Fears Over Asthma Misdiagnosis Lead To British Lung Foundation Calls For Mass Retesting
The British Lung Foundation is calling for everyone over 35 with Asthma or the progressive illness Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) to be retested following evidence of confusion over diagnosis and treatment of the two respiratory diseases. A survey of 776 GPs from all over the UK carried out for the charity by Doctors.net.uk shows that most have difficulty differentiating between Asthma or COPD, causing misdiagnosis and distress amongst patients.

Air Pollution Forecasting Offered To Those With Breathing Problems, European Union
World COPD Day this year provides the occasion for the launch of a website for European citizens to check national and local air quality and to learn the steps they can take to minimise any adverse effects.(1) Launched jointly by European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients' Associations (EFA) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), the website "Know Your Air for Health" (www.knowyourairforhealth.

Re-Launched Allergy Screening Service Hits The Airwaves, National Pharmacy Association, UK
Just under a hundred NPA members are now offering the NPA and Allergy UK Allergy Screening Service. The service which has been recently remodelled to include a "pin prick" test as well as a screen was the subject of radio interviews conducted by regional and local stations across England last week. NPA members were able to give an account of the service in action, highlighting how community pharmacy was improving access to allergy screening.

Re-launched Allergy Screening Service Hits The Airwaves, UK
Just under a hundred NPA members are now offering the NPA and Allergy UK Allergy Screening Service. The service which has been recently remodelled to include a "pin prick" test as well as a screen was the subject of radio interviews conducted by regional and local stations across England last week. NPA members were able to give an account of the service in action, highlighting how community pharmacy was improving access to allergy screening.

News From The American Chemical Society Nov. 12, 2008
A faster test for the food protein that triggers celiac disease Researchers in Spain and the United Kingdom are reporting development of a faster test for identifying the food protein that triggers celiac disease, a difficult-to-diagnose digestive disease involving the inability to digest protein called gluten that occurs in wheat, oats, rye, and barley.

Why Allergy Meds Worsen Restless Leg Syndrome - Histaminergic Clinical And Autopsy Abnormalities In Restless Legs Syndrome
Johns Hopkins Researchers at Neuroscience 2008 - People with restless leg syndrome often have found that sleep-inducing allergy drugs worsen their symptoms. Now, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have discovered a possible reason for that and help explain why RLS in general interferes with sleep but doesn't seem to result in daytime drowsiness.

Association Between Antibodies To Cockroach, Mouse Proteins And Asthma, Allergies Risk
A study released by researchers at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health shows that developing antibodies to cockroach and mouse proteins is associated with a greater risk for wheeze, hay fever, and eczema in preschool urban children as young as three years of age.

US Immunologist William E. Paul Receives The Max Delbrück Medal
The American immunologist Dr. William E. Paul has received the Max Delbrück Medal in Berlin. The jury honored the researcher for his work on a key regulator of the immune system, interleukin 4 (IL-4). Dr. Paul works at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Professor Andreas Radbruch, scientific director of the German Rheuma Research Center Berlin, held the laudatory address.

AAAAI: 'Allergy-free' Dog An Unlikely Find For First Family
As President-Elect Barack Obama and the future First Family begin their search for a new pet to join them at the White House, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) wishes to remind individuals with allergies that there is no truly "hypoallergenic" dog. Obama's 10-year-old daughter, Malia, suffers from allergies to dogs - a condition she shares with millions of Americans.

Scandinavian Clinical Nutrition: Positive Study Results For New Patented Natural Antiviral Substance
Recent tests on human cells show that SCN's patented substance NGNA/N5G has good antiviral effect on several viruses that affect humans, especially the rhinovirus, which is the most common cause for cold symptoms. The substance also has a strong protective effect against severe complications from the influenza virus.

Nanofiltered C1 Inhibitor Shows Potential For Acute Hereditary Angioedema
Nanofiltered C1 inhibitor concentrate (C1INH-nf, CinryzeR) is an effective and safe treatment for all types of acute hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks, according to results released here at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI).

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner: Hosting Guests With Allergies And Asthma
This holiday season, many Americans will host gatherings with family and friends. Millions will have guests with allergy or asthma concerns. One in six Americans - about 50 million people - suffer from some form of allergies or asthma, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). But for those who do not cope with the conditions daily and first-hand, it can be difficult to know what special accommodations are needed.

Allergies May Prevent Some Cancers
There may be a silver -- and healthy -- lining to the miserable cloud of allergy symptoms: Sneezing, coughing, tearing and itching just may help prevent cancer -- particularly colon, skin, bladder, mouth, throat, uterus and cervix, lung and gastrointestinal tract cancer, according to a new Cornell study.

Allergists Define Factors Causing Barriers To Asthma Care
Barriers to managing asthma include access to appropriate care, patient adherence, distrust of the medical profession, delayed asthma diagnosis, culture, lifestyle choices and genetic discrepancies according to experts at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in Seattle. "Lack of access to high quality care contributes to disparities in asthma care, especially for vulnerable populations," said Michael B. Foggs, M.D.

Experts Reveal The Complexity Of Dermatitis Management
Although the variety of substances that can cause contact dermatitis is almost limitless, it often can be effectively managed with the proper diagnosis and treatment according to investigators presenting the latest research at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in Seattle. Contact dermatitis is an acute or chronic inflammation of the skin resulting from interaction with a chemical, biologic or physical agent.