Medical research

Factor for impaired immune response in pneumonia identified

(Medical Xpress)—Macrophages, also known as scavenger cells, play an important role in defending against bacteria and pathogens by activating inflammatory processes. In cases of lung inflammation (pneumonia) caused by pneumococcal ...

Obstetrics & gynaecology

Simple test to predict if pregnant women will give birth prematurely

Babies born early run a greater risk of serious complications. The researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have now developed a method to predict if pregnant women with preterm contractions ...

Arthritis & Rheumatism

Orthopaedic surgeons see epidemic of thumb arthritis

(Medical Xpress) -- As baby boomers age, orthopaedic surgeons are seeing more and more patients, especially women, who suffer from debilitating arthritis of the thumb.

Immunology

A genetic accelerator hits the gas on autoimmune diseases

A "genetic accelerator" is responsible for the most severe cases of Lupus (systemic lupus erythemathosus), an autoimmune disease: the accelerator, called enhancer HS1.2, speeds up the activity of some critical genes of the ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Severe alcoholic hepatitis: An effective combination of two treatments

A French multi-center study has shown that a treatment combining an antioxidant with an anti-inflammatory was effective on 174 patients suffering from severe alcoholic hepatitis. The study was coordinated by the Hepato-Gastroenterology ...

Psychology & Psychiatry

A shot of cortisone stops traumatic stress

As soldiers return home from tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, America must cope with the toll that war takes on mental health. But the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is becoming increasingly expensive, and ...

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