Autoimmune Medical News by Date

2010: Jan Feb Mar
2009: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2008: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

March 2007

Mycophenolate Mofetil and Intravenous Dexamethasone in the Treatment of Persistent Lupus Myelitis. Subsequent therapy with mycophenolate mofetil and continuous intravenous infusions of dexamethasone resulted in reduction of the lesion's size, disappearance of magnetic resonance imaging enhancement, and a complete recovery. J Rheumatol 2007;34:588-91 (Also see: Lupus and Rheumatic Treatments )

Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers by fibromyalgia patients under insurance coverage. With insurance coverage, a majority of patients with FMS will visit CAM providers. The sickest patients use more CAM, leading to an increased number of health care visits. Wiley Interscience 03/30/07. Arthritis Care and Research, Volume 57, Issue 1, Pages 71 - 76. (Also see: Fibromyalgia )

Pressure pain thresholds and tender point counts as predictors of new chronic widespread pain (CWP) in somatising subjects. Data from this population-based prospective study suggest that a low pain threshold in subjects with CWP is likely to be a secondary phenomenon as a result of pain or associated distress rather than the antecedent of symptoms. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2007;66:517-521. (Also see: Fibromyalgia )

Sjögren’s Syndrome. Sjögren's (SHOW-grins) syndrome is an autoimmune disease that attacks the exocrine glands (i.e., moisture-producing glands) of the body, specifically the lacrimal and salivary glands. U.S. Pharmacist. Vol. No: 32:3 Posted: 3/21/2007. (Also see: Sjogren's Syndrome )

Sjögren's Syndrome: Saliva to diagnose primary Sjögren's Syndrome. Scientists at the University of California-Los Angeles have identified a panel of salivary biomarkers that can distinguish pSS patients from healthy subjects. SpiritIndia.com 03/23/07. (Also see: Sjogren's Syndrome )

Stem Cell Finding Could Help Fight Autoimmune Disease. In a finding that could help researchers better understand autoimmune disease, scientists say a process called autophagy prompts dying embryonic stem cells to send out "eat me" and "come and get me" signals to ensure their elimination by healthy cells. The findings also suggest that defects in autophagy might trigger autoimmune diseases and, if so, reversing the defects could potentially help treat such diseases. Health Central.com 03/15/07. (Also see: Causes of Scleroderma:Autophagy )

Impact of Autoimmune Disease Diagnosis on Clinical Laboratory. The interplay of various genes determines an individual's susceptibility to an antigen and, by extension, the type of autoimmune disease the patient may suffer. Express Healthcare March 2007. (Also see: Causes of Scleroderma )

New Insights Into Autoimmunity And Depression. Some studies have described a possible link between Lupus's most severe psychiatric manifestation, psychosis, and a protein autoantibody associated with the central nervous system, anti-ribosomal P. ScienceDaily. 03/09/07. (Also see: Lupus and Emotional Adjustment )

Revimmune Uses An Approved Drug In A New Patent-Pending Method To Eliminate Autoimmunity. Revimmune uses an ultra-high intensity, short-course of an intravenous formulation of an approved drug (cyclophosphamide), in a new patent-pending method to "reboot" a patient's immune system, thereby eliminating the autoimmunity. Medical News Today. 03/03/07. (Also see: Clinical Trials, Medications, and Autoimmune Diseases )

Thoracic Manifestations of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) . Respiratory symptoms and diagnosed respiratory system disorders are more common among patients with IBD than generally appreciated. Chest. 2007; 131:524-532. (Also see: IBD and Pulmonary Involvement )

Acidic and Non-Acidic Reflux During Sleep Under Conditions of Powerful Acid Suppression. PPI treatment reduced overall reflux events, but non-acidic reflux events were relatively more likely to occur with PPI treatment. Chest. 2007; 131:460-465. (Also see: GERD and Reflux Treatments )

Hotline To The Brain. A direct connection exists between the brain and the immune system at least in mice. Scientists conducted a comprehensive study of mice intestine and the surrounding blood and lymph vessels and found numerous immune cells imbedded in the tissue around the intestine joined to nerve strands and cells. Medical News Today. 02/11/07. (Also see: Causes of Scleroderma: Autoimmunity )