WAO News & Notes

January Medical Journal Review
WAO Member Society Spotlight
WAO Now: What's New in the World of WAO
And In Other News . . .

January World Medical Journal Review

Prof. Richard F. Lockey, MD, WAO Web Editor-in-Chief, reviewed premier January medical journal articles for practicing allergists. Read his top 3 picks below and for the other 8 reviews, click here.

1. TREATING ACUTE RHINOSINUSITIS – EFFICACY OF MOMETASONE FUROATE NASAL SPRAY, AMOXICILLIN, OR PLACEBO
Subjects ( > 12 years; n = 981) were randomized to mometasone furate (MFNS) 200 µg once or twice daily for 15 days, amoxicillin 500 mg TID for 10 days, or respective placebo. MFNS 200 mg BID was superior to both placebo (P <.001) and amoxicillin (P <.002) at improving the major symptom score. This improvement was noted at 2 days and throughout treatment. Likewise, the global response was significantly greater with MFNS 200 µg BID vs. amoxicillin (P = .013) and placebo (P = .001). Editor's comment: MFNS 200 mg twice daily monotherapy is an effective treatment for acute rhinosinusitis associated with an URI. Meltzer EO, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2005; 116:1289

2. SYSTEMIC AND UPPER AND LOWER AIRWAY INFLAMMATION AND EXACERBATION OF COPD
Sputum, nasal wash and serum samples from 41 subjects with COPD exacerbations were analyzed for pathogenic microorganisms and inflammatory markers and were compared to subjects with stable COPD. COPD exacerbation is associated with greater nasal, sputum, and serum inflammation than controls. The degree of upper airway inflammation correlated with the degree of lower airway inflammation. The degree of systemic inflammation correlated with the degree of lower airway inflammation and was greater in the presence of a sputum bacterial pathogen. The authors conclude that exacerbation of COPD is a pan-airway inflammatory process which may account for complications associated with COPD exacerbation. Editor's comment: As in asthma, airway inflammation is united in COPD. Hurst JR, et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2006; 173:71

3. CLINICAL EFFECTS OF PROBIOTICS IN CHILDREN 6 TO 18 MONTHS WITH ATOPIC DERMATITIS
In a previous study (DBPC), these authors reported that the administration of 1 X 10⁹ Lactobacillus fermentum twice daily for 8 weeks compared to placebo resulted in significant clinical improvement in very young children with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD). These same investigators now report that such treatment relative to baseline levels of response is associated with significant increases in T-helper type 1 (Th1-type) cytokine IFN-γ responses to phytohaemaglutinin and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB) at the end of the supplementation period as well as eight weeks after ceasing supplementation. The increase in IFN-γ to SEB could be correlated with the decrease in the severity of AD. Editor's comment: Probiotics are harmless and may be helpful in young children with moderate to severe AD. Prescott SL, et al. Clin Exp Allergy 2005; 35:1557

To read the additional reviews, click here.

WAO Member Society Spotlight – Italian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Two thousand and three marked the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Italian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (SIAIC). The SIAIC is one of the oldest scientific Societies of allergy and clinical immunology in the world and one of the oldest medical societies in Italy. Its mandate covers three main areas:

• Education and training in allergy and clinical immunology.
• Promotion and research in allergy and clinical immunology.
• Care and education of patients with allergies, immunodeficiencies, autoimmune disorders and other immunologic diseases.

The SIAIC is part of national and international networks. At a national level, Regional Sections safeguard the interests of and interact with practicing allergists and allergists working in medical institutions and teaching hospitals. In addition, a newly established section for Junior Members is devoted to the many aspects of education of Fellows in Allergy and Clinical Immunology and Fellows in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics interested in the specialty. At an International Level, the SIAIC represents Italy within the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) and is a member of the World Allergy Organization (WAO).

The SIAIC has launched a number of practical activities regarding the diagnosis and treatment of patients with allergic and immunolgic disorders. From a practical point of view, the SIAIC has produced a series of guidelines and position papers on major topics in allergy that have already been published or are in press in SIAIC's journal, Italian Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (GIAIC), e.g., biological products; immunotherapy; drug allergy; adverse reactions to general anesthetics; insect allergy; immunodeficiencies; food allergy; and allergy to latex. The journal publishes original articles and reviews in English and in Italian (with abstracts in English).

SIAIC's website (www.siaic.net) provides updated news and scientific events at national and international levels in the field of allergy and clinical immunology.

