EDMONTON, Alberta, April 17 (UPI) — Older men and women with heart failure could breathe better and exercise more after taking testosterone supplements, researchers in Canada said.

Study author Dr. Justin A. Ezekowitz, an assistant professor and director of the Heart Function Clinic at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, and colleagues analyzed four randomized clinical trials of patients with moderate to severe chronic heart failure.

The analysis involved 198 patients — 84 percent men, average age 67 — were given commercial testosterone supplements by injection, patch or gel. one study involved only women.

The study, published in Circulation Heart Failure, found those who received supplemental testosterone scored 50 percent better than those receiving placebo in a 6-minute walking test, and the researchers noted gains in muscle and skeletal endurance that appeared quickly and lasted for a least one year. those involved in the study involving only women were given lower doses of testosterone than men in the other trials received, but similar improvements were found.

“The improvement in exercise capacity was consistent across all of the studies,” Ezekowitz said in a statement. “Compared to patients in placebo groups, the differences were striking.”

None of the male patients developed signs of prostate disease and there was no increase in cardiovascular events, Ezekowitz said.

When it comes to kids and vaccines, I get nervous. I’ve written before about how while I want to trust vaccines and do vaccinate my children, each shot strikes fear in my heart. so I’m always searching for more information, hoping to have some of my worries relieved, however slightly, to let me know I’m doing the right thing.

Dr. Jana Shaw, assistant professor of Pediatric Infectious Disease at SUNY Upstate Medical University at Syracuse and member of the New York State Department of Health Immunization Expert Panel, is a mother and physician who believes strongly in the need for parents not only to vaccinate, but to do so on time and not follow a delayed schedule. here she provides seven reasons parents should vaccinate their children. I’m not sure they will change anyone’s mind who is adamantly against vaccines, but for some, like me, who are stuck somewhere in the middle of the debate, they provide some good fodder.

1. you Leave Your Child Vulnerable to Infections when they Need the most Protection

You wouldn’t risk leaving your baby in a room full of other sick babies, so why would you want to leave him or her vulnerable to serious infections you can prevent?

We know that young children — infants in particular — are vulnerable to whooping cough (pertussis), Hemophilus influenzae B (HiB), and pneumococcal infections. It has been proven that adults (especially mothers) are the major source of whooping cough in their children. also, Hib, pneumococcus, and meningococcus can be carried in the back of your throat without causing any symptoms to you and still result in severe infection, or death, for your baby. Infection of the brain, deafness, developmental delay, swelling of the throat with suffocation, severe pneumonia, internal bleeding, and death are all known and real complications of these infections, even in the era of modern medicine. 

Some parents argue that if everybody close to their baby is immunized, then their baby will stay protected. Unfortunately, this is only partially true. as I said above, adults can be carriers of deadly infections without even knowing it. And, although parents and grandparents may be committed to getting vaccinated when their new baby arrives, the rest of the community is not. We also know that even the best intended adults often miss vaccinations. this is particularly true of annual flu vaccinations — and the flu still claims the lives of young children every year. In addition, the importation of measles from international travelers has resulted in outbreaks of the disease among unvaccinated children in U.S. communities. so, your baby can easily be infected with a vaccine-preventable infection even if you take many precautions but chose not to vaccinate your child.

2. the Risk of getting a Disease Increases with Rising Rates of Vaccine Refusal

Outbreaks of certain diseases, once thought to be rare, like measles and pertussis (whooping cough), are now re-emerging at an alarming rate. In France, for example, measles have reached epidemic levels and resulted in measles importation to the U.S. this year there have been more outbreaks of measles in U.S. than in decades, and a majority of the hospitalized patients were not vaccinated.

If you don’t vaccinate your child, not only are you putting him or her at risk, but you’re also putting other family members and those who can’t be vaccinated — due to health reasons or age — at risk of contracting a disease. In addition, schools will exclude your child if they appear sick from, or are exposed to, one of these vaccine-preventable infections.

