Allergy & Clinical Immunology Clinical Briefs

• Rate of Autoimmune Conditions Not Increased With HPV4 Use CME This observational study demonstrated no cluster of new-onset autoimmune diseases according to timing of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine, dose sequence, or patient age.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, February 2012
• Adult Immunization Schedule for 2012 Issued CME/CE The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has issued the 2012 adult immunization schedule and includes new recommendations for human papillomavirus, hepatitis B virus, and influenza vaccines.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, February 2012
• AAP Issues Latest Immunization Schedules for Kids and Teens CME/CE The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued its 2012 immunization schedules for children and adolescents and recommends that clinicians use all 3 schedules and their accompanying footnotes together.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, February 2012
• PFC Exposure Linked to Reduced Antibody Response in Children CME Exposure to perfluorinated compounds is associated with lowered antibody response to tetanus and diphtheria toxoids at ages 5 and 7 years.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, February 2012
• PPIs Produce Negative Outcomes in Children With Poor Asthma Control CME/CE Use of proton pump inhibitors in children with poorly controlled asthma who were using inhaled corticosteroids and who had no symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux did not improve asthma control.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, January 2012
• Maternal Asthma Medication Use May Cause Certain Birth Defects CME There was a significant increased risk for isolated esophageal atresia, isolated anorectal atresia, and omphalocele in infants whose mothers used asthma medications in the periconceptional period.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, January 2012
• Standard Treatment Not Effective in Noneosinophilic Asthma CME Roughly one half of patients with mild to moderate asthma have a persistently noneosinophilic form of the disease, which does not respond well to anti-inflammatory therapy.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, January 2012
• Allergy Tests Should Only Verify Diagnosis in Children CME Reviewing benefits and limitations of blood tests and skin-prick tests, 2 allergists recommend that allergy tests be used only to confirm a diagnosis made on the basis of symptoms and medical history.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, January 2012
• FDA Approvals: Pneumococcal Vaccine for Older Adults CME/CE The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine for adults 50 years and older for the prevention of pneumonia.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, January 2012
• New Meta-Analysis Summarizes Effectiveness of Psoriasis Treatments CME Results from clinical trials of psoriasis treatments suggest that combination therapies may be more effective, tolerable, and have fewer combined adverse effects than monotherapies.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, December 2011
• Sepsis in Late Stages Linked With Immunosuppression CME A new study shows that patients who die of late-stage sepsis have findings consistent with immunosuppression vs patients who die of nonseptic causes.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, December 2011
• CMS Programs Promoting Healthcare System Change Begin to Show Results CME As the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services shifts to paying for quality instead of volume, what are the implications for care providers?
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, December 2011
• One Antihistamine Equal to Another in Efficacy, Sedation CME The first blinded, placebo-controlled trial comparing 2 antihistamines demonstrated that one did not prove less sedating and had no added effectiveness vs the other.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, December 2011
• Meningococcal Vaccine/Booster Dose Guidelines Updated: AAP CME/CE Updated guidelines recommend that adolescents be routinely immunized with the quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine at ages 11 or 12 years and receive a booster dose at age 16 years.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, December 2011
• Daily Steroids May Not Be Needed in Toddlers With Wheeze CME After 1 year of treatment, children prone to wheezing who received daily low-dose budesonide had no fewer exacerbations than children treated only at the onset of respiratory ailment symptoms.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, December 2011
• Risk for Wheeze in Kids Increased With Antibiotics, Acetaminophen CME Acetaminophen use during pregnancy or giving antibiotics to a newborn was linked with increased risk for wheeze in the child, but introducing fish into a child's diet was linked with a reduced risk.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, December 2011
• Risk for Pulmonary Embolism Increases With Autoimmune Disease CME A long-term investigation shows a strong association between hospital admission for an autoimmune disorder and pulmonary embolism during the subsequent year after admission.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, December 2011
• Cesarean Delivery Associated With Bronchiolitis in Infants CME Findings of a new study indicate that elective, but not emergency, caesarean delivery is associated with a 10% increase in the risk for hospitalization for bronchiolitis in infants.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, November 2011
• Do Anticholinergics Lead to Further Cognitive Decline? CME/CE Taking medication with a low level of anticholinergic activity does not appear to cause further cognitive impairment or more rapid cognitive decline in patients with established Alzheimer's disease.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, October 2011
• FDA Safety Changes: Atypical Antipsychotic Linked to Severe Allergic Reactions CME/CE The FDA issued a warning that the atypical antipsychotic asenapine may cause severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, September 2011