MOre great news in the realms of Lupus Research, Genetics and the Enviorment

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-08/nioa-nle081110.php

NIH launches effort to define markers of human immune responses

Recovery Act enables research that could help improve vaccines and therapeutics

A new nationwide research initiative has been launched to define changes in the human immune system, using human and not animal studies, in response to infection or to vaccination. Six U. S.-based Human Immune Phenotyping Centers will receive a total of $100 million over five years to conduct this research.
Funding for the centers is provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. Support for the first year of this initiative will come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
"Recognizing the differences in immune system activity before, during and after exposure to an infectious agent or vaccine will help in the development of safer, more effective therapeutics and vaccines," says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. "This research effort also will contribute to the ongoing evolution in our ability to study the immune system."
Investigators will analyze samples from well-characterized groups, including children, the elderly and people with autoimmune diseases such as lupus. These groups represent diverse populations with respect to age, genetics, gender and ethnicity. The research teams will examine immune system elements of these populations before and after exposure to naturally acquired infections or to vaccines or vaccine components. The profile that will emerge of the body's response to vaccination will be based on the most sophisticated and comprehensive assays currently available. This will enable new approaches to examining vaccine safety, not just of individual vaccines but of the processes of immunization in general.
Their studies will focus on immune responses to vaccines against specific viruses and bacteria, such as influenza and pneumococcus, as well as to infection with West Nile virus. The investigators will take advantage of technological developments and advances in creating databases and developing mathematical models to identify and analyze the complex changes in immune profiles.
Each awardee will contribute to the establishment of a centralized infrastructure to collect, characterize and store human samples and analyze the large data sets that will be generated. Eventually, the centers will gather the information from this effort into a centralized Web-based database they will make available to the scientific community to promote and support human immunology research.
"This research effort represents a major expansion of efforts to define the principles of human immune regulation, instead of relying on findings from animal models that have limitations and cannot always be extrapolated to people," says Daniel Rotrosen, M.D., director of the Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation at NIAID. "The knowledge gained also will improve our understanding of the range of vaccine responses in particular subpopulations, including newborns, young children, the elderly, patients taking immunosuppressive medications and those with underlying diseases of the immune system, such as allergy and autoimmune diseases."
The following six core institutions and principal investigators will participate in the inaugural program:

• Baylor Research Institute, Dallas – Jacques Banchereau, Ph.D.
• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston – Ellis Reinherz, M.D.
• Emory University, Atlanta – Bali Pulendran, Ph.D.
• Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. – Gregory Poland, M.D.
• Stanford University, Calif. – Mark Davis, Ph.D.
• Yale University, New Haven, Conn. – David Hafler, M.D., and Erol Fikrig, M.D.

A portion of the funding for the centers will be dedicated to support smaller studies proposed by investigators outside the program, including pilot projects, the development of research resources and clinical studies.

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The activities described in this release are being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
More information about NIH's Recovery Act grant funding opportunities can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/recovery/. To track the progress of HHS activities funded through the Recovery Act, visit http://www.hhs.gov/recovery. To track all federal funds provided through the Recovery Act, visit http://www.recovery.gov.
NIAID conducts and supports research—at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide—to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses. News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID Web site at http://www.niaid.nih.gov.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH)—The Nation's Medical Research Agency—includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

A Shocking Study Reveals Women Tea Drinkers and the High Chances of Lupus and/or RA

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-06/elar-wwc061710.php

This was just really shocking to me. This study was done in Europe. After all we have been told for years about the incredible benefits of drinking tea, especially teas such as green, black and white, and now this study shows tea drinking, especially in women could increase the chances of you developing Lupus and/or RA by over 70 percent! The above link gives you some insight into the study, and here is another link. I am anxious to see what else comes out about this. So far this morning, I have not found anything on the regular Lupus sites about it. But, I am sure there will be much information published soon. If you see anything about it, feel free to post and let us know.

