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Outside experts urge FDA to ban
OTC cold medicines for young kids
U.S. Food and Drug Administration safety officials recently recommended the agency ban the sale of over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for young children, including decongestants for children under 2 years old, and antihistamines for children under 6. According to The New York Times, products would include approximately 800 medicines sold in the United States. Outside experts are scheduled to consider the recommendations Oct. 18 and 19 before providing an advisory opinion to the agency. Other recommendations included removing from the market all infant cough and cold products and standardizing the sizes of droppers, syringes and cups that are packaged with remaining products.

Preventing early infections doesn’t increase allergy risk
Preventing common respiratory tract and intestinal infections during early childhood does not increase a child’s risk for allergic disease later, according to a study in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. Scientists at the University of Oulu, Finland, studied 1376 children from 1991 to 1992 who attended daycare centers. Some centers were part of a hygiene intervention effort and some were not. The intervention included several steps, including improved hand hygiene using an alcohol-based hand rub. Children at the hygiene intervention centers had 15 percent fewer days with symptoms of infections and 24 percent fewer prescriptions for antibiotics than those attending control centers. A followup survey 12 years later of 928 adolescents who had attended the daycare centers showed no differences between the two groups in the development or severity of asthma, allergic rhinitis or eczema.

FDA considers behind-the-counter drug category
The Food and Drug Administration is seeking public comment about a possible third drug category — behind-the-counter or BTC. Available without a prescription, the previously prescription-only drugs would require the permission of a pharmacist. The public may provide input at a Nov. 14 meeting in Washington and in writing until Nov. 28.

NIH launches open-access dataset of genetic, clinical data
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced the launch of an extensive collection of genetic and clinical data available to researchers worldwide. Called SHARe (SNP Health Association Resource), the Web-based dataset enables qualified researchers to access data from large population-based studies, starting with the Framingham Heart Study. SHARe is funded by the NIH's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

A message from Dr. Todd A. Mahr, ACAAI Board of Regents

It has been an educational and interesting time these past three years serving on the Board of Regents and also on the Executive Committee. I have a healthy respect for the amount of work that goes into making The College what it is.

We had a unique opportunity to collaborate on an innovative communication platform on XM’s ReachMD Satellite Radio channel (XM 157, having recently moved up the dial from 233) for medical professionals. Dr. Charles J. Siegel, Gladstone, Mo., played a key role in initiating the collaborative venture. The Board voted to explore the collaboration, and Dr. J. Allen Meadows, Montgomery, Ala., and I have been selected to create content for the show. I have been serving as moderator.

ReachMD provides thought-provoking medical news and information to healthcare providers. Understanding the demands of busy healthcare practitioners, ReachMD’s communications platforms are convenient, practical and interesting. ReachMD’s first innovation was to allow healthcare providers a method to receive education in 15-minute segments on demand by cell phone. Clinicians can call in any time from any phone to listen to relevant content, answer a few short, voice-activated questions and receive CME credit in a completely paperless transaction.

In March, ReachMD launched the first-ever national radio channel for medical professionals. In a platform for clinical discussion, news and education, this compelling content is broadcast 24-7 on XM Satellite Radio. The College will soon be offering its members free access to ReachMD’s “live” streaming Internet connection with a special promotion code. Look for details in the next ACAAI eNews.

ReachMD launched a monthly radio program in partnership with the College in May 2007. “Hot Topics in Allergy” focuses on allergic diseases, including asthma, and airs exclusively on XM’s ReachMD channel (XM 157) for medical professionals. The program highlights articles and key studies from the ACAAI medical journal, Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, as well as related literature reviews from its publication AllergyWatch. Plans are underway to feature programs about the ACAAI Annual Meeting.

It has been interesting to interview some of our thought leaders about timely topics. I was able to have a great discussion about anaphylaxis with Dr. Phil Lieberman. Dr. Michael Blaiss is always a wealth of information, and we discussed allergic rhinitis and sleep. I just finished a two-part program with Dr. Steven Tilles reviewing aspirin intolerance and the role of the allergist.

The first monthly programs are currently available as podcasts on ReachMD’s “Hot Topics in Allergy” Web site which also can be accessed at the College member Web site (click the “Hot Topics in Allergy” logo). The podcasts include:
• Diagnosis and Treatment of Aspirin Intolerance
• SAFE: Treating Anaphylaxis in the Emergency Room
• Allergic Rhinitis and Sleep Disorders

Please review the podcasts as they become available. At the Annual Meeting in Dallas, you can stop by the ReachMD booth (no. 534 in the Exhibit Hall) for more information about its programs.

The audience for these programs is extremely varied, and I think this provides ACAAI with a unique position to educate and also promote the role of the allergist. If you have any ideas for interesting content for the monthly broadcasts, please do not hesitate to contact either Dr. J. Allen Meadows (JAMeadows@pol.net) or me, Dr. Todd Mahr (tamahr@gundluth.org).

Annals ranks in the top 100 journals in downloads
Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology ranked in the top 100 out of 10,000 titles on IngentaConnect for number of full-text downloads, table-of-contents views and abstract views.