3. Vaccinations Are Safe and Undergo Strict Testing

All vaccines approved for babies and children have been well studied and verified safe. many parents worry about vaccine side effects, and I can tell you that common side effects are mild and include pain and redness at the site of injection or fever. Serious side effects from a vaccine such as an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) are very rare. It is important to remember that the risk of severe illnesses and complications from vaccine-preventable infection (e.g. measles, whooping cough, polio) is far greater than any risk from the vaccination. A comprehensive list of side effects of each vaccine are available for you on the CDC website.

Moreover, all vaccines undergo an ongoing monitoring process, through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting system (VAERS), once they are licensed and used by public. the information from VAERS confirms that vaccines remain among the safest interventions in medicine.

Anything we do in life has a risk. We know that the number one reason why 12- to19-year-old children die is from an unintentional injury. three quarters of those are car accidents. Yet, we all let our young teens drive or be driven by a teen. For some reason the familiarity makes it appear to be less risky. Yet the opposite is true. Driving in a car is the riskiest activity for a young teen. Serious vaccine side effects, such as allergic reactions, occur far less frequently than deaths due to car accidents, cancer, heart disease, congenital problems, and poisoning. often the serious reactions due to vaccines are so rare that it is hard to establish whether the reaction was caused by the vaccine. so, it is important to remember that not vaccinating your child is a risky choice that can lead to serious diseases and its consequences, such as death, brain damage, deafness, infertility, congenital birth defects, mental retardation, and blindness to name few.

Immunization is the safe and healthy choice for your child. I have seen children suffer or die from vaccine-preventable illnesses like influenza, measles, pneumococcal and meningococcal infections. as a mother and a pediatrician, it is inconceivable to me how some parents will deny the remarkable benefits of vaccination for their child.

4. recent Media Concern About Autism Has Been Put to Rest

Earlier this year the media officially dismissed claims made by British physician and researcher, Andrew Wakefield, that the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine was responsible for autism. It was found that Dr. Wakefield’s claims were not only wrong, but they were fraudulent. Dr. Wakefield manipulated his research data, received financial compensation from lawyers seeking settlement from vaccine manufactures, and conducted unethical research on young children to pursue his personal goals.

Unfortunately, due to the massive scare caused by the news coverage of Wakefield’s claims, outbreaks of measles have occurred around the world as a result of parental refusal of the measles vaccine. Dr. Wakefield has since not only lost his credibility, but also his medical license. It’s important that parents put this concern to rest. Time and time again, reliable scientific studies around the world prove that vaccines do not cause autism. the Autism Science Foundation, the most reputed organization involved in Autism research, also supports this conclusion.

5. Your Child is Ready to be Immunized

Even a 2-month-old baby is ready to handle vaccinations. many parents worry that a vaccine won’t work at such a young age, or that a vaccine might overload a baby’s immune system. We know that vaccines work with very young children since we do not see vaccine-preventable infections among young immunized children. In addition, scientists measured immune responses to each vaccine among young children and showed that they had protective levels of antibodies to stop the infecting agent of interest.

Vaccines do not overwhelm the immune system. every day your child is exposed through skin, breathing, and eating to millions of viruses and bacteria, and his or her body is handling it just fine. when we vaccinate children, we only deliver a small, yet sufficient, amount of molecules that will trigger a child’s immune system to produce protection.

6. Unvaccinated Children Die every Year From Preventable Illnesses

A number of children die every year, even right here in the United States, because they were not immunized. the flu, Hib and pertussis (whooping cough) are just a few of those killers. California experienced large whooping cough outbreaks from 2009 to 2010. Sadly, some of those infants infected lost their lives. I can’t imagine the excruciating pain a parent must feel knowing their child died from an infection that they could have prevented with a simple vaccination. 

