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UC Davis study guides efforts to find new strategies, solutions to fight pediatric asthma

A recent UC Davis study highlights the need for improved primary care support structures to address high pediatric asthma rates in California. The research found that nearly 10% of state children suffer from asthma, with low flu vaccination rates and limited access to primary care providers contributing to these rates.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalPopulation Health Management·DateJun 26, 2015

Dusty secrets could help asthma sufferers

A study by the University of Arizona's BIO5 Institute has identified potential protective compounds in dust samples from Amish farming communities. The findings suggest that these natural environmental products could be transformed into medicines to promote lung health and prevent asthma. The research aims to understand the biological ...

Contaminant particles increase hospital admissions for children with respiratory illnesses

A study by researchers from the University of Seville found that high concentrations of fine particles (PM2.5) in urban areas increase hospital admissions for children with respiratory illnesses such as bronchiolitis, pneumonia, asthma, and bronchitis. Reducing PM2.5 levels to the recommended WHO threshold could lead to a daily saving ...

SourceSpanish Foundation for Science and Technology·JournalJournal of the Air & Waste Management Association·DateJun 1, 2015

How Twitter can help predict emergency room visits

Researchers created a model that predicts asthma-related emergency room visits with 75% accuracy by analyzing Twitter data and air quality sensors. The study highlights the potential of big data to address health challenges, particularly for chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalIEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics·DateApr 15, 2015

Bariatric surgery appears to cut risks for serious asthma-related events

A study led by Massachusetts General Hospital investigators suggests that bariatric surgery can significantly reduce the risk of asthma attacks in obese patients. Significant weight reduction after surgery resulted in a half reduction in serious asthma-associated events, including emergency department visits and hospitalizations.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateMar 13, 2015

Investigational drug can reduce asthma flareups

A new investigational drug, reslizumab, has been shown to reduce asthma attacks in patients who have difficulty controlling the disorder with standard medications. The study found that patients treated with reslizumab were at least 50% less likely to experience severe asthma exacerbations.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalThe Lancet Respiratory Medicine·DateFeb 23, 2015

Protein linked to development of asthma

A study published in Journal of Biological Chemistry identifies CCL28 as a key player in inducing asthma pathology even without a viral infection. This finding opens the door for developing potent and specific CCL28 inhibitors to prevent post-viral asthma in young children.

SourceMedical College of Wisconsin·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateFeb 20, 2015

Severe asthma: Gallopamil confirmed as a therapeutic approach

Researchers from INSERM have demonstrated gallopamil's clinical efficacy in treating severe asthma by reducing bronchial smooth muscle mass and airway obstruction. The study involved 31 patients with severe asthma, who showed significant improvements in BSM thickness and asthma attacks after treatment.

SourceINSERM (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale)·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateFeb 19, 2015

Time to rethink the inner-city asthma epidemic?

A new study from Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals that urban living is not a significant risk factor for asthma, instead highlighting the importance of poverty, African-American race, and Puerto Rican ethnicity as potent predictors. The research found no differences in asthma rates between children living in urban areas and their suburba...

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateJan 20, 2015

Cold virus replicates better at cooler temperatures

Researchers found that the common cold virus, rhinovirus, replicates more efficiently in cooler temperatures, such as inside the nose. The study suggests that lower body temperature impairs the innate immune response to the virus, making it easier for the virus to replicate.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 5, 2015

Energy efficient homes linked to asthma

A new study by the University of Exeter Medical School found that residents in energy-efficient social housing may have a greater risk of developing asthma. The presence of mould doubled this risk, highlighting the need for residents to properly ventilate their homes to prevent health issues.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalEnvironment International·DateDec 11, 2014

Telephone coaches improve children's asthma treatment

A new program has been shown to reduce asthma symptoms and hospitalizations in low-income children by training their parents over the phone. The peer coaching model, which was tested in a two-year trial, resulted in significant reductions in ER visits and hospitalizations among families with Medicaid insurance.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateNov 13, 2014