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Tag: Asthma

  • Why is a metal such as aluminum in some vaccines?

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    Trump administration health officials plan to remove a vaccine ingredient that’s been safely in use for decades, aluminum. 

    The Trump administration’s Department of Health and Human Services has reduced some vaccine access. The agency scaled back COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, approved COVID-19 vaccines for fewer people and aimed to remove the preservative thimerosal from U.S. vaccines. Experts told PolitiFact scientific research did not support its removal.

    During a Sept. 22 press conference in which President Donald Trump told people not to take Tylenol during pregnancy, he also mentioned another objective: “We want no aluminum in the vaccine,” he said. The administration was already in the process of removing aluminum from vaccines, he added.

    About two weeks later on Oct. 8, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, announced a new working group focused on the childhood vaccine schedule. Its discussion topics include vaccine ingredient safety and “aluminum adjuvants.” 

    Robert Malone, an ACIP member who has opposed COVID-19 vaccines, told Axios he expected the committee would determine there was “a lot of evidence” of “issues” with aluminum in vaccines. The committee likely would vote to recategorize vaccines containing aluminum adjuvants so that people would have to discuss with their doctor before getting them, Malone told Axios.

    That could have far-reaching ramifications. Here’s what to know about aluminum in vaccines.

    Q: Why is a metal such as aluminum in some vaccines? 

    A: Small amounts of aluminum are sometimes included in vaccines as adjuvants, or substances that boost the body’s immune response to the vaccine to ensure protection from infection. 

    That boost means people can get fewer vaccine doses in smaller quantities. 

    Q: When used, how much aluminum is in a vaccine? 

    A: Vaccines with aluminum adjuvants usually contain less than a milligram of aluminum per dose, according to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. 

    That’s a pretty abstract number. To help make it more concrete: A milligram is one-thousandth of a gram. One gram is about the weight of a raisin or a stick of gum. Imagine cutting one of those items into 1,000 equal pieces. One of the pieces would be about 1 milligram. 

    Here’s another way to think about it. 

    People come in contact with and consume aluminum all of the time. It is one of the most abundant metal elements in the earth’s crust, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It’s naturally occurring in soil, air and water. Food is the main way people are exposed to aluminum. The average adult eats about 7 to 9 milligrams of aluminum per day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

    A baby in its first six months might receive a total of about 4.4 milligrams of aluminum from recommended vaccines. In the same period of time, a breastfed infant would ingest about 7 milligrams of aluminum from breastmilk and a formula-fed baby would ingest about 38 milligrams from formula. 

    Q: How long have vaccines contained aluminum? 

    A: Aluminum adjuvants have been used in vaccines for more than 70 years, the CDC said. 

    “Aluminum is one of our oldest adjuvants, it’s been used in vaccines since the 1920s,” said Dr. Peter Hotez, a Baylor College of Medicine professor and codirector of Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development. 

    Q: How do we know it’s safe to include small amounts of aluminum in vaccines?

    A: Every vaccine’s safety and efficacy is tested in animal studies and human clinical trials before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration licenses it for public use. Every vaccine containing adjuvants has been tested and health agencies continuously monitor their safety, the CDC said.

    Over several decades of use, vaccines with aluminum adjuvants have been proven safe, the FDA said. 

    Vaccines containing aluminum have been “given to billions of people worldwide now,” said Dr. Kawsar Talaat, a professor at Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health.

    A growing body of research has also found aluminum adjuvants don’t cause aluminum toxicity or other adverse outcomes.

    Q: Do aluminum adjuvants have any risks? 

    A: Rarely, some people have allergic reactions to aluminum in the same way they might have allergic reactions to other substances, Talaat said.

    In 2022, researchers published a retrospective, observational study on more than 325,000 children that found an association between vaccine-related aluminum exposure and persistent asthma. Association is not the same as causation, meaning the study did not prove a link between aluminum in vaccines and asthma. 

    Experts from the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics encouraged more research on the subject because the backward-looking observational study didn’t prove causation and also had limitations — including that it excluded many children who developed asthma before they turned 2 years old. 

    A 2025 study found no increased risk of asthma associated with childhood exposure to aluminum-absorbed vaccines.

    Q: Which vaccines contain aluminum adjuvants? 

    A: At least 25 vaccines approved for use in the U.S. have aluminum adjuvants, the CDC says. That includes vaccines that protect against HPV, hepatitis A and B and diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (whooping cough). 

    Q: Which vaccines do not contain aluminum adjuvants? 

    The CDC’s list of vaccines without adjuvants includes vaccines against COVID-19, Ebola, meningococcal, polio and rabies. Additionally, most seasonal flu shots and the vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella do not contain aluminum adjuvants. 

    Q: Can we remove aluminum from vaccines? 

    A: Not quickly. If it could be done at all, it would take years to develop, test and license new, aluminum-free vaccines. Many of the vaccines with aluminum adjuvants don’t have aluminum-free formulas.

    “A vaccine is licensed based on all of its ingredients and the exact manufacturing process,” Talaat said. “If you were to take an ingredient out of a vaccine, you would have to start all over with the clinical trials and the manufacturing, and it is highly possible that some of these vaccines wouldn’t work without the aluminum in there.”

    Although other adjuvants exist, they’re newer and often more scarce than aluminum, which is abundant. 

    An immediate ban on aluminum in vaccines would drastically reduce people’s ability to protect themselves and others against numerous diseases. 

    “I think we’d see outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases,” Talaat said. 

    Q: Why do people think aluminum in vaccines is causing autism? 

    A: A 2011 study said vaccines with aluminum adjuvants “may be a significant” contributing factor to the rising number of autism diagnoses in kids, Nature reported. 

    A year later, a World Health Organization vaccine safety committee called the 2011 study “seriously flawed.” The 2011 study and another by the same authors compared vaccines’ aluminum content and autism rates in several countries, the WHO group said, but that cannot be used to establish a causal relationship. 

    “We studied aluminum, and have no link between aluminum and autism,” Talaat said. 

    RELATED: No, vaccines do not contain unsafe amounts of aluminum for infants, research shows

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  • Scientists Discover Surprising Allergy Fix: UV Light

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    People with allergies can suffer long after the offending organism has been removed. Researchers, however, are now envisioning a future with portable devices that can clear a room of airborne allergens using ultraviolet (UV) light.

    In new research published in the journal ACS ES&T Air, researchers have found a way to change the structure of allergy-causing airborne proteins with UV light. This approach reveals a better alternative to months of cleaning carpets and cats, and in extreme cases, it could even save lives.

    “We have found that we can use a passive, generally safe ultraviolet light treatment to quickly inactivate airborne allergens,” Tess Eidem, a microbiologist at the University of Colorado Boulder and a co-author of the study, said in a university statement. “We believe this could be another tool for helping people fight allergens in their home, schools or other places where allergens accumulate indoors.”

    You’re not allergic to cats

    If you’re allergic to things like cats, dogs, mold, or plants, you’re probably not allergic to those organisms per se, but to a protein they emit. Cats, for example, emit a protein in their saliva called Fel d1 that, when they lick themselves, becomes airborne in tiny flakes of dead skin. When we breathe in allergens like these particles, our immune system creates antibodies that lock onto the protein’s special 3D structure, triggering an allergic reaction.

    That’s why you might still sneeze when you shake out a carpet, even though a cat hasn’t walked on it for months. The proteins are still there, and they can’t be killed like microbes because they aren’t alive. Diminishing allergens via typical methods such as using a filter, vacuuming, and washing walls and pets is helpful but difficult to keep up in the long term.

    As such, Eidem and her colleagues investigated an alternative method: instead of trying to get rid of allergy-causing proteins, they changed their structure to make them unfamiliar to the immune system. The team likens it to unfolding an origami animal. “If your immune system is used to a swan and you unfold the protein so it no longer looks like a swan, you won’t mount an allergic response,” Eidem explained.

