Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
Health

Nervous system plays bigger role in infections

Darpan News Desk IANS, 28 Nov, 2014 12:47 PM
    The nervous system may play a bigger role in infections and auto-immune diseases than previously known, says a study.
     
    Learning more about that role could lead to early diagnosis and treatment of people affected by pandemics or outbreaks of contagious or deadly diseases, such as flu or Ebola, the study added.
     
    The researchers noted that neurons of the peripheral nervous system - specialised nerve cells that transmit information throughout the body - are known to send information about local infections or inflammation to the central nervous system (CNS - the brain and spinal cord) so the CNS can co-ordinate the whole body response.
     
    "The neurons may be sending the CNS not just a general 'danger warning' but specific information about whether the infection is caused by a virus or bacteria, the type of bacteria present or the nature of the auto-immune reaction," said Benjamin Steinberg from St. Michael's Hospital in Canada.
     
    "The blue sky idea is that if we know the language and can read the code, in theory we can engineer or write our own," Steinberg said.
     
    Since those messages are being sent from neurons to the CNS in real time, knowing what they are saying could speed diagnoses or prognostication of everything from the stomach flu to rheumatoid arthritis.
     
    The current method for confirming infections is to test body fluids or tissues, sometimes using invasive techniques, a process that can take hours, days or even longer.
     
    "Timely diagnosis and intervention are essential to minimize deaths and complications," Steinberg stressed.
     
    The study appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine.

    MORE Health ARTICLES

    Lowering cholesterol with drugs good for heart: Study

    Lowering cholesterol with drugs good for heart: Study
    A popular but controversial cholesterol drug called Ezetimibe has been found to lower the number of cardiovascular events by 6.4 percent when administered...

    Lowering cholesterol with drugs good for heart: Study

    Common antibacterial in soap may harm liver

    Common antibacterial in soap may harm liver
    Long-term exposure to triclosan, found in soaps, shampoos, toothpastes and many other household items, may cause liver fibrosis and cancer, an alarming study suggests....

    Common antibacterial in soap may harm liver

    A new smartphone that can print selfies in seconds

    A new smartphone that can print selfies in seconds
    A French company has developed a brand new smartphone case that can print selfies from the phone itself in less than a minute....

    A new smartphone that can print selfies in seconds

    Menthol and nicotine harmful for lungs: Study

    Menthol and nicotine harmful for lungs: Study
    Neuroscientists at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) have found that menthol acts in combination with nicotine to desensitise receptors in lungs' ...

    Menthol and nicotine harmful for lungs: Study

    Reduce salt intake for better kidney health

    Reduce salt intake for better kidney health
    The researchers found high sodium intake (an average of 4.7g a day) is linked with an increased risk of needing dialysis, but no benefit was seen for low sodium intake (average 2g a day)....

    Reduce salt intake for better kidney health

    Second-hand marijuana smoke may damage blood vessels

    Second-hand marijuana smoke may damage blood vessels
    Breathing second-hand marijuana smoke could damage your heart and blood vessels as much as second-hand cigarette smoke, says a new research....

    Second-hand marijuana smoke may damage blood vessels