Breathe Easier!

Family Guide To Winter Allergies - Ten Tips On Improving Life In The Winter For Both Parents And Children

Spring and summer are not the only seasons that bring misery to those with allergies.

"The end of the pollinating season is good news for people -- both adults and children -- with hay fever and similar summer allergies, but those who are sensitive to mold spores may have to wait until the first frost to find relief. Allergy to mold spores can be more of a problem than pollen allergy because mold grows anywhere and is not limited to a single season. It needs little more than moisture and oxygen to thrive," says Dr. Michael Stewart, chairman of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

In addition, Dr. David J. Resnick, acting director of the Allergy Division at the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New-York-Presbyterian, says, "Allergies can trigger or worsen asthma and other respiratory illnesses especially in the winter when families spend more time indoors, which increases their exposure to irritants like dust mites, pet dander, smoke, household sprays and chemicals, and gas fumes -- any and all of which can make their lives miserable."

Drs. Stewart and Resnick offer these 10 tips to make the winter months more bearable for allergy sufferers:

- Keep your indoor humidity level below 35 percent to help prevent the growth of mold and mites.

-Use exhaust fans when showering or cooking to remove excess humidity and odors. Avoid putting rugs in the bedroom, if possible, since wall-to-wall carpeting is an ideal place for dust mites to proliferate.

- When outdoors, keep children from playing in areas that promote mold growth, such as dark, wooded areas.

- Use dust-proof covers for mattresses, box springs and pillows to decrease exposure to allergens, but consult your allergist before undertaking such an expense.

- Wash bed linens and nightclothes in hot water (above 130 degrees) to kill dust mites.

- If you must use a humidifier, keep it clean and change the water frequently to avoid contamination by mold and bacteria. Central humidifiers should be sprayed with an anti-mold agent.

- Don't put plants in the bedroom, since decaying leaves and increased humidity can stimulate growth of mold.

- Adults and children allergic to household pets (dogs and cats) should minimize their contact with them. If you cannot remove the pets from the household, keep them out of the bedroom at all times.

- Children with asthma should get a flu vaccine at the end of October or the beginning of November before the onset of cold weather. Also, keep your child well-hydrated and protected from cold air with proper attire (i.e., a scarf over the mouth).

- Contact your family physician or allergist for proper evaluation and treatment.

Cancer, Cardiovascular Diseases, Allergies - Mice As Models For 32 Diseases

Cancer, Cardiovascular Diseases, Allergies - Mice As Models For 32 Diseases- GSF Scientist Coordinates A 2.6 Million Euro Project

Many gene defects which proved to cause diseases have been identified in the meantime - it is important to use this gained knowledge for clinical research now.

Also within the German National Genome Research Network (NGFN), a large number of genes were discovered which cause diseases in their defect form.
In order to foster the further research activities on these genes as effectively as possible, the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) has initiated a new project. For as many as 32 genes, mutant mouse lines were established to investigate how these genes contribute to the occurrence of diseases.

Professor Martin Hrabé de Angelis, Director of the GSF Institute of Experimental Genetics (IEG), is in charge with the coordination of this project which is funded with a total of 2.6 million Euros.

The selected genes are thought to be connected with a broad variety of illnesses such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, cardiovascular diseases, immune deficiency syndromes (allergies, neurodermitis), rheumatic diseases and diseases caused by the environment like Crohn's Disease. These genes will be mutated in the mouse models in order to examine the effects of the respective gene defect. "Genes can be switched off, but also be hyper-activated by mutations which allows us to investigate both the loss and the overproduction of the gene product", states Hrabé de Angelis.

The mouse models will be submitted to the NGFN Clinical Research Groups which will identify the corresponding genes for further investigation. At the same time, the German Mouse Clinic (GMC), which is also directed by Hrabé de Angelis, will serve as a centre of information for all mouse models.
Here the mice will be examined and characterised across all diseases - a general check carried out by collecting the data on more than 240 different parameters going from external appearance, metabolism to behaviour. "The concept entirety constitutes the added value of this project", emphasises Hrabé de Angelis, "due to the Mouse Clinic, it is safeguarded that the highest number of gene mutations possible will be registered".

After a certain lead time, the data concerning the mice will also be stored in the European Mouse Mutant Archive (EMMA) to make them available to all interested scientists.

