Water tanks could spread dengue fever to Brisbane Jan 7, 2009
However Professor O'Neill said the rest of the country is not immune from an outbreak, partly thanks to our love affair with the humble water tank. "Historically this mosquito had a distribution that expanded all the way down to Sydney, but that was pushed back to north Queensland about 50 years ago," he said. (Brisbane Times)
You are my sunshine, Vitamin D Jan 7, 2009
A large and expanding body of research has suggested links between vitamin D status and immune diseases like multiple sclerosis and arthritis, as well as between D and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. More recently, vitamin D has been considered for its role in cancer prevention and survival. (Albany Democrat-Herald, OR)
Health briefs for Jan. 4 Jan 7, 2009
" Call (760) 940-2763.Caregivers group to begin meeting WednesdayESCONDIDO ---- The Elizabeth Hospice offers a free, ongoing support group for caregivers from 5:30-7 p.m. the first Wednesday of every month, starting Wednesday, at the Center for Compassionate Care, 930 Canterbury Place. Finding time for positive, nurturing conversations with others in similar circumstances can help caregivers cope with their emotions. Call (760) 737-2050 and visit to learn about other hospice care programs.Free... (North County Times)
Tom Smith among The Business Journal's 10 to Watch Jan 7, 2009
But the region has not been immune to the problems either. Just about every community bank in the Triad is dealing with an increase in loan defaults as the economy takes a toll on both businesses and consumers, and some have curtailed new lending to lessen the risk of more losses. (Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area)
'Strong and alert' Jan 7, 2009
LOADING Jan 07, 2009 - 04:05:23 CST By BRIAN DUGGAN Bismarck Tribune Gov. John Hoeven told lawmakers gathered in the House chamber Tuesday that North Dakota's economy is strong, but not immune to the global economic turmoil that has strained state budgets throughout the nation ... "Clearly, our nation's economy is in a down cycle, and we in North Dakota are not immune from its effects.". (Bismarck Tribune, ND)
Airport test to stop arrival of Sars and flu 'pointless' Jan 7, 2009
The Goji berry is rich in antioxidants, vitamins and trace elements and is said to help eyesight, the immune system, circulation and the liver. From: 9. (Yahoo News -- SARS)
Sars patients can provide therapy Jan 7, 2009
The new approach, dubbed passive immune therapy, uses the immune cells of patients who have successfully fought off the disease. A team from the Institute for Research in Biomedicine in Bellinzona, Switzerland, focused on a type of immune cell called a B cell ... These cells make the proteins, or antibodies, that target the Sars virus for attack by the immune system. (Yahoo News -- SARS)
Phoenix Coyotes lay off 18 Jan 7, 2009
I think it s just a sign of the times and shows that professional sports is not immune, he said. Reader Comments. (Phoenix Business Journal, AZ)
Sysmex Intros Japan's First Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Kit for Chickens Jan 7, 2009
Because humans are not immune to avian influenza, it is feared that an influenza pandemic could be triggered should avian influenza mutate into a form transmittable to humans, making it necessary to take greater precautions in the interest of public health as well. To prevent an epidemic of avian influenza, it is critical to take proper action in response as soon as the infection of fowls is discovered. (JCN Network, Japan)
Increase in inmates opens door to private prisons Jan 7, 2009
But the company acknowledges that its prisons are not immune from occasional assaults, disturbances and violence. Safety and security is the obvious No. 1 priority for CCA, spokeswoman Louise Grant said. (Yahoo News -- Prison Issues)
New technique developed to cure Type-1 Diabetes. Jan 7, 2009
In diabetic patients, pancreatic beta cells are destroyed, which damages the bodys immune system ... In study, Dr. Goldstein and his colleagues have found a way to make foreign beta cells invisible to a transplant recipient's immune system which dramatically protecting them from rejection of the transplanted cells. (TopNews)
Human Brain Cancer model- developed by researchers Jan 7, 2009
According to Tomotoshi Marumoto, co-author and an assistant professor at the Kobe Medical Centre Hospital in Kobe, Japan, "These tumours are very reproducible, but this approach ignores the fact that the immune system can make or break cancer.". Verma added that their cancer model will allow them to start understanding the biology of glioblastoma and to find out answers to many queries related to cancer stem cells. (TopNews)
Virtual nursing helps retain experienced nurses Jan 7, 2009
No one has been immune to the shortage, Kerfoot said. I can t tell you these people wouldn t be in nursing otherwise, but eICU is definitely another opportunity. (Milwaukee Business Journal, WI)
