Oral disease occurs commonly and progresses rapidly among people who have HIV, but the process is poorly understood. Researchers suspect that the culprit is a change in the makeup of bacterial communities that live in the mouth.

Through a one-year grant of almost $330,000 from the National Institutes of Health, researchers at the University of Florida are trying to find out the role of various pathogens in the progression of oral disease among people infected with HIV.

“The hypothesis is that suppression of the immune system by HIV contributes to changes in the oral biota, which then contributes to oral disease,” said Gary Wang, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor of infectious diseases in the UF College of Medicine, and principal investigator of the study. “The whole idea is to be able to understand the microbial signature early – before patients develop disease. That could lead to development of novel molecular tools and biomarkers to screen for disease.”

Estimates vary widely, but up to two-thirds of people who have HIV also have periodontitis, according to a literature review in the journal Periodontology 2000.

For patients whose immune system is compromised, periodontitis further contributes to poor health by hindering proper nutrition. It also affects the ability to derive pleasure from eating.

About 500 to 700 different species of oral microorganisms have been identified, and one person can have up to 100 different species in the mouth. In most cases those bacteria do no harm, and may in fact provide benefit by crowding out disease-causing bacteria. Communities of bacteria thrive in a thin film on the teeth, with different types of organisms clustering together into neighborhoods based on mutual benefit.

“There’s really not a place for an opportunist pathogen to get a foothold,” said Clay Walker, Ph.D., a professor of oral biology in the UF College of Dentistry and co-investigator in the study.

But when the immune response is compromised, as in HIV-infected patients, a shift in the composition of microorganism communities can allow opportunistic pathogens to grow freely.

The UF team will examine those changes through a pilot study of HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals who have chronic periodontitis.

The work is being carried out in collaboration with the Periodontal Disease Research Center, whose director is study co-investigator Nils Ingvar Magnusson, D.D.S., Odont. Dr., a professor of oral biology in the College of Dentistry.

The researchers will use sophisticated DNA sequencing techniques and bioinformatics to classify bacteria and identify differences between those in the two groups of patients. They also plan to track how bacterial composition in the mouth changes as people’s immune status changes.

“We’re interested in getting a definitive answer on whether there are differences in the bacteria associated with periodontitis in patients with HIV and in patients without HIV,” Walker said.

Previous analyses comparing periodontitis in people with HIV and in people without HIV have found no difference in the bacterial composition in the mouth. But today there are more sensitive molecular tools that have much greater ability to detect subtle differences.

A better knowledge of the microbe population in the mouth would enable the design of antimicrobials that are active against particular species of pathogens.

“If we do find that there are differences between the two, we may be able to use specific treatments to shift the flora or eliminate certain segments that may not be beneficial,” Walker said.

Source:

University of Florida Health Science Center Continue reading →

safefood today launched a new advertising campaign to highlight common and widespread poor food hygiene practices in the home as new research (1) revealed that 84% of people did not thoroughly wash their hands after handling raw chicken. The campaign titled “Don’t Take Risks” focuses on key messages of proper hand washing, proper cleaning of cooking utensils and thorough cooking, steps all of which can help minimise the risks of food poisoning in the home. The research also revealed that 72% failed to properly wash a knife used in preparing raw chicken before its reuse on salad vegetables, and 56% did not check if the chicken was cooked properly.

The safefood study recorded the food hygiene practices of 120 participants across the island of Ireland while they prepared two meals – a homemade beef burger and a warm chicken salad. The research findings revealed poor food hygiene behaviours, with more than a third of what participants considered to be “cooked” beef burgers being contaminated with raw meat bacteria. In addition, more than half of consumers did not thoroughly wash the chopping board used to prepare raw mince before reusing it to prepare salad.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Martin Higgins, Chief Executive, safefood said “There is clear evidence that consumers are not following basic hygiene rules in the kitchen when they are preparing food, therefore putting loved ones at risk from food poisoning. This campaign is a powerful, visual reminder to consumers of the dangers of poor food safety behaviour, as they may often be unaware of how their day to day food preparation habits can cause themselves and others harm. By following some simple food hygiene practices, consumers can help prevent the spread of food poisoning bacteria around the kitchen”.

