Immunotherapy Weekly articles from January 2004

Immunotherapy Weekly archives from January 2004

Researchers uncover pathway that could lead to plant generation of human-like protein.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers led by Lokesh Joshi, an Arizona State University (ASU) associate professor in the Harrington department of bioengineering of the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering and a member of the...

Mannose-binding lectin polymorphisms are linked to sepsis, related mortality.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) polymorphisms providing for lower expression are linked to sepsis, related mortality. According to a study from Denmark, "genetic factors may predispose critically ill...

Doxycycline inhibits T cell cytokine reaction to staphylococcal exotoxin.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Doxycycline inhibits T-cell proliferation, cytokine reaction to staphylococcal exotoxins (SE); thus may lower toxic effects. According to a study from the United States, "proinflammatory cytokines...

Noradrenaline and MHPG metabolite inhibit thymus, spleen lymphocyte chemotaxis.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Noradrenaline (NA) and its MHPG metabolite inhibit thymus or spleen lymphocyte chemotaxis. "The capacity of NA and its end metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) to modulate the...

Preliminary report suggests combination therapy may help treat SARS.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A preliminary study suggests that use of a combination of corticosteroids and interferon may have a role in treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). SARS is characterized by fever,...

Company issues statement on antiretroviral treatment study.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- GlaxoSmithKline issued the following statement: We welcome the publication in the December 11 [2003] issue of New England Journal of Medicine of the results of ACTG384, a study comparing anti-HIV...

Phase IIa data reported from clinical study of Immunokine in AMN.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Nutra Pharma Corp. (NPHC) announced the publication of a clinical trial of Immunokine in the orphan disease Adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN). Immunokine was assessed in a placebo-controlled, double-blind...

Guinea pig assays not effective for drug hypersensitivity testing.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Standard guinea pig assays have limited usefulness in the determination of systemic drug hypersensitivity. "The most commonly used assays designed to detect either skin or systemic immune-based...

Age-related disease susceptibility may depend on complement regulatory proteins.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Healthy babies, children, and adults have different levels of complement regulatory proteins that may play a role in age-related disease susceptibility and morbidity. According to recent research...

Ethanol lowers serotonin synthesis; may cause some related psychiatric disorders.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Ethanol lowers enzyme function, serotonin synthesis; may be reason for related psychiatric disorders. "Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of many...

Some IgE epitopes to cedar allergens map to a conserved pectate lyase site.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Some IgE epitopes to mountain cedar pollen allergen Jun a 1 are in a conserved pectate lyase (PL) catalytic site. "Resolution of the 3D structures and IgE epitopes of allergens may identify common...

Experimental allergic rhinitis treatment achieves positive safety data.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (RIGL) announced positive clinical safety data for R112, an experimental drug to treat allergic rhinitis, indicating that R112 is well tolerated and demonstrates a favorable...

Repeat rhinitis therapy with omalizumab is safe for a second ragweed season.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Repeat rhinitis therapy with omalizumab is safe for a second ragweed pollen season. "Two randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies have shown clinical benefit with omalizumab (Xolair), a...

Asthma mediator LTE4 is still excreted in urine of steroid-treated asthmatics.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Asthma mediator leukotriene E4 continues to be excreted in urine of asthma patients treated with glucocorticoids. "Urinary LTE4 reflects the whole body production of the cysteinyl-leukotrienes...

Food allergies may be treatable with immunotherapy, anti-IgE antibodies, herbs.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Treatments that may work against food allergy include immunotherapy, anti- immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody therapy, and Chinese herbs. "Up to 5% of young children and 2% of adults suffer from food...

Inhaled endotoxin increases lung surfactant protein A, lowers it in lavage fluid.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is expressed more in lung, but presence lowered in lung lavage fluid, following repeat exposure to inhaled endotoxin. "Chronically inhaled endotoxin, which is ubiquitous...

