ScienceDaily: Asthma News

Young children who miss well-child visits are more likely to be hospitalized

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:46:46 EDT

Young children who missed more than half of recommended well-child visits had up to twice the risk of hospitalization compared to children who attended most of their visits, according to a new study.

Common childhood asthma not rooted in allergens, inflammation

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:37:37 EDT

Allergens? No. Inflammation? No. An over-active gene that interrupts lipid synthesis appears to be the cause of 20-30% childhood asthma cases.

Monoclonal antibody appears effective and safe in asthma phase IIa trial

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:52:52 EDT

A novel approach to obstructing the runaway inflammatory response implicated in some types of asthma has shown promise in a Phase IIa clinical trial, according to U. S. researchers.

Asthma symptoms impair sleep quality and school performance in children

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:52:52 EDT

The negative effects of poorly controlled asthma symptoms on sleep quality and academic performance in urban schoolchildren has been confirmed in a new study.

Ginger compounds may be effective in treating asthma symptoms, study suggests

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:56:56 EDT

Gourmands and foodies everywhere have long recognized ginger as a great way to add a little peppery zing to both sweet and savory dishes; now, a study shows purified components of the spicy root also may have properties that help asthma patients breathe more easily.

Potential new risk for sleep apnea identified: Asthma

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:56:56 EDT

Researchers have identified a potential new risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea: asthma.

Allergic disease worsens COPD symptoms and exacerbations

Fri, 10 May 2013 07:53:53 EDT

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who also have allergic disease have higher levels of respiratory symptoms and are at higher risk for COPD exacerbations, according to a new study.

Nearly five million asthmatics worldwide could benefit from antifungal therapy

Wed, 08 May 2013 11:42:42 EDT

An estimated 4,837,000 asthmatics with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) could benefit substantially from antifungal treatment, say researchers.

Common treatment for bronchiolitis ineffective at reducing length of hospital stay, study suggests

Mon, 06 May 2013 11:39:39 EDT

New research shows that hospital stays for infants diagnosed with bronchiolitis, or inflammation of the lungs, and treated with nebulized 3% hypertonic saline (HS), a commonly used, off-label therapy, were not shorter than hospital stays for infants who received normal saline solution. Both treatments are liquid salt solutions that are vaporized and administered through a mask; however HS has a greater salt concentration and is believed to more effectively hydrate the air passages, decrease fluid accumulation and improve lung function.

Oral drops can give kids needle-free relief from asthma, allergies

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:49:49 EDT

Allergy shots are commonly used to treat children with severe environmental allergies and asthma, but under-the-tongue drops may offer yet another beneficial — and stick-free — option for pediatric allergy sufferers, according to a review of existing scientific evidence.

Vitamin C may head off lung problems in babies born to pregnant smokers

Sat, 04 May 2013 16:33:33 EDT

Pregnant women are advised not to smoke during pregnancy because it can harm the baby's lungs and lead to wheezing and asthma, among other problems. If a woman absolutely can't kick the habit, taking vitamin C during pregnancy may improve her newborn's lung function and prevent wheezing in the first year of life, according to a new study.

Dustless chalk may cause allergy and asthma symptoms in students with milk allergy, study finds

Thu, 02 May 2013 08:01:01 EDT

Many of today's schools and school teachers opt for dustless chalk to keep hands and classrooms clean. But according to a new study, this choice in chalk may cause allergy and asthma symptoms in students that have a milk allergy.

Mast cells give clues in diagnosis, treatment of dengue

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:15:15 EDT

A protein produced by mast cells in the immune system may predict which people infected with dengue virus will develop life-threatening complications, according to researchers.

A text message a day keeps the asthma attack away

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:21:21 EDT

Simply sending children with asthma a text message each day asking about their symptoms and providing knowledge about their condition can lead to improved health outcomes.

U. S. children born outside the United States have lower risk of allergic disease

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:46:46 EDT

A new study suggests children living the in the United States but born outside the U.S. have a lower prevalence of allergic disease that increases after residing in the United States for one decade.