In addition, a close relationship with the European EUCOMM Consortium is planned whose coordinator, Professor Wolfgang Wurst, is also established at the GSF. EUCOMM too is devoted to clarifying disease genes functions, "so that we will make use of the synergies in any case", guarantees Hrabé de Angelis.

For capacity reasons, three biotechnology companies will provide the manufacturing of the mouse models: Artemis Pharmaceuticals GmbH, gen Oway and Ingenium Pharmaceuticals AG.

These companies are leading in the field of certain mutation technologies and are therefore able to quickly implement them - time is an important factor here as the mice are supposed to become available to scientists as soon as possible.

New Therapeutic Target For Asthma, Allergies and Cancer

Potential New Therapeutic Target For Asthma, Allergies And Cancer

Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have identified how a bioactive molecule involved with allergy, inflammation and cancer is transported out of mast cells, according to findings published online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Mast cells are specialized cells that react to allergy-causing agents by releasing substances that trigger the body's allergic response, leading to conditions like asthma and hives. Among the molecules released by mast cells that participate in the allergic response is sphingosine-1-phosphate. This molecule is also implicated in cancer.

The work by the VCU investigators opens up a new approach to treating asthma, which affects about 15 million Americans and is increasing in incidence and mortality, especially among African-Americans. It also has implications for other allergic disorders and for cancer in terms of developing drugs that inhibit the transport of SIP out of cells.

Sarah Spiegel, Ph.D., professor and chair, VCU Department of Biochemistry, and colleagues reported how S1P, which also regulates many important physiological functions in cells, is transported out of mast cells. S1P is produced by all cells and secreted by some cells into the circulation where it can bind to specific S1P receptors. Until now, researchers have not known the mechanism by which S1P is transported out of cells.

"Our study shows that mast cells can use a special kind of transporter that has long been known to be used by cancer cells to push anti-cancer drugs out and help them survive the treatment," said Spiegel. "Our study is the first to establish a mechanism by which S1P can be exported out of mast cells and perhaps by cancer cells as well."

In previous research, Spiegel's team found that S1P levels are significantly elevated in fluid collected from the lungs of asthmatic patients after exposure to an allergen. Those findings led Spiegel's team to believe that mast cells could be a source of S1P. Mast cells are found in all body tissues and rapidly produce and secrete a number of inflammatory substances such as histamine and S1P when activated by an inflammatory stimulus. Spiegel said that S1P in turn amplifies allergic and inflammatory responses. Therefore, S1P secreted from mast cells can orchestrate many allergic responses, including asthma.

This work was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health.

The team included researchers Poulami Mitra, a Ph.D. candidate, Carole A. Oskeritzian, Ph.D., Shawn G. Payne, Ph.D., from the VCU Department of Biochemistry; Michael A. Beaven, Ph.D., a researcher with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; and Sheldon Milstien, Ph.D., a neuroscientist with the National Institute of Mental Health.

Using Air Filters Can Help Reduce Allergies And Asthmatic Attacks

Studies Have Shown That Using Air Filters Can Help Reduce Allergies And Asthmatic Attacks

What Causes Asthma?

Asthma is an allergic reaction that can be brought on by a variety of triggers including certain foods, medicines, organisms, dander, mold and airborne pollution. An asthmatic attack can be very frightening for both the asthmatic and their friends and family. While an air purifier alone is not sufficient to remove all allergens and asthmatic triggers from a home, they can be an effective component in your arsenal.

Including Air Purifiers in your Arsenal to help Combat Asthma Attacks

A quality air purifier alone cannot trap all household allergens that may contribute to asthmatic attacks. The reason for this is that not all allergens are or remain airborne. For example, many people with allergies are allergic to dust mite droppings (feces) which fall out of the air and into carpeting, upholstery and linens rather quickly due to their relatively large size. In addition, allergy attacks can be brought on by the presence of certain organisms which are immune to air purification, such as cockroaches.

In a September, 2004 study co-funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and published in the New England Journal of Medicine it was found that a HEPA air filter, when used in conjunction with dust mite proof mattress and pillow covers, cockroach extermination and a HEPA vacuum, dramatically reduced asthma symptoms.

