WAO News & Notes

June Medical Journal Review
WAO Member Society Spotlight
WAO Now: What's New in the World of WAO - Long-Term Research Fellowship Applications
And In Other News . . .

June World Medical Journal Review

Mark C. Glaum, M.D., Ph.D., WAO Guest Editor, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of South Florida College of Medicine, reviewed premier June medical journal articles for practicing allergists. Read his top 3 picks below and for the other 7 reviews, click here.

1. ACID SUPPRESSION IMPROVES BREATHING FUNCTION IN PERSISTENT ASTHMATICS WITH GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX (GERD) AND NOCTURNAL SYMPTOMS
Subjects with moderate to severe persistent asthma (n=770) were randomized to receive esomeprazole 40mg twice daily or placebo. Subjects were stratified into 3 groups: GERD with nocturnal symptoms; GERD without nocturnal symptoms; and nocturnal symptoms without GERD. In subjects with GERD and nocturnal symptoms, the esomeprazole-treated group showed improved morning (p = 0.03) and evening (p = 0.012) peak expiratory flows as compared to placebo. No improvement was observed in subjects without both GERD and nocturnal symptoms. Editor's comment: Treatment of gastroesophageal reflux is an important component of asthma management in certain patients. Kiljander TO, Harding SM, Field SK, et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2006; 173: 1091-97

2. CONTACT HYPERSENSITIVITY IS MEDIATED BY NATURAL KILLER (NK) CELLS IN THE ABSENCE OF T AND B LYMPHOCYTES
Contact hypersensitivity is considered to be a T cell-mediated prototypical type IV Gel and Coombs reaction to haptens. Unexpectedly, in mice devoid of T and B lymphocytes, a model of contact dermatitis was found to be inducible with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene and oxazolone. If mice were depleted of all lymphocytes (including NK cells), contact hypersensitivity could not be induced. Specific contact hypersensitivity could be reconstituted in such mice after adoptive transfer of NK cells from NK-competent, sensitized donors. Editor's comment: NK cells are previously unrecognized mediators of hapten-specific immunity. Please also see excellent accompanying editorials. O'Leary JG, Goodarzi M, Drayton DL, von Andrian UH. Nat Immunol 2006; 7(5): 507-16, Yokoyama WM; 437-9, Parham P. Nature 2006; 441(25): 415-16. No abstract is available.

3. NOVEL BETA-2 RECEPTOR (B2) POLYMORPHISM IS ASSOCIATED WITH ASTHMA SEVERITY IN AFRICAN AMERICANS
Of 2,032 subjects recruited for a multicenter randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover safety study evaluating an inactivated influenza vaccine in patients with asthma, 517 patients consented to participate in a genetic sub-study to evaluate the association of particular B2 polymorphisms with asthma exacerbation rates and symptoms. Forty percent of African American asthmatics homozygous for a C523 allele experienced an asthma exacerbation in a two-week period following placebo vaccine injection as compared to 29% in heterozygotes (p = 0.018). Editor's comment: Further studies are warranted to evaluate associations between B2 variants and asthma phenotypes, particularly in minority populations. Lima, JJ, Holbrook, JT, Wang J, et al. Asthma 2006; 43:185-9

To read the additional reviews, click here.

WAO Member Society Spotlight – Japanese Society of Allergology

The Japanese Society of Allergology (JSA) is pleased to announce that the forthcoming Fall Meeting, "Pursuing the Goal of Allergolgy – Elucidation of Pathologic Condition, Treatment and Prevention–" will be held at Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo, Japan on November 2-4, 2006. As a new initiative, the International Session, in which all presentations and discussions are conducted in English, is taking place. Its purpose is to promote the further internationalization of JSA so that JSA's biannual conferences will serve as the meeting ground for researchers from all over the world in the future. For more information on this conference, please contact allergy-56th@ped.dept.med.gunma-u.ac.jp. We welcome you to participate in our conference which will be attended by more than 3,000 Japanese researchers and will give them an opportunity to discuss their topics. The JSA members are looking forward to meeting you in Japan.

