Sweet! Sugared Polymer a New Weapon Against Allergies and Asthma

Scientists at Johns Hopkins and their colleagues have developed sugar-coated polymer strands that selectively kill off cells involved in triggering aggressive allergy and asthma attacks. Their advance is a significant step toward crafting pharmaceuticals to fight these often life-endangering conditions in a new way.

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Mother’s Depression a Risk Factor in Childhood Asthma Symptoms

Maternal depression can worsen asthma symptoms in their children, according to research from Johns Hopkins Children’s Center published online in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology.

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A reporter's PressPass is required to access this story until the embargo expires on 11/23/2009 12:00 AM EST

EMBARGOED

A reporter's PressPass is required to access this story until the embargo expires on 11/23/2009 12:00 AM EST

Have Egg Allergy? You May Still Be Candidate for Flu Vaccines, Says Allergist

As flu season got underway this fall, Dr. Catherine Monteleone, an allergist, noticed that her office started to receive an unusually high number of calls from people with egg allergy. They previously had avoided flu vaccines because of their sensitivity to eggs. This year, with all the attention being paid to the novel H1N1 influenza, those patients want to be protected against flu, and they contacted her to find out if they are candidates for inoculation.

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Does Your Job Make You Itch and Wheeze?

Occupational contact dermatitis and asthma are two of the most common work-related health issues facing workers worldwide say experts. The reaction can be allergic or caused by irritation. There is crossover between industries related to a high incidence of contact dermatitis and jobs linked to occupational asthma.

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Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis Improves Coexisting Diseases

The treatment of allergic rhinitis is shown to improve co-existing conditions including conjunctivitis, asthma, sinusitis, otitis media with effusion (fluid in the middle ear) and sleep disorders. An estimated 50 million people in the United States suffer from allergic rhinitis and it is the most prevalent chronic condition in patients under age 18.

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Tobacco Smoke Has Harmful Impact on Asthma, Rhinitis and Immunity

Tobacco smoke is involved in uncontrolled asthma, a diminished response to anti-asthma drugs, rhinitis, nasal obstruction, and deregulation of the immune system. Active smoking also causes changes in inflammation in asthma patients, diminishes their response to anti-asthma drugs, and has been found to induce nasal obstruction and decreased mucociliary clearance.

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Heating, Air-Conditioning and Carpets May Be Hazardous to Your Health

Damp environments, poorly maintained heating and air-conditioning systems and carpeting may contribute to poor indoor air quality, according to experts. Americans spend about 90 percent of their time indoors, where they are repeatedly exposed to indoor allergens and airborne particles that can lead to respiratory symptoms and conditions.

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Investigators Seek to Turn Back the Clock in the Aging Immune System

Investigators discover cellular mechanisms that may impact the decline of both innate and adaptive immune functions that increase the susceptibility to various infectious agents, cancer and diseases in the elderly say experts.

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