Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Allergy for May 2006. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Total Pollen Level Declining in New York City Area
WEDNESDAY, May 31 (HealthDay News) -- Levels of pollen from trees, grass and weeds have declined in the northern New Jersey-New York City metropolitan area since the early and mid-1990s, according to a study published in the May issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
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Female Asthmatics More Likely to Be Hospitalized
TUESDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- Women account for a disproportionate share of asthma-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations, suggesting a need for improved ambulatory care strategies aimed at female patients, according to a study published in the May issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
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Advair Diskus, Serevent Diskus Product Labels Updated
WEDNESDAY, May 17 (HealthDay News) -- In response to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration public health advisory issued in November 2005, GlaxoSmithKline has updated the product labels for its Advair Diskus (fluticasone propionate; salmeterol xinafoate) and Serevent Diskus (salmeterol xinafoate) to note that the medications may increase the risk of severe asthma episodes or death when severe episodes occur. GlaxoSmithKline has also issued new medication guides, according to an update published this week by the FDA.
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Infant Eczema Predictor of Atopic Dermatitis at 3 Years
MONDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- Infants who develop eczema at the arms and joints are most likely to have atopic dermatitis at 3 years of age, according to a study published in the May issue of the Archives of Dermatology.
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Frivolous Claims Account for Small Fraction of Costs
WEDNESDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- The majority of resources involved in malpractice claims go toward resolving and paying those that involve errors, indicating it may be more cost-effective to streamline claims processing rather than discourage claims, according to a study in the May 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Inhaled Corticosteroids Don't Prevent Asthma Development
WEDNESDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- In infants and young children at high risk for asthma, inhaled corticosteroid therapy does not modify the subsequent development of asthma, nor the progression from episodic to persistent wheezing, according to a pair of studies in the May 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Novel Heat Mask Effective for Exercise-Induced Asthma
WEDNESDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- A novel heat exchanger mask is as effective as albuterol pretreatment in blocking the decline of lung function in cold exercise-induced asthma, according to a study published in the May issue of Chest.
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High-Dose Corticosteroids May Increase Stroke Risk
TUESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- Patients undergoing high-dose corticosteroid therapy are at increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF), therefore increasing their risk of stroke, according to a study in the May 8 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Pulmonary Illnesses Linked to Boot Waterproofing Spray
MONDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. health officials are evaluating the safety of boot sealants after 172 people and 19 pets in five states developed respiratory symptoms after exposure to boot waterproofing agents in 2005 and early 2006, according to a report in the May 5 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Virus Plus Allergen Equals Asthma Hospitalization
FRIDAY, May 5 (HealthDay News) -- Children with asthma who have a viral infection and are highly exposed to a sensitizing allergen are nearly 20 times as likely to be hospitalized for acute asthma than other asthmatic children, according to a report in the May issue of Thorax.
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B Cells Detect Antigen by Spreading Membrane Over Cells
FRIDAY, May 5 (HealthDay News) -- During an immune response, B cells stretch their cell membrane over an antigen-presenting cell and aggregate the offending proteins into a central clump, according to a report in the May 5 issue of Science. The process, termed dynamic spreading, may help fine-tune B-cell activation, the researchers suggest.
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Asthmatic Adults Consume Less Fruit and Vitamin C
THURSDAY, May 4 (HealthDay News) -- Adults with asthma consume fewer fruits and antioxidants such as vitamin C than their healthy counterparts, according to a study published in the May issue of Thorax. Diet may be a modifiable risk factor for asthma, the report indicates.
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