Another Brand New Medication on the Horizon for Approval against Lupus

UCB and Immunomedics Inc. announced today that a new lupus drug candidate, epratuzumab, provided a significant reduction in disease activity in patients with moderate to severe active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

See the URL:
http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_empty.aspx?articleid=3273&zoneid=99


This has been a wondrous week when it comes to living in the world of those with Lupus, and other autoimmune diseases. The many years of research has paid off, and now we have at least 3 innovative, one of their kinds new medication to take away many of the horrible symptoms of Lupus, along with possibly slowing down or stopping the damage to organs, such as kidneys, heart, liver and the brain. I am so incredibly psyched about the possibility of being "more well" and less worried about how much damage the Lupus is causing to my vital organs. I have already had more than my fair share of complications due to the Lupus, when it comes to other issues I have health wise. No matter how "not serious" or how serious other entities in your life as far as illness may be, Lupus can definitely reek havoc with your body, and cause even a minor health problem to turn into a major detrimental situation very quickly. Did I ever learn that just a couple of months ago when I thought I was having a severe gall bladder attack that was requiring laproscopic surgery to remove it. Little did I know the Lupus, along with a nick in my liver during the gall bladder removal would put me on a very thin line of almost losing my life to complications.


I pray that no one ever have to go through what not just myself, but my husband and family went through for 8 weeks plus. Even after I was "out of the woods" so to speak and at home, all of us were extremely concerned I could suffer harmful set backs that would send me back to the hospital at any time. I am still have pain issues in my right side, with tenderness, and symptoms that could be related to continued issues with my liver and pancreas. I certainly hope not, but we are keeping a close eye on any developing problems.


Please continue to follow the great news though about these new medications. I will continue to keep you posted on information I receive about the continued breaking good news..   Rhia

OMG! Benlysta for Lupus went for FDA approval today!!!!!

OMG!!! OMG!!! Talk about AWESOME NEWS!! Glaxco Kline JUST SENT THE ONE AND ONLY LUPUS MEDICATION INTO THE FDA FOR APPROVAL TODAY!!! I am so totally excited. It could be approved where I could start using it by either later this year or very early in 2011. OMG!!! This is so incredible. The story follows! This brings tears of joy to my eyes. I have been praying this medication gets to the FDA and gets approved soon. Anyone with Lupus knows just how incredible this is....http://news.morningstar.com/newsnet/ViewNews.aspx?article=/DJ/201006100800DOWJONESDJONLINE000465_univ.xml

Sign Petiton to tell Wal Mart NOT to do away with the Fabric Dept.

This is just nuts. Wal Mart in redoing their stores made a stupid decision to stop carrying fabrics. They made an "executive" decision to no longer have a fabric dept., which is nuts! Many small communities like mine, have NO other place to purchase fabrics without going to Dallas, buying online (which sometimes is nuts if you only need a small amount of fabric, or you need it NOW when working on a project). I found a petition online to sign, and other ways to let Wal Mart know they need to continue to keep their fabric dept. open ESPECIALLY in smaller communities where there is no other place to purchase fabrics.


http://www.petitiononline.com/savefab/petition.html

The link is above... please sign and pass onto others who will be affected by this...

Thanks so much Rhia

Cheapskate and I Love it!

http://www.aarp.org/money/budgeting-saving/info-11-2008/pay_less_for_anything.html

Being the coupon clipping, bargain hunting, watch something until it goes on sale down to the price I think its worth, fanatical bargain, cheapskate of the world .....LOL... seriously I share this link with you. Nothing gives me more pleasure than saving large bucks on things we need daily, as well as those cool clothes I want but refuse to pay top dollar for. So, yes I clip the Sunday paper coupons, I now also print them from the internet, I watch the major pharmacies weekly ads and clip their store coupons, I use the free items coupons from our local market, and I watch clothing stores coupons, percentage off sales, and when it feels like it is a true bargain for my budget I then rush in to pluck up those things at many times a tiny fraction of it starting price. Talk about a high when I go in to my local pharmacy and save 70.00 plus between sales, store coupons and manufacturer coupons. You can clean up on things like vitamins and supplements with buy one, get one free, a store coupon and one from the manufacturer. Suddenly that 40.00 bottle of supplements goes down to 5.00! IF you feel like it is lots of work, wrong... once you get your system down as far as watching for, clipping them, looking at weekly ads (now some of the stores actually put the ads that are coming out on Sunday, in the paper and online days in advance so you can be ready with coupons in hand on Sunday when the sales starts.)

New Lupus site from the DHS

I found a new website that is sponsored by the Dept. of Human Services that could be useful to some of us.