New understanding of asthma development: Transmission of respiratory viruses in utero

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:40:40 EDT

The most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children, respiratory syncytial virus, can be transferred during pregnancy to an unborn baby, according to new research.

England's smoking ban linked to annual 5 percent drop in emergency admissions for asthma

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:49:49 EDT

Emergency admissions for asthma among adults fell by just under five percent in each of the first three years after the ban on smoking in public places was introduced in England, reveals the largest study of its kind.

Vocal cord disorder often mistaken for asthma in elite athletes

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:24:24 EDT

Athletes with a vocal cord disorder that restricts breathing are more likely to be misdiagnosed and inappropriately treated for exercise-induced asthma.

Reducing infant exposure to smoke

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:16:16 EDT

A study to investigate whether a hospital-initiated behavioral therapy program conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit can reduce secondhand smoke in homes with infants at risk for pulmonary problems has been launched by UTHealth researchers.

Neutrons help explain ozone poisoning and links to thousands of premature deaths each year

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 21:19:19 EDT

Scientists have helped explain how ozone causes severe respiratory problems and thousands of cases of premature death each year by attacking the fatty lining of our lungs.

Have asthma? You likely have an allergy as well

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:08:08 EDT

A new study found 65 to 75 percent of asthmatic adults have an allergy.

Prebiotics: Do supplements in baby formula help prevent allergies?

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 07:57:57 EDT

Prebiotic supplements in infant formula may help to prevent eczema, according to a systematic review. However, the review highlights a lack of high quality evidence for the effects of prebiotics in preventing allergies.

Childhood asthma tied to combination of genes and wheezing illness

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:58:58 EDT

About 90 percent of children with two copies of a common genetic variation and who wheezed when they caught a cold early in life developed asthma by age 6, according to a new study. They were nearly four times as likely to develop asthma as those who lacked the genetic variation and did not wheeze. The two risk factors are interactive.

Caffeine-'addicted' bacteria: Finding may lead to new decontamination methods, new medicines

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:35:35 EDT

Some people may joke about living on caffeine, but scientists now have genetically engineered E. coli bacteria to do that -- literally. Their report describes bacteria being "addicted" to caffeine in a way that promises practical uses ranging from decontamination of wastewater to bioproduction of medications for asthma.

Hate allergy shots? Oral allergy drops are a pretty good option for some allergy and allergic asthma sufferers, review suggests

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:38:38 EDT

A scientific review of 63 published studies affirms that putting small amounts of purified grasses, ragweed, dust mites, pollen and mold, in liquid drops under the tongue is a safe and effective alternative to weekly injections of those allergens or the use of other medications, in treating symptoms of allergies and allergic asthma in some people.

Road traffic pollution as serious as passive smoke in the development of childhood asthma

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:55:55 EDT

New research conducted in 10 European cities has estimated that 14 percent of chronic childhood asthma is due to exposure to traffic pollution near busy roads.

Maternal obesity increases the risk of frequent wheezing in offspring

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 09:38:38 EST

Tobacco and excess weight are two factors linked to asthma in babies. The fact that excess weight during pregnancy has negative consequences is not new information. A new study now concludes that the children of mothers obese before falling pregnant are four times more likely to have frequent wheezing, which is one of the symptoms of asthma, compared to the children of mothers weighing a normal weight.

Scientists discover new mechanisms for relaxing airways using bitter tasting substances

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:45:45 EST

An interdisciplinary team of scientists have taken a step forward in understanding how the substances that give some foods their bitter flavor also act to reverse the contraction of airway cells, a process known as bronchodilation. This effect may one day be harnessed to provide improved treatments for airway obstructive diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Grandmother's cigarette habit could be the cause of grandchild's asthma

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:55:55 EST

Studies finding that grandmother's smoking habit may cause her grandchild to have asthma suggest environmental factors experienced today can affect families' health for generations to come.

BPA raises risk for childhood asthma, study finds

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 03:48:48 EST

Researchers are the first to report an association between early childhood exposure to the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) and an elevated risk for asthma in young children. BPA is a component of some plastics and is found in food can liners and store receipts.