Though no air cleaning system can remove all allergens from a home, studies have shown they can significantly reduce the levels of air born allergens and irritants, in some cases, by up to 90%. The HEPA filter has long been used in laboratory experiments, and has been proven to reduce the level of particles in the air. Many air filtration systems rely solely on HEPA technology, or, include a HEPA filter as part of a multi-filtration system.

Multi Filter Air Cleaning Systems

There are purifiers available today that combine more than one type of air filtration technology. The HEPA filter is a widely known, effective and popular air filter. Newer technologies include ionization and UV filters, which, when combined with a HEPA, can trap or kill allergens and particles that are much smaller in size than was previously possible. There are some UV filters that can effectively treat airborne pollutants that are down to 0.001 microns in size. The HEPA air filter traps particles as tiny as 0.3 microns. Ionization technology for air filtration works by negatively producing negatively charged ions which attach themselves to contaminants. These contaminants then drop from the air, resulting in cleaner air to breathe. The HEPA operates by physically trapping particles that go through the filter. While the UV method works by killing or destroying germs.

While no air filtration system alone can remove all potential allergens from the air, they can definitely help reduce them. Subsequently helping to reduce the number of allergic or asthmatic attacks an individual may experience. Much of this depends on what the individual is allergic to, what filtration system they choose, and what other allergen-removal methods they employ in their home environment. A quality air purifier can be a valuable tool in fighting allergies and the effects of asthma.

Associations Between Exposure To Traffic-Related Air Pollution And The Allergic Diseases In Children

Under the direction of the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, a German research group studied in a longitudinal study, over six years, whether associations are identifiable between the onset of a topic diseases and exposure to air pollutants originating from traffic.

The scientists based their analysis, on the one hand, on the corresponding distance of the parental home to streets busy with traffic, and on the other hand, modeled values, for the respective residential addresses of the children, of air pollution with fine dust, diesel soot and nitrogen dioxide.

The research team led by Dr. Joachim Heinrich of the Institute of Epidemiology of the Helmholtz Zentrum München compared, with this, the data of 3,061 six-year old children from Munich and its surroundings.

From birth, their development has been tracked within the scope of the so-called GINI and LISA studies. The studies are led by Prof. Dr. H.-Erich Wichmann of the Helmholtz Zentrum München, and, among other things, are aimed at the study of behavioral and environmental risk factors for allergic diseases. In the current analysis, the results of medical research and regular parental interviews were considered. Moreover, the appearance of the specific IgE antibodies against common allergens in blood serum was tested in children at the age of 6.

The scientists were able to estimate individual values of exposure of children to fine dust and nitrogen dioxide, with the help of calculation models. It was shown that an escalation of asthmatic bronchitis and allergic sensitization to pollen and other common allergens occurred with increasing exposure to fine dust. Increased exposure to nitric oxide was linked to increases in eczema.
Connections were noted, in particular, between the appearance of asthmatic bronchitis, hay fever, eczema and allergic sensitization, on the one hand, and residential environment, on the other: compared with their contemporaries living in more distant places, children who lived less than 50 m from a very busy main road were between 1 % and 50 % more likely to contract these diseases.
Statistical analysis of the data showed a lower risk with increasing distances to the main roads.

Joachim Heinrich and his colleagues consider the results of their research to be clear evidence of the disadvantageous effects of air pollution from traffic on the causes of allergies and a topic diseases. In the past, epidemiological studies on this subject failed to supply a clear picture, although the effects of laboratory experiments and inhalation studies are well-known.

Omega 3 Fats Active Against Child Allergies

Omega-3 fats seem to have a protective effect on allergies in children.

One year olds whose mothers had ingested fish oil during pregnancy and breastfeeding had considerably fewer allergic reactions than children whose mothers did not take this supplement, according to a study from Linkoping University in Sweden.

The study, which started in 2005, comprised 145 pregnant mothers with families at heightened risk of developing allergy and asthma. From the 25th week of pregnancy through the third month of nursing, they were asked to take nine capsules of oil every day. Half of them were given fish oil with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, and the other half were given a placebo in the form of soybean oil.

The study was doubly blind, that is, neither the participants nor the researchers knew who had received what.

It turned out that the "fish-oil children" had fewer than half as many reactions to eggs at the age of one year as the placebo group did. This is an important discovery, since allergic reactions to eggs early in life are strongly correlated with the later development of allergic disorders like eczema and asthma.