The URL is:
http://www.couldihavelupus.gov/speakout.phphttp://www.couldihavelupus.gov/speakout.php

Rhia

Pepsi Taking A Stance to Aid those Victims of Domestic Violence

"30 Ways to Add More Life to Your Years"

It is not that often something touches me enough that I feel the need to post and share. 99 percent of what I share is my own writing or now much information on Lupus, other autoimmune disorders, and other chronic illnesses. But, today this really struck the right notes for myself, and I thought you might enjoy this also.

I will also enclose the URL from Care 2 where I read this...

Deep down we all wish to live a rich and enlightened life. That is why we make those resolutions every year, for greater biological efficiency, less disease, increased finances, a more successful career, and an increasingly better quality of life. It is still not too late. Only a few months have passed and there are several glorious months left to turn a new leaf, open a new chapter or just quietly revel in the sudden newness of your life.

You can still make your decisions about how you can add more life to your years.

Here is a good list of some wise suggestions to enhance the quality of your life on day-to-day basis. I hope they will bring much sweetness and a tremendous change in your outlook towards life.

1. Great love and great achievement involve great risk. Take the risk anyway.
2. When you love someone, love them deeply and passionately. You might get hurt, but it is the only way to live life fully.
3. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship. Make amends immediately.
4. When you realize you have made a mistake, hurt someone’s feelings, take immediate steps to correct it. Ask forgiveness.
5. Keep your arms open to change, but don’t let go of your personal values.
6. Talk slowly, but think quickly. Rationally.
7. Quiet the voice in your head that says “I can’t do this.”
8. Don’t quit, no matter what. Confucius said, “everything comes to those who wait.”
9. Always live in a radiating possibility; become part of life’s song.
10. Make conscious effort to change at least one negative attitude in your personality everyday. Surprise yourself.
11. If you must fight, do it in a fair manner. Without calling/dropping names.
12. Avoid judging people by their relatives. Accept them for who they are.
13. When someone asks you a question that you wish to avoid answering, smile and ask, “Why do you want to know?”
14. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
15. Spend some time alone. It has great potential to recharge your energies.
16. Try to live a good and honorable life because when you get older and reflect upon it, you’ll get to enjoy it a second time.

Marry the man/woman with whom you love to talk with. As you get older, the conversations will essentially become a more important feature, in your life with each other.

Be kind to the environment for your own sake. Avoid litter, plastic, defacing walls and natural surroundings.

Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

Once a year plan to go to someplace you have never been before. It rejuvenates you like no other.

When you are having disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current problem. Never rake up the past.

When you lose out on something, don’t lose the lesson.

The best relationship is the one when your love for one another is greater than your need for one another.

When you say, “I love you,” mean it.

When you hug someone, open your heart. Do it with love.

Make eye contact. Look people in the eye softly when you speak to them. Try it and see the difference.

Your character is your destiny. Build your character.

Sometimes, not getting what you want is actually a blessing in disguise. Always look at the blessing.

Take serious care of your health. Health indeed is wealth, not a cliché.

Live life like it is your last day on the earth. King size.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/30-ways-to-add-more-life-to-your-years.html

Rhia

One Day at a time...

I have so wanted to be back here daily, but between still not having my health completely restored, trying to get to all of the doctors follow up visits, fighting horrible fatigue, trying to help Jim.. he really got deeply down in the dumps just about the time I finally began feeling better. I think he spent so much time concentrating on having the faith and strength to help me live through those weeks and weeks of severe pain, severe illness, several surgical procedures (and I have one more to take the stint out of my primary bile duct next Wednesday),plus trying to work, and deal with his own pain issues with his back, everything came crashing down around him about 2 weeks ago. So, I had to try and muster enough physical, mental and emotional strength myself so I could help him pull through his anguish. Thank goodness for a dear friend of his that really helped,and the love of my Mom and his step Mom, we are still in the midst of worry about the situation next week. I have been through so much, but so has Jim, my Mom and my kids. My own PCP admitted they thought three different times I may not make it through all that I did. So, my life has definitely changed in so many ways. I am trying not to put off the little things daily, but enjoy them. I have had to slow down, but that alone has put beauty back into my life. Please continue to keep me and my family in your thoughts and prayers over the next weeks to come... xoxox Rhia