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September 2, 2009 |
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Welcome to ACAAI eNews - a monthly aggregated news
service from the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. To be
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Top Stories |
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Drugs and Devices |
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Association News |
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Fellows-in-Training |
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Periodicals |
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Calendar |
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Archive |
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FIT Archive |
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Distance
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Conferences
On Line Allergy Initiative (COLA)
2008 ACAAI Annual Meeting CME Symposium
2008 ACAAI Annual Meeting Podcasts and Vodcasts
2008 ACAAI/AAAAI Certification/Maintenance of Certification Board Review Course
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Periodicals |
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and
Immunology
Current issue
AllergyWatch
Current issue
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Calendar |
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SEPTEMBER
The First Don Fournier Lecture
LSU Health Sciences Center
Speaker: Dennis Ledford, M.D.
Sept. 3, Shreveport, La.
Tel: 318-675-7625
Email
Long Island Allergy and Asthma Society
Pending ACAAI Joint Sponsorship
Sept. 11-13, Montauk, N.Y.
Contact: Muataz Jaber, M.D.
Tel: 516-764-4180
Email
4th Annual Nemacolin Asthma Conference
Sept. 11-13, Farmington, Pa.
Tel: 412-359-4952
Email
Link
Eosinophillic Esophagitis: Pathogenesis and Treatment
Arizona Allergy & Asthma Society
Pending ACAAI Joint Sponsorship
Sept. 13, Sedona, Ariz.
Contact: Aaron Davis, MD
Tel: 480-949-7377
Email
2nd European Congress of Immunology
Sept. 13-16, Berlin, Germany
Tel: +49 (0)30 24603-0
Email
Link
New Approaches to the Diagnosis and Treatment of HAE
New York Allergy & Asthma Society
Pending ACAAI Joint Sponsorship
Sept. 16, New York, NY
Contact: Robert M. Klein, M.D.
Tel: 973-773-7400
Email
Interasma ´09 - Annual Meeting Western Europe Chapter
Sept. 22-25, Maspalomas, Canary Islands, Spain
Email
Link
OCTOBER
The Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society
Pending ACAAI Joint Sponsorship
Oct. 2-3, Savannah, Ga.
Contact: Eric Bletzinger
Tel: 270-684-6144
Email
Update in Allergy and Immunology Symposium
Pending ACAAI Joint Sponsorship
Oct. 8, East Meadow, N.Y.
Contact: Marianne Frieri, M.D., PhD
Tel: 718-631-9440
Email
Northwest Allergy Forum
Oregon Society of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Pending ACAAI Joint Sponsorship
Oct. 16-18, Portland, Ore.
Contact: Jillian Moller
Tel: 360-770-7873
Email
Teaching Day: New Developments in Management of Asthma and Allergic Disorders
New York Allergy & Asthma Society
Pending ACAAI Joint Sponsorship
Oct. 30, New York, N.Y.
Contact: Anna Halina Nowak-Wegrzyn, M.D.
Tel: 718-378-9046
Email
NOVEMBER
XIII International Food Allergy Symposium
Nov. 5, Miami Beach, Fla.
ACAAI Annual Meeting
Nov. 5-10, Miami Beach, Fla.
Tel: 847-427-1200
Email
Link
EAACI Pediatric Allergy & Asthma Meeting 2009
Nov. 12-14, Venice, Italy
Tel: +39 049 8729511
Email
Link
DECEMBER
XXI World Allergy Congress
Dec. 6-10, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone: +54 11 4777 9449
Email
Link
ONGOING
World
Allergy Organization Society Meetings
ACAAI
CME JOINT SPONSORSHIP ACCREDITATION
Contact: Mary Campbell
Tel: 847-427-1200
Email
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Top
Stories |
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Extra weight around waist increases women’s asthma risk
Women with extra weight in their waist area are more likely to develop asthma, even if they aren't overweight, according to a study in Thorax. Researchers at the Northern California Cancer Center were originally using the California Teachers Study of more than 88,000 women to look at factors related to breast cancer. They found a 37 percent increased risk of asthma among women with a waist circumference of 88 centimeters, or about 35 inches, even if the women had a body-mass index under 30.
