Allergy News and Research

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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.

‘Bureaucratic ninjas’ slice red-tape to battle health disparities

When a receptionist hands out a form to fill out at a doctor’s office, the questions are usually about medical issues: What’s the visit for? Are you allergic to anything? Up to date on vaccines?

7 Aug 2017

Tackling food allergies: is immunotherapy the answer?

Food allergies affect approximately 8% of school children in the United States and the United Kingdom. The highest prevalence of food allergies is in Australia affecting approximately 10% of young children. It is lower in the developing world.

7 Aug 2017

Protein that protects fetus during pregnancy could help treat atopic dermatitis

A protein which protects the fetus during pregnancy, HLA-G1, shows high potential for treating atopic dermatitis and other related diseases.

4 Aug 2017

FDA approves fixed dose combination chemotherapy for subtypes of AML that have poor survival outcomes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday approved Vyxeos - a fixed dose combination chemotherapy for the treatment of adults with two types of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The types of AML that would be treated with Vyxeos include newly diagnosed therapy-related AML (t-AML) and AML with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC). Vyxeos is a fixed-combination of the chemotherapy drugs daunorubicin and cytarabine.

3 Aug 2017

UM SOM awarded $2.47 million grant to develop vaccine against Shigella, ETEC infections

The University of Maryland School of Medicine has been awarded a three-year, $2.47 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to develop a vaccine to protect against Shigella and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), pathogens which are among the leading causes of diarrheal diseases in young children in developing countries and a common cause of "traveler's diarrhea" among travelers to these countries.

3 Aug 2017

Anti-allergy medicines may be effective treatment for deadly blood clots in the legs

Common anti-allergy medicines could prove to be an effective treatment for potentially fatal blood clots in the legs, according to new research by the University of Birmingham.

2 Aug 2017

InDevR gets NIAID support for verification, validation studies on new potency test for influenza viruses

InDevR, Inc., an innovative life science company dedicated to improving biopharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing, announced support from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, for verification and validation studies on a new potency test for influenza viruses with pandemic potential.

2 Aug 2017

Biomedical researcher wins $1.9 million federal grant to develop enhanced influenza vaccines

Dr. Sang-Moo Kang, professor in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University, has renewed a four-year, $1.9 million federal grant to develop influenza vaccines that offer enhanced protection against a broad range of influenza virus strains.

31 Jul 2017

Immune system may wage a battle in Parkinson’s disease

A new study suggests that T cells, which help the body's immune system recognize friend from foe, may play an important role in Parkinson's disease (PD).

27 Jul 2017

New approach may improve translation of immunological research findings

Mouse models have advanced our understanding of immune function and disease in many ways but they have failed to account for the natural diversity in human immune responses.

27 Jul 2017

Dermatologists find increasing incidence of reaction to black henna tattoos

Dermatologists agree that incidences of black henna reactions are on the rise. Out of the 288 dermatologists who took part in the recent Skin Health Alliance 2017 Dermatologist Survey, 72% thought the incidence of patients with a reaction to black henna temporary tattoos is increasing year on year.

26 Jul 2017

Hydrogel-based capsules may help patients adhere to medications

Around half of all medications for chronic diseases are not taken as prescribed, costing the U.S. health care system more than $100 billion in avoidable hospital stays each year.

25 Jul 2017

Transgender women cite harmful drug interactions as reason for not taking anti-HIV medications

Transgender women -- people whose birth certificates indicate or once indicated male sex but who identify as women -- are at high risk of HIV acquisition, and thus are a key population for HIV prevention and treatment efforts.

24 Jul 2017

MIT engineers design new gel coatings that may lead to better medical devices

Catheters, intravenous lines, and other types of surgical tubing are a medical necessity for managing a wide range of diseases. But a patient's experience with such devices is rarely a comfortable one.

19 Jul 2017

Experts explore effective ways to diagnose and treat asthma

What are the best ways to diagnose and manage asthma in adults? This can be tricky because asthma can stem from several causes and treatment often depends on what is triggering the asthma.

19 Jul 2017

Nagoya University researchers define new category of genetic skin diseases

Nagoya University-led team reviews skin diseases to define a new type of genetic-based inflammation for improving diagnosis and treatment of rare skin conditions.

13 Jul 2017

Study finds fewer than half the children receive epinephrine prior to arriving at ED

Anyone suffering a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) should receive epinephrine as quickly as possible. A new study showed that even kids who were prescribed an epinephrine auto injector didn't receive the life-saving medication when they needed it.

12 Jul 2017

Tulane University receives $12 million NIH grant to develop drug and vaccine against Lassa fever

The National Institutes of Health has awarded Tulane University more than $12 million to test a promising drug treatment against Lassa fever and develop a vaccine against the deadly disease endemic in parts of West Africa.

11 Jul 2017

BSACI to publish updated guidance on diagnosis, management of allergic and non-allergic rhinitis

The Standards of Care Committee of the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology is to publish updated guidance on the diagnosis and management of allergic and non-allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is common and affects between 10-15% of children and 26% of adults in the UK.

10 Jul 2017

Maternal sugar intake during pregnancy may increase allergy risk in offspring

Findings from the 'Children of the 90s' released this week suggest that a high maternal sugar intake during pregnancy may increase the risk of the child developing allergies. There was a strong positive association between intake of free sugars during pregnancy and the development of allergy and allergic asthma in offspring.

7 Jul 2017