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The term allergy encompasses a wide range of conditions; it is not a disease in itself. In 1906 Clemens von Pirquet was the first to describe allergies as a changed or altered reaction of the immune system in response to exposure to foreign proteins. These days the term allergy – medically termed hypersensitivity, signifies an exaggerated reaction to foreign substances.

Peer-referral program can bring more patients into emergency departments for HIV testing

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) have found that incorporating a peer-referral program for HIV testing into emergency departments can reach new groups of high-risk patients and brings more patients into the hospital for testing. [More]

Parents need to protect children from allergen exposure, says Hope Paige CEO

A report released earlier this month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls allergy rates among U.S. children an "epidemic." [More]
Sorrento Therapeutics' anti-MRSA program gets NIAID support

Sorrento Therapeutics' anti-MRSA program gets NIAID support

Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that its Fast-Track Advanced Technology Small Business Technology Transfer Research grant (#1R42AI098182-02) from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a division of the National Institutes of Health, supporting the development of novel human antibody therapeutics to combat Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus or Staph) infections, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus, was renewed for the second year of a two year Phase I grant award. [More]

Study: Breastfeeding can prevent the development of ADHD later in childhood

Breastfeeding has a positive impact on the physical and mental development of infants. A new study suggests that breastfeeding may protect against the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) later in childhood. [More]
Soligenix starts first clinical study for development of SGX203 for pediatric Crohn's disease

Soligenix starts first clinical study for development of SGX203 for pediatric Crohn's disease

Soligenix, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing products to treat inflammatory diseases and biodefense countermeasures where there remains an unmet medical need, announced today that it has initiated the first clinical study for development of SGX203 (oral beclomethasone 17,21-dipropionate or oral BDP) for the treatment of pediatric Crohn's disease. [More]

ALK, AAFA partner to create unique online resource for people living with allergies

In the latest effort to educate and enable the allergic patient to take control of their disease, ALK, a leading company focusing on allergy treatment, and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America have partnered to create a unique online resource for patients. [More]

A growing number of patients learn of allergies only after surgery is done

Imagine what Paula Spurlock must have been going through. Shortly after having a hip replaced in 2011, the trouble started. "I had horrible itching, really bad migraines and intense pain throughout my body," she said. "I couldn't take it. Every single thing in me itched." [More]
COPD patients with allergic phenotype have increased risk of lower respiratory symptoms, exacerbations

COPD patients with allergic phenotype have increased risk of lower respiratory symptoms, exacerbations

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who also have allergic disease have higher levels of respiratory symptoms and are at higher risk for COPD exacerbations, according to a new study from researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. [More]
Phase 1b clinical study data of EBI-005 for treatment of dry eye disease presented at ARVO meeting

Phase 1b clinical study data of EBI-005 for treatment of dry eye disease presented at ARVO meeting

Eleven Biotherapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company designing and engineering novel and differentiated protein-based biotherapeutics for ocular diseases, announced today the presentation of data for EBI-005, the first IL-1 (Interleukin-1) signaling inhibitor designed for topical ocular administration, at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2013 Annual Meeting in Seattle, Washington. [More]

FDA accepts Merck's BLA for investigational ragweed pollen sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that the Biologics License Application for its investigational ragweed pollen (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet has been accepted for review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. [More]
Antidepressants can increase risk of C. difficile infection in depressed patients

Antidepressants can increase risk of C. difficile infection in depressed patients

Adults with depression and who receive certain types of anti-depressants have an increased risk of developing Clostridium difficile, a costly and serious hospital-associated infection, according to a new University of Michigan Health System study. [More]

Study investigates use of sublingual immunotherapy against ragweed allergy

An international team of researchers, led by physician-scientists at Johns Hopkins, reports that a once-daily tablet containing a high dose of a key ragweed pollen protein effectively blocks the runny noses, sneezes, nasal congestion and itchy eyes experienced by ragweed allergy sufferers. [More]
Swedish researchers report simple habit to protect against allergy development in children

Swedish researchers report simple habit to protect against allergy development in children

Allergies are very common in industrialized countries. It has been suggested that exposure to harmless bacteria during infancy may be protective against the development of allergy. However, it has been difficult to pinpoint which bacteria a baby should be exposed to, and at what time and by which route this exposure should ideally occur. [More]

ECMO can be used on neonates with severe respiratory failure until lung transplantation, say scientists

Adults with end-stage respiratory failure and pulmonary hypertension requiring ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) have been "bridged" toward lung transplantation with novel lung assist devices such as the Novalung. [More]
Study provides additional data on why RV144 vaccine failed to protect more people

Study provides additional data on why RV144 vaccine failed to protect more people

Continuing analysis of an HIV vaccine trial undertaken in Thailand is yielding additional information about how immune responses were triggered and why the vaccine did not protect more people. [More]

Breast milk might prevent premature babies from deadly intestinal condition

An ingredient that naturally occurs in breast milk might be used to prevent premature babies from developing a deadly intestinal condition that currently is largely incurable, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC in this week's online early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. [More]
New report highlights factors that contribute to asthma

New report highlights factors that contribute to asthma

There is still no cure for asthma, so for 22 million people in the U.S., this chronic disease continues to be a daily burden no matter where they live. But it's not just air pollution they should be worried about. Factors such as pollen, secondhand smoke – even high rates of poverty, a large uninsured population or a high number of ER visits – can be critical signs that certain cities and states are worse for families with asthma. It is especially true for people with severe asthma. [More]

Oral drops provide a safe and effective alternative for allergy sufferers

Allergy shots are commonly used to treat children with severe environmental allergies and asthma, but under-the-tongue drops may offer yet another beneficial - and stick-free - option for pediatric allergy sufferers, according to a Johns Hopkins Children's Center review of existing scientific evidence. [More]
Researchers reveal how Ebola evades human immune response

Researchers reveal how Ebola evades human immune response

Researchers have discovered the mechanism behind one of the Ebola virus' most dangerous attributes: its ability to disarm the adaptive immune system. [More]

Study: Chalk may cause allergy and asthma symptoms in students with milk allergy

Many of today's school teachers opt for dustless chalk to keep hands and classrooms clean. But according to a study published in the May issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), this choice in chalk may cause allergy and asthma symptoms in students that have a milk allergy. [More]