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Medicare drug coverage debuts
Jan. 1 was the launch date of Medicare's prescription drug coverage, a benefit being called by some the most significant advance in the program's 40-year history. Medicare recipients could see their medicines become more affordable due to the new benefit. But not everyone would save money with the benefit. Medicare's 42 million beneficiaries can compare plans at http://www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-Medicare. 

Children with asthma miss more school
Children with asthma, especially younger children, are absent from school more often than children without asthma, according to a study in Journal of Pediatrics. Researchers at the University of Southern California Medical Center in Los Angeles looked at school absenteeism patterns among the mostly Hispanic 528 children at an inner-city school in Los Angeles. Students were labeled as: known asthma, high probability of asthma, and low probability of asthma. The children with known asthma missed an average of two additional days of school per year than those with a high probability or low probability of asthma. Younger children with known asthma missed more school than older children.

Untreated allergic rhinoconjunctivitis interferes with sexual function
Seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis may interfere with a patient’s ability to enjoy sex, according to a study in Annals of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. But successful antihistamine treatment may help. Scientists at Celal Bayar University Hospital in Manisa, Turkey, surveyed 27 women and 16 men with seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, as well as 20 female and 20 male controls. The women with untreated seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis reported reduced sexual desire, arousal, ability to reach orgasm and intercourse satisfaction, compared with the controls. The men with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis reported reduced erectile function, intercourse satisfaction, sexual desire and overall satisfaction with sex. The patients were then treated for 30 days with an oral antihistamine and repeated their questionnaires. After treatment, their sexual function questionnaires results were not significantly different than those of the controls.   

Study: Minorities less likely to receive asthma inhalers
Minority patients and children may be less likely to be prescribed asthma inhalers in early days of treatment, according to a study in Medical Care. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Health Policy studied 3,671 physician visits by patients with asthma from 1989 to 1999. They determined whether inhaled steroids were prescribed, and analyzed information on patients' age, race and ethnicity. In 1989 and 1990, according to the study, minority patients were less than half as likely to receive steroid inhalers as were non-minority patients. By the mid-1990s, inhaler usage among blacks had equaled whites, but Hispanic patients were still lagging. Children also were less likely than adults to receive inhalers throughout the period of the study, despite a small increase among the youngest children.
 

College invites its Fellows to apply for leadership role
The ACAAI invites applications for vice president for 2006-07, treasurer for 2006-07, and for a position on its Board of Regents for 2006-09.

All interested Fellows are encouraged to submit a standardized questionnaire with a cover letter and curriculum vitae to ACAAI no later than Feb. 1, 2006. Applicants for the position of vice president must have previously served a three-year term on the ACAAI Board of Regents.

“The College’s application submission process gives everyone the opportunity to express his or her interest in being on the Board of Regents or on track to the presidency,” said ACAAI Past President and Nominating Committee Chair Dr. Michael S. Blaiss. “The standardized Nominating Form allows the Nominating Committee to fairly evaluate each candidate’s potential.

“Priority is given to Fellows who have actively participated on College committees or programs. Qualified individuals who applied last year are strongly encouraged to apply again,” Dr. Blaiss said.

The Nominating Form will be mailed to all members and is now available online.

Scientific program, abstract deadline, tours unveiled for 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. Visit the ACAAI Web site.

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.

The deadline for online abstract submission is May 15. Oral presentations will include topics of “Adverse Reactions to Foods” and “Allergy and Autoimmunity.” Poster presentations will include these and other topics. The presenting author should be registered for the Congress.

Tours feature sightseeing in Athens, including the Acropolis, Panatheinaiko Stadium, the Parthenon and much more; Cape Sounion to see the Temple of Posseidan; Delphi, the “Center of the Ancient World” visiting the Temple of Apollo and the Museum; Argolis, crowned by the mighty ramparts of the Palamidi Fortress and Nafplion; and a one-day cruise of the Saronic Gulf to visit the Greek islands Aigina, Poros and Hydra.

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.

Immunology Review Corner
Welcome to the Board Review Corner, prepared by Dr. Karla R. Davis, senior 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 60 of the 6th edition of Middleton’s Allergy Principles and Practice, edited by N. Franklin Adkinson, et al. Review questions were written by Drs. Thao Tran and Karla Davis.