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April 13, 2005 |
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Welcome to ACAAI eNews — a bi-weekly aggregated news service
from the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. To be
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Top
Stories |
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Drugs and Devices |
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Distance Learning |
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Association
News |
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Fellows-in-Training |
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Calendar |
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Archive |
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FIT Archive |
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What
FAAN education program is most beneficial to your
patients?
Do you agree with the FDA final rule banning
CFC-propelled MDIs by 2009? |
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Distance Learning |
2004 ACAAI ANNUAL MEETING
Nov. 12-17, Boston
Link
From the 2003 ACAAI ANNUAL MEETING
Nov. 7-12, 2003, New Orleans
• Two Symposia Online
Link
• Plenary Sessions CD-ROM and DVD
Link
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Calendar |
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JUNE
World Allergy Congress
June 26 – July 1
Munich, Germany
Link
JULY
Association of Asthma
Educators (AAE) Annual Conference
July 22-24, Las Vegas
Tel: 888-988-7747
E-mail
Link
AAE's National Asthma Educator Certification Review Course
July 24-25, Las Vegas
Tel: 888-988-7747
E-mail
Link
23rd Annual Aspen Allergy
Conference
July 27-30
Aspen, Colo.
Contact: Kathleen Goldy
Tel: 303-282-0491
E-mail
Link
8th Annual Scientific Session of
the Intermountain West
Allergy Association
July 28-30, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Link
October
New Trends & Recent Applications
in Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases
Oct. 6-8, Taormina, Sicily
E-mail:jbella007@aol.com
or IRConsult@aol.com
Link
ONGOING
World Allergy Organization Society Meetings
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Sponsored
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Top
Stories |
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FDA final rule: Phase out CFCs by 2009
The Food and Drug Administration recently announced that
albuterol metered-dose inhalers using chlorofluorocarbon
propellants may no longer be produced, marketed or sold in the
United States after Dec. 31, 2008. In a final rule, the group
said sufficient supplies of two approved, environmentally
friendly albuterol inhalers will exist by Dec. 31, 2008, to
allow the phasing out of similar, less environmentally friendly
versions. 
&
(PDF)
Probiotic bacteria may improve infant
eczema
Giving allergic infants with eczema the probiotic bacteria
Lactobacillus GG (LGG) may reduce symptoms, says a study in
Allergy. Scientists at the University of Helsinki in Finland
assessed symptoms in 230 infants with eczema, suspecting cow's
milk allergy. For four weeks, the children's food was mixed
either with capsules containing LGG alone, LGG plus three other
probiotics, or a placebo. After the four-week period, doctors
performed milk exposure testing and diagnosed cow's milk allergy
in 120 of the infants. Overall, allergy symptoms dropped by 65
percent during the study, but no differences were observed among
the groups. However, when the analysis was confined to subjects
sensitized by IgE, the LGG alone appeared to reduce symptoms,
compared with LGG mixed with other probiotics and placebo.
More kids may mean less allergies for
women
The more children a woman has, the less likely she is to
suffer from allergic rhinitis or allergic conjunctivitis, an
Italian study in Allergy suggests. Researchers in Rome
studied 1,755 nonsmoking women from 35 to 74 years old, who
lived in four regions of north central Italy. Researchers
reviewed allergy symptoms, self reports and medical records.
Allergic rhinitis was found in 30 percent of women with no or
one child. It dropped to 16 percent among women with four or
more children, the study says. Allergic conjunctivitis results
were similar, dropping from 36 percent to 17 percent between the
two groups.
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 A word from President Myron
Zitt, M.D.
FAAN and ACAAI Working Together
As you know from my previous columns, I believe that a
strong relationship with our lay organizations, including
open communication and frequent collaboration, is
essential to the well-being of our patients. I recently
spoke with Anne Munoz-Furlong, founder and CEO of The Food
Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) and was pleased to
hear that she shares my enthusiasm regarding “the strong
partnership between our organizations,” which she believes
will benefit everyone — patients, FAAN, and the ACAAI.
She believes allergy specialists play a critical role in
the proper diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care for
patients with food allergies or a history of severe
allergic reactions. To that end, she reports that every
one of FAAN's educational materials and press releases
mentions the ACAAI and provides contact information for
finding an allergist.