FDA approves Xyzal for children six months and up
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved Xyzal (levocetirizine dihydrochloride) for children six months and older for perennial allergic rhinitis symptoms and chronic idiopathic urticaria, as well as for children two years and older for seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms.
Allergic, nonallergic rhinitis may boost sleep apnea risk
Both allergic and nonallergic rhinitis are associated with an increased risk of sleep apnea, but the risk is greater among those with nonallergic rhinitis, according to a study in Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Scientists at Kirikkale University Faculty of Medicine, Turkey, conducted a small observational study, comparing the impact of allergic and non-allergic rhinitis on health-related quality of life and sleep disturbances, as determined by polysomnography. Of the 48 adults enrolled (mean age 39.6), 25 had allergic rhinitis and 23 had nonallergic rhinitis. Patients with allergic rhinitis slept for longer periods of time, although frequent arousals were observed in both groups. Only patients with nonallergic rhinitis had severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and nonallergic rhinitis was highly correlated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (odds ratio = 6.4).
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Message from ACAAI President Richard G. Gower, M.D., FACAAI
 Bobby Lanier appointed executive medical director
I am pleased to announce ACAAI Past President Bobby Q. Lanier, M.D., FACAAI, has been appointed executive medical director (EMD) by the ACAAI Board of Regents.
The new, part-time, salaried position was created by the Board to aid the president during these rapidly changing social, economic, and political times.
Dr. Lanier assumed his responsibilities Sept. 1, serving as an independent advisor/consultant.
In his role as EMD, he will help maintain continuity of projects as our ACAAI officers change, to provide more “institutional memory.” He will be working closely with the officers, administrative staff, and committees to oversee the implementation of the College’s strategic plan and vision for the future. Other areas of his responsibility include oversight for educational, research, international, and public relations programs; income generation; and fostering relationships with other primary care and specialty organizations.
 Dr. Lanier is a past president of the ACAAI, and has served on the Board of Directors for the Joint Council of Allergy Asthma and Immunology and the World Allergy Organization. He was founder and executive director of both the Society of Principal Investors and the National Association of Physician Broadcasters. Dr. Lanier was recognized with ACAAI’s Distinguished Fellow Award in 1995 and the Distinguished Service Award in 2005. He practices full-time asthma, allergy, and immunology in a solo practice in Fort Worth, Texas. His e-mail is boblaniermd@gmail.com, and he welcomes input from members.
In addition to having business acumen, Dr. Lanier has demonstrated integrity and is willing to devote the time and energy required by the position.
I hope you will join me in welcoming Dr. Lanier to the leadership team.
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Association
News |
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College Web site to get a complete makeover
The College Web site is being completely redesigned, updated, and enhanced to provide a better resource for members.
“The ACAAI Web site Redesign Workgroup has hit the ground running this year and has worked diligently to select our new vendor, initiate the reviews and updates of all of the College Web materials, and oversee the implementation of the new design and features,” said ACAAI Vice President Dana V. Wallace, M.D., FACAAI, task force chair.
The upcoming new ACAAI Web site needs new content: You can help!
The ACAAI Web site Content Workgroup, chaired by Kathleen R. May, M.D., FACAAI, is busy working with College committees to develop new content, and needs your help to build the features that will benefit our membership. For the “Membership only” section (password protected) on Clinical and Practice Management, samples are needed of documents, protocols, and forms that can be used in the clinical setting. This could include encounter forms; office policy; flow sheets; provocation drug/food challenges; images for development of an image library for forms and presentations; nursing, ARNP, and PA protocols; guidelines for selecting an EMR; coding and insurance company letters; consent forms; and any other documents that you find valuable.
The Marketing the Allergist Committee, chaired by ACAAI President Richard G. Gower, M.D., FACAAI, developed the new www.asthmaandallergyrelief.org site and is still working on adding new patient information content. They would welcome receiving any patient information documents, videos, and slides that you think are extremely helpful and well-received in your practice, as these can be used as a guideline for patient content development.
