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ALERT ALERT ALERT ALERT
Before your turn your heater on …..
It’s
going to get cool before long ( believe it or not) It seems that when the furnace is
fired up for the first several times in the heating season, the mold and
algae burn off which have been growing on the coils. This brown choking cloud
of dust usually rolls out when you are asleep- you may never notice it- but
you’ll have coughing and irritation for days afterwards. For those with allergies or a possibly
compromised respiratory tract, this could pose a problem.
Dr. Bob suggests taping a product such as
Swiffer® refills over the vents to your bedroom at least.
This product is electrostatically-charged,
meaning it is better able to pick up more of the dust, dirt, hair, and common
allergens than traditional methods, but also traps more airborne particles on
the cloth when taped over the registers. The suggested retail price for a
pack of 64 Swiffers is around $11, but if you check at places such as Sam's
Club, Lowe's, Home Depot, and others, you might find a deal on them. To tape the cloths to the registers, you
can use regular masking tape.
Updated Interim Recommendations for the
Use of Antiviral Medications in the Treatment and Prevention of Influenza for
the 2009-2010 Season
THIS IS THE LATEST GOVERNMENT SUGGESTION –go to http://www.flu.gov for more patient related material. Note: I trust this information. I do not believe that flu is trivial or
that this is a government related propaganda issue. I
took my flu shots – so did my family and grandchildren. This section deals with the use of Tamiflu
September 22, 2009 2:00 PM ET Edit by deletion made …
Summary
Most healthy
persons who develop an illness consistent with influenza, or persons who
appear to be recovering from influenza, do not need antiviral medications for
treatment or prophylaxis. However, persons presenting with suspected
influenza and more severe symptoms such as evidence of lower respiratory
tract infection or clinical deterioration should receive prompt empiric
antiviral therapy, regardless of previous health or age. For the details on the exact suggestions for
the drug Tamiflu, click here
Allergy
Test
Asthma
Test
Top Stories in the news from the American College of Allergy
Asthma and Immunology
Eczema cases dramatically increasing in England Eczema diagnoses rose more than 40 percent
in five years, according to a study in the Journal of the Royal Society of
Medicine. Scientists at the University
of Edinburgh studied
general practitioners’ records from more than 9 million patients from 2001 to
2005 to assess the prevalence of eczema. The data showed that by 2005 about
one in nine people in England
had been affected by eczema at some point, a 42-percent increase from 2001.
Over the study’s five-year period, general practitioners wrote 13.7 million
prescriptions for eczema. The highest rate of eczema was among boys aged
between five and nine years old.
Black male children at high risk for food
allergies Black male children
are about four times as likely to have food allergies as the rest of the population,
according to a study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health that was
presented recently at the AAAAI meeting in Washington, D.C.
For the survey, researchers took blood samples and tested them for levels of
immune responses associated with clinical food allergy. They then analyzed
the results, from 8,203 subjects 1 to 85 years old who had sensitivity to
egg, milk, peanuts, and shrimp. Based on their analysis, the researchers
estimated that 2.55 percent of the general population has food allergies,
most often to shrimp and peanuts. Blacks, males, and children, especially
black male children, were found to have highest levels of immune responses
associated with clinical food allergy, according to the authors.
Dr. Lanier Debates in Warsaw
June
2009 In conjunction with his research
on anti-IgE, Dr. Lanier debated Professor John Warner of London on the topic of “Cost –effectiveness
of Xolair in Severe Pediatric Asthma.” The debate was sponsored by the
European Academic Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Dr. Lanier teaches in Dubai,
Abu Dhabi, Quatar, and Kuwait
June
2009 Dr. Lanier taught and learned from colleagues during June. The discussion centered on Dr. Lanier’s
research on the effects of topical steroids.
This discussion was funded by Schering Labs, makers of Nasonex.
Dr. Bob
Lanier Teaches in China
Beijing
November 15, 2008. Dr.
Lanier was invited to teach at the annual
Meeting of the Chinese Allergology Society In Beijing China. This is the fourth time Dr. Lanier has spoken
at the meeting. His topic was the
classification and management of asthma.
Dr. Bob
Lanier Teaches at ACAAI
Seattle
November 10, 2008. Dr. Lanier spoke at the Annual
American College
of Allergy Asthma and Immunology in Seattle. His topics included the cumulative effect
of steroids in the allergic person, the and anatomy and physiology of the
nose, and the adaptation to a more socialized system of medicine. This is the 17th year of
lectures for the ACAAI, a professional organization of university trained
allergists. He is a past president,
and the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award.
