The immune sytem protects our body against infectious diseases caused by bacterias, viruses and fungi. Vaccines can help the immune system.
Fewer good gut bacteria increase the risk of serious infectionThe composition of the intestinal flora can predict the chances of developing serious infections such as pneumonia. Researchers from Amsterdam UMC and the University of Turku, Finland, followed more than 10,000 people for 6 years. More than 600 people who had less healthy intestinal flora developed a serious infection, with this leading in some cases to death. The results of the study are published today in The Lancet Microbe.
Anatomsiche Les 2023: A molecular anatomy lesson 391 years ago, in the centre of Amsterdam, Nicolaes Tulp presented an arm's worth of tendons to his audience. One of which was Rembrandt van Rijn. What followed was one of the Dutch artist's masterpieces, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp. Fast forward to November 2023, when Professor Iain McInnes will present his own arm's worth of tendons and deliver Amsterdam UMC's 30th Anatomy Lesson.
The thymus appears to be more important than previously thoughtAn organ no larger than a walnut, which until recently was believed to have no function in adults. We're talking about the thymus. Recent research published in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals that this small organ is more important than previosly thought. Associate professor and immunologist Joke den Haan shares her insights in an interview with NPO Radio 1's 'De Nieuws BV.'
Bottom reached in restrictive blood transfusion policy The trend in hospitals and guidelines is to be more and more cautious with blood transfusions. Due to side effects associated with blood transfusion and the increasing scarcity and costs of blood products. For example, in recent years the number of patients receiving a transfusion during their ICU admission has halved. Researchers from Amsterdam UMC, in collaboration with eight other Dutch hospitals and funded ZonMW, have shown that being increasingly restrictive in preventive blood transfusion is not, in all cases, understandable. The results of this study are published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Combination therapy outperforms chemotherapy in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia Chemotherapy has been the most effective treatment to date for young and fit patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). The disease is the most common form of leukaemia in the Western world, causing a substantial health burden on patients and society. It is currently incurable. Research led by researchers from Cologne University, Amsterdam UMC and Copenhagen University, now shows that a chemofree drug-combination therapy is more effective and produces fewer side effects. The results of this study are published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Discovery of new more infectious HIV variantA new variant of HIV has been discovered that causes more rapid onset of the disease. The new HIV strain was discovered in more than 100 people using data from the Netherlands.
A good vaccine against HIV comes in threesDevelopment of a vaccine against HIV is a real feat. Rogier Sanders, professor of Virology, in particular Experimental Vaccinology, has been working on a shot like this for years.