Medscape Allergy & Clinical Immunology Headlines

Maternal Depression Worsens Child's Asthma

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:58:50 EST

In children with frequent emergency department visits for asthma, screening for depression in the child's caregiver may be helpful, researchers say.

Genetic Diversity of the Pneumococcal Capsule: Implications for Molecular-Based Serotyping

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Could a comprehensive immunology-based assay be promising for assessing Streptococcus pneumoniae?

Associations Among Feeding Behaviors During Infancy and Child Illness at Two Years

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

This study provides more evidence that breast feeding has lasting health benefits for infants.

Bacteria Key to Healthy Skin

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:19:04 EST

A study shows bacteria on the skin help prevent inflammation.

Norway Finds H1N1 Mutation in Flu Fatalities

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:05:38 EST

Norwegian health authorities said on Friday they have discovered a potentially significant mutation in the H1N1 influenza strain that could be responsible for causing the severest symptoms among those infected.

Did US Make Mistake in Leaving Adjuvants out of H1N1 Vaccines?

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:05:38 EST

As US health officials struggle to vaccinate tens of millions of Americans against the pandemic of swine flu, some are looking regretfully at one easy way to instantly double or triple the number of doses available: using an adjuvant.

Seasonal Flu Vaccine May Cut Swine Flu Risk

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:06:49 EST

Researchers say seasonal flu provides some cross-immunity against H1N1 swine flu.

Salmeterol Plus Corticosteroid Helps Asthma Patients Regardless of Genotype Variants

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:47:35 EST

Beta-2 adrenergic receptorvariants are not significant in common asthma therapy but are associated with a difference in methacholine response.

FDA Expert Panel Declines to Endorse New Influenza Vaccine

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:46:09 EST

An advisory committee said more efficacy and safety data are needed before it can back FluBlock, which is made using a new technology.

Sen Grassley Questions Top Medical Schools About Ghostwriting

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:48:39 EST

As part of his mission to see more financial transparency in medicine, Sen Grassley has asked eight top US medical schools about their policies on ghostwriting.

Pneumococcal Vaccine Responses Do Not Depend on Age

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:35:50 EST

In older adults, antibody responses to pneumococcal vaccines do not differ with age, say researchers from the UK in the November 1st Clinical Infectious Diseases. The results also indicate that second doses of the vaccine do not improve the response.

Ecallantide Effective for Acute Episodes of Hereditary Angioedema

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:40:20 EST

The investigational plasma kallikrein inhibitor ecallantide achieves rapid and sustained symptom relief from acute episodes of hereditary angioedema.

House Passes Medicare SGR Fix

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:11:22 EST

The House passed a bill that would rewrite the controversial sustainable growth rate formula and eliminate a 21.2% Medicare pay cut for physicians scheduled for 2010.

No Adverse Events Reported So Far With H1N1 Influenza Vaccine

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:58:39 EST

US officials are keeping a close watch for adverse events from H1N1 influenza vaccinations; nothing has been reported yet, but it's early, and the data are insufficient to assess the safety just yet.

H1N1 Vaccine as Safe as Seasonal Vaccine, WHO Says

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:52:39 EST

The WHO emphasizes that the pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine appears to be as safe as the seasonal influenza vaccine, with few reports of adverse events.

Rapid, Sustained Improvement in Airflow With Budesonide/Formoterol for COPD

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:30:47 EST

Airways are opened within 5 minutes with budesonide/formoterol, and those improvements are sustained for at least 6 months in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

FDA Panel Recommends Prevnar 13 Vaccine for Approval

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:18:48 EST

An advisory committee voted 10 to 1 (with 1 abstention) to approve Pfizer's request for licensure of Prevnar 13 to immunize infants and children against invasive pneumococcal disease.

Olopatadine Nasal Spray Reduces Seasonal Allergy Symptoms in Children

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:33:52 EST

Olopatadine hydrochloride 0.6% nasal spray, a nonsteroidal selective antihistamine, safely and effectively reduces ocular and nasal symptoms in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

New Senate Healthcare Reform Bill Features Public Option With Opt-Out

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:03:45 EST

The Senate bill would cost $849 billion through 2019, but it would ultimately shave $127 billion off the federal deficit while reducing the number of uninsured by 31 million people.

HIV-1 STEP Vaccine Trial Failure Blamed on Adenovirus Shell

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:28:32 EST

The increase in HIV infections among vaccines, leading to a halt of the HIV type 1 STEP vaccine trial, has been traced to the adenovirus shell.