In support of their excellent work in teaching and raising
public awareness about food allergies and anaphylaxis, the
ACAAI awards FAAN with an annual educational grant. The
following is Munoz-Furlong’s overview of how the 2005
grant will benefit food allergic patients:
A) Public Awareness
To obtain a proper diagnosis and treatment of food
allergy, the public must be educated about signs and
symptoms of food allergy and the need to seek professional
help if a reaction occurs. This year, FAAN will celebrate
the 8th annual Food Allergy Awareness Week from May 8 to
14.
The organization plans to address food allergy awareness
on several fronts:
a) a media campaign for print and television reporters
b) FAAN's Web site
c) local health fairs, schools, and restaurants
Proper diagnosis by an allergist is one of the key
messages that will be emphasized throughout the campaign.
B) Public Education
With regard to childhood food allergy, parent education is
the cornerstone of proper diagnosis and management. FAAN's
12th annual Food Allergy Conferences will be held in the
spring in Baltimore, Chicago and Tarrytown, N.Y. The
conferences provide an opportunity for parents of
food-allergic children to be surrounded by hundreds of
people who also are raising children with food allergies.
The one-day meeting provides a number of opportunities for
networking.
The program includes topics such as:
a) Scientific bases of food allergy and anaphylaxis
b) Latest advances in food allergy research
c) Considerations regarding diet and nutrition
d) Dining out and the daily management of food allergies
Break out sessions will be available for teens, their
parents, nurses, and
registered dietitians. For copies of the registration
brochures for your patients, contact FAAN at 800-929-4040
or
faan@foodallergy.org.
C) Dietician Education
Currently, no information is widely available for hospital
food service staff regarding managing food allergies. With
the help of ACAAI funding, FAAN will adapt their Food
Allergy Training Guide for Restaurants and Food Services
so it is suitable for use by hospital and
food-service-based dietitians. Information will include
tips and strategies to ensure that food-allergic patients
do not receive the food to which they are allergic. FAAN
plans to work with health professionals and registered
dietitians in the field to ensure accuracy and relevancy.
Free copies of this program will be available to
dietitians during their annual meeting this fall.
D) International Outreach
In order to help patients around the world, FAAN created
the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Alliance (FAAA), comprised
of like-minded organizations from other countries. Their
4th annual meeting, scheduled for the fall, will continue
to give international patient education organizations
their only chance to exchange information, form
partnerships, and advance key issues of importance to
those with food allergy and anaphylaxis. Currently,
organizations representing the following countries
participate in the FAAA: Australia, Canada (including a
separate organization representing French Canada), New
Zealand, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Japan, Italy
and the United States. FAAN will continue to look to
expand their outreach internationally and extend
invitations to other organizations from other countries to
join the FAAA, as they are identified.
Last month, FAAN initiated and worked with leadership of
the College and the Academy to develop a joint letter to
the FDA on the Allergy Labeling of Food Products Consumer
Preference Survey and the Experimental Study on Allergen
Labeling of Food Products. The letter included a request
that food allergy experts within the three groups be
involved with the projects prior to their implementation.
After receiving the letter, the FDA submitted a Draft
Study Protocol to distribute for expert review.
In conclusion, to quote Munoz-Furlong, “Thanks to your
support, FAAN will continue to provide much needed
educational services and programs for patients in the U.S.
and around the world. The ACAAI's support will be cited on
these programs.
We couldn't do it without your help! Thanks for your
continued partnership on behalf of our patients.”
As a result of our close collaboration with our lay
organizations, “nobody does it better than the allergist.”
Myron Zitt, M.D.
President, ACAAI |
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Drugs and Devices |
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FDA issues Norvir, Kaletra interaction notice
The Food and Drug Administration recently issued a notice on
drug interactions involving Norvir (ritonavir) and Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir).
"Norvir and Kaletra can each, if used concomitantly with
fluticasone, potentiate plasma levels of the latter, resulting
in adrenal suppression, decreased serum cortisol levels and the
increased potential for corticosteroid-induced side effects,”
says ACAAI President Myron J. Zitt, M.D. “Although the
announcement discusses that fluticasone is the drug found in the
intranasal steroid Flonase, it would appear logical that the
same interaction would be observed with Flovent and Advair." All
questions or comments may be directed to the RCC Safety
Information Center at 301-897-1708 or via email
ric@tech-res.com.