All documents, forms, videos, etc. will have all practice identifiers removed and will be reviewed by the appropriate committee before posting. They will be provided as “samples” only with the proper release of liability statements attached. We need these documents immediately as we are ready to add content to our new Web site. Please send these forms to jeffkiva@acaai.org.
Calling photographic artists: The ACAAI is recruiting volunteer photographers to form the ACAAI Photographic Team.
Put your photographic hobby to work as you “serve” the ACAAI and allow others to appreciate your photographic art. The ACAAI Web Site Redesign/Editorial Workgroup is looking for people willing to take and edit photographs during the ACAAI Annual Meeting in Miami Beach. The committee will then review and select photographs to be added to our Web site photographic gallery, giving the photographer credit.
We are also accepting photographs from the 2007-2008 annual ACAAI meetings or local, state, and regional meetings to add to the new Web site, scheduled to launch just prior to the annual November meeting. (Names, location, dates, and appropriate releases will need to be provided.) While we will continue to have a professional photographer this year, we may in the future be able to create a volunteer photographic team, thereby reducing our annual meeting costs. If you are interested, please e-mail Jo Ann Faber for an application at joannfaber@acaai.org.
Register for the ACAAI Annual Meeting by Sept. 14 and save
Register for the ACAAI Annual Meeting in Miami Beach, Nov. 5-10, by Sept. 14 and save $50. Online registration is fast and easy.
“With the general theme Expanding the Spectrum in mind, the program includes presentations aimed at expanding and strengthening the practice of allergy and clinical immunology,” said ACAAI President-Elect and Program Chair Sami L. Bahna, M.D., Dr.P.H., FACAAI. “The meeting will better prepare you to meet the challenges of our rapidly changing health care environment.
“In the plenary sessions, top experts will address topics on exciting areas in medicine, clinical immunology, infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, asthma and related respiratory illnesses, occupational allergies, and current challenges for allergists. In addition, numerous symposia, workshops and seminars will cover a wide variety of commonly encountered disorders and procedures.”
The meeting will kick off on Thursday, Nov. 5, with the 13th International Food Allergy Symposium, first initiated by the College in 1972. A full-day program will provide cutting-edge information on the basic and clinical aspects of food allergy prediction, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Our host city, Miami Beach, is world famous for its Art Deco architecture, renowned nightclubs, and designer fashions. This trend-setting arts and entertainment mecca offers visitors a dazzling array of amenities to enjoy, including more than 7 miles of beaches, three golf courses, and 20 parks.
The Preliminary Program with registration, housing and travel information was mailed to members in July and is also available online. Remember to register for your choices of workshops and Meet-the-Professor breakfast seminars, and purchase tickets for the Annual Fundraising Dinner, featuring Marvin Hamlisch.
Fellow-In-Training Travel Grants needed for ACAAI Annual Meeting
The ACAAI Travel Grant Donor Committee hopes to again bring more than 200 Fellows to the meeting in Miami Beach, but we need your help. Won’t you please consider sponsoring a Fellow’s $1,000 travel grant to attend this year’s meeting?
The College thanks the following 2009 Travel Grant Donors:
Allergy Partners
Alliance of the ACAAI
Joseph A. Bellanti, M.D., FACAAI
William E. Berger Jr., M.D., MBA, FACAAI
Colorado Allergy & Asthma Society
Sol Drapkin, M.D.
Stanley M. Fineman, M.D., MBA, FACAAI
Bernard C. Fruge, Jr., M.D., FACAAI
Golda Hudes, M.D.
Joseph T. Inglefield, III, M.D., FACAAI
Bina E. Joseph, M.D., FACAAI
Long Island Allergy & Asthma Society
Lyndon Mansfield, M.D., FACAAI
Bryan L. Martin, D.O., FACAAI
Frederic K. Renold, M.D., FACAAI
Robert T. Scanlon Family
Betty B. Wray, M.D., FACAAI
Sponsors receive appropriate recognition at the convention with a “Travel Grant Donor” ribbon attached to their name badges, and acknowledgement in the Program Guide and in the ACAAI eNews. Your support of this important project will be most appreciated. For more information, contact Dianne Kubis at (847) 427-1200 or diannekubis@acaai.org.
