Recurrence of BSEP Deficiency after Liver Transplantation Oct 1, 2009
Remission of all episodes was achieved by intensifying the immunosuppressive regimen. The phenotypic recurrence of the disease correlated with the presence of circulating high-titer antibodies against BSEP that inhibit transport by BSEP in vitro. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Schools prepare for flu battle Sep 24, 2009
Adults 25-64 years with certain chronic medical or immunosuppressive conditions, such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease. Mueller said emergency hospital workers in the county also will receive the vaccine at this time, which will be distributed to them through their employers. (Brainerd Daily Dispatch)
HOW TO: Get through flu season unscathed Sep 22, 2009
The CDC has advised people to get treated promptly if they're in certain high-risk groups: children younger than 5 years old, adults 65 years and older, pregnant women, people with certain chronic medical or immunosuppressive conditions. When should I stay home, deal with an illness and not seek medical help. (USA Today)
Local DHEC flu vaccine clinics set to begin Sep 22, 2009
"Generally, what we consider high-risk groups are persons who are 65 and older, young children, particularly 5 and under, and those with preexisting chronic conditions or immunosuppressive systems. We're also concerned about pregnant women.". The state Department of Health and Environmental Control reports that approximately 700 people die from seasonal flu in the state each year, with more than 4,000 South Carolinians admitted to a hospital. (Orangeburg Times and Democrat, SC)
Swine flu a danger for those with other ills Sep 10, 2009
12 had an immunosuppressive condition, including HIV infection ... 27 had an immunosuppressive condition, including HIV.. (AZCentral -- News)
Antiviral Drugs Should Be Used Cautiously to Fight Flu, U.S. Says Sep 9, 2009
These include children younger than 5 years old, adults 65 and older, pregnant women, people with chronic medical or immunosuppressive conditions, such as patients on chemotherapy, and people younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy. Treatment should not wait for lab tests because testing can delay treatment and a negative rapid test for flu does not rule out influenza. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Close-to-home drama Sep 4, 2009
had started him on Cyclosporine, an immunosuppressive drug to prevent rejection. . (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Researchers link inflammatory diseases to increased cardiovascular risk Sep 2, 2009
The researchers also noted that the immunosuppressive therapies currently used to treat PM and DM may have a preventive effect against heart attacks. "This is an extremely interesting finding for patients who are suffering from PM and DM but who may be hesitant to undergo this type of treatment," adds Dr. Pineau, noting that some patients are concerned about the possible side-effects of immunosuppressive therapies, such as reduced immunity to infection ... "Sometimes patients do not want to... (EurekAlert!)
Researchers Make Insulin-Producing Cells from Adult Skin Cells Sep 2, 2009
That way, there would be no need for immunosuppressive medications. However, because the current technique uses genetic manipulation to change the cell, Firpo said long-term safety issues would have to be addressed. (MEDLINEplus)
Astellas Seeks Rigorous Testing and Safety-Related Labeling for Anti-Rejection Medications Aug 11, 2009
Immunosuppressive drugs are the foundation of successful post-transplant care ... Only physicians experienced in immunosuppressive therapy and management of organ transplant patients should prescribe Prograf. (PR Newswire)
Unraveling How Cells Respond To Low Oxygen Aug 10, 2009
Nearly a decade ago, while it was being tested as an immunosuppressive agent to. (Aug. (Science Daily)
Understanding swine flu Aug 7, 2009
Last Upd: 08:39am 07 Aug 2009. R3,000 free @ Prestige Casino. (iAfrica.com)
Survivor's journey Aug 6, 2009
Chong said she takes an immunosuppressive pill to prevent rejection of the transplanted kidney, walks regularly and feels good ... Chong said she takes an immunosuppressive pill to prevent rejection of the transplanted kidney, walks regularly and feels good. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
Extreme BMI cause for concern in liver transplantation Aug 5, 2009
Previous studies show that diabetic patients are at increased risk of infectious complications after surgical procedures, and supplemental immunosuppressive medication may further exacerbate this process. "An appropriate weight-based immunosuppressive regimen, careful management of severely obese patients' co-morbidities (diabetes, hypertension) and aggressive facilitation of weight reduction can optimize the health of these patients and potentially improve patient outcomes," suggest the... (EurekAlert!)
Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva immobilizes patients Jul 29, 2009
Symptoms are eased by some treatments, such as corticosteroids and immunosuppressive medication used with organ transplants to prevent rejection. It's a genetic disease, caused by a one-letter-misspelling of the genetic alphabet in a single gene. (North County Times)
Embryonic Stem Cells 'Obsolete' Jul 17, 2009
Unlike adult stem cells taken from a patient's own body, ES cells require the heavy use of immunosuppressive drugs. Recently, we wrote of how the family of an Israeli boy suffering from a lethal genetic brain disease sought a solution in the form of injections of fetal stem cells. (Investors Business Daily)
U.S. Face Transplant Patient Is Reportedly Doing Fine Jul 16, 2009
The ability to perform face transplants has been enabled by a decrease in the trade-offs related to immunosuppressive medications, Salomon added. "Lifelong risks of immunosuppression include infection and malignancies," he said. (MEDLINEplus)
Trojan horse for ovarian cancer -- nanoparticles turn immune system soldiers against tumor cells Jul 16, 2009
The dendritic cells around ovarian cancer scoop up the nanocomplexes, composed of a polymer and small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules to silence their immunosuppressive activity. Nanoparticle incorporation transforms them from an immunosuppressive to an immunostimulatory cell type at tumor locations, provoking anti-tumor responses and also directly killing tumor cells. (EurekAlert!)
On the 40th anniversary of the first manned moon landing today's scientists point to new frontiers Jul 16, 2009
A recent finding by Dr. Ahmed's group that a therapeutic immunosuppressive drug, rapamycin, enhanced immunological memory could potentially revolutionize and broaden treatment options in acute viral infections. Dr. Rafi Ahmed, PhD Director, Emory Vaccine Center Professor minent Scholar Dept of Microbiology ology Emory University Supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Rafi Ahmed works in the area of "Immulogical memory" at Emory University. (EurekAlert!)
THE GREAT STEM-CELL-RESEARCH SCAM Jul 15, 2009
So cell recipients must permanently use dangerous immunosuppressive drugs. Further, the cells have a nasty tendency to become cancerous or to form teratomas -- meaning "monster tumors." While usually benign, these can grow larger than a football and often contain hair and teeth. (New York Post -- Opinions)
New Discovery To Aid In Diagnosis And Treatment Of Kidney Disease Jul 10, 2009
"Identifying the antigen will enable development of a simple blood test that could replace the need for a kidney biopsy and establish which patients are most likely to benefit from immunosuppressive treatment," said senior author David Salant, MD, a professor of medicine at BUSM and chief of the renal section at Boston Medical Center. "Our findings show that PLA2R is a major target antigen in idiopathic membranous nephropathy. Seventy percent of our patients with biopsy-proven idiopathic... (Science Daily)
Investigation of the Cause of Death in a Gene-Therapy Trial Jul 9, 2009
We present a case of disseminated histoplasmosis, complicated by retroperitoneal bleeding and leading to death, in a patient who was receiving systemic immunosuppressive therapy for rheumatoid arthritis and who was enrolled in a gene-therapy trial ... therapy and other immunosuppressive therapy while she was living in an area where histoplasmosis was endemic was thought to be the most likely explanation for the infection; the evidence presented suggests that this fatal infection was unlikely to... (New England Journal of Medicine)
Post-transplant combo can replace toxic immune-suppressing drugs in monkeys Jul 9, 2009
The class of immunosuppressive drugs known as calcineurin inhibitors (examples are cyclosporine and tacrolimus) can damage patients' kidneys and lead to high blood pressure, among other problems ... A similar drug called belatacept is now in phase III kidney transplant clinical trials, but current studies use it in combination with conventional immunosuppressive drugs. (EurekAlert!)