    Less intense lights

    Cue UV light. Ultraviolet light is already used to eliminate airborne pathogens and to disinfect equipment in institutions such as hospitals and airports. But the bandwidth is usually so strong—a 254-nanometer wavelength—that people have to don equipment to protect their eyes and skin to use them.

    As such, the team tested the less-intense 222-nanometer-wavelength lights, which are deemed to be safe for populated rooms because they don’t penetrate deep into cells. Eidem, however, admits that there are some risks, such as the production of ozone, which can be harmful if inhaled. As such, human exposure should still be restricted.

    Eidem and her colleagues released tiny allergens from mites, pet dander, mold, and pollen into a chamber and turned on four lunchbox-sized UV222 lamps on the ceiling and floor. They tested the air in 10-minute intervals and found that immunorecognition of treated samples was reduced. In other words, antibodies did not identify many of the proteins and bind to them.

    “Aeroallergens were quantified using an antibody-based immunoassay, which relies on intact protein conformation for antibody-allergen recognition, binding, and quantification,” the researchers explained in the paper.

    After half an hour, airborne allergen levels saw an average drop of 20 to 25%, depending on the type of allergen, how long the light was on, and what the allergen was floating in, such as dust or droplets. In one situation, 40 minutes of UV light exposure saw Fel d1 diminish by 61% compared to untreated, allergen-filled air.

    “Those are pretty rapid reductions when you compare them to months and months of cleaning, ripping up carpet, and bathing your cat,” said Eidem.

    Personal applications

    While UV222 lights are already available to consumers, they are mostly for industrial applications, so Eidem hopes to see the day when people could have access to portable UV222 lights to use for more personal activities, such as visiting that one friend with three cats. On a more serious note, UV222 lights might even be lifesaving.

    “Asthma attacks kill about 10 people every day in the United States, and they are often triggered by airborne allergies,” Eidem concluded. “Trying to develop new ways to prevent that exposure is really important.”

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    Margherita Bassi

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  • You’re Probably Breathing Wrong: Here’s How To Tell & How To Stop

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    If you have allergies, asthma, or chronic sinusitis, this will be an absolute game-changer for you. If you have sleep apnea or insomnia—it’s a must-try. And the beautiful part? It’s free, it’s easy, and breathing is something you have to do anyway. Of all the health-boosting practices we recommend, breathing through your nose is by far the most accessible—no external barriers to be found. 

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  • CVS, Walgreens now require prescriptions for COVID vaccines in Colorado

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    People who want to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine at CVS or Walgreens pharmacies in Colorado this fall will need to present a prescription.

    State law allows pharmacists to administer vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a group that counsels the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about who will benefit from which shots.

    In previous years, the committee recommended updated COVID-19 vaccines within days of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approving them. This year, the committee doesn’t have any meetings scheduled until late September, and may not recommend the shot when it does meet, since Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed multiple members with anti-vaccine views after removing all prior appointees in June.

    The lack of a recommendation also means that insurance companies aren’t legally required to pay for the COVID-19 vaccine without out-of-pocket costs. Most private insurers will cover the updated shots this year, though that could change in 2026, according to Reuters.

    Initially, CVS said it couldn’t give the COVID-19 vaccine to anyone in Colorado or 15 other states, because of their ACIP-approval requirement. As of Friday morning, its pharmacies can offer the shots to eligible people who have a prescription, spokeswoman Amy Thibault said.

    As of about 10 a.m. Friday, CVS’s website wouldn’t allow visitors to schedule COVID-19 shots in Colorado.

    Walgreens didn’t respond to questions about its COVID-19 vaccine policy, but its website said patients need a prescription in Colorado. A New York Times reporter found the same in 15 other states.

    The FDA this week recommended the updated shots only for people who are over 65 or have a health condition that puts them at risk for severe disease.

    The listed conditions include:

    • Asthma and other lung diseases
    • Cancer
    • History of stroke or disease in the brain’s blood vessels
    • Chronic kidney disease
    • Liver disease
    • Cystic fibrosis
    • Diabetes (all types)
    • Developmental disabilities, such as Down syndrome
    • Heart problems
    • Mental health conditions, including depression and schizophrenia
    • Dementia
    • Parkinson’s disease
    • Obesity
    • Physical inactivity
    • Current or recent pregnancy
    • Diseases or medications that impair the immune system
    • Smoking

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    Meg Wingerter

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  • Cleaning Products, Air Fresheners, and Lung Function  | NutritionFacts.org

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    There is a reason the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention prohibits not only smoking but also scented or fragranced products in its buildings.

    In a recent review entitled “Damaging Effects of Household Cleaning Products on the Lungs,” researchers noted: “Adverse respiratory effects of cleaning products were first observed in populations experiencing high levels of exposure at the workplace, such as cleaners and health-care workers, with a primary focus on asthma.” Occupational use of disinfectants has also been linked to a higher risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, such as emphysema.

    As I discuss in my video Friday Favorites: The Effects of Cleaning Products and Air Fresheners on Lung Function, we now know that, in addition to workplace exposures, “exposure to household cleaning products has also emerged as a risk factor for respiratory disorders in childhood,” as well potentially being “an important risk factor for adult asthma.” Common household cleaning spray use accounts for as many as one in seven adult asthma cases. The thought is that inhaling chemical irritants may cause injury to the airways, leading to oxidative stress and inflammation. What can we do about it?

    Well, it may be limited to sprays. Researchers found that cleaning products that were not sprayed were not associated with asthma. It’s also possible that environmentally friendly cleaning products “may represent a safer alternative,” though they may still present some risk.

    Ideally, safer cleaning products should be available. Unfortunately, the research suggesting harm has “seldom been heeded by manufacturers, vendors, and commercial cleaning companies.” I wonder how much of that is because “most of the workers exposed to cleaning products are women”—both occupationally and, perhaps, domestically.

    One of the problems may be the fragrance chemicals. One in three Americans surveyed “reported health problems, such as migraine headaches and respiratory difficulties, when exposed to fragranced products.” And, for about half of them, the problems were so bad they actually lost work over it, either “workdays or a job due to fragranced product exposure in the workplace.”

    “Results from this study reveal that over one-third of Americans suffer adverse health effects, such as respiratory difficulties and migraine headaches, from exposure to fragranced products. Of those individuals, half reported that the effects can be disabling. Yet over 99% of Americans are exposed to fragranced products at least once a week, from their own or others’ use.”

    The effect on asthmatics may be even worse, affecting closer to two-thirds of Americans. One compound that may be of particular concern is called 1,4-dichlorobenzene, also known as para-dichlorobenzene, which is found in many air fresheners, toilet bowl deodorants, and mothballs. It breaks down in the body into a compound called 2,5-dichlorophenol, which we pee out, giving researchers a reliable measure of our dichlorobenzene exposure. Not only may it make respiratory problems worse for those already suffering from compromised airways, but exposure to dichlorobenzene “at [blood] levels found in the U.S. general population, may result in reduced pulmonary [lung] function” in people who start out with normal breathing. What’s worse, higher exposures “were associated with greater prevalence of CVD [cardiovascular disease] and all cancers combined,” another reason to avoid it. We’d better read labels, right?

    Surprisingly, “no law in the US requires the disclosure of all ingredients in fragranced consumer products.” In fact, for laundry supplies, cleaning products, and air fresheners, manufacturers “do not need to list the presence of a ‘fragrance’ on either the label or MSDS,” the material safety data sheet. We won’t know until we smell it.

    I support the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s ban. Not only is “the use of tobacco products (including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, smokeless tobacco, or other tobacco products)…prohibited at all times,” but “scented or fragranced products are prohibited at all times in all interior space owned, rented, or leased by CDC.” I wish rideshare services like Uber and Lyft would have a similar policy. I’d even be happy with just a fragrance-free option. About one in five of more than a thousand Americans surveyed said they “would enter a business but then leave as quickly as possible if they smelled air fresheners or some fragranced product,” so it’s in the best interest of businesses, too. “Over 50% of the population would prefer that workplaces, health care facilities and professionals, hotels, and airplanes were fragrance-free.”

