Runny Nose, Itchy Eyes? Blame Global Warming Sep 15, 2008
"There's no denying there's a change," says Paul Ratner, an immunologist with the American College of Allergies ... Bryan Walsh talks to Dr. Paul Ratner, an immunologist with the American College of Allergies, on how global warming might worsen allergy season. (Time.com)
Clinical Trial For New Tuberculosis Vaccine Sep 13, 2008
The immunologist continues: "BCG has become a blunt weapon. We wanted to use genetic engineering to sharpen it so that, rather than hiding from the human immune system, it would stimulate it as much as possible.". To do this, the researchers inserted a gene into the vaccine bacteria. (Science Daily)
Landmark Sickle Cell Disease Trial To Investigate Unrelated Donor Marrow And Umbilical Cord Blood Transplants Aug 19, 2008
19, 2008) Children's National Medical Center immunologist and blood and marrow transplant physician Naynesh Kamani, MD, will serve as the study co-chair for a new national clinical trial of unrelated donor marrow and umbilical cord blood transplants for severe sickle cell disease. Children's National will join more than 20 other medical institutions in the first-ever Phase II clinical trial of this treatment. (Science Daily)
The Danger of Stress Aug 16, 2008
Ohio State University psychologist and her partner, , an OSU virologist and immunologist, have spent 20-odd years researching how stress affects the immune system, and they have made some startling discoveries. An easy example comes from their work with caregivers, people who look after chronically ailing spouses or parents (no one would argue that this role is quite stressful). (Scientific American)
Runners' High: Joggers Live Longer Aug 16, 2008
With her colleagues, lead author Dr. Eliza F. Chakravarty, an immunologist and rheumatologist at Stanford University School of Medicine, studied 538 people who run regularly, the majority of whom were selected from a national running club, along with a control group of 423 people who never run, drawn from the faculty and staff at Stanford. All participants were age 50 or older when the study began. (Time.com)
Stress makes allergies worse and last longer Aug 15, 2008
According to Ohio State immunologist Dr. Ronald Glaser who was involved in the study, greater anxiety was associated with increased production in the body of stress hormones called catecholamines and the inflammation-related protein called interleukin-6. He thinks the elevated levels of these compounds are to blame for the delayed allergic reactions. (MSNBC -- Health)
MS drug may work against viral infection: study Aug 14, 2008
Microbiologist and immunologist John Altman of Emory University in Atlanta, who led the study, said the researchers plan to assess the effects of the drug on other viruses including the monkey version of the AIDS virus. Altman, whose findings were published in the journal Nature, expressed cautious optimism that the drug might work against certain chronic viral infections in people. (Scientific American)
Researchers Silence HIV in Mice Engineered to Be Like Humans Aug 8, 2008
"This is a very potent antiviral mechanism," says study co-author Premlata Shankar, formerly a Harvard assistant professor now working as an immunologist at Texas Tech University's Health Sciences Center in El Paso. "If it can be harnessed for therapy, I am sure it could become a very good treatment for HIV.". (Scientific American)
Antibodies May Lead to Protection Against HIV Aug 8, 2008
Immunologists have paid great attention to the gp120 protein for more than a decade ... Among the laboratories doing this work is one run by biochemist and immunologist Sudhir Paul at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston, where Planque is a graduate student. (Washington Post)
Health-care roundtable Aug 1, 2008
McKearn is an immunologist who holds more than 50 patents primarily focused on cancer treatment and inflammatory disease. Before joining RiverVest in April, he served as president and CEO of Kalypsys Inc., a San Diego-based biotech company. (St. Louis Business Journal, MO)
Study would focus on cell use, risks Jul 30, 2008
Though he has spent much of his professional life as an administrator and an immunologist specializing in the study of cells that help ward off cancer, he said he has focused more and more on public health measures that might prevent the disease, believing they may have an even greater impact. The founding director of the Pitt cancer institute since 1985 and, later, of the UPMC cancer centers, Dr. Herberman announced last year that he plans to step down as director early next year. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Author, author Jul 22, 2008
In recent times, the great science-poet was Miroslav Holub, a leading Czech immunologist who died in 1998. Often humorous and bleak, he mixed an eastern European deadpan surrealism with medicine, mathematics, philosophy. (Guardian Unlimited -- Books)
Miracle Medicine: Transplant Saves Baby Girl Jul 16, 2008
"When I first meet a baby, there's nothing better than holding that baby in your arms," said Markert, a pediatric immunologist. "Looking in that baby's eyes, you just fall in love with that baby.". (ABC News)
Current Healthcare System Not Meeting Needs For a Third of Canadians Jul 14, 2008
"This is a powerful commentary on the current state of healthcare and may be why more than half of all Canadians feel that before traditional drugs are prescribed they would consider alternative and natural therapies," said Dr. Aileen Burford-Mason, Immunologist and spokesperson for Orthomolecular Health. As a practitioner of Orthomolecular medicine, Aileen Burford-Mason often sees people who fail to ensure their bodies are being properly nourished with vitamins and other essential nutrients,... (Canada Newswire)
