Hyperactivity of our immune system can cause a state of chronic inflammation. If chronic, the inflammation will affect our body and result in disease. In the devastating disease multiple sclerosis, hyperactivity of immune cells called T-cells induce chronic inflammation and degeneration of the brain. Researchers at BRIC, the University of Copenhagen, have identified a new type of regulatory blood cells that can combat such hyperactive T-cells in blood from patients with multiple sclerosis. By stimulating the regulatory blood cells, the researchers significantly decreased the level of brain inflammation and disease in a biological model. The results are published in the journal Nature Medicine.
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Two new weapons in the battle against bacteria
Proteases are vital proteins that serve for order within cells. They break apart other proteins, ensuring that these are properly synthesized and decomposed. Proteases are also responsible for the pathogenic effects of many kinds of bacteria. Now chemists at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) have discovered two hitherto unknown mechanisms of action that can be used to permanently disarm an important bacterial protease.
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Researchers at UGent and VIB, discovered potential novel treatment against septic shock
Septic shock is caused by excessive and systemic reaction of the entire body against infectious agents, in most cases of bacterial origin. The number of deaths by septic shock in intensive care units is very high and is still increasing, despite numerous large scale clinical trials. Scientists of VIB and UGent, supervised by Peter Vandenabeele, demonstrated in a mouse study that a potential novel treatment for sepsis may consist of the simultaneous neutralization of two harmful cytokines in the blood circulation, namely interleukin-1 and interleukin-18.
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Study reveals record rise in insulin use
"Understanding the pattern of insulin use is limited by a lack of data characterising the prevalence of insulin use in the UK," according to Craig Currie, Professor of Applied Pharmacoepidemiology at Cardiff University's School of Medicine, who led the study alongside colleagues from the University of Bristol. "Given the limitations, our study sought to calculate - for the first time - the best possible estimate of the rates of insulin for type 1 and type 2 diabetes." In this retrospective study the team examined the number of patients receiving prescriptions for insulin between 1991 and 2010.
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New drug treatment reduces chronic pain following shingles
A new drug treatment has been found to be effective against chronic pain caused by nerve damage, also known as neuropathic pain, in patients who have had shingles. The researchers hope that the drug might also be effective against other causes of chronic neuropathic pain, such as diabetes, HIV, nerve injury and cancer chemotherapy, as it targets a mechanism that is not targeted by any existing therapies and has fewer side effects. Drugs available now have limited success at treating neuropathic pain and often have unpleasant or disabling side effects.
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How an immune molecule makes cancer cells starve
The name of the Interferon-beta (IFN-β) molecule and the English word “interfere” go back to the same Latin roots. And interfering is exactly what this messenger molecule, whose formation is increased in infections and cancer diseases, does. Consequently, it is often administered therapeutically. Amongst other things, it prevents formation of new blood vessels within a tumour, thus inhibiting its growth. Scientists at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) have now discovered that IFN-β does so by impeding the communication between cancer tissue and immune cells. Their findings, published in the scientific magazine "International Journal of Cancer", help to understand how this "jamming" can be used therapeutically.
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Major EU research grant focused on stem cell-based treatment of Diabetes
A grant of 6 million euros for the HumEn project brings together leading European stem cell‐research groups and industrial partners in a coordinated and collaborative effort aimed at developing glucose‐responsive, insulin‐producing beta cells for future cell‐replacement therapy in diabetes. The project will contribute significantly to better treatment and quality of life for the increasing population of diabetics. The HumEn project, supported through the European Commission's HEALTH research programme and headed by Professor Henrik Semb from the Danish Stem Cell Center (DanStem) at the University of Copenhagen, strengthens the future perspectives for cell based treatment of diabetes.
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