Allergy / Asthma
The latest information on anaphylaxis, food and skin allergies, rhinitis, corticosteroids, and more, drawn from across our primary care and specialty care areas. Sign up now for monthly e-mail alerts on new content.
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Glucocorticoid Use Is Associated with Risk for Atrial Fibrillation
- October 27, 2009
- Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
- General Medicine
A large case-control study suggests that glucocorticoid use is linked to AF.
- Reviewing:
- Christiansen CF et al. Arch Intern Med 2009 Oct 12; 169:1677
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Quadrupling Inhaled Steroid Dose to Prevent Asthma Exacerbations
- October 15, 2009
- Allan S. Brett, MD
- General Medicine
In selected patients, this approach might diminish the need for oral steroids.
- Reviewing:
- Oborne J et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2009 Oct 1; 180:598
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Do Atopic Dermatitis Patients with Eczema Herpeticum Have a Unique Phenotype?
- October 9, 2009
- Mary Wu Chang, MD
- Dermatology
Certain characteristics were more common in patients with AD and history of EH than in other AD patients.
- Reviewing:
- Beck LA et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2009 Aug; 124:260
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Levalbuterol Is No Better Than Racemic Albuterol for Severe Acute Asthma
- October 7, 2009
- Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD
- Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
For continuous bronchodilator therapy, racemic albuterol and levalbuterol achieve similar outcomes.
- Reviewing:
- Andrews T et al. J Pediatr 2009 Aug; 155:205.e1
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Bigger Waist Means Higher Asthma RiskFree
- September 24, 2009
- Wendy S. Biggs, MD
- Women's Health
Women with waist measurements >88 cm had higher risk for asthma than women in the same BMI categories but with smaller waist measurements.
- Reviewing:
- Von Behren J et al. Thorax 2009 Aug 25
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Asthma: Would FENO Help Me Know?
- September 16, 2009
- Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD
- Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
FENO testing could help diagnose asthma in children with respiratory symptoms.
- Reviewing:
- Sivan Y et al. J Pediatr 2009 Aug; 155:211
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
The "Itchy Neuron" — A New Therapeutic Target?
- September 4, 2009
- Gil Yosipovitch, MD
- Dermatology
Distinct neurons transfer itch but not pain in the spinal cord of mice.
- Reviewing:
- Sun Y-G et al. Science 2009 Aug 6
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Filaggrin–Atopy Update
- August 14, 2009
- Mark V. Dahl, MD
- Dermatology
In a meta-analysis, persons with filaggrin mutations were significantly more likely to have atopic dermatitis (and allergic rhinitis).
- Reviewing:
- van den Oord RAHM and Sheikh A. BMJ 2009 Jul 9; 339:b2433
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
More Evidence for the Role of Bocavirus in Asthma
- August 12, 2009
- Robert S. Baltimore, MD
- Infectious Diseases
Among children with asthma exacerbations, the virus most commonly detected was human bocavirus. CME
- Reviewing:
- Vallet C et al. J Pediatr 2009 Aug; 155:286
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Acidic Tendencies
- July 30, 2009
- Mark V. Dahl, MD
- Dermatology
Acidity of the stratum corneum maintains skin barrier function; in mice, topical acidification prevented dermatitis.
- Reviewing:
- Hatano Y et al. J Invest Dermatol 2009 Jul; 129:1824
