http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. Research just carried out in the Immunology Research Centre, led by Dr James Harris, based in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, shows that the process of autophagy  regulates the production of inflammatory molecules and may therefore represent an effective target for the development of new anti-inflammatory therapeutics. The findings have been recently published online in the Journal of Immunology. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-important-role-autophagy-self-eating-cells.html Medical research Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:00:01 EST news270286150 (Medical Xpress)—Published online in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the team from CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory, in Geelong, have shown Vago, a protein previously identified in fruit flies, is released by infected mosquito cells, providing a warning to other cells to defend against the invading virus. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-scientists-mosquitoes-viral-immunity.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 03 Oct 2012 07:32:13 EST news268468324 Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men and early treatment is usually very successful. However, like other cancers, obesity increases the risk of aggressive prostate disease. New research, published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Medicine, finds that the fat surrounding the prostate of overweight or obese men with prostate cancer provides a favorable environment to promote cancer growth. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-obesity-prostate-cancer-gene.html Cancer Mon, 24 Sep 2012 19:00:01 EST news267705029 (HealthDay)—A new review summarizes the ways in which inflammation and altered metabolism are associated with colorectal cancer in obese individuals; the review was published online Sept. 3 in Obesity Reviews. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-inflammation-role-obesity-colorectal-cancer-link.html Overweight and Obesity Thu, 13 Sep 2012 15:20:02 EST news266765980 (HealthDay) -- In a mouse model of atherosclerosis, CD4+ T cells interact with antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the presence of cognate antigen, leading to cell activation and proliferation and the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, according to an experimental study published online Aug. 13 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-cells-key-atherosclerosis-linked-inflammation.html Medical research Wed, 22 Aug 2012 17:50:01 EST news264871112 (HealthDay) -- Resistance training (RT) can reduce visceral fat and alter levels of certain inflammatory markers, according to research published in the July issue of Obesity Reviews. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-resistance-inflammatory-markers.html Overweight and Obesity Thu, 12 Jul 2012 04:47:17 EST news261287189 Research published today in Biomed Central's open access journal Journal of Neuroinflammation suggests that chronic inflammation can predispose the brain to develop Alzheimer's disease. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-chronic-inflammation-brain-alzheimer-disease.html Alzheimer's disease & dementia Mon, 02 Jul 2012 04:08:32 EST news260420839 (HealthDay) -- More than a quarter of women about to undergo breast cancer surgery experience breast pain, with genetic polymorphisms in inflammatory cytokines correlating with pain, according to a study published in the May issue of The Journal of Pain. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-pre-op-breast-pain-percent-cancer.html Cancer Fri, 15 Jun 2012 04:10:01 EST news258950977 When laboratory mice were modeled with colitis and treated with human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal cells, the cells homed in on the inflamed colon and effectively ameliorated colitis, reported a study published in a recent issue of Cell Transplantation (20:9), now freely available online. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-colitis-mice-treatment-human-umbilical.html Medical research Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:49:42 EST news254404147 (HealthDay) -- Interleukin-32 (IL-32) mRNA expression is significantly higher in biopsies obtained from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), compared to levels found in biopsies obtained from individuals without the condition, according to a study published online April 9 in Allergy. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-il-upregulated-chronic-rhinosinusitis.html Inflammatory disorders Tue, 17 Apr 2012 05:50:01 EST news253852975 (Medical Xpress) -- Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have identified a gene that plays a key role in regulating inflammatory response and homeostasis. These findings could help lead to the development of innovative methods to reduce the inflammation associated with cancer, type 2 diabetes and other diseases. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-key-inflammatory-response.html Inflammatory disorders Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:39:29 EST news253463938 Microglia are the first line defence of the brain and are constantly looking for infections to fight off. Overactive microglia can cause uncontrolled inflammation within the brain, which can in turn lead to neuronal damage. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Journal of Neuroinflammation shows that, honokiol (HNK) is able to down-regulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory enzymes in activated microglia via Klf4, a protein known to regulate DNA. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-japanese-traditional-therapy-honokiol-blocks.html Inflammatory disorders Mon, 19 Mar 2012 05:16:19 EST news251352973 Most athletes can testify to the pain-relieving, recovery-promoting effects of massage. Now there's a scientific basis that supports booking a session with a massage therapist: On the cellular level massage reduces inflammation and promotes the growth of new mitochondria in skeletal muscle. The research, involving scientists from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario appears in the February 1st online edition of Science Translational Medicine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-massage-inflammation-strenuous.html Health Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:00:01 EST news247323372 Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), or the formation of scar tissue within the eye, is a serious, sight-threatening complication in patients recovering surgical repair of retinal detachment. A new study conducted by investigators at the Schepens Eye Research Institute, the Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, published in the December issue of the American Journal of Pathology, suggests that a cocktail containing reagents to neutralize a relatively small subset of vitreal growth factors and cytokines may be an effective treatment. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-approach-proliferative-vitreoretinopathy.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 31 Oct 2011 01:06:45 EST news239241993 Cytokines, a varied group of signaling chemicals in the body, have been described as the software that runs the immune system, but when that software malfunctions, dysregulation of the immune system can result in debilitating autoimmune diseases such as lupus, arthritis, and diabetes. Leading experts in the field of cytokine research present their most up-to-date findings and unique perspectives on the role of cytokines in autoimmune diseases in a special issue of Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-role-cytokines-autoimmune-diseases.