Immune System Animations

AARP Public Policy Institute Releases Issues Report On Racial, Ethnic Disparities In Medicare Beneficiaries' Immunizations
"Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Influenza and Pneumococcal Immunization Rates Among Medicare Beneficiaries" (.pdf), AARP Public Policy Institute: The issues report discusses factors that might contribute to black and Hispanic Medicare beneficiaries' access to immunizations.

Immune System Tricked In Diabetic Mice
The body's immune system hates strangers. When its security patrol spots a foreign cell, it annihilates it. This is the problem when people with type 1 diabetes undergo human islet cell transplantation. The islet cells from a donor pancreas produce robust amounts of insulin for the recipient -- often permitting independence from insulin therapy. However, the immune system tries to kill the new hard-working islets.

Adults Need Vaccines Too
Many adults are unaware of the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases, the need for booster doses to maintain maximum protection, and the availability of newer vaccines. The American College of Physicians (ACP) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) have released a joint statement on the importance of adult vaccination against an increasing number of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Older People Should Have The Flu Jab This Winter, Warn Experts - British Medical Journal
Despite recent doubts about its effectiveness, the influenza vaccine does give valuable protection against illness, hospital admission and death caused by influenza, and people over 65 should have the flu jab this winter, say experts on bmj.com today. Several prominent media articles have suggested that the flu vaccination programme for the over 65s is not worthwhile.

Reducing African Meningitis Epidemics With The Help Of UCAR Weather Forecasts
The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), working with an international team of health and weather organizations, is launching a project this month to provide long-term weather forecasts to medical officials in Africa to help reduce outbreaks of meningitis. The forecasts will enable local health providers to target vaccination programs more effectively for this deadly disease, which is correlated with dry and dusty conditions.

Musculoskeletal Center Wins $2.2 Million For Drug Safety
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) has won a $2.2 million federal grant to study the risks and benefits of a newer class of medicines called biologics. These are genetically engineered therapies that target the immune system of patients who have rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, psoriasis and other autoimmune disorders.

JDRF Funded Research Shows Promise For Prevention, Reversal Of Type 1 Diabetes
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco have reported that two common cancer drugs have been used to block and reverse type 1 diabetes in mice. The JDRF-funded study, published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was led by Jeffrey Bluestone, Ph.D., director of the Diabetes Center at UCSF and an expert in the field of autoimmunity.

Mothers See Flu As Serious Health Threat, But Often Don't Get Their Families Vaccinated
While 78 percent of mothers in the United States consider influenza a severe and potentially life-threatening disease that can strike anyone, only half say it is likely their families will get vaccinated this season, according to a new survey from the American Lung Association.

Vitamin Boosts Immunity Against Skin Cancer
Nicotinamide (VitB3), a vitamin found in common foods like meats, nuts, grains and cereals, may provide the next advance in skin cancer prevention, according to new research from the University of Sydney. Presenting the results of a trial to the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia's Annual Scientific Meeting today (19 Nov), Associate Professor Diona Damian said tests had shown the vitamin prevented damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation by protecting the immune system.

Vaccine Related Chronic Fatigue Syndrome In An Individual Demonstrating Aluminium Overload
A team of scientists have investigated a case of vaccine-associated chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and macrophagic myofasciitis in an individual demonstrating aluminium overload. This is the first report linking aluminium overload with either of the two conditions and the possibility is considered that the coincident aluminium overload contributed significantly to the severity of these conditions in a patient.

It's Not Too Late; Get Your Flu Shot Now
The Alabama Department of Public Health encourages the public to get their flu shots. Contact your local health care provider or county health department to ask about influenza vaccination. "An ample supply of influenza vaccine remains available this season," said Dr. Donald Williamson, state health officer. "Influenza usually peaks during the months of January and February in Alabama, so it's not too late to be immunized.

Cold/Flu Breakthrough Remedy Undergoes NCI-Sponsored Trial In Leukemia Patients: Canada
Cancer patients - with their weakened immune systems - are particularly vulnerable when the cold and flu season hits. To help, the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) is sponsoring a landmark trial to see whether a unique Canadian cold remedy - COLD-FX - can help.

Case Strengthens For HPV Vaccination In Boys
Latest results from a clinical trial of Gardisalâ„¢, the Australian developed vaccine for human papilloma virus, add to the growing weight of opinion that the Government should extend its funding of the vaccine to boys. The research was presented today (18/11) to the Clinical Oncolgoical Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting in Sydney.

New Cause Of Fatal Brain Injury From Acute Viral Meningitis Discovered By Scripps Research Scientists
In a November 16 advance online publication of the journal Nature, the researchers say their discovery revamps common beliefs about how such potentially lethal infections may be ravaging the brain and suggests the possibility of new treatments. "This is a paradigm shift in how we think about some forms of meningitis and possibly other infections," says the study's lead investigator, Dorian B. McGavern, Ph.D.

Canada's Supervised Injection Site Is Cost-effective
A cost-effectiveness analysis of Insite, Canada's only supervised safe injection site in Vancouver, concludes that it results in $14 million in savings and health gains of 920 life-years over 10 years. The study, published in CMAJ, estimated the number of HIV and Hepatitis C cases that could be prevented with decreased needle sharing, safer injection practices and more referrals to addiction services.