Scientists Uncover Deadly Ebola Virus's Achilles' Heel Jul 13, 2008
"It's the only thing that the virus puts on its surface that is absolutely critical for attaching to a host and driving into that host for infection," says Erica Ollmann Saphire, an immunologist at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif. and a co-author of the study appearing today in. (Scientific American)
Planet Obama, Voter ID Jul 13, 2008
Well, there Moron Jim, being the immunologist that turned into a stupid Rethuglicon bootlicker, why don t you tell everyone what does cause AIDS. The entire medical community would like to know because they are not even sure. Oh, I guess you are referring to sex. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
A little risk-taking when young could be best vaccine againstdanger Jul 5, 2008
When an immunologist drew grids on our arms, infecting each square of skin with a different allergen, nearly every one came up welty and red. Dust mites, cats, pollen, rye grass, mould, dogs - we were hypersensitive to them all. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
Finding That Could Shed Light On 'Golden Staph,' Candida And Allergies Jul 3, 2008
Dr Matthew Cook, Immunologist at Canberra Hospital, medical researcher at John Curtin and together with Stuart Tangye, co-senior author on the project, has much first-hand experience with Hyper IgE syndrome. Of the five patients examined in this study, three came from his clinic. (Science Daily)
Stem Cells Are Where It's At Jul 2, 2008
Seventeen years ago, , an immunologist at Northwestern University, had a crazy idea. What if he could press the "restart" button on his patients, destroying their faulty immune systems and building them new ones. (Newsweek)
Scientists Unravel Early Infectious Process Of Respiratory Pathogen And Bioterrorism Agent Jul 2, 2008
"We have found that mast cells, historically associated with allergic conditions and asthma, may also be involved in priming innate and adaptive immunity against tularemia," said Bernard Arulanandam, UTSA College of Sciences immunologist and associate professor of biology. "Our studies show that mast cells can interact with other cells and control the number of bacteria that replicate. This opens up a new dimension into how we look at mast cells against this organism, Francisella tularensis.". (Science Daily)
The Worms Crawl In Jul 1, 2008
Dr. Pritchard, an immunologist-biologist at the University of Nottingham, is no masochist ... In 2000, Maria Yazdanbakhsh, an immunologist at Leiden University in the Netherlands, studied 520 Gabonese children and found that those with Schistosoma haematobium, one of a family of parasites that cause schistosomiasis, had lower levels of allergic responses to dust mites, one of the most common environmental allergens. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Clinical Trials Begin This Week on New Cancer Therapy That Cured ... Jun 29, 2008
Dr. Lloyd Old of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, who was collaborating in the research, later said that if Cui had been a properly trained immunologist, he would have thrown out the mouse right then. But Cui was trained as a medical doctor, and his curiosity led him to continue testing the oddball mouse, injecting it with higher and higher lethal doses of carcinogens. (RedOrbit)
Only 4 Doctors Available Jun 22, 2008
Albert Akpalu (Neurologist) and Ida Kuwornu (Internal Medicine) both of Korle-Bu on the definition and clinical manifestations of autoimmune diseases and Dr. Michael Ofori (Immunologist, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research) spoke on the Scientific background to autoimmune diseases. Professor Paul Nyame, Rector of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, who chaired the launch called for the strengthening of the National Health Insurance Scheme. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Young Latinos learn leadership Jun 22, 2008
At weeklong academy, 40 boys are given a taste of college life. By Joe Tash UNION-TRIBUNE. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Autoimmune diseases on the rise in Ghana Jun 20, 2008
Dr Michael F. Ofori, Immunologist, Nogochi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, said though the availability of data on the prevalence and incidence was lacking in developing countries, physicians and scientists had so far identified over 80 different autoimmune diseases including less known ones like autoimmune hepatitis, Sjogren's syndrome and pemphigus. He said economically, majority of individuals with the diseases experienced poor quality of life since the cost of health care was high. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Family of Girl Blinded by Medicine Reaction Sues in Court Jun 18, 2008
Las Vegas immunologist, Joel Katz says practically any drug can trigger a severe allergic reaction. He says the cause of Stevens Johnson Syndrome is not always clear. (KLAS-TV.com, NV)
Immune molecule that plays a powerful role in avoiding organ rejection identified Jun 17, 2008
Dr. Anatolij Horuzsko, reproductive immunologist at the Medical College of Georgia Center for Molecular Chaperone/Radiobiology and Cancer Virology ... "This is a molecule with huge potential to regulate immune response," Dr. Anatolij Horuzsko, reproductive immunologist at the Medical College of Georgia Center for Molecular Chaperone/Radiobiology and Cancer Virology, says of HLA-G dimer. (EurekAlert!)