FDA OKs Asmanex inhaler
The FDA recently approved Schering-Plough Corp.’s asthma
inhaler Asmanex, following a lengthy regulatory delay. Asmanex,
which contains a dry-powder formulation of mometasone furoate,
had been awaiting FDA approval since 1998. Mometasone furoate
also is used in nasal allergy spray Nasonex. Asmanex is approved
as a first-line preventive therapy for asthma patients 12 and
older, and as a once-daily treatment for those who have
previously taken inhaled corticosteroids or used
bronchodilators.
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Association
News |
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Members eligible
for free benefits, services from the Medem network
Through ACAAI’s relationship with Medem, as a founding
member, you are able to utilize all of its services with no
annual subscription fees! This is a $195-per-year value that
is free as part of your College membership. These services
include:
• Customizable practice Web site
• Secure Messaging and Online Consultation
• Links to many health plans’ online provider directories
• Secure payment
• Other exciting new services to be launched soon!
Improve patient satisfaction by making services and
information more convenient and available after-hours for
patients. Through your practice Web site, your patients can
request appointments, look up peer-reviewed health care
information, request an Online Consultation, or prepare
for an office visit, even at night or on weekends. All of
these services can improve practice office efficiencies, as
well.
Online Consultation allows you to be paid for your time
consulting your patients online. Recent surveys indicate that
40 percent of patients are willing to pay for electronic
access to their physician. A growing number of employers and
health plans are reimbursing physicians for Online
Consultations because of the time and cost-saving
benefits.
Gain access to new insured patients from most major health
plans (United, Aetna, CIGNA, Blues plans, and others)
representing nearly 60 million covered lives, through links
from their online provider directories to your Medem Web site.
Currently, there are nearly 600,000 visits per month to Medem
physician practice Web sites by insured patients looking for a
physician, and this number grows significantly each month.
eRisk Compliance brings your practice in sync with guidelines
set by medical malpractice liability carriers and state
medical boards. All of Medem's services are HIPAA compliant.
Not taking advantage of this valuable, yet free, member
benefit?
Register your practice or for more information, please
contact Medem’s Member Service Department at
info@medem.com or
1-877-926-3336.
World Asthma Day 2005: The Unmet Needs of Asthma
World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by the Global
Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and
care around the world. The theme of World Asthma Day 2005,
which will take place on May 3, is “The Unmet Needs of
Asthma.”
The theme calls attention of doctors and patients alike to the
need for better asthma treatment and control, and builds on
last year’s World Asthma Day theme of “The Burden of Asthma.”
By recognizing and meeting the unmet needs of asthma, we can
begin to reduce the burden of this disease.
GINA resources this year will draw on information in the
Global Burden of Asthma Report to indicate some of the unmet
needs of asthma around the world. Visit the new
GINA Web
site for information about World Asthma Day 2005. You can
report your activities, download press materials or subscribe
to the World Asthma Day eNewsletter.
Allergy Practice Tip: Picking
an EMR
Advice from The Patient-Centered Allergy Practice
Frustrated by the EMR selection process? There are no
shortcuts. Almost no vendors have EMRs specifically for
allergy. You’ll have to understand your needs and be prepared
to put some time into creating templates for your practice.
For more advice on technology in the allergy practice, visit
www.PatientCenteredAllergyPractice.com
These tips are drawn from The Patient-Centered Allergy Practice,
a CME Series in Practice Management, endorsed by the
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. |
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Fellows-in-Training |
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Welcome to the Board Review Corner prepared by Thao Ngoc Tran,
M.D., a representative of ACAAI’s fellows-in-training (FITs) to
the Board of Regents. The Board Review Corner is your chance to
test your Board preparedness.
To refer to a previous Board Review Corner, click the “Archive”
link in the left column.
Immunology Review Corner: Chapter 44 of the 6th edition
of Middleton’s Allergy Principles and Practice, edited by N.
Franklin Adkinson, et al. Review questions were written by
fellows-in-training Drs. Thao Tran, Karla Lowe and John Norvell.
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