Dr. Bob Lanier Teaches in 4 universities in Taiwan
Taipei
October 18, 2008. Dr.
Lanier was invited to lecture before the faculties of 4 Taiwan Universities,
and to share his knowledge at the Federation of Asian Immunology
Societies. Dr Lanier discussed the
nature and development of steroids for the nasal cavities from his research
findings. This is the second time Dr. Lanier has been invited to speak in Taiwan. Dr. Lanier has participated as a principal
investigator in over thirty protocols dealing with nasal steroids and has
authored 8 papers in this area.
Dr. Bob
Lectures at European Respiratory Society
Berlin
October 4 – 6, 2008. Dr. Lanier was invited
to speak before the European Respiratory Society concerning his research in
the application monoclonal anti-Age to children. He was joined in a panel discussion by
world experts in immunology including Steven Holgate ( England) Ulrich Wahl (
Germany) and Jean Bouquet
( France). Dr. Lanier has participated as a principal
investigator in 16 monoclonal anti-Age trials, and has authored five papers and two textbook
chapters on the subject
Dr. Bob has Olympics insider September 2008- New
York Dr. Bob Lanier is an adjunct professor of The Peking Union Medical
School in Beijing, China. He teaches at the
university twice yearly, and for 6 years has hosted in his home senior
Chinese allergists at his clinic in Fort
Worth for 3-4 months. So when ESPN news wanted an
American opinion on the air quality in Beijing,
Dr. Lanier was called. He also met
and toured with former Olympic Gold Medal (asthmatic) athlete Jeannette Bolden. Jeanette Has an
incredible story of overcoming the stigma of allergic asthma. As a child, she was repeatedly
hospitalized and was even placed in a home for severe asthmatic children. Check out http://www.asthmaontrack.com - you and your children will be inspired.
Jeanette Has an incredible story of overcoming the stigma of
allergic asthma. As a child, she was
repeatedly hospitalized and was even placed in a home for severe asthmatic
children. Check out http://www.asthmaontrack.com - you and your children will be inspired.
Top Stories in the news from the American College of Allergy
Asthma and Immunology
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Exercise-induced asthma rate high among
college athletes
One in three college athletes may have exercise-induced asthma, despite no previous
history of the disease, according to a study in Medicine & Science in Sports &
Exercise. Scientists at Ohio State University
studied 107 athletes, using eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea testing. The test
challenges or stresses the lungs by making the subject hyperventilate, then
measuring his or her lung function to determine if it decreases from the
stress, mimicking the expected changes in exercise-induced asthma.
Forty-two tested positive for exercise-induced asthma, 36 of which had no
previous history of asthma. Researchers found that neither gender nor the
sport they participated in affected the likelihood of testing positive.
Women’s
allergic conditions don't affect their fertility
Women
with asthma, eczema or hay fever are not less fertile than women without
the conditions, according to a study in the American Journal of
Epidemiology. Researchers at the University
of Nottingham, in the United Kingdom,
say women with these allergic diseases may even be slightly more likely to
have children. They compared fertility rates among 491,516 women who were
15 to 44 years old during a 10-year period. Among the women, 13 percent had
asthma, 14 percent had eczema, and 12 percent had hay fever. However,
researchers found no significant difference in fertility rates between
women with and without asthma, eczema or hay fever. And, 20-something women
with asthma actually had slightly higher fertility rates than the same age
group without asthma.
New procedure smooths muscle in asthma patients’ airways
A bronchoscopic procedure, called bronchial thermoplasty, which uses
radio waves to smooth overgrown muscle in the airways, improved moderate to
severe asthma patients’ asthma control, according to a study in the New
England Journal of Medicine. Scientists randomly assigned 112 subjects
with moderate to severe asthma to either three thermoplasty sessions or
their usual drug treatment. At 1 year, morning peak expiratory flow was
better in patients receiving thermoplasty — 39 liters per minute vs. 8.5
liters per minute for those receiving usual treatment. The thermoplasty
group also reported more symptom-free days (40 vs. 17), fewer asthma
symptoms and fewer puffs of rescue medication. The procedure is not yet
approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Mediterranean diet may lower children’s allergic disease risk
A diet high in fruits, vegetables and nuts, commonly referred to as a
Mediterranean diet, could lessen children’s risk of allergic disease and
asthma, according to a study in Thorax. Scientists at the National
Heart and Lung Institute, London, studied
690 children, from 7 to 18 years old, in rural Crete,
a Greek island. Parents filled out questionnaires about respiratory and
allergic symptoms, as well as a 58-item food frequency questionnaire. The
children also underwent skin prick tests for 10 common aeroallergens.
