Research

The Persistence of Atopic Dermatitis and Filaggrin (FLG) Mutations in a US Longitudinal Cohort

Since the beginning of this century several studies have been published that have helped to revolutionize our understanding of the pathophysiology of AD. These studies have shown an association between genetic variation and AD.  Genes that have been implicated include genes that code proteins associated with skin barrier and genes that code proteins involved in immune function.

New Research Fuels Greater Understanding of Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis in Children and Adolescents

BOSTON (Aug. 16, 2012)  Information presented at American Academy of Dermatology’s Summer Academy Meeting by Lawrence F. Eichenfield, MD, FAAD, a board-certified pediatric dermatologist, chief, division of pediatric and adolescent dermatology and professor of pediatrics and medicine (dermatology), Rady Children’s Hospital and University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.  Dr. Eichenfield is also a member of the National Eczema Association Scientific Advisory Committee.

OVERVIEW
For the millions of children and adolescents affected by chronic skin conditions such as atopic

NIAID Study Offers New Explanation of What Makes an Allergen an Allergen

Using bioinformatics to mine allergen databases and epidemiological studies, investigators at NIAID have uncovered new information on what makes people allergic to allergens. The NIAID team found that the differences between the structure of foreign proteins and the structure of self-proteins made the foreign ones allergenic. The results of their work appear online in the July 18th issue of PLoS ONE.

Background

Allergic diseases, such as asthma, food allergy, and seasonal allergies, affect millions of people in the United States and seem to be on the rise.

Prenatal Exposure to Common Household Chemical Linked to Eczema

Butyl benzyl phthalate is used in vinyl flooring, artificial leather
 
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas

Wednesday, June 27, 2012


WEDNESDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- Babies born to women who were exposed to the common household chemical butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP) during pregnancy are at greater risk for childhood eczema, new research suggests.

BBzP is used in vinyl flooring, artificial leather and other materials, and can be released into the air, the researchers said.

"While hereditary factors, allergens and exposure to tobacco smoke are known to contribute to the condition, our study is the

Prevalence of Atopic Disorders and Immunodeficiency in Patients with Ectodermal Dysplasia Syndromes

Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Ectodermal dysplasia (ED) syndromes are a diverse group of disorders that affect multiple ectodermally derived tissues. Small studies and case reports suggest an increase in atopy and primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) among patients with ED syndromes.


OBJECTIVE:
To determine the prevalence of clinical symptoms suggestive of atopy or immunodeficiency among a large cohort of children with ED syndromes.


METHODS:
A 9-page questionnaire was mailed to families who were members of the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias.

Genomes Show How Staph Bacteria Gain Resistance to Last-Line Drug

National Institutes of Health-funded scientists have determined the genome sequences of a dozen strains of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria known to be resistant to vancomycin, an antibiotic of last resort. The researchers demonstrated -that resistance arose independently in each strain, and identified shared features among the strains that may have helped them acquire vancomycin resistance and evade human immune defenses.

Alternate Routes: Acupuncture, Acupressure and Eczema

Alternate Routes: Acupuncture, Acupressure and Eczema
Kachiu C. Lee, MD and Peter A. Lio, MD


Judging from the increasing media coverage, acupuncture (and its closely-related but needleless cousin, acupressure) has grown in popularity over the past decade (Ernst, 2006). Actress Gwyneth Paltrow (Lantin, 2004) proudly blogs about it on her popular personal website, while Kate Moss openly admits to using acupuncture to assist with smoking cessation (BBC, 2006). But is acupuncture actually effective? Or is it a passing fad?  What is the evidence behind acupuncture as a treatment for eczema?
    
Basis

NIAID Study Links Rapidy Emerging Staph Gene to Asian MRSA Epidemic

A research study conducted by NIAID scientists and their colleagues in China describes a rapidly emerging Staphylococcus aureus gene, which has helped establish MRSA epidemics in Asia.

 

For more information, visit the NIAID site >>>

Food Allergy Guidelines as They Relate to Eczema

 

by Kristopher Denby, MD
 
Food allergy can be a confusing topic and not all bad reactions to food are actually due to an allergy.  If you think you may have a food allergy, discuss it with your doctor.
 