Researchers find connection between poinsettia and latex allergies.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- People with a rubber latex allergy may also be allergic to the popular holiday ornamental poinsettia plant, according to researchers at the Medical College of Georgia. While latex allergies are...

Presenilin mutation in AD may produce lower activity of dimer in gamma-secretase.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The gamma-secretase enzyme may contain a presenilin (PS) dimer; PS mutations in Alzheimer disease (AD) may produce lower enzyme activity. According to recent research from the United States, "Notch...

Stress, amphetamines make neurons with glucocorticoid receptors express Fos.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Stress, amphetamines make prefrontal cortex neurons with glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) express Fos. According to a study from the United States, "exposure to stress or amphetamine potently...

High ciliary neurotrophic factor in ALS patients unrelated to disease severity.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Serum ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF)in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients is higher, but does not correlate with disease severity. "The role of CNTF in the etiopathogenesis of ALS is...

Human antibodies from immunized donors protect against anthrax.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Human antibodies from immunized donors are protective against anthrax toxin in vivo. "A panel of Fabs that neutralize anthrax toxin in vitro was selected from libraries generated from human donors...

Lymphocytic vasculitis associated with anthrax vaccine.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Lymphocytic vasculitis has been associated with the anthrax vaccine. According to published research from the United States, "Anthrax is caused by the spore-forming bacteria Bacillus anthracis. It...

Penicillium chrysogenum can inhibit some aspergilli with PAF protein.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Penicillium chrysogenum produces an antifungal protein, PAF, that is internalized and works on some aspergilli. "The Penicillium chrysogenum antifungal protein PAF inhibits the growth of various...

V(D)J recombination is controlled by methylation and demethlation of DNA.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- V(D)J recombination is controlled by methylation and demethlation of DNA. According to a study from the United States, "in the mammalian immune system, V(D)J rearrangement of immunoglobulin (Ig) and...

Varying antimicrobial activity in follicular fluids may be due to lysosyme.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Human follicular fluids (HFF) have varying antimicrobial activities that may be due to lysosyme. "The aim of this study was to explore the antimicrobial activity of HFF, to test the hypothesis that...

Gastric epithelial cells produce beta-defensins after H. pylori infection.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Gastric epithelial cells produce beta-defensins following Helicobacter pylori infection. "The beta-defensin peptides are known to be potent antibacterials with a wide spectrum of activity. They,...

Lactoferrin-derived peptides have antimicrobial activity beyond iron depletion.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Lactoferrin-derived peptides have antimicrobial activity beyond simple iron sequestration. "Lactoferrin is a member of the transferrin family of iron-binding proteins. Numerous functions have been...

Adenovirus proteinase is inhibited by NO from NONOates; viral infection lowered.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Adenovirus proteinase is inhibited by NO from NONOates; viral infectivity lowered. "Nitric oxide (NO) is an antiviral effector of the innate immune system, but few of the viral targets of NO have...

Abnormal stem-cell adhesion molecule expression may underlie aplastic anemia.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Abnormal adhesion molecule expression by hematopoietic stem cells may underlie AA development. "Appropriate adhesion between bone marrow stem cells and the marrow microenvironment is necessary for...

Monoclonal antibody-based alternative to small-molecule drugs announced.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- InNexus Biotechnology, Inc., announced the scientific publication and disclosure of a monoclonal-antibody-based delivery system for intracellular targets utilizing SuperAntibody technology (SAT). ...

Database study yields new insights into arthritis drug.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have analyzed a national database of VA patients to investigate the effects of the...

Knee treatment value questioned.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- U.S. government-approved treatments for knee arthritis in which the joint is injected with fluid often made from rooster combs offer little if any relief, researchers say. Doctors should think...

Acetaldehyde activates NF-kappa B and upregulates GM-CSF in human bronchi.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Acetaldehyde present in alcohol-induced asthma and from cigarette smoke may affect bronchi by upregulating GM-CSF. According to recent research published in the journal Allergy and Asthma...

