Oral Immunotherapy for Food Allergy —a US Regulatory Perspective
AbstractThe recent approval of Palforzia for treatment of peanut allergy by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) predicts that additional products for oral immunotherapy (OIT) are on the horizon. In this article, the authors review the legal framework by which the USFDA regulates products for OIT of food allergy and the clinical data that demonstrated that the safety and effectiveness profile of Palforzia supported approval and conclude with a discussion of oral food challenge (OFC) as a clinical endpoint to demonstrate safety and effectiveness of OIT products. (Source: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports)
Source: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports - October 15, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Frequency and Clinical Utility of Olfactory Dysfunction in COVID-19: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
ConclusionFrequency of OD in COVID-19 differs greatly across studies. Nevertheless, patients with reported OD were significantly more likely to test positive for COVID-19. Patient-reported OD is a highly specific symptom of COVID-19 which should be included as part of the pre-test screening of suspect patients. (Source: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports)
Source: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports - October 13, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Cutaneous Manifestations in Adult Patients with COVID-19 and Dermatologic Conditions Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Health Care Workers
AbstractPurpose of ReviewCOVID-19 (coronavirus viral disease 2019), due to the novel SARS-CoV-2, may present with different types of cutaneous manifestations of varying pathophysiology. During the ongoing pandemic, publications reporting dermatologic findings in COVID-19 continue to emerge.Recent FindingsCutaneous vasculopathy and microthrombus-related changes including acral and sacral lesions, retiform purpura, livedo reticularis, and cutaneous vasculitis are notable findings in adult patients. Other exanthems include urticaria or angioedema, morbilliform/maculopapular exanthems, erythema multiforme, and vesicular erupti...
Source: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports - October 12, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
The Role of Environmental Exposures in Atopic Dermatitis
AbstractPurpose of ReviewAlthough genetic factors clearly play a role in the development of atopic dermatitis (AD), the recent dramatic increase in the prevalence of AD in low- and middle-income countries is not consistent with only a role of genetic factors. These findings strongly suggest that environmental factors may play an important role in the pathogenesis of AD.Recent FindingsWe reviewed the role of gene-environment studies; in utero exposures including tobacco smoke, alcohol, maternal stress, various digestive supplements, and gestational diabetes; early-life exposures including diet, gut microbiota, antibiotics, ...
Source: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports - October 12, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Coding Telemedicine Visits for Proper Reimbursement
AbstractPurpose of ReviewCoding for patient visits and monitoring via telehealth have expanded over the past years with a wide acceptance of telemedicine as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic. Coding topics of interest to the allergist/immunologist in regard to services provided via telemedicine will be of increasing importance in the coming years.Recent FindingsCPT coding for telephone as well as synchronous face-to-face telehealth visits has changed over the past few years. With the need for distancing and patient protection during the coronavirus pandemic, telehealth services have increased dramatically. The intr...
Source: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports - October 1, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
A Review of Patient and Provider Satisfaction with Telemedicine
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe purpose of this review is to describe the determinants of satisfaction with telemedicine (TM) and how they compare with in-person visits from both the perspective of patients and of providers.Recent FindingsThe use of TM will expand only if patients and providers are at least as satisfied with it as they are with in-person visits. Since deviations from expected care can result in reduced satisfaction regardless of the quality of the visit or objective medical outcomes, it is important to understand and to help form those expectations when possible. Patients consistently report 95 –100% satisf...
Source: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports - September 21, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Correction to: Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: a Rare Disease?
The original version of this article contained errors in Table 3 on page 6. (Source: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports)
Source: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports - September 11, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Pulmonary Surfactants: a New Therapeutic Target in Asthma
AbstractPurpose of ReviewLung tissues are highly susceptible to airway inflammation as they are inevitably exposed to inhaled pathogens and allergens. In the lungs, clearance of infectious agents and regulation of inflammatory responses are important for the first-line defense, where surfactants play a role in host defense mechanisms. In this review, clinical significance of pulmonary surfactants in asthma has been highlighted.Recent FindingsSurfactants, such as surfactant protein A (SP-A) and SP-D released from alveolar epithelium, reduce pathogen infection and control immune-cell activation. Especially, SP-D directly bin...
