New Atlas

Health & Wellbeing Audio available

New study finds e-cigarette vapor impairs activity of key immune cells in the lung

Rich Haridy August 14, 2018

As e-cigarettes rise in popularity, many researchers are working hard to understand the long-term implications of vaping on human health. A new small study has now found that e-cigarette vapor can damage key immune cells in the lung, suggesting vaping may be more harmful that previously suspected.

New research suggests e-cigarette vapor can impair the ability of immune cells in the lungs to ...

Medical Audio available

MIT research points to autoimmune disease as the cause of glaucoma

Rich Haridy August 12, 2018

An exciting breakthrough has revealed a new hypothesis behind the cause of glaucoma, a common degenerative eye disease. The study found a high number of T-cells present in the retinas of those suffering from the disease, suggesting the condition may have a previously undetected autoimmune cause.

The body's own immune cells may be the culprit behind the slow retinal deterioration associated with ...

Medical

Rebooting the immune system with stem cell transplants trialed for Crohn's disease

Rich Haridy August 6, 2018

A large trial has just been launched in the UK exploring the use of stem cells for treating patients with Crohn's disease. The radical treatment involves essentially "rebooting" a patient's immune system and has been used successfully in the past for multiple sclerosis and some cancers.

"Rebooting" a patient's immune system using stem cells is being explored as a treatment for Crohn's ...

Biology

Herpes virus may boost immune system function in old age

Michael Irving July 8, 2018

It’s long been believed that cytomegalovirus (CMV) probably weakens the immune system in older people, but now mice tests have shown that the opposite is true – somehow, the virus gives the immune system a bit of a late-stage boost.

Contrary to assumptions, cytomegalovirus has been found to improve the function of the immune system in ...

Medical

Experimental drug fuels hopes for new class of non-opioid pain relief

Michael Irving July 8, 2018

An experimental, non-opioid drug known as EMA401 is showing promise, and now researchers at Washington University in St Louis have found that it works by targeting a different part of the body, outside of the nervous system.

A new experimental drug has been found to act on an unexpected part of the body, ...

Biology

Ancient gene discovered that plays critical role in immune system regulation

Rich Haridy July 1, 2018

Researchers have identified a new gene that plays a fundamental role in regulating the production of pro-inflammatory proteins. It's hoped the discovery of this previously unknown genetic mechanism will offer scientists exciting new pathways to treat a variety of diseases, from cancer to diabetes.

The newly discovered C6orf106, or "C6", gene

Health & Wellbeing

Connection between stress and autoimmune disease affirmed by massive 30-year study

Rich Haridy June 19, 2018

A massive study spanning 30 years of data and examining a cohort of over one million people has found a strong association between persons suffering from stress disorders, including PTSD, and an increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and Crohn’s disease.

Does stress trigger the onset or development of autoimmune disease, or is the connection between stress ...

Medical

Cancer-killing nanoparticles sneak through defenses camouflaged in tumor cells

Michael Irving June 19, 2018

A new therapy designed at Penn State has turned one of cancer's tactics against it. The team camouflaged a cancer-killing drug using cells from the tumor itself, allowing them to sneak medicine past the tumor’s defenses like a nanoscale Trojan horse and deliver a killing blow from the inside.

Researchers at Penn State have camouflaged drug-delivering nanoparticles by wrapping them inside cancer cells

Science

Blood-based biomarker may predict whether you’ll get the flu

Rich Haridy June 14, 2018

A team of scientists from Stanford University School of Medicine has discovered a blood-based genetic biomarker that could predict how likely a person is to become ill when exposed to the flu virus.

A blood-based biomarker could identify how likely you are to contract influenza

Medical

Revolutionary new blood test can instantly identify chronic pain

Rich Haridy May 6, 2018

A blood test that can identify chronic pain has been developed by a team of Australian researchers. The test can identify color changes in immune cells affected by chronic pain and give doctors a new way to diagnose the severity of pain in patients unable to adequately communicate it.

A new blood test that can identify chronic pain could revolutionize diagnoses for humans and animals