HIV-related Death: Predicting Fatal Fungal Infections Jul 5, 2009
The risk of developing fungal meningitis from Cryptococcus neoformans rises dramatically when people have weakened immunity, due to HIV infection or other reasons including the use of immunosuppressive drugs after organ transplantation, or for treating autoimmune diseases or cancer ... These findings could be important for many other immunocompromised patients in addition to those infected with HIV. "We think that knowing whether transplant recipients or other patients taking immunosuppressive... (Science Daily)
Key Culprits In Lupus Discovered Jul 1, 2009
13, 2007) Researchers have shown that an immunosuppressive drug used in organ transplant cases is effective in reducing flare-ups in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. SLE results in inflammation of. (Science Daily)
New Drug Promising against Rheumatoid Arthritis Jul 1, 2009
MONDAY, June 29 (HealthDay News) -- The immunosuppressive drug golimumab shows promise in treating rheumatoid arthritis patients who don't respond to other drugs, according to a new study. Golimumab is from the family of drugs called tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) inhibitors. (MEDLINEplus)
Drug enhances power of vaccines Jun 27, 2009
A common immunosuppressive drug may have the ability to boost the power of vaccines, research suggests. Rapamycin is commonly give to transplant patients to stop their bodies rejecting donor organs. (BBC News -- Health)
Novel Discovery In Dendritic Cell Signalling Pathways Pave The Way For New Therapeutic Targets Jun 21, 2009
The knowledge gleaned through the findings could also contribute to the creation of immunosuppressive agents that target NFAT activity ... Agents that interfere with NFAT specifically in lymphocytes but not in dendritic cells could potentially have yield immunosuppressive activity but with reduced side effects leading to prolonged graft survival. (Science Daily)
Drug Shows Promise Against Childhood Epilepsy Jun 17, 2009
In the study, published online in the journal Disease Models and Mechanisms, researchers tested rapamycin, a widely available immunosuppressive, on mice bred to display traits of cortical dysplasia. "We demonstrated that rapamycin is a novel and effective anti-epileptic agent that suppresses seizures in our mice," D'Arcangelo stated. (MEDLINEplus)
Mayo Clinic laboratory runs tests for 60 hospitals in 10 states Jun 6, 2009
One example of an esoteric test would be an immunosuppressive test. That s the test for patients undergoing an organ transplant to make sure their body accepts the new organ. (Jacksonville Business Journal, FL)
Three Independent Studies Include the ImmuKnow(R) Assay to Manage and Optimize Immunosuppression Therapy in Transplant Patients Jun 1, 2009
In 32 other patients, changes in immunosuppression therapy were based on immunosuppressive drug levels ... In a study to determine whether ImmuKnow can guide adjustment of immunosuppressive medications to lower risks of infection and/or graft loss, Dr. Abubakr A. Imam and co-investigators at the Akron Children's Hospital in Ohio conducted a retrospective study to assess the role of the ImmuKnow assay in viral surveillance and immune function monitoring in 35 pediatric renal transplant patients... (PR Newswire)
Scientists prepare to turn fiction into fact with first full-face transplant May 22, 2009
The recipient would then require a lifetime's supply of immunosuppressive drugs to maintain the new face. Some burns victims have had more than 50 skin-graft operations to rebuild faces that they believe to be still hopelessly disfigured. (Yahoo News -- Organ Donation & Transplants)
Why Less Cancer In People With Down Syndrome? May 21, 2009
"Immunosuppressive drugs also target calcineurin in T-cells," Ryeom notes. "We think that Dscr1 blocks calcineurin specifically in endothelial cells, without affecting T-cells, but we need to check.". (Science Daily)
Popular cancer drug linked to often fatal brain virus May 19, 2009
But concerns about the drug's association with PML first surfaced in 2006 when two patients with lupus developed the illness after taking rituximab and other immunosuppressive treatments. In 2008, Bennett said, the manufacturers of the drug, Genentech and Biogen Idec, sent letters to doctors alerting them that a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who had been taking rituximab also died from the brain infection. (EurekAlert!)
Transplant patients have worse cancer outcomes, analysis shows May 16, 2009
"Transplant patients receive immunosuppressive therapies to prevent them from rejecting transplanted organs," says Woodle. "We want to see if immunosuppressive therapies contribute to the poorer outcomes in transplant recipients.". (EurekAlert!)
How Light Fights Psoriasis May 10, 2009
Doctors often recommend UVB therapy if standard ointment treatments fail and if patients would rather avoid a systemic immunosuppressive drug regimen that has been developed more recently. Patients receive the treatment, brief blasts of UVB, standing inside an upright cabinet whose inside is lined with fluorescent tube lights. (Science Daily)
Isotechnika announces a strategic collaboration and financing with Paladin Labs May 7, 2009
About Isotechnika ----------------- Edmonton-based Isotechnika Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel immunosuppressive therapeutics that are designed to offer advantages over other currently available treatments. There is a significant unmet medical need in the treatment of both solid organ transplantation and autoimmune disease. (Canada Newswire)
Amazing Surgery Reveals New Face May 6, 2009
Culp continues to take daily immunosuppressive drugs to reduce the risk that her body will reject her new face. 1. (ABC News)