Source: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports - September 10, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Safety of Intranasal Steroids: an Updated Perspective
AbstractPurpose of ReviewIntranasal corticosteroid sprays have been available as over-the-counter (OTC) medications since 2013. As such, clinicians need to be up-to-date with the risks and the safety of INS, as patients may have concerns and detailed questions. The following is a review of the recent medical literature regarding the safety profile, adverse reactions, and special populations using INS.Recent FindingsThe latest research on intranasal steroid sprays (INS) continue to confirm that INS rarely have significant local side effects, such as severe and persistent epistaxis. Recent studies looking at systemic side ef...
Source: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports - September 6, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Clinical Evidence and Biomarkers Linking Allergy and Acute or Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Children: a Systematic Review
AbstractPurpose of the ReviewWe provide a systematic review of experimental and clinical evidences linking allergy to acute, including common cold, and chronic rhinosinusitis in children. Furthermore, we questioned if anti-allergy treatment may prevent the occurrence of rhinosinusitis or improve outcomes of its specific management.Recent FindingsAllergic rhinitis is a common childhood disease in industrialized countries that is responsible for a major impact on quality of life and healthcare resources. Over the years many authors tried to correlate allergy with comorbidities and in particular to the onset of rhinosinusitis...
Source: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports - September 4, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Allergic Diseases
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis paper purports to review recent relevant publications on the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine in treating allergic diseases, to illustrate the pertinent mechanisms of action of TCM, and to explore the possible role of TCM in the management of allergic diseases in the foreseeable future. As TCM embodies multiple treatment modalities, only the most popular two, namely CHM (Chinese herbal medicine) and acupuncture, were discussed. Publicat ions, especially reviews involving randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the use of TCM on allergic diseases, published up to June 2019 were revie...
Source: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports - September 1, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Asking the Right Questions —Human Factors Considerations for Telemedicine Design
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe goal of this paper was to provide a narrative review of human factors considerations for telemedicine. It also sought to provide readers a foundation of human factors thinking and methods that could be employed within their own practice.Recent FindingsThere are only a handful of articles that discuss the importance of user-centered design and human factors principles in relation to telemedicine systems.SummaryMost articles come to the conclusion that design flaws could have been avoided by involving stakeholders in the design and implementation of telemedicine. However, many of them lack the gu...
Source: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports - August 28, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
The Child with Elevated IgE and Infection Susceptibility
AbstractPurpose of ReviewOver the last 13 years, the genetic etiologies have been determined for multiple conditions causing elevated serum IgE, infection susceptibilities, and variable other features. In this review, we discuss the clinical presentation, laboratory features, and genetics of these diseases caused by mutations in STAT3, DO CK8, PGM3, IL6ST, ZNF341, IL6R, IL6ST, CARD11, and CARD14, with particular focus given to STAT3LOF and DOCK8 deficiency.Recent FindingsDefining the phenotype of each of these syndromes with high IgE and infection susceptibility shows that some have a pronounced connective tissue phenoty...
Source: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports - August 23, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
B Cell Disorders in Children: Part II
AbstractPurpose of ReviewB cell disorders result in decreased levels or function of immunoglobulins in an individual. Genetic mutations have been reported in a variety of B cell disorders. This review, in follow-up to a previous review, describes some rare B cell disorders as well as their known underlying genetic etiologies.Recent FindingsGenetic studies identify and permit precise classification of an increasing number of B cell disorders, leading to a greater understanding of B cell development and function.SummaryThe B cell disorders are rare diseases. While clinicians are most familiar with X-linked agammaglobulinemia...
Source: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports - August 20, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Expression and Clinical Significance of Mucin Gene in Chronic Rhinosinusitis
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review highlights the expression and regulation of mucin in CRS and discusses its clinical implications.Recent FindingsChronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is common chronic nasal disease; one of its main manifestations and important features is mucus overproduction. Mucin is the major component of mucus and plays a critical role in the pathophysiological changes in CRS. The phenotype of CRS affects the expression of various mucins, especially in nasal polyps (NP). Corticosteroids(CS), human neutrophil elastase (HNE), and transforming growth factor- β1 (TGF-β1) are closely related to the tissue remo...
Source: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports - August 17, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
