Science Current Events | Science News | Brightsurf.com
 
Email a Friend Send to a friend
Printer Friendly Print National Jewish Medical and Research Center Evaluating Treatment To Prevent Allergic Reactions to Food

National Jewish Medical and Research Center Evaluating Treatment To Prevent Allergic Reactions to Food

April 18, 2008

Researchers at National Jewish Medical and Research Center are conducting trials to evaluate a method to prevent allergic reactions to food. They are feeding peanut- and egg-allergic people increasing doses of an investigational protein extract from the foods to see if they can induce the participants' immune systems to tolerate the food.

"We hope these trials will lead to the development of the first active, preventive treatment for food allergies," said pediatric allergist David Fleischer, MD, principal investigator for the National Jewish studies. "If successful, it would offer great hope for allergic patients and their families, whose lives are haunted by a daily fear of food."




Currently the only advice doctors can give to the estimated 12 million Americans who have food allergies is to avoid the food and carry a self-injectable dose of epinephrine in case they accidentally consume the allergenic food. There is no treatment available to prevent an allergic reaction to food other than strict avoidance of that food. It can often be difficult to determine if a food contains peanuts or eggs, especially when eating at a restaurant or food prepared by another person. It can even be difficult recognizing egg and peanut proteins listed on food ingredient labels, especially from products that are not manufactured in the U.S. As a result, thousands of people rush to emergency rooms every year suffering severe allergic reactions to food. As many as 200 people die from allergic reactions to food each year.

Allergists treating hay fever and other allergies have long used immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, to reduce their patients' sensitivity to pollen, cat and dog dander, and dust mites. However, it is not considered safe to give allergy shots to food-allergic patients because the shots can cause severe allergic reactions. Previous research has suggested that placing the allergenic food protein under the tongue or directly swallowing it, are safer methods of administering food immunotherapy. So that is how National Jewish researchers will try to desensitize allergic patients in the trials.

Study participants (ages 12-40 years for peanut allergy and 6-18 years for egg allergy) will start by consuming tiny amounts of either egg or peanut protein. Physicians and staff at National Jewish will observe them closely to see if they have any symptoms of an allergic reaction. Over the course of several months, participants will consume the protein daily at home, coming in every couple of weeks or so to slowly ramp up the amount of protein they consume until they reach a "maintenance dose."

Shortly after reaching the maintenance dose, participants will be tested with a larger amount of either egg or peanut to see if the immunotherapy has reduced the immune system's response. Participants will continue taking the maintenance doses for one to three years to see if they can achieve long-term results. Six to eight weeks after discontinuing the immunotherapy, participants will again consume a larger amount of peanut or egg to see if they have become tolerant of the food.

"In traditional immunotherapy, the majority of hay fever patients achieve tolerance, which can last for years," said Dr. Fleischer, the principal investigator for the National Jewish study. "We hope to achieve similar results for our food allergic patients."

National Jewish is participating in this research as part of the Consortium of Food Allergy Research, a network of academic medical centers funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The researchers are all highly experienced food allergists who have conducted thousands of food challenges.

Other participants in the research are the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York; John Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore; Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, NC; and the University of Arkansas Children 's Hospital Research Institute in Little Rock, AR.

National Jewish Medical and Research Center



Related Allergic Reaction Current Events and Allergic Reaction News Articles Allergic Reaction Current Events and Allergic Reaction News RSS Allergic Reaction Current Events and Allergic Reaction News RSS
Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis have increased incidence of other chronic illnesses
Patients who suffer from chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) also tend to suffer from other chronic illnesses, like asthma, hypertension, and arthritis.

Common chemotherapy drug triggers fatal allergic reactions
A chemotherapy drug that is supposed to help save cancer patients' lives, instead resulted in life-threatening and sometimes fatal allergic reactions.

Malfunction of the respiratory epithelium is a cause of allergy?
One reason for the development of allergy may be malfunction of the respiratory epithelium, which allows allergens to bind to, enter and travel through the epithelium.

Enzyme and vitamin define the yin and yang of asthma
The allergen breathed in by a person with asthma triggers a proteinase or enzyme called MMP7 that activates a cascade of events to prompt an allergic reaction.

Canberra parents lack allergy awareness: Study
Nearly four per cent of ACT kindergarten children have a peanut allergy and while the region's schools are well prepared to cope with this, some parents are taking inappropriate action when dealing with their child's allergy, according to a new study.

Of Mice and Peanuts: A new mouse model for peanut allergy
Chicago researchers report the development of a new mouse model for food allergy that mimics symptoms generated during a human allergic reaction to peanuts.

Fungal pill could provide asthma relief for 150,000 UK sufferers
Up to 150,000 people suffering from severe asthma in the UK could benefit from taking antifungal medication already available from pharmacists, new research has found.

Scientists developing food allergy treatment
A team of scientists from across Europe are embarking on new research to develop a treatment for food allergy.

Drinking milk to ease milk allergy?
Giving children with milk allergies increasingly higher doses of milk over time may ease, and even help them completely overcome, their allergic reactions, according to the results of a study led by the Johns Hopkins Children's Center and conducted jointly with Duke University.