Molecule does double duty in stopping asthma attacks

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:12:12 EST

Scientists are on the brink of the next treatment advancement that may spell relief for the nearly 19 million adults and seven million children in the United States suffering from asthma. The scientists discovered two new drug targets in the inflammatory response pathway responsible for asthma attacks.

Cortisone can increase risk of acute pancreatitis

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:03:03 EST

A new study shows that cortisone -- a hormone used in certain medicines -- increases the risk of acute pancreatitis. According to the researchers, they suggest that patients treated with cortisone in some forms should be informed of the risks and advised to refrain from alcohol and smoking.

Tweaking gene expression to repair lungs

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:30:30 EST

A healthy lung has some capacity to regenerate itself like the liver. In COPD, these reparative mechanisms fail. HDAC therapies may be useful for COPD, as well as other airway diseases. The levels of HDAC2 expression and its activity are greatly reduced in COPD patients. Decreased HDAC activity may impair the ability of the lung epithelium to regenerate.

Babies born by C-section at risk of developing allergies

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 09:19:19 EST

For expectant moms who may contemplate the pros and cons of natural child birth or Caesarian section, a new study suggests that C-section babies are susceptible to developing allergies by age two. Researchers found that babies born by C-section are five times more likely to develop allergies than babies born naturally when exposed to high levels of common allergens in the home such as those from dogs, cats and dust mites.

Asthma drug found highly effective in treating chronic, severe hives and itch

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 14:26:26 EST

An international team of researchers has found that a once-a-month, high-dose injection of a commonly used asthma drug is highly effective in treating teens and adults chronically afflicted with hives and severe, itchy rash. The drug, omalizumab, was tested on 323 people at 55 medical centers for whom standard antihistamine therapy failed to quell their underlying, allergy-like reaction, known as chronic idiopathic urticaria or chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Cost of medication and stigma leading asthma sufferers to risk health

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:07:07 EST

The high cost of medication, stigmatization and poor acceptance of their condition are causing young adults to take a dangerous approach to managing their asthma, according to new research.

Fungi offers new clues in asthma fight

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:12:12 EST

Hundreds of tiny fungal particles found in the lungs of asthma sufferers could offer new clues in the development of new treatments.

Reduced Lung Function in Infancy Associated with Wheeze Later

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:41:41 EST

A study in Australia suggests that reduced lung function in infancy was associated with wheezing beyond childhood at 18 years of age, according to a new report.

Infant gut microbiota influenced by cesarean section and breastfeeding practices; may impact long-term health

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:48:48 EST

Method of birth and feeding practices influence the development of gut bacteria in newborns and thus may affect lifelong health, according to a new study.

Old drug may point the way to new treatments for diabetes and obesity

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 14:32:32 EST

Researchers have found that amlexanox, an off-patent drug currently prescribed for the treatment of asthma and other uses, also reverses obesity, diabetes and fatty liver in mice.

One in 20 cases of pre-eclampsia may be linked to air pollutant

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:58:58 EST

One in every 20 cases of the serious condition of pregnancy, pre-eclampsia, may be linked to increased levels of the air pollutant ozone during the first three months, suggests a large study.

Air pollution primes children for asthma-related cockroach allergy

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 09:47:47 EST

An allergic reaction to cockroaches is a major contributor to asthma in urban children, but new research suggests that the insects are just one part of a more complex story. Very early exposure to certain components of air pollution can increase the risk of developing a cockroach allergy by age 7 and children with a common mutation in a gene called GSTM may be especially vulnerable.

Geographic factors can cause allergies, asthma: People living close to the equator are at higher risk, study finds

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 09:59:59 EST

Those living near the equator may find themselves sneezing and wheezing more than usual. And the reason may not be due to increasing pollen counts. According to a new study, living in locations closest to the equator can put you at increased risk of developing allergy and asthma.

Measuring the consequence of forest fires on public health

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 22:58:58 EST

Pollution from forest fires is impacting the health of people with asthma and other chronic obstructive lung diseases, finds a new study. This study uses data from pharmacies and dispensaries to measure the increase in drugs needed to alleviate symptoms associated with pollution.

