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Extra weight may increase dental risks

A recent study of 160 participants found that being overweight or obese increases the likelihood of having poor oral health. Patients with obesity were almost 6-times more likely to have severe periodontitis compared to normal-weight individuals.

SourceWiley·JournalOral Diseases·DateMay 17, 2017

Smoking decreases MAIT cells, implicated in the pathology of autoimmune diseases

New research published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology found that smoking decreases frequencies of MAIT cells in healthy individuals and patients with multiple sclerosis. This discovery sheds light on the effects of smoking on the immune system, potentially revealing pathogenic mechanisms contributing to autoimmune diseases.

SourceFederation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·JournalJournal of Leukocyte Biology·DateMay 2, 2017

New report links early life antibiotic use to inflammatory gut diseases in adulthood

A new report links early life antibiotic use to inflammatory gut diseases in adulthood, finding that altered gut bacteria may increase the likelihood of conditions like IBD, asthma, and multiple sclerosis. The study adds evidence to suggest that modifying gut flora could be a treatment approach for some inflammatory diseases.

SourceFederation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·JournalJournal of Leukocyte Biology·DateApr 3, 2017

'Good' bacteria is potential solution to unchecked inflammation seen in bowel diseases

Researchers found that adding back beneficial bacteria can help end a cycle of unchecked inflammation, suggesting a new treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. The study suggests targeting the inflammation downstream of NLRP12 with anti-inflammatory drugs or feeding specific beneficial bacteria to potentially lead to treatments.

SourceUNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center·JournalNature Immunology·DateMar 13, 2017

One specific gene explains many diseases

A genetic difference in the FADS1 gene affects levels of LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, as well as the risk for allergies, inflammatory diseases, and certain types of cancer. This imbalance is thought to have evolved over time due to changes in human diet.

SourceUppsala University·JournalNucleic Acids Research·DateDec 7, 2016

Inflammatory complications of immunodeficiency disease may benefit from imaging technique

Researchers used FDG PET-CT to assess anatomical structure and metabolic activity in a patient with GLILD, showing widespread metabolic activity affecting lymph nodes throughout the body. The study reveals that GLILD is a complex, highly metabolically active condition requiring optimal monitoring and treatment timing.

SourceBritish Society For Immunology·JournalClinical & Experimental Immunology·DateNov 30, 2016

Researchers unravel viruses' strategies to dodge immune systems

A team of scientists, led by prof. Savvas Savvides, used integrative structural biology to study how GIF, a protein secreted by the Orf virus, inactivates key cytokines of the host immune system. The research reveals unique strategies that viruses use to counter antiviral responses and highlights great potential for innovative therapies.

SourceVIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 7, 2016

An epigenetic mechanism is involved in the development of autoinflammatory diseases

Autoinflammatory diseases are characterized by recurrent acute inflammatory episodes due to deregulation of the inflammatory process. Researchers have identified epigenetic alterations in cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS), which could lead to the development of novel biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment.

SourceIDIBELL-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateJul 8, 2016

Treating diseases at their origin

Scientists at Hokkaido University found that ARL3 facilitates STAT3 transport into the nucleus, regulating gene expression and cell proliferation. This discovery offers promising candidates for novel therapies targeting STAT3-related diseases.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateJun 30, 2016

Non-inflammatory destructive periodontal disease

Non-inflammatory destructive periodontal disease (NIDPD) is a severe destructive periodontal disease marked by generalized gingival recession and periodontal pocket development. The disease's etiology is linked to endogenous opportunistic bacteria, anatomical factors, occlusion pattern, emotional stress, and mouth breathing condition.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Dentistry Journal·DateApr 20, 2016

Vitamin A quells severity of preemie GI disease in mice

Researchers found that vitamin A converts 'angry' immune cells into inflammation suppressors, reducing the severity of necrotizing enterocolitis in mice. This discovery adds to evidence of vitamin A's anti-inflammatory properties and could lead to new treatments for premature infants with severe bowel disease.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateDec 21, 2015

Implant acts as a countermeasure

Researchers developed molecular prosthetics that can detect complex signals in the immune system to suppress inflammatory responses. The prosthetics were implanted into mice and successfully treated psoriasis, providing a potential early-warning system for prevention.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateDec 16, 2015

New gene a key to fighting sepsis

Researchers at Australian National University and Genentech have identified a gene, Gasdermin-D, that triggers the inflammatory condition leading to sepsis. The discovery could lead to new treatments for this deadly disease, which kills an estimated one million people in the US each year.

How proteins age

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have identified a mechanism by which secreted proteins age and turnover, shedding light on health and disease. The discovery highlights the importance of N-glycan remodeling and lectin recognition in regulating protein abundance.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 19, 2015

A molecular switch to stop inflammation

Researchers at Umeå University have discovered a molecular switch called MYSM1 that can suppress an overactive immune response and prevent inflammation. The study found that MYSM1 accumulates outside the nucleus during infection or inflammation, disrupting signaling molecules involved in activating pattern-recognition receptors.

SourceUmea University·JournalImmunity·DateOct 14, 2015

Safety concerns over new female sterilization device

A large study published in The BMJ found that women who underwent hysteroscopic sterilization using the Essure device had a significantly higher risk of reoperation following complications. The study analyzed data from over 8,000 and 44,000 women who underwent laparoscopic sterilization.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateOct 13, 2015