At the outer border of the brain and spinal cord, immune cells have been observed that originate from the bone marrow of the adjacent skull and vertebrae. They reach this site through special bone channels, without passing through the blood. There are barriers that protect the neuronal cells from any molecule movement between the blood […]
What is Celiac Disease? Celiac disease, sometimes called celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy is an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. When you have this condition, eating gluten triggers an immune response in your small intestine. Over time, this reaction damages your small intestine’s lining and prevents it […]
A study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has identified an RNA molecule that suppresses prostate tumors. According to the research — conducted in mice implanted with human prostate tumor samples — restoring this so-called long noncoding RNA could be a new strategy to treat prostate cancer that has developed resistance to […]
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. In MS, the immune system does not recognize the protective sheath of myelin that surrounds the nerve cells and attacks it. This damages the nerve cells, causing symptoms such as muscle weakness, numbness, chronic pain, and coordination problems, among others. Only in […]
What is Osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive and debilitating joint disease that is expected to affect up to 25% of the population by 2040 and represents an enormous socioeconomic health care burden. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), osteoarthritis affects an estimated 30 million people in the United States. Osteoarthritis […]
The COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to have caused over 4.6 million deaths so far. The predominant cause of mortality is pneumonia and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, COVID-19 can cause multiple organ failure through cytokine release, microvascular and macrovascular thrombosis, endothelial damage, acute kidney injury and myocarditis. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are used to […]
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the large intestine. Signs and symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both. IBS is a chronic condition that you’ll need to manage long term. Only a small number of people with IBS have severe […]
What is Sjogren’s Syndrome? Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disorder identified by its two most common symptoms, dry mouth and dry eyes. The condition often accompanies other immune system disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. In Sjogren’s syndrome, the mucous membranes and moisture-secreting glands of your eyes and mouth are usually affected first — […]
Fears of adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccination on fertility have affected vaccination rates in some communities all over the world. Despite the absence of supporting evidence for such a risk, low biological plausibility and preliminary data supporting the safety of mRNA vaccines in pregnancy, this claim has become widespread. This could have a substantial public […]
Research has linked Western diets, which are rich in energy, red meat, high-fat dairy and processed foods, with an increased risk of advanced prostate cancer. This finding is exemplified by ecological studies demonstrating increased risk among immigrant populations that adopt Western dietary patterns following relocation. Other large-scale studies have also demonstrated that egg, poultry and […]