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July 19, 2006 |
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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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Stories |
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Distance Learning |
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Association
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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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Distance Learning |
2005 Board/Recertification Review Course:
DVDs, Audio CDs, MP3s
Link
ACAAI Tape Store
Complete Listing
Link
2005 ACAAI ANNUAL MEETING
• Symposia Online
Nov. 4-9, Anaheim
Link
2004 ACAAI ANNUAL MEETING
• Symposia Online
Nov. 12-17, Boston
Link
2003 ACAAI ANNUAL MEETING
Nov. 7-12, 2003, New Orleans
• Two Symposia Online
Link
• Plenary Sessions CD-ROM and DVD
Link
Patient-Centered Allergy Practice
Endorsed by ACAAI, Sponsored by Physicians Practice
Link
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Calendar |
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JULY
7th Annual TN Society Symposium
Tennessee Society of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
July 21-23, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Tel: 865-450-9904
Email
24th Annual Aspen Allergy Conference
Jointly sponsored by ACAAI
July
26-29, Aspen, Colo.
Contact: Kathleen Goldy
Tel: 303-282-0491
E-mail
Link
AUGUST
Association of Asthma Educators Annual Conference:
Asthma and Our Nation's Health
August 4-6, Atlanta
Tel: 888-988-7747
E-mail
Link
AAE's National Asthma Educator Certification Review Course
Association of Asthma Educators
August 6-7, Atlanta
Tel: 888-988-7747
E-mail
Link
SEPTEMBER
ACAAI-HSACI Joint Allergy Symposium
Allergy Update in Greece
Sept. 6-9, Athens, Greece
Tel: 011 30 210 7499300, Ext. 354
E-mail
Link
OCTOBER
12th Biennial Allergy Abroad Program
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
October 19-28
Switzerland & Germany
Tel: 314-362-6891
E-mail
Link
ONGOING
World Allergy Organization Society Meetings
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Top
Stories |
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Obesity may have
bigger affect on pregnancy than asthma
Complications of pregnancy among obese women with asthma may
have more to do with obesity than with asthma, according to a
study in Obstetrics and Gynecology. A team of scientists
from multiple centers in the United States looked at maternal
body mass index and pregnancy outcome data from 1,699 asthmatic
women and 867 controls. Of the asthmatic women, 30.7 percent
were obese, compared with 25.5 percent of controls. They
recorded no significant differences in asthma improvement rates
between obese and non-obese women (20.6 percent vs. 23.6
percent). They also noted no significant differences in asthma
deterioration rates (33.3 percent vs. 28.8 percent). But obese
women were 30 percent more likely to have asthma exacerbations.
Early fungal exposure may increase allergy risk
Infants exposed to airborne fungal spores Penicillium and
Aspergillus may be at higher risk of developing non-fungal
allergies, according to a study in Pediatric Allergy and
Immunology. However, exposure to Cladosporium seemed to have
an inverse effect on the developments of allergies. Scientists
at the University of Cincinnati studied 144 infants, giving them
skin prick tests for 17 different allergens. Next, subjects
received Button Personal Inhalable Aerosol Samplers, devices
that sample air for 48 hours and collect particles one
micrometer in diameter. Overall, researchers saw no relationship
between total fungal counts and positive results on the skin
prick test. But they found correlations between Basidiospores
and nasal infection, in addition to Penicillium and Aspergillus
correlating with testing positive for any allergen.
Study: Pathogenic microbes in asthmatics’ sputum, but role
unclear
A minority of adults with stable asthma tested positive for
pathogenic microbes in their sputum and pharyngeal secretions,
but the role of these pathogens in this population was not
clear, according to a Finnish study in Thorax.
Researchers at the University of Oulu tested induced sputum
samples and pharyngeal swab specimens, looking for pathogens in
103 asthmatic subjects and 30 controls. In sputum samples, they
detected rhinovirus in 6.7 percent of controls, 9.4 percent of
mild asthmatics and 16 percent of moderate asthmatics. They
detected bordetella pertussis positivity in 16.7 percent of
controls, 28.3 percent of mild asthmatics and 16 percent of
moderate asthmatics. Both were tied to more asthma symptoms and
a reduced FEV1. And while C. pneumoniae was more commonly
found in controls (36.6 percent) than mild asthmatics (20.8
percent) or moderate asthmatics (22 percent), it also adversely
affected lung function.
Asthmatic smokers can improve lung function quickly by
quitting
Smokers who have asthma and quit smoking can realize more
than 15 percent improvement in lung function tests in less than
two months, according to a study in the American Journal of
Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Scientists from the
University of Glasgow, United Kingdom, studied 21 asthmatic
smokers, from 18 to 60 years old, who had lung function scores
below 85 percent of their predicted level. For six weeks, 10 of
the participants quit smoking, while 11 others continued. After
one week without smoking, the lung function test results among
the 10 quitters improved to a "considerable degree."
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 A
word from Dr. William Dolen, president
I'm pleased to report that the Board of Regents of the
College has reviewed and approved the latest version of
our long-range plan. Unlike many organizations that do
strategic planning every few years in a retreat, the Board
decided a few years ago to devote a few hours of every
interim board meeting to long-range planning, so board
members and staff are always aware of what's being done
and what needs to be done. As always, Jim Slawny's staff
did a superb job of keeping us focused and on track.
