Autoimmune Disorder News

Coffee May Lower Diabetes Risk

Researchers said Monday that women who drank six or more cups of decaffeinated coffee a day were 33 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes, a disease that affects more than 18 million Americans. (ledger-enquirer.com)

Statins May Help Scleroderma

Patients got some relief from the disfiguring disease scleroderma after taking a statin, a drug widely used to lower blood cholesterol, Japanese researchers report. (excite.com)

Two Arthritis Drugs Linked to Cancer

Rheumatoid arthritis patients taking Humira or Remicade face triple the risk of developing several kinds of cancer and double the risk of getting serious infections, a study led by the Mayo Clinic found. (MSNBC)

Mononucleosis and Risk of Multiple Sclerosis

Infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), resulting in infectious mononucleosis, which primarily effects adolescents and young adults, more than doubles the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life, results of a large review of studies suggest. (Reuters)

One's Own Stem Cells As Lupus Treatment

For all of her 20s, when Edjuana Ross should have been relishing the thrill of early adulthood, she was instead in and out of hospitals, battling a disease that attacked her skin, brain and heart.

Now, at 33, she has her life back, thanks to a stem-cell transplant from her own bone marrow, a drastic, experimental treatment that could be promising for patients with severe lupus. (Washington Post)

FDA Approves Inhalable Insulin

The Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved an inhaled form of insulin, the first new way to get that hormone into the body since it was discovered in 1921 -- and a new treatment option for many of the 21 million Americans with diabetes. (Washington Post)

Human Genome Sciences' Lupus Drug Misses Test Goals

Human Genome Sciences Inc. said yesterday that its potentially lucrative new lupus drug, eagerly awaited by investors and patients, had fallen short of expectations in an important round of human testing. (Washington Post)

Motor Oil Exposure a Risk Factor for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Scientists said Wednesday the results of a new study indicate occupational exposure to motor oil significantly increases the chances a person will develop rheumatoid arthritis. (UPI)

Orencia for Rheumatoid Arthritis

People with rheumatoid arthritis that doesn't respond to any of the currently available treatments may soon have a new therapeutic option. A new medication called abatacept (brand name, Orencia), more than doubled the odds that someone with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis had at least a 20 percent improvement in symptoms, according to a new study. (excite.com)

Pfizer Developing Inhaled Insulin Called Exubera

A US government advisory committee is scrutinising an inhaled form of insulin.

The new drug is designed to help millions of people with diabetes who currently rely on injections to control their blood sugar levels. (The Daily Mail)

New Diabetes Gene Discovered

Scientists have discovered a gene that plays a role in the most common type of type 2 diabetes, and they say the discovery could pave the way to a targeted treatment. (Forbes.com)

Cigarette Smoking a Risk for Graves' Disease

Women who smoke are twice as likely to develop an overactive thyroid caused by Graves' disease, a study shows. Researchers say the results suggest that cigarette smoking should be considered a major risk factor for the mysterious disorder. (WebMD)

Diabetes and Caffeine

People with type 1 diabetes may have a new reason to appreciate a cup of coffee. Caffeine intake, in normal amounts, is associated with a significant reduction in nighttime episodes of excessively low blood sugar levels -- or hypoglycemia -- according to UK researchers. (Reuters)

Green Tea and Autoimmune Diseases

Green tea, already lauded for its cancer-fighting ability, may also protect against certain autoimmune diseases, new research suggests. (HealthDay News)

Diabetes Out of Control in U.S.

Two out of three Americans with type-2 diabetes do not have their disease under control and risk early deaths from stroke, heart attack or kidney failure as well as blindness and limb loss, according to a report published Wednesday. (Reuters)