Asthma cure coming? Possibly. Recent research seems to suggest that future asthmatics may be "cured" rather than being treated only for the symptoms as is presently done. Work, for example at Harvard, indicates that new understandings of NKT cells (Natural Killer T-Cells) may lead to one-time treatments rather than the long-term (permanent) use of "control" and "rescue" drugs.
To read about the progress, see the article "Harvard U. Makes Big Strides to Cure Asthma" as follows:
http://www.nytimes.com/uwire/uwire_ELEJ032820061927994.html?ex=1221454800&en=53c9955e190ebcbf&ei=5034
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Killer Cells 2006 article/link: cells Implicated in asthma attacks
For a followup on the post "Researchers discover cells responsible for asthma " (Topic: Natural Killer Cells that cause asthma) see this 2006 article:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/03/060317120554.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/03/060317120554.htm
Researchers discover cells responsible for asthma
In 2003, researchers at Stanford, Lucile Packard apparently (confirmed) the cells that cause asthma!
Note: I think I was too quick at first in implying that the Stanford researchers alone knew about this, so as seen here I have edited the original version. Further exploring in the Internet revealed other research pointing to the same or similar results ... that certain cells responsible for the immune response may be over abundant in asthmatic mice (and humans?). At any rate, if I read the articles correctly, the number of certain "natural killer" cells present determine whether or not the body produces asthmatic symptoms, and in the absense of NKT cells, the symptoms go away or fail to materialize.
"For Release: March 31, 2003 PALO ALTO, Calif -- – A subset of immune cells absolutely required for the development of asthma in mice has been identified by Stanford University Medical Center researchers. The scientists hypothesize that a person with too many of these cells in the lungs or ... "View article: http://www.lpch.org/aboutus/news/releases/2003/umetsu.html
Note: I think I was too quick at first in implying that the Stanford researchers alone knew about this, so as seen here I have edited the original version. Further exploring in the Internet revealed other research pointing to the same or similar results ... that certain cells responsible for the immune response may be over abundant in asthmatic mice (and humans?). At any rate, if I read the articles correctly, the number of certain "natural killer" cells present determine whether or not the body produces asthmatic symptoms, and in the absense of NKT cells, the symptoms go away or fail to materialize.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Warning about asthma-spreading birds
The other day I went to the doctor to find out why my asthma was getting worse and he told me, "Stay away from all birds."
This is a funny one I think. Stay away from all birds? Right, like I have any control over where birds go. Birds are everywhere. In fact, I never noticed before just how many birds there are in the world until the doctor told me to stay away from them. Now I see birds everywhere. Birds are thriving this spring. The magpies are bigger and fatter, and more numerous. Eagles and hawks buzz my house. Owls hoot from the pine trees outside my window. And numerous smaller birds fight over who gets the best "seat" on the bushes next to my kitchen.
Birds are all getting bolder these days too. They fly overhead. They poop on the porch.They pick in the grass. And do other stuff there too. Sometimes they even eat my cat's food, right out of his bowl! They build their nests in my gutters and they roost in my shop. The birds are picking on me now!
As I write this I look out my window and see robins hopping all over the place. Birds even dive bomb right into the windows of my house, trying to get at me I suppose. I told my wife, "How in the Hell can you stay away from birds? Why they even have birds in Paradise."
OK, such is the life of an asthmatic. Cheers!
This is a funny one I think. Stay away from all birds? Right, like I have any control over where birds go. Birds are everywhere. In fact, I never noticed before just how many birds there are in the world until the doctor told me to stay away from them. Now I see birds everywhere. Birds are thriving this spring. The magpies are bigger and fatter, and more numerous. Eagles and hawks buzz my house. Owls hoot from the pine trees outside my window. And numerous smaller birds fight over who gets the best "seat" on the bushes next to my kitchen.
Birds are all getting bolder these days too. They fly overhead. They poop on the porch.They pick in the grass. And do other stuff there too. Sometimes they even eat my cat's food, right out of his bowl! They build their nests in my gutters and they roost in my shop. The birds are picking on me now!
As I write this I look out my window and see robins hopping all over the place. Birds even dive bomb right into the windows of my house, trying to get at me I suppose. I told my wife, "How in the Hell can you stay away from birds? Why they even have birds in Paradise."
OK, such is the life of an asthmatic. Cheers!
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