The College's updated mission statement is “The
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology promotes
excellence in the practice of the subspecialty of allergy
and immunology.” The updated vision statement is
“The College fosters a culture of collaboration and
congeniality in which its members work together and with
others toward the common goals of patient care,
education, advocacy, and research.” Taken together, these
reflect the College's sharp focus on the needs of the
practicing allergist, whether in private practice,
academic practice, or other practice models.
The College also is delighted to report that the following
training programs have been awarded Acorn grants of
$100,000 for the 2007-2009 academic years:
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University of Michigan
Division of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology – Dr. James R
Baker Jr. |
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Johns Hopkins University
Allergy-Immunology – Dr. N. Franklin Adkinson Jr. |
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Medical College of
Georgia – Dr. Dennis R. Ownby |
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University of
Mississippi Medical Center – Dr. Stephen F. Kemp |
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West Virginia University
Allergy and Immunology – Dr. Nevin W. Wilson |
Additionally, we had a
congenial, productive meeting with the leadership of the
AAAAI. Details will be forthcoming in a printed edition of
the newsletter.
Participants of the
ACAAI-AAAAI leadership meeting included (from left, first
row): AAAAI Vice President Hugh A. Sampson, AAAAI
President-Elect Thomas B. Casale, AAAAI President Thomas
A.E. Platts-Mills, ACAAI President William K. Dolen, ACAAI
President-Elect Daniel Ein, and ACAAI Vice President Jay
M. Portnoy; (second row) Bonnie Miles, James E. Mallette
Jr., F. Estelle R. Simons, Richard G. Gower, and Mark L.
Vandewalker; (third row) Myron J. Zitt, Christopher C.
Randolph, Bradley E. Chipps, Caroline C. Horner, James T.
Li, and Michael Schatz; (fourth row) Stanley Goldstein,
Sandra M. Gawchik, Kathleen Ruffing May, James R. Claflin,
and Paul A. Greenberger; (fifth row) Michael B. Foggs,
Cheryl K. Bernstein, Rebecca S. Gruchalla, Todd A. Mahr,
and J. Allen Meadows; (sixth row) David H. Broide, David
Y.M. Leung, Michael S. Blaiss, Arnold I. Levinson, and
Stephen A. Tilles; (back row) Bryan L. Martin, A. Wesley
Burks, Bruce S. Bochner, Thomas A. Fleisher, Soo Hee Kim-Delio,
and Karla R. Davis. Not pictured: Dennis K. Ledford.
Dr. William Dolen
ACAAI president |
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Register
for the Athens meeting by July 31 and save 20 percent
Registration fees for the
ACAAI and HSACI Joint Allergy Symposium in Athens
will increase 20 percent on July 31 – so register today!
Allergy Update in Greece, Sept. 6-9, offers the
opportunity to attend a
 state-of-the-art
scientific program, while visiting the enchanting city of
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. |
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Association
News |
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Screening program’s 10th
anniversary makes headlines
As the ACAAI Nationwide Asthma Screening Program celebrates
its 10th anniversary, news of the free screenings continue
to garner media attention across the country.
 Through
mid-July, information about the free asthma screenings
reached an audience of more than 168 million people through
national and local media. A national highlight was a segment
on CBS’s “The Early Show” in late April, during which health
correspondent Dr. Emily Senay explained what happens during
a screening.
“This is a painless way to find out if you have asthma. You
fill out a questionnaire and take a quick breathing test. If
you have a problem, you'll be referred to a specialist in
your area,” Dr. Senay said. This is the fifth year Dr. Senay
has highlighted asthma and the screening program on the
morning show.
Other national media coverage included articles in
Parade, Child, Prevention, Woman’s Day and Shape
magazines. Trade and professional publications have promoted
the screenings, including three items in the New England
Journal of Medicine, along with AAP News, Allergies
and Asthma Health Monitor and Internal Medicine News.
An article about the screening program also was posted on
HealthDay, an online consumer health service, and picked
up by an additional 100 news outlets.
Allergists across the country also have been promoting the
free screenings and the importance of early detection,
diagnosis, and effective treatment of asthma through media
in their local communities. The publicity not only plays an
important role in drawing attendance to the screenings, but
also positions allergists as the medical specialists who
treat asthma.
Put your practice online with a Medem Web site
As
an ACAAI member, you can create a
Medem practice Web site – with tools that can
help you increase your practice revenue, improve patient
satisfaction, reduce your liability, and improve your
practice marketing – at
 a 33-percent reduced rate as a
membership benefit.
By using Medem, Inc.’s, iHealth Services you can:
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Have your patients complete a
secure online personal health record—the
iHealthRecord |
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Communicate with patients
through Online Consultation and Secure Messaging
tools |
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Provide your patients with
health education and adherence programs, including asthma
and other allergic diseases |
Plus, members who actively use
Medem’s iHealth Services also can receive a credit. If you
have 300 of your patients sign up for an iHealthRecord via
your practice Web site in 2006 or perform at least
one charged-for Online Consultation on average per
week during the 2006 calendar year, your 2006 fees will be
credited to your 2007 subscription.
If you have any questions, contact Medem’s Member Services
at info@medem.com
or 877-926-3336. |
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Fellows-in-Training |
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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 73 of the 6th edition
of Middleton’s Allergy Principles and Practice, edited by
N. Franklin Adkinson, et al.
Prepared by Dr. Karla R. Davis, Walter Reed Medical Center
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Copyright
© 2006 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. All
rights reserved.
E-newsletter services provided by the medical editors at Ascend
Media, LLC.
Do you have news, responses or opinions to share with us? Please
e-mail the association office at
enews@acaai.org.
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