Immune System

Exercises to improve function of the rheumatoid hand (SARAH): a randomised controlled trial

The Lancet — Lamb SE, et al. | October 14, 2014 Disease–modifying biological agents and other drug regimens have substantially improved control of disease activity and joint damage in people with rheumatoid arthritis of the hand. However, commensurate changes in function and quality of life are not always noted. Tailored hand exercises might provide additional […]

Lifestyle Changes to Prevent MS?

Story Source Fundamental aspects of our clinical protocol for dealing with multiple sclerosis actually center upon re-building gut wall integrity. Multiple sclerosis, like other autoimmune conditions is a manifestation of lack of regulation of the immune system. We now understand that the integrity of the gut wall plays a fundamentally important role in keeping balance […]

McKenzie training in patients with early stages of ankylosing spondylitis:

Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2014 Oct 31. [Epub ahead of print] McKenzie training in patients with early stages of ankylosing spondylitis: results of a 24-week controlled study. Rosu OM, Ancuta CM. Abstract BACKGROUND: It is widely accepted that patient education and regular exercises could improve pain, function and maintain posture in Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). […]

Brigham and Women’s nurses sue over flu shot mandate

By Felice J. Freyer | GLOBE STAFF SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 The Massachusetts Nurses Association sued Brigham and Women’s Hospital this week, seeking to block a policy not yet in effect that would require nurses to get flu shots if they want to keep working there. The action in Suffolk Superior Court comes as state public […]

Dupuytren Contractures and Psoriasis

Story Source: PracticeUpdate.com RESEARCH · September 05, 2014 TAKE-HOME MESSAGE In this prospective study, prevalence of Dupuytren contractures was increased in patients with psoriasis (19.6%) compared with the non-psoriasis population (3.6%). Even greater prevalence rates were seen in those with palmoplantar involvement or intertriginous psoriasis. Assessment for Dupuytren contractures in patients with psoriasis may allow […]

MYSTERIOUS VIRUS SPREADING ACROSS U.S. AND CANADA AND PRIMARILY AFFECTING VACCINATED CHILDREN

Vaccines are causing an unprecedented number of mutations Story Source by DAVE MIHALOVIC | PREVENT DISEASE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 It’s being considered a severe respiratory virus known as EV-D68. It hits hard and fast and has already created an outbreak in Colorado, Missouri, Utah, Kansas, Illinois, Ohio, and four more states in the Midwest. […]

Does stress affect the joints? Daily stressors, stress vulnerability, immune and HPA axis activity, and short-term disease and symptom fluctuations in rheumatoid arthritis

Ann Rheum Dis. 2014 Sep;73(9):1683-8. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-203143. Epub 2013 Jul 9. Evers AW Abstract OBJECTIVES: Both stressors and stress vulnerability factors together with immune and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity components have been considered to contribute to disease fluctuations of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of the present study was to […]

Journal takes down autism-vaccine paper pending investigation

Retraction Watch.com Journal takes down autism-vaccine paper pending investigation Story Source An article purporting to find that black children are at substantially increased risk for autism after early exposure to the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine has been shelved. Although we don’t know if the events are related, the move comes amid claims that a CDC whistleblower has […]

Microbiome and Probiotics: Link to Arthritis

Medscape.com Mohamed K. Bedaiwi, Robert D. Inman Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2014;26(4):410-415. Abstract Purpose of review The gut microbiome plays an integral role in the development and maintenance of the host immune system. Expanding knowledge about this microbial microenvironment has raised the possibility of new treatments based on this knowledge. In this review, we describe the […]

Check Thyroid Function in Children With Vitiligo

Frontline Medical News, 2014 Aug 22, B Jancin COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO (FRONTLINE MEDICAL NEWS) – Every child and adolescent with vitiligo should undergo a laboratory evaluation that includes thyroid function tests and antibody levels, Dr. Pearl E. Grimes advised at the annual meeting of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology. “At some point, we used to […]

Antibiotic Overuse in Kids: Lessons Learned – Video

Theoklis E. Zaoutis, MD, MSCE August 18, 2014 Story Source May Require Free Registration Hello. My name is Theo Zaoutis. I’m Chief of Infectious Diseases at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. I am here today to discuss antibiotic use as specifically related to a recent survey that was conducted by WebMD and Medscape in cooperation […]

Autoimmunity: Pollution, and Particles Asbestos, Air Pollution and Nanoparticles

Published: Aug 13, 2014 By Nancy Walsh, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today Action Points There is some evidence that particulate air pollution may influence risk for and expression of autoimmune disease. A particular role for nanoparticles in human disease has not been established. Recently, I wrote an article about some interesting research being done by Jean Pfau, […]

Immune System Response to McKenzie Exercise

The Study: Immune responses following McKenzie lumbar spine exercise in individuals with acute low back pain: a preliminary study. The Facts: a. 40% of acute lower back pain involves the disc. b. The disc may generate pain due to both mechanical forces and/or inflammation. c. McKenzie exercises are sometimes used to treat these cases. d. […]

Analysis of the effect of the active compound of green tea on the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells

BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014 Aug 30;14(1):322. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-322. Analysis of the effect of the active compound of green tea (EGCG) on the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Saleh F1, Raghupathy R, Asfar S, Oteifa M, Al-Saleh N. Abstract BACKGROUND: Cancer immunotherapy requires proper manipulation of the immune system, lymphocytes in particular, in order […]

Is the Gut Microbiome a Potential Cause and Therapeutic Target for Autoimmune Diseases Like Multiple Sclerosis?

New Rochelle, NY, August 7, 2014—Numerous risk factors are believed to contribute to the development of autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, and new research is focusing on the role that bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract as well as other cell stress-related chemical signals could have in stimulating inflammation in the central nervous system and […]

Obesity in Women Linked With Early Rheumatoid Arthritis

Women who are overweight or obese, particularly those becoming so by late adolescence, have an elevated risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis. by Nancy Walsh, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today August 01, 2014 Women who are overweight or obese, particularly those who acquire the excess weight by late adolescence, have an elevated risk for developing rheumatoid […]

Study: Fist bumps are less germy than handshakes

Kim Painter, Special for USA TODAY A nice firm handshake has long been a mark of good manners and elevated social skills. It is also a very germy way to greet your fellow humans, much worse than a couple of more casual alternatives, a new study shows. “A short, sweet fist bump will transmit the […]

Smoking Worsens Psoriatic Arthritis

Published: Jul 28, 2014 By Nancy Walsh, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today Patients with psoriatic arthritis who smoke have worse patient-reported disease features at baseline and don’t respond as well as nonsmokers to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) treatment, a Danish study found. Current smokers had higher patient global scores on a 100-mm visual analog scale […]

What’s the Link? Psoriasis and Heart Failure

PracticeUpdate.com Peter Libby MD In a recent article published in the European Journal of Heart Failure, Dr. Usman Khalid and colleagues interrogated the national database of Denmark to probe the link between psoriasis and the risk for heart failure.1 They followed a cohort for 14 years and identified psoriasis diagnoses by identifying individuals who received prescriptions for topical vitamin […]

Autonomic nervous system and immune system interactions

Authors Kenney MJ1, Ganta CK. Author information 1 Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. Citation Compr Physiol. 2014 Jul;4(3):1177-200. doi: 10.1002/cphy.c130051. Abstract The present review assesses the current state of literature defining integrative autonomic-immune physiological processing, focusing on studies that have employed electrophysiological, pharmacological, molecular biological, and central nervous system experimental […]