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Dear colleagues:
I have just returned from a meeting in Madrid for 600 Spanish allergists. The Academy was well represented by Donald Leung and John Hunt. Donald gave a great talk on atopic dermatitis (AD), melding together the clinical problems with an excellent review of allergic triggers, and the new data about the mechanisms by which normal skin is protected from bacterial infection.
This brings me to my first message about the February issue of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI). In amongst a range of articles and reviews on the role of allergens in allergic disease, is a letter from Donald’s group reinforcing the message that the most refractory cases of AD are the most allergic. There is no doubt that allergists should play a major role in managing these cases. John Hunt presented a State-of–the-Art Session on airway pH control. His studies are rapidly moving towards a direct clinical intervention to prevent the fall in pH. However, what is most relevant to us is that his career was launched or propelled by an Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Education and Research Trust (ART) Faculty Development Award. We should all be proud of what the Academy and the ART are doing to support Fellows-in-Training and junior faculty.
My own visit was highlighted by a conversation with Dr. Breitenender from Austria. He is analyzing the fact that many inhalant allergens are members of a small number of protein families. In these studies he has recently focused on evolutionary distance as a major factor in determining how likely these proteins are to be an allergen in man. Thus shrimp and mite tropomyosins are important allergens, but the tropomyosins of mammals are not. What was exciting to me was that we have recently reached similar conclusions in trying to understand the differences in the immune response to mammals compared to more distant organisms (see Feb JACI). This month’s Journal is a treat, and reminds us how much we owe to the editors and the many colleagues who contribute to our journal. It is difficult to know whether Donald should be most respected for his work on the Journal or his contributions to understanding atopic dermatitis.
Tom Platts-Mills, MD, PhD, FAAAAI
AAAAI President
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| This Month's Top Stories |
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2007 Annual Meeting offers diverse, progressive program
With nearly 400 educational sessions, from a Keynote Session featuring Anthony S. Fauci, MD, Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), to a special symposium on the new NAEPP guidelines, the 2007 Annual Meeting will focus on practical sessions designed to appeal to all AAAAI members.
Learn more »
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Risks of infectious disease on global health
Anthony S. Fauci, MD, Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), will headline the Annual Meeting Keynote Session, Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases: The Perpetual Challenge to Global Health (#2701). The session will be held Saturday, February 24, 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m., in the San Diego Convention Center, Exhibit Hall A, Ground Level.
Learn more »
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| Other Stories This Month |
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| Links of Interest |
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February Patient Update handout »
Prepare yourself for sports activities
Draft of new NAEPP guidelines available
The Draft Report on Expert Panel Report 3: NAEPP Guidelines for the Management of Asthma is now available for review and comment.
Annual Meeting: access to handouts
The most up-to-date versions of the 2007 Annual Meeting handouts will be available on the Annual Meeting Web site, www.annualmeeting.aaaai.org, prior to, during and after the Annual Meeting. Paper copies of handouts will only be available in seminars, workshops, dinner symposia and Allied Health sessions.
Attend the Virtual Annual Meeting
Busy with practice responsibilities? Limited by international travel costs? Log on to the Annual Meeting Web site, www.annualmeeting.aaaai.org, to register for the 2007 Virtual Annual Meeting. You’ll see and hear the presenters, view their slides and access handouts for each session.
Renew membership, access AAAAI resources
AAAAI members are encouraged to renew their membership by March 30 to continue to take advantage of AAAAI resources. Renew your membership via the AAAAI Web site, www.aaaai.org. For more information, contact Membership Services at (414) 272-6071. Members may also renew their membership at the Annual Meeting by visiting the Resource Center, located in the San Diego Convention Center.
Position available: Allergy & Asthma Disease Management Center editor
A new editor is needed for the AAAAI Allergy & Asthma Disease Management Center (AADMC), www.aaaai.org/aadmc. The AADMC is an interactive Web site that provides timely, practical and important information to physicians from a wide variety of backgrounds and clinical practice.
A detailed description of the position is available in the Members Only section of the AAAAI Web site, www.aaaai.org/members/login.asp. Interested AAAAI members may contact Steve Folstein at the AAAAI executive office at (414) 272-6071 or e-mail sfolstein@aaaai.org.
Pay-for-Performance Webinar
A pay-for-performance Web-based seminar, or Webinar, is available. The new Webinar will help members learn about pay for performance and how it affects their practices. The free, 20-minute Webinar includes a PowerPoint presentation and narration.
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