Immunology

A new study found that Blacks and Hispanics were more likely to have food allergies than Whites. Additionally, emergency department visits due to severe food allergies were more prevalent among people from lower socioeconomic status. Food allergies affect about 8% of children and 11% of U.S. adults in the United States. Food allergies cause significant...

Vaccine effectiveness wanes after one dose but remains relatively unchanged over four years after two doses Two doses of recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) are effective against herpes zoster (HZ), with the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of two doses waning little over four years of follow-up, according to a study published online Jan. 9 in the Annals of...

Second study shows that 42.2 and 18.3 percent of individuals aged 18 years and older reported receiving flu, updated COVID-19 shots Many nursing home residents and adults have not been vaccinated for influenza, COVID-19, or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for the 2023 to 2024 season, according to research published in the Dec. 22 issue of...

The early and accurate identification of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder is integral to the prognosis and reduction of relapses. Treatment and management strategies include immunosuppressive agents, steroids, and novel monoclonal antibodies. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune disorder mainly involving the optic nerve (optic neuritis) and the spinal cord (myelitis). Prompt and early...

Vaccine efficacy was 68.4 percent against RSV-associated acute respiratory disease; offers protection against subtypes A and B A single dose of mRNA-1345 vaccine is safe and results in lower incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated disease in older patients, according to a study published in the Dec. 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine....

Black patients have significantly longer median time to appropriate antibiotic treatment than Whites Black patients are more likely to be diagnosed with disseminated manifestations of Lyme disease (LD) and experience longer time to appropriate treatment, according to a research letter published online Dec. 12 in JAMA Network Open. Samuel J. Starke, M.D., from the Johns Hopkins...

Vivax malaria has historically been absent in sub-Saharan Africa, as the parasite cannot penetrate Duffy-negative erythroblasts. However, a new study shows that P. vivax can penetrate erythrocytes during erythropoiesis due to the transitory expression of the protein. Plasmodium vivax malaria was historically believed to be absent in sub-Saharan Africa due to the high prevalence of...

Triple-negative breast cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors may experience a greater antitumoral immune response, according to a recent literature review. Immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has revolutionized solid tumor malignancy treatment. ICIs target immunosuppressive receptors such as programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein...

A South African study reveals that among individuals of lower socioeconomic status, men are less likely than women to seek HIV testing, while women from similar backgrounds who engage in risky sexual behavior are at greater risk of HIV infection. South Africa has one of the highest HIV rates in the world, affecting about 19.1%...