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    Michael Greger M.D. FACLM

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  • UK apologizes for child’s death in case that made air pollution in low-income areas a national issue

    UK apologizes for child’s death in case that made air pollution in low-income areas a national issue

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    LONDON — The British government has apologized for the death of a 9-year-old girl who is believed to be the first person in the U.K. to have air pollution listed on her death certificate, after a decade-long battle that highlighted the risks vehicle emissions pose to children in low-income communities.

    The apology was part of a settlement announced Thursday in a lawsuit filed by the mother of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, who developed severe asthma just before her 7th birthday and suffered severe seizures before she died on Feb. 15, 2013. The government also made an undisclosed financial settlement.

    “Although this isn’t going to bring Ella back, we finally accept this is acknowledgement of what happened to her, and to put the issue of air pollution firmly on the map, that it’s a public health crisis … and something needs to be done about it,’’ Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, Ella’s mother, said after meeting with government officials. “Today it is finally over, but I am going to continue, and I have been reassured by the government that they’re going to be continuing to work with me to clean up the air.”

    Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah fought to reopen the coroner’s inquest into Ella’s death after the so-called Dieselgate scandal revealed how Volkswagen obscured the true level of emissions released by its diesel-powered vehicles. Research by the Royal College of Physicians later showed that about 40,000 deaths can be attributed to outdoor air pollution each year in the U.K., with the burden falling most heavily on low-income communities close to busy roads and other major sources of emissions.

    Ella grew up just 25 meters (yards) from the South Circular Road, a major conduit for traffic along the southern edge of central London.

    Britain’s High Court in May 2019 set aside the findings of the original inquest, which attributed Ella’s death to asthma.

    In December 2020, a second inquest found that air pollution was a contributing factor in Ella’s death, along with acute respiratory failure and severe asthma.

    Throughout her illness, Ella was exposed to levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter that exceeded World Health Organization guidelines, Deputy Coroner Philip Barlow ruled. There was also a “recognized failure” to bring nitrogen dioxide levels within the limits set by European Union and domestic law.

    “Ella’s mother was not given information by health professionals about the health risks of air pollution and its potential to exacerbate asthma,” Barlow said. “If she had been given this information, she would have taken steps which might have prevented Ella’s death.”

    The child’s estate, which is administered by her mother, sued the Environment Department, the Department for Transport and the Department of Health and Social Care for compensation over Ella’s illness and premature death.

    The government on Thursday described Ella’s death as a “tragedy,” and said her mother’s public campaign for better air quality had “made a considerable impact.”

    Adoo-Kissi-Debrah said Environment Minister Emma Hardy reaffirmed her commitment to pass legislation that will bring the U.K. in line with WHO standards, according to a statement released by her law firm, Hodge Jones & Allen.

    “On behalf of the government departments who were party to the claim, we again take this opportunity to say we are truly sorry for your loss and to express our sincerest condolences to you as Ella’s mother, to her siblings, and to everyone who knew her,’’ the government said in the statement. “To lose a loved one at such a young age is an immeasurable loss.”

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  • Can Acupuncture Protect Cats Against Certain Diseases?  | Animal Wellness Magazine

    Can Acupuncture Protect Cats Against Certain Diseases?  | Animal Wellness Magazine

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    Acupuncture is an ancient practice rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that has gained popularity in veterinary care. This holistic approach involves inserting fine needles into specific points on the body to stimulate healing and restore balance. For cat parents considering acupuncture for cats, understanding its principles and applications can be incredibly beneficial.

    How Acupuncture Works

    Acupuncture is based on the concept of Qi (pronounced “chee”), which refers to the vital energy that flows through the body along specific pathways called meridians. When this energy flow is disrupted due to illness or injury, it can lead to pain and dysfunction. By inserting needles into specific acupuncture points, practitioners aim to restore the balance of Qi, promoting healing and alleviating symptoms.

    Common Conditions Treated with Acupuncture

    Acupuncture can be effective for a variety of conditions in cats. Here are some of the most common ailments that may benefit from this treatment:

    1. Pain Management

    • Arthritis: Acupuncture can help reduce inflammation and alleviate pain associated with osteoarthritis, a common issue in older cats.
    • Muscle Strains and Sprains: It can aid in recovery from injuries by promoting blood flow and reducing muscle tension.

    2. Neurological Disorders

    • Seizures: Acupuncture may help manage the frequency and severity of seizures in cats.
    • Nerve Injuries: It ca support recovery from nerve damage and improve mobility.

    3. Gastrointestinal Issues

    • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Acupuncture can help manage symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea by promoting digestive health.
    • Constipation: It may stimulate bowel movements and relieve discomfort associated with constipation.

    4. Respiratory Problems

    • Asthma: Acupuncture can help reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks by improving airflow and reducing inflammation in the airways.

    5. Immune System Support

    • Chronic Diseases: Conditions like kidney disease and hyperthyroidism can benefit from acupuncture by supporting overall health and immune function.

    What Are the Benefits of Acupuncture for Cats?

    Acupuncture offers several advantages for cats, including:

    • Has Minimal Side Effects: When performed by a qualified practitioner, acupuncture is generally safe and well-tolerated by cats.
    • Can be Used with Other Treatments: Acupuncture can be used alongside conventional treatments, enhancing their effectiveness and reducing the need for medications.
    • Is an Holistic Approach: Acupuncture addresses not just the symptoms but also the underlying imbalances in the body, promoting overall wellness.

    Conclusion

    Acupuncture can be a valuable tool in managing various health issues in cats. By understanding its principles and potential applications, cat parents can make informed decisions about incorporating this holistic therapy into their feline companions’ care. Always consult with a veterinarian experienced in acupuncture to determine the best treatment plan for your cat’s specific needs.


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    Animal Wellness is North America’s top natural health and lifestyle magazine for dogs and cats, with a readership of over one million every year. AW features articles by some of the most renowned experts in the pet industry, with topics ranging from diet and health related issues, to articles on training, fitness and emotional well being.

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    Animal Wellness

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  • Women more likely to have asthma than men

    Women more likely to have asthma than men

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    WHEN YOU LOOK AT CHILDREN, MERCY MEDICAL CENTER DOCTOR ALBERT POLITO SAYS ASTHMA HITS ONE GROUP HARDER. IT ABSOLUTELY IS MORE COMMON IN BOYS VERSUS GIRLS. AND THEN YOU GET TO PUBERTY. AND WHEN PUBERTY HITS THE SHIFT HAPPENS. SO WE KNOW THAT THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING HORMONAL INVOLVED IN THIS. BUT LATER IN LIFE, HE SAYS, THERE’S ANOTHER TREND. SOME STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT WITH THE ONSET OF MENOPAUSE, THERE’S ACTUALLY AN UPTICK IN THE DIAGNOSES OF ASTHMA THAT MAYBE THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT ESTROGEN, WHICH WE KNOW FALLS IN MENOPAUSE, THAT’S PROTECTIVE. PEGGY HARRIS SAYS HER ASTHMA CAME ON JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, GETTING SOME RENOVATION IN MY HOUSE DONE. AND THE FLOORS AND THE DUST AND EVERYTHING. SO I WAS LIKE, OH MAN, I’M FEELING REALLY WHEEZY AND TIGHT IN THE CHEST. DOCTOR POLITO SAYS NOT ONLY ARE HORMONAL CHANGES A FACTOR, BUT WOMEN HAVE SMALLER LUNGS, TOO. HE SAYS GENETICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES ALSO COME INTO PLAY. BUT HE SAYS, LIKE OTHER CONDITIONS, PATIENTS NEED TO STAY ON TOP OF THEIR MEDICATIONS. I TELL PEOPLE, THINK ABOUT ASTHMA LIKE YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. YOU GET UP EVERY DAY. YOU TAKE YOUR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION. YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IS, BUT YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT. AND PEGGY LOVES BEING OUTSIDE, SO SHE SAYS IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU STAY ON TOP OF IT. YES. IF I FOLLOW THROUGH LIKE I SUPPOSED TO, THEN YES, IT’S BETTER. REPORTING