ESF study helps stop drugs slipping through safety net
Recent advances in genetic screening will lead to safer pharmaceutical drugs, with reduced adverse side effects, if the methods are incorporated in clinical development.
More Allergic Reaction Current Events and Allergic Reaction News Articles
Allergy Information for Teens: Health Tips about Allergic Reactions such as Anaphylaxis, Respiratory Problems and Rashes (Teen Health Series)

Allergy Information for Teens: Health Tips about Allergic Reactions such as Anaphylaxis, Respiratory Problems and Rashes (Teen Health Series)
by Karen (Author), Ed. Bellenir (Author)



Native Remedies Triple Complex Bronchosoothe Alternative Asthma and Allergic Reaction Remedy

Native Remedies Triple Complex Bronchosoothe Alternative Asthma and Allergic Reaction Remedy
by Native Remedies (Gold Flax Seed, Inc)

Triple Complex BronchoSoothe contains a combination of biochemic tissue salts. Placed under the tongue at the first signs of an asthma attack, BronchoSoothe opens up the air passages, reduces bronchospasm and inflammation, soothes anxiety and allows easy and normal breathing to take place. Use BronchoSoothe to immediately Open up bronchioles and relieve 'tight' chest, Reduce acute bronchospasm, Restore easy breathing, Prevent additional stress linked to asthma attack and Prevent asthma attacks caused by cold air and allergic reactions. Triple Complex BronchoSoothe may be combined with Native Remedies' BioVent Natural Asthma Remedy for optimum results.

Native Remedies Triple Complex BronchoSoothe for Comfortable Breathing (360 Tablets)

Native Remedies Triple Complex BronchoSoothe for Comfortable Breathing (360 Tablets)
by Native Remedies

BronchoSoothe is a 100% natural, safe and proven remedy containing specially selected biochemic tissue salts. Placed under the tongue, BronchoSoothe promotes easy, comfortable and normal breathing. BronchoSoothe opens up the air passages, reduces bronchospasm and inflammation, soothes anxiety and allows easy and normal breathing to take place. Use BronchoSoothe to open up bronchioles and relieve 'tight' chest; reduce acute bronchospasm; restore easy breathing; prevent additional stress linked to asthma attack and prevent asthma attacks caused by cold air and allergic reactions.

Allergic Reaction (Original Mix)

Allergic Reaction (Original Mix)
Dstro (Primary Contributor)



The Raw & The Cooked

The Raw & The Cooked
Directed By: David Von Ancken
Also With: Tom Kapinos (Producer), Tom Kapinos (Writer), David Duchovny (Producer), Melanie Green (Producer), Gina Fattore (Producer)



  Being Free Of Allergies [CD on Demand]
by Bart Sharp

The CD Being Free Of Allergies by Bart Sharp uses clearings and tools of Access Energy Transformation to communicate to your body in order to release the toxins, that is the cause of allergies, in our cellular tissues and body. Bart dialogues with our body, lungs, lymphatic systems, heart, blood, nervous systems and brain to release the considerations it has to holding onto toxins in the body. Allergies are created from the air that we breathe, drugs we take and foods we consume. Using the Access clearings we can communicate to our body to process everything we take in much easier and efficiently. In addition this CD explores the emotions related to allergies as our body attempts to release emotions through allergic reactions. This sixty minute CD can be listened to active or...

Cathe Friedrich's Hardcore Series: Muscle Max DVD & FREE Resistance Band

Cathe Friedrich's Hardcore Series: Muscle Max DVD & FREE Resistance Band
by Cathe Friedrich

FREE Resistance Band included with every order! The warm-up is followed by lower-body work, then chest, back, lower body, shoulders, biceps and triceps. Then it's on to core/ab work, followed by a complete (and totally deserved) stretch

Care for Kids: The Essential Guide to Preparing Caregivers

Care for Kids: The Essential Guide to Preparing Caregivers
Starring: Dr. Wayne Warrington, Britt Michaelian, Peter Gilberd, Maya Michaelian, Lucy Michaelian
Directed By: Britt Michaelian



Organic Hot Spot Kit for Dogs - Natural relief

Organic Hot Spot Kit for Dogs - Natural relief
by Natures Balance Care

Hot Spot KIT includes 8 oz. Groomer for Dogs and 4 oz. Bare Skin Barrier for natural relief of itchy raw skin conditions due to allergies, fleas, fungus and bacteria. Groomer for Dogs is a safe and effective anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory skin scrub without steroids and the Bare Skin Barrier stops the licking and chewing while protecting from insects and stimulating healing. Safe for lactating animals. Ingredients: Groomer (8 oz ready-to-use) - Purified Water, Citronella, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Peppermint, Lemongrass, Jojoba, Polysorbate Bare Skin Barrier (4 oz ready-to-use yields 120 applications) Grapeseed Oil, Jojoba, Citronella, Lemongrass, Lavender, Tea Tree

21st Century Complete Medical Guide to Allergy, Hay Fever, Hypersensitivity, Food, Latex, Dust Mite, Mold, and Pollen Allergies, and Allergic Reactions, ... for Patients and Physicians (CD-ROM)

21st Century Complete Medical Guide to Allergy, Hay Fever, Hypersensitivity, Food, Latex, Dust Mite, Mold, and Pollen Allergies, and Allergic Reactions, ... for Patients and Physicians (CD-ROM)
by PM Medical Health News (Author)

This up-to-date electronic book on CD-ROM provides the best collection available anywhere of official Federal government information and documents on the subject of allergy, hay fever, hypersensitivity, food, latex, dust mite, mold, pollen, and work related allergies and allergic reactions. This CD-ROM uses next-generation search technology that allows complete indexing and makes all files on the disc fully searchable. For patients, practical information is provided in clearly written patient education documents. For medical professionals, doctor reference tools and texts have detailed technical information and clinical background material.

Health experts estimate that 35 million Americans suffer from upper respiratory tract symptoms that are allergic reactions to airborne...

© 2009 BrightSurf.com