Monocyte-derived chemokine is elevated in asthmatic's BAL, as are leukocytes.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Monocyte-derived chemokine (MDC) produced by bronchial epithelium is elevated in asthmatic's bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). According to published research from Mexico, "infiltration of the airways...

Occupational asthma, rhinitis could be brought on by many enzymes, isocyanates.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Occupational asthma (OA) and rhinitis (OR) may be brought on by many enzymes and isocyanates. " OA is probably the most frequent occupational disease; its diagnosis is difficult and the number of...

Secondhand smoke exposure increases adult asthma risk.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Adults exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke are much more likely to develop asthma. A recent study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, is the first to establish a link between the...

Serum levels of urinary trypsin inhibitor are higher during pediatric asthma.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Serum levels of urinary trypsin inhibitor are higher while pediatric asthma occurs, this may denote the level of neutrophil activity, and could be used to monitor disease. According to a study from...

Xopenex effective treatment for children with acute attacks.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- During a season of flu scares and special caution for children with chronic illnesses, there is good news for parents of asthmatic children. A study conducted in the emergency department (ED) and...

Company to expand HDL Therapy development program.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Following a regularly scheduled meeting of the board of directors, Lipid Sciences, Inc., (LIPD) announced the company will now expand the development program for its HDL Therapy platform. This...

Escherichia coli adheres to bladder epithelium with fimbriae, sialic acid.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Escherichia coli adheres to bladder epithelium with fimbriae, and nonspecifically with sialic acid. "The first step in the bacterial colonization and infection of uropathogenic Escherichia coli is...

Shc proteins are prognostic markers for primary breast cancer.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Shc proteins are strong, independent prognostic markers for both node-negative and node-positive primary breast cancer. "Activated Shc signaling proteins are implicated in many pathways associated...

MrgX2 is the dorsal root ganglion receptor for cortistatin.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- MrgX2 is the dorsal root ganglion receptor for cortistatin and other cyclic peptide agonists. According to recent research from England, "MrgX2 is a recently identified orphan G-protein-coupled...

Cyclooxygenase-2 is a prognostic indicator of oral squamous cell carcinoma.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to a study from Japan, "cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is known as one of the critical prognostic factors in carcinomas of the various organs. However, the importance of COX-2 overexpression in oral...

Study: Multiple mechanisms of action make INGN 241 a promising approach.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Introgen Therapeutics, Inc., (INGN) and its collaborators at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center presented preclinical data highlighting the broad and multifunctional potential of INGN...

Tumor growth inhibited by vaccination with Her-2/neu peptides.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Tumor cell growth was inhibited by antibodies induced after vaccination with peptides derived from the extracellular domain of Her-2/neu. According to a study from Austria, "The anti Her-2/neu...

Vaccines for leukemia therapy reviewed.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers have reviewed progress in the development of leukemia vaccines in a recent issue of the journal Acta Haematologica. According to a study from Germany, "Evidence that immunological...

Anti-idiotypic antibody fragment effective against candidiasis.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- An engineered synthetic killer anti-idiotypic antibody fragment was effective against experimental mucosal and systemic candidiasis. "Peptides derived from the sequence of a single-chain,...

The immunomodulator FTY720 bars VEGF-induced vascular permeability.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The immunomodulator FTY720 bars VEGF-induced vascular permeability. "FTY720, a potent immunosuppressive agent, is phosphorylated in vivo into FTY720-P, a high affinity agonist for sphingosine...

Pediatric measles-like rash may be separate or coinciding HHV-6, HHV-7 infection.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Pediatric measles-like rash may be separate or coinciding human herpesvirus-6 and/or 7 (HHV-6 and/or HHV-7) primary infection. According to a study from Brazil, "we investigated primary HHV-6,...

Impaired interleukin-15 production impedes the effectiveness of interferon.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Impaired interleukin-15 production impedes the effectiveness of interferon. "We previously reported that monocyte-derived dendritic cells activate resting natural killer (NK) cells by expressing...