7.  Dr. Bob’s Alternative Vaccination Schedule is not Backed by Scientific Evidence

In 2007, as a response to parents’ concerns that vaccines were not safe, Dr. Robert Sears, also known as Dr. Bob, released a book with an alternative vaccine schedule. the schedule outlined ways a parent could delay, withhold, separate, or space out vaccinations. There is absolutely no scientific evidence, however, that this delayed schedule is safer and more effective for children. Delaying vaccination leaves your child more vulnerable to contracting diseases. I always discourage parents who want to do that. I find it unethical to recommend a vaccination schedule that does not have established safety and efficacy.

The vaccination schedule developed by the ACIP was tested through extensive trials, and because of that, we know that the schedule works. For example, when we immunize a 2-, 4-, 6-, and 15-month-old baby against whooping cough (pertussis), we know that the child has the best chance to be protected when he or she needs it the most. However, if you break the tested schedule, you leave your baby vulnerable.

Our children deserve the best, and the vaccination schedule developed by the ACIP and approved by the Centers for Disease Control is the best one we have.

Do you worry about vaccinating your children? do these reasons in favor of vaccinating change your thinking at all?

Image via tiarrescott/Flickr

It may look like the dead of winter outside, but the allergy season is already underway. Trees begin spreading pollen before leaves appear on their branches. Grass and weeds will begin pollinating later in the year.

“Most people associate the beginning of allergy season with flowering trees and plants, but the reality is allergy season begins much earlier, when buds on otherwise bare trees begin releasing their pollen” said Kirstin Carel, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at National Jewish Health. “People who suffer from tree allergies may already be experiencing symptoms and should begin taking steps now to minimize them.”

Dr. Carel offers advice on steps you can take now to get ahead of the spring allergy season.

Know exactly what you are allergic to. See an allergist and have testing done to determine which pollens or other items (molds, pets, etc.) that you are allergic to. Specifically knowing what you are allergic to can help your allergist tailor your treatment plan.

Start your allergy medications now. whether you take nasal sprays and/or oral medication begin taking your allergy medications now before your symptoms start. Beginning those medications now can help lessen the severity of your symptoms later.

Stay consistent. take your medications as prescribed. Constantly taking your medications will work much better with consistent use rather than used only as urgent relief.

Nasal washes can be very helpful. many people with allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, or other lung problems also have nasal and sinus symptoms. Drainage from your nose and sinuses can make rhinitis and asthma worse, especially at night. A salt-water nasal wash, or nasal irrigation, can help reduce this.

Monitor pollen counts. know the pollen counts each day. on high pollen count days keep your windows closed to minimize exposure to pollens. if you have been outdoors a lot, showering before going to bed can go a long way toward helping you get a good night’s sleep.

Provided by National Jewish Health

For those unsure of how to deal with a loved one diagnosed with autism, Tuesday marked the day to get an extensive lecture on the disorder from an accredited professional who teaches it.

Notre Dame assistant professor Joshua Diehl gave a presentation on autism at the Dow Center on Hillsdale College’s campus. a packed room watched closely as Diehl explained the ways families and  organizations can deal with the disorder more effectively, outlining the pros and cons of several teaching methods related to autism but advised breakthroughs take time.

“Children with autism don’t learn things the way we do,” he said during the conference. “It’s a time-consuming process. there is no magic bullet.”

Diehl said if someone has a child who has been recently diagnosed with autism, they should visit autismspeaks.org, a website with several free resources to learn more about the disorder and how one can more effectively deal with autism. Some symptoms of autism are difficulty communicating, repetitive behaviors and self harm.  

Read the story here or in our print edition.

the Arizona Cancer Center garnered a $58,000 grant to determine whether sweet cherries can prevent prostate cancer.

the study, funded by Northwest Cherries, a division of the Washington State Fruit Commission, would allow researchers to recruit men who may be at risk for prostate cancer, said Dr. Patricia Thompson, an assistant professor of public health. this includes men who have a family history of prostate cancer, being overweight or having a slightly elevated prostate-specific antigen, a protein produced by cells in the prostate gland.

the goal is to recruit 30 male participants, Thompson said. Participants will be required to consume three cups of cherries per day for four weeks.