    Woman’s Doctor: Asthma can be more severe for women than men

    Women are more likely to have asthma than men — and it can be more severe.Dr. Albert Polito, medical director for the Lung Center at Mercy Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, explained to sister station WBAL why asthma affects women more than men and how to take care of yourself.”It absolutely is more common in boys versus girls, and then you get to puberty. And, when puberty hits, the shift happens. So, we know that there has to be something hormonal involved in this,” Polito said.Polito said there’s another trend later in life.”Some studies have shown that with the onset of menopause, there’s actually an uptick in the diagnoses of asthma, that maybe there’s something about estrogen, which we know falls in menopause that’s protective,” Polito said.Peggy Harris said that her asthma came on just a few years ago.”I was just getting some renovation in my house done — floors and the dust and everything — so, I was like, ‘Oh, man, I’m not feeling well.’ (I was) wheezing (and felt) tight in the chest,” Harris said.Polito said that not only are hormonal changes a factor, but women have smaller lungs, too. He added that genetics and environmental exposures also come into play, but, like other conditions, patients need to stay on top of their medications.”I tell people, ‘Think about asthma like you think about your high blood pressure: get up every day. You take your high blood pressure medication. You don’t know what your blood pressure is, but you have to take it,’” Polito said.Harris, who loves being outside, said it makes a difference when you stay on top of asthma.”If I follow through like I’m supposed to, then, yes, it’s better,” Harris said.

    BALTIMORE —

    Women are more likely to have asthma than men — and it can be more severe.

    Dr. Albert Polito, medical director for the Lung Center at Mercy Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, explained to sister station WBAL why asthma affects women more than men and how to take care of yourself.

    “It absolutely is more common in boys versus girls, and then you get to puberty. And, when puberty hits, the shift happens. So, we know that there has to be something hormonal involved in this,” Polito said.

    Polito said there’s another trend later in life.

    “Some studies have shown that with the onset of menopause, there’s actually an uptick in the diagnoses of asthma, that maybe there’s something about estrogen, which we know falls in menopause that’s protective,” Polito said.

    Peggy Harris said that her asthma came on just a few years ago.

    “I was just getting some renovation in my house done — floors and the dust and everything — so, I was like, ‘Oh, man, I’m not feeling well.’ (I was) wheezing (and felt) tight in the chest,” Harris said.

    Polito said that not only are hormonal changes a factor, but women have smaller lungs, too. He added that genetics and environmental exposures also come into play, but, like other conditions, patients need to stay on top of their medications.

    “I tell people, ‘Think about asthma like you think about your high blood pressure: get up every day. You take your high blood pressure medication. You don’t know what your blood pressure is, but you have to take it,’” Polito said.

    Harris, who loves being outside, said it makes a difference when you stay on top of asthma.

    “If I follow through like I’m supposed to, then, yes, it’s better,” Harris said.

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  • Sinéad O’Connor’s Exact Cause Of Death Finally Revealed One Year After Devastating Passing – Perez Hilton

    Sinéad O’Connor’s Exact Cause Of Death Finally Revealed One Year After Devastating Passing – Perez Hilton

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    Nearly one year to the day after her shocking passing, we finally know exactly what took Sinéad O’Connor’s life.

    After the beloved Irish singer was tragically found unresponsive in her London home last July, police opened an investigation but declared that her death was “not being treated as suspicious.” Updates were slim, but six months later in January, a representative for London’s Southwark Coroner’s Court confirmed to TMZ that the late activist died of “natural causes.” There weren’t many other details, but the coroner “ceased their investigation in her death” after coming to the conclusion.

    But we now know exactly what those “natural causes” were.

    Related: Shannen Doherty Thought She Had ‘More Time’ — And Planned To Do THIS Before Passing!

    On Sunday, multiple outlets cited her death certificate, which reveals the late 56-year-old passed away as the result of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. According to the certificate, she was also battling a respiratory tract infection at the time of her death. The certificate officially declares her death as:

    “Exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma together with low grade lower respiratory tract infection.”

    So sad.

    According to the Irish Independent, Sinéad’s death was officially registered by her ex-husband John Reynolds on Wednesday in Lambeth, London. The activist’s death was certified by Julian Morris, senior coroner for Inner South London.

    Our hearts are with all of Sinéad’s loved ones.

    [Images via Sinéad O’Connor & Dr. Phil/YouTube]

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    Perez Hilton

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  • Is Our Life Expectancy Extended by Intermittent Fasting?  | NutritionFacts.org

    Is Our Life Expectancy Extended by Intermittent Fasting?  | NutritionFacts.org

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    Alternate-day modified fasting is put to the test for lifespan extension. 

    Is it true that alternate-day calorie restriction prolongs life? Doctors have anecdotally attributed improvements in a variety of disease states to alternate-day fasting, including asthma; seasonal allergies; autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis; infectious diseases, such as toenail fungus, periodontal disease, and viral upper respiratory tract infections; neurological conditions, such as Tourette’s syndrome and Meniere’s disease; atrial fibrillation; and menopause-related hot flashes. The actual effect on chronic disease, however, remains unclear, as I discuss in my video Does Intermittent Fasting Increase Human Life Expectancy?. 
     
    Alternate-day fasting has been put to the test for asthma in overweight adults, and researchers found that asthma-related symptoms and control significantly improved, as did the patients’ quality of life, including objective measurements of lung function and inflammation. As you can see in the graphs below and at 0:56 in my video, there were significant improvements in peak airflow, mood, and energy. Their weight also improved—about a 19-pound drop in eight weeks—so it’s hard to tease out the effects specific to the fasting beyond the benefits we might expect from weight loss by any means. 

    For the most remarkable study on alternate-day fasting, you have to go back more than a half-century. Though the 2017 cholesterol findings were the most concerning data I could find on alternate-day fasting, the most enticing was published in Spain in 1956. The title of the study translates as “The Hunger Diet on Alternate Days in the Nutrition of the Aged.” Inspired by the data being published on life extension with caloric restriction on lab rats, researchers split 120 residents of a nursing home in Madrid into two groups. Sixty residents continued to eat their regular diet, and the other half were put on an alternate-day modified fast. On the odd days of the month, they ate a regular 2,300-calorie diet; on the even days, they were given only a pound of fresh fruits and a liter of milk, estimated to add up to about 900 calories. This continued for three years. So, what happened? 
     
    As you can see below and at 2:16 in my video, throughout the study, 13 participants died in the control group, compared to only 6 in the intermittent fasting group, but those numbers were too small to be statistically significant. 

    What was highly significant, though, was the number of days spent hospitalized: Residents in the control group spent a total of 219 days in the infirmary, whereas the alternate-day fasting group only chalked up 123 days, as you can see below and at 2:38 in my video. 


    This is held up as solid evidence that alternate-day fasting may improve one’s healthspan and potentially even one’s lifespan, but a few caveats must be considered. It’s not clear how the residents were allocated to their respective groups. If, instead of being randomized, healthier individuals were inadvertently placed in the intermittent fasting group, that could skew the results in their favor. As well, it appears the director of the study was also in charge of medical decisions at the nursing home. In that role, he could have unconsciously been biased toward hospitalizing more folks in the control group. Given the progress that has been made in regulating human experimentation, it’s hard to imagine such a trial being run today, so we may never know if such impressive findings can be replicated. 

    Well, that was interesting! I had never even heard of that study until I started digging into the topic.  

    Check out my fasting series and popular videos on the subject here.  

    For more on longevity, see related videos below.



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    Michael Greger M.D. FACLM

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  • Immune cells shape lungs prenatally, offering novel respiratory disease treatments.

    Immune cells shape lungs prenatally, offering novel respiratory disease treatments.