The safefood “Don’t Take Risks” campaign reinforces three golden rules: cook chicken and minced meat thoroughly until piping hot all the way through with no pink meat remaining and the juices running clear; always wash hands in warm, soapy water after handling raw meat or chicken; and always wash utensils such as knives and chopping boards thoroughly after use with raw meat and chicken and before reuse with ready to eat foods such as salads.

Dr. Gary Kearney, Director Food Science, safefood added “Our research highlighted real food safety issues in the kitchen relating to food preparation and hygiene, which are addressed in a dramatic way in this campaign. safefood commissioned this study to look at the way in which people prepare meals in their homes. This study also highlights inadequate hand washing habits, as one third of participants still had raw meat bacteria contamination on their hands after preparing the meals. We would urge all consumers to consider these significant findings, examine their own food preparation behaviours and to take these easy steps to always prepare food safely”.

“Don’t Take Risks” is a two year campaign and consists of three, 20 second live action television advertisements with the themes of “Knife”, “Hands” and “Flame”. This phase of the campaign comprises two bursts of activity; the first launching on 13th July for three weeks on television and a second burst in September for a further three weeks on television. The campaign will also be supported by online activity at safefood.eu and PR and Direct Marketing activity.

For more information on food safety in the home, please visit safefood.eu.

References:

(1) “Identification of Critical Control Points during Domestic Food Preparation”, University College Dublin and the University of Ulster at Jordanstown, 2008

Source
safefood Continue reading →

New findings from a pivotal phase III study (RESIST-1) demonstrate that treatment-experienced HIV-positive patients
taking tipranavir, a non-peptidic protease inhibitor, boosted with low-dose ritonavir (tipranavir/r), achieved a consistently
higher treatment response than those receiving currently available protease inhibitors (PIs). These data were presented today
at the 44th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC).

RESIST-1 was conducted in 620 patients in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Coupled with a sister study of 863
patients in Europe and Latin America (RESIST-2), this 24-week interim analysis of the RESIST-1 study forms the foundation of
the submission packages to international regulatory authorities for marketing approval of tipranavir.

In the RESIST-1 study, treatment response was defined as a 1 log10 or greater decrease in viral load from baseline. Treatment
response was achieved by 41.5 percent of patients who received tipranavir/r, as compared to 22.3 percent of patients in the
comparator protease inhibitor (CPI/r) arm. Moreover, tipranavir therapy achieved a greater proportion of patients with viral
load below the level of quantification than treatment with CPIs. At 24 weeks, 34.7% in the tipranavir/r arm and 16.5% in the
CPI/r arm achieved viral loads of less than 400 copies/mL, and 25.1% vs. 10% achieved less than 50 copies/mL. Patients taking
tipranavir/r also experienced greater increases in CD4+ count than those taking a CPI/r, with CD4+ increases of +36 cells/mm3
and +6 cells/mm3, respectively. These data were highly statistically significant (P

RESIST-1 is a randomized, controlled, open-label Phase III trial designed to study the safety and efficacy of tipranavir,
boosted with low-dose ritonavir, versus a low-dose ritonavir-boosted CPI in treatment-experienced patients with documented
PI-resistance. All patients had baseline genotype testing prior to randomization to aid investigators in the selection of the
comparator PI and the optimized background regimen.

Patients enrolled in RESIST-1 were randomized to receive an optimized standard of care regimen containing a 500mg/200mg
twice-daily dose of tipranavir combined with ritonavir or a CPI combined with ritonavir at its standard boosting dose. CPIs
included lopinavir, saquinavir, amprenavir or indinavir. Optimized background regimens were chosen by patients` physicians on
the basis of treatment history and baseline genotypic resistance testing. The use of enfuvirtide was allowed, but had to be
pre-selected by investigators prior to randomization.

Tipranavir

Tipranavir is a non-peptidic protease inhibitor currently in late Phase III of clinical development. In June 2004, Boehringer
Ingelheim announced the enrollment of the first patient in a broad-scale global tipranavir Compassionate Use Program, which
provides access to HIV-positive patients in desperate clinical need of new treatment options.

Tipranavir is also being evaluated for use in pediatric and treatment-na?ve patient populations. Phase II studies are
currently underway.

Based on available clinical and in vitro data, tipranavir is active against most strains of HIV-1 that are resistant to
commercially available protease inhibitors. Ongoing studies are designed to confirm these data.

