Making Sense of Food Allergies
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Food allergy management is hampered by overdiagnosis and lack of consensus on diagnostic criteria.
By David J. Amrol, MD
May 25, 2010
Covering:
Chafen JJ et al., JAMA 2010 May 12; 303:1848
Another Trial of Proton-Pump Inhibitor Therapy for Asthma
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Esomeprazole provided no clinically important benefits.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
May 25, 2010
Covering:
Kiljander TO et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2010 May 15; 181:1042
Partially Hydrolyzed Formula to Prevent Eczema
Risk for eczema in high-risk infants was 45% lower in infants fed partially hydrolyzed whey formula than in those fed cow's milk–based formula.
By Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD
May 12, 2010
Covering:
Alexander DD and Cabana MD., J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2010 Apr; 50:422
Whealy Doses
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Free
High doses of antihistamines alleviated urticarial wheals better than the standard dose.
By Mark V. Dahl, MD
April 16, 2010
Covering:
Staevska M et al., J Allergy Clin Immunol 2010 Mar; 125:676
Briefly Noted
Testing lupus patients for vitamin D, preventive effects of antimalarials in lupus patients, and cell-phone–related dermatitis
New Light on the Porphyrias
Dermatology Summary and Comment
A review of the clinical and biochemical features, risk factors, and treatment options for this family of disorders
By Craig A. Elmets, MD
April 9, 2010
Covering:
Puy H et al., Lancet 2010 Mar 13; 375:924
al Muñoz-Santos C., Medicine 2010 Mar; 89:69
Food Allergies: Are Two EpiPens Necessary?
Six percent of children with anaphylaxis received more than one dose of epinephrine during the course of their reaction.
By Howard Bauchner, MD
April 7, 2010
Covering:
Rudders SA et al., Pediatrics 2010 Apr; 125:e711
Step-Up Therapy for Poorly Controlled Asthma in Children
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Study results, favoring long-acting β-agonists, are in tension with a recent FDA advisory.
By Howard Bauchner, MD
March 16, 2010
Covering:
Lemanske RF Jr et al., N Engl J Med 2010 Mar 18; 362:975
von Mutius E and Drazen JM., N Engl J Med 2010 Mar 18; 362:1042
Continued Use of Asthma Medication During Pregnancy Keeps Wheezing at Bay
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Asthma symptoms were more likely to remain stable during pregnancy when women continued with their usual therapies.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
March 4, 2010
Covering:
Belanger K et al., Obstet Gynecol 2010 Mar; 115:559
Predicting the Course of Childhood Asthma
Asthma morbidity improves as children get older, but most school-age children with persistent asthma will have symptoms during adolescence.
By David J. Amrol, MD
March 3, 2010
Covering:
Covar RA et al., J Allergy Clin Immunol 2010 Feb; 125:359.e3
FDA Warns Against Sole Use of Long-Acting Beta Agonists in Asthma
Long-acting beta agonists should not be used alone in asthma, the FDA warns. The drugs at issue include the single-agent LABAs Serevent and...
Expert Opinion on Healthcare for Homeless Women
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Clinicians should identify women in their practices who are experiencing or are at risk for homelessness and should pursue appropriate ways to provide care.
By Diane E. Judge, APN/CNP
February 25, 2010
Covering:
Committee on Health Care for Underserved Women., Obstet Gynecol 2010 Feb; 115:396
Bloodstream Infections in Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Clinicians should be alert for dangerous infections in patients with these serious conditions.
By Jan V. Hirschmann, MD
January 29, 2010
Covering:
de Prost N et al., Medicine (Baltimore) 2010 Jan; 89:28
Long-Term Effect of Oral Grass-Allergy Therapy
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In adults, symptoms of and medication use for allergy were attenuated for at least 1 year after therapy ended.
By David J. Amrol, MD
January 28, 2010
Covering:
Durham SR et al., J Allergy Clin Immunol 2010 Jan; 125:131
Steroids or Montelukast After Asthma Attacks in Children?
Children who received montelukast were more likely to experience treatment failure.
Th22 Subsets
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Researchers identify a unique subset of T lymphocytes in patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
By Mark V. Dahl, MD
December 23, 2009
Covering:
Eyerich S et al., J Clin Invest 2009 Dec; 119:3573
Fujita H et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009 Dec 8
No Relation Between Asthma Control and Asymptomatic Acid Reflux
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Patients do not benefit from searching for silent reflux.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
December 1, 2009
Covering:
DiMango E et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2009 Nov 1; 180:809
BRIEFLY NOTED
Myopathy-related risk for arterial disease, low ambient UV and prevalence of immune disease, questioning the link between isotretinoin and IBD, and a severe combined immunodeficiency variant
Mind My Itch
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Patients with atopic dermatitis had a distinct and different pattern of brain activation during itch.
By Mark V. Dahl, MD
November 13, 2009
Covering:
Ishiuji Y et al., Br J Dermatol 2009 Nov; 161:1072
Glucocorticoid Use Is Associated with Risk for Atrial Fibrillation
General Medicine Summary and Comment
A large case-control study suggests that glucocorticoid use is linked to AF.
Quadrupling Inhaled Steroid Dose to Prevent Asthma Exacerbations
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In selected patients, this approach might diminish the need for oral steroids.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
October 15, 2009
Covering:
Oborne J et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2009 Oct 1; 180:598
Do Atopic Dermatitis Patients with Eczema Herpeticum Have a Unique Phenotype?
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Certain characteristics were more common in patients with AD and history of EH than in other AD patients.
By Mary Wu Chang, MD
October 9, 2009
Covering:
Beck LA et al., J Allergy Clin Immunol 2009 Aug; 124:260
Levalbuterol Is No Better Than Racemic Albuterol for Severe Acute Asthma
For continuous bronchodilator therapy, racemic albuterol and levalbuterol achieve similar outcomes.
By Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD
October 7, 2009
Covering:
Andrews T et al., J Pediatr 2009 Aug; 155:205.e1
Kercsmar CM and McDowell KM., J Pediatr 2009 Aug; 155:162
Bigger Waist Means Higher Asthma Risk
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Women with waist measurements >88 cm had higher risk for asthma than women in the same BMI categories but with smaller waist measurements.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
September 24, 2009
Covering:
Von Behren J et al., Thorax 2009 Aug 25
Asthma: Would FENO Help Me Know?
FENO testing could help diagnose asthma in children with respiratory symptoms.