Children who ate a Mediterranean diet, as measured by 12 dietary items,
were a third less likely to have allergic rhinitis. Eating margarine more
than doubled the risk of both wheeze and atopy.
Chlorine pools increase workers’ lung problems
People who spend a lot of time near chlorinated pools have a higher
risk of breathing problems, according to a study in European Respiratory
Journal. Researchers at University
of Utrecht in The
Netherlands surveyed 624 swimming pool employees, measured air quality at
six pools, and measured trichloramine — the most irritating type of
chlorine byproduct chloramine — levels at all 38 pools included in the
study. Compared with pool employees with the least exposure to
trichloramines, swimming instructors had a 2.4-fold greater risk of
frequent sinusitis or sore throat and a 3.4-fold greater risk of chronic
cold.
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Aspirin
linked to asthma prevention in men
An
analysis of data from a study investigating aspirin’s role in
preventing first heart attacks suggests aspirin may reduce new-onset
asthma risk in adult males, according to a report in the American
Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Researchers at
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, retrospectively analyzed The
Physicians' Health Study, which randomized 22,071 healthy male
physicians, from 40 to 84 years old, to aspirin or placebo. Subjects
answered questionnaires that included information about asthma
diagnosis at baseline, six months and annually thereafter. The subjects
who took 325 mg of aspirin every other day had 22-percent less risk of
new onset asthma. The potential protective effect was not affected by
baseline risk factors such as age, body mass index, or smoking. And the
protection also was greater among younger men.
Teens with poorly controlled asthma
like electronic disease management
Adolescents with poorly controlled
asthma may benefit from using the Web and instant messaging to manage
their disease, according to a study in Chest. Scientists at Leiden University
Medical Center
in the Netherlands
enrolled 97 adolescents to electronically monitor their asthma daily
for one month, including entering lung function data at a Web site or
via instant message. Subjects received feedback about their lung function
so they could react to changes and optimize their asthma control.
Researchers then held focus groups with 35 study subjects. Among
subjects with poor asthma control, 65 percent were able and ready to
incorporate Internet-based asthma self-management, compared with only
11 percent of subjects with good asthma control.
Smokers
who have asthma and quit smoking can realize more than 15 percent
improvement in lung function tests in less than two months\ more
Introducing
grains later increases wheat allergy risk
Delaying
the introduction of cereal grains until after 6 months old increases
the risk of wheat allergy. more
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Inhaled
corticosteroids may boost cataract risk in elderly more
FDA: Antihistamine linked to breathing problems, death
Phenergan, should not be used for children younger than two
years old because of possible breathing problems. more
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Preschoolers in day care at higher risk for allergy symptoms
more
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Cutting edge therapy for
allergy, asthma,
 Is allergy involved in your asthma ? ( you bet. In over 90% of asthma –
allergy is a issue) Waiting to outgrow it ? ( so is granny)
Sick and tired of allergy?
Click
for your options
 RUSH
Immunotherapy – get it over quicker? We have a vast experience Click here for the facts and precautions
You’ll find the answer to questions
by clicking here… Click here for the questionnaire
you need to fill out if you are coming in for a new patient visit for
Hives or swelling
 Chronic Cough
 HEADACHES?
Use this thirty question test to get started with your doctor – print it out
“Drainage” Even
if you don’t have heartburn – you MAY have gastro esophageal reflux – click here
Sinus infections? This is the work-up
Polyps – uh oh Click here for the latest news
NEW: Online textbook of
allergy from the American Academy
of Allergy Asthma and
Immunology, The Allergy Report
Xolair
for doctors and patients
commonly asked questions and
practical answers on
Xolair ( Omalizumab) from an experience
of hundreds of patients – and contact with hundred of doctors who prescribe
Xolair. This is not a company site.
Xolair (
Omalizumab) in
asthma
Xolair
( Omalizumab)
in allergy
Xolair
( Omalizumab)in
pregnancy
Xolair
( Omalizumab)
doses, pricing/ unknowns
Dr.
Lanier and Dr. Chang’’s textbook
chapter on Xolair ( Omalizumab) ( Blaiss editor)
Dr.
Lanier and Dr. Chang’s Textbook chapter on Xolair( Omalizumab) ( Lieberman)
Dr.
Lanier’s Allergy
Proceedings on Unanswered Questions about anti-IgE ( Omalizumab)
Dr.
Lanier’s Symposia for World
Allergy Organization Journal on the Possible Risks of Xolair (
Omalizumab)
Dr.
Lanier’s “Risks of Xolair (
Omalizumab) with Parasites”
Dr.
Lanier’s Risk of anaphylaxis
on allergy shots while taking Xolair
Dr.