For stress reduction, just say ommm Jan 7, 2009
Stress cuts immune function, delays healing, raises heart disease risk ... "When you look at what stress does to us, it reduces our immune function, it delays wound healing ... and raises the risk of heart disease.". (CNN -- Law)
Health food store owner shares tips for staying healthy Jan 7, 2009
I take my supplements, and I can't even remember the last time I was sick, because I take care of my immune system. Contact reporter Jennifer Bonnett at. (Lodi News Sentinel, CA)
BRUTAL, ILLEGAL PUPPY MILLS Jan 7, 2009
" Canwest News Service 2009 Ads by Google Related Links Latest Auto News There's a simple formula for calculating how old your... Top News Stories Police have found a poster of a B.C. boy who disappeared in 1991 inside the home...The evidence was part of a custody hearing at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa into... Top Entertainment Stories Howie Mandel has a deal for you; watch his new show, Howie Do It, and you're guaranteed plenty of laughs... Inside the .... (Canada.com)
Mouse cloned to cure Parkinson's Jan 7, 2009
The advantage of using a cloned embryo is that the cells will be a perfect genetic match for the transplant recipient, removing the need for extra treatments to suppress the immune system. There are potential applications not just in Parkinson's disease, but in many other disease types as well. (Yahoo News -- Parkinson's Disease)
Revealed: UK set for first face transplants Jan 6, 2009
It produced a report last year that concluded more research was needed to show that a new donor face transplanted on to a recipient would not be rejected by the body's immune system. New animal studies have shown that problems over how immuno-suppressant drugs work may not be as serious as anticipated. (Yahoo News -- Cosmetic Treatments and Surgery)
Feed the Immune System for the Cold and Flu Season Jan 6, 2009
(ARA) - Our immune systems are smart. The immune system, when exposed to new flu and cold viruses, learns to recognized and react to seasonal strains of the invaders ... But we're a mobile society -- each year, world travel brings new strains of germs and virus home, forcing the immune system to deal with new invaders it has never seen. (Pekin Times, IL)
State tax collections still far below projection Jan 6, 2009
No segment of the economy appears to be immune from the slowdown in consumer spending. Particularly hard hit is the automotive industry, with taxes from the sale of vehicles and parts down almost 29 percent from the same period a year earlier. (Douglas Daily Dispatch, AZ)
Outbreak linked to cases in South Jan 6, 2009
Most Mexicans contract hepatitis A as children, meaning they are immune from it for life and cannot be carriers, he said. More than 80 percent of adults in developing countries have had hepatitis A as children, he said. (Yahoo News -- Hepatitis)
Investigation lets Chi-Chi's staff off hook Jan 6, 2009
Many adults in Mexico are immune to hepatitis A because they were exposed to it as children. "Green onions are handled extensively at the time of harvest," she said. (Yahoo News -- Hepatitis)
Researchers develop model of brain cancer Jan 6, 2009
"These tumours are very reproducible, but this approach ignores the fact that the immune system can make or break cancer," said co-author Tomotoshi Marumoto, former postdoctoral researcher in the Verma lab and now an assistant professor at the Kobe Medical Centre Hospital in Kobe, Japan ... To sidestep the shortcomings of currently used cancer models, the Salk team harnessed the power of lentiviral vectors to infect nondividing as well as dividing cells and ferry activated oncogenes into a small... (India Times, India -- Health/Science)
Review of Allergies, Disease in Dis... Jan 6, 2009
The program is outlined in seven simple steps and puts an emphasis on parasite control within the body (including candida overgrowth), enzyme therapy, nutritional support for optimal health, and strengthening the immune system. Supplemental information is provided in easy to follow lists, charts, and diagrams. (Suite101.com)
What is Kawasaki syndrome? Jan 6, 2009
It's an inflammatory, autoimmune disorder (in which the immune system attacks healthy tissue in the body), but we're not quite clear of the cause. It could be a specific reaction to a virus or some sort of infectious agent, but none has been identified. (Scientific American)
Travolta, Preston share pain over son's death Jan 6, 2009
"It was that the immune system overreacts, because they have almost the equivalent of metallic chemical," Travolta said ... Echoing her husband's comments, Preston blamed chemicals in household cleaners and pesticides for attacking her son's immune system, triggering the condition. (CNN -- US)
Opinion - why Kevin Rudd's internet censorship plan will not work Jan 6, 2009
