News by Subject Medicine & Health

University of Colorado Cancer Center clinical trial results describe a promising strategy to remove one of melanoma's most powerful defenses: By adding retinoic acid to standard-of-care treatment, researchers were able to turn off myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) that turn off the immune system, leading to more immune system activity directed at melanoma.

Researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery have discovered that a type of immune cell known as Langerhans appears to play an important role in photosensitivity, an immune system reaction to sunlight that can trigger severe skin rashes.

The three prevalent skin cancers, according to the literature are melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

What motivates patients to seek minimally invasive cosmetic procedures? Most patients want the procedures to please themselves, not others, and, apart from aesthetic appearance to look younger and fresher, patient motivations ranged from physical health and psychological well-being to looking good at work and increasing self-confidence. Those were among the findings of a new observational study that included 511 patients who competed a survey.

Two receptors in the spinal cord and the right experimental drug: Researchers at the University of Zurich have discovered a new approach that suppresses itch. In a series of experiments in mice and dogs they successfully alleviated different forms of acute as well as chronic itch. For the latter, current treatment options are very limited.

While studying a large group of individuals with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a Wilmot Cancer Institute scientific team made an important discovery -- these patients had a sizable 600 percent higher risk of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.

A short intervention by dermatologists to assess patients' risk of sun exposure, discuss their motivations and barriers regarding sun protection, and offer advice on sun protection options was associated with better sun protection behavior reported by patients and more satisfaction communicating with their dermatologist.

Hookworms infect people mostly in countries where sanitation is poor and people often walk barefoot. Working on a mouse model, a UC Riverside research team has studied the secretion of the immune protein RELMalpha that is triggered in the body, following infection, to protect body tissue. When the researchers knocked out RELMalpha, the mice produced super-killer macrophages that attached to the hookworm in far greater numbers. These macrophages, however, provoked increased tissue damage and inflammation.

With the spread of photo-editing technology through applications like Snapchat and Facetune, the level of physical 'perfection' previously seen only on celebrity or beauty magazines is now all over social media. As these images become the norm, people's perceptions of beauty worldwide are changing, which can take a toll on a person's self-esteem and can trigger body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), argue Boston Medical Center (BMC) researchers in a JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery Viewpoint.