“The hypothesis is that cherries and other red, blue pigmented fruits contain a compound called anthocyanins,” Thompson said. She said the sweet cherries are “a rich source of what we call a bioactive,” a compound that provides health benefits.

Studies have shown that this compound has similar non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory properties as ibuprofen and aspirin, she said. Anthocyanins have also displayed anti-cancerous properties.

Thompson said the study would be used to identify men who already have an elevated inflammatory state so that it can be monitored.

Specifically, researchers will be looking for prostaglandins, which are molecules that cause inflammation, she said. These are associated with cancer and cardiovascular risk.

Thompson, the primary investigator of the study, will also be conducting the study with nutritional sciences graduate student Lindsey Diemert as a part of Diemert’s master’s thesis.

Diemert said it is beneficial to be working with a whole food rather than a portion of it.

“We’re going to make sure that when they’re eating the cherries, we’re seeing those anthocyanins within the system,” Diemert said.

Procedures, such as urine sample collection, will be done to measure any inflammation of the prostate, Thompson said. they also want to find out how much anthocyanin passes through the digestive tract and into the blood when eating fruits that contain the compound, like cherries.

the compound only stays in the blood for six hours, which is why participants will be consuming cherries throughout the day to increase the levels of anthocyanins in the bloodstream.

Participants will also have their blood drawn before and after the consumption of the sweet cherries during the study to see how much of the compound remains in the blood, she said.

“Prostate cancer can be silent in terms of symptoms,” Thompson said.

Prostatitis, which is an inflammation of the prostate gland, may or may not mean someone has cancer. Prostate cancer is picked up with routine screening of the prostate-specific antigen blood test, which is what clinicians look for, she said.

A digital exam of the prostate will also be performed to see if there is any enlargement of the prostate. Clinicians will look for elevated PSAs and enlargement of the prostate gland, Thompson said.

“It doesn’t necessarily have to present with symptoms,” she said, “and symptoms could be related to benign prostatitis.”

Prostate cancer is associated with age and is common among men in their 30s and 40s, she said, but the underlying cause is still unknown. African American men are more susceptible to getting prostate cancer at an earlier age, Thompson said.

“It’s a pretty significant health problem in older men,” she said.

the disease carries a tremendous amount of morbidity. for example, if someone has surgery, sexual dysfunction and bladder dysfunction can occur as a result, Thompson said.

Diemert looks at the study as a valuable research opportunity in taking the next step toward prostate cancer prevention, she said.

“From what we’ve seen in self-cultures and animal models, we do think it’s going to be beneficial,” she said.

if the study proves to have positive effects, cherries will be recommended in order to aid men in the prevention of inflammatory diseases such as prostate cancer, Diemert said.

Mothers may play a key role in whether their daughters get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, even if the daughters have already left the nest.

A new study found college-age women who talked with their mothers about the HPV vaccine were nine times more likely to get it than those who did not discuss it.

"It is an encouraging finding, because it shows that communication between mothers and daughters can be very helpful, even if it may be difficult sometimes," said study researcher Janice Krieger, an assistant professor of communication at Ohio State University.

However, researchers noted that the study was small and focused on students at one particular university, so its findings might not be representative of the population as a whole.

Many mothers and daughters may be uncomfortable talking about the HPV vaccine because it is designed to prevent the spread of a sexually transmitted virus, Krieger said.

But getting the three-shot vaccination series is important because a persistent HPV infection may cause cervical cancer, the researchers said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that girls and women ages 11 to 26 receive the vaccine. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection, and will infect about half of sexually active people in the United States during their lifetimes.

Two vaccines are currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration to protect girls and women against HPV: Gardasil, manufactured by Merck & Co., and Cervarix, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. The study involved 182 mother-daughter pairs. all of the daughters were Ohio State students, and their average age was 20.

The daughters mailed a questionnaire about the HPV vaccine to their mothers and completed a similar questionnaire themselves.

