Alicia Woodward
Research Roundup: April/May 2019
The prevalence of food allergy in the adult population of the United States has been estimated at about 9 percent. Yet the true rate and severity of food allergies among U.S. adults is largely unknown. So a group of researchers, many associated with Northwestern University, decided to look into it.
Ask the Celiac Doctor
Gastroenterologist Peter H.R. Green, MD, is one of the nation’s leading experts and researchers on celiac disease.
I’m Retiring
I found a baby calf in the woods the other day. He was lying perfectly still, curled up under a tree. With no mother...
Searching for Toilet Paper in Cuba
Having no Spanish beyond por favor and gracias, I carefully made flashcards before my trip to Cuba to cover situations I knew I would encounter — “No wheat. No barley. No rye.” “Where is the bathroom?” “How much does it cost?” and so forth. Thank you, Google Translate. I used the cards frequently, fumbling with my pronunciation based on decades-old Spanish lessons with a lot of poorly remembered French tossed into the mix. Usually it worked okay. I stumbled and mumbled; my Cuban hosts scratched their heads, smiled and nodded.
Allergy to Second-Hand Marijuana
A 6-year-old boy may be the first documented case of allergy to secondhand marijuana smoke. The case study was presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting.
Freezing EpiPens
People at risk for anaphylaxis are always advised to keep their EpiPens at room temperature. So U.S. researchers examined whether freezing the device would impact its functionality. After freezing 104 EpiPens for 24 hours, thawing and testing performance, they found that the devices still worked correctly.
Good News About Peanut Allergy
An oral immunotherapy drug treatment developed by Aimmune Therapeutics, shows promise in helping children with severe peanut allergy build tolerance to small amounts of peanut.
Seafood Allergies Not Usually Outgrown
The small study found that seafood allergies are rarely outgrown, with the condition becoming resolved in less than 1 percent of participants.
Progress in Celiac Vaccine Development
ImmusanT announced it has started its Phase 2 trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Nexvax2, the company’s therapeutic vaccine for celiac disease. It targets patients who carry the HLA-DQ2.5 gene, about 90 percent of people with celiac disease.
Gluten Free Diet and Psoriasis
Celiac disease is two times more prevalent in those who have psoriasis than in those who don’t. Those with positive blood results for celiac disease have shown significant improvement in their psoriasis symptoms and their skin biopsy findings after going gluten-free for three months.