Allergy

Allergy :: Experimental Ragweed Therapy Offers Allergy Sufferers Longer Relief with Fewer Shots

Americans accustomed to the seasonal misery of sneezing, runny noses and itchy, watery eyes caused by ragweed pollen might one day benefit from an experimental allergy treatment that not only requires fewer injections than standard immunotherapy, but leads to a marked reduction in symptoms that persists for at least a year after therapy has stopped, according to a new study in the October 5 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). The research was sponsored by the Immune Tolerance Network, which is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), both components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International.

Multiple Sclerosis :: Treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

UCB (Euronext Brussels: UCB) and Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) today announced a global collaboration to jointly develop and commercialize CDP323 for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) and other potential indications. CDP323 is an orally active small molecule alpha4-integrin inhibitor expected to enter Phase II clinical trials next year.

Breastfeeding :: Breastfeeding does not make baby more intelligent

Breastfed babies are more intelligent because a higher percentage of highly educated mothers tend to breastfeed, say researchers from the Medical Research Council (UK) and the University of Edinburgh. A higher percentage of breastfed babies are brought up in a mentally stimulating environment. You can read about this study in the British Medical Journal.

Allergy :: Fresh Fruits, Veggies Can Trigger Allergy

‘Pollen-food syndrome’ leaves mouths itchy, experts say. Does your mouth get itchy after you eat fresh fruits or vegetables at this time of year? You may have oral allergy syndrome, say experts at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).

Asthma :: Asthma tied to sleep apnea in women

Asthma appears to almost double the risk of symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea in young mothers, Ohio-based researchers report. “In a large population-based cohort of young women, we found that women with asthma are twice as likely to have symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea as compared to women without asthma,” lead investigator Dr. Maninder Kalra told.

Health :: Why Detox?

Every day we are exposed to external toxins from our environment and internal toxins produced as the byproduct of our digestive and metabolic processes. Toxic and unwanted inorgranic chemicals are found in our foods, water and air in the form of fertilizers, pesticides, heavy metals and other pollutants.

Health :: Antioxidants protect against Rocky Mountain spotted fever – tick-borne

For hikers, campers and others who enjoy the outdoors, summer can bring concerns about tick bites and related illnesses such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Researchers are investigating the role that antioxidants — alpha-lipoic acid and potentially others like green tea and vitamins C and E, for example – might play in preventing or treating the deadly rickettsia bacteria.