Probably due to more money available for a better diet and health care... Social rank 'linked to immunity' 10 April 2012 - The level of the blood's immunity seem to respond to changes in social rank Quote: [TABLE] [TR] [TD="class: alt2"] [HR][/HR] A study of rhesus macaque monkeys may have solved a long-standing puzzle on a link between social rank and health. A study of 10 social groups of macaque females showed that the activity level of an individual's immune genes was an accurate predictor of her social rank. In a paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team also showed that the monkey's immunity changed when social rank was altered. The work suggests that status drives immune health, rather than vice-versa. A great many studies have shown associations in both humans and non-human primates between social environment and biological markers of health. In previous studies of rhesus macaques, the so-called dominance rank has been correlated to levels of the stress-linked glucocorticoid hormones, sex hormones, the brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine, and white blood cell counts. But one unanswered question concerns cause and effect: does a compromised immunity or imbalance of some chemical cause a particular social rank, or does taking on a particular social rank set the immune system and neural dials? Jenny Tung, now at Duke University, and colleagues addressed this question by carefully assigning social rank to 10 groups of rhesus macaques, each containing five females. This can be done by altering the order in which females are introduced into the group; the later she arrives, the lower her social rank. The team then measured the levels of a broad class of immune cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, in the bloodstream. They found that on the basis of those levels of circulating immune cells alone, they could predict an individual female's social rank with 80% accuracy. Further studies that investigated the degree to which hundreds of immunity-related genes were "switched on" also showed increased immune activity in higher-ranking females. What is more, the team found that as rank shifted among seven of the females, the data corresponding to gene activity was again enough to guess an individual's new rank with an accuracy of 85%. "The current results support the idea that changes in gene regulation help to explain links between the social environment and physiology, potentially supplying an important piece to the puzzle of how social effects 'get under the skin'," the team wrote. Though the findings might seem to suggest that low social rank, or a decrease in social rank, can lead to reduced immune health, the team said it was "encouraging" that the effects can be counteracted by a change in the social environment. "Our results motivate efforts to develop a nuanced understanding of social effects on gene regulation," they wrote, "with the aim of both exploring its evolutionary and ecological consequences and addressing its effects on human health." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17663133 [HR][/HR] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Thread started at Forum 4 Politics on 04-10-2012 09:40 PM
Genetics. I said my good health, in spite of everything, was genetic and genetics determined 90% of a person's health. My doctor thought and said, "I'd put it closer to 95%. I am supporting a family of Indians in Mexico and their immunity is really fine. They have a number of health problems, such as brittle bones, that are a legacy of infant malnutrition. But, genetically, they got a good deal.
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New peanut allergy therapy may work... New Therapy for Peanut Allergy Shows Promise January 10, 2013 - Similar to allergy shots for dust and pollen, feeding peanuts in tiny amounts is designed to reprogram the young patients immune system so peanuts dont provoke life-threatening reactions.
Food allergies may be disability... Gov't: Food allergies may be disability under law Jan 18,`13 WASHINGTON (AP) -- Allergic to gluten? What about peanuts? Federal disabilities law may be able to help.
Granny says, "Dat's good - now dey can catch the lil' buggers at work... High-Tech Images Show How Viruses Infect Cells January 29, 2013 As people around the world contend with illnesses caused by viruses, including this year's strain of the flu or influenza, researchers continue to study how viruses work and how they manage to invade living cells in everything from bacteria to human organs. University of Texas researchers recently collaborated on an innovative technique that allowed them to see a virus in the act of infecting a cell.
Immunization efforts faltering... Researchers: Immunization Efforts Falling Short March 20, 2013 > Researchers said that despite progress immunizing African children against disease, vaccination efforts are falling far short of whats needed. They warn that vaccine supply and cost need urgent attention. See also: African Health Ministers Commit to Ramped Up TB/HIV Treatment March 20, 2013 > Health ministers from Swaziland and South Africa have agreed to radically change the diagnosis and treatment of the co-epidemic of TB/HIV in their countries. They made their comments at a press conference held on March 20 in Johannesburg. Doctors Without Borders, also known as MSF, said TB deaths in southern Africa account for 40 percent of all TB deaths globally, and it remains the leading cause of death for people with HIV.
Harnessing the body's own response to HIV may be used to develop vaccine... Body's anti-HIV 'training manual' offers vaccine hopes 3 April 2013 > The body's own "training manual" for successfully attacking HIV has been recorded by scientists and it is hoped it can be used to design vaccines.
Granny says dem germs is mutatin' faster n' we can keep up with `em... Drug resistance found worldwide, new drugs needed 30 Apr.`14 Bacteria resistant to antibiotics have now spread to every part of the world and might lead to a future where minor infections could kill, according to a report published Wednesday by the World Health Organization.
Tickle me immune... Tickling pleasure center of brain can boost immunity, study says Wed, Jul 06, 2016 - Artificially stimulating the brains feel-good center boosts immunity in mice in a way that could help explain the power of placebos, a study reported on Monday.