Lanier’s observation of Fluctuating
IgE levels in patients treated with Omalizumab
XOLAIR WARNINGS.
The FDA has
announced that it had requested Genentech, Inc. to add a boxed warning to the
product label for Xolair. The boxed warning emphasizes that Xolair may cause a
severe allergic reaction after any dose of Xolair, even if there was no
reaction to the first dose. Also, severe allergic reactions after
administration of Xolair may be delayed up to 24 hours after the dose is
given. The FDA cautions health care providers should be prepared to manage
life-threatening severe allergic reactions following Xolair administration
and observe patients for at least two hours after an injection.
Following administration of Xolair, patients should also carry and know how
to initiate emergency self-treatment for anaphylaxis. To view the FDA news
release, click on this link or copy and paste it into your web browser:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01567.html
7/17/2009 A bulletin was
received from FDA on a large safety study of Omalizumab (EXELS)
involving approximately 5000 Xolair
treated patients and a control group of approximately 2500 non-Xolair treated
patients. "The interim data, submitted by the manufacturer of Xolair
(Genentech), suggests a disproportionate increase in ischemic heart disease,
arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy and cardiac failure, pulmonary hypertension,
cerebrovascular disorders, and embolic, thrombotic and thrombophlebitic
events in patients treated with Xolair compared to the control group of
patients not given the drug.FDA is not recommending any changes to the
prescribing information for Xolair"
Obesity,
asthma association stronger in non-allergic women
Obese
women with no allergy history are at greater risk for asthma than obese men
with no allergy history, according to a study in Chest. Scientists at
the University
of Ottawa studied a
cross-sectional survey of 86,144 Canadian adults. Obese women had an adjusted
odds ratio for asthma of 1.85, relative to women who weren’t obese. The obese
men had an adjusted odds ratio for asthma of 1.21. According to the authors,
“One unit of increased BMI was associated with an approximate 6 percent
increase in asthma risk in women, and 3 percent in men.” The association was
even stronger among obese, non-allergic women. They had a 9.5 percent asthma
risk, relative to 3.1 percent for non-allergic women who weren’t obese.
more
Migraines
common among allergic rhinitis sufferers
Many
people with allergic rhinitis also suffer from migraine headaches,. more
Early fish consumption may lower allergy risk
Children who eat fish before 1 year of age may have a decreased risk of
developing asthma and allergic disease, more
Asthma,
allergic disease among kids increasing worldwide
The
number of children with asthma and other allergic diseases is on the rise
worldwide, more
Study:
Early asthma prevention for at-risk kids unsuccessful
modified
early exposure to house dust mites and increased omega-3 fatty acid intake do
not prevent asthma in children with family history of the disease.. more
Asthmatics decreasing prescription use early in pregnancy
A large number of women significantly reduce their asthma medication use
early in their pregnancies, putting themselves and their babies at risk,.
more
Obesity
may have bigger affect on pregnancy than asthma
Complications
of pregnancy among obese women with asthma may have more to do with obesity
than with asthma. more
Cat dander may bother patients with other allergies
Patients with allergies to mold, dust mites
or timothy grass might also be affected by cat dander, even if they aren’t
specifically allergic to cats, according to a study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical
Care Medicine. Researchers from several organizations in Europe analyzed cross-sectional data from 1,884
participants at 20 centers in the European Community Respiratory Health
Survey, which measured house dust mite and cat allergen in mattress dust
samples, and IgE sensitization to four allergens. They found higher bronchial
responsiveness when exposed to cat dander in research subjects who weren't
allergic to cats, but were sensitive to three other common allergens: dust
mites, mold or timothy grass. The authors concluded, "cat allergen
exposure at moderate levels may be harmful to all atopic adults."
Vitamin C, omega-3s may lower asthma risk
A teenager’s adequate intake of vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids may promote
respiratory health and lessen the effects of oxidative stress, according to a
study in Chest. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, the U.S. EPA and Health Canada studied 2,112 12th-grade students from
13 areas in the United States
and Canada
during the 1998-99 school year, assessing associations between diet,
pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms. The researchers found that those
who consumed less than one-quarter of a serving of fruit a day had lower
average lung-function scores. Those who took in less than 5.2 milligrams a
day of vitamin E had an increased risk of reported asthma. And taking in less
than 22 milligrams per day of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with
increased risk of chronic bronchitis, wheezing and asthma.
