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.
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.
Pediatric-Dose Epinephrine Approved
Adamis Pharmaceuticals announced that the FDA has approved a lower-dose version (0.15mg) of Symjepi, an epinephrine-prefilled syringe, for emergency treatment of anaphylaxis in children who weigh between 33 and 65 pounds.
Licking Pacifiers & Allergy Risk
Researchers at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit found that mothers who lick their baby’s pacifier after it falls to the ground (rather than hand wash or sterilize it) have babies with lower IgE levels, associated with a lower risk of allergy development. The team monitored babies’ IgE levels at birth, six months and 18 months of age.
Celiac Disease and Headaches
A research team in the UK recently explored the relationship between celiac disease and headaches. Using a systematic computer-based literature search, they found that 26 percent of adults and over 18 percent of children with celiac disease have headaches. The headaches are predominantly migraines.
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