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Infant rash could be atopic dermatitis predictor
Babies who develop rashes on their arms and joints are most likely to develop atopic dermatitis by 3 years old, according to a study in Archives of Dermatology. Researchers at Copenhagen (Denmark) University Hospital followed 356 infants born to mothers with a history of asthma, examining the infants at one month and every six months thereafter, or more if they reported worsening skin or respiratory symptoms. Of those, 44 percent developed atopic dermatitis by age 3. Early arm and joint rashes were most likely to predict later atopic dermatitis. Head and neck rashes were associated with a lower skin disease risk. The researchers found no association between early diaper rashes and later atopic dermatitis.

Inhaled corticosteroids help young kids, but don’t prevent asthma
Two recent studies in the New England Journal of Medicine report inhaled corticosteroids can reduce breathing problems in infants and young children. However, both studies found inhaled corticosteroids don't change the course of the disease in young children. Danish researchers at Copenhagen University Hospital included 411 babies with physician-diagnosed asthma and found that inhaled corticosteroids were effective in treating asthma symptoms, but once stopped, had no long-lasting effects. The other study, by researchers at the University of Arizona, who enrolled 285 2- and-3-year-olds with high risk for asthma, recorded benefits to using inhaled corticosteroid therapy to control symptoms, and also found no long-term effects from inhaled corticosteroids on the course of the disease.  &

Study links corticosteroids, possible cardiac arrhythmia risk
High doses of corticosteroid drugs may increase the risk for an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, according to a Dutch study in Archives of Internal Medicine. Researchers at Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, examined data about nearly 8,000 subjects age 55 and older. They followed the subjects from 1990 to 2000, or until they developed atrial fibrillation or died. During the 10 years, 435 people developed atrial fibrillation, and 385 of them were examined further. The results indicated that subjects who began high-dose corticosteroids within one month of the study’s start had six times the risk of developing atrial fibrillation compared with subjects who had never taken corticosteroids.

Low vitamin C, manganese intake up asthma risk
People who have symptomatic asthma eat less fruit and consume less vitamin C and manganese than people without asthma, according to a study in Thorax. British researchers at Medical Research Council in Cambridge, United Kingdom, compared the diets of 515 adults diagnosed with asthma (one-third of whom reported having no symptoms in the past year) with 515 similar adults without asthma. All reported their food intake over a one-week period. On average, the asthma subjects ate 132.1 grams of fruit each day, compared with the control subjects’ 149.1 grams. Subjects who ate at least 46.3 grams of citrus each day had about half the risk of having asthma with symptoms compared with those who ate no citrus fruit at all. Lower vitamin C and manganese intake were linked to an increased symptomatic asthma risk, while symptomatic asthma subjects had significantly lower levels of plasma vitamin C than control subjects.

Faculty development program established to improve teaching skills
The College leadership is excited to offer an opportunity to improve your teaching and mentoring skills. The ACAAI is committed to these endeavors, because quality teaching will lead to quality allergists. If you like to teach — or think you might like to teach sometime — the College has a new home for you!

“We feel that this program will be of interest to academic physicians from the junior faculty level to the program directors, and to those who intermittently volunteer to teach,” said ACAAI Regent Dr. Bryan L. Martin, who is spearheading its establishment.

“Some of the best discussions occur when teachers of all levels from many parts of the country come together to discuss common goals and novel approaches to teaching. Anyone interested in academic medicine or becoming involved in any aspect of this area, should plan to attend the Faculty Development Orientation Meeting, in Philadelphia, to help determine the goals and objectives,” Dr. Martin said. “If you are unable to attend this meeting, we still want to hear from you and keep you informed of future programs.”

Membership needs for faculty development will be discussed at the orientation meeting, held from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 10. If you are interested in faculty development but are unable to attend the orientation meeting, e-mail diannekubis@acaai.org with your name and e-mail address. We invite your comments and suggestions.

“The College has already begun work on this project. In addition to the orientation meeting, we are planning several special workshops on faculty development at the College meeting in Philadelphia. A number of computer workshops also will be offered to improve teaching materials,” Dr. Martin said.

Look for news about the Faculty Development Section in future issues of ACAAI News and ACAAI eNews.

Mark your calendar to attend Peter Nero and the Philly Pops concert
The 2006 ACAAI annual Fundraising Dinner will feature a private concert by Peter Nero and the Philly Pops on Sunday, Nov. 12.

Two time-Grammy Award winner Peter Nero and his unrivaled Philly Pops orchestra, blend all musical genres – from great classics to jazz improvisation, big band to Broadway hits, ragtime to rock ’n’ roll. Nero has built an impressive career as a conductor, arranger, composer, and master pianist. The variety and originality of Peter Nero and the Philly Pops concerts have produced continuously growing, loyal audiences with sold-out houses.

Net proceeds for the Foundation will help fund Young Faculty Support Awards, Scholars Return Awards, and the Consortium on Children’s Asthma Camps.

The concert venue is the state-of-the-art, world-class Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts on Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts.

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