Immunology

Low Doses Of Antibiotics Linked To Chronic Infections

Researchers have discovered the link between antibiotics and bacterial biofilm formation leading to chronic lung, sinus and ear infections. Bacterial biofilms can actually thrive, rather than decrease, when given low doses of antibiotics.  Biofilms are hi ...

Article - News Staff - Jul 10 2014 - 9:53am

Disappointment: 'Mississippi Baby' Cured Of HIV Has Recurrence

The child known as the "Mississippi baby", an infant cured of HIV in a case study published in The New England Journal of Medicine last fall, now has detectable levels of HIV after more than two years without taking antiretroviral therapy and wi ...

Article - News Staff - Jul 10 2014 - 4:01pm

1960s Redux: Injected Polio Vaccine Could Help Eradicate The Disease

Re-introducing a type of polio vaccine, the injected polio vaccine (IPV), that fell out of favor in the 1960s could hasten eradication of the disease, according to new research. The injected polio vaccine is rarely used today, it lost in competition again ...

Article - News Staff - Jul 10 2014 - 8:01pm

Hygiene Hypothesis? Growing Up On A Farm Halves The Risk Of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

If you grew up on a farm, you may have gotten sick lots of times due to exposure to any number of microorgansms. You might not remember getting sick more then, but a new study finds you are less likely to have chronic maladies as an adult. New research co ...

Article - News Staff - Jul 12 2014 - 9:30am

Cachexia: Cancer-Related Wasting Condition Halted By Antibody

Cachexia is a profound wasting of fat and muscle occurring in about half of all cancer patients, raising their risk of death. Many strategies have been tried to reverse the condition, which may cause such frailty that patients can't endure potentiall ...

Article - News Staff - Jul 14 2014 - 1:31am

Drug-resistant Superbug Instances Up Sharply In Southeastern US

Cases of the highly contagious drug-resistant bacteria carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae   (CRE), have increased fivefold in community hospitals in the Southeastern United States, according to a new study in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiolo ...

Article - News Staff - Jul 16 2014 - 12:05pm

Cinnamon Oil Prevents E. Coli Foodborne Illnesses

A new study has found a way to prevent some of the most serious foodborne illnesses caused by pathogenic bacteria, like Escherichia coli (E. coli): cinnamon. A new paper in Food Control suggests Cinnamomum cassia oil can work effectively as a natural anti ...

Article - News Staff - Jul 17 2014 - 10:01am

Valley Fever: The Increased Dangers Of Desert Dust

The rapid rise in valley fever cases in the arid southwest has become a serious health concern, as human habitation has pushed further into desert areas where the soil spores are widespread. Currently, Valley Fever affects an estimated 150,000 people a ye ...

Article - News Staff - Jul 23 2014 - 9:53am

Genetic Modification May Lead To Mildew Resistant Barley

In Australia, annual barley production is second only to wheat, with 7-8 million tons grown per year. Powdery mildew is one of the most important diseases of barley and a new project has opened the way for the development of new lines of barley with resis ...

Article - News Staff - Jul 25 2014 - 12:00pm

Blood Test Biomarker Could Help Prevent Spina Bifida

Folate is a naturally occurring form of vitamin B found in food, while folic acid is synthetically produced and used in fortified foods and supplements. Taking folic acid before and during early pregnancy is linked to a reduction in the risk of neural tub ...

Article - News Staff - Jul 30 2014 - 10:08am