New approach identified for preventing transplant rejection

A subset of cells - named TH17 cells - can prove effective in uncovering the mechanisms resulting in graft-versus-host disease when it comes to improving treatment results without the side effects of traditional immunosuppressive therapy, as per researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. The results of this study appeared in the Feb. 5, 2009, issue of Blood, the journal of the American Society of Hematology.

It is considered that findings of this study would help in charting a course for improved therapies capable of treating and preventing graft-versus-host disease.

From News-Medical.Net:

The UNC study has identified a subset of cells – named TH17 cells – that can bring about the condition. Until now, without a clear understanding of the disease, clinicians have had little choice but to treat transplant patients with toxic regimens of steroids and immunosuppressive drugs.
"Our hope is that uncovering the mechanisms that cause graft-versus-host disease will allow for treatments that specifically target its causes and do not have the harmful side effects of traditional immunosuppressive therapy," said study lead author Jonathan S. Serody, M.D., a member of the Lineberger Center and the Elizabeth Thomas Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology at UNC. The results of the study appeared in the Feb. 5, 2009, issue of Blood, the journal of the American Society of Hematology.
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a serious complication of transplants that occurs when the donor's marrow (graft) produces immune cells that attack multiple organs of the recipient (host), typically the skin, gastrointestinal tract and liver.

It was remarked by lead author of the study Jonathan S. Serody, M.D., a member of the Lineberger Center and the Elizabeth Thomas Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology at UNC, that new drugs will appear in the market in the next five years for treating immune-based skin diseases.

Asthmatic patients on inhaled steroids get protected from influenza through influenza vaccine

An influenza vaccine can prove to be an effective option when it comes to treating asthmatic patients who are treated with inhaled steroids and fighting against type A influenza, as per a researcher from Baylor College of Medicine in a recent publication. It was also revealed by the researcher that the same could not be said for ensuring protection against type B flu.

From News-Medical.Net:

“The findings of this study should reassure physicians and patients that influenza vaccine does provide protection against influenza in most asthma patients taking inhaled steroids,” said Dr. Nicola Hanania, BCM assistant professor of medicine and director of the Asthma Clinical Research Center. “We certainly don’t want asthmatics to avoid taking their influenza vaccine because of these study results.”

“It works for influenza type A, the most common type that circulates in Houston and the United States,” he said.

There are occasional outbreaks of influenza type B, and in the event this happens, people who use inhaled steroids to control their asthma may need to receive other medications in addition to the vaccine, he said.

Hanania remarked that the immune response of patients receiving inhaled steroids at different doses and the influenza vaccine was higher than those of individuals treating with placebo. It was also remarked that patients being administered with high doses of inhaled steroids had a lower immune response when it came to treatment of type B influenza. The findings of this report were published in an issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Vian resident faces imprisonment due to steroids charges

A Vian resident named Bobby Brown, 38, has been found guilty on two out of three felony counts. He was found guilty of possession and distribution of a controlled substance to persons less than 21 years of age.

According to the statement issued by US Attorney Sheldon Sperling, there was lack of evidence that Brown distributed or manufactured steroids in or near schools.

Sperling said testimonies established that Brown distributed steroids to several Vian High School football players. He also helped administer the drug.

The time of drug sales was between March 2006 and June 2008. Brown was sentenced to spend at least four years and 3 months to five years and 3 months in jail.

The case was related to the steroids case of two law enforcement officers who were indicted by the grand jury due to steroid distribution. Both pleaded guilty to charges.

McIntosh County reserve deputy officer Dusty Lee Burns, 29, of Checotah and Jimmy Russell “Rusty” Hamm II, 31, of Checotah, and a former Creek Nation Lighthorseman still await their sentence.

Burns pleaded guilty in October to charges that he sold anabolic steroids while Hamm pleaded guilty in September to possession of steroids with intent to distribute.

From Tulsa World:

MUSKOGEE - A Vian man was found guilty by a federal jury Thursday in connection with selling steroids to high school football players and others.

Use of anabolic steroids can lead to severe kidney dysfunction

Athletes making the usage of anabolic steroids run a high risk of developing severe kidney dysfunction and the benefits of improved muscle mass and strength may not be beneficial to protect them, according to paper being presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in San Diego, California.

The findings indicated that long-term and habitual use of steroids can lead to severe complications including damaged kidneys, a fact that was not highlighted by any previous study.

From News-Medical.Net:

Reports of professional athletes who abuse anabolic steroids are increasingly common. Most people know that using steroids is not good for your health, but until now, their effects on the kidneys have not been known. Leal Herlitz, MD (Columbia University Medical Center) and her colleagues recently conducted the first study describing injury to the kidneys following long-term abuse of anabolic steroids. The investigators studied a group of 10 bodybuilders who used steroids for many years and developed protein leakage into the urine and severe reductions in kidney function. Kidney tests revealed that nine of the ten bodybuilders developed a condition called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a type of scarring within the kidneys. This disease typically occurs when the kidneys are overworked. The kidney damage in the bodybuilders has similarities to that seen in morbidly obese patients, but appears to be even more severe.
When the bodybuilders discontinued steroid use their kidney abnormalities improved, with the exception of one individual with advanced kidney disease who developed end-stage kidney failure and required dialysis. Also, one of the bodybuilders started taking steroids again and suffered a relapse of severe kidney dysfunction.
The involved researchers remarked that steroids pose a harmful effect on the kidneys and must be avoided under all circumstances.

The study was conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Vivette D'Agati, MD at Columbia Univeristy Medical Center and the list of co-authors included Glen Markowitz, MD, Joshua Schwimmer, MD, Michael Stokes, MD, Cheryl Kunis, MD, Vivette D'Agati, MD, (Columbia University Medical Center); Alton Farris, MD, and Robert Colvin, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital).

Not just another steroids movie

In this movie, director Christopher Bell depicts steroids not only for its negative effects, but he also cited some evidences disproving steroids as the cause of several deaths and incidence of aggression.

In this documentary, Bell started the film with his own life story as a gym rat and as a weightlifter who used steroids once. He also included his two brothers, both pro-wrestlers, who have been regular steroids users.

He candidly talks about his brothers, one is a football coach who lies about not using steroids to his students while the other one is a failed pro-wrestler, Mike “Mad Dog” Bell, who now works in their father’s accounting business but still continues to use steroids.

Bell also interviewed several prominent people in the documentary such as Rep. Henry Waxman, the congressman who called the steroids in baseball hearings. The interview made it clear that Waxman was not so knowledgeable about steroids.

According to Bell, Lyle Alzado’s brain cancer was not entirely due to steroids use since the type of lymphoma that affected Alzado was one of those types not commonly caused by prolonged steroids use.

He also showed some evidence that steroids do not cause teen suicides. Another topic he emphasized was that before steroids were banned by congress, medical experts were against its prohibition.

From Bloody Elbow:

Last night I watched Bigger, Stronger, Faster a bracing, no bullshit documentary about steroids. Director Christopher Bell, a gym rat and weightlifter who has tried steroids once starts with the story of himself and his two brothers, both sometime pro-wrestlers, who are unrepentant users.