Annals rankings for the month of August 2007 were:
• 87th with 1,089 downloads
• 74th with 3,306 table-of-contents views
• 27th with 19,559 abstract views

“These data indicate that the Annals is a journal that is high on the list of publications that readers turn to for information,” said Editor-in-Chief Dr. Gailen D. Marshall. “I am most grateful to our readership, our editorial team including associate editors, staff and reviewers and the College leadership for their efforts and support as we strive to ever improve the stature of our journal.

“This is not merely a ‘bragging rights’ issue. All authors naturally want their publications read by the widest audience possible. When objective data place the Annals in the top 1 percent of journals in terms of viewed and downloaded articles from our Ingenta Web site, that sends a clear message to authors that the Annals is a great place to publish. Such recognition will help us to recruit the best of the best authors to publish in our journal for some time to come. As editor-in-chief, I pledge that the entire editorial team will continue to work hard at improving the quality and content of every article published in the Annals — now and in the future,” he said.

Named lectures cover hot topics in allergy-immunology
The ACAAI Annual Meeting is chock full of practical scientific programs you and your patients can implement immediately. Hear what experienced faculty have to say about hot topics in allergic diseases at the College’s named lectures, which include:

Edward J. O’Connell Lecture: Saturday, Nov. 10: “Improving Safety in Allergy Practice” – Donald W. Aaronson, M.D., J.D.

Bernard Berman Memorial Lecture: Saturday, Nov. 10: “Abnormal Antibody Responses: When to Intervene?” – Mark Ballow, M.D.

John P. McGovern Lecture: Sunday, Nov. 11: “Allergy Skin Testing” – John J. Oppenheimer, M.D.

Stanislaus Jaros Lecture: Monday, Nov. 12: “Drug Allergy – What Should We Do Without Pre-Pen?” – David A. Khan, M.D.

Bela Schick Lecture: Tuesday, Nov. 13: “Mixing Science, Medicine and Politics” – Representative Steven L. Kagen, M.D. (D-WI-8th District)

Lester Mittelstaedt Lecture: Wednesday, Nov. 14: “Prediction of Future Tolerance to IgE-Medicated Cow Milk Allergies” – Alessandro Fiocchi, M.D.

Online registration for the ACAAI Annual Meeting is fast and easy. You also can view the preliminary program online and select from a variety of Workshops and Meet the Professor Breakfasts tailored to your needs.

Remember to purchase tickets for the Annual Meeting Fundraising Dinner and performance by world-renowned vocalist and entertainer Wynonna Judd on Sunday evening, Nov. 11, benefiting the Foundation. The event is supported in part by grants from Alcon Laboratories Inc., AstraZeneca LP, Sepracor Inc., and Teva Specialty Pharmaceuticals.

Poster Sessions: A Clinical Connection
As an added feature of the 2007 ACAAI Annual Meeting in Dallas, the College, with support by an educational grant from Merck, is pleased to introduce ClinicalConnect – an innovative approach to the scientific poster viewing experience.

Through ClinicalConnect, the College has created a portal for dynamic, two-way dialogue between presenter and viewer of 30 key abstracts selected by the ACAAI Abstract Review Committee.

During the poster sessions, participants will have the opportunity to use their personal cell phones to dial into a toll-free number to retrieve key talking points presented by the lead author about the scientific research on the poster. This technology also will allow the participant to be sent a copy of the abstract via text messaging or a PDF of the full poster via email. If participants have interest in receiving further information regarding specific data, ClinicalConnect has the ability to send recorded messages directly to the lead author who will, in turn, create an e-mail response.

We think that you will find this innovative technology a welcome addition to the Annual Meeting and hope that you will utilize its full range of functionality. Following the meeting you will be able to access these commentaries of the poster presentations on the College Web site.

Dr. Wray elected by Fellows to receive Gold Headed Cane Award
In recognition of her integrity and high standards of excellence, ACAAI Past President Dr. Betty B. Wray, Augusta, Ga., was elected by Fellows of the College to receive the prestigious 7th Annual Gold Headed Cane Award. She will receive the award on Nov. 10, at the Annual Meeting Convocation in Dallas, sponsored by Merck & Co. Inc.

Dr. Wray was co-founder of the Allergy-Immunology Training Program at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG), Augusta, Ga., in 1978. She served as director of the program until 2000 and continues to attend weekly as a volunteer. She also is professor emeritus pediatrics and internal medicine at MCG, and previously served as vice chairman, department of pediatrics, and as interim dean of the School of Medicine, 2000-2002.

Her numerous appointments and positions have included: past president of the Southeastern Allergy Association; past president of the Allergy and Immunology Society of Georgia; member of the Board of Governors of the American College of Certified Allergists; AMA representative to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Review Committee for Allergy-Immunology; and member of the FDA Advisory Committee for Allergenic Products.

