Pollen News and Research

RSS

Phase 1/2 clinical study of bepotastine besilate nasal spray initiated for seasonal allergic rhinitis

ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced it has initiated a Phase 1/2 clinical study of bepotastine besilate nasal spray for the treatment of symptoms associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis, the inflammation of the nasal passages caused by allergies. The randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of three concentrations of bepotastine besilate, dosed twice daily, in an Environmental Exposure Chamber model of allergic rhinitis caused by natural exposure to seasonal allergens.

14 Jul 2010

UCLA study highlights traffic-related asthma flares in urban areas

A new academic study led by UCLA scientists has found that even brief exposure to ultrafine pollution particles near a Los Angeles freeway is potent enough to boost the allergic inflammation that exacerbates asthma.

2 Jul 2010

Extract of French maritime pine tree bark reduces hay fever symptoms

An estimated 60 million people in the U.S. are affected by allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology. Hay fever is an allergic inflammation of the nasal airways that causes itching, swelling, mucus production, hives and rashes. A study published in the June 14, 2010 issue of Phytotherapy Research demonstrates Pycnogenol- (pic-noj-en-all), an antioxidant plant extract derived from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, substantially improves the symptoms of hay fever.

24 Jun 2010

Scientists develop plastic antibody that works in bloodstream of living animal

Scientists are reporting the first evidence that a plastic antibody - an artificial version of the proteins produced by the body's immune system to recognize and fight infections and foreign substances - works in the bloodstream of a living animal. The discovery, they suggest in a report in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, is an advance toward medical use of simple plastic particles custom tailored to fight an array of troublesome "antigens."

10 Jun 2010

Unhealthy diet and lifestyle linked to childhood asthma - study

Asthma in children is on the rise worldwide and scientists have often blamed the environment for this trend. Britain has more than 1.1 million children and the US has nearly 10 million children with asthma. In a new international study diet has been cited to be a factor that affects asthma in children. The study on Allergies and Asthma in Childhood has shown what many parents knew for a while now – burgers are not good for children.

3 Jun 2010

Top physicians offer health advice to help people survive during summer

This summer a variety of top physicians at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital are offering health advice to help survive the travails that come with one of the most active seasons of the year.

3 Jun 2010

Alternaria fungus produces more spores with increase in CO2 levels and makes life miserable for allergy, asthma sufferers

A new study of the relationship between carbon dioxide levels and plant growth suggests for the first time that not only do plants grow bigger and produce more pollen when exposed to higher levels of the greenhouse gas, CO2, but the common, allergen-producing fungus Alternaria alternate produces three times more spores when feeding on those enriched plants. The spores disperse on the wind, making allergies and asthma symptoms worse.

19 May 2010

Vidazorb Belly Boost probiotic supplement relieves children from eczema

May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month and, though many parents deal with their kids' allergies year-round, it's a time for education on the subject. One allergic reaction to food, fabric, grass, pollen, environmental factors, etc. is eczema, which recent statistics show develops in one out of ten children before the age of five.

18 May 2010

Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research receives "Grand Challenges Explorations" grant

The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) has received a grant through the current round of the funding programme "Grand Challenges Explorations" of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The programme is supporting a global health project for development of nanoparticles that release the vaccine active ingredients through the skin upon contact with perspiration.

18 May 2010

High fat diet linked to exacerbation of asthma

In a new study researchers have found a connection between exacerbation of bronchial asthma and high calorie burgers and fries. Diet and lifestyle have been linked to asthma for some time now but this is the first real evidence. With the advent of unhealthy diets the incidence and prevalence of asthma is on the rise. In 2007, about 34.1 million Americans had asthma, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. From 1980 through 1994, the prevalence of asthma increased by 75 percent.

17 May 2010

Merck hosts R&D and Business Briefing

Merck & Co., Inc. today hosted its first R&D and Business Briefing since the completion of the Merck and Schering-Plough merger. The event included a comprehensive review of the company's late-stage pipeline, as well as the company's commercial strategy and progress made in the integration of Merck's worldwide operations.

12 May 2010

Medication-free home ventilation system designed to remove allergens

According to a recent report by USA Today, due to 2010's unusually cold winter temperatures, allergy sufferers are now poised to experience the worst pollen season in years, with pollen counts skyrocketing and sufferers hiding indoors to avoid exposure. Yet as allergens creep indoors, sufferers continue to cough, sneeze and seek relief. With the introduction of EZ Breathe, a new innovative home ventilation system designed to remove allergens and reduce indoor concentrations of pollen, allergy sufferers now have a medication-free solution.

27 Apr 2010

Spring fever not an official medical condition

In the season of ducklings, blooming dogwoods and open-toed sandals, some people are struck with a mysterious malady - spring fever.

24 Apr 2010

Stallergenes' US phase III clinical trial of Oralair achieves primary endpoint

Stallergenes S.A. today announced the first results of a phase III clinical trial (VO61.08) conducted in the USA on its sublingual grass pollen immunotherapy tablet, Oralair(R).

19 Apr 2010

MEDIHONEY dressings serve as low-cost method for treating wounds in indigent patients

Using a particular brand of medical honey dressing may be a safe, effective and low-cost method of treating chronic, non-healing wounds in indigent patients, according to a poster presented at the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care and the Wound Healing Society, an international conference drawing clinicians from all over the globe, which was held April 17-20 in Orlando.

17 Apr 2010

MinuteClinic helps patients take control of allergies with treatment services seven days a week

As trees blossom and shed their pollen and grasses and weeds germinate in yards and fields across America, allergy sufferers are retreating indoors with seemingly no relief in sight. MinuteClinic, the walk-in medical clinic inside select CVS/pharmacy stores, can help patients breathe easier and take control of their allergies this spring with treatment services available seven days a week, including weekday evening hours.

16 Apr 2010