Allergen Immunotherapy in Young Children.

Purpose Of Review: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) has been shown to be safe and effective in children and is a unique treatment strategy that has disease-modifying and preventative effects that are not shared with other treatment options for allergic diseases. This article reviews the present knowledge and relevant updates on AIT in children.

Recent Findings: Although there is no definite lower age limit for starting AIT, clear indications for AIT are established and each case should be considered individually by weighing risks and benefits.

β-Blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors: comparison of effects on aortic growth in pediatric patients with Marfan syndrome.

Objectives: Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) have been shown to decrease aortic growth velocity (AGV) in Marfan syndrome (MFS). We sought to compare the effect of β-blockers and ACEI on AGV in MFS.

Study Design: We retrospectively reviewed all data from all patients with MFS seen at Arkansas Children's Hospital between January 1, 1976 and January 1, 2013.

Impact of aortic aneurysm on hospitalizations in patients with marfan syndrome: a multi-institutional study.

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder affecting 1 in 3,000 people. Cardiovascular involvement is a prominent feature of MFS, with aortic dissection and/or rupture being the leading cause of death. Advances in the medical and surgical care of patients with MFS have improved survival.

Ventricular Hypertrophy on Electrocardiogram Correlates with Obstructive Lesion Severity in Williams Syndrome.

Objective: Williams syndrome (WS) is a congenital, multisystem developmental disorder affecting 1 in 8000 live births. Cardiovascular abnormalities are present in 80% of WS patients. The present study sought to characterize fully the electrocardiographic findings in WS and correlate findings with anatomic pathology.

9-cis-retinoic Acid and troglitazone impacts cellular adhesion, proliferation, and integrin expression in K562 cells.

Retinoids are established pleiotropic regulators of both adaptive and innate immune responses. Recently, troglitazone, a PPAR gamma agonist, has been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory effects. Separately, retinoids and troglitazone are implicated in immune related processes; however, their combinatory role in cellular adhesion and proliferation has not been well established.