All of the children are now two years old and have undergone a clinical examination regarding eczema, been scratch-tested for eggs, milk, and cats, and left a blood sample.

The idea that the difference is truly an effect of the omega-3 fats is supported by an immunological study of the mothers' blood. The women who were given fish oil had less prostaglandin E2 in their blood than the others. This is a substance that triggers allergic immune responses, and it is known that it is depressed when the concentration of omega-3 increases.

"We have been able to show that omega-3 influences the mother's immunological profile in a less inflammatory direction.

Theoretically this can also affect the child's immune system, which is supported by the results of the scratch-tests," says the immune biologist Malin Fageras Bottcher, who led the study together in collaboration with the child allergist Karel Duchen.

Peak Pollen Season Is Now - Australia

Hay fever sufferers and people with asthma; beware - peak pollen season is now until late November, according to the latest asthma alert issued by the National Asthma Council Australia.

"There is so much hype at the start of spring about pollen-triggered asthma and allergy that many people don't realize that the real danger period is actually late spring and sometimes even early summer," warned Professor John Wilson, National Asthma Council Australia chairman.

"These are the four to six weeks of the year when plant-based and pollen-related asthma is at its peak," Prof Wilson explained. "Then as summer progresses, pollen distribution tends to fall off and prevailing winds make pollen less of an issue."

For people with asthma, major thunderstorms at this time of the year can also compound the problem, triggering sudden and severe asthma attacks and an increase in hospital admissions.

"The combination of plenty of pollen in the atmosphere and heavily laden rain clouds, characteristic of thunderstorms, is hazardous," Prof Wilson said.

"When precipitation occurs, the pollen grains become wet and expand and then burst into smaller particles which can be breathed deep into the lungs, triggering asthma.

"Consequently, thunderstorms increase the allergen load caused by plant species such as rye grass, Bermuda grass and birch and a range of others, exacerbating asthma symptoms."

To minimize the impact of seasonal asthma and allergy, the National Asthma Council Australia encourages people with known allergies to continue to take their preventative medications to reduce hay fever, rhinitis and asthma, as well as their symptom reliever.

"People with asthma must have an up-to-date written asthma action plan, detailing what to do when symptoms worsen and it is important to avoid exposure to triggers," Prof Wilson stressed.

"For many, at this time of the year, it's better indoors than out."

Food Allergies Could Be Fought With Friendly Bacteria In Alcoholic Milkshake

Feeding babies alcoholic milk may help to protect against some food allergies. Kefir, a traditional fermented drink, is consumed in Eastern Europe as a health food, and is often used to wean babies, as it is easily digested.

Food allergy prevalence is especially high in children under the age of three, with around 5-8% of infants at risk. Currently the only treatment is avoidance of the problematic food.

"Friendly" bacteria in kefir may play a role in blocking the pathway involved in allergic responses, Lisa Richards reports in Chemistry & Industry, SCI's fortnightly magazine. Research published 16 October 2006(DOI 10.1002/jsfa2469) in the SCI's Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture has shown that the milk drink inhibits the allergen specific antibody Immunoglobulin E (IgE). IgE is involved in immune responses to inactivate organisms that might cause disease. However, in the presence of allergens it can also activate cells responsible for the release of histamine, a chemical which stimulates allergic responses, such as inflammation and constriction of airways.

Ji-Ruei Liu's team of scientists at the National Formosa University, Yunlin, Taiwan, fed mice the milky drink, and found that after 3 weeks, the amount of ovalbumin (OVA) specific IgE was reduced three-fold. Ovalbumin is an allergenic protein found in egg whites, which cause most allergies in young children. Kefir is also reported to prevent food antigens from passing through the intestinal wall.

Liu believes that the milky drink could be a promising tool in the prevention of allergies. "In the future, maybe we can screen out the certain components (bacterial strains or bioactive peptides) from kefir and utilize them in medicine," he said.

Also in this weeks Chemistry & Industry, UK firm Rigest are looking for backers to develop an air sanitizing system using an enzyme found naturally in human tears. Lactoperoxidase can attack and kill microbes such as 'flu viruses and the bacteria responsible for MRSA. The system could be used to sanitize the air in airplanes and hospital sick bays.