A 1-day imported fire ant rush immunotherapy schedule with and without premedication.

Background: Rush immunotherapy (RIT) schedules can expedite protection in individuals sensitive to imported fire ant (IFA) stings.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of 1-day RIT with IFA whole body extract (WBE) and determine the benefit of premedication with antihistamines and prednisone.

Methods: Patients with systemic reactions to IFAs and evidence of specific IgE by skin test or serologic test started a 1-day RIT protocol without premedication.

Exhaled breath condensate pH in the evaluation of asthma.

As a marker of inflammation, exhaled breath condensate (EBC) pH may be a useful screening tool in the evaluation of asthma, especially in a military recruit population. To evaluate the utility of EBC pH in the diagnosis of asthma, EBC pH levels were determined in basic military trainees prior to an evaluation for asthma that included a history, physical exam, baseline spirometry, and a methacholine or exercise challenge. Of 86 basic trainees who had symptoms suggestive of asthma and underwent methacholine or exercise challenges, 51 (59.

Prevalence of positive skin test responses to 53 allergens in patients with rhinitis symptoms.

Prior studies looking at allergic sensitization have focused on narrow age ranges or small numbers of allergens. This study is the first to examine the prevalence of positive skin test responses in a symptomatic military population with a wide age range of patients and large number of allergens. This study was a retrospective analysis of our skin test database.

Exhaled nitric oxide levels in military recruits with new onset asthma.

Approximately 800 United States Air Force basic military trainees (BMTs) are diagnosed with asthma, annually, resulting in separation from the military. With training costs of approximately 10,000 dollars/person, around 8 million dollarsis lost per year. Improved methods in diagnosing asthma would be beneficial.

Multicolored Asian lady beetle hypersensitivity: a case series and allergist survey.

Background: Multicolored Asian lady beetles (Harmonia axyridis) have been used as a biological control agent against crop-destroying aphids in the United States. Outside their natural habitat, H. axyridis seeks refuge in homes during fall and winter, leading to patient complaints and symptoms of rhinitis, wheezing, and urticaria on exposure to the beetles.

Generalized cutaneous reactions to the anthrax vaccine: preliminary results of anthrax vaccine-specific cell mediated immunity and cytokine profiles.

Over two years, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System reported that 0.042% of all anthrax vaccine (Biothrax, Bioport Corporation) doses administered were associated with cutaneous reactions, half of which were eczematous. This case series attempts to immunologically detail this eczematous reaction in four patients by measuring anthrax vaccine-specific cell mediated immunity (ASCMI), profiling TH1 and TH2 cytokine response to the anthrax vaccine in vitro, and analyzing of skin biopsy specimens.

An unusual case of laryngomalacia presenting as asthma refractory to therapy.

Background: Laryngomalacia is the most common cause of stridor in infants, but few reports exist of clinically relevant laryngomalacia in adults.

Objective: To present and discuss an unusual late presentation of laryngomalacia and its significance in the evaluation and management of asthma.

Methods: An 18-year-old woman presented to an academic medical center with symptoms of "wheezing" on inspiration and exertion, with relatively normal spirometric findings.

Intraoperative anaphylaxis to bacitracin during pacemaker change and laser lead extraction.

Background: Bacitracin is widely used in operating rooms to soak implants, irrigate compound fractures, and apply to surgical incisions. However, bacitracin is a known sensitizer and causes not only allergic contact dermatitis but also anaphylaxis.

Objective: To describe a 72-year-old woman with anaphylaxis after irrigation and packing of an infected pacemaker pocket with a bacitracin solution.

Cross-reactivity between allergens in the venom of the common striped scorpion and the imported fire ant.

Background: The common striped scorpion, Centruroides vittatus, and the imported fire ant (IFA) are endemic to the south-central United States. There is evidence of venom-specific IgE in patients experiencing hypersensitivity reactions to scorpion stings. The infrequency of repeated scorpion stings and the presence of immediate reactions to an initial sting suggest prior sensitization.

Cross-reactivity between coconut and hazelnut proteins in a patient with coconut anaphylaxis.

Background: The medical literature reports few cases of severe allergic reactions to coconut. We encountered a patient with anaphylaxis to coconut and oral symptoms to tree nuts.

Objective: To identify cross-reactive antibodies between coconut and other tree nuts.

Factors affecting compliance with allergen immunotherapy at a military medical center.

Background: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is a safe and effective treatment for certain allergic disorders; however, noncompliance with therapy is common. We evaluated the compliance rates among groups receiving AIT at a military medical center and identified factors affecting compliance.

Methods: The charts of the 381 actively enrolled patients in our AIT program were evaluated for patient compliance.

Safety and efficacy of an imported fire ant rush immunotherapy protocol with and without prophylactic treatment.

Background: Hypersensitivity to the sting of the imported fire ant (IFA) is a growing and significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Conventional immunotherapy with IFA whole body extract (WBE) has been shown to be effective; however, rush immunotherapy (RIT) with IFA WBE has not been studied.

Objective: In this study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of RIT with IFA WBE and sought to determine whether prophylactic pretreatment with antihistamines and steroids reduces the systemic reaction rate associated with RIT.