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Nov.
21, 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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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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ONGOING
World Allergy Organization Society Meetings
ACAAI CME Website
Contact: Mary Campbell
Tel: 847-427-1200
E-mail
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Sponsored
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Top
Stories |
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Exercise may help lower
children’s hay fever risk
Regular exercise may lower a child’s risk of developing hay
fever, according to a study in Allergy. Scientists at GSF
– National Research Center for Environment and Health in
Neuherberg, Germany, followed 1,703 children from 5 to 14 years
old (when the study began) for 12 years. During the first
assessment, parents reported on their children's physical
activity levels. The children who were inactive when the study
began were 50 percent more likely to develop hay fever than
their regularly active peers, and their risk of developing
allergic disease during the study period also was elevated. The
link persisted even when other factors such as family history,
pets, cigarette smoke exposure, etc. were taken into
consideration.
Increasing ladybug species may be causing allergy symptoms
An exotic ladybug species that is increasing in the United
States could be causing respiratory allergy symptoms in patients
whose homes are infested, according to a study in the Annals
of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Introduced in the late
’70s to control agricultural pests, the Harmonia axyridis, is
replacing native species of ladybugs in the United States.
Researchers at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, conducted
a pilot observational study using an anonymous survey. Of the 99
participants with home infestations, 50 percent self-reported
ladybug hypersensitivity, 19 percent reported allergy symptoms
on direct contact with ladybugs and 31 percent reported using
extra allergy medications during infestation time periods.
Teens who smoke quadruple their asthma odds
Children and teenagers who smoke are about four times more
likely to develop asthma during their adolescence than those who
don't smoke, according to a study in American Journal of
Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Researchers at the
University of Southern California examined data from the
Children’s Health Study, a longitudinal study of respiratory
health among children in 12 Southern California communities.
Subjects included 2,609 children and adolescents from 8 to 15
years old at the study’s start with no prior history of asthma
or wheezing. Those who smoked 300 or more cigarettes per year
were almost four times more likely to develop asthma than
nonsmokers. In addition, this increased asthma risk was stronger
among subjects with no history of allergies than in those who
had allergies.
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 A
message from ACAAI President Daniel Ein
presented at the Annual Meeting Convocation
Long ago, in 1966, a young doctor who had just
finished his internal medicine residency was in a
laboratory on the 3rd floor of the North wing of the
Clinical Center at NIH. He was examining radioactivity
on immunoelectrophoretic plates and discovered that
Epstein-Barr infected lymphocytes were synthesizing
IgG. That young doctor was Ira Finegold.
One floor up, immediately overhead, another young
doctor and his colleagues were studying the structure
of immunoglobulins and screening myeloma proteins with
antigens and finding that many have affinity for these
antigens. That young doctor was I.
And, during our weekly lab meetings, we fantasized
about the day when cells producing specific antibody
would be grown in huge vats, the antibody harvested
and used to treat all sorts of diseases.
And now, 45 years later, we have omalizumab, a
genetically engineered specific anti-IgE that we use
for treating moderate to severe asthma — and there are
a variety of what Dr. Phil Lieberman has called the
mibs and mabs, which are used to treat cancer,
rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, asthma and other
diseases.
We are seeing the fulfillment of the dreams of years
ago.
And we have only just begun.
Twenty-two years ago, the College was the poor
step-child of American allergy. It had 2,247 members
and was hardly drowning in either money or prestige.
Today we are recognized all over the world as a leader
in allergy teaching and advocacy. Our membership of
5,215 is at an all-time high, our finances secure, our
meetings attended by an increasing number of people
from all over the U.S., Europe, Latin America,
Australia, New Zealand and Asia, and our journal has a
record number of submissions and an increasing “impact
factor.”
And we have only just begun.
We shall work in the coming year to solidify the
position of our College among all specialty societies.
We shall educate the public about the unique abilities
of allergists to take care of their allergic diseases.
We shall educate our legislators about the need to
support graduate medical education to insure an
adequate supply of allergists in the future. We shall
continue to build bridges to our sister organization,
the AAAAI, to our wonderful patient advocacy
organizations, to other specialty societies and to our
pharmaceutical partners. We shall continue to reach
out to our colleagues in emerging nations, through the
WAO (World Allergy Organization) and directly, to
improve allergy care in countries that need our
expertise and resources. And we will continue to
participate in international meetings to teach, but
also to learn.
We have much to do, but we will do it joyously and
energetically, and, hopefully, successfully with all
of us pulling together as friends and colleagues.
Remember, we have only just begun. |
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Association
News |
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Daniel Ein
installed as ACAAI president
Jay Portnoy becomes president-elect
Dr. Daniel Ein, Washington, D.C., was installed as ACAAI
president at the
 College’s
Annual Business Meeting in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Dr. Ein is clinical professor of medicine at George Washington
University School of Medicine and chief of the Division of
Allergy at GWU Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
Other officers elected were: Drs. Jay M. Portnoy, Kansas City,
Mo., president-elect; Richard G. Gower, Spokane, Wash., vice
president; and Stanley M. Fineman, Marietta, Ga., treasurer. Elected as Regents for three-year terms were Drs.
Luz M. Sison Fonacier, Mineola, N.Y.; Richard A. Nicklas,
Washington, D.C.; and James L. Sublett, Louisville, Ky.
Steelers' Jerome Bettis shares his story at ACAAI Annual
Meeting
Pittsburgh Steelers' former running back Jerome ”The Bus”
Bettis shared his personal story about his struggle with
asthma and how he worked with his doctor to control his
disease at the College’s Annual Business Meeting Nov. 14.
Bettis began his career in the National Football League (NFL)
in 1993 as a first-round draft pick for the Los Angles Rams.
After years of dazzling fans and opponents on the field and
reaching league rushing milestones, many might be surprised to
find out he has tackled asthma control with equal success all
of his life.
 He
was diagnosed with asthma at age 14 after passing out and
being rushed to the hospital during his high school football
practice in Detroit. Rather than discontinuing his play, his
mother encouraged him to keep playing and follow his doctor's
orders to keep symptoms under control. He went on to become
one of the most talented and respected players in the NFL.
Despite having been symptom-free for years, Bettis suffered a
major asthma attack in 1997 during a nationally televised
game. Bettis has faced his asthma head-on, and worked with his
doctors to map out a game plan to help him control his asthma
on and off the field.
"I have felt the effects of uncontrolled asthma firsthand, and
patients should know they don't have to let asthma stop them,”
Bettis said. “That’s why educating Americans about asthma
control is so important to me.”
Register online for the Board Review Course
Register
online for the ACAAI/AAAAI Certification/Maintenance
of Certification Board Review Course, April 19-22, 2007, at
the Renaissance Hotel in Chicago.
The Allergy and Immunology Review Course 2007 is developed and
presented by a conjoint committee appointed by ACAAI and AAAAI.
As ABAI is the certifying organization for the specialty — and
separate from these educational organizations — ABAI Directors
responsible for preparing the 2007 ABAI examinations are not
involved with the course presentations. Content outlines for
the examination are available on the
ABAI Web site.
Board Review Course programs have been mailed to all ACAAI and
AAAAI members. |
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Fellows-in-Training |
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Immunology Review Corner
Welcome to the Board Review Corner prepared by Karla R.
Davis, M.D., 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 82 of the 6th edition
of Middleton’s Allergy Principles and Practice, edited by
N. Franklin Adkinson, et al. Review questions were written by
Drs. Karla R. Davis, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, and Soo Kim-Delio, Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
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