It's good news for Jayla Jun 14, 2008
When Dr. Louise Markert, a Duke immunologist, gave the news Friday afternoon, Turner collapsed into a nearby chair and cried tears of joy. "That's great, that's great," she said wiping her eyes. (News & Observer)
Leading scientist named new chair of Cell Biology at Yale Jun 7, 2008
Rothman succeeds Ira S. Mellman, a distinguished cell biologist and immunologist who was chair and Sterling Professor of Cell Biology at the School of Medicine until 2007, when he joined the biotechnology company Genentech as vice president for oncology research. Since Mellman's departure, James D. Jamieson, M.D., professor of cell biology and director of the medical school's M.D./Ph. (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
AIDS Vaccine, Similar to Merck's Failed Attempt, May Get Human Testing Jun 2, 2008
We're redesigning the aims of human HIV vaccine research without redesigning the vaccine,'' said , an immunologist at Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, who was added to the panel at the meeting. Let's not go into a human experiment without a clear idea of what we're going to learn. (Bloomberg -- US)
Sugar Linkage Could Lead To Better Treatment For Autoimmune Diseases May 16, 2008
The study, reported in a recent edition of the journal Science, was led by immunologist Jeffrey Ravetch of Rockefeller University. See also. (Science Daily)
Duke doctors offer a sliver of hope Apr 21, 2008
Dr. Louise Markert, a Duke immunologist who specializes in treating DiGeorge syndrome, told the couple that Jayla's missing thymus gland, which is essential for building an immune system, could be replaced with a transplant. Donated thymus tissue could help Jayla generate T cells that fight infections. (News & Observer)
Worst Cities For Allergies Apr 14, 2008
"March madness for trees" is how Dr. Warren Filley, an Oklahoma City-based allergist and immunologist, describes last spring. The area contains eastern woodland trees as well as prairie grasslands, a potent mix of allergens that can pack doctors' waiting rooms come springtime. (Forbes)
The Feinstein to collaborate with Sweden's Karolinska Institute Apr 10, 2008
Our mission is translational research, and we offer a progressive basic and clinical training environment, added Dr. Tracey, an immunologist who collaborated with Karolinskas Jan Andersson, M.D., the head of infectious diseases, studying cytokines and inflammation. Dr. Andersson was also the first invited lecturer for The Feinstein Institutes Marsh lecture in 2005. (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
Cracking the mystery of the human body's immunity memory Apr 7, 2008
Immunologist Steven L. Reiner, seen here Feb. 20 with collaborator John Chang in the background, has demonstrated how the immune system generates two types of sophisticated T-cells. The discovery, hailed as one of 2007's top 10 breakthroughs, could have applications for new vaccines and cellular cancer research. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Robert Mishell, noted UC professor, dies at 73 Apr 5, 2008
Robert Mishell, a noted UC Berkeley immunologist whose stellar career was cut short after a brutal and near-fatal attack that made headlines in the 1980s, has died of heart failure at age 73. "Despite the hurdles in his life, he had this amazing optimism," said his son, Jacob Mishell. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Crime)
Broccoli boosts immunity Mar 28, 2008
Explaining his team s research to the media, Dr. Andre Nel, the study's principal investigator and a clinical allergist and immunologist, said aging had always intrigued humans. While in recent years we have learned that free radicals are important in aging, he said most of the attention has focused on the mechanisms that produce free radicals rather than addressing the pathways used by the body to suppress their production. (Suite101.com)
New Technique Will Speed The Development Of Vaccines, Study Shows Mar 28, 2008
It s very slick, said immunologist Wendy Brown, who led the research effort. Now we have a high-throughput way of finding antigens from any pathogen, as long as you have the genome sequence. (Science Daily)
Noguchi begin research into auto-immune diseases Mar 26, 2008
A statement from NMIMR said the study was being spearheaded by Dr Margaret Armar-Klemesu, a Nutrition expert and Head of the Department of Nutrition at Institute and Dr Michael Ofori, an Immunologist. The statement said officials of the Institute agreed that a study needed to be done to establish the numbers as the basis for fuller research into the prevention and possible control of auto-immune diseases. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Autism and vaccines: What's the link? Mar 22, 2008
Bob, I m an immunologist. I guarantee I know and understand a heck of a lot more about how the immune system works than what you gather from a single Nobel speech. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
