Last week it was reported that a daily (low) dose of aspirin can significantly reduce the risk of dying from a variety of cancers, and a study published in PloS Biology now opens a new window on the role of…
Blog Archives
Nickel Allergy Linked to Innate Immune Response
Nickel allergy is one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis and a team led by researchers at the University of Giessen have now shown that the response is linked to activation of a single receptor, toll-like receptor…
Mouse T-cells Could Help in Fight Against Human Cancer
T-cell receptors are integral membrane proteins that recognise foreign antigens and initiate a series of intracellular signalling cascades that allow the immune system to fight infection. To avoid autoimmune diseases, T-cells must be able to discriminate between ‘self’ and ‘foreign’…
Of Mice and Lice
An old adage says ‘we must all eat a peck of dirt before we die’, and there is increasing evidence linking the elimination of ‘dirt’ with a rising incidence of allergies and autoimmune disorders – the so-called ‘hygiene hypothesis’. More…
A Bad Night’s Sleep Increases Risk of Catching Cold
A good night’s sleep makes a big difference to how we feel, and a new US study suggests that it could also reduce our risk of catching a cold. People who sleep for fewer than seven hours a night were…