Another significant announcement from JSA is that JSA's official English journal, "Allergology International" (AI), is available online. You are welcome to access the current issue (http://ai.jsaweb.jp/current.html) as well as the past issues (http://ai.jsaweb.jp/past.html). AI publishes peer-reviewed articles of scientific excellence in human and experimental allergology and related fields of research. The journal aims to further the international exchange of results and encourages authors from all countries to submit papers in the following categories: Original Articles, Case Reports, Short Communications, Letters to the Editors and Hypotheses. The journal is now accepting submissions of articles for possible publication. The acceptance for all papers is based on the quality and originality of the research and its significance to the journal's readership. Except where it otherwise states, manuscripts are peer-reviewed by at least two anonymous reviewers and the Editor. The original manuscript and three copies should be submitted to Editor-in-Chief, Allergology International, Japanese Society of Allergology, 7F Ishimizu Bld., 1-35-26 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. For further instructions regarding the submission of papers visit the website: http://ai.jsaweb.jp/

Provided by: Hirohisa Saito
The Japanese Society of Allergology
URL: http://www.jsaweb.jp/
E-mail: info@jsaweb.jp

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

WAO Long-Term Research Fellowship

The World Allergy Organization (WAO) is offering a two-year Long-Term Research Fellowship, commencing late 2006. The Fellowship supports a junior allergist following an approved research program at a WAO proposed host center. A list of centers is included in the application. WAO will contribute a monthly stipend and yearly travel expenses.

Priority will be given to junior clinicians within five years of award of the most recent professional degree, who are specializing in allergy and who are affiliated with an academic department or clinical institute. Applicants must be active members of a WAO member society.

The Long-Term Fellowship will be applied to a project which meets one of the WAO Research Priorities:

• Genetic factors involved in the development of allergic disease and response to treatment
• Allergen characterization and standardization
• Clinical and basic studies in allergy and asthma

Application forms may be downloaded here.

World Allergy Forum Held at the XXV Congress of the EAACI:

"Life-Threatening Allergy – An Homage to Von Pirquet"

Our superb international faculty was chaired by Michael A. Kaliner and Anthony Frew, and provided a worldwide update on life-threatening allergy conditions. The first speaker, Aziz Sheikh (Edinburgh, Scotland), presented an analysis of the epidemiology of anaphylaxis, and the presentation by Richard F. Lockey (Tampa, FL. U.S.A.) focused on the mechanisms of anaphylaxis. The symposium was concluded by F. Estelle R. Simons (Winnipeg, Canada), who discussed management of anaphylaxis.

Click here to view abstracts and slides and hear the presentations.

WAO Conversations

We are pleased to announce a new WAO Conversation, an interview with Malcolm R. Sears. To hear Dr. Sears discuss current issues associated with beta agonists, click here.

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

Lung Function Testing
European Respiratory Monograph 2005
Editors: R Gosselink and H Stam

List price: $80.00 USD
Available from: Maney Publishing

Reviewer: Dr Janet Rimmer, MBBS, MD, FRACP. Woolcock Institute, University of Sydney, Australia

Description:
Lung function testing is an integral part of examination of the respiratory system. This monograph describes the main aspects of this evaluation process. Topics covered include spirometry, lung volumes, diffusion, control of breathing, muscle strength and sections on exercise testing. There are also sections on the less common areas such as forced oscillometry, testing in children and ICU patients. The basic methodology and interpretation is described and related to clinical disease states.

Purpose:
To provide an up-to date approach to the performance and interpretation of respiratory function testing for clinicians.

Audience:
This book can be used by clinicians and researchers who are interested in understanding the theory and equipment used for the assessment and continued monitoring of respiratory diseases. The basic science is quite complex so that the book is probably not useful for medical students.

Features:
This book is a very concise summary of the many different aspects of lung function. The reader needs to have an existing basic understanding of lung function to fully appreciate the text. It does cover the links between basic science, pathophysiology and clinical application which is a very useful approach. Each chapter provides an excellent summary of the main points.

Assessment:
Lung function testing is the 31st European Respiratory Monograph, a series which commenced in 1995. While others in the series have addressed isolated components of lung function testing in detail, the current monograph provides a very concise (206 pages) summary of most aspects of lung function testing. Its advantages are that it covers both well established and new methodology and that every chapter has a section focussing on clinical application

Find more allergy book reviews on the WAO Website here.