Broccoli May Boost Aging Immune Systems Mar 7, 2008
"Our study contributes to the growing understanding of the importance of these antioxidant defense pathways that the body uses to fight free radicals," said Nel, a practicing clinical allergist and immunologist at the Geffen School. "Insight into these processes points to ways in which we may be able to alleviate the effects of aging.". (Newsmax)
Local Man Concerned About Passing Disease on After Endoscopy Visit Mar 4, 2008
" Las Vegas immunologist, Jerry Cade is an HIV/AIDS specialist. He says while anyone would be justifiably nervous over news of re-used syringes -- he says the fluids involved, according to his understanding of the case, were not pathogenic, such as blood or semen, and were not conducive to spreading either hepatitis or HIV. "The risk is infinitesimally small. Even, even if everything wasn't perfect, the risk of really transmitting hep-C, hep-B or HIV in this manner is very, very, very small. (KLAS-TV.com, NV)
Black Fungus Found in Chernobyl Eats Harmful Radiation Mar 3, 2008
"The fungal kingdom comprises more species than any other plant or animal kingdom," said researcher Arturo Casadevall, an immunologist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Nuclear and other high-energy reactions give off dangerous rays and particles that can damage genes and thus cause mutations, and eventually cancer. (Fox News)
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Feb 28, 2008
To the immunologist, lupus is intriguing because all the key components of the immune system are involved in the underlying mechanisms of the disease. This review describes these mechanisms and shows how knowledge of the pathogenesis of lupus facilitates its treatment. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Collaboration, Genetic Associations, and Lupus Erythematosus Feb 28, 2008
From the perspective of the immunologist, SLE is a model disease that has provided important insights into immune-system function. As is characteristic of most complex diseases, genetic and environmental factors determine. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Vaccine/antibody Therapy Effective, Milder Side Effects In Melanoma And Ovarian Cancer Feb 22, 2008
The researchers, led by immunologist James P. Allison, a Howard Hughes. (Oct. (Science Daily)
Teachers cry for help as allergy crisis takes hold Feb 16, 2008
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital clinical immunologist Rob Loblay said there had been an escalation in food anaphylaxis in young children in the past five to 10 years, and "a wave of allergies is now sweeping from the preschool age group to the school system". Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction with life-threatening symptoms, such as tongue and throat swelling, breathing difficulties and loss of consciousness. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Frank Dixon; created way to trace cell reactions Feb 13, 2008
LOS ANGELES - Dr. Frank Dixon, an immunologist who pioneered the use of radiolabeling in molecular biology, died Friday at his home in suburban La Jolla Shores. He was 87. (Boston Globe)
Prenatal Exposure To Maternal Antibodies Linked To Autistic Behaviors In Offspring Feb 13, 2008
The study builds on recent research led by UC Davis immunologist Judy Van de Water* showing that IgG antibodies from the blood of mothers of children with autism react against fetal brain proteins. The outcome was predominant with IgG samples from mothers of children with the regressive form, rather than the early onset form, of the disorder. (Science Daily)
Man built up network of helper Feb 10, 2008
DR. BETTY WRAY, an allergist and immunologist, met Mike in 2001 when he was getting water from a faucet outside Stein Mart. For the past six years she and her husband, Charles, assisted Mike. (The Augusta Chronicle)
Pioneering local scientist dies Feb 9, 2008
Courtesy Scripps Research Institute This undated photo from the 1960s shows immunologist Frank J. Dixon in his La Jolla lab ... He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences and served as president of the American Association of Immunologists and the American Association of Pathologists. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Scripps Research Institute Founder Dies Feb 9, 2008
SAN DIEGO -- Pioneering immunologist and Scripps Research Institute founder Frank Dixon has died in San Diego. A Scripps spokesman says Dixon died early this morning in his sleep, likely of heart failure. (NBCSandiego.com, CA)
Scripps Founder Frank Dixon, 87, Dies Feb 9, 2008
SAN DIEGO -- Renowned immunologist Frank J. Dixon, founder of The Scripps Research Institute, died Friday in San Diego. He was 87. (TheSanDiegoChannel.com, CA)
Terry Rindfleisch: Improper or irregular use of medications can leave asthma sufferers squeezed for air Feb 6, 2008
