People who inherit genetic changes which alter the function of their immune system are at increased risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma, according to a new study published in Nature Communications. Scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, identified six new genetic changes that increase the risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma – one of the […]
By stimulating a patient’s immune system, a drug already in use to treat a blood disorder can thwart the growth of a variety of solid tumours, find a team at Keio University in Japan. The drug 5-aza-CdR is currently approved for treating a blood disorder that can lead to leukemia. It inhibits the methylation of […]
A type of treatment for multiple sclerosis that ‘resets’ the immune system may stop progression of the disease in nearly half of patients. In a new study, led by Imperial College London, the treatment prevented symptoms of severe disease from worsening for five years, in 46 per cent of patients. However, as the treatment involves […]
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Our bodies are designed to keep out infection, using an armoury that includes a tough outer layer of skin, tiny hair-like structures in the respiratory tract that propel microbes away from the lungs and gut flora that repel unpleasant bugs. The micro-organisms attempting to penetrate these fortifications include bacteria, viruses, fungi – such as candida – and protozoa, like the […]
“Every year doctors, in the UK, have to deal with 150,000 cases of sepsis, resulting in around 44,000 deaths. This condition (also known as the silent killer) occurs when the immune system becomes overactive during an infection, often of a minor nature, causing damage to the body itself. Early symptoms of sepsis may include fast […]
Read More… from Sepsis is just as urgent as a heart attack and should be treated similarly
TJ: In a recent article titled ‘’The future of neonatal BCG’’ (1), you suggest that, from bacteriological and immunological perspectives, there is no substitute for home birth. Can you clarify this point of view? MO: We must first realize that, from such scientific perspectives, the period surrounding birth has been radically altered during the past […]
Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food – Hippocrates. What we eat is the most important way to prevent disease, so nutrition should be regarded as the most important way of maintaining good health. Herbs and fruit don’t cost much to buy but their many health-giving properties are often overlooked by modern […]
Heart transplant rejection Last year there were 145 heart transplant operations carried out in the UK, which is a life-saving treatment for people with acute heart failure. People who have undergone this procedure do need to take drugs that suppress the immune system for the rest of their lives or their bodies will reject the […]