Scientists identify mechanisms behind harmful changes in the gut’s bacterial balance during inflammation

Dallas: A study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers has uncovered key molecular pathways behind the disruption of the gut’s delicate balance of bacteria during episodes of inflammatory disease. “A deeper understanding of these pathways may help in developing new prevention and treatment strategies for conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and certain gastrointestinal infections and colorectal cancers,” said Dr. Sebastian Winter, Assistant Professor of Microbiology and a W.W. Caruth, Jr. Scholar in Biomedical Research at UT Southwestern, who led the study.

Inflammatory link to heart disease, death

Stanford: A chronic inflammatory process that occurs in some, but not all, older people may trigger cardiovascular problems, a new Stanford study shows. Part of the solution might be found in a cup of coffee.
Stanford University School of Medicine scientists have unearthed a connection between advancing age, systemic inflammation, cardiovascular disease and caffeine consumption.

Scientists override the body’s inflammatory response

Scimex: Scientists who have discovered the mechanism of a protein that suppresses inflammation in the body, say the information could potentially be used to develop new drugs to control inflammation. The international study, led by Victorian researchers focused on a powerful inhibitor of inflammation that is generated by the body.

New drug that blocks inflammation

Scimex: An Australian-led study has described a new drug that can block inflammation without any of the usual adverse side effects, such as high cholesterol, high blood fats and weight gain, observed with other anti-inflammatory drugs. The researchers say that the drug is now in phase two clinical trials for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis and shows promise in treating many people with inflammatory conditions.

Heart attack risk raised by blocking natural immune response

British Heart Foundation: One of the body's natural responses to infection or injury is called inflammation and research we helped to fund has shown that blocking it could increase a person's heart attack risk.

Million man study examines long-term effects of blocking inflammation

Cambridge University. UK: Inflammation, the body’s response to damaging stimuli, may have a protective effect against cardiovascular disease, according to a study published today in the journal Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology.

Imaging study finds first evidence of neuroinflammation in brains of chronic pain patients

MGH. US: A new study from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators has found, for the first time, evidence of neuroinflammation in key regions of the brains of patients with chronic pain.  By showing that levels of an inflammation-linked protein are elevated in regions known to be involved in the transmission of pain, the study published online in the journal Brain paves the way for the exploration of potential new treatment strategies and identifies a possible way around one of the most frustrating limitations in the study and treatment of chronic pain – the lack of an objective way to measure the presence or intensity of pain.

Georgia State Researchers Find New Way To Suppress Inflammation Without Steroids’ Harmful Side Effects

Georgia State University. US: A new “trick” steroids use to suppress inflammation, which could be used to make new anti-inflammatory drugs without the harmful side effects of steroids, has been discovered by researchers at Georgia State University. Their findings have been published in the journal Nature Communications.