Knuffman, who joined Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center seven months ago as an adult allergist and clinical immunologist, said he has an arsenal of treatments and medications today to help people control their asthma and stay out of the hospital. The problem: Patients don t take their asthma medications regularly, or they misuse them, he said. (La Crosse Tribune, WI)
Delaying Diabetes Jan 31, 2008
"We are trying to create a cease-fire in the immune system," says University of Oxford immunologist Herman Waldmann, who invented the Tolerx drug. When Waldmann started touting this idea in 1993 as a strategy for treating various autoimmune disorders, the idea was so fringy that it took him two years to get his first big study published. (Forbes)
Breast milk 'may be allergy key' Jan 29, 2008
Dr Charles McSharry, an immunologist from Glasgow University, said the research did offer a theory as to why breastfeeding might be beneficial in humans. However, he said comparing the immune reactions of mice and humans was difficult. (BBC News -- Health)
Organ transplants without rejection Jan 24, 2008
All three of these studies illustrate an emerging understanding of how the immune system can be trained to tolerate foreign cells, says Thomas Starzl, an immunologist and transplantation specialist at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. Researchers have been transplanting organs successfully for forty years without fully understanding how the immune system responds, he says. (Nature News Service)
Virology: The battle within Jan 24, 2008
Recently, Herbert 'Skip' Virgin, an immunologist at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri, infected mice with dormant viruses genetically similar to human EpsteinBarr virus and human cytomegalovirus. These viruses, he found, protected the mice from the bacterial pathogens Listeria monocytogenes and Yersinia pestis. (Nature News Service)
New Strategies Work To Put Cancer On The Firing Line Jan 5, 2008
Cancer really comes from us, the Medical College of Georgia Cancer Center immunologist says of the scary reality that cancer cells are our own cells gone awry. That means our immune system doesn t always see cancer as a horrific invader. (Science Daily)
UC Merced teacher wins stem-cell grant Dec 20, 2007
Manilay, who is a Harvard-educated immunologist, theorizes that the bone marrow stem cells transplanted into a patient can help the body accept the embryonic stem cell-derived transplanted tissue without it being attacked by the immune system, a process known as "immunological tolerance."Manilay is not the first UC Merced professor to receive a grant from CIRM. Earlier this year, Michelle Khine, an assistant professor of bioengineering, was granted $363,707 from CIRM to create devices to isolate... (Fresno Bee -- Local)
'Bubble boy' develops leukaemia Dec 19, 2007
"And they have all benefited from this. We hesitate to speak of 'cure', but they are able to enjoy relatively normal lives," says Professor Bobby Gaspar, a consultant immunologist on the programme. "All these children have a potentially fatal disease, and we have to remember that. All families were counselled as to the risks, and so far, this development has been the only negative one.". (BBC News -- Health)
What else can I do? Dec 19, 2007
4 Another option for Robert is to apply to train as a clinical immunologist, carrying out investigations and research into the immune system to help in the treatment of diseases such as HIV/Aids and allergies. If he was accepted on to the graduate training programme, he would work in an NHS regional immunology laboratory and, after completing his training, could expect to earn between 28,313 and 37,326. (Guardian Unlimited)
Child gets leukaemia after gene therapy Dec 19, 2007
But Professor Bobby Gaspar, a consultant immunologist working on the programme, said the benefits for such children outweighed the risks. The only other option is a bone marrow transplant, and unless a relative is a perfect match, they have to undergo chemotherapy, which kills up to 20% of such babies. (Guardian Unlimited)
Scientific American Magazine: Regaining Lost Luster Dec 17, 2007
There s been a lot of effort to steer viruses to go specific places, says Donald Kohn, an immunologist at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. But viruses come with a catch: Our immune system developed to reject them, Kohn explains. (Nature News Service)
Firing of UCSF dean a climax to years of disputes over finances Dec 16, 2007
In the end, Kessler, who gained fame nationally as FDA commissioner by seeking curbs on tobacco marketing, was fired by the man who wooed him to UCSF, Chancellor Dr. J. Michael Bishop, a renowned immunologist and Nobel Prize winner. In June, Bishop asked for Kessler's resignation, saying he wanted new leadership at the medical school, but Kessler refused to leave. (Los Angeles Times)
