(August 18, 2008 - Insidermedicine) From the UK - According to researchers from Newcastle University, a rheumatoid arthritis vaccine may soon be in development. Researchers will be testing the effectiveness of an experimental new vaccine that uses a patient's own blood cells to suppress the effects of rheumatoid arthritis. The vaccine could switch off unwanted immune responses without affecting the part of the immune system that guards against infection.

From Boston - According to research in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, boys are more likely than girls to grow out of childhood asthma. In a study of lung function in over 1,000 children, boys were more likely to wheeze but were also more likely to shed these symptoms when they became teenagers. This research suggests that sex hormones may play a role in asthma symptoms and severity.

And finally, from Washington - The FDA has announced that bisphenol A, the chemical found in hard plastic water bottles, is safe. While the administration had previously come to this conclusion, it had agreed to revisit the issue after the National Toxicology Program stated that there was "some concern" over the risk to infants. Despite this most recent announcement, many environmental groups remain unconvinced.

For Insidermedicine in 60, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.