Category Archives: Immune System

Flu vaccine success is linked to immune system response, ethnic background, and inherited factors. The research led by Wayne Marasco uncovered that immune response, ethnic background, and inherited factors can all play a role in how effective the flu shot can be. The findings can help better predict which groups of people will be at ...click here to read more

Asthma and atopy is linked to an increased risk of suicide and depression in young adults. Atopy is a genetic predisposition to develop allergies. It is characterized by a heightened immune response towards allergens. Previous research has found associations between asthma and atopy, and an increased risk of suicide and depression. The researchers at the ...click here to read more

Chronic hives (urticaria) and penicillin allergy have a strong association, according to research. The study found that those living with a penicillin allergy are three times more likely to suffer from chronic hives, compared to the general population. The researchers examined medical records of 11,143 patients, where 220 were identified as having self-reported penicillin allergy ...click here to read more

Experiencing the flu during pregnancy can increase the risk of bipolar disorder in the child. A study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that pregnant women who had the flu had a four times higher risk of having children with bipolar disorder, compared to women who did not contract the flu during pregnancy. ...click here to read more

Bacterial pneumonia risk in HIV patients is seen to be reduced by quitting smoking. Bacterial pneumonia is a common condition, which affects HIV patients, and among those who smoke, the risk of developing bacterial pneumonia is doubled. The research conducted a meta-analysis of data on several thousand HIV patients taken from 14 different studies in ...click here to read more

Asthma patients face higher risk of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. The findings were published in the European Respiratory Journal. Researchers looked at moderate to severe asthma sufferers and their risk of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. Pulmonary embolism is a condition in which the main artery of the lung or the bronchi ...click here to read more

Encephalitis (brain inflammation) patients are more likely to die if they develop seizures or low platelet count, according to research from Johns Hopkins. The researchers suggest that if practitioners are watchful of these conditions and treat them aggressively at the first sign of their presence, patient survival increases. Study lead Arun Venkatesan said, “The factors ...click here to read more

Norovirus outbreaks are the most common cause of gastroenteritis in the U.S. Gastroenteritis is a condition where the stomach and the intestines become inflamed, which leads to side effects such as vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that each year Norovirus contributes to 19 to 21 million illnesses. ...click here to read more

With the Super Bowl right around the corner, researchers suggest there is an influx of flu cases and even death. The findings come from analyzing data between 1974 and 2009, where researchers uncovered that during the Super Bowl there is an 18 percent higher risk of flu-related deaths among those over 65, which is the ...click here to read more

The effectiveness of the influenza (flu) vaccine for pregnant women is determined by the trimester the woman is in when she receives the shot. The findings were presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting™. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all pregnant women receive the flu ...click here to read more

Pneumonia can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and even death due to heart disease for numerous years. The study which examined the association found within the first month of pneumonia diagnosis, the risk of cardiovascular events increases four-fold. After the first month, the risk remains at 1.5 higher, compared to those who never ...click here to read more

Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships are not as common as we perceive, but it’s still important to understand norovirus infection complications along with incubation periods. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated, cruise ship vessels that are part of the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) are required to report gastrointestinal illnesses, which occur on ...click here to read more

A new study has found that in rare instances the chickenpox and shingles vaccine may cause corneal inflammation. Prior to individuals getting vaccinated doctors should consider their medical history, especially if there is a history of eye inflammation. Frederick W. Fraunfelder, M.D, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the MU School of Medicine and ...click here to read more

Postherpetic neuralgia and herpes zoster can be reduced by shingles vaccine. A previous study has found that the shingles vaccine may help reduce pain and complications of not only shingles but of postherpetic neuralgia as well. Unfortunately not many adults receive the shingles vaccine thus leading to complications. The researchers found only 3.9 percent of ...click here to read more