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:53:27 EST news238953199 Exceptional cognitive and physical function in old age leaves a tell-tale immunologic fingerprint, say researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Likewise, older adults who have mild impairments bear a distinct immunologic pattern, too, according to findings published today in the PLoS One. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-exceptional-cognitive-physical-health-age.html Medical research Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:28:47 EST news238408116 Scientists have identified a surprising new role for a new type of T cell in the immune system: some of them can be activated by nerves to make a neurotransmitter (acetylcholine) that blocks inflammation. The discovery of these T cells is novel and suggests that it may be possible to treat inflammation and autoimmune diseases by targeting the nerves and the T cells. The study was published this week in Science. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-09-cells-brain-chemicals-treatments-inflammation.html Medical research Fri, 16 Sep 2011 11:00:30 EST news235389535 Curcumin, the main component in the spice turmeric, suppresses a cell signaling pathway that drives the growth of head and neck cancer, according to a pilot study using human saliva by researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-09-primary-component-turmeric-cancer-killing-mechanisms.html Cancer Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:28:17 EST news235124810 Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which affects more than 1 million patients in North America, results from an uncontrolled immune response triggered by environmental factors, such as bacteria, in people genetically predisposed to the disorder. Ulcerative colitis, or inflammation of the lining of the colon, is one such condition. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-cytokine-mice-colitis.html Medical research Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:48:39 EST news233336879 New research from the Trudeau Institute may help to explain why live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), commonly known as FluMist, elicits protection. The research is published in this month's issue of Vaccine. The journal article is entitled "Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) impacts innate and adaptive immune responses" and was authored by Trudeau Institute scientist Dr. Laura Haynes and her colleagues. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-discovery-flumist-elicits.html Medical research Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:38:38 EST news233314703 Researchers from VIB (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology) and Ghent University have shown that a defective gene can contribute to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis, an often-crippling inflammation of the joints that afflicts about 1% of the world's population. Until now, the underlying molecular mechanism of the disease was largely unclear. In the study, published in Nature Genetics, the researchers demonstrate that a cell-specific defect in the expression of the A20 gene (TNFAIP3) can contribute to the development of rheumatoid arthritis in mice, thereby identifying A20 as a possible target for the generation of new drugs. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-defect-a20-gene-rheumatoid-arthritis.html Genetics Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:08:22 EST news232708086 New research led by Derya Unutmaz, MD associate professor, the Departments of Pathology, Medicine, and Microbiology at NYU School of Medicine and Mark Sundrud, PhD, of Tempero Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has identified a novel sensory pathway that modulates the potency of Th17 cell responses. The new research is highlighted in the August 8th online edition of the Journal of Experimental Medicine. The study has found that when memory Th17 cells are exposed to a class of secreted proteins called gamma-c cytokines (IL-2, IL-15 or IL-7), they become armed to release their potent immune mediators, which are also a family of cytokines (such as IL-17 and IL-22). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-mechanism-pro-inflammatory-cells.html Medical research Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:37:04 EST news232202165 The first step in defending against a hostile attack is identifying the enemy. It's how a healthy immune system mounts a response to invading pathogens. In the case of certain fungi, however, the attacking cells may be so cleverly disguised that they're able to slip past our cellular guardians undetected and wreak havoc through infection. Such infections are a rising source of morbidity and mortality in healthy individuals, as well as in patients suffering from chronic diseases, such as cancer or AIDS. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-protein-unmasks-pathogenic-fungi-immune.html Medical research Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:00:01 EST news232030433 A new study gauging the impact of consuming more fish oil showed a marked reduction both in inflammation and, surprisingly, in anxiety among a cohort of healthy young people. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-07-omega-anxiety-inflammation-healthy-students.html Health Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:05:11 EST news229773884 If you've been trying to lose weight and suspect your body's working against you, you may be right, according to a University of Illinois study published in Obesity. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-obese-dieters-brain-chemistry-weight-loss.html Medical research Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:05:33 EST news228049516 Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine protein that reduces immune responses and staves off autoimmune disease. Now, a research team led by Masato Kubo at the RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology, Yokohama, has identified a transcription factor called E4 promoter-binding protein (E4BP4) that is responsible for driving the expression of IL-10 in multiple types of immune cells. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-transcription-factor-protein-dampens-immune.html Medical research Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:03:49 EST news227534618 By using mice lacking a crucial gene that controls the process of chromatin remodeling of cytokines including those responsible for inflammation and comparing them to normal wild type mice with the gene, researchers at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences have shown that the gene, Mta1, is essential for the parasite Schistosoma haematobium to establish a productive infection and survival in the host. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-host-mta1-gene-required-optimal.html Medical research Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:48:07 EST news226158432 Researchers with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have discovered a way to amp up the power of killer T-cells, called CD8 cells, making them more functional for longer periods of time and boosting their ability to multiply and expand within the body to fight melanoma, a new study has found. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-05-scientists-amp-power-killer-cells.html Medical research Tue, 10 May 2011 09:10:57 EST news224237408 New research published online in The FASEB Journal details research in rats and mice that offers hope for stopping the devastating, and often fatal, effects of sepsis in humans. In the study, University of Michigan researchers show how neutralizing the effects of a key protein fragment, called C5a, used by the immune system to attract white blood cells may ultimately prevent heart failure. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-04-sepsis-discovery-straight-heart.html Cardiology Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:58:26 EST news221756294