Overall, 137 of the mother-daughter pairs said they had talked about the HPV vaccine; the other 45 pairs reporting not discussing the vaccine.

Results showed that daughters who discussed getting the vaccine with their mothers, and those who reported believing that the vaccine was safe and effective in preventing HPV-related diseases, were more likely than the others to get the vaccine .

The researchers also found that fears about susceptibility to HPV and about the severity of HPV-caused illness – on the parts of mothers or daughters – were not related to whether they talked about the issue.

"Fear does not seem to be the motivator," Krieger said.

The data don't show what the women talked about when they discussed the HPV vaccine, but Krieger said she suspects that one topic was the vaccine's cost, which has been reported to range from $360 to $600 for the series of three shots.

That could be one reason few young women are vaccinated. It also would be one reason why it is important to get mothers involved, even after their daughters reach adulthood, Krieger said.

"most women in early adulthood don't have a lot of extra money, and even if they do, a preventive vaccine like the HPV vaccine may not be high on their list of things to buy," she said.

One recent study found that just one-third of teens and young women who start the three-dose vaccine series actually finish, and almost three-quarters don't start it at all.

"Mothers may be afraid to bring up the topic, but it doesn't have to be a conversation focused on sex. Mothers can talk about how the HPV vaccine is safe and effective, and that it prevents cancer," Krieger said.

The study appears in the January issue of the journal Human Communication Research.

Pass it on: Moms may play an important role in persuading their college-age daughters to get the HPV vaccine.

• FDA Approves Gardasil to Prevent Anal Cancer
• HPV Vaccine Sees Poor Completion Rates
• Cervical Cancer: Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

Follow MyHealthNewsDaily on Twitter @MyHealth_MHND.

• Original story: Young Women Get HPV Shots after Talking It Over with Mom

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Findings Identify Potential Strategies for Treating Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Newswise — A new study involving a man who swallowed worm eggs to relieve symptoms of ulcerative colitis sheds light on how worms promote healing in the intestine. the study, published today in Science Translational Medicine, also identifies potential targets for more conventional ways of treating colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease.

“The idea for treating colitis with worms is not new, but how this therapy might work remains unclear,” says the study’s senior corresponding author, P’ng Loke, PhD, assistant professor of medical parasitology at NYU Langone Medical Center. “Our findings suggest that infection with this particular parasite increases or restores mucus production in the colon, providing symptomatic relief.” A chronic disease, ulcerative colitis is characterized by open sores or ulcers in the lining of the colon. the disease is estimated to affect 600,000 Americans, according to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, and the most common symptoms are abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. the cause is unknown, but studies points to defects in immune regulation. Disruption of mucus production is often associated with severe symptoms.

Colitis is common in North America and Northern Europe, where helminth (parasitic worm) infections are rare. Conversely, the disease is rare in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where helminth infections are endemic, leading researchers to hypothesize that the worms offer protection against this inflammatory bowel disease. In animal models of autoimmunity these worms have suppressed inflammation, and clinical trials indicate that helminth therapy can be beneficial in relieving symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases. To gain a better understanding of how such therapy works, Dr. Loke and his colleagues analyzed a series of blood and tissue samples taken from a 34-year-old man living in California with ulcerative colitis who ingested Trichuris trichiura eggs (a roundworm that infects the lower intestine) after having researched the scientific literature. After several months, his condition improved dramatically and he remained in remission for almost three years. A subsequent cycle of self-treatment with the worm eggs achieved similar results.

Tissues samples taken when the patient had active disease were found to contain high numbers of a type of immune cell (CD4+ T cells) that produces an inflammatory protein called interleukin-17. Tissue samples taken after exposure to the worms, when the disease was in remission, contained an abundance of T cells that produce interleukin-22 (IL-22), a protein important in mucosal healing. to expel the worm, the researchers note, the immune system appears to activate specialized cells that increase mucous production in the entire colon. “In essence, the worms trigger a big sneeze of the gut, which may have a beneficial side effect for ulcerative colitis,” says Dr. Loke, who does not advocate helminth therapy. “The problem is that these worms themselves can cause harm and damage the gut. the individual in this study is lucky to have responded so well, but for other people the worm infection may exacerbate bowel inflammation,” he says.

