Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology
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Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. · Oct 2016
Allergy to apple cultivars among patients with birch pollinosis and oral allergy syndrome.
Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is caused by cross-reacting allergens found in pollen, raw fruits, vegetables, and some tree nuts. The major apple allergen, Mal d 1, is a cause of food allergic reactions in birch pollen sensitized patients. ⋯ We noted a substantial role for Bet v 1 sensitization in the allergic response based on evaluation of the allergenicity of 11 apple cultivars. The sIgE Bet v 1 and SPT results of patients with and without OAS allowed differentiation between low and high allergenic cultivars.
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Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. · Sep 2016
Observational StudyExploring asthma control cutoffs and economic outcomes using the Asthma Control Questionnaire.
Understanding the effect of worsening asthma control on expenditures and health resource utilization (HRU) is important. ⋯ Results provide preliminary economic data on possible control cutoffs for the ACQ-5. Improving asthma control over time may result in significant savings that may justify financial investments designed to improve control.
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Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. · Sep 2016
Outcomes of corticosteroid prophylaxis for hypersensitivity reactions to low osmolar contrast media in high-risk patients.
Corticosteroid prophylaxis has been widely adopted for the prevention of acute allergic-like reactions to iodinated contrast media, but its use is still controversial because there is no strong evidence supporting its efficacy before administration of nonionic low osmolar contrast media (LOCM). ⋯ Premedication with corticosteroids seems to be helpful in reducing the overall rate of recurrence of acute allergic-like reactions to LOCM in high-risk patients, but patients with severe index reactions are still at risk of developing severe reactions despite corticosteroid premedication.
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Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. · Sep 2016
Comparative StudyThe effect of a holding chamber on albuterol metered-dose inhaler product differences.
Three albuterol sulfate metered-dose inhaled (MDI) products (Ventolin HFA, Proventil HFA, and ProAir HFA) are marketed in the United States to provide the same total dose of albuterol sulfate. However, it is widely known that the fine particle dose (<5 μm) is the portion of the particle distribution that actually reaches the lungs and provides therapeutic benefit. ⋯ Ventolin, Proventil, and ProAir should not be considered interchangeable products. In this study, the dose of albuterol sulfate likely to reach the lungs with Proventil or ProAir is 2 to 3 times that of Ventolin. As such, patients with asthma may require 3 additional puffs of Ventolin to achieve a clinical benefit similar to Proventil or ProAir. Because all 3 products contain 200 actuations, it also follows that Proventil or ProAir products may last a user 2 to 3 times longer than Ventolin.
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Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. · Aug 2016
ReviewCharacterization of asthma endotypes: implications for therapy.
To describe the concept of precision medicine in treating severe asthma and the utility of relevant biomarkers. ⋯ Two major endotypes for asthma have been described, TH2-high, manifested by increased eosinophils in the sputum and airways of patients, and TH2-low, with increased neutrophils or a pauci-granulocytic profile. Using these classifications and specific biomarkers has led to promising new therapeutics, especially for TH2-high asthma.