In studies to date, tipranavir has been well tolerated by most patients and has a safety profile similar to other PIs. The
most commonly reported adverse events across all clinical trials were gastointestinal-related and included diarrhea, nausea,
fatigue, headache and vomiting. Consistent with other PIs, the most common laboratory abnormalities were elevated liver
enzymes and triglycerides.

Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to the research and development of novel antiretroviral agents. VIRAMUNE® (nevirapine) is a
product of original research done at Boehringer Ingelheim. VIRAMUNE was the first member of the non-nucleoside reverse
transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) class of anti-HIV drugs. Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to the rapid development of the
investigational non-peptidic protease inhibitor (NPPI) tipranavir in Phase III development and the nucleoside analogue (NRTI)
alovudine in Phase II development. The company is involved in basic research and is committed to improving HIV therapy by
providing physicians and patients with innovative antiretrovirals.

Related links:
Boehringer Ingelheim`s global website on
HIV/Aids

Contact:
Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH
Corporate Division Communications
Judith von Gordon
55216 Ingelheim am Rhein
GERMANY
Phone: +49/6132/77 35 82
Fax: +49/6132/77 66 01
webmastering.boehringer-ingelheim

References:
Hicks et al. RESIST-1: A Phase 3 Randomized, Controlled, Open-Label Multicenter Trial Comparing Tipranavir/Ritonavir (TPV/r)
to an Optimized Comparator Protease Inhibitor/r (CPI/r) Regimen in Antiretroviral (ARV) Experienced Patients: 24-Week Data,
44th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy; October 31 – November 2, 2004, Washington, D.C.
Abstract #3726

View drug information on Viramune. Continue reading →

Novo Nordisk and VLST Corporation, a Seattle-based biotechnology company focused on the development of therapeutics for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, announced that the companies have entered into an exclusive, worldwide collaboration agreement to develop therapeutic targets utilizing VLST’s technology platform in the fields of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.

Under terms of the agreement, Novo Nordisk and VLST will jointly undertake a research program to identify collaboration targets and develop product candidates within the field of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. In exchange for Novo Nordisk’s rights to pursue the targets generated, VLST will receive an upfront payment and equity investment totaling 12 million US dollars, as well as milestone payments which are dependent upon clinical and regulatory milestones across multiple disease indications worldwide. In addition, Novo Nordisk will support the research programs through the committed funding of VLST personnel working on the collaboration targets over the next three years. Novo Nordisk will provide resources to move programs through preclinical development, clinical development and commercialization for each product candidate resulting from the collaboration. The collaboration structure will allow Novo Nordisk to build programs in autoimmunity and inflammation while providing VLST with the ability to develop its own programs that are not part of this collaboration either on its own or with other partners. The research collaboration will run for three years with an option to extend.

“We are pleased to collaborate with industry leader Novo Nordisk to develop innovative therapeutic candidates from the VLST technology platform,” said Martin Simonetti, president and chief executive officer of VLST. “Novo Nordisk has a long history of successful collaborations in Seattle. We look forward to building on this success to advance VLST’s programs with Novo Nordisk. We believe this significant collaboration reflects the promise of VLST’s platform technology to deliver novel therapeutic targets to a range of therapeutic indications and look forward to expanding this potential with other partners.”

“VLST’s platform technology provides a promising avenue for Novo Nordisk to continue expanding and enhancing its research and development in the field of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders,” said Terje Kalland, senior vice president and head of Biopharmaceuticals Research Unit at Novo Nordisk. “As Novo Nordisk continues to build its presence in Seattle, the collaboration with VLST marks an important step in our overall strategy to develop therapeutics for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.”

About VLST

VLST Corporation is a privately held biotechnology company dedicated to the streamlined discovery and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. The VLST approach combines novel bioinformatics and cutting-edge proteomics to provide a rapid and rational approach to identifying new targets for the development of novel biologic therapies. The VLST discovery platform has primary applications for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, lupus and diabetes. For more information, please visit vlstcorp.

About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company and a world leader in diabetes care. In addition, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as haemostasis management, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Novo Nordisk manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services that make a significant difference to patients, the medical profession and society. With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 26,550 employees in 80 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk’s B shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London. Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘NVO.’ For more information, visit novonordisk.