Dr. Wray was honored with the ACAAI 1990 Distinguished Fellow Award, the 1992 John P. McGovern Lecture, the 1995 Bela Schick Lecture, and the 1998 Women in Allergy Award. Her many other awards include: the Distinguished Alumnus Award for Professional Achievement, Alumni Association of the School of Medicine, MCG, 1999; the Distinguished Service Award, Richmond County Medical Society, 1999; the Charles C. Shepard Award, Centers for Disease Control, 1991; the Distinguished Faculty Patient Care Award, MCG, 1989; and the Hal Davison Memorial Award, Southeastern Allergy Association, 1978.

Past honorees of the Gold Cane Award are: Drs. Harold S. Nelson, Joseph A. Bellanti, Edward J. O’Connell, Elliot F. Ellis, John C. Selner and Phillip L. Lieberman. The award serves as an inspiration to younger doctors and encourages them in family, social, civil, religious and professional life to cultivate character that earns the respect and good will of colleagues and the profession at large.

Members in the spotlight
ACAAI Past President Dr. Charles H. Banov, Charleston, S.C., shares tales from his more than 50-year love affair with medicine and looks back with honesty and humor at growing up Jewish in the South, as well as opening the first doctor's office in a tiny Texas town, in his new book, Office Upstairs: A Doctor’s Journey (The History Press, Inc.). His journey — from anxious medical student to respected physician and president of a major international medical association — is filled with triumphs and setbacks, humor and sadness. They include the challenge of raising a special-needs daughter, the random stroll with the woman who turned out to be Oprah Winfrey and saving lives in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Dr. Banov shares these moments and more in his absorbing, often hilarious and always uplifting memoir.

ACAAI President-Elect Dr. Jay M. Portnoy, Kansas City, Mo., was appointed to the AMA Residency Review Committee (RRC) for Allergy and Immunology. The RRCs propose revisions in standards for the accreditation of residency programs and determine if individual residency programs are, or are not, in substantial compliance with approved standards for accreditation.

Have you written a new book? Have you won a prestigious award? Are you doing something that ACAAI members would really find interesting? Submit notable achievements and read about those of your peers in ACAAI eNews. Please e-mail member news notices to joannfaber@acaai.org.

Look for your flu and PPV pocket guides
The 2007-08 Influenza Vaccination Pocket Information Guide and Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccination (PPV) Pocket Guide have been mailed with your copy of ACAAI News.

The handy quick reference cards include the following:
• Indications
• Contraindications and Precautions
• Vaccine Dosing and Administration
• Side Effects
• Talking Points with Patients

The PPV card also includes information about second doses.

The cards were created by the Immunization Action Coalition.

Welcome to the AMA Corner prepared by Dr. Alnoor A. Malick, ACAAI Delegate to the AMA House of Delegates, to keep you abreast of important AMA news and developments impacting allergy-immunology.

AMANews stories broadcast on XM’s ReachMD radio channel
Hear weekly top stories from the nation’s most popular newspaper for physicians on XM’s unique ReachMD satellite radio channel for medical professionals (XM157). ReachMD features four daily segments of exclusive content from American Medical News (AMNews), published by the AMA. Engaging interviews with physicians quoted in the most recent AMANews articles cover top health issues such as health system reform, Medicare, physician shortages and other professional issues. View the schedule on ReachMD’s American Medical News Web site.

Contact Congress—new law could add to loan debt burden
A key provision in a new education financing law could adversely affect loan repayments for up to 67 percent of resident physicians. The AMA urges all medical students and early career physicians to call on members of Congress to fix this problem.

At issue is the recent elimination of the “20/220” rule—a regulation that enabled many resident physicians to qualify for economic hardship deferment and defer payment for three years without accruing interest on subsidized loans. Residents qualified if their debt burden was greater than 20 percent of their income, and if their income minus their debt burden was not greater than 220 percent of the federal poverty level.

As part of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (H.R. 2699), which was signed into law Sept. 27 and took effect Oct. 1, the 20/220 rule no longer exists. Instead, under a new program, loan repayments would be capped at 15 percent of the borrower’s income that is above 150 percent of the federal poverty level. But the new program does not begin until July 1, 2009.

AMA Foundation seeks everyday heroes in medicine
Recognizing the extraordinary efforts of leaders in the medical community, the AMA Foundation honors those who go beyond the call of duty to improve the nation’s health. With that, the AMA Foundation, in association with the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative, honors a select group of physicians and medical students who represent the highest standards of volunteerism, public service and leadership each year. The awards will be presented at the AMA Foundation Excellence in Medicine Awards banquet March 31, 2008, in Washington, D.C. Nominations are due Dec. 7.

Board Review Corner
Welcome to the Board Review Corner prepared by Soo Kim-Delio, 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 “FIT Archive” link in the left column.

Review Questions: Chapter 11 of Pediatric Allergy: Principles & Practices, edited by Donald Y.M. Leung, et al. Review questions were written by Drs. Bret Haymore and Jiun Yoon, Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Copyright © 2007 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. All rights reserved.
ACAAI eNews is sent as a membership benefit of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
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Do you have news, responses or opinions to share with us? Please e-mail the association office at enews@acaai.org