Food allergy is a common problem affecting as many as 1 in 25 young children but is much less common in adults.  Food allergy is more common in people with eczema.  Among children under 5 who have eczema, as many as 30% may also have food allergy.

A Short History of the National Eczema Association (1997-2008)

The National Eczema Association (NEA) began as a small patient support group organized by Dr. Jon Hanifin, a physician and researcher in the Dermatology Department of Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon.

Abnormal Skin Barrier in the Pathogenesis of Atopic Dermatitis

Report by Peter M. Elias, M.D. Dermatology Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco. Both a defective skin barrier, as well as a tendency to develop secondary infections, are well-recognized features of atopic dermatitis (AD).

Eczema prevalence in the United States: Data from the 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health

Report from the Journal of Investigative Dermatology: Using the 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health sponsored by the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau, we calculated prevalence estimates of eczema nationally and for each state among a nationally representative sample of 102,353 children 17 years of age and under.

Hand Dermatitis, or My Hands are Killing Me!

By Dr. Sunil Sharon Dhawan. What is hand dermatitis? Well, it’s any chronic rash on the hands. It is usually symptomatic; it itches, burns, bleeds, irritates, et cetera. About 2 to 9 percent of the general population has it, and a lot of people in my practice and a lot of people in most dermatology practices have it.

NEA-Funded Research Report Offers Independent Guidance regarding the Use of Two Popular Eczema Drugs

A report released in October 2005 by the National Eczema Association (NEA) offers guidance to both patients and physicians regarding the use of two common skin care medications that have been the subject of public health advisories by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In the NEA report, physicians from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) in Boston, Massachusetts, provide an independent review of the clinical benefits and potential cancer risks associated with the drugs Elidel (pimecrolimus) and Protopic (tacrolimus).

Eczema Patients Lack Natural Antibiotic in Skin

Researchers at National Jewish Medical and Research Center report in the October 10, 2005, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine that patients with atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, are susceptible to bacterial infections of their skin because they fail to produce effective amounts of two antimicrobial peptides. The findings demonstrate for the first time the clinical significance of these peptides in humans, and suggest that a medication containing or inducing the peptides may one day be used to fight the infections that plague millions of atopic dermatitis patients. The accompanying editorial in the journal called it a seminal study.

Itch: Getting National Attention

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), a division of the National Institutes of Health recently held a roundtable meeting on the topic of Itch Research. The National Eczema Association’s (NEA) advocacy helped make this first roundtable dedicated to itch possible. Why is this important? Itch is being given attention and looked at more closely on a national level.

Vitamin D: hype or healer?

In looking at the growing number of Google searches for vitamin D over the past several years, it is abundantly clear that vitamin D is very much on our collective mind (Google Trends, 2010). Indeed, there has been a series of highly-publicized debates, articles and missives fueling interest in this previously staid vitamin.

NEA-Funded Research on Itch Shows Atopic Dermatitis Patients React Differently to Heat and Scratching

In the January issue of the British Journal of Dermatology, Dr. Gil Yosipovitch and colleagues from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, reported on their study to examine the effects of repetitive heat and scratching on itch intensity in 16 patients with atopic dermatitis and 10 healthy subjects.

Research Confirms Genetic Skin Barrier Defect Linked to Eczema

Excerpt from the American Academy of Dermatology Skin Briefs E-News SAN ANTONIO (Feb. 3, 2008) New studies examining the genetic basis of the condition support the longstanding theory that atopic dermatitis might be caused by a defect in the skin’s protective outer layer known as the epidermal barrier allowing irritants, microbes and allergens to penetrate the skin and cause adverse reactions.

Clinical Research Trials - Benefits and Risks

Ideally, participating in a clinical trial means helping others by contributing to medical research and helping advance the development of better treatments. By educating themselves about the rules and guidelines for the trial, and the risks involved in being on placebo or active drug, participants can help lead the way for better treatment for the entire eczema community.

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