If internet users avail themselves of free access to what those in the networking game call an open VPN (virtual private network), their traffic would become opaque to the Government and immune from the effects of the censorship system. Accessing a VPN is as simple as installing a free browser plugin, and requires no technical knowledge. (Adelaide Advertiser)
Scientists Developing Breast Cancer 'Vaccine' Jan 6, 2009
Thomas Kieber-Emmons, director of basic breast cancer research at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, said the vaccine was developed over a decade of study on the immune system ... But the carbohydrate antigens on cancer cells don't stimulate a strong immune system response. (FOXNews)
Lung Cancer Cells Activate Inflammation To Induce Metastasis Jan 6, 2009
Their findings, to be published in the January 1 issue of the journal Nature, explain how advanced cancer cells usurp components of the host innate immune system to generate an inflammatory microenvironment hospitable for the metastatic spread of lung cancer ... Focusing on macrophages, white blood cells that are key players in the immune response to foreign invaders as well as in cancer growth and progression, they screened for factors produced by metastatic cancer cells in mice that could... (Science Daily)
Microbes In The Intestine: Friend Or Foe? Jan 6, 2009
Together with an international team, Nicola Harris of ETH Zurich researched the factors that make a person immune to worm infections ... The immune system constantly under decision pressure ... Harris explains that As a result of the flimsy barrier between the intestine and the environment, the intestinal mucosa is constantly exposed to foreign substances and must be able to trigger a robust immune response to them. (Science Daily)
Human Antibodies Take 'Evolutionary Leaps' Jan 6, 2009
This research fills a significant gap in our understanding of how the immune system helps us survive ... "Nowadays, mosquitoes, parasites and viruses cause diseases in the United States that were once isolated to warmer parts of the world. They evolve, and - a la Darwin - so does our immune system each time we meet a new microbial invader." ... 20, 2004) Researchers at the University of Rochester have identified a protein in the immune system that appears to play a crucial role in protecting... (Science Daily)
* Analysts predict global corporate profits will drop Jan 6, 2009
No one will be immune from this downturn. Its time to see whos losing least, not whos winning more, he said. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World Business)
Cancer drug reverses transplant rejection: study Jan 6, 2009
US researchers administered the drug, bortezomib, to six patients whose immune systems were attacking transplanted kidneys and who did not respond to traditional anti-rejection treatments ... "This has significant implications for transplantation and auto immune disease," said study co-author Steve Woodle, chief of transplant surgery at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio ... Previous studies had found that B-cells play a large role in organ rejection by making immune proteins that attack... (Yahoo News -- Pharmaceutical Industry News)
Bayer sues Abbott, alleging patent infringement Jan 6, 2009
The German company's Bayer HealthCare LLC unit sued Abbott and two of its subsidiaries, claiming the popular biotech drug used to treat severe types of arthritis and other immune disorders infringes on the U.S. patent that Bayer was awarded in 1997 ... Humira is approved to treat several serious immune system disorders, including rheumatoid and other kinds of arthritis as well as Crohn's disease ... The Bayer patent in question, No. 5,654,407, covers a genetically engineered antibody that binds... (Yahoo News -- Pharmaceutical Industry News)
Novartis acquires license to CMV vaccine candidate Jan 6, 2009
A virus of the herpes family, CMV can seriously harm patients with weakened immune systems such as newborns or those with AIDS or cancer. According to Novartis the virus infects about 86,000 newborns in the United States and European Union each year, causing 700 deaths and 17,500 cases of severe disability. (Yahoo News -- Pharmaceutical Industry News)
Regrets, Erica's had a few Jan 6, 2009
Audi's R8 seems completely immune to the normal ravages of time. . (Calgary Herald)
Breastfeeding flap continues to stir emotions Jan 6, 2009
- Breast milk helps boost the baby's own immune system. - Babies who are breastfed have less frequent diarrhea, and have fewer ear or respiratory infections. (Missoulian, MT)
Health briefs for Jan. 4 Jan 6, 2009
" Call (760) 940-2763.Caregivers group to begin meeting WednesdayESCONDIDO ---- The Elizabeth Hospice offers a free, ongoing support group for caregivers from 5:30-7 p.m. the first Wednesday of every month, starting Wednesday, at the Center for Compassionate Care, 930 Canterbury Place. Finding time for positive, nurturing conversations with others in similar circumstances can help caregivers cope with their emotions. Call (760) 737-2050 and visit to learn about other hospice care programs.Free... (North County Times)
