Copyright 2009 Medical News Today Latest Allergy News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/allergy/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156117.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156117.php In a first-of-its-kind advance toward the next generation of genetically modified foods - intended to improve consumers' health - researchers in Japan are reporting that a new transgenic rice designed to fight a common pollen allergy appears safe in animal studies. Their report is in the current issue of ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a bi-weekly publication. Allergy Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155985.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155985.php The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and Allergy UK are offering the community pharmacy allergy screening service to members of the public attending the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show from 7 July to 12 July. Representatives from the NPA and Allergy UK will be at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show answering people's questions on allergy and arranging appointments for allergy screening with a pharmacist. Allergy Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155870.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155870.php New data presented at the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI) annual meeting demonstrate that Grazax® is the first tablet treatment to provide sustained disease control in patients with grass pollen rhinoconjunctivitis (hay fever) after the treatment period ended. This is the first time disease modification by sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablets has been achieved; effectively re-setting the immune system to reduce future allergic reactions to grass pollen. Allergy Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155834.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155834.php Potential new drugs: 970 million and still counting Like astronomers counting stars in the familiar universe of outer space, chemists in Switzerland are reporting the latest results of a survey of chemical space - the so-called chemical universe where tomorrow's miracle drugs may reside. The scientists conclude, based on this phase of the ongoing count, that there are 970 million chemicals suitable for study as new drugs. Biology / Biochemistry Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155783.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155783.php Researchers at St George's, University of London have been awarded £4.3 million by the Wellcome Trust for the development of a unique new class of drugs to target the root cause of asthma and allergies. The new Allergen Delivery Inhibitors may be superior to existing medicines, which mainly relieve symptoms. The research team, led by Professor Clive Robinson, has identified novel, drug-like chemical compounds that combat asthma and allergic diseases of the nose, eyes and skin. Respiratory / Asthma Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155762.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155762.php The odds of contracting mad cow disease from banned or adulterated bovine protein lurking in raw or processed food for humans or meat-bone meal for livestock have declined over the past decade. So have the risks of purchasing fishy imposters billed as red snapper, ground beef that isn't all cow, or spoiled meat that doesn't look or smell bad … yet. Nutrition / Diet Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155593.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155593.php Keele University has developed a new programme to be used with its innovative Virtual Patient system to help pharmacists train in dispensing medication and providing advice on the treatment of hay fever and allergies. With the summer fast approaching and pollen counts set to rise, the number of people seeking help for allergies will be on the increase. Allergy Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155362.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155362.php The American Lung Association and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology are partnering to further clinical research to benefit the estimated 40 to 50 million of Americans living with allergic diseases such as asthma. Through the Allergic Respiratory Diseases Award, the American Lung Association and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology will award up to three, two-year research grants valued at $50,000 annually to outstanding investigators. Respiratory / Asthma Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155064.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155064.php When infected, the body has two types of immune defence to deploy innate immunity and acquired immunity. In her dissertation, Shanie Saghafian Hedengren studies monocytes, a type of white blood corpuscles that are part of the innate immune system. "Innate immunity plays a crucial role at the beginning of life as protection against bacteria and other microbes, since the acquired immune system is not fully developed at that stage. Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154901.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154901.php Last week the FDA knocked the wind out of asthmatics by requesting the manufacturers of Singulair, a popular leukotriene blocking asthma and allergy drug, to upgrade their warning against psychotic side effects. Further respiratory distress was imposed on Zicam users when the FDA also last week announced warnings that the drug may cause a loss of smell. Respiratory / Asthma Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154701.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154701.php Allergy testing and treatment may offer a new therapeutic option for many patients with interstitial cystitis (IC). IC is a severely painful bladder condition affecting as many as 8 million women and 1.5 million men in the United States. Patients and the providers who treat them have long noticed a correlation between allergies and IC. Urology / Nephrology Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154458.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154458.php Researchers from Strategic BioSciences, together with investigators from the Institute for Asthma and Allergy (Wheaton, MD) reported that the new all-natural product is safe and effective in relieving symptoms of allergic rhinitis. MucoAd® is a mucoadhesive molecule (hypromellose) that prolongs contact with the nasal surface so that the nasal spray is well tolerated, lasts longer, and repeat dosing is needed less frequently. Allergy Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154323.