Peanut oral immunotherapy in a pediatric allergy clinic: Patient factors associated with clinical outcomes.

Background: Additional information is needed to inform optimal patient selection, expected outcomes, and treatment end points for clinical peanut oral immunotherapy (OIT).

Objective: To provide insight into the optimal patient selection, expected outcomes, and treatment end points for clinical peanut oral immunotherapy by analyzing a real-world peanut OIT cohort.

Methods: Records were reviewed for 174 children undergoing peanut OIT at a pediatric allergy clinic.

Oral immunotherapy for multiple foods in a pediatric allergy clinic setting.

Background: The increasing incidence of pediatric food allergy results in significant health care burden and family stress. Oral immunotherapy (OIT) can induce tolerance to peanut, milk, and egg. OIT for other foods, particularly multiple foods simultaneously, has not been thoroughly studied.

Allergen sensitization profiles in a population-based cohort of children hospitalized for asthma.

Rationale: Allergen sensitization is associated with asthma morbidity. A better understanding of allergen sensitization patterns among children hospitalized for asthma could help clinicians tailor care more effectively. To our knowledge, however, sensitization profiles among children hospitalized for asthma are unknown.

New developments in the treatment of pediatric allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis.

The primary care physician is the first line of treatment for allergic rhinitis, which affects approximately one-fourth of children in the United States. There is an increasing trend toward self-management by patients or parents due to high-deductible insurance plans and the over-the-counter availability of allergy medications. The primary care physician can offer guidance on appropriate selection of medications and potential adverse effects.

Myxomycete (slime mold) spores: unrecognized aeroallergens?

Background: Myxomycete spores are present in the outdoor air but have not been studied for allergenicity.

Objective: To determine whether patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) symptoms are sensitized to myxomycete spores.

Methods: Myxomycete specimens were collected in the field.

Environmental exposures, nitric oxide synthase genes, and exhaled nitric oxide in asthmatic children.

Exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), a measure of airway inflammation, is being explored as a tool to guide asthma management in children. Investigators have identified associations of genetic polymorphisms in nitric oxide synthase genes (NOS1 and NOS3) with FeNO levels; however, none have explored whether these polymorphisms modify the relationship of environmental exposures with FeNO. The objective of this project was to evaluate the association of NOS polymorphisms and environmental exposures with FeNO levels among children with asthma.

Seasonal variation and environmental predictors of exhaled nitric oxide in children with asthma.

The fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), a measure of airway inflammation, shows promise as a noninvasive tool to guide asthma management, but there is a paucity of longitudinal data about seasonal variation and environmental predictors of FeNO in children. The objective of this project was to evaluate how environmental factors affect FeNO concentrations over a 12-month study period among children with doctor diagnosed asthma. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 225 tobacco-smoke exposed children age 6-12 years with doctor-diagnosed asthma including measures of FeNO, medication use, settled indoor allergens (dust mite, cat, dog, and cockroach), and tobacco smoke exposure.

Relationship of outdoor air quality to pediatric asthma exacerbations.

Background: Although exposure to outdoor air pollutants has been shown to be associated with exacerbations of asthma, there are relatively few admissions for asthma to Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH during the summer months when air quality tends to be worst.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship of outdoor air quality parameters to asthma exacerbations in children.

Methods: The number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations for asthma were determined by review of emergency department logs and the hospital computer database.