Supplemental selenium doesn’t improve asthma
Supplementing with selenium doesn’t appear to
have clinical benefit in adults with asthma, according to a study in Thorax,
even though selenium levels tend to be low among that population. Researchers
at Imperial College London tested 197 adults from London with asthma, randomly assigning
subjects to receive for 24 weeks either a yeast and selenium (100 micrograms
daily) preparation or yeast-only placebo. Subjects receiving the selenium
preparation had a 48-percent increase in blood levels of selenium during the
trial. However, while some indicators of asthma severity improved more in the
selenium group than in the placebo group, the difference was not
statistically significant.
Five percent in U.S. report food allergies
More than 5 percent of U.S. adults may have
food allergies, according to a study in the Journal of Allergy and
Clinical Immunology. Researchers at the Food and Drug Administration used
data from a 2001 national survey. About half of those with food allergies
reported being allergic to at least one of the eight most common food
allergens: milk and other dairy foods; fish; eggs; crustaceans, such as
lobster and shrimp; tree nuts, such as walnuts; peanuts; soy; and wheat.
Among those who read food labels, 40 percent reported “serious” or “very
serious” difficulty trying to protect themselves. However, since the survey
was administered, new legislation that went into effect in 2006 now requires
food makers to list the eight most common food allergens in plain English.
Study:
Children with asthma can reliably report own health status
Children
as young as 7 years old can dependably report on their asthma health status,
according to a study in Pediatrics. Scientists at the American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove Village, Ill.,
interviewed 414 parents and children separately, using the Children's Health
Survey Asthma-Child Version (CHSA-C) to measure physical health, activities
and emotional health. The children ranged from 7 to 16 years old, with a mean age of 11.5. The
scientists evaluated the data reported by the children for reliability based
on internal consistency and test-retest, for validity by comparison to
symptoms and lung function, and for feasibility reflected by completion time
and missing data. Reliability estimates for the activities and emotional
health scales were in the acceptable (at least .70) range in all but one
category. Internal consistency ratings were acceptable in five of nine age
groups. Test-retest correlations were high for all age groups and increased
with child age.
Six-shot
series has promise for ragweed allergy sufferers
A
new treatment of six weekly shots may offer relief from ragweed allergy
symptoms for more than a year, according to a small randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center
in Baltimore
studied 25 subjects who reported ragweed allergic problems each fall season.
The series of shots, called AIC, which stands for Amb a 1-immunostimulatory
oligodeoxyribonucleotide conjugate, produced more than 1 year of relief for
14 subjects. In addition, subjects who received the treatment reported fewer
hay fever symptoms and a better quality of life and used less allergy
medication than volunteers who received six placebo shots. A larger study
seeking to enroll 140 volunteers is under way. (WE ARE DOING THESE STUDIES) more
Law moves decongestants behind the counter nationwide
Following similar state laws, as of Sept. 30, new federal restrictions
will require stores to move decongestants behind the pharmacy counter or in a
locked case, making it harder for Americans to access the medicines.. more
Early
fungal exposure may increase allergy risk
Infants
exposed to airborne fungal spores Penicillium and Aspergillus may be at
higher risk of developing non-fungal allergies, according to a study in Pediatric
Allergy and Immunology. more
High-intensity warm ups may help exercisers with asthma
A small study by researchers at Indiana University
in Bloomington says recreational athletes with asthma may be able to reduce
airway tightening during physical activity by starting with short,
high-intensity warm ups. To investigate whether such repeat warm-ups could
improve exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) without drugs, researchers
enrolled eight moderately trained athletes with documented EIB to exercise on
a treadmill under four different conditions. With no warm up, the subjects’
lung capacity was reduced by about 18 percent. After running at peak speed
eight times for 30 seconds with 45-second rests between intervals, lung
capacity was reduced by 9 percent, slightly less than the 10-percent drop
defining EIB. After taking 200 micrograms of salbutamol, lung capacity rose
by 9 percent with no warm up and 15 percent with the high-intensity warm ups.
Asthmatic
smokers can improve lung function quickly by quitting Nurses, printers, woodworkers have higher asthma risk
Nurses, printers and woodworkers have an increased
risk of developing asthma, possibly due to exposure to substances at work,
according to a study in The Lancet. A team of European scientists
analyzed health information and details about workplace exposure for more
than 6,800 subjects who participated in the European Community Respiratory
Health Survey between 1990 and 1995. None of the subjects had asthma when the
study began. The team analyzed exposure to potentially asthma-causing
substances using information from asthma experts. Exposure to substances
known to cause occupational asthma on average increased the risk of asthma by
60 percent. Highest-risk jobs were printing (137 percent), nursing (122
percent) and woodworking (122 percent). Fires, chemical spills and other such
incidents tripled subjects’ asthma risk.
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