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Contact Dermatitis Practice Parameter accepted for publication
The Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters would like to announce that its latest practice parameter on Contact Dermatitis (CD) has been accepted for publication in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Contact dermatitis involves adverse cutaneous reactions resulting from the direct contact of certain substances to the surface of the skin or mucous membranes. The most common types of CD involve exposure to certain metals such as nickel and to plants such as poison ivy.

Several recent surveys sponsored by both allergy and dermatology national societies revealed that 57 percent and 53 percent of AAAAI and ACAAI fellows, respectively, perform patch testing, as compared to 83 percent of dermatologists in a separate survey. A noteworthy aspect of the ACAAI survey was that fellowship- or contact workshop-trained allergists not only performed patch testing more frequently than physicians without CD training, but also were more confident about the clinical relevance of such testing, especially in the differential diagnosis of the common eczematous diseases. The emergent professional role of the allergist/clinical immunologist in the diagnosis and treatment of CD was a major impetus for the development of this Practice Parameter on Contact Dermatitis.

Joint Task Force report on Electronic Medical Records available online
In response to the need for technological approaches to medical information management and the limitations of currently available systems, a joint report on electronic medical records (EMRs) was issued by the College and the Academy. The Joint Task Force report is available on the ACAAI member Web site, www.acaai.org.

Authors report that on May 1 the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) published its initial criteria and processes to certify ambulatory care electronic medical records systems. The group accepted applications from May 3 through May 12, and is expected to publish a list of CCHIT-certified products and their developers by July at www.cchit.org.

The Task Force consisted of Drs. William K. Dolen, Bobby Q. Lanier, Charles J. Jaffe, David J. Shulan, Dana V. Wallace, Richard L. Wasserman (chair), and John M. Weiler.

Deadline for abstract submission is July 16
The deadline for online submission of clinical and research findings for consideration by the ACAAI Annual Meeting Abstract Review Committee is Sunday, July 16.

Only electronic submissions will be accepted on the ACAAI Web site.
On-screen prompts will take you through the submission process.

If you have already begun to enter an abstract in the system—but did not actually hit the "submit" button—you must go back into the system and submit. After the abstract is submitted, you will receive an e-mail confirmation. Abstracts not officially submitted cannot be considered.

The Alliance of the ACAAI invites fellows-in-training to submit abstracts for consideration for the Clemens von Pirquet Award. Three awards will be given for the best papers on any aspect of allergy/immunology or related fields. In addition to appropriate certificates and $500 travel grants to attend the Annual Meeting in Anaheim, Calif., winners will receive cash awards from $2,500 to $5,000. Award applications are due July 16. For more information, contact diannekubis@acaai.org.

Asthma Screening Program receives $100,000 at PGA Tour event
ACAAI President Dr. William K. Dolen accepted a $100,000 check for the Nationwide Asthma Screening Program from the AstraZeneca Charity Challenge in Memphis, Tenn. The donation was made in the name of the golfers in firstplace entering the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tim Herron and Tom Pernice Jr.

The Charity Challenge is a season-long competition that recognizes the tournament leader entering the final round at 35 PGA TOUR events. Through the sponsorship, AstraZeneca will donate $3.5 million this year to designated health care charities and will have donated a three-year total of $9.7 million by the conclusion of the 2006 PGA TOUR season.

Dr. Dolen with golfer Tom Pernice Jr. and Sheila Frame, AstraZeneca.

Capitol Hill focuses on illegal pharmacy manufacturing of nebulizer medications
On May 3, the College participated in the ninth annual Asthma Awareness Day Capitol Hill sponsored by the Allergy and Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA).

“This year we highlighted the issue of illegal pharmacy manufacturing of nebulizer medications, and conducted meetings with members of Congress during and after the event,” said AANMA Founder and President Nancy Sander.

“We’ve met with more than 70 congressional offices, and now Congress especially wants to hear from ACAAI members who understand the serious health risks to patients and the physician liability issues as a result of this illegal activity,” said Ms. Sander.

ACAAI is a member of the Consumer Health Alliance for Safe Medication (CHASM), convened by AANMA in 2004 to address this issue.

Please let your congressional representatives know you are concerned about the safety of nebulizer medications. Make an appointment to see your representatives either in their neighborhood office or in Washington, D.C. For contact information and a sample letter, visit AANMA’s online Advocacy Center at www.breatherville.org/cityhall.
 

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 71 of the 6th edition of Middleton’s Allergy Principles and Practice, edited by N. Franklin Adkinson, et al. Review questions were written by Dr. Karla R. Davis, Walter Reed Medical Center.