Asthma News and Research

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Asthma is a common inflammatory disease affecting the airways that leads to shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. Symptoms range from mild to severe but are generally manageable with appropriate treatment.

Study links genetic variation, wheezing illness to childhood asthma risk

About 90 percent of children with two copies of a common genetic variation and who wheezed when they caught a cold early in life went on to develop asthma by age 6, according to a study to be published March 28 by the New England Journal of Medicine.

28 Mar 2013

Review article shows sublingual immunotherapy may be useful for allergic rhinitis, asthma

In an examination of a type of treatment for allergic rhinitis and asthma that is used in Europe but not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, researchers found moderate strength in the evidence from previous studies to support the use of sublingual immunotherapy for the treatment of these conditions, according to an article in the March 27 issue of JAMA.

27 Mar 2013

Oral drops are good for treating symptoms of allergies, allergic asthma in some people: Review

A scientific review of 63 published studies affirms that putting small amounts of purified grasses, ragweed, dust mites, pollen and mold, in liquid drops under the tongue is a safe and effective alternative to weekly injections of those allergens or the use of other medications, in treating symptoms of allergies and allergic asthma in some people.

27 Mar 2013

Presence of certain bacteria in stomach microbiota can prevent pathology from H. pylori

Mice with different naturally occurring stomach bacteria have distinct susceptibilities to disease caused by Helicobacter pylori, the well-known cause of ulcers in humans, according to a study published online ahead of print in the journal Infection and Immunity.

26 Mar 2013

BioCryst starts BCX4161 Phase 1 clinical trial for treatment of hereditary angioedema

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of orally-administered BCX4161 in healthy volunteers.

25 Mar 2013

Researchers develop new device to battle against secondhand tobacco smoke

Dartmouth researchers have taken an important step in the ongoing battle against secondhand tobacco smoke. They have pioneered the development of a breakthrough device that can immediately detect the presence of secondhand smoke and even third-hand smoke.

25 Mar 2013

Research findings could lead to new therapeutic strategy for heart failure

New research from UC Davis published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that blocking an enzyme that promotes inflammation can prevent the tissue damage following a heart attack that often leads to heart failure.

24 Mar 2013

Study: Drug normally used to treat severe bronchial asthma beneficial for chronic urticaria sufferers

An international study involving dermatologists from the Hospital del Mar and Spanish subjects has concluded that a drug normally used to treat severe bronchial asthma caused by allergies (Omalizumab) rapidly eliminates the symptoms of spontaneous chronic urticaria, a development that it is expected will significantly improve the quality of life of chronic urticaria sufferers.

21 Mar 2013

Genetically modified tomatoes mimic actions of good cholesterol

UCLA researchers have genetically engineered tomatoes to produce a peptide that mimics the actions of good cholesterol when consumed.

20 Mar 2013

Toddlers exposed to methamphetamine have abnormal response to stressful situations

Some 2-year-olds whose moms used methamphetamine during pregnancy may have an abnormal response to stressful situations, according to a study in the May issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

20 Mar 2013

Study finds significant variation over diuretics use in BPD patients

Even though there is little data to support the extended use of diuretic medications to help reduce fluid build-up in the lungs of premature infants, researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital have found significant variation in how babies receive these medications at hospitals across the nation.

20 Mar 2013

State roundup: Minn. nurses give on staff levels for study

A selection of health policy news from California, Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, Minnesota and Oregon.

19 Mar 2013

Cytomegalovirus employs a novel trick to hide from immune detection

A virus that most people have probably never heard of, yet most of us carry, is the number 1 infectious cause of congenital birth defects. One in 750 children are born with, or develop, permanent disabilities such as hearing loss or brain damage as a result of CMV (cytomegalovirus) infection in the womb.

17 Mar 2013

Women’s health before pregnancy influences health of fetus and mother-to-be: Study

A woman's health status before pregnancy is critical for the health and wellbeing of the fetus and mother-to-be. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has set Healthy People 2020 national objectives for women of reproductive age, and young women are making important gains toward achieving some of those health goals, while some trends are less encouraging, as reported in a study published in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

15 Mar 2013

Research finding aids efforts toward cytomegalovirus vaccine

A virus most people probably have never heard of, but that the majority of us carry, is the No. 1 infectious cause of congenital birth defects in the U.S. today. Because of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection during in utero development, 1 in 750 children are born with or develop permanent disabilities such as hearing loss or brain damage.

14 Mar 2013

Research findings have potential implications for treating human infections

Half of the world's human population is infected with the stomach bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, yet it causes disease in only about 10 percent of those infected. Other bacteria living in the stomach may be a key factor in whether or not H. pylori causes disease, according to a new study led by scientists at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

14 Mar 2013

Obesity during pregnancy linked with increased risk of frequent wheezing in children

The fact that excess weight during pregnancy has negative consequences is not new information. A new study now concludes that the children of mothers obese before falling pregnant are four times more likely to have frequent wheezing, which is one of the symptoms of asthma, compared to the children of mothers weighing a normal weight.

11 Mar 2013

Urinary bisphenol A levels linked to asthma risk in children

Results from a US study suggest that urinary levels of the chemical bisphenol A are positively associated with wheeze and asthma risk in young children.

8 Mar 2013

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) inflammatory subtypes: an interview with Dr Vanessa McDonald, University of Newcastle, Australia

COPD is defined as a preventable and treatable disease associated with significant extrapulmonary consequences that may contribute to severity. The pulmonary component of COPD is characterised by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. The airflow limitation is usually progressive with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles (GOLD Strategy Document). Airflow obstruction in COPD is not highly variable and largely irreversible.

8 Mar 2013

Two asthma medications combined in one inhaler more effective than recommended treatment

Two large randomised trials published to coincide with the launch of The Lancet Respiratory Medicine provide compelling new evidence that using two types of common asthma medications combined in one inhaler for both preventive and rescue treatment (Single inhaler Maintenance and Reliever Therapy; SMART) is more effective at reducing attacks than guideline-based treatment in adults whose asthma is not well controlled, and is safe and well tolerated.

5 Mar 2013

Asthma News and Research

Further Reading

Study links genetic variation, wheezing illness to childhood asthma risk

Review article shows sublingual immunotherapy may be useful for allergic rhinitis, asthma

Oral drops are good for treating symptoms of allergies, allergic asthma in some people: Review

Presence of certain bacteria in stomach microbiota can prevent pathology from H. pylori

BioCryst starts BCX4161 Phase 1 clinical trial for treatment of hereditary angioedema

Researchers develop new device to battle against secondhand tobacco smoke

Research findings could lead to new therapeutic strategy for heart failure

Study: Drug normally used to treat severe bronchial asthma beneficial for chronic urticaria sufferers

Genetically modified tomatoes mimic actions of good cholesterol

Toddlers exposed to methamphetamine have abnormal response to stressful situations

Study finds significant variation over diuretics use in BPD patients

State roundup: Minn. nurses give on staff levels for study

Cytomegalovirus employs a novel trick to hide from immune detection

Women’s health before pregnancy influences health of fetus and mother-to-be: Study

Research finding aids efforts toward cytomegalovirus vaccine

Research findings have potential implications for treating human infections

Obesity during pregnancy linked with increased risk of frequent wheezing in children

Urinary bisphenol A levels linked to asthma risk in children

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) inflammatory subtypes: an interview with Dr Vanessa McDonald, University of Newcastle, Australia

Two asthma medications combined in one inhaler more effective than recommended treatment

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