http://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. Scientists at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry and Harvard Medical School, Boston have found a way of mimicking the body's natural mechanism of fighting inflammation. During inflammation cells release very small particles termed 'microparticles' that retain features of their parent cell. The scientists discovered that certain microparticles were beneficial to health, and that these microparticles contained anti-inflammatory lipids, which help terminate inflammation and return the body to its normal balance. http://phys.org/news221138267.html Medicine & Health Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:40:02 EST news221138267 A study featured on the cover of the March 15 Journal of Immunology is providing insight into why the elderly are so vulnerable to pneumonia and other bacterial infections. http://phys.org/news219314087.html Medicine & Health Mon, 14 Mar 2011 09:35:00 EST news219314087 Researchers from the University of Dundee, King’s College London and St George’s, University of London have identified potential new means to treat tuberculosis (TB). http://phys.org/news218218720.html Medicine & Health Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:18:57 EST news218218720 A billion people living in underdeveloped areas around the world are infected with parasitic helminthes, worms that survive by residing in and feeding on their hosts. These infestations can cause chronic intestinal (and occasionally systemic) illnesses leading to long-term disability. Irah King and Markus Mohrs, biomedical researchers at the Trudeau Institute, are investigating illnesses caused by these gut-dwelling worms in an effort to decipher how immune cells send and receive signals that determine the specific immune response to mount. http://phys.org/news205764886.html Medicine & Health Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:54:55 EST news205764886 One of the body's first protective reactions to infection is inflammation, typically stimulated by the factor IL-1beta. Unfortunately, inflammation frequently occurs when it is not desired and so must be treated, e.g. by blocking IL-1beta production or activity. The picture is complicated by the fact that many other factors are involved in the process. A precise understanding of the regulatory networks is important for the development of anti-inflammatory treatments. http://phys.org/news203763310.html Medicine & Health Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:55:34 EST news203763310 Cancer surgery wreaks havoc on a body's immune system and stress hormones exacerbate the problem. As a result, about half of those who undergo surgery for tumor removal experience a recurrence of cancer in the same region or other parts of the body. http://phys.org/news198944525.html Medicine & Health Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:22:20 EST news198944525 New research from UT Southwestern Medical Center suggests that allergic reactions to pet dander, dust mites and mold may prevent people with allergic asthma from generating a healthy immune response to respiratory viruses such as influenza. http://phys.org/news194263881.html Medicine & Health Fri, 28 May 2010 11:14:06 EST news194263881 (PhysOrg.com) -- A new study using mice suggests that a repeated stressful situation that triggers the animals' natural “fight-or-flight” response may actually enhance their ability to fight disease when re-exposed to the same pathogen. http://phys.org/news186695836.html Medicine & Health Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:50:05 EST news186695836 (PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers have found that an antibody, which stimulates the immune system, can be used to improve health outcomes in the developing world. http://phys.org/news186302141.html Medicine & Health Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:40:01 EST news186302141 Specific cells within the immune system could help explain why younger people are more susceptible to variant CJD, scientists believe. http://phys.org/news174735267.html Medicine & Health Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:34:53 EST news174735267 (PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers have discovered that prostate tumors in mice can cause immune cells known as CD8+ T cells to change their function from cells that have antitumor activity to cells that suppress immune responses. This finding, by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, has important implications for the design of immune-based therapies for cancer. http://phys.org/news174152513.html Medicine & Health Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:30:07 EST news174152513 Research led by Dr. Jay Kolls, Professor and Chairman of Genetics at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, has identified a therapeutic target for acute lung injury resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome, a highly fatal complication of influenza infection. http://phys.org/news173448577.html Medicine & Health Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:10:31 EST news173448577 An Israeli researcher working on a vaccine to combat Alzheimer's disease said on Monday he had made important progress following tests on gene-altered laboratory mice. http://phys.org/news172761774.html Medicine & Health Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:23:20 EST news172761774 (PhysOrg.com) -- The use of animals in scientific research continues to be one of the most controversial issues in scientific research. Now Viewpoints, a new series of papers published in the European Journal of Immunology, brings experts from across the globe to decide if the ends justify the means. http://phys.org/news169309629.html Medicine & Health Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:50:02 EST news169309629 Researchers from the Molecular Immunology group at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig, Germany have now shown that Beta-Interferon also plays a crucial role during an immune response: without Beta-Interferon immune cells are unable to show "wanted posters" of pathogens to other cells. As a consequence, these cells will not recognize the pathogen and the immune response does not start properly. The group's results have now been published in the current issue of the scientific magazine Journal of Immunology. http://phys.org/news167307019.html Medicine & Health Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:30:02 EST news167307019 Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have found that an approved drug for treating rheumatoid arthritis reduces severe illness and death in mice exposed to the Influenza A virus. Their findings suggest that tempering the response of the body's immune system to influenza infection may alleviate some of the more severe symptoms and even reduce mortality from this virus. http://phys.org/news162560620.html Medicine & Health Tue, 26 May 2009 12:44:08 EST news162560620 Researchers at the University of Illinois report that IDO, an enzyme found throughout the body and long suspected of playing a role in depression, is in fact essential to the onset of depressive symptoms sparked by chronic inflammation. http://phys.org/news157737755.html Medicine & Health Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:03:47 EST news157737755 An unexpected discovery made by a Sydney scientist has potential to alter the body's response to anything it perceives as not 'self', such as a tissue or organ transplant. http://phys.org/news151755284.html Medicine & Health Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:15:13 EST news151755284