New Directions For Treatment
A growing body of evidence points to the fact that one of the underlying causes of asthma and allergies is that children are too protected from infection. They are not developing an immune system robust enough to fight off simple allergies. Recent research involving almost two thousand patients showed that children who were given broad spectrum antibiotics for colds and chest complaints are three times more likely to develop asthma, eczema and hay fever later in life. The key to the allergic response is two types of cells produced by the immune system. The cells are involved in fighting off infections by stimulating the production of antibodies.
Switch Identified That Activates The Allergic Response
WHAT: A new study in human cells has singled out a molecule that specifically directs immune cells to develop the capability to produce an allergic response. The signaling molecule, called thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), is key to the development of allergic diseases such as asthma, atopic dermatitis (eczema), and food allergy. The study team, led by Yong-Jun Liu, M.D., Ph.D., at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, focused on dendritic cells, immune cells that initiate the primary immune response. Dendritic cells come into contact with other immune cells known as T cells, causing them to develop into different subsets of T cells, including helper 1 (Th1) and helper 2 (Th2) cells.
Circassia Extends Its Clinical-Stage Portfolio With Phase II Trials Of T-Cell Vaccines Against House Dust Mite And Cat Allergies
Circassia Ltd, a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on allergy, announced that it has initiated phase II clinical trials of its T-cell vaccines targeting house dust mite and cat allergies. With the start of these studies, and the ongoing trial of Circassia's ragweed allergy (hay fever) T-cell vaccine, the company now has three clinical development programmes in phase II. Each of these builds on earlier successful phase II results with the company's ToleroMune(R) technology, which scientifically validated the novel use of T-cell vaccines in the treatment of allergy, and identified the optimal dosing regimens to progress into late-stage development.
New Biological Models Of Homeopathy Published In Special Issues
The journal Homeopathy has published a two part special issue focusing on biological models of homeopathy. The special issue highlights experiments on homeopathic treatments in biological models, ranging from whole animals and plants to cell cultures and enzymes, showing a remarkable range of findings. Homeopathy is a form of complementary medicine which is controversial because of its use of extremely dilute medicines. Although there is considerable clinical research, homeopathy remains the subject of a heated debate. The special issue makes an important contribution to this debate, by reviewing laboratory experiments with high dilutions.
Scientists Crack Peanut Code In Children
Clinicians and scientists at UHSM (University Hospital South Manchester), the University of Manchester, and Phadia AB in Uppsala, Sweden have developed a new and significantly more accurate blood test for peanut allergy, which predicts whether an allergic reaction to peanuts will develop with more than 95 per cent certainty. Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies in children, with recent reports suggesting that it is on the increase. It can be severe - and in extreme cases fatal. Unlike other food allergies, which appear early in life and are usually outgrown by school age (e.g. cows milk or egg), peanut allergy tends to be lifelong.