The antibiotic vancomycin often used in intensive care units is considered the drug of choice for the treatment of staphylococci (staph) infections that are resistant to most other antibiotics. Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and the BloodCenter of Wisconsin's Blood Research Institute have linked vancomycin to an abnormal decrease in blood platelet count, a condition called thrombocytopenia. If accompanied by uncontrollable bleeding, thrombocytopenia can be fatal.
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Moderate to high levels of regular physical activity are associated with lower lung function decline among smokers and help to moderate their risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a large retrospective cohort study.
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Seafood allergy sufferers may soon be able to eat prawns without the fear of an adverse reaction. Chinese scientists have taken a promising step towards removing from prawns the proteins that cause an allergic response without resorting to genetic manipulation, reports Lisa Richards in Chemistry & Industry, the magazine of the SCI.Li Zhenxing led the research at the Ocean University of China.
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Singulair, a commonly prescribed medication to treat asthma and allergies, may provide relief for the common cold, according to a study conducted by physicians in the Division of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) in Pittsburgh. The study is being presented today at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in San Diego.
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A chart review conducted by researchers at the Institute for Asthma and Allergy showed that hereditary angioedema (HAE) patients who present only with recurrent severe abdominal pain frequently undergo unnecessary surgeries and diagnostic tests prior to diagnosis. The data were presented today at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).
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Four out of every 10 children suffer from severe nasal allergy symptoms that may affect their overall well-being. Now, clinical research suggests that fluticasone furoate nasal spray (FFNS), a once-a-day allergy medicine under Food and Drug Administration review, effectively treats sneezing, runny nose, nasal itching, and nasal congestion in children 2 to 11 years of age with seasonal and year-round nasal allergies.
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A Johns Hopkins study has proven false established medical practice that an antiretroviral drug widely used to treat hepatitis B liver infections was safe to use on its own in patients co-infected with HIV. Their findings demonstrate that treatment with entecavir leads to cross-resistance to other antiviral drugs used to treat the AIDS virus.
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Tell your doctor about all the remedies that you take in fertility treatment - including those complementary medicines and therapies - the therapies may interact with each other and could impact on the chances of achieving pregnancy. Research has shown that some 66% of patients seeking treatment at fertility clinics use complementary medicines and therapies alongside prescribed medication. Most of these patients do not volunteer this information to their doctors.
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In an article published today (27 February) in the journal Allergy, experts in the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA²LEN) suggest that respiratory infections are a main trigger of asthma attacks. Scientists now need to understand the differences between the response to a common cold and air pollution in asthmatics compared with non-asthmatics patients with a view to figure out mechanisms of asthma exacerbations.
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A survey of more than 1,500 allergic rhinitis sufferers who have used a prescription nasal spray to treat their symptoms revealed that device and formulation-related attributes were the major causes of discontinuing their treatment. The survey data (poster #896) were presented today at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).
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