The SIAIC recognizes the importance of postgraduate education and scientific meetings as an educational tool. It holds an annual national congress, with the next annual SIAIC meeting in Turin (April 27 – 29, 2006) under the leadership of Giovanni Rolla (grolla@mauriziano.it)

In spring 2004 the SIAIC introduced in Italy the annual Allergy Day. The next one will be held March 18, 2006 and organized by all Regional Sections. The SIAIC participated in the first World Allergy Day organized by WAO and the posters produced for the occasion were shown at the World Allergy Congress 2005 in Munich.

WAO Now: What's New in the World of WAO

New on the Home Page this month - "WAO Conversations" and "Interactive Case Reviews"

• WAO Conversations: Learn from experts from around the world. During short interviews, you will hear internationally acknowledged experts on key topics in allergy share their thoughts and insights on specific topics. This month, hear Hugh Sampson reflect on his many years of experience researching into food allergy and comment on new directions in this important field of allergy. To hear the interview, click here.

• Interactive Case Reviews: Test your knowledge by reviewing our interactive case studies from Clinical Case Reports published in the ACII-JWAO, fascinating cases will be selected and their backgrounds presented along with photographs. The case study will be presented and questions will be posed with possible diagnoses listed. Upon making your selection, you will immediately learn whether or not your diagnosis corresponds to that of the experts and can read how they came to their diagnosis. This month we review a case of periorbital swelling, presented by John T. Ramey and Richard F, Lockey. To read the review, click here. 

Translations of the E-letter Now Available

The e-letter is now being translated into seven languages - Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. To access a translation, click on the respective language's name, located below "This Month's Feature" on the Home Page. As more translations become available, they will be added to the site. To see a list of languages, click here.

World Allergy Forum: AAAAI 2006 Annual Meeting

"Sublingual Immunotherapy – Is There a Role?"
Sunday, 4 March 2006
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Miami Beach Convention Center – Room A201 - 205

A superb international faculty chaired by Michael Kaliner will provide an update on Sublingual Immunotherapy. G. Walter Canonica (Genova, Italy) will analyze the long-term efficacy and safety of sublingual immunotherapy. Anthony J. Frew (Brighton, UK) will describe the mechanisms of sublingual immunotherapy and how it differs from injection immunotherapy, and Linda Cox (Fort Lauderdale, FL, US) will discuss whether the US is ready for sublingual immunotherapy.

WAO Emerging Societies Program Meeting to be held in Conjunction with the 7th Malaysian Congress of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

March 10-12, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Prof. Connie H. Katelaris and Prof. Cassim Motala, WAO Board Members, will travel to Malaysia for an Emerging Societies Meeting, to be held at the 7th Malaysian Congress, March 10-12, 2006. Prof. Motala will be traveling to Malaysia as part of the WAO Seminars & Conferences program and both he and Prof. Katelaris will give GLORIA presentations.

The focus for this meeting will be to provide outreach in regions where established allergy societies do not exist, to help existing allergy societies improve their outreach and scope of activities, and to help establish excellent standards for local research programs.

Sign up for On-Line Journal Subscription

WAO and Hogrefe & Huber Publishers are offering a limited number of free on-line subscriptions to Allergy & Clinical Immunology International - Journal of the World Allergy Organization for members in developing countries. If you are interested in receiving a complimentary, on-line subscription, please send an e-mail to info@worldallergy.org, noting "Free Journal Subscription" in the subject line, with the following details:

First name
Last name
Postal address
City, State/Province and postal code
Country
E-mail address
Name of Member Society

And In Other News

Allergy Book Review
HIV Second Edition
Howard Libman & Harvey J. Makadon
American College of Physicians – American Society of Internal Medicine (2003)

List Price: $53.00 USD
Available from: http://www.rsmpress.co.uk/bklibman.htm

Reviewer: Dr Lucinda Berglund MB BS
Advanced Trainee, Immunology Registrar, Westmead Hospital, NSW Australia

HIV is a practical book addressing the management of patients with HIV. It ranges from discussing basic concepts such as viral load to details of antiretroviral regimes and resistance mutations. There is a strong emphasis on primary care, from pre-test counseling and diagnosing HIV, to community prevention and screening measures. It provides practical advice about ongoing management issues including monitoring for adverse medication effects and how to investigate and treat opportunistic infections. Information is up to date and evidence-based with extensive references.

The book is divided into ten chapters which can easily be read consecutively but also has a detailed index for use as a reference. Each chapter is written by several different authors and ends with a summary of key points. Concise tables present information including differential diagnoses of common symptoms and treatment options. A useful drug glossary lists doses and toxicities of frequently prescribed medications.

This book would be an excellent resource for general practitioners; general physicians; junior, doctors in training and medical students.

Find more allergy book reviews on the WAO Website here.