Novo Nordisk Continue reading →

The first annual National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day — which was Thursday — and other initiatives launched by the San Francisco-based… Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center deserve public support to help fight HIV/AIDS discrimination and stigma in these communities, a San Francisco Chronicle editorial says. Although it has been nearly 30 years since the AIDS epidemic first emerged, “stigma and shame” remain in Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the United States, according to the editorial. “As a result, many in the community are too ashamed to learn about the disease, ask for help or get tested, leaving them more vulnerable to HIV risk factors,” the Chronicle says, adding that the public can sign the wellness center’s online petition against HIV/AIDS discrimination at banyantreeproject. “With the growing rate of HIV and AIDS cases in these communities, no one can afford to stay silent,” the editorial concludes (San Francisco Chronicle, 5/20).

“Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at www.kaisernetwork/dailyreports/hiv.. The Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved. Continue reading →

What makes some viral infections fatal and others much less severe is largely a mystery. It is thought that a part of the variability can be attributed to differences in how individuals respond to infection.

Professor Michael Katze, presenting at the Society for General Microbiology’s spring meeting in Edinburgh, describes how computer modelling could be a powerful tool to allow treatments to be tailored to individuals. This approach could ultimately prevent future pandemics.

Professor Katze, from the University of Washington in Seattle reveals how ‘systems biology’ methods could successfully tackle viral infections, such as HIV and hepatitis C virus, for which there is still no effective vaccine or treatment.

“Systems biology is like a Rubik’s cube – it’s a matrix that integrates computational models, experimental systems and high-throughput data in a variety of combinations to solve the puzzle of virus-host interactions. It provides a powerful new approach to virology, drug discovery and vaccine development,” explained Professor Katze.

Computer models of the whole cell can be made and tested by simulating virus-induced changes and monitoring the whole cell response. Comparing the model to real biological examples allows the model to be refined and allows researchers to make further predictions about how different cells respond to different changes.

Improved animal models may help us understand how differences in an individual’s genetic make-up affect HIV development. “Determining which host genes affect HIV progression has been relatively slow using the current techniques in isolation,” remarked Professor Katze. “Some current studies indicate there is a link between genes that affect how virus particles enter the host cell and disease progression,” he continued.

Identifying the molecules produced from these host genes could provide a method to effectively detect disease, predict how individuals respond to infection and even establish how effective a vaccine is. “If this becomes as easy as doing a simple blood test, we will be equipped to provide the most effective treatment to the individual. This will limit the spread of the virus which in turn could help protect the population as a whole and even prevent the next pandemic,” suggested Professor Katze.

Source:
Laura Udakis

Society for General Microbiology Continue reading →

Several Chinese agencies have launched a joint, nationwide campaign to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS among college students, Xinhuanet reports. The campaign is co-organized by China’s AIDS Working Committee Office under the State Council, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Center Committee of the Communist Youth League. It will involve routine training and large publicity programs on college campuses. Organizers said they hope to encourage more college students to join China’s national HIV/AIDS campaign.

Nearly 80% of people diagnosed with HIV in 2006 were between ages 20 to 39, Vice Health Minister Wang Longde said at the launch of the campaign at the Renmin University of China in Beijing. Wang said the campaign is targeting college-age students because they are more open to accept or practice new concepts, ideas and risky behavior — placing them at an increased risk of HIV. “It is the responsibility of the whole of society to help” college students “establish healthy lifestyles,” Wang said (Xinhuanet, 6/19).

“Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved. Continue reading →

In a first-time-ever genome-wide association study (GWAS) of leprosy and the largest GWAS effort on infectious diseases in the world, scientists at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and 26 institutes in China found seven genes that can cause people to become susceptible to leprosy. The discovery of these genes – known as CCDC122, C13orf31, NOD2, TNFSF15, HLA-DR, RIPK2 and LRRK2 – highlights the important role of the innate immune response in the development of leprosy.

Led by Dr Jianjun Liu, Human Genetics Group Leader at the GIS, Dr Fu-Ren Zhang at the Shandong Provincial Institute of Dermatology and Venereology, and Dr Xue-jun Zhang at the Institute of Dermatology and Department of Dermatology at the No.1 Hospital, Anhui Medical University, China, the research involved over 10,000 samples of Chinese leprosy patients and health controls. The study was published on 16 December 2009 in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. The GIS is a biomedical research institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore.