GP judgement not enough to accurately diagnose cases of pneumonia, study suggests

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:51:51 EST

Pneumonia cannot be accurately diagnosed solely on a doctor’s analysis of symptoms and patient history, according to new findings.

Children with egg allergies can safely receive flu vaccine, multi-center study finds

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 10:13:13 EST

Egg allergic children, including those with a history of anaphylaxis to egg, can safely receive a single dose of the seasonal influenza vaccine, according to a new study.

Cleaning jobs linked to asthma risk

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 19:20:20 EST

A new study has found strong evidence for a link between cleaning jobs and risk of developing asthma. Researchers tracked the occurrence of asthma in a group of 9,488 people born in Britain in 1958. Not including those who had asthma as children, nine per cent developed asthma by age 42. Risks in the workplace were responsible for one in six cases of adult onset asthma – even more than the one in nine cases attributed to smoking, according to the analysis. There are many occupations that are thought to cause asthma. In this study, 18 occupations were clearly linked with asthma risk, four of which were cleaning jobs and a further three of which were likely to involve exposure to cleaning products.

Smoke-free law linked to large fall in child asthma hospital admissions

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:32:32 EST

The introduction of smoke-free legislation in England was immediately followed by a fall in the number of children admitted to hospital with asthma symptoms, a new study has found.

Skin problems, joint disorders top list of reasons people visit doctors

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:35:35 EST

A new study shows that people most often visit their health care providers because of skin issues, joint disorders and back pain. Findings may help researchers focus efforts to determine better ways to prevent and treat these conditions in large groups of people.

Fast food diet linked to asthma and eczema severity in kids, large study finds

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 08:53:53 EST

Eating three or more weekly servings of fast food is linked to the severity of allergic asthma, eczema, and rhinitis among children in the developed world, indicates a large international study.

Plumber and spray painter high-risk occupations for asthma

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 08:55:55 EST

Despite known risks and recommendations for protective equipment, many people are still affected with asthma after exposure to chemicals at work.

Low birth weight not associated with asthma risk

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 08:52:52 EST

Low birth weight is not associated with asthma risk in children.

Supplements and cow's milk play biggest roles in determining vitamin D levels in children

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 17:21:21 EST

Taking a vitamin D supplement and drinking cow's milk are the two most important factors that determine how much vitamin D is in a child's body, new research has found.

Childhood obesity linked to more immediate health problems than previously thought

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 09:17:17 EST

A new study focuses on the immediate consequences of childhood obesity and shows that obese youngsters are at far greater risk than had been supposed.

Children once in danger of flu shot can get vaccinated, experts say

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 10:12:12 EST

As many as two percent of children may not receive the flu vaccination due to an egg allergy. But according to a recent study, administration can be safe even in children with a history of a severe allergic reaction to eggs.

Breath test identifies bacteria's fingerprint

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:21:21 EST

Scientists have identified the chemical ‘fingerprints’ given off by specific bacteria when present in the lungs, potentially allowing for a quick and simple breath test to diagnose infections such as tuberculosis. Researchers have successfully distinguished between different types of bacteria, as well as different strains of the same bacteria, in the lungs of mice by analyzing the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in exhaled breath.

Disappearing bacterium may protect against stroke

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 08:08:08 EST

An especially virulent strain of the gut bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) isn’t implicated in the overall death rate of the U.S. population, and may even protect against stroke and some cancers.

Why obese people have higher rates of asthma

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:24:24 EST

A new study has found that leptin, a hormone that plays a key role in energy metabolism, fertility, and bone mass, also regulates airway diameter. The findings could explain why obese people are prone to asthma and suggest that medications that increase leptin-signaling may relieve asthma in obese people.

Pollen exposure during pregnancy affects child's risk of early asthma, study finds

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:22:22 EST

A woman's exposure to high pollen levels in late pregnancy increases the risk of early asthma in the child, according to a group of researchers in Sweden.

Season triggers sneezing due to nut, mold, winter allergies: Tips to avoid allergy flare ups

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 23:32:32 EST

Getting out the boxes of holiday decorations from years gone by is a time-honored tradition. But in addition to stirring up memories, it also stirs up allergies.