B cells off rails early in lupus

New research on the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) provides hints to the origins of the puzzling disorder. The results were published in Nature Immunology. In people with SLE, their B cells – part of the immune system – are abnormally activated. That makes them produce antibodies that react against their own tissues, causing…

Researchers reveal how protein mutation is involved in rare brain development disorder

Rearing its head in infancy, Christianson Syndrome is a rare disorder whose symptoms include intellectual disability, seizures and difficulty standing or walking. Although it is becoming increasingly diagnosed, with little being known about the neural mechanism behind the disease, therapeutic options for patients remain limited. Now, researchers at McGill University focusing on the intellectual disability…

Discovery of pancreatic neuroendocrine subtypes could help predict likelihood of recurrence

IMAGE: Ramesh Shivdasani, MD, PhD view more  Credit: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Two distinct subtypes discovered, each with dramatically different risks of recurrence Patients with more aggressive subtype can be monitored vigilantly for recurrence and possible treatment, while patients with the less aggressive subtype can be advised their prognosis is excellent BOSTON – Researchers have discovered two…

Are you sure it’s burning mouth syndrome?

Not all burning mouths are the result of a medical condition known as “burning mouth syndrome” (BMS) and physicians and researchers need better standards for an appropriate diagnosis, according to new research at the School of Dental Medicine at Case Western Reserve University. BMS is a painful, complex condition associated with a chronic or recurring…

A mechanism that makes infants more likely than adults to die from sepsis is discovered

IMAGE: Scientists at the Center for Research on Inflammatory Diseases (CRID) show why pediatric patients with sepsis suffer from more inflammation and organ injury than adults. New treatment strategies may be… view more  Credit: image: Mariana J. Kaplan / NIAMS Systemic Autoimmunity Branch An immune mechanism that makes babies more likely than adults to die from…