Alliance formed to develop an automated test to monitor transplant drug.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Abbott Laboratories announced a collaboration and license agreement with Wyeth to develop an automated blood test to monitor therapeutic levels of the anti-rejection drug Rapamune (sirolimus). ...

A3 adenosine receptor agonist inhibits colon cancer growth.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The A3 adenosine receptor agonist CF101 inhibits primary colon carcinoma growth and liver metastasis. According to recent research published in the British Journal of Cancer, "Adenosine is a purine...

Dengue 4 virus glycoprotein induces resistance to Dengue 4 virus.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The carboxy-terminally truncated Dengue 4 virus envelope glycoprotein expressed in Pichia pastoris induced neutralizing antibodies and resistance to Dengue 4 virus challenge in mice. "We have...

Gloves help improve skin, relieve dermatitis.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cardinal Health (CAH) has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market an advanced new line of medical gloves made with Neu-Thera, an emollient that is proven clinically to...

Topical tacrolimus effective against CAD with idiopathic leukopenia.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Topical tacrolimus therapy can ameliorate the symptoms of chronic active dermatitis (CAD). CAD "is a photosensitivity disorder marked by severe eczematous lesions on exposed areas," dermatologists...

Interleukin-15 blockade resolves psoriasis in murine xenografts.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Interleukin-15 blockade resolves psoriasis in murine xenografts. According to published research from the Netherlands, "psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin characterized by...

Proteinase-activated receptor-2 increases skin inflammation in humans and mice.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) activation is involved in increased skin inflammation in humans, mice; may be a good target for inflammation reduction therapy. According to a study from...

Up to five co-occurring types of physical urticaria can exist and persist.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Up to five co-occurring types of physical urticaria (PU) can exist, and even persist for years, in a single patient. "The appearance of >1 PU in the same patient has been documented; cold urticaria...

Myelodysplastic syndrome with autoimmune symptoms may benefit from methotrexate.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients with autoimmune disease such as dermatomyositis (DM) may have improvement in both diseases with methotrexate (MTX) therapy. According to published research...

Patients with aspirin, NSAID allergy can get angioedema from COX-2 inhibitors.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Patients with aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) allergies can react with angioedema to cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. According to recent research from France, "cyclooxygenase-2...

Biodegradable particles mimic white blood cells, target inflamed tissue.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists have developed biodegradable polymers that can mimic the ability of white blood cells to target inflamed blood vessel walls, according to a new study led by Ohio University researchers. ...

Phenanthrene alkaloids strongly inhibit Ang-II-induced leukocyte adhesion.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A pair of phenanthrene alkaloids strongly inhibit Ang-II-induced leukocyte adhesion, which contributes to a number of cardiovascular disorders. In a recent study, scientists in Spain "evaluated the...

Companies sign anti-inflammatory drug discovery deal.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scynexis Europe and GeneCare Research Institute Co Ltd in Kamakura, Japan, have announced details of a new deal between the two companies whereby Scynexis will provide a range of drug discovery,...

Advanced and refractory human alveolar echinococcosis responds to amphotericin B.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Advanced and refractory human alveolar echinococcosis responds to amphotericin B; parasite growth is controlled. According to recent research from Germany, "most patients with alveolar...

When the Src family of kinases are shut down, angiogenesis ceases.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- When the Src family of kinases are shut down, angiogenesis ceases. "Inhibition of angiogenesis could be a treatment strategy for diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetic...

Topiramate is detectable in saliva; concentration is slightly less than serum.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Topiramate is detectable in saliva of epileptics; concentration is slightly less than serum. Published research from the United States "examines the relationship between serum and saliva topiramate...

Posaconazole is most effective against the zygomycete Rhizopus microsporus.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Zygomycete responses differ to amphotericin B, itraconazole, and posaconazole; posaconazole is most effective against Rhizopus microsporus. According to a study from France, "Three isolates of...