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154323.php With one in five, or 60 million, Americans suffering from some kind of allergy, spring and summer can be a difficult time of year as pollen, moisture and humidity increase. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, allergies are considered the fifth leading chronic disease and are a major cause of work absenteeism, resulting in nearly four million missed or lost workdays each year. Allergy Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153925.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153925.php The U.S. Food and Drug Administration provided further updated safety information on a class of asthma drugs known as leukotriene modifiers. The FDA has requested that manufacturers include a precaution in the drug prescribing information (drug labeling) regarding neuropsychiatric events (behavior, mood changes) that have been reported in some persons taking montelukast (Singulair), zafirlukast (Accolate), and zileuton (Zyflo and Zyflo CR). Respiratory / Asthma Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153872.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153872.php Merck & Co., Inc. issued the following statement in response to today's communication from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) addressing updated information on leukotriene inhibitors, including SINGULAIR® (montelukast sodium). Respiratory / Asthma Sat, 13 Jun 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153662.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153662.php Nutricia, the European market leader in advanced medical nutrition, has announced the launch of Neocate Nutra, the first and only weaning product made from 100% non-allergenic amino acids. Neocate Nutra has been specifically developed for weaning infants and older children with cows' milk protein allergy (CMPA) and multiple food protein intolerance (MFPI). Nutrition / Diet Tue, 09 Jun 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153145.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153145.php In the normal lung, the airways are lined by a balanced mixture of ciliated, secretory and neuroendocrine cells which perform functions as diverse as air humidification, detoxification, and clearance of environmental particles. This balance can be altered dramatically by faulty adaptation responses of the lung to cigarette smoke or allergens in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma. Respiratory / Asthma Tue, 09 Jun 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153147.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153147.php A chemotherapy drug that is supposed to help save cancer patients' lives, instead resulted in life-threatening and sometimes fatal allergic reactions. Lung Cancer Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152936.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152936.php Cobalis Corporation (OTC:CLSC) was recently awarded two additional International Patents in Canada and Mexico and has a patent pending application in Japan. PreHistin® is patented, safe for long-term daily use and available without a prescription. Allergy Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152897.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152897.php Neighborhoods with restaurants, entertainment, cultural facilities and ethnic diversity have lower asthma rates in the city of Chicago than neighborhoods where residents are less likely to move, and where there are more churches and not-for-profit facilities. Respiratory / Asthma Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152479.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152479.php Scientists here have determined that combining bed bugs' own chemical signals with a common insect control agent makes that treatment more effective at killing the bugs. The researchers found that stirring up the bed bugs by spraying their environment with synthetic versions of their alarm pheromones makes them more likely to walk through agents called desiccant dusts, which kill the bugs by making them highly susceptible to dehydration. Allergy Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152402.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152402.php Thermo-chromic window films which regulate room temperature; a heart and breathing rate monitor which could revolutionise the monitoring of babies during childbirth; and improved tests for food sensitivities and allergies are among innovations developed at The University of Nottingham highlighted by the Design Council's Innovate for Universities initiative. Medical Devices / Diagnostics Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151995.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151995.php For the past century, changes in the Western diet have altered the consumption of omega-6 fatty acids (w6, found in meat and vegetable oils) compared with omega-3 fatty acids (w3, found in flax and fish oil). Many studies seem to indicate this shift has brought about an increased risk of inflammation (associated with autoimmunity and allergy), and now using a controlled diet study with human volunteers, researchers may have teased out a biological basis for these reported changes. Nutrition / Diet Fri, 29 May 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151810.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151810.php In research that could open new avenues of treatment for seasonal allergies, a team of Yale University scientists has discovered how a poorly understood component of the human immune system triggers - and sometimes worsens - allergic reactions. The research appears in the May 24 Advance Online Publication of Nature Immunology. Scientists wanted to better understand how the immune system recognizes and responds to allergens. Allergy Wed, 27 May 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151549.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151549.php Anaphylaxis Canada is responding to the growing public health challenge of keeping teens and young adults with potentially life-threatening food allergies safe by creating a number of interactive tools including a groundbreaking new website, http://www.whyriskit.ca, an online "Reaction Registry" and radio podcasts. Allergy