Chronic Urticaria Might Be a Harbinger of Other Autoimmune Diseases
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Subsequently diagnosed autoimmune diseases were 17 times more common in patients with idiopathic urticaria.
By David J. Amrol, MD
May 10, 2012
Covering:
Confino-Cohen R et al., J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012 May; 129:1307
Allergic Reactions and TH 9 Helper T Cells
Dermatology Summary and Comment
How interleukin-9 and T helper 9 cells regulate allergic airway inflammation might elucidate the process of allergic disease.
By Mark V. Dahl, MD
May 4, 2012
Covering:
Jones CP et al., J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012 Apr; 129:1000
Munitz A and Foster PST., J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012 Apr; 129:1011
Prenatal PPI Exposure and Childhood Asthma
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Maternal PPI use during pregnancy or the year thereafter is associated with an increased risk for asthma in the offspring but may not be causal.
Atopic Dermatitis Awash in GWAS
Dermatology Summary and Comment
A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies indicates that AD is caused by alterations in both epidermal differentiation and immune function.
Self-Management of COPD Does Not Reduce Adverse Outcomes
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Self-management might benefit a subset of patients, but identifying them is the challenge.
Benefits of Initiating Steroids at Triage for Pediatric Asthma
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Initiation of oral steroids at triage decreased admissions and expedited clinical improvement in children with moderate to severe asthma exacerbations.
How Medication Cost-Sharing Affects Resource Utilization in Children with Asthma
Greater patient drug costs slightly reduce medication use and increase asthma-related hospitalizations.
By F. Bruder Stapleton, MD
April 4, 2012
Covering:
Karaca-Mandic P et al., JAMA 2012 Mar 28; 307:1284
Ungar WJ., JAMA 2012 Mar 28; 307:1316
Asthma Defies "One Size Fits All" Diagnosis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Many patients with mild-to-moderate asthma have persistently noneosinophilic disease.
By David J. Amrol, MD
April 3, 2012
Covering:
McGrath KW et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2012 Mar 15; 185:612
Topical Antibiotics for Clean Dermatologic Procedures
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Less-frequent use is a step in the right direction.
By Jan V. Hirschmann, MD
March 23, 2012
Covering:
Levender MM et al., J Am Acad Dermatol 2012 Mar; 66:445
The Pleasure of Scratching an Itch: A Love–Hate Relationship
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Itch is miserable, and scratching it can be incredibly satisfying and pleasurable. Is scratching an itch more pleasurable in some anatomic sites than in others? . . .
By Mark V. Dahl, MD
March 9, 2012
Covering:
bin Saif GA et al., Br J Dermatol 2012 Jan 13
IL-17 Targeting Appears to Be Effective for Psoriasis Patients
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Free
Two phase 2 studies show improvement of moderate to severe psoriasis with agents that act on interleukin-17.
By Jeffrey P. Callen, MD
March 30, 2012
Covering:
Papp KA et al., N Engl J Med 2012 Mar 29; 366:1181
Leonardi C et al., N Engl J Med 2012 Mar 29; 366:1190
Macrolide Resistance of Group A Streptococcus
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Acute rheumatic fever developed in two children treated for streptococcal pharyngitis with azithromycin.
Fissured Filaggrin Fingers
Dermatology Summary and Comment
A subset of people who had fissured skin on fingers harbored two loss-of-function filaggrin mutations.
By Mark V. Dahl, MD
February 17, 2012
Covering:
Thyssen JP et al., Br J Dermatol 2012 Jan; 166:46
PPIs Don't Ease Asthma Symptoms in Children with Severe Asthma and Asymptomatic GERD
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In addition, lansoprazole raised the incidence of adverse events.
By David J. Amrol, MD
February 2, 2012
Covering:
Holbrook JT et al., JAMA 2012 Jan 25; 307:373
Martinez FD., JAMA 2012 Jan 25; 307:406
Levalbuterol Isn't More Beneficial Than Albuterol in Critically Ill Patients
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Cardiac side effects in intensive care unit patients were similar for the two bronchodilators.
Intermittent Budesonide in Preschool Children with Recurrent Wheezing
As-needed inhaled corticosteroids were as effective as daily inhaled steroids for certain children.
By David J. Amrol, MD
December 29, 2011
Is Acetaminophen a Culprit in Asthma?
Positive associations exist between acetaminophen use and asthma in children.
Nocturnal Temperature-Controlled Laminar Airflow Therapy for Asthma
Asthma quality-of-life scores were improved in patients with poorly controlled asthma.
Intermittent Use of Inhaled Glucocorticoids Is as Effective as Daily Use in Preschoolers with Recurrent Wheezing
Intermittent use of high-dose budesonide reduced corticosteroid exposure.
Asthmatic Children with Viral Respiratory Infection Symptoms Require More β2 -Agonists
At 24 hours, asthmatic children with VRI symptoms had received four more doses on average than those with no VRI symptoms.
Breast-Feeding and Risk for Eczema
This large study shows breast-feeding does not protect against childhood eczema.
Food for Thought: The Effects of Race, Ancestry, and Environment on Food Allergies
Black children were more likely than other children to have multiple food allergies, and African ancestry was associated with peanut sensitization.
By Louis M. Bell, MD
October 12, 2011
Covering:
Kumar R et al., Pediatrics 2011 Oct; 128:e821
Mortality Related to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and TEN Is Lower in Children than in Adults
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Free
But long-term complications are common.
By Mary Wu Chang, MD
October 7, 2011
Covering:
Finkelstein Y et al., Pediatrics 2011 Oct; 128:723
Better Measures of Quality Are Needed for Care of Pediatric Asthma
Adherence to the recently established Children's Asthma Care performance measures is not associated with rates of emergency room use or readmission.
By F. Bruder Stapleton, MD
October 5, 2011
Covering:
Morse RB et al., JAMA 2011 Oct 5; 306:1454
Homer CJ., JAMA 2011 Oct 5; 306:1487
Contact Dermatitis Does Occur in Young Children
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Patch testing should be performed when dermatitis in babies is unresponsive to conventional therapies ..
By Mary Wu Chang, MD
September 30, 2011
Covering:
Fortina AB et al., J Am Acad Dermatol 2011 Oct; 65:772