Pucko: Best Case Scenarios '09 Jan 6, 2009
" Center Melvin Fowler plays chess with Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown. Punter Brian Moorman was a high school All-American and national champion in the 400-meter hurdles. Really. Five of the Bills players, Moorman, Lee Evans, Leodis McKelvin, Roscoe Parrish, Donte Whitner and Marshawn Lynch have their own web sites. Quarterback Gibran Hamden lived in Kuwait. Ashton Youboty was born in Liberia. Ryan Denney was on a mission in Argentina. Kirk Chambers did the same in Germany. Tight end Robert... (R News)
Chronic fatigue, early trauma linked Jan 6, 2009
Research also suggests that chronic fatigue could be caused by an infection or immune system problem, she says. Though people who experience chronic fatigue are often dismissed as lazy, Squires says a growing body of evidence suggests that their bodies process stress differently from how others do. (USA Today -- News)
Bush's long-time aides predict history will judge him favorably Jan 6, 2009
These staffers aren't immune from hearing criticism of the administration, not only from members of Congress and the capital's punditry but also from skeptical family and friends. "I say, 'Thank you,' " to critics for exercising their constitutional right to speak out, says Chao, who immigrated to the United States from Taiwan at age 8 and is the first Chinese American to serve in a U.S. Cabinet. (USA Today -- News)
Promised listeriosis probe still lacks investigator Jan 6, 2009
The Listeria bacterium that can taint some foods causes listeriosis a potentially grave threat to the elderly, pregnant women and those with fragile immune systems. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz's office deferred questions about the delay to the Prime Minister's Office. (Globe and Mail -- Business)
Lebanon resident gets transplant, another waits Jan 6, 2009
After the transplant, it will take about four months for the donor marrow to create a new immune system for VanDriel. Some people, she noted, end up on medication for the rest of their lives. (Lebanon Express, OR)
Teen Dies From Bacterial Meningitis Jan 6, 2009
-- The father of a 15-year-old girl who died Friday from bacterial meningitis said his daughter's immune system may have been weakened from a bout of mononucleosis three months ago. Ashley Andreassen died Friday, barely a day after her father took her to the emergency room as she complained of a severe headache. (7 KETV Omaha)
Bill Gates' millions to battle TB Jan 6, 2009
----------------- ----------------- RELATED BBC SITES. Last Updated: Thursday, 12 February, 2004, 22:34 GMT. (Yahoo News -- Tuberculosis)
Athens' fitness centers not feeling crunch Jan 6, 2009
"We're not immune to the economy," he said. To cope, Eich said the organization is tightening its belt where it can. (Athens Banner-Herald)
Sars patients can provide therapy Jan 6, 2009
The new approach, dubbed passive immune therapy, uses the immune cells of patients who have successfully fought off the disease. A team from the Institute for Research in Biomedicine in Bellinzona, Switzerland, focused on a type of immune cell called a B cell ... These cells make the proteins, or antibodies, that target the Sars virus for attack by the immune system. (Yahoo News -- SARS)
You are my sunshine, Vitamin D Jan 6, 2009
A large and expanding body of research has suggested links between vitamin D status and immune diseases like multiple sclerosis and arthritis, as well as between D and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. More recently, vitamin D has been considered for its role in cancer prevention and survival. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)
Casper briefs Jan 6, 2009
The class will include discussions on the epidemiology, prevention, immune system, clinical manifestations and treatments of HIV infection. The class will also study psychosocial, ethnic, cultural, rural, ethical, legal, political and economic issues related to the epidemic. (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)
Children could be given routine chickenpox jabs Jan 6, 2009
Guidelines in the Republic already recommend pregnant women be given the jab if they are not immune. More than 90% of pregnant women are immune to the chickenpox virus. (Belfast Telegraph)
Leaders look to creative cost-cutting, innovation Jan 6, 2009
Health care leaders agree that their industry is not immune to economic woes in a recession. Demand for services will increase but revenue will not, and cuts will need to be made without sacrificing quality of care. (San Jose Business Journal, CA)
Collagen VI may help protect the brain against Alzheimer's disease Jan 6, 2009
These experiments revealed found that A added to neurons grown in culture increased the expression of collagen VI and that this process involved the immune regulatory cytokine TGF. What is more, the team discovered that increasing the amount of collagen VI in the cultures effectively protected the neurons against A toxicity. (EurekAlert!)