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    Newswise — Immune cells play an active and intimate role in directing the growth of human lung tissue during development, researchers find, revolutionising our understanding of early lung development and the role of immune cells outside of immunity.

    The research offers new insights for understanding and treating respiratory conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Respiratory conditions account for almost 20 per cent of all deaths in children under five years worldwide1.

    The work reveals a surprising coordination between the immune and respiratory systems, much earlier in development than previously thought. This discovery raises questions about the potential role of immune cells in other developing organs across the body.

    Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, University College London (UCL) and their collaborators at EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute used advanced single-cell technologies to map the development of early human lung immune cells over time.

    This study has created a first-of-its-kind immune cell atlas of the developing lung2. It is part of the international Human Cell Atlas3 initiative, which is mapping every cell type in the human body, to transform our understanding of health, infection and disease.

    The findings, published today (15 December) in Science Immunology, will help shed light on the mechanisms behind childhood lung diseases.

    Immune cells make up a substantial portion of the airways and mature lungs, which have critical gas exchange and barrier functions, providing protection against infection of the respiratory tract. However, the roles of immune cells in the developing organ have remained unexplored compared to structural or lining cell types. Recent discoveries confirm the presence of immune cells in human lungs as early as five weeks into development4.

    To explore whether the immune system might influence how lungs grow, the team studied immune cells in early human lungs from 5 to 22 weeks of development. They used various techniques, including single-cell sequencing and experiments with lung cell cultures, to see if immune cells could affect lung cell development.

    They identified key regulators of lung development, including signalling molecule IL-1β and IL-13 that facilitate the coordination of lung stem cells differentiating into specialised mature cell types5.

    The researchers detected an infiltration of innate, followed by adaptive immune cells. Innate cells included innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), natural killer (NK) cells, myeloid cells and progenitor cells. With respect to adaptive immune cells, as well as T cells, both developing and mature B lineage cells were detected, indicating that the lung environment supports B cell development.

    The findings fundamentally change the understanding of the immune and epithelial interactions that are crucial for foetal lung maturation. They also suggest that early immune disturbances could manifest as paediatric lung disease.

    These new insights into mechanisms in early lung formation will also contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches for regenerating damaged lung tissue and restoring lung function.

    Dr Peng He and Dr Jo Barnes, co-first authors of the study at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute, and UCL Division of Medicine respectively, said: “By adopting a focused strategy in mapping the immune system, we reveal a symbiotic relationship between immune cells and developing lungs. These detailed insights open the door to potential regenerative therapies in not only the lung, but in other vital human organs.”

    Dr Marko Nikolić, senior author of the study at UCL Division of Medicine and honorary consultant in respiratory medicine, said: “We now know immune-epithelial crosstalk is a feature of early lung development. This vital baseline of healthy lung development will help us understand what happens when lung developmental processes get disrupted, for example in preterm births, which can lead to respiratory deficiencies.”

    Dr Kerstin Meyer, senior author of the study at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: “The active participation of immune cells expands the possibilities for understanding and addressing impaired lung formation. What is super exciting about this mechanism is that it may well apply in other organ systems too.”

    Dr Sarah Teichmann, senior author of the study at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and Co-founder of the Human Cell Atlas, said: “If we are to fully understand the root causes of disease, we require a complete view of cells at all stages in the human body. This important contribution towards a comprehensive Human Cell Atlas will be a valuable reference for studying lung diseases.”

    ENDS

    Notes to Editors:

    1. https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details/3147
    2. The researchers analysed human embryonic and foetal lung tissue between 5 and 22 weeks post-conception. Human embryonic tissue was provided by the Joint MRC/Wellcome Trust Human Developmental Biology Resource (www.hdbr.org)
    3. The Human Cell Atlas (HCA) is an international collaborative consortium which is creating comprehensive reference maps of all human cells—the fundamental units of life—as a basis for understanding human health and for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating disease. The HCA is likely to impact every aspect of biology and medicine, propelling translational discoveries and applications and ultimately leading to a new era of precision medicine.
      The HCA was co-founded in 2016 by Dr Sarah Teichmann at the Wellcome Sanger Institute (UK) and Dr Aviv Regev, then at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard (USA). A truly global initiative, there are now more than 3,100 HCA members, from 98 countries around the world. https://www.humancellatlas.org
    4. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(22)01415-5?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0092867422014155%3Fshowall%3Dtrue
    5. Experimentation showed that IL-1β, a cytokine produced by immune cells, directly induced airway epithelial progenitor cells to differentiate into mature lung lining cells. They do this by decreasing SOX9 expression and proliferation, driving lung epithelial progenitor cells to stop self-renewal.

    Publication:
    J.L. Barnes et al. (2023) ‘Early human lung immune cell development and its role in epithelial cell fate.’ Science Immunology. DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adf9988

    Funding:
    This research was supported by Wellcome. For full funding acknowledgements, please refer to the publication.

    Selected websites:

    About UCL (University College London)
    UCL was founded in 1826. We were the first English university established after Oxford and Cambridge, the first to open up university education to those previously excluded from it, and the first to provide systematic teaching of law, architecture and medicine. We are among the world’s top universities, as reflected by performance in a range of international rankings and tables. UCL currently has over 39,000 students from 150 countries and over 12,500 staff. Our annual income is more than £1 billion. www.ucl.ac.uk | Follow us on Twitter @uclnews | Watch our YouTube channel YouTube.com/UCLTV

    The Wellcome Sanger Institute
    The Wellcome Sanger Institute is a world leader in genomics research. We apply and explore genomic technologies at scale to advance understanding of biology and improve health. Making discoveries not easily made elsewhere, our research delivers insights across health, disease, evolution and pathogen biology. We are open and collaborative; our data, results, tools, technologies and training are freely shared across the globe to advance science.

    Funded by Wellcome, we have the freedom to think long-term and push the boundaries of genomics. We take on the challenges of applying our research to the real world, where we aim to bring benefit to people and society.

    Find out more at www.sanger.ac.uk or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and on our Blog.

    About Wellcome
    Wellcome supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. We support discovery research into life, health and wellbeing, and we’re taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate and health. https://wellcome.org/

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  • Groundbreaking progress in treating severe asthma emerges.

    Groundbreaking progress in treating severe asthma emerges.

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    Newswise — A landmark study has shown that severe asthma can be controlled using biologic therapies, without the addition of regular high-dose inhaled steroids which can have significant side effects.

    The findings from the multinational SHAMAL study, published in The Lancet, demonstrated that 92% of patients using the biologic therapy benralizumab could safely reduce inhaled steroid dose and more than 60% could stop all use. 

    The study’s results could be transformative for severe asthma patients by minimising or eliminating the unpleasant, and often serious, side effects of inhaled steroids. These include osteoporosis which leads to increased risk of fractures, diabetes and cataracts.

    Asthma is one of the most common respiratory diseases worldwide – affecting almost 300 million people – and around 3 to 5% of these have severe asthma.  This leads to daily symptoms of breathlessness, chest tightness and cough, along with repeated asthma attacks which require frequent hospitalisation.

    The SHAMAL study was led by Professor David Jackson, head of the Severe Asthma Centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and Professor of Respiratory Medicine at King’s College London.

    Professor Jackson said: “Biological therapies such as benralizumab have revolutionised severe asthma care in many ways, and the results of this study show for the first time that steroid related harm can be avoided for the majority of patients using this therapy.” 

    Benralizumab is a biologic therapy that reduces the number of inflammatory cells called eosinophil. This is produced in abnormal numbers in the airway of patients with severe asthma and is critically involved in the development of asthma attacks. Benralizumab is injected every four to eight weeks and is available in specialist NHS asthma centres.

    The SHAMAL study took place across 22 sites in four countries – the UK, France, Italy and Germany.

    The 208 patients were randomly assigned to taper their high dose inhaled steroid by varying amounts over 32 weeks, followed by a 16 week maintenance period. Approximately 90% of patients experienced no worsening of asthma symptoms and remained free of any exacerbations throughout the 48 week study. 