Intravenous immunoglobulin may resolve acquired factor V inhibitor complications.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Intravenous immunoglobulin may resolve acquired factor V (FV)inhibitor complications; antibiotics could be one cause. "We report two patients who developed acquired... FV inhibitors not related to...

Cancer therapy maker announces $5.62 per share loss for third quarter.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Genitope Corp. (GTOP) reported financial results for the third quarter and 9 months ended September 30, 2003. For the third quarter of 2003, Genitope reported total operating expenses of $6.3...

Diagnostic kit company reports first operating profit since 1998.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Hemagen Diagnostics, Inc., (HMGN), a biotechnology company that develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary medical diagnostic test kits, reported operating results for the fiscal year ended...

Surgery still the best option for allergic fungal sinusitis in atopic patients.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Surgery remains the best option for allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) in atopic patients. "Since the early 1980s, AFS has been an increasingly recognized and diagnosed chronic health disorder....

Proprietary Factor 5A1 shows promise for controlling glaucoma.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Senesco Technologies, Inc., (SNT) has demonstrated that inhibition of its proprietary gene, Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 5A1 (Factor 5A1), can significantly reduce apoptosis (cell death)...

Carbohydrate-protein ligand screening can be done with NMR spectroscopy.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Carbohydrate-protein binding can be studied with NMR spectroscopy and may aid future drug development. According to recent research from England, "recently developed NMR methods have been applied...

Agreement signed with NIH to develop Theralux device.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Celmed BioSciences, a subsidiary of Theratechnologies (TH), announced that it has signed a collaboration agreement with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the U.S. National...

FIV induces phenotypical changes in CD8 cells.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The feline version of HIV induces phenotypical changes in CD8 - but not CD4 - cells. "It is well documented that several cell surface molecules of T lymphocytes are altered by immune activation,"...

HIV-exposed but uninfected IDUs have heightened NK-cell activity.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Injecting drug users who remain HIV-negative after extensive exposure have elevated levels of natural killer (NK)-cell activity. In a recent study, scientists in France "addressed the role of...

Viral replication does not lead to SIV disease progression in sooty mangabeys.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Surprisingly, viral replication in SIV-infected sooty mangabeys does not lead to disease progression. "Simian immunodeficiency virus SIVsm causes an asymptomatic infection in its natural host, the...

Molecular assay enables accurate measure of CCR5 mRNA.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A novel molecular assay provides a sensitive and accurate measure of CCR5 mRNA. According to published research from the United States, "CCR5, a beta-chemokine receptor, plays an important role in...

Growth hormone treatment can improve NK-cell function.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Growth hormone therapy can improve NK-cell function in HIV patients. "Previous studies have shown that human natural killer (NK) cells are lost from the periphery and are functionally suppressed...

Mediators of protease inhibitor-induced bone resorption identified.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The molecular mediators of HIV protease inhibitor-induced bone damage have been identified. "Accelerated bone resorption leading to osteopenia and osteoporosis has been noted in human...

Prophylactic antiretroviral treatment reduces T-cell apoptosis.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Prophylactic antiretroviral treatment significantly reduces T-cell apoptosis. "It has been proposed that antiretroviral therapies (ART) possess both antiviral and immunomodulatory activities when...

Small-molecule CCR5 inhibitor effective in macaques.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A small-molecule CCR5 inhibitor significantly reduces viremia in macaques infected with the simian version of HIV. "Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) fuses with cells after sequential...

Thymosin alpha1 shows promise for improving immune recovery.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Thymosin alpha1 appears to improve immune recovery in HIV patients. According to published research from Singapore, "To study the safety and efficacy of thymosin alpha1 in stimulating immune...

IL-4 reduces Helicobacter gastritis, increases somatostatin, lowers gastrin.
January 7, 2004... 2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Interleukin 4 therapy reduces Helicobacter gastritis by way of somatostatin increases, which reduce gastrin. According to recent research from the United States, "Fifty percent of the world's...