The effects of an H3 receptor antagonist (PF-03654746) with fexofenadine on reducing allergic rhinitis symptoms.

Background: Nasal H(3) receptors might have a role in mediating the effects of histamine in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Objective: This study explored the effect of the potent oral H(3) receptor antagonist PF-03654746 in combination with an oral H(1) receptor antagonist on the objective (acoustic rhinometry) and subjective (symptoms) responses to nasal allergen challenge.

Methods: Twenty patients with out-of-season allergic rhinitis displaying a 30% or greater decrease in minimum nasal cross-sectional area (A(min)) after bolus (ragweed) complete nasal allergen challenge at screening were studied by using a randomized, double-blind, single-dose, 4-way crossover design.

Allergic rhinitis and asthma: celebrating 100 years of immunotherapy.

Since Noon first described allergen immunotherapy a century ago the basic premise of subcutaneous injections (SCIT) of relevant aeroallergens to induce clinical tolerance has remained true [1]. Indeed, allergen immunotherapy did not change dramatically over the first 75 years, but over the past 25 years there have been a number of important advancements leading to newer approaches and novel formulations. Here we review the top 50 articles published in the past 2 years on allergens, environmental control, and immunotherapy for asthma and allergic rhinitis and the use of immunomodulators in allergic disease.

Advances in bone biology and new treatments for bone loss.

Recent advances in bone biology have led to a more detailed understanding of bone remodeling which is a process that leads to resorption of old bone and replacement by formation of new bone. The most important discoveries in this process of bone remodeling were those of the RANK Ligand/RANK/OPG system which is now recognized the dominant pathway regulating bone resorption. RANK Ligand (RANKL) is a cytokine belonging to the tumor necrosis factor family and is expressed by osteoblasts; it binds to membrane bound receptor RANK on osteoclasts and promotes differentiation of marrow cells through various stages to multinucleated osteoclasts which resorb bone.