    Similar studies to SHAMAL will be necessary before firm recommendations can be made regarding the safety and efficacy of reducing or eliminating high dose steroid use with other biologic therapies.

    The study was funded by AstaZeneca and carried out by researchers at renowned universities including Queens University Belfast, Université Paris-Saclay and Trinity College Dublin.

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  • Unveiling Asthma’s Molecular Secrets: How Blood Molecules Influence Airway Processes

    Unveiling Asthma’s Molecular Secrets: How Blood Molecules Influence Airway Processes

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    Newswise — New York, NY (September 20, 2023) – A new study by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has unraveled the intricate molecular interplay between systemic processes within the blood and localized processes within the airways of individuals with asthma.

    This pioneering research opens doors to potential novel treatments targeting specific molecules, with the aim of providing more effective relief for asthma patients. The research findings were published today in Genome Medicine.

    The study, which examined 341 participants comprising individuals with persistent asthma and non-asthmatic controls, used advanced transcriptomic sequencing techniques to analyze blood and nasal samples. Through this comprehensive approach, the researchers unveiled crucial molecules and processes that hold the key to understanding asthma better. Within the blood, the NK cell granule protein and perforin emerged as central players. In the nasal passages, the G3BP stress granule assembly factor 1 and InaD-like protein took on pivotal roles. Notably, the study underscored the profound influence of blood molecules on asthma by virtue of their effects on nasal molecules.

    Supinda Bunyavanich, MD, MPH, MPhil, the Mount Sinai Professor in Allergy and Systems Biology, Deputy Director of the Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe Food Allergy Institute, and a senior author of the study, highlighted the importance of this holistic approach: “Our findings represent a groundbreaking connection between systemic factors in the bloodstream and localized factors in the airways, working collaboratively to drive asthma. This discovery marks a significant stride towards understanding core mechanisms of asthma, transcending the conventional focus on only the airways.”

    However, Dr. Bunyavanich also sounded a note of caution, saying, “While these revelations provide invaluable insights into the molecular framework of asthma, it’s imperative to acknowledge that further research is needed before these breakthroughs can translate into immediate therapies.”

    Key Highlights:

    • The study offers an integrated perspective on the intricate relationship between systemic processes and airway-specific mechanisms in asthma.
    • Prominent blood molecules, including the NK cell granule protein and perforin, appear to exert their influence on asthma through their interactions with nasal molecules like the G3BP stress granule assembly factor 1.
    • The findings chart a path for future research endeavors, guiding the development of targeted asthma therapies that modulate these specific molecules.
    • Given that asthma affects millions globally, the implications of this research are far-reaching. This study paves the way for a deeper comprehension of the disease, instilling optimism for the emergence of more efficacious therapeutic strategies in the foreseeable future.

    For more details, read the full study in Genome Medicine.

    This study was funded supported by the National Institutes of Health grant R01 AI118833.

    Study details: Zhang L, Chun Y, Irizar H, et al. Integrated study of systemic and local airway transcriptomes in asthma reveals causal mediation of systemic effects by airway key drivers. Genome Medicine.

    Dr. Bunyavanich has no conflicts of interest to disclose.

     

    About the Mount Sinai Health System

    Mount Sinai Health System is one of the largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area, with more than 43,000 employees working across eight hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, more than 300 labs, a school of nursing, and a leading school of medicine and graduate education. Mount Sinai advances health for all people, everywhere, by taking on the most complex health care challenges of our time—discovering and applying new scientific learning and knowledge; developing safer, more effective treatments; educating the next generation of medical leaders and innovators; and supporting local communities by delivering high-quality care to all who need it.

    Through the integration of its hospitals, labs, and schools, Mount Sinai offers comprehensive health care solutions from birth through geriatrics, leveraging innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence and informatics while keeping patients’ medical and emotional needs at the center of all treatment. The Health System includes approximately 7,400 primary and specialty care physicians; 13 joint-venture outpatient surgery centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and more than 30 affiliated community health centers. Hospitals within the System are consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report‘s® “Best Hospitals” and “Best Children’s Hospitals.” The Mount Sinai Hospital is on the U.S. News & World Report‘s® “Best Hospitals” Honor Roll for 2023-2024.

    For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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  • Canadian wildfires led to spike in asthma ER visits, especially in the Northeast

    Canadian wildfires led to spike in asthma ER visits, especially in the Northeast

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    NEW YORK — The smoke from Canadian wildfires that drifted into the U.S. led to a spike in people with asthma visiting emergency rooms — particularly in the New York area.

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published two studies Thursday about the health impacts of the smoke, which shrouded city skylines with an orange haze in late spring. A medical journal also released a study this week.

    When air quality worsens, “an asthmatic feels it before anyone else,” said Dr. Adrian Pristas, a pulmonologist based in Hazlet, New Jersey, who remembered a flood of calls from patients in June during the days of the heaviest smoke.

    People with asthma often wheeze, are breathless, have chest tightness and have either nighttime or early-morning coughing.

    “I have no doubt that every asthmatic had an uptick in symptoms,” Pristas said. “Some were able to manage it on their own, but some had to call for help.”

    Each of the studies looked at different geographic areas — one was national, one was specific to New York state and the last focused on New York City.

    Nationally, asthma-associated ER visits were 17% higher than normal during 19 days of wildfire smoke that occurred between late April and early August, according to one CDC study that drew data from about 4,000 U.S. hospitals.

    Hospital traffic rose more dramatically in some parts of the country during wildfire smoke: 46% higher in New York and New Jersey.

    A second study released by the CDC focused on New York state only, not New York City, because the state and city have separate hospital data bases, one of the authors said.

    It found asthma-associated ER visits jumped 82% statewide on the worst air quality day, June 7. The study also said that the central part of New York state saw the highest increases in ER visits — more than twice as high.

    The third study, published by the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Medicine, focused solely on New York City. It found more than a 50% increase in asthma-associated ER visits on June 7, said the study’s lead author, George Thurston of New York University.

    None of the studies looked at other measures of health, such as increases in heart attacks or deaths.

    Wildfire smoke has tiny particles, called PM2.5, that can embed deep in the lungs and cause severe problems for asthmatics. But problematic as the wildfire smoke was, an analysis showed it had lower amounts of some toxic elements found in urban air pollution, Thurston said.

    The third study also attempted to compare the surge in ER visits during the wildfire smoke with what happens at the height of a bad pollen season — and the wildfires led to about 10% more ER visits.

    “That’s reassuring. It may not have been as bad as it looked,” Thurston said

    Jeffrey Acquaviva, a 52-year-old asthmatic in Holmdel, New Jersey, found that conclusion hard to swallow.

    “Yeah, right,” said Acquaviva, who works at family-owned construction business.

    As the smoke got worse in June and the air in his backyard grew thick and “golden,” Acquaviva changed the filters on his air conditioners and stayed indoors for 2 1/2 days.

    His symptoms still got worse — his breathing dangerously difficult — and finally he was taken by ambulance to a hospital and stayed there three days.

    Pristas, Acquaviva’s doctor, recalled how invasive the smoke was: “There was nowhere to hide.”

    ___

    The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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  • A study of links between fracking and health issues will be released by Pennsylvania researchers

    A study of links between fracking and health issues will be released by Pennsylvania researchers

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    HARRISBURG, Pa. — Researchers in heavily drilled Pennsylvania were preparing Tuesday to release findings from taxpayer-financed studies on possible links between the natural gas industry and pediatric cancer, asthma and poor birth outcomes.

    The four-year, $2.5 million project is wrapping up after the state’s former governor, Democrat Tom Wolf, in 2019 agreed to commission it under pressure from the families of pediatric cancer patients who live amid the nation’s most prolific natural gas reservoir in western Pennsylvania.