Dr Jianjun Liu said, “This is a very significant find, and one that can only be achieved through large-scale genetic studies, with close collaborative efforts among multi-disciplinary research groups, often across different countries. The discovery of these genes is a major breakthrough for research in leprosy and infectious diseases in general, and will be significant in the early diagnosis and development of new treatments.”

“This study represents one of the largest and best organized studies of the host genetics in infectious diseases published,” said Prof Edison Liu, Executive Director at the GIS. “Though leprosy is not common, the discoveries have significant ramifications for chronic infectious disorders and for host-pathogen interactions in other more prevalent mycobacterial diseases such as TB (tuberculosis).”

Prof Edison Liu added, “This is a continuation of a number of deep collaborative studies between the GIS and Chinese scientists in using population sciences to uncover genetic modifiers of human disease. The strength of Chinese clinical sciences and of Singapore’s targeted genomic capabilities makes a powerful scientific combination. The key to this collaboration and one that was recently published on the genetics of Asian migration is that the studies were initiated and executed by Asian partners acting as equals. Hopefully, this will initiate a new phase of cooperation between historically competing Asian countries whose primary links have been with western communities.”

Prof Tom H. M. Ottenhoff, MD, PhD, Professor in Immunology, Head group Immunology and Immunogenetics of Bacterial Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center said, “This is a very impressive study, which uncovers entirely new genes that control susceptibility to leprosy and perhaps also other related diseases. A great asset is that the study underpins the genetic data with plausible functional biology experimentation, which is not often seen.”

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by a bacterium known as Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae). It mainly affects skin and peripheral nerves and may lead to irreversible disabilities. Although it has been largely eliminated in developed countries, leprosy is still a major public health problem in many developing countries, particularly in tropic and sub-tropic regions. According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) report, 254,525 new cases of leprosy were diagnosed in 2007. Although many people are potentially exposed to M. leprae in endemic regions, only a small minority will be infected and develop into clinically overt leprosy, suggesting that only some individuals are susceptible to this disease.

Because M. leprae cannot be cultured in the laboratory, and because it only infects humans and the Armadillo, research and thus the biological understanding of leprosy are very limited. The discovery of the 7 susceptibility genes has not only helped to understand some people’s susceptibility to this disease, but also opened the door for further biological and clinical research to reveal the mechanism of leprosy development.

Source
Genome Institute of Singapore Continue reading →

Dr. S. Vincent Grasso, a member of the Stevens Healthcare Information Technology Management Advisory Board and Seminar Leader for the Stevens Healthcare Educational Partnership (SHEP), will act as technical lead, solution provider and systems integrator within a nation-wide initiative to enhance the quality of care to women of color suffering from HIV/AIDS. The US Department of Health and Human Services is the funding agency for the project, which will be implemented in urban centers across America.

The Principal Investigator for the grant is Arthur E. Blank, Ph.D., a well-known Associate Professor within both the Departments of Family & Social Medicine and Epidemiology & Population Health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center.

The issue is of particular importance, Grasso said, based on recent HIV data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the August 2008 report:
Women accounted for 26 percent of the estimated 37,163 diagnoses for adults and adolescents.

Of the 126,964 women living with HIV/AIDS, 64 percent were black, 19 percent were white, 15 percent were Hispanic, 1 percent were Asian or Pacific Islander, and less than 1 percent were American Indian or Alaska Native.

The rate of AIDS diagnosis for black women (45.5/100,000 women) was approximately 23 times the rate for white women (2.0/100,000) and four times the rate for Hispanic women (11.2/100,000).

An estimated 95,959 women were living with AIDS, representing 23 percent of the estimated 421,873 people living with AIDS in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

“It is a great privilege to work with researchers such as Dr. Blank and others at Einstein/Montefiore on this grant,” said Grasso. “Despite the benefits that advanced healthcare IT is delivering to many organizations, HIV/AIDS clinics around the world that treat the medically and economically disadvantaged possess technically related requirements that are currently not fully met. The team, strategic partners, and solutions that are finally assembled will certainly meet the grant expectations and are expected to exceed them.”