'Nature Vs. Nurture' Study Of Deceased Donor Pairs In Kidney Transplantation Apr 30, 2009
Examples of possible intervention strategies, he said, include an increase in monitoring and surveillance of the surviving patient, catching a potential kidney rejection before it gets out of control, and/or tailoring immunosuppressive drugs to reduce the possibility of rejection. Dr. Israni is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota. (Science Daily)
Lower Dementia Drug Dose Boosts Brain Function, Cuts Side Effects Apr 30, 2009
3, 2005) The immunosuppressive drug mycophenolate mofetil, used to prevent rejection of transplanted hearts, kidneys and livers, may also be effective in controlling inflammatory eye diseases, according to a. (Oct. (Science Daily)
Double-lung Transplants Work Better Than Single For Long-term Survival Apr 29, 2009
28, 2009) Having both lungs replaced instead of just one is the single most important feature determining who lives longest after having a lung transplant, more than doubling an organ recipient's chances of extending their life by over a decade, a study by a team of transplant surgeons at Johns Hopkins shows. The finding is potentially controversial, researchers say, because there is already a shortage of organ donors, and more widespread use of bilateral lung transplants could nearly halve the... (Science Daily)
Merck-Seronos cladribine could face regulatory hurdles Apr 28, 2009
One study by Saven et al. in the journal Blood 92: 1918-1926, titled Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients With Hairy Cell Leukemia After Cladribine Treatment, found that in 349 evaluable patients, dermatomal herpes zoster was the most frequent late infection, and is likely related to the potent immunosuppressive properties of cladribine. An industry investor who read the study in Blood noted that while most of the patients were in their 60-70s when diagnosed and most cancer cases were prostate... (FT.com -- Markets)
Prostheses likely to stay amputees' top remedy Apr 19, 2009
While hand transplants are the most dramatic solution for victims of these accidents, prostheses will probably always be the first-line treatment for people with amputations because they are less expensive and don't carry the risks that accompany a lifetime of taking immunosuppressive drugs. Mr. Ferber, 49, of Shaler, is one of 630 people in the world using the iLimb myoelectric hand prosthesis made by Touch Bionics, of Scotland. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Transplanting hope Apr 17, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009. (Created: Thursday, April 16, 2009 12:19 PM MDT). (Havre Daily News, MT)
Device Protects Transplanted Pancreatic Cells From The Immune System Apr 17, 2009
Transplanting beta cells in a protective device could alleviate the need to use immunosuppressive drugs. This study was funded by grants from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the JW Kieckhefer Foundation. (Science Daily)
Some Alternative Therapies Can Be Safe, Effective For Children, According To Pediatrics Professor Apr 15, 2009
Probiotics are not recommended for children on any immunosuppressive drugs or those who are immuno-compromised. Always consult a doctor first. (Science Daily)
Major Breakthrough In Transplantation Immunity Apr 10, 2009
9, 2009) Australian scientists have made a discovery that may one day remove the need for a lifetime of toxic immunosuppressive drugs after organ transplants ... At no stage, during or after the procedure, is there any need for immunosuppressive drugs ... "Under normal circumstances, the body would attack a transplanted organ unless immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporin were given," said Sprent. (Science Daily)
Research could lead to new non-antibiotic drugs to counter hospital infections Apr 9, 2009
Once the host is weakened by an illness, surgical procedure or immunosuppressive drugs, however, P. aeruginosa can cause infection, inflammation, sepsis and death. Why P. aeruginosa can suddenly turn on its host has eluded researchersuntil now. (EurekAlert!)
Discovery may stop transplant rejection Apr 7, 2009
Kylie Webster said that after two weeks 80 per cent of the mice had accepted the transplant, and continued to act as if the cells were their own without needing immunosuppressive medication for up to 10 months. "This acceptance rate is very high for transplantation, with mice normally rejecting grafts within two to three weeks," Dr Webster said. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Patent pending for pain-free method of monitoring drug levels in transplant patients Apr 4, 2009
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Fatemeh Akhlaghi said saliva offers a pain-free way to measure levels of immunosuppressive agents such as cyclosporine, and mycophenolic acid, which are essential in preventing organ rejection after transplantation. She is also researching the use of saliva for monitoring the concentration of two other immunosuppressive drugs, tacrolimus and sirolimus ... Frequent testing of medication levels in transplant patients is required for two reasons; if the concentration... (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
Licorice May Block Effectiveness Of Drug Widely Used By Transplant Patients Apr 1, 2009
6, 2006) Liver transplant patients with hepatitis C virus achieved significantly better long-term viral response when taking the immunosuppressive agent Cyclosporine along with interferon-ribavirin. . (Science Daily)
UPDATE: New face transplant in France... Mar 28, 2009
A patient's immune system will frequently reject a skin graft from a donor, requiring the systematic use of immunosuppressive drugs. The gun shot had destroyed the muscles in the man's lower face such that he could not open his mouth, even after several operations, Lantieri explained. (The Drudge Report)
