The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Aug 2008
Improved overall trends but persistent racial disparities in emergency department visits for acute asthma, 1993-2005.
Emergency department (ED) visits for acute asthma provide an important marker of morbidity. ⋯ Although asthma-related ED visit rates showed a significant upward trend from 1993 to 1998, our results support the emerging view that the asthma epidemic may have reached a plateau. Nevertheless, the higher visit rates observed among specific demographic groups and widening disparities, particularly among black subjects, remain problematic and warrant further investigation.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jul 2008
A comprehensive evaluation of the enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant systems in childhood asthma.
Even though there is ample evidence on the oxidative stress in asthma, there is limited information on the antioxidant defense systems. ⋯ Childhood asthma is associated with significant decreases in various components of both enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant defenses.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jun 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyComparison of adjustable- and fixed-dose budesonide/formoterol pressurized metered-dose inhaler and fixed-dose fluticasone propionate/salmeterol dry powder inhaler in asthma patients.
The adjustable-dose budesonide/formoterol dry powder inhaler (DPI) has demonstrated similar or greater asthma control with less inhaled corticosteroid compared with the fixed-dose budesonide/formoterol DPI. ⋯ Adjustable-dose and fixed-dose budesonide/formoterol showed no differences in asthma control or tolerability versus fixed-dose fluticasone propionate/salmeterol.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jun 2008
ReviewPotential, pitfalls, and prospects of food allergy diagnostics with recombinant allergens or synthetic sequential epitopes.
This article aims to critically review developments in food allergy diagnostics with regard to the verification of specific IgE antibodies and the identification of the responsible allergens. Results of IgE-binding tests with food extracts are hampered by cross-reactive proteins, low-quality test agents, or both. Specificity can be increased by defining adequate cutoff values, whereas sensitivity can be improved by using high-quality test agents. ⋯ Novel technologies promise superior diagnostics. Microarray technology permits simultaneous measurement of multiple IgE reactivities regarding specificity, abundance, reactivity, or interaction. Improved functional tests might enable reliable estimation of the clinical relevance of IgE sensitizations at justifiable expenses.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · May 2008
Acute respiratory health effects of air pollution on children with asthma in US inner cities.
Children with asthma in inner-city communities may be particularly vulnerable to adverse effects of air pollution because of their airways disease and exposure to relatively high levels of motor vehicle emissions. ⋯ Among inner-city children with asthma, short-term increases in air pollutant concentrations below the National Ambient Air Quality Standards were associated with adverse respiratory health effects. The associations with NO2 suggest that motor vehicle emissions may be causing excess morbidity in this population.