“The work that Dr. Grasso will lead in this major grant will result in profound benefits for many in our communities who have been afflicted with this epidemic,” said Dr. Donald Lombardi, Director of the Stevens Healthcare Educational Partnership. “The work also reflects the commitment that Stevens has toward applying our reputation in applied research toward solving vexing challenges in our society.”

“Widespread implementation of electronic health records is recognized as a crucial step toward IT-enabled healthcare reform,” said Carol V. Brown, Distinguished Professor and Director of Stevens’ Healthcare IT Management graduate program. “However, what is not yet widely recognized is that the Obama funds will be disbursed to healthcare providers who can demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health records -not just adoption. Both hospitals and physician practices will need to invest in HIT education to achieve this goal.”

In addition to clinicians such as Grasso, Brown’s program advisory board members include CIOs at New Jersey hospitals.

“I have been a panel member on several of Dr. Grasso’s Health, Technology & Society Roundtables that were hosted at Stevens,” said J. Anthony Forstmann, special limited partner at Forstmann Little & Co. “This award reinforces the belief of many that he has his finger on the pulse of numerous healthcare IT crises currently afflicting the healthcare vertical, and that he is proposing to deliver serious solutions.”

Grasso is the executive vice president for Healthcare with LGS Global Ltd., a publically traded Hyderabad-based global IT Services provider, CEO of Technology Integrations for Medical Applications (TIMA), AYUDAMOS (501c3), and Waterfront Health Care Services, a New Jersey Meadowlands Commission Business Accelerator Client. He completed his medical training at Des Moines University, his surgical residency at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine Manhattan Program, Post Doctoral Fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery within the Department of General and Endoscopic Surgery at the Yale University School of Medicine, and Medical Informatics research and development as a NASA Project Manager within the Yale University NASA Commercial Space Center for Medical Informatics and Technology Applications. In addition to the above, Grasso is creating graduate level curriculum within the domain of Healthcare IT for both Stevens and Wiley Publications.

Source:
Stephanie Mannino

Stevens Institute of Technology Continue reading →

Thousands of infections could be prevented each year in older people and hospital stays reduced following findings from two studies which show that imbalances in the immune systems of people aged over 65 make them more prone to illnesses like flu or bacterial infections as a result of cuts and falls.

The separate studies carried out at the University of Birmingham and the Royal Free and University College Medical School were both funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) as part of its Science of Ageing and Experimental Ageing Research Initiatives.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham looked at the immune systems of elderly patients suffering from hip fractures. They found that the most abundant form of white blood cells, whose job it is to defend against invading microbes, are only half as effective in people aged over 65 as they are in younger people, suggesting that older people respond to stress differently.

When responding to physical stress like a hip fracture, people’s bodies produce two hormones, cortisol which suppresses the immune defence system and DHEAS which stimulates it.

The researchers found that in elderly patients their levels of cortisol were higher than their levels of DHEAS, suggesting that their bodies were actually lowering their defence systems and making them prone to infections by impairing the function of their white blood cells.

Lead researcher Professor Janet Lord explains: “What is particularly exciting about this finding is that in laboratory experiments we can improve the efficiency of white blood cells by adding DHEAS. We are now going to explore whether treating patients with this hormone can help them fight infections.”

In a separate study, researchers from the Royal Free and University College Medical School, looked specifically at skin infections in older people, studying the role of T lymphocytres, a type of white blood cell crucial in fighting infection.

By introducing minor infections to the skin of old and young volunteers, the researchers found that cells from older people had fewer receptors to direct the T lymphocytes to where they are needed, than younger people. This deficit resulted in less T lymphocytes reaching the infection site.

Professor Arne Akbar who led the study, said: “We know older people are susceptible to skin infections, skin cancers and poor wound healing which can result in lengthy hospital stays. Our research shows that in some circumstances, older people have a specific immune response deficit in their skin, not necessarily a generalised lack of immunity. This is a new and exciting concept, the challenge now is to understand what the deficiency is and how to reverse it.”

Professor Julia Goodfellow, BBSRC Chief Executive, said: “As life expectancy rises and our population ages, understanding how to stay healthy in old age is increasingly important. These research projects highlight the crucial role biosciences research plays in gaining fundamental knowledge which leads to real treatment outcomes which will help prevent suffering.”

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)

bbsrc.ac Continue reading →