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Birth month tied to dust mite sensitivity in children with asthma
There may be an association between the month in which an asthmatic child was born and his or her sensitization to house dust mites, according to a study in Allergy. Researchers at Seoul National University Hospital in Korea examined data on 2,225 10- to 16-year-old asthmatic patients. They identified 1,642 subjects sensitized to dust mites via skin prick testing. Among those, 715 were sensitized only to dust mites, and 927 were sensitized to dust mites and other allergens. The researchers saw a significant difference in birth month distribution for dust mite-sensitive-only asthmatics. They were significantly more likely to have been born in August or September. 

Proposal would ease rules, enable doctors to accept technology gifts
U.S. health officials recently proposed new rules that would make it easier for doctors to receive free software, computers and related services for electronic health records. Under the proposals, such gifts would be exempt from federal laws that limit the goods doctors can receive from health care providers without charge. The proposals would protect doctors and health care providers from prosecution if, for example, a hospital paid to install electronic medical record systems in a doctors' office. The proposals will be open for comment for 60 days before they are finalized.

Inner-city Latinos benefit from asthma education program
An education program designed for Latino asthma sufferers may improve patients' asthma control and quality of life, according to a study in Chest. Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center in New York studied 198 asthmatic adults living in a predominately Dominican area of New York City with a high rate of poverty. The program included two asthma educators from the community who were trained to reinforce the instructions asthma-clinic doctors had given patients. Overall, the program reduced patients' emergency room visits by 40 percent and hospitalizations by 36 percent during one year. Study participants also reported quality of life improvements. 

College launches first issue of new publication ImmunologyWatch
The ACAAI is pleased to announce the inaugural Fall 2005 issue of ImmunologyWatch, a supplement publication to its bimonthly AllergyWatch.

“At the recommendation of the Basic and Clinical Immunology Committee, over the past several years the Publication Committee has worked with the editorial staff of AllergyWatch on the inauguration of a sister publication that would focus on cutting-edge immunology articles from the literature,” said Dr. Emil J. Bardana, Jr., editor of both publications. “It was felt this review would be a useful adjunct to members participating in the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program, which has been endorsed by the ACAAI.”

Journals selected as the primary focus of review in the preparation of materials within ImmunologyWatch include: Nature Genetics, The New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, the Journal of Experimental Medicine and the Journal of Pediatrics.

Literature reviews featured in the Fall 2005 issue include:
• Gains of Glycosylation Account for More than One Percent of Pathologic
   Mutations
• Sporadic ALPS Type III Linked to Somatic Fas Mutations
• Recessive vs. Dominant IFNgammaR1 Deficiency: Clinical Differences
• Promising Gene Therapy for X-linked SCID
• Mutations of TACI Found in Many SCID Patients
• Granulomatous/Lymphocytic Lung Disease Linked to Poor Prognosis in CVID
• High Rates of HHV8 Infection in Patients with GLILD
• New Test Allows Simple SCID Screening in Newborns
• Immune Defects Are Common After Chemotherapy for ALL
• Danazol Linked to Lipid Abnormalities in HAE Patients
• Natalizumab Linked to Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy
• RSV Is a Major Cause of Illness in Older Adults

Based on the response, the Board of Regents will consider continuing ImmunologyWatch as a biannual publication that would complement AllergyWatch. Look for your inaugural issue of ImmunologyWatch in the mail soon.

Register for Anaheim meeting by Oct. 16 for lower rate
There's still time to register at the lower rate! Fees increase by $50 at 11:59 p.m., Central Daylight Time, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2005, for the ACAAI Annual Meeting in Anaheim, Nov. 4-9.

View the Preliminary Program online to schedule your plans for a successful event. Scan the scientific programs, workshops and Meet the Professor Breakfasts. Jot down the social events in your calendar and make those last minute tour reservations. Order your tickets today for the Annual Fundraising Dinner with Jay Leno on Sunday evening, Nov. 6.

Special programs are tailored to the needs of allied health professionals, office administrators, clinical research coordinators and practical asthma educators.

Please visit the ACAAI website: http://www.acaai.org/Member or contact the ACAAI by e-mail: meetings@acaai.org, by telephone: (847) 427-1200 or fax: (847) 427-1294.

Foundation’s Tithe-a-Talk is a win-win program
Members of the College make the Foundation’s Tithe-a-Talk program a success – without having the donated honorarium added to their taxable income. In order for this to be a win-win program, the speaker must submit the "Tithe-a-Talk Contribution Form" to the company on whose behalf they are speaking, so that his or her check can be sent directly to the Foundation.

The "Tithe-a-Talk" Contribution Form makes it easy for you to donate honoraria from an upcoming speaking engagement. Simply complete the form and (1) present it to the association/company that is sponsoring your talk, and (2) send a copy to ACAAI for acknowledgment of your contribution.

Plan to attend the ACAAI-HSACI meeting in Greece
The ACAAI and Hellenic Society of Allergy & Clinical Immunology (HSACI) are co-sponsoring a Joint Allergy Symposium, Allergy Update in Greece, Sept. 6-9, 2006, in beautiful Athens.

This international meeting brings together many of the finest researchers and clinicians to present cutting-edge lectures on the most important topics for the clinical practice of allergy and immunology.

Plan to join your colleagues in Athens, one of the most exciting cities in the world, the metropolis of wisdom, philosophy and inspiration. The modern Athens Ledra Marriott Hotel is the perfect venue for this meeting, with its spacious conference center and view of the Acropolis.

Allergy Practice Tip: Clean Up
Advice from The Patient-Centered Allergy Practice
The HIPAA Privacy Rule says that cleaning crews do not need to sign business associate agreements or otherwise be formally certified as HIPAA compliant. Still, it makes sense to file away patient charts and other private materials at the end of each business day to ensure privacy. For more advice, visit www.PatientCenteredAllergyPractice.com

These tips are drawn from The Patient-Centered Allergy Practice, a CME Series in Practice Management, supported through an educational grant from sanofi-aventis Group and endorsed by the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

In Memoriam: Dr. Melvin Newman
It is with great sadness that we report the death of Melvin Newman, M.D., on September 13, 2005. Dr. Newman practiced in Jacksonville, Fla., for nearly 50 years.

He served on the College’s Board of Regents as recording secretary for 25 years, and as chair of the Audio Visual Committee. He was honored with the ACAAI Distinguished Fellow Award in 1980 and was affectionately recognized with a Toast and Roast. He was a Fellow of the American Association of Certified Allergists and a Distinguished Clinician of the Association of Clinical Immunology and Allergy.

Dr. Newman was active in numerous other organizations including Duval County Medical Society; Florida Medical Association; Florida Allergy Society (secretary and president); Southern Medical Association; Southeastern Allergy Association; American Medical Association; Shands Hospital (secretary and medical staff president); Southeastern Regional President of the American Association of Clinical Immunology and Allergy; Duval County Hospital Authority; Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board; Representative of the Florida Society of Allergy and Immunology to the Council on Specialty Medicine of the Florida Medical Association. He served in the Army Medical Corps with the rank of Captain, 1944-1946.

Memorial donations may be made to the Jacksonville Jewish Center, River Garden/Wolfson Health and Aging Center, 11401 Old St. Augustine Rd., Jacksonville, Fla., and the Dreams Come True Foundation.