Patient gets new hand at UPMC Mar 23, 2009
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has become the second facility in the United States to transplant a hand and is about to complete a ground-breaking follow-up step designed to reduce the use of multiple immunosuppressive drugs and their damaging side effects. A UPMC surgical team headed by Dr. W.P. Andrew Lee, chief of the division of plastic surgery, transplanted the donor hand to a patient who was identified only as a former Marine who was injured in a training accident. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Serious Infection In Pregnancy: Experimental Vaccine Shows Promise In Preventing Cytomegalovirus Infection In Infants Mar 21, 2009
The immunosuppressive drugs taken by transplant recipients can make them vulnerable to illness if they become infected with CMV following the organ transplant. The NIAID-sponsored trial will test whether the candidate CMV vaccine can boost the immune system enough to prevent illness from CMV.. (Science Daily)
Lab-grown Nerves Promote Nerve Regeneration Mar 20, 2009
20, 2009) Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have engineered transplantable living nerve tissue that encourages and guides regeneration in an animal model. Results were published in March in the journal Tissue Engineering Part A.. (Science Daily)
Discovery May Lead To Development Of Safer Immunosuppressants Mar 16, 2009
15, 2009) Immunosuppressive treatment is necessary to prevent rejection of an organ after transplant and has great potential for treating chronic inflammatory diseases ... The discovery of a common CN docking pocket for substrates and IS-IP complexes reveals a promising target for development of less toxic immunosuppressive drugs ... 5, 2008) Using modern immunosuppressive drugs eliminates the need for steroid therapy as early as seven days following a transplant surgery while still maintaining... (Science Daily)
Local pharmacies carry shingles vaccine Mar 12, 2009
It is more common in people 50 years old or older, people who have medical conditions that keep the immune system from working properly or people who receive immunosuppressive drugs. Symptoms. (DeKalb Daily Chronicle, IL)
• Asthma a symptom of Churg-Strauss syndrome Mar 7, 2009
Since you are already using prednisone, perhaps other immunosuppressive medications may be considered. If you would like to learn more about this condition, I recommend you review an article from the Mayo Clinic Web site at. (Burley South Idaho Press, ID)
Hope of insulin cell transplant Mar 6, 2009
Cell transplantation therapy is limited because the immunosuppressive drugs needed to prevent rejection have very toxic side-effects and leave patients vulnerable to infection. We are now looking at other viral genes that also contribute to immune suppression and are trying to identify the best gene combination to use. (BBC News -- Health)
Type Of Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication May Be Associated With Increased Risk For Shingles Mar 1, 2009
Editorial: Herpes Zoster in the Age of Focused Immunosuppressive Therapy. In an accompanying editorial, Richard J. Whitley, M.D., and John W. Gnann Jr., M.D., of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, comment on the findings of this study. (Science Daily)
Gene Mutation Increases Drug Toxicity, Rejection Risk In Pediatric Kidney Transplants Feb 21, 2009
MMF, or Mycophenolate Mofetil, is an immunosuppressive agent commonly used to prevent rejection in organ transplants, particularly in kidney transplants. After taken orally, the drug is quickly processed by the body into active form. (Science Daily)
New surgical implant tested at U-Iowa prevents total blindness Feb 19, 2009
"Until recently, the primary treatment option for sympathetic ophthalmia was non-surgical and involved high doses of oral steroids followed by oral immunosuppressive medication to preserve vision in a patient's remaining eye," said Vinit Mahajan, M.D., Ph ... "But this treatment, similar to organ transplantation cases, subjects patients to life-long use of immunosuppressive drugs that have serious side effects such as osteoporosis, weight gain, potentially life-threatening infection and liver or... (EurekAlert!)
New Approaches To Prevent Transplant Rejection Feb 18, 2009
Until now, without a clear understanding of the disease, clinicians have had little choice but to treat transplant patients with toxic regimens of steroids and immunosuppressive drugs. "Our hope is that uncovering the mechanisms that cause graft-versus-host disease will allow for treatments that specifically target its causes and do not have the harmful side effects of traditional immunosuppressive therapy," said study lead author Jonathan S. Serody, M.D., a member of the Lineberger Center and... (Science Daily)
How Deadly Fungus Protects Itself Feb 16, 2009
These fungal infections occur most commonly in those with compromised immune systems especially AIDS patients and transplant patients who must take lifelong immunosuppressive therapy. The fungus causes an estimated one million deaths each year worldwide, including some 600,000 in sub-Saharan Africa. (Science Daily)
Pairs doing well after kidney swap Feb 12, 2009
Doctors increased the immunosuppressive medication that all organ transplant recipients take, he said, but also tried newer therapies that had a miraculous result. One of those treatments, plasmapheresis, took Ms. Benton's blood out of her body and separated the antibodies from her bloodstream before putting the rest of the cells back in. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
