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.

12 sites testing a new vaccine to prevent anthrax

The phase II trial will evaluate the safety and immunogenic response of a new recombinant anthrax vaccine, known as rPA102. The vaccine candidate consists of recombinant Protective Antigen (rPA), a synthetic protein that induces antibodies designed to prevent illness by neutralizing anthrax toxins, and aluminum hydroxide to enhance the immune response.

29 Jun 2004

Launch of the Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic Center for Primary Immunodeficiencies

Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA announced the launch of the Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic Center for Primary Immunodeficiencies at UCLA June 28.

29 Jun 2004

62 percent of frequent antihistamine users did not test positive for allergies

A new study in the current issue of Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy concludes that 62 percent of frequent antihistamine users did not test positive for allergies.

28 Jun 2004

A single dose of a test vaccine sprayed into the nose protects monkeys against the SARS virus

The study, published in the June 26 issue of the British journal The Lancet, is the third recently issued by NIAID that describes a promising candidate vaccine against SARS.

25 Jun 2004

Oral allergy syndrome, allergic response from fruit

For some of the nation's 35.9 million hay fever sufferers enjoying one of summer's fresh peaches or a juicy tomato may cause additional discomfort.

25 Jun 2004

Genetic variation that doubles the risk for rheumatoid arthritis

A team of researchers has discovered a genetic variation that doubles the risk for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

24 Jun 2004

Food labels will have to list certain ingredients that people may be allergic to (allergens)

The UK Food Standards Agency has launched a public consultation on new food labelling rules that will mean food labels will have to list certain ingredients that people may be allergic to (allergens).

21 Jun 2004

Cooking with gas increases risk of respiratory illness in young children

Cooking with gas seems to increase the risk of respiratory illness, indicates research in Archives of Disease in Childhood.

21 Jun 2004

Health Canada is advising of a potential risk related to Pre-Pen, a penicillin allergy test

Health Canada is advising health professionals and consumers of a potential risk related to Pre-Pen, a product used to test an individual's allergy to penicillin.

20 Jun 2004

Harmless virus known as GBV-C slows the progression of HIV

Iowa City Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center and University of Iowa (UI) researchers have unlocked part of the mystery of how a harmless virus known as GBV-C slows the progression of HIV and prolongs survival for many patients.

17 Jun 2004

Nurse who developed a life-threatening allergy to latex awarded £350,000 compensation

Cardiff County Court has today awarded a guaranteed £350,000 compensation, with the possibility of further interest, to UNISON member Alison Dugmore (37), who developed a life-threatening allergy to latex while working at two hospitals in Swansea.

17 Jun 2004

New tests to detect potentially fatal nut traces in food

The techniques they developed during the analysis included the discovery of sensitive “marker proteins” that can be used to detect trace amounts of nuts in processed foods.

17 Jun 2004

Soil-borne disease called allergic fungal sinusitis is on the rise

The bad news this summer is that a destructive, soil-borne disease called allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) is on the rise -- at least according to the up tick in cases referred to specialist Steven Schaefer, MD, chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.

16 Jun 2004

Inhibiting the expression of acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) may be effective in controlling asthma

A new target for control of early-stage asthma has been identified by McGill University professor Qutayba Hamid working as part of a team whose landmark study appears in the latest issue of the journal Science

15 Jun 2004

New target for control of early-stage asthma

A new target for control of early-stage asthma has been identified by McGill University professor Qutayba Hamid, working as part of a team whose landmark study appears in the latest issue of the journal Science.

14 Jun 2004

EU plan to reduce diseases caused by a polluted environment

The European Commission has launched an action plan to reduce diseases caused by a polluted environment. The plan would develop an EU system integrating information on the state of the environment, the ecosystem and human health.

11 Jun 2004

WHO welcomes G8 endorsement of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) today welcomed the G8's endorsement of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, a virtual consortium proposed by an international group of scientists that is being established to accelerate HIV vaccine development.

11 Jun 2004

U.S.$2.8 to study a virus associated with respiratory infections

The Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (CEID), based in the University of Iowa College of Public Health, has been awarded a five-year, $2.8 million grant by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to study a virus associated with respiratory infections.

11 Jun 2004

Remicade shows improvement in both the arthritis and psoriasis associated with psoriatic arthritis

In this trial, REMICADE provided a 70 percent improvement (as measured by ACR 70) in symptoms of arthritis in nearly one-third of patients, compared with only 2 percent of patients on placebo at 24 weeks.

10 Jun 2004

Study shows 82 percent of U.S. homes have mouse allergens

NIEHS researchers analyzed dust samples, asked questions, and examined homes in the first National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing, a survey of 831 homes. Allergen levels were studied and related to demographic factors and household characteristics.

9 Jun 2004