New discovery may lead to improved asthma drugsNovember 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - An international team of researchers have made a novel discovery that might open avenues for developing new treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases like psoriasis and asthma. They have identified a new type of immune cell that can be out of control in certain inflammatory diseases and worsen symptoms.
Pregnancy depression not normal, say expertsNovember 16th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Most people in Australia think depression is a normal part and parcel of motherhood, researchers have pointed out. Experts at the country's depression initiative beyondblue quizzed 733 men and women and found that more than half believe it was usual for women to suffer depression during pregnancy.
Asthmatic women feel worse than male counterpartsNovember 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Asthmatic women are more anxious, face difficulties in napping and are more tired during the day than their male counterparts, concludes a new study. However, females with asthma tend to be better at following their treatment than men, adds thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg in close collaboration with Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
Smoking can harm asthma patientsNovember 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Tobacco smoke can prove extremely harmful for patients with asthma, rhinitis and nasal obstruction, according to an international health expert. Smