stress may activate immune cells in your skin, resulting in inflammatory skin disease. Skin provides the first level of defense to infection, serving not only as a physical barrier, but also as a site for white blood cells to attack invading bacteria and viruses. The immune cells in skin can over-react, however, resulting in inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Stress can trigger an outbreak in patients suffering from inflammatory skin conditions. This cross talk between stress perception, which involves the brain, and the skin is mediated the through a brain-skin connection. However, little is know about the means by which stress aggravates skin diseases. Researchers lead by Dr Petra Arck of Charit&... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1911498 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:16:00 +0100 1911498 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382468&cid=t_100889_107_f&fid=38577&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbiosingularity.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F24%2Fnew-hope-for-multiple-sclerosis-sufferers%2F A drug which was developed in Cambridge and initially designed to treat a form of leukaemia has also proven effective against combating the debilitating neurological disease multiple sclerosis (MS). The study, led by researchers from the University of Cambridge, has found that alemtuzumab not only stops MS from advancing in patients with early stage active relapsing-remitting [...] (Source: Biosingularity) Biosingularity blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382468 Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:01:22 +0100 2382468 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382483&cid=t_100889_107_f&fid=38577&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbiosingularity.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F18%2Fresearchers-successfully-reprogram-keratinocytes-attached-to-a-single-hair%2F The first reports of the successful reprogramming of adult human cells back into so-called induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which by all appearances looked and acted liked embryonic stem cells created a media stir. But the process was woefully inefficient: Only one out of 10,000 cells could be persuaded to turn back the clock. Now, a [...] (Source: Biosingularity) Biosingularity blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382483 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 21:24:47 +0100 2382483 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382488&cid=t_100889_107_f&fid=38577&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbiosingularity.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F12%2Fscientists-develop-sensitive-nanowire-disease-detectors%2F Yale scientists have created nanowire sensors coupled with simple microprocessor electronics that are both sensitive and specific enough to be used for point-of-care (POC) disease detection, according to a report in Nano Letters. The sensors use activation of immune cells by highly specific antigens — signatures of bacteria, viruses or cancer cells — as the detector. [...] (Source: Biosingularity) Biosingularity blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382488 Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:38:26 +0100 2382488 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382492&cid=t_100889_107_f&fid=38577&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbiosingularity.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F10%2Fscientists-identify-gene-that-may-make-humans-more-vulnerable-to-pulmonary-tuberculosis%2F Researchers from the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and its collaborators have now identified for the first time a new gene that may confer susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis. Their findings, published October 10 in the open access journal PLoS Genetics, reported that a gene named Toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8), previously shown only to recognize some [...] (Source: Biosingularity) Biosingularity blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382492 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 02:26:27 +0100 2382492 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1859750&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fcompassion_meditation_may_improve_response_to_psychological_.htm This study focused on the effect of compassion meditation on inflammatory, neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to psychosocial stress, and evaluated the degree to which engagement in meditation practice influenced stress reactivity. "Our findings suggest that meditation practices designed to foster compassion may impact physiological pathways that are modulated by stress and are relevant to disease," explains Charles L. Raison, MD, clinical director of the Mind-Body Program, Emory University's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory School of Medicine, and a lead author on the study. Sixty-one healthy college students between the ages of 17 and 19 participated in the study. Half the participants were randomized to receive six weeks of compassion meditation training and ... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1859750 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:29:00 +0100 1859750 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382514&cid=t_100889_107_f&fid=38577&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbiosingularity.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F04%2Fnew-nano-device-detects-immune-system-cell-signaling%2F Scientists have detected previously unnoticed chemical signals that individual cells in the immune system use to communicate with each other over short distances. The signals the researchers detected originated in dendritic cells – the sentinels of the immune system that do the initial detection of microscopic invaders – and were received by nearby T-cells, which play [...] (Source: Biosingularity) Biosingularity blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382514 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:14:38 +0100 2382514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1746853&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_levels_of_adenosine_deaminase_and_dipeptidyl_pept.htm CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that there may be a primary or secondary impaired immune state in the course of panic disorder, as there is in many other psychiatric disorders, such as major depression. Future studies with larger samples are needed to clarify the relationship between the immune system and panic disorder. Source...Full Text - English | Tüm Metin - Türkçe (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1746853 Sun, 31 Aug 2008 08:47:00 +0100 1746853 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1739444&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fchronic_stress_alters_white_blood_cell_gene_expression.htm Most people would agree that stress increases your risk for illness and this is particularly true for severe long-term stresses, such as caring for a family member with a chronic medical illness. However, we still have a relatively limited understanding of exactly how stress contributes to the risk for illness. In the August issue of Biological Psychiatry, researchers shed new light on one link between stress and illness by describing a mechanism through which stress alters immune function. In a preliminary study, Gregory E. Miller Ph.D. and colleagues found that the pattern of gene expression differed between caregivers of family members with cancer relative to a matched group of individuals who did not have this type of life stress. They found that among the caregivers, even though they ... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739444 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:31:00 +0100 1739444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1709629&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fstress_anxiety_worsen_alergic_reactions.htm A new study shows that even slight stress and anxiety can substantially worsen a person's allergic reaction to some routine allergens. Moreover, the added impact of stress and anxiety seem to linger, causing the second day of a stressed person's allergy attack to be much worse. The finding, the latest in more than three decades of study on stress and immunity, is important since allergic reactions are the fifth-most-common chronic disease in America, and medical costs to treat them can reach $3.4 billion each year. In a report presented Thursday (8/14) at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in Boston, Ohio State University researchers described recent experiments meant to gauge how psychological stress might affect allergy sufferers. "Allergies are not minor proble... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1709629 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:18:00 +0100 1709629 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1642720&cid=t_100889_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F341653338%2F So the BBC news reports that I, parent of an autistic child, am an “infection risk,” from a study in the July 1st Brain, Behavior and Immunity on Parental caregivers of children with developmental disabilities mount a poor antibody response to pneumococcal vaccination.” (Does that mean autism parents are parasites?) 30 parents of children with developmental disabilities and 29 parents of typically developing children completed “standard measures of depression, perceived stress, social support, caregiver burden, and child problem behaviours,” as well as providing a blood sample and being vaccinated with a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Blood samples were also taken at 1- and 6-month follow-ups and parents of children with developmental disabilities &#8220... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1642720 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:59:38 +0100 1642720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1625773&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fmechanism_linking_disease_and_aging_to_psychological_stress_.htm Explains how chronic emotional stress ages the immune system Every cell contains a tiny clock called a telomere, which shortens each time the cell divides. Short telomeres are linked to a range of human diseases, including HIV, osteoporosis, heart disease and aging. Previous studies show that an enzyme within the cell, called telomerase, keeps immune cells young by preserving their telomere length and ability to continue dividing. Research by UCLA scientists found that the stress hormone cortisol suppresses immune cells' ability to activate their telomerase. This may explain why the cells of persons under chronic stress have shorter telomeres and reveals how stress makes people more susceptible to illness. The findings also suggest a potential drug target for preventing damage to the immun... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1625773 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:37:00 +0100 1625773 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1582946&cid=t_100889_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F005341.html Aged immune systems hobble the ability of old people to fight off tuberculosis (TB). These aged immune systems also explain higher rates of death of old people from the flu... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1582946 Sun, 06 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1582946 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1553103&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_levels_of_adenosine_deaminase_and_dipeptidyl_pepti.htm CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that there may be a primary or secondary impaired immune state in the course of panic disorder, as there is in many other psychiatric disorders, such as major depression. Future studies with larger samples are needed to clarify the relationship between the immune system and panic disorder. (Text has been reformatted for clarity; ed.) Source... (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1553103 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 08:42:00 +0100 1553103 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543860&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract__reducing_posttraumatic_anxiety_by_immunization.htm Brain Behav Immun. 2008 Jun 16;doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2008.05.002 Reducing post-traumatic anxiety by immunization Lewitus GM, Cohen H, Schwartz M. Department of Neurobiology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; Ministry of Health, Mental Health Center Anxiety and Stress Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel Trafficking of T lymphocytes to specific organs, such as the skin and lungs, is part of the body's defense mechanism following acute psychological stress. Here we demonstrate that T lymphocytes are also trafficking to the brain in response to psychological stress and are needed to alleviate its negative behavioral consequences. We show that short exposure of mice to a stressor (predator odor) enhanced T-cell in... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543860 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:50:00 +0100 1543860 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1531620&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fchildhood_stress_increases_allergies_risk_later_in_life.htm Moving house or the separation of parents may significantly increase the risk of children developing allergies later on according to results from a long-term study correlating life-style, immune system development and allergies. Stress events during childhood are suspected of playing a role in the later development of asthma, allergic skin disorders, or allergic sensitizations. Dramatic life events such as the death of a family member, serious illnesses of a family member or the separation of parents, but also harmless events like for example moving house are suspected of increasing the risk of allergies for the children affected. While a link between stressful events and the development of allergies has been known for some time, the mechanisms behind this remained unexplained. The immune ... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1531620 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:54:00 +0100 1531620 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1478184&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fimmune_system_genes_affect_depression_susceptibility_and_ant.htm Image: Berkeley LabMajor depressive disorder is a common and complex condition that impacts about 15 percent of the population, yet very little is known about the mechanisms behind the psychiatric disorder. What is known is that there are clinical parallels between depressive symptoms and the symptoms of certain inflammatory disorders. In findings published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, researchers from University of Miami found polymorphisms in inflammation-related genes that are associated with susceptibility to major depression and antidepressant response. Two genes critical for T-cell function in the immune system have been associated with susceptibility for major depressive disorder and antidepressant treatment response: PSMB4 (proteasome β 4 subunit) and TBX21 (T-bet). Th... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1478184 Fri, 30 May 2008 08:41:00 +0100 1478184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1461176&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract__neuropsychiatric_symptoms_and_immune_activation_i.htm Conclusions: HSV-related neuropsychiatric morbidity correlates selectively with regional, but not systemic, measures of immune activation. We hypothesise that communication between the local inflammatory site in the pelvis and the brain occurs through autonomic afferent pathways. Source... (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1461176 Thu, 22 May 2008 08:45:00 +0100 1461176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1451955&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fmaternal_prenatal_stress_affects_babys_immune_system.htm Women who are psychologically stressed during pregnancy may pass some on to their fetuses in the form of increased sensitivity to allergen exposure and possibly future asthma risk, according to researchers from Harvard Medical School who presented their findings at the American Thoracic Society's 2008 International Conference in Toronto on Sunday. "While predisposition to asthma may be, in part, set at birth, the factors that may determine this are not strictly genetic. Certain substances in the environment that cause allergies, such as dust mites, can increase a child's chance of developing asthma and the effects may begin before birth," said Rosalind J. Wright, M.D., MPH, assistant professor of medicine at Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Mother's stress during ... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1451955 Mon, 19 May 2008 08:18:00 +0100 1451955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1443133&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fantidepressants_and_immunity.htm This study involved laboratory research on blood samples from a specific group of women with HIV, and its findings cannot be generalized outside of this context. Much further research will be needed in people with HIV to see whether antidepressants could have any role in enhancing immunity. At the current time, antidepressants should continue to be viewed in their role as treatments of depression, stress and anxiety - not as potential treatments for HIV or anti-cancer drugs. More... © Crown Copyright 2008 (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1443133 Thu, 15 May 2008 08:12:00 +0100 1443133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1403020&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F279038085%2Fwhatre_you_laughing_at.html  If you’ve laughed much lately … you’ve also likely learned sometime new … or landed a cool business deal. Without laughter … people often find themselves alone or discouraged. One busy manager recently lamented that he’d lost his zest for work and life. His peers recognized his loneliness … almost before he described the problem. “We knew something was terribly wrong … because you rarely laugh anymore” … one colleague said. Would peers say the same of you? It doesn’t have to be that way. Regardless of on-the-job-pressures … laughter’s still alive in stories … like the red fox who swipes golf balls in Montana. It permeates experts’ tips to survive work. It dilutes bad news … ... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1403020 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:50:07 +0100 1403020 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060724&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2008%2F04%2Fis_schizophrenia_caused_by_the_flu.php Scientific American has a very interesting article on growing evidence that implicates the immune system. The body's reaction to infection from the flu virus or even strep in pregnant woman and their unborn children may play a role in the development of schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, autism and other brain diseases. "More than 200 studies have suggested that schizophrenia occurs between 5 and 8 percent more frequently than average in children born in the winter or spring. Scientists realized that viruses, which are most prevalent in the cold, dry winter months, could be one of the factors influencing this correlation. In 2004 Alan S. Brown, a psychiatrist at Columbia University, analyzed blood samples collected from 1959 through 1966 from 189 pregnant women, 64 of whom ha... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060724 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:07:02 +0100 4060724 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1331370&cid=t_100889_127_f&fid=34828&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrclouthier.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fear-infections-in-children.html I decided I have to post on this because of what I see as an ever increasing trend in my office. This is the trend of placing children on repeated antibiotic use over the course of the first 3-5 years of life. This pattern appears to start early in life with medical/pharmaceutical intervention and continues on a path of health decline over the next few years. Below I will describe the first five years of life that I see these young children experiencing. You might see your child or a friend or family members child in this same situation. My goal in practice is to reverse this trend so that children can live a happy drug free life that is full of activity and happiness. Below is the first five years pattern in the child that is pharmaceutically or medically treated. This doesn't hold for al... Dr. Steve Clouthier blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1331370 Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:22:00 +0100 1331370 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1329103&cid=t_100889_133_f&fid=35109&url=http%3A%2F%2Fleftbrainrightbrain.co.uk%2F%3Fp%3D756 A new study released by John Hopkins indicates that maternal antibodies may play a role in the aetiology of autism: [a]...possible explanation involves the transfer of reactive antibodies from the mother through the placenta to the fetus. To investigate the latter, the team measured the antibody-brain reaction in blood samples from 100 mothers with and 100 mothers without a child diagnosed with autism. Mothers of children with autism had a stronger reactivity or more areas of reactivity between antibodies and brain proteins compared with mothers without an autistic child. The presence of maternal antibodies also correlated with having a child with developmental regression, a primary feature of autism. Things to note. No one, repeat no one is assigning blame to mothers. I have no do... Left Brain/Right Brain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1329103 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:51:23 +0100 1329103 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1261674&cid=t_100889_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F242019008%2F Genetic and environmental factors are frequently cited as causes for autism (and, just to be upfront about it, the genetic studies best explain why my son is autistic). Three recent studies suggest that immunological factors ought also to be considered. Earlier this month, two studies conducted by researchers at the University of California-Davis M.I.N.D. Institute suggested links between autism and mothers’ immune systems. According to one study, some cases of “regressive autism” (in which a child seems to be developing normally and then loses skills and becomes autistic, in contrast to “early onset autism”) may be connected to the immune systems of mothers during pregnancy; researchers hope to further study IgG antibodies as a potential factor for autism (Ig... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1261674 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:28:08 +0100 1261674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1236356&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fpsychological_stress_may_increase_papillomavirus_linked_cerv.htm A woman's daily stress can reduce her ability to fight off a common sexually transmitted disease and increase her risk of developing the cancer it can cause, according to a new study. No such association is seen, however, between past major life events, such as divorce or job loss, and the body's response to the infection. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is spread during sexual intercourse. The most common subtype of the virus is HPV16. Infection with HPV16 and other HPV subtypes can cause cervical cancer. "HPV infection alone is not sufficient to cause cervical cancer," explained Fox Chase Cancer Center's Carolyn Y. Fang, Ph.D. "Most HPV infections in healthy women will disappear spontaneously over time. Only a small percentage will progress to become precancerous cervical lesions or cancer. A... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1236356 Sat, 16 Feb 2008 07:24:00 +0100 1236356 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1233351&cid=t_100889_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fkinoki-detox-foot-pads-a-scambuster-report%2F Just when I think I’ve seen it all, along comes the Kinoki Foot Pad, an adhesive pad that you apply to the sole of your foot while sleeping and which, according to the distributor’s website is alleged to “assist your body in the removal of heavy metals, metabolic wastes, toxins, microscopic parasites, mucous, chemicals, cellulite and much more.” This is such a blatant scam that it gives other scams a bad name! There may also be other suppliers of similar detox foot pads such as Chikusaku Bamboo Vinegar Patches, but they are all basically the same. Under the heading of “What specific benefits can I expect?” they have the gall to list the following: Kinoki Detox Foot Pads may help: • Absorb toxins released by the body. • Relieve the burden on the immune system. • Assist ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1233351 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:17:57 +0100 1233351 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1226876&cid=t_100889_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fdoes-cold-weather-cause-the-flu%2F That is one question for which there are many responses. All of us grew up hearing, “Take your galoshes (boots, overshoes, rubbers). Grab your umbrella; where are your mittens?” God love us mothers of the world. We do our best to keep our charges safe, as did our mothers, but it isn’t always easy. Now, my mother-in-law, who is a sensible and delightful human being, doesn’t believe getting a chill has anything to do with one’s health. Personally, I think she learned to have that opinion from watching her son grow big and strong. Every fall, she bought him a new jacket. He took it to school and put it in his locker where it stayed until summer rolled around when he took the dusty yet new jacket out and carried it home. Fast forward many years and here I sit, or more accurately, rec... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1226876 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:33:22 +0100 1226876 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1223733&cid=t_100889_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F233628847%2F Researchers at the University of California-Davis M.I.N.D. Institute suggest that some cases of “regressive autism”—-in which a child seems to be developing normally and then loses skills and becomes autistic, in contrast to “early onset autism”—-may be connected to the immune systems of mothers during pregnancy. Antibodies in the blood of mothers of autistic children were found to bind with fetal brain cells and affect healthy brain development. More specifics about the study Science Daily: [Judy] Van de Water, senior author of the study and professor of rheumatology, allergy and clinical immunology, and her team began their research with blood samples from 123 mothers – 61 whose children have autism and 62 whose children are typically developing. T... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1223733 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:48:33 +0100 1223733 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1179955&cid=t_100889_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F223671667%2F Researchers at the M.I.N.D. Institute at the University of California at Davis are the first to use genomic profiling of blood to note differences in autistic children, the January 25th Health News Digest reports. Their hope is that such “gene expression analyses can provide biological evidence of autism, currently diagnosed only through behavioral assessments, in some children.” “What we found were 11 specific genes with expression levels that were significantly higher in the blood of children with autism when compared to the blood of typically developing children,” said Frank Sharp, senior author of the study and professor of neurology with the M.I.N.D. Institute. “Those 11 genes are all known to be expressed by natural-killer cells, which are cells in the... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1179955 Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:19:20 +0100 1179955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1170199&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fimmune_system_molecule_key_to_stress_triggered_brain_atrophy.htm Acute and chronic stress can have devastating effects on the brain, and Yale School of Medicine researchers have pinpointed one receptor that plays a key role in that harmful cycle, according to a report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "This could provide new targets for the development of antidepressant medications," said Ronald Duman, professor of psychiatry and pharmacology and senior author of the study. Duman said uncontrollable stress is a major contributing factor for neuropsychiatric disorders such as major depression and post-traumatic stress disorders, which have been linked to cellular changes in the hippocampus. The hippocampus regulates emotion and memory storage and is particularly susceptible to stress. But little is known about the underlying mechani... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1170199 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:08:00 +0100 1170199 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1165380&cid=t_100889_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F220080847%2F Now I have to be honest, I have not heard a heck of a lot about this but I did find it interesting. Heart failure and your immune system… In some cases of heart failure, it is thought to be linked to ones own immune system in that it causes damaging inflammation to its own tissue. This then weakens the heart even further and inhibits its contractility and efficiency. The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas has completed a study on over 1000 participants. They have attempted to reduce inflammation by “damping down” ones immune system. The method involved taking blood from the patients, and exposing it to chemicals designed to change some of the body’s own immune signals, and boost anti-inflammatory signals. This kind of approach is called “immunomodulation&#82... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1165380 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:49:55 +0100 1165380 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1055770&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fimmune_system_linked_to_bone_loss_in_depressed_pre_menopausa.htm A new study reveals that even mildly depressed premenopausal women have less bone mass than do their non depressed peers. The level of bone loss is at least as high as that of other recognized risk factors for osteoporosis, including smoking, low calcium intake, and lack of physical activity. Hip bones, the site of frequent fractures among older people, were among those showing the most thinning in depressed premenopausal women. The reduced bone mass puts them at higher risk of these costly, sometimes fatal fractures and others as they age, the researchers note in the current issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. The report was submitted by Giovanni Cizza, MD, PhD, MHSc, of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Dise... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1055770 Wed, 28 Nov 2007 07:40:00 +0100 1055770 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1015899&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fstress_and_immunity.htm From Starving Cavemen to Stressed-Out Scientists By Fabienne Mackay, Ph.D. Scientists in Australia have recently discovered the first clear molecular process that helps to explain how stress suppresses our immune defenses and makes us more vulnerable to getting sick. The author describes how the brain and the immune system talk with each other through a tiny protein called neuropeptide Y, which plays a surprising dual role in how our bodies deal with stress. Has a biological system that worked well for early humans faced with starvation turned against those of us living with the many new stresses of modern society? More... Copyright 2007 The Dana Foundation All Rights Reserved (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1015899 Fri, 09 Nov 2007 07:13:00 +0100 1015899 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1003636&cid=t_100889_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=1002853&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F179768715%2Fworker_81_claims_brains_need_n.html What holds the interest and vitality of an 81 year old professor who continues teaching college classes and insists that brains need not age?  Even long after the body grows old?Dr Marian Diamond professor of anatomy … and one of the world's foremost neuroanatomists …  changed science by showing how human brains don’t have to grow old. Do you believe that? At 81, and still a professor of anatomy at UC Berkeley, Dr. Diamond’s determined that the brain can stay young through stimulation. How so?  Diamond’s five phase … no nonsense approaches to brain youthfulness: 1. Eat well – to optimize nerve cells and their branches2. Exercise – to increase blood and oxygen flow for healthier brainpower.3. Think new - to challenge your... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1002853 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 22:59:37 +0100 1002853 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=965324&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fdepression_anxiety_tied_to_allergies_in_kids.htm NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Research in psychiatrically ill children and adolescents suggests that those with depression, anxiety and other so-called "internalizing" disorders are more likely to have allergies. More... © Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved. (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=965324 Sat, 20 Oct 2007 06:01:00 +0100 965324 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=964685&cid=t_100889_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F172310704%2F With an eye on curing diabetes, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have successfully transplanted embryonic pig pancreatic cells destined to produce insulin into diabetic macaque monkeys — all without the need for risky immune suppression drugs that prevent rejection. Wow! Pretty darn cool. Within three weeks the transplanted “primordia” cells became embedded in three of the monkeys in which they were transferred. And the kicker… they started secreting pig insulin in response to rising blood sugars just like expected in a healthy “individual”. The primates used in the study all had type 1 diabetes. This could be huge news in aiding in the cure for diabetes. None of the monkeys had the need for ANY immune system altering m... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=964685 Sat, 20 Oct 2007 00:16:12 +0100 964685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=907133&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fwhen_the_going_gets_tough_quitting_may_be_good_for_you.htm Are there times when it is better to simply give up? Psychologists have been exploring this question, and more specifically a possible link between tenacity and both physical and mental health. It would seem that persistence would be tonic over the long haul; hanging tough should increase the odds that you'll succeed, and personal success is closely linked to well-being. But what if the goal is extremely unlikely? When does an admirable trait like perseverance start to look more like beating your head against the wall? To test this in the laboratory, psychologists Gregory Miller and Carsten Wrosch developed a psychological instrument that can reliably distinguish between people who when faced with a difficult goal either persist or let go of it. In a series of experiments, the psychologist... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=907133 Thu, 27 Sep 2007 08:57:00 +0100 907133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=883856&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fchronic_stress_can_reduce_caregivers_lifespans.htm The chronic stress that spouses and children develop while caring for Alzheimer's disease patients may shorten the caregivers' lives by as much as four to eight years, a new study suggests. The research also provides concrete evidence that the effects of chronic stress can be seen both at the genetic and molecular level in chronic caregivers' bodies. The findings, reported this month by researchers from Ohio State University and the federal National Institute of Aging, are published in the Journal of Immunology. These are the latest results from a nearly three-decade-long program at Ohio State investigating the links between psychological stress and a weakened immune status. Previous studies have examined medical students, newlyweds, divorced spouses, widows, widowers and long-married coup... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=883856 Wed, 19 Sep 2007 08:43:00 +0100 883856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=876176&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fbrain_drives_chronic_fatigue_symptoms.htm New research from University of New South Wales, Australia (UNSW) has delivered a final blow to the theory that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is driven by the body's immune system and in particular by its production of cytokines. Attention has now turned to the brain and neural-level reactions as the syndrome's likely source. The research, led by Dr Uté Vollmer-Conna at UNSW's School of Psychiatry, represents the latest findings in the Dubbo Infectious Outcomes Study and is the most comprehensive and definitive of its type. The research team found that cytokines production in patients suffering from Post Infective Fatigue Syndrome (PIFS) up to a year after the acute viral infection was no different from those in control patients who had promptly recovered. PIFS is a well-recognised... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=876176 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 08:34:00 +0100 876176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=870702&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract__do_bartonella_infections_cause_agitation_panic_.htm Conclusion: Three patients presented with acute psychiatric disorders associated with Bartonella-like signs and symptoms. Each had clear exposure to ticks or fleas and presented with physical symptoms consistent with Bartonella, eg, an enlarged lymph node near an Ixodes tick bite and bacillary angiomatosis found only in Bartonella infections. Laboratory findings and the overall general course of the illnesses seemed consistent with Bartonella infection. The authors are not reporting that these patients offer certain proof of Bartonella infection, but we hope to raise the possibility that patients infected with Bartonella can have a variety of mental health symptoms. Since Bartonella can clearly cause neurologic disorders, we feel the presence of psychiatric disorders is a reasonable expect... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=870702 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 08:02:00 +0100 870702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=868329&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fthe_genetic_fingerprint_of_loneliness_found.htm In this study, changes in immune cell gene expression were specifically linked to the subjective experience of social distance," said Dr. Cole. "The differences we observed were independent of other known risk factors for inflammation, such as health status, age, weight, and medication use. The changes were even independent of the objective size of a person's social network. What counts, at the level of gene expression, is not how many people you know, it's how many you feel really close to over time." In the future, the transcriptional fingerprint identified by Cole and colleagues might become useful as a 'biomarker' to monitor interventions designed to reduce the impact of loneliness on health. Cole SW, Hawkley LC, Arevalo JM, et al. Social regulation of gene expression in humans: glucoc... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=868329 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 08:53:00 +0100 868329 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=830972&cid=t_100889_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2F2007%2F08%2F30%2Fshingles-vaccine-postherpetic-neuralgia%2F Shingles is a condition characterized by a painful, blistering skin rash. This rash can affect any part of the body. The medical name for shingles is Herpes Zoster. It is the caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. People who have had chicken pox are potentially at risk for developing shingles later in their life. Patients who have never had chicken pox can get this from individuals who have an active attack of shingles, as the rash is contagious. Shingles can appear anywhere on the body but tend to follow the distribution of the nerves, as this is where the virus lives. Although severe in any part of the body, facial involvement around the eye presents an even greater problem. If shingles involves the upper face, the eye can be affected, potentially leading to eye complications ... Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=830972 Thu, 30 Aug 2007 11:06:48 +0100 830972 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=806658&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fhow_chronic_stress_initiatesworsens_immunodegenerative_dise.htm Interventions can prevent or halt stress-related inflammation that aggravate neurodegenerative disease, study shows The evidence is accumulating on how bad stress is for health. Chronic stress can intensify inflammation and increase a person's risk for developing central nervous system infections, neurodegenerative diseases, like multiple sclerosis (MS), and other inflammatory diseases, say researchers presenting at the 115th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association (APA). These researchers have demonstrated for the first time that stress-related increases in central nervous system inflammation are behind the adverse effects of stress in an animal model of MS. Researchers from Texas A & M University used mice to show what role social stress plays in the immune proces... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=806658 Sat, 18 Aug 2007 08:57:00 +0100 806658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=774254&cid=t_100889_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fcontrolling_stress_helps_fight_chronic_diseases_such_as_lupu.htm Lupus is an autoimmune disease which produces antibodies causing injuries to the body's cells and tissue. It makes the immune system go out of control and the organism attack healthy cells instead of the germs on them. This pathology, which affects more than 5 million people around the world, is more developed in women of fertile age between 15 and 44 years old. It is a chronic disease whose course is unpredictable. Patients alternate periods of clinical stability with others in which there are symptoms and signs showing that the disease is active. In addition, there are certain factors such as stress which may cause crisis and, therefore, worsen the prognosis of the disease. Daily stress is very common in patients suffering from the disease. Apart from the usual circumstances which produc... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=774254 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 08:37:00 +0100 774254 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=764992&cid=t_100889_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F29%2Fseaweed-coated-implants-work-say-johns-hopkins-researchers%2F Filed under: Type 1, Drugs, ResearchIn the past, I've blogged about an Australian experiment using implants that could, theoretically, eliminate the need for type 1 diabetics to use insulin shots. Researchers said it's possible to implant seaweed-coated capsules containing insulin-producing cells in the abdomen. The cells produce insulin, but the tiny pores in the seaweed do not allow immune system cells to pass through and destroy the cells. Allie has also looked at a related issue: experiments that surgically attach kelp-coated islets to the liver for the same purpose.Sounds pretty brilliant. But could it really work? The verdict looks like "Yes." According to the results of a new Johns Hopkins University study, such implants could be helpful for type 1 diabetics whose bodies otherwise r... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=764992 Sun, 29 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 764992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=694187&cid=t_100889_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fechinacea-and-selenium-lack-efficacy.html Echinacea promoted as cold preventer and treatment. Stories about the new Lancet review of echinacea are abundant in the general media; e.g., the Daily Mail trumpets that Scientists confirm echinacea halves the risk of catching winter sniffles. It is a little dispiriting that the Daily Mail coverage is more informative than the BBC's; the former is explicit that this isn't a new study but a review of previous studies.A review shows that taking supplements of the plant, also known as purple coneflower, can cut the chances of catching a cold by more than half. When used as a treatment it reduces the length of a cold by one and a-half days on average... The review, which combines the results of 14 previous studies, should finally give the seal of approval to the remedy.I have to say that I th... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=694187 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 08:22:00 +0100 694187 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=654449&cid=t_100889_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F02%2Fislet-transplantation-improves-with-drug-combination%2F Filed under: Type 1, Childhood, ResearchIslet transplantation is an exciting frontier of diabetes research as it can reverse diabetes. A recent study from researchers at the University of Alberta in Edmonton showed promising results when a combination of intensive insulin and heparin is used to garner better success of islet transplantation from a single donor. Due to inefficiencies in islet harvest, islet transplants usually require harvesting from more than one donor. Not only does the drug combination yield more islets from a single donor, early results suggest patients receiving islets from one donor realize longer insulin independence. Study researchers hypothesized heparin, an anticoagulant, could prevent damage from clotting, while intensive insulin could relieve stress and inflamm... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=654449 Sat, 02 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 654449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=650917&cid=t_100889_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Fbrainpop-and-educational-films-about.html Yahoo has an interesting item about an immunologist, Dr. Avraham Kadar, who has set up BrainPOP, a company that produces online, animated shorts about asthma, allergies, the immune system and a variety of other topics.Visit BrainPOP and join teen-robot duo Tim and Moby for a plane ride on which a seemingly innocent bag of almonds prompts an in-depth discussion of allergies. Viewers learn about the physiology of an allergic reaction, the role of the immune system, the different types of allergens and the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of allergies. Additional BrainPOP films tackle related subjects like asthma and the immune system itself.For allergic little ones in grades K-3, there's a BrainPOP Jr. film on the subject as well. Find out why Moby has cupcake frosting all over his metal fa... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=650917 Thu, 31 May 2007 17:52:00 +0100 650917 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=623476&cid=t_100889_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F18%2Fhep-c-and-non-hodkins-lymphoma-a-connection%2F Filed under: Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, Liver Cancer, Daily newsIf living with Hepatitis C isn't trying enough, studies are showing that people living with the chronic condition are at a greater risk for developing Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, based on research done on US soldiers living with Hep C. Hep C is a disease characterized by an inflamed liver, and it has also been linked to Liver Cancer. There's no vaccine, and it's spread by an exchange of bodily fluids. The immune system of people living with chronic Hep C is constantly taxed, and it's believed this is the reason behind the link between these two diseases. Hep C, as the article points out, affects more than four million people in the United States, and afflicts men more than women.Read | Permalink | Email this |... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=623476 Fri, 18 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 623476 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=587881&cid=t_100889_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F03%2Fdam-n-nutrients-were-supposed-to-be-good-for-me%2F Filed under: Type 2, ResearchSince we were kids, we heard from parents, teachers and even PSA characters like The Hanker For a Hunka Cheese guy that we need to get nutrients from food. But, what happens when we are getting too many? Couple that excess of nutrients and caloric intake with a lack of exercise, and you run the risk of an inflammatory immune response. Sort of like a dam, if the body is overloaded with nutrients, it will eventually give out. However, unlike a breached dam, an overwhelmed body will result in low-grade inflammation characteristic of obesity and other metabolic diseases. This is why researchers from Harvard have been trying to come up with a treatment to reinforce this barrier, and they are doing so by paying close attention to a protein, enriched in fat cells, cal... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=587881 Thu, 03 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 587881 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=471189&cid=t_100889_127_f&fid=34828&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrclouthier.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F01%2Fear-tubes-not-necessary-try-wait-and.html Doctors today reported that ear tubes do not seem to relieve much of the fluid/ear infection problems in the middle ear and a wait and see approach is much more logical and realistic. This will seemingly put some ENT's out of business who regularly make this type of procedure the hallmark of their practice. If your child is having ear infection recurrence, I would suggest looking at food allergies, removing the child from dairy and gluten products and improving immune system function with concentrated pharmaceutical grade whole food supplements (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier) Dr. Steve Clouthier blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=471189 Thu, 18 Jan 2007 04:48:00 +0100 471189