It is impossible right now to predict who might be helped and who might be harmed by infection with these worms. Studies are underway, adds Dr. Loke, using a worm that infects pigs (T. suis) to treat colitis, which should be less risky.

Dr. Loke’s co-investigators include Mara J. Broadhurst, Joseph M. McCune, Uma Mahadevan, and James H. McKerrow of the University of California, San Francisco; and Jacqueline M. Leung and Vikram Kashyap of NYU Langone Medical Center.

About NYU Langone Medical Center

NYU Langone Medical Center is one of the nation’s premier centers of excellence in healthcare, biomedical research, and medical education. For over 170 years, NYU physicians and researchers have made countless contributions to the practice and science of health care. Today the Medical Center consists of NYU School of Medicine, including the Smilow Research Center, the Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, and the Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences; and the NYU Hospitals Center, including Tisch Hospital, a 705-bed acute-care general hospital, Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, the first and largest facility of its kind, and NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, a leader in musculoskeletal care, a Clinical Cancer Center and numerous ambulatory sites.

Comment/Share

Posted on: Monday, 20 December 2010, 08:14 CST

(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects 90% of people at some point in their lives – and most will never know it.  However, HIV patients, receivers of organ transplants, and others with immune system problems may not be so lucky. EBV puts such people at a greater risk of cancer, and scientists are just discovering why.

Duke Cancer Institute researchers recently found a pathway used by infected cells to fight EBV infection, and may be able to use this discovery to better understand how the immune system responds to cancerous viruses.

"Using cell culture studies, we have uncovered a major pathway that the infected host cell activates to prevent an oncogenic virus from causing cancer," lead author of the study Michah Luftig, Ph.D, and Assistant Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology was quoted as saying.  "We proposed that the cell was sensing that the virus is trying to take over.  When this oncogenic stress response is activated, it keeps the virus in check, and now we know why."

The research team studied the ways in which EBV can overtake cellular response, and hope that their findings will lead to the development of EBV-fighting therapies for those with weakened immune systems.  one key discovery is that two enzymes, called kinesis, stimulate the oncogenic stress response which typically fights EBV infection in strong immune systems (usually early in life).

In their study, the researchers blocked these kinesis, called ATM and Chk2, and observed an uncontrolled growth of infected cells.  they accumulated at ten times the typical amount, a large growth typically associated with many types of cancers, such as post-transplant lymphproliferative disorder.

"the findings can be extended to the general case of any oncogene being activated that might start the process of tumor formation," Luftig was quoted as saying.  "About 20 percent of all human cancers are caused by infectious agents, where about 80 percent of these infections are viral."

The human papilloma virus, for example, is a viral infection which is known to lead to cervical cancer.

EBV is a unique virus, affecting people in different ways.  Children aged four to five may first suffer mild illness symptoms.  Teenagers may develop mononucleosis and suffer much more acute symptoms such as chronic fatigue.  for those with immune problems, different types of lymphoma can form.

SOURCE: Duke University Medical Center, December 2010

Source: Ivanhoe Newswire

More News in this Category

Posted on: Thursday, 2 December 2010, 00:51 CST

Findings identify potential strategies for treating inflammatory bowel diseases

A new study involving a man who swallowed worm eggs to relieve symptoms of ulcerative colitis sheds light on how worms promote healing in the intestine. The study, published today in Science Translational Medicine, also identifies potential targets for more conventional ways of treating colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease.

“The idea for treating colitis with worms is not new, but how this therapy might work remains unclear,” says the study’s senior corresponding author, P’ng Loke, PhD, assistant professor of medical parasitology at NYU Langone Medical Center. “Our findings suggest that infection with this particular parasite increases or restores mucus production in the colon, providing symptomatic relief.”

