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Allergic reactions to Clopidogrel can be treated with steroids and antihistamines

A clinical study of cardiac patients who suffered an allergic reaction to the widely-prescribed drug Clopidogrel ( Plavix ), found that treatment with a combination of steroids and antihistamines can alleviate the allergic reaction symptoms thereby allowing patients to remain on the drug. The stu...
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HIV persists in the gut despite long-term HIV therapy

Even with effective anti-HIV therapies, physicians still have not been able to eradicate the virus from infected individuals who are receiving such treatments, largely because of the persistence of HIV in hideouts known as viral reservoirs. One important reservoir is the gut, where HIV causes much o...
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Patient with systemic mastocytosis responds to Imatinib

A rare disorder caused by an excess of two types of immune cells, the mast cell found in various tissues and its blood-based twin, the basophil, has successfully been treated with a cancer drug, report researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ( NIAID ), part of the ...
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Human papillomavirus vaccine safety: VAERS reports 6 months after approval of Gardasil

On June 8th 2006, the FDA ( Food and Drug Administration ) announced the approval of Gardasil, and on June 29th the Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices ( ACIP ) voted to recommend adding Gardasil human papillomavirus vaccine to the Centers for Disease Control's national childhood recommend...
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Neutrophils in lung produce histamine seen in allergies

Researchers have discovered that histamine, the inflammatory compound released during allergic reactions that causes runny nose, watery eyes, and wheezing, can be produced in large amounts in the lung by neutrophils, the white blood cells that are the major component of pus. Pus, a fluid found in...
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Human papillomavirus vaccine: Gardasil

Gardasil is a vaccine. It is a suspension for injection that contains purified L1 proteins for 4 types of the human papillomavirus ( types 6, 11, 16 and 18 ). What is Gardasil used for ? Gardasil is used to vaccinate against human papillomavirus ( HPV ) infections caused by types 6, 11, 16 and...
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Interaction of proteins in the intestinal system may be allergic indicator

Researchers have identified one of the proteins that may be responsible for causing food allergies, which could lead to the development of more accurate non-invasive tests to identify true food allergies. The study is published in the journal Gastroenterology. Food allergies often present a un...
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Genetic mutation linked to West Nile virus infection

A genetic mutation that protects against HIV increases the risk of developing clinical West Nile Virus( WNV ) infection. . The mutation in question is a small deletion in a gene that encodes a protein called CCR5, which was identified in 1996 as a co-receptor used by HIV to infect cells. Individu...
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HIV/AIDS trial: continuous antiretroviral therapy superior to episodic therapy

The enrollment into a large international HIV/AIDS trial comparing continuous antiretroviral therapy with episodic drug treatment guided by levels of CD4+ cells has been stopped. Enrollment was stopped because those patients receiving episodic therapy had twice the risk of disease progression ( t...
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Asthma, older adult patients have increased cancer risk

A study has showen that older adults with asthma are at an increased risk for developing cancer, and adults with asthma are twice as likely to suffer from heart disease and other chronic health conditions. A study, published in the Chest, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Ches...
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