Review draft of Stinging Insect Hypersensitivity Practice Parameter
At the request of the Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters, College members are invited to review the draft Stinging Insect Hypersensitivity: A Practice Parameter Update – 2009. This is an update of the original parameter that was released in 2004. The Joint Task Force will be taking comments until Sept. 11.
USA Today offers ACAAI help three days in a row
ACAAI advice about preparing students with asthma for college, managing rhinitis and limiting exposure to pollen ran in three different stories in USA Today, three days in a row in late August.
The newspaper, with a circulation of 2.1 million, interviewed ACAAI President Richard G. Gower, M.D., FACAAI, and Board of Regents member James L. Sublett, M.D., FACAAI, for a feature about what college students returning to campus should do to minimize asthma attacks, particularly with the possible risk of the H1N1 influenza. Nancy Sander, president of Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics, and her daughter, Brooke, were the lead for the story, which included an interview with 20-year-old asthma patient Giselle Ruecking, who is featured on the ACAAI’s Find an Allergist, Find Relief campaign.
The article was followed on consecutive days with tips for controlling allergies during hay fever season, and included the URL for the ACAAI public education Web site.
You can check out the coverage at the following links:
www.usatoday.com/news/health/painter/2009-08-23-your-health_N.htm
www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-08-24-allergy-tip-pollen_N.htm
www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-08-25-allergy-medicines_N.htm
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AMA Corner
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Welcome to the AMA Corner, prepared by Alnoor A. Malick, M.D., FACAAI, the College’s Delegate to the AMA House of Delegates. AMA Corner helps keep you abreast of important AMA news and developments impacting allergy-immunology.
Check out the AMA’s new health system reform Web site
The AMA launched a health system reform Web site this week where visitors can learn the facts and get the details about the AMA’s position on health system reform. Users can read the AMA’s vision for reform, view media interviews of AMA leaders, access a variety of resources that can help explain the reform process and learn about how physicians can get involved.
AMA clarifies facts about amputation example
The AMA contacted White House staff last week to again express strong concerns with some recent medical treatment examples used by President Obama. The AMA made it clear that physicians are extremely dedicated and focused — first, foremost and always — on providing care that best serves their patients.
The AMA agrees with President Obama on the importance of prevention. However, a recent example used to illustrate his important point was misleading. Surgeons are not paid $30,000 to $50,000 to amputate a diabetic’s foot. Medicare pays a surgeon, on average, from $541.72 to $708.71 for one of two procedures involving a foot amputation. It is possible that the total bill, hospital stay, rehabilitation, prosthesis, etc. may approach the larger amount mentioned.
Virtual Mentor: Clinical Responsibility in the Age of Patient Autonomy
According to the August issue of Virtual Mentor, the autonomy principle reminds us that every individual person has values, reasons, and standards of his or her own, as well as an interest in self-determination. Medicine must be practiced so that an individual’s self-determination is protected and, therefore, he or she is empowered to make medical decisions according to his or her standards.
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Fellows-in-Training |
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Have any questions, suggestions or comments? Feel free to contact your regional or national FIT representatives listed on the Fellows-in-Training page of the College Web site.
Board Review Corner
Welcome to the Board Review Corner prepared by Jennifer W. Mbuthia, M.D., and Christopher R. Martin, M.D., Senior and Junior Representatives of ACAAI’s fellows-in-training (FITs) to the Board of Regents. The Board Review Corner is an opportunity to help hone your Board preparedness.
To refer to a previous Board Review Corner, click the "FIT Archive" link in the
left column.
Review Questions: Pediatric Allergy: Principles & Practices, edited by Donald Y.M. Leung, et al. Questions and answers featured in this issue include:
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Chapter 59: Insect Sting Anaphylaxis – by Cyrus H. Nozad, M.D., University of Tennessee, and Jennifer W. Mbuthia, M.D., Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
- Chapter 60: General Treatment of Anaphylaxis – by John M. Pulcini, M.D., University of Mississippi, and Christopher R. Martin, M.D., Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
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