    A number of states have strengthened their laws around fracking and waste disposal over the past decade. However, researchers have repeatedly said that regulatory shortcomings leave an incomplete picture of the amount of toxic substances the industry emits into the air, injects into the ground or produces as waste.

    The Pennsylvania-funded study involves University of Pittsburgh researchers and comes on the heels of other major studies that are finding higher rates of cancer, asthma, low birth weights and other afflictions among people who live near drilling fields around the country.

    Tuesday evening’s public meeting to discuss the findings will be hosted by University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and the state Department of Health, on the campus of state-owned Pennsylvania Western University.

    Edward Ketyer, a retired pediatrician who is president of the Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania and who sat on an advisory board for the study, said he expects that the studies will be consistent with previous research showing that the “closer you live to fracking activity, the increased risk you have a being sick with a variety of illnesses.”

    “We’ve got enough evidence that associates, that links, that correlates fracking activity to poor health — and the biggest question is why is anybody surprised about that?” Ketyer said.

    The gas industry has maintained that fracking is safe and industry groups in Pennsylvania supported Wolf’s initiative to get to the bottom of the pediatric cancer cases.

    The study’s findings are emerging under new Gov. Josh Shapiro, also a Democrat, whose administration has yet to publish or otherwise release the researchers’ reports since taking office earlier this year.

    The advent of high-volume hydraulic fracturing combined with horizontal drilling miles deep in the ground over the past two decades transformed the United States into a worldwide oil and gas superpower.

    But it also brought a torrent of complaints about water and air pollution, and diseases and ailments, as it encroached on exurbs and suburbs in states like Texas, Colorado and Pennsylvania.

    One of the most enduring images of gas drilling pollution was residents in a northern Pennsylvania community lighting their tap water on fire. A state grand jury investigation later found that a company had failed to fix its faulty gas wells, which leaked flammable methane into residential water supplies in surrounding communities.

    The Pennsylvania-funded study comes on the heels of other major studies, such as one published last year by Harvard University researchers who said they found evidence of higher death rates in more than 15 million Medicare beneficiaries who lived downwind of oil and gas wells in major exploration regions around the U.S.

    Yale University researchers last year said they found that children in Pennsylvania living near an oil or gas wellsite had up to two to three times the odds of developing acute lymphocytic leukemia, a common type of cancer in children.

    Establishing the cause of health problems is challenging, however. It can be difficult or impossible for researchers to determine exactly how much exposure people had to pollutants in air or water, and scientists often cannot rule out other contributing factors.

    Because of that, environmental health researchers try to gather enough data to gauge risk and draw conclusions.

    “The idea is we’re collecting evidence in some kind of a systematic way and we’re looking at that evidence and judging whether causation is a reasonable interpretation to make,” said David Ozonoff, a retired environmental health professor who chaired the Department of Environmental Health at Boston University.

    Another key piece of evidence is to identify an activity that exposes people to a chemical as part of assembling evidence that fits together in narrative, Ozonoff said.

    ___

    Follow Marc Levy on Twitter: http://twitter.com/timelywriter

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  • CHOP Researchers Validate Pediatric “Allergic March” in Largest National Study of its Kind

    CHOP Researchers Validate Pediatric “Allergic March” in Largest National Study of its Kind

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    Newswise — Philadelphia, July 25, 2023—In the largest study of its kind, researchers from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) used electronic health record (EHR) data from more than 200,000 pediatric patients to describe patterns of pediatric allergies across the United States, validating a population-level pattern of allergy development known as the “allergic march,” in which allergies first present as eczema, followed by food allergies, asthma, and environmental allergies. The researchers also found that a rare food allergy called eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), which has historically been considered a disease affecting primarily White males, is more common among non-White patients than previously reported. 

    The findings were published today in Pediatrics. 

    “Allergic diseases are one of the most common causes of impaired quality of life in children, so to improve the diagnosis and care of children with these diseases, it is important that we have an accurate understanding of how widespread they are, and the risk factors that are associated with them,” said first author Stanislaw J. Gabryszewski, MD, PhD, a fellow in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Prior studies have gauged the prevalence and patterns of allergies based on surveys completed by families. By using data from electronic health records, we were able to analyze data from medical providers, which allowed us to examine population-level patterns over time and in a way that minimizes reporting bias.” 

    To uncover patterns and prevalence of allergic disease, the researchers used the Comparative Effectiveness Research through Collaborative Electronic Reporting (CER2) Consortium database, which includes data from more than 1 million children across multiple independent primary care practices and health systems within the United States. The researchers focused on five allergic diseases: eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis; IgE-mediated (anaphylactic) food allergy; asthma; allergic rhinitis, sometimes referred to as hay fever; and EoE, an emerging and less recognized non-anaphylactic food allergy that causes chronic esophageal symptoms. For each condition, they determined the age at diagnosis and whether and when patients presented with other allergic conditions. 

    In total, they identified 218,485 children between infancy and 18 years of age with allergies who were observed for more than 5 years between 1999 and 2020. The researchers found that the average peak age of onset was approximately 4 months for eczema, 13 months for anaphylactic food allergies, 13 months for asthma, 26 months for allergic rhinitis, and 35 months for EoE. The most diagnosed anaphylactic food allergies were peanut (1.9%), egg (0.8%), and shellfish (0.6%). They found that 13.4% of children had two allergic conditions, and patients with respiratory allergies like asthma and allergic rhinitis tended to present with both conditions, as well as other allergic conditions. 

    The researchers also found that the prevalence of anaphylactic food allergies diagnosed by healthcare providers was 4% — approximately half the prevalence in survey-based studies using family-reported data, suggesting prior studies could have included non-anaphylactic food intolerances. The researchers suggest that this discrepancy highlights the importance of providers and families partnering in the diagnoses of food allergy, as well as underscoring that anaphylactic food allergies are often part of a larger allergic picture.

    The researchers examined demographic trends to examine non-biologic factors that may affect predisposition to allergy. With regard to race and ethnicity, there was significantly higher representation of Black children among those with eczema and asthma, a significantly higher representation of White children for EoE, and a significantly lower representation of Hispanic children with anaphylactic food allergies. Notably, however, even though a majority of EoE patients were White males, the researchers found that approximately 40% of patients with EoE in their cohort were non-White, which is much higher than previously reported. 

    “This study provides an important overview of patterns and prevalence of allergic diseases in children, which is crucial as families and pediatricians observe symptoms that could be indicative of emerging allergies,” said senior author David A. Hill, MD, PhD, an attending physician with the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Future studies should seek to define high-risk allergy populations who may benefit from screening and identify potentially modifiable disparities in disease outcomes.”

    Gabryszewski et al. “Patterns of pediatric allergy across a multi-state electronic health record consortium,” Pediatrics, July 25, 2023, DOI: 10.1542/peds.2022-060531

    #

    About Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: A non-profit, charitable organization, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation’s first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, the 595-bed hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. The institution has a well-established history of providing advanced pediatric care close to home through its CHOP Care Network, which includes more than 50 primary care practices, specialty care and surgical centers, urgent care centers, and community hospital alliances throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as an inpatient hospital with a dedicated pediatric emergency department in King of Prussia. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit https://www.chop.edu. 

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  • Suffering from allergies already? Blame climate change.

    Suffering from allergies already? Blame climate change.

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    Reports indicate that pollen patterns, magnitude and flowering timing are changing with the earth’s temperature rise

    Human-caused climate change is exacerbating pollen seasons, asthma and even wildfires in certain areas around the nation. In the past three decades across the U.S., pollen seasons have not only started sooner and lasted longer but also increased in pollen concentrations. This trajectory showcases that its more than just a seasonal nuisance now. Allergies to airborne pollen are tied to respiratory health and will impact a very similar vulnerable population that suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    For expert commentary on allergies and asthma that have been categorized as a health outcome linked to climate change, Andrea De Vizcaya Ruiz, PhD, associate professor and Shahir Masri, ScD, associate specialist, both with the environmental and occupational health department at UC Irvine Program in Public Health, are available for interviews.

