Medical Portal

Biomedical engineers from Yale University have created artificial cells, which can considerably increase production of T-lymphocytes, responsible for immune response. Their application allows to stimulate an organism of the patient to struggle against cancer, and also certain infectious diseases, informs magazine Molecular Therapy.

Artificial cells have been created by Tarek Fahmy and Erin Steenblock. These cells were made from a substance of natural origin, which is used in manufacture of absorbable suture material and approved by FDA.

Use of artificial cells allows to simulate natural process of proliferation and stimulations of T-lymphocytes, in particular cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, vital in destruction of cancer cells. However this process accelerates and proceeds more effectively, has noted Fahmy.

Researchers from Medical School of Pennsylvania University have shown that human neurons can be used to create the three-dimensional networks with a set topology, suitable for transplantation on a place of the damaged nerve tissues.

Earlier scientists have managed to grow in a nutrient medium rats’ network of neurons from back-radicular ganglions. In the new work they have created a similar network from human neurons.

Scientists isolated nerve cells from back-radicular ganglions and thoracal neurons. Cells have been cleared and raised in a nutrient solution, stimulating growth of axons by a mechanical tension. Axons grew approximately 1 millimeter a day, and in general neurons have been cultivated for about 3 months, keeping their ability to transmit nerve impulses.

The British scientists have moved closer to creation of essentially new class of of asthma and allergy drugs. They have found a target for medicinal substances, influence on which will allow to prevent development of symptoms, informs The Journal of Immunology.

Scientists from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry carried out the researches in vitro and on mice.

Asthma and various kinds of allergies are met very frequently. Only in Great Britain more than 30 % of inhabitants have this or that variety of an allergy, and about five millions people suffer from asthma. The majority of drugs are directed on symptoms removal, in particular, an itch of eyes or coryza. There are also some epistatic immunity drugs; however these preparations increase susceptibility of an organism to infections.

The medicines blocking p110-delta molecule can stop development of allergic reaction before evident symptoms, and at the same time they do not suppress immunity. These drugs can be made as capsules or inhalers, and not just in injections.

Existing today drugs can’t destroy HIV completely in human organism. The killing virus hides from drugs in various reservoirs, major of which is lymphoid tissue of intestines, have determined the American scientists.

Experts from the American National institute of allergy and infectious diseases in Bethesda (Maryland) have conducted research with participation of eight HIV-positive patients. All participants have taken anti-retroviral drugs within two to ten years, felt well and had low virus load (low contents of a virus in blood).

Nevertheless, studying samples of lymphoid tissue of intestines, scientists have revealed presence of HIV. Researches have confirmed similarity of virus’ DNA found in intestines, with DNA of HIV from leukocytes. It proved that both tissues have constantly infected each other after replication of the virus.

In scientists’ opinion, maximum early beginning of HIV treatment is very important, as it will allow reducing the sizes of the virus tank at patients. Results of the research have been published in Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Grapefruit compound, which gives grapefruit bitterish taste, slows down extension of hepatitis C infection in an organism, have established American scientists. In their opinion, the combination of this substance with traditional viricides can relieve disease and prevent chronic form of the disease, informs magazine Hepatology.

According to the head of the research Raymond Chung and his colleagues from Massachusetts hospitals, the main role belongs to nagenginin. Their experiments have shown that action of this derivative substance reduces production of the virus from infected cells by 80 %. It is also important, that medical concentration of this substance is not toxic for an organism, has noted Chung.

According to the statistics, more than 3 % of the planet’s population is infected with hepatitis C, and in overwhelming majority of cases illness passes to the chronic form. The chronic hepatitis C infection can lead to cirrhosis and liver carcinoma.

Two independent teams of the American scientists have declared that they could relieve the patients after kidney transplantation of lifelong taking immunosuppressant. The report on these cases has been published in New England Journal of Medicine.

In the experiments carried out by scientists from Massachusetts hospital and the Harvard Medical School participated five persons, requiring kidney transplantation. Scientists have destroyed a part of patients’ marrow and by means of medicines have destroyed the immune cells, which play a key role in rejection of an alien organ. Then the participants received a marrow and a kidney taken from the same donor.

Two - five years later after transplantation four patients have normally functioning kidney and do not require immunity-inhibiting preparations.

Refusal to take immunosuppressants can considerably improve quality of patients’ life, however additional researches on the safety of a new method are indispensable, believe scientists.

9-years old Australian Demi-Lee Brennan has changed blood type after liver transplant taken from a male donor. Some months after the surgery physicians have found out discrepancy of results in blood tests of the patient: her Rhesus factor was changed from negative to positive. During physical examination it was found out that almost all leukocytes has a male genotype.

In opinion of doctors from the Sydney children’s hospital Westmid, it can be explained by action of stem blood cells, in a small amount containing in a donor liver, which have completely replaced own hemopoietic cells of a marrow. It is supposed, that this could be promoted by a virus infection, which has weakened own immunity of the girl right after the surgery.

In result together with a liver the girl has actually received immune system of the donor. It has completely relieved her of necessity to take toxic preparations – immunosuppressants for prevention of rejection. The patient, who is now 15 years old, lives without drugs for about 5 years.

American scientists have suggested using of gene therapy for struggle against chronic pain. Developed by them method is deprived of adverse effects, typical for opiates, and renders long-term anesthetizing effect in experiments on animals, informs Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Now for struggle against chronic pain doctors apply narcotic analgesics – morphine’s analogues. These preparations have such side-effects as constant drowsiness, dormancy and hallucination that forces some patients to refuse taking of them.

Scientists from Medical school Mount Sinai (New York) have developed a technique, which simulates anesthetizing effect of opiates, but renders more directive effect.

Head of the research Andreas Beutler informed, that in the future the directed gene therapy can become an alternative to existing methods of struggle against a strong chronic pain, for example, at patients with the extensive cancer stages.

Chinese scientists have revealed genes and conductive ways of the nervous system “responsible” for predilection of the person for drugs. Experts believe, the opening will help to struggle with an addiction. “We have revealed 396 genes connected to drug addiction, and have established five conductive ways, specifically active for people using various intoxicating substances: cocaine, opium, nicotine and alcohol”, - informed the director of the Biological Information Center at the Peking university.

Researches have shown, that genetic factors by 60 % predetermine propensity of the person to drugs and other stimulating substances. Chinese scientists believe that revealing of conductive ways connected to the transfer of narcotic impulses will help with treatment of drug addiction.

British and American scientists have declared the successful completion of the first stage of vaccine’s clinical tests, capable to provide long-term protection against all flu varieties, A type. The new preparation will make unnecessary annual updating of vaccines for struggle against seasonal flu epidemics.

Modern influenza virus vaccines help immune system to distinguish superficial virus albumins hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. The structure of these albumins varies because of often mutations, and new vaccines are required to struggle against new flu varieties.

Vaccine ACAM-FLU-A developed by Acambis’ experts causes immune response to other superficial albumin named M2e. Gene, coding the structure of this albumin, remains invariable at all varieties of A type viruses, so all of them will be identified and destroyed by immune system of the vaccinated person.

ACAM-FLU-A can not protect from B type viruses, which also can cause an outbreak of disease. However all pandemia, including possible H5N1 pandemia, have been caused by A type viruses. According to WHO’s data, annually from 500 thousand up to one million people die because of flu.