Childhood Trauma Linked to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Jan 6, 2009
"Stress in interaction with other risk factors likely triggers chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms through its effects on central nervous, neuroendocrine and immune systems, resulting in functional changes that lead to fatigue and associated symptoms such as sleep disruption, cognitive impairment and pain," the authors write. "However, obviously not every individual exposed to a stressor goes on to develop chronic fatigue syndrome, and it is therefore of critical importance to understand sources... (Newsmax)
Cyclists ride for cure Jan 6, 2009
Unlike other forms of diabetes, type 1 (or juvenile) diabetes is a disease of the immune system that most commonly strikes in childhood. It is caused by the unpredictable destruction of the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. (Sunshine Coast Daily)
Catholic school taught us to count sins, but not calories Jan 5, 2009
I am almost patting myself on the back when across my computer screen comes a little teaser: "Your Body, Your Temple - Food That Wrecks Immune System." Of course I click and go there. But I go there a lifetime too late, dragging behind me, like Jacob Marley's ghost, decades of cookies and fried clams and bologna and pecan pie and brownies with ice cream and chocolate sauce, fatty, delicious, sugary chains I wrought one by one in life, and in ignorance, too. (Boston Globe)
Scientists urge fence to save Tasmanian Devil from cancer Jan 5, 2009
But they also received a setback when it emerged that a Tasmanian devil named Cedric, who was thought to be immune to the cancer, had contracted the disease. Two coin-sized tumours were cut out of his face and, although it is hoped he will make a full recovery, it casts doubt on much of the research work conducted over the past two years, the BBC's Nick Bryant reports from Sydney. (BBC News)
Severe retail downturn forecast for 2009 Jan 5, 2009
But she said the region will be far from immune from the contractions, especially at less popular malls and shopping centers in outlying cities already battered by the foreclosure crisis. "The effect is going to be pretty dramatic," she said. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Opinion: 2nd round revolves around rematches Jan 5, 2009
Flacco became the first rookie to win a road playoff game Sunday, but rookie QBs are never immune to playoff pressure as Atlantas Matt Ryan demonstrated in throwing two interceptions in Arizona on Saturday. In fact, most of Baltimores points Sunday came from the defense. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Immune Molecule Decreases Severity Of Multiple Sclerosis-like Disease In Mice Jan 5, 2009
4, 2009) A group led by Dr. Cedric Raine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have explored the expression of an immune molecule (CXCL1) that interacts with myelin-producing cells, finding that CXCL1 decreases the severity of disease in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS) ... The autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis (MS) attacks the central nervous system, resulting in demyelination of neurons ... Myelin-producing cells express immune receptors and have been shown to respond to the... (Science Daily)
Cancer Drug Effectively Treats Transplant Rejections Jan 5, 2009
B-lymphocytes, or B cells, play a large role in the humoral immune response by making immune proteins that attack transplanted organs. "We found a body of literature demonstrating that bortezomib works well in suppressing transplant rejection in the laboratory," says Woodle, lead author of the study and chief of transplant surgery at UC. "Moreover, it worked well in models of autoimmune diseases." ... "This has significant implications for transplantation and auto immune disease.". (Science Daily)
Promised listeriosis probe still lacks investigator Jan 5, 2009
Twenty people died after eating Maple Leaf luncheon meats laced with the bacterium that causes listeriosis, a potentially grave threat to the elderly, pregnant women and those with fragile immune systems. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz's office deferred questions about the delay to the Prime Minister's Office. (Globe and Mail)
Cross-donor system planned for region's kidney patients Jan 5, 2009
Ross has faulted other approaches for discriminating against one group of patients in favor of another, but she said she's ''totally in favor" of Roth's system. The paired-exchange system comes 50 years after Dr. Joseph Murray carried out the nation's first kidney transplant at what is now Brigham and Women's Hospital, using a kidney taken from the patient's identical twin to avoid organ rejection. Today, in part to antirejection drugs, surgeons can often transplant kidneys between perfect... (Yahoo News -- Organ Donation & Transplants)
Holiday nightmare - For some, risk of food poisoning looms large at seasonal potlucks Jan 5, 2009
Salmonella: This bacteria commonly is found in the intestinal tracts of animals and can cause fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea, but those with compromised immune systems could fare worse, even die. People most often get salmonella poisoning by eating food contaminated by animal feces; if meat isn t cooked to the proper temperature, the bacteria might not be killed off. (Missoulian, MT)
Health briefs for Jan. 4 Jan 5, 2009
" Call (760) 940-2763.Caregivers group to begin meeting WednesdayESCONDIDO ---- The Elizabeth Hospice offers a free, ongoing support group for caregivers from 5:30-7 p.m. the first Wednesday of every month, starting Wednesday, at the Center for Compassionate Care, 930 Canterbury Place. Finding time for positive, nurturing conversations with others in similar circumstances can help caregivers cope with their emotions. Call (760) 737-2050 and visit to learn about other hospice care programs.Free... (North County Times)
Eugene Robinson: After 50 stubborn years, it's time to get Cuba policy right Jan 5, 2009
Dwight Eisenhower was president when Castro assured Cubans in Cespedes Park that he and his fellow revolutionaries were "immune to ambition and vanity." U.S. officials were wary from the start. There had been a time when Batista was our man in Havana, although American policymakers had become disillusioned with him. (Sacramento Bee -- Opinion)