A chronic disease, ulcerative colitis is characterized by open sores or ulcers in the lining of the colon. The disease is estimated to affect 600,000 Americans, according to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, and the most common symptoms are abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. The cause is unknown, but studies points to defects in immune regulation. Disruption of mucus production is often associated with severe symptoms.

Colitis is common in North America and Northern Europe, where helminth (parasitic worm) infections are rare. Conversely, the disease is rare in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where helminth infections are endemic, leading researchers to hypothesize that the worms offer protection against this inflammatory bowel disease. in animal models of autoimmunity these worms have suppressed inflammation, and clinical trials indicate that helminth therapy can be beneficial in relieving symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases.

To gain a better understanding of how such therapy works, Dr. Loke and his colleagues analyzed a series of blood and tissue samples taken from a 34-year-old man living in California with ulcerative colitis who ingested Trichuris trichiura eggs (a roundworm that infects the lower intestine) after having researched the scientific literature. After several months, his condition improved dramatically and he remained in remission for almost three years. A subsequent cycle of self-treatment with the worm eggs achieved similar results.

Tissues samples taken when the patient had active disease were found to contain high numbers of a type of immune cell (CD4+ T cells) that produces an inflammatory protein called interleukin-17. Tissue samples taken after exposure to the worms, when the disease was in remission, contained an abundance of T cells that produce interleukin-22 (IL-22), a protein important in mucosal healing. to expel the worm, the researchers note, the immune system appears to activate specialized cells that increase mucous production in the entire colon.

“In essence, the worms trigger a big sneeze of the gut, which may have a beneficial side effect for ulcerative colitis,” says Dr. Loke, who does not advocate helminth therapy. “The problem is that these worms themselves can cause harm and damage the gut. The individual in this study is lucky to have responded so well, but for other people the worm infection may exacerbate bowel inflammation,” he says.

It is impossible right now to predict who might be helped and who might be harmed by infection with these worms. Studies are underway, adds Dr. Loke, using a worm that infects pigs (T. suis) to treat colitis, which should be less risky.

• NYU Langone Medical Center / new York University School of Medicine
• Science Translational Medicine

More News in this Category

Latest Allergies News

SUNDAY, Aug. 22 (HealthDay News) — If you’ve been sneezing your way through August, ragweed may be the culprit.

Ragweed season usually starts around mid-August and tends to torment allergy sufferers until the first frost sets in. Because ragweed counts are the highest between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. on hot, dry and windy days, consider avoiding outdoor activities during that time, says an expert from the Saint Louis University Medical Center.

Seasonal allergy triggers abound, and knowing which ones affect you can help you avoid them to reduce the risk of annoying symptoms such as sneezing, stuffy nose and itchy eyes, Dr. James Temprano, assistant professor of internal medicine at the university, said in a university news release.

If you’re not sure what’s causing the problem, consider a skin test to determine which allergens are affecting you, Temprano suggested. For these tests, he said, doctors place small amounts of various allergens on or below the surface of your skin and watch for any reactions.

Once your seasonal allergies (such as ragweed, pollen and grass) are pinpointed, you’ll know when you’re most likely to experience symptoms and need to take preventive measures, such as keeping your windows closed.

Temprano offered these additional tips for other seasonal allergies:

• Grass allergies usually begin in May or June (but can appear earlier) and last most of the summer. Keep your windows shut in order to minimize your exposure.
• In the winter, when indoor allergies caused by dust mites and pet dander emerge, wash bedding weekly in hot water and dry using a high heat setting.
• If you are plagued by tree pollen allergies — which typically begin in late February or early March and continue through May — change your clothes and wash your hair after spending time outdoors.

Temprano added that if prevention doesn’t work, you may want to talk with your doctor about allergy medications or immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots.

– Robert Preidt

Copyright © 2010 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

SOURCE: Saint Louis University Medical Center, news release, Aug. 16, 2010