    More pollen circulating in our air longer is contributing to the onset and aggravation of allergies (rhinitis, eye irritation, headaches, cough, post-nasal drip). Coupled with indoor air pollution and climate change, our communities are experiencing unprecedented exposure to harmful air pollutants. The evidence is alarming and is imperative we take action to adopt effective and evidence-based regulations, spread awareness on lifestyle changes, and work together to clean our air.

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    University of California, Irvine

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  • What Does Vaping Do? New Research Shows Damage and Addiction

    What Does Vaping Do? New Research Shows Damage and Addiction

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    SOURCES: 

    Jake Warn, Winslow, ME. 

    Mary Lou Warn, Winslow, ME.


    Tobacco Control: “Nicotine delivery and cigarette equivalents from vaping a JUULpod.”

    Maine Department of Health and Human Services: “Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey.”

    CDC: “Tobacco Product Use and Associated Factors Among Middle and High School Students – National Youth Tobacco Survey, United States, 2021,” “E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products Visual Dictionary,” “Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults.”

    American Cancer Society: “What Do We Know About E-cigarettes?” “The Study That Helped Spur the U.S. Stop-Smoking Movement,” “Key Statistics for Lung Cancer.”


    Drug and Alcohol Dependence: “Patterns of nicotine concentrations in electronic cigarettes sold in the United States, 2013-2018.”


    Insider: “The creator of the nicotine patch says that ‘anti-vaping forces’ are trying to kill the life-saving e-cig industry.”


    JAMA Network Open: “Nicotine Addiction and Intensity of e-Cigarette Use by Adolescents in the US, 2014 to 2021.”


    Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine: “The effect of e-cigarette aerosol emissions on respiratory health: a narrative review.”


    European Respiratory Journal: “E-cigarette use and respiratory disorders: an integrative review of converging evidence from epidemiological and laboratory studies.”


    American Journal of Preventive Medicine: “Association of E-Cigarette Use With Respiratory Disease Among Adults: A Longitudinal Analysis.”


    Toxicology Sciences: “E-Cigarette Aerosol Exposure Induces Reactive Oxygen Species, DNA Damage, and Cell Death in Vascular Endothelial Cells.”


    Nigar Nargis, PhD, senior scientific director of tobacco control research, American Cancer Society.


    Hilary Schneider, director of government relations, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Maine. 


    Rachel Boykan, MD, clinical professor of pediatrics, attending doctor, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, Stony Brook, NY.

     

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  • Childhood Asthma Declines During COVID-19 Pandemic

    Childhood Asthma Declines During COVID-19 Pandemic

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    Newswise — Half as many children in the United States were diagnosed with asthma in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to previous years, and Rutgers researchers think fewer colds may be part of the reason.

    In a new Rutgers study, published in Respiratory Research, researchers examined the rates of new asthma diagnoses in a large commercial insurance claims database during the first year of the pandemic compared with rates of new diagnoses during the previous three years.

    Using the Health Core Integrated Research Database, researchers identified individuals under 18 years old with no prior diagnosis of asthma and compared rates of new diagnoses from 2020 with rates during the previous three years. They found that diagnosis rates of asthma decreased by 52 percent across the first year of the pandemic compared with results from previous years.

    “Given the similar findings from Japan and the U.S., these results suggest that the pandemic caused many fewer children to develop asthma in various places around the world, at least early on,” said Daniel Horton, a core faculty member at the Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science at Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research (IFH) and the lead author of the study.

    According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, citing data from the National Center for Health Statistics, about 4.8 million children have asthma in the U.S. with symptoms including trouble breathing, wheezing, coughing and tightness or pain in the chest. While a number of research studies have shown declines in the worsening of pediatric asthma during the pandemic, there has been much less focus on the rate of new asthma diagnoses during the pandemic. Building on a study from Japan, researchers at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences sought to study rates of diagnosis in the U.S.

    According to researchers, while more needs to be learned about why new asthma diagnoses fell so substantially, masking and keeping children separated during the pandemic may be the reason.

    “We think this may have occurred in part because, earlier in the pandemic, children were separated, wearing masks and getting fewer regular colds that could trigger asthma,” said Horton, who is an assistant professor of pediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and an assistant professor of epidemiology at Rutgers School of Public Health. “No one wants to keep children out of school or separated, but having kids wear masks while they have a cold or the flu might be a way to keep other kids who are at risk for developing asthma a little safer.”

    Coauthors of the study include Brian Strom, the chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences; Stephen Crystal and Cecilia Huang of IFH; Reynold Panettieri of Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science; and collaborators from Carelon Research.

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    Rutgers University-New Brunswick

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  • Dogs, Cats Could Lower Children’s Allergy Risk

    Dogs, Cats Could Lower Children’s Allergy Risk

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    March 29, 2023 – If your little one has been begging for a furry friend, there may be another reason to give in. 

    New research shows that exposure to indoor cats and dogs in utero or early infancy leads to fewer cases of food allergies as the child grows. Over 65,000 children were tested. and 22% who were exposed to pets had fewer food allergies than those who were not tested, according to the findings published Tuesday in the journal PLOS One. The study was done in Japan.

    Children exposed to indoor cats were less likely to have soybean, wheat, and egg allergies. When exposed to dogs, children were less likely to have nut, egg, and milk allergies. Surprisingly, children who were exposed to hamsters were 0.9% more likely to have nut allergies.

    “Studies asking these kinds of questions are really important because they have a lot of relevance to real life, and this one included many kids,” said Joyce Yu, MD, a pediatric allergist and immunologist at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Yu was not involved in the new study. 

    We know Americans love our pets. Around 25% of American households (about 32 million) have a cat, and dogs are found in a whopping 48 million Americans households, according to U.S. pet ownership statistics.

    We asked allergists and immunologists the science behind why having pets leads to fewer food allergies.

    The ‘Hygiene Hypothesis’

    The findings can be attributed to “the hygiene hypothesis,” spearheaded in 1989 by British epidemiologist David Strachan, the experts say. This hypothesis says that being around indoor pets in utero or early infancy can lead to fewer cases of allergies as a child grows, said Sebastian Lighvani, MD, an allergist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

    “The exposure to pets in utero or during early infancy alters the microbiome of the infants and the mother in a positive way, which then promotes immune tolerance to allergens rather than development of sensitization of food allergies,” Lighvani said. 

    Past studies found that children who grew up on a farm had fewer instances of allergies than those in urban areas. Therefore, children who grow up in a “hygienic” environment with less exposure to pets can be at a higher risk of having allergies during adulthood, said Juris A. Grasis, PhD, an assistant professor at the School of Natural Sciences at the University of California, Merced. 

    Pets and Allergens in the U.S.

    Some allergists say that it is highly likely that the results can be mirrored in the U.S. The number of allergy cases in the U.S. has skyrocketed over the years. About 20 million Americans have food allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. 

    Lighvani credits the increase to changes to a process called epigenetics. This is when the genetic makeup you inherit from your parents is turned on by environmental exposure. The genes get methylated – which is when a gene is adjusted, mostly during early childhood – leading to allergic genes. 

    As an example, Lighvani used the rise in peanut allergies in children’s classrooms. “If you ask who has peanut allergies, over half the kids might raise their hands because there is such a high prevalence of it in such a short period of time – 20, 30, 40 epigenetic years,” he said. 

    Some experts are skeptical that the U.S. would have similar results as the PLOS One study. The U.S. varies greatly in population size and region, which can make things tricky. “The East Coast is different from the Midwest in terms of how our pets live with us,” said Yu

    Say Yes to Pets 

    For pet lovers – or those who are “pet curious” – the Japan study is extremely encouraging, said Grasis. The best part: You don’t need to live on a farm or in a rural area to get these health benefits. Having your pet share indoor space with your infant will do just fine. 

    “Simply sharing the indoor habitat with a cat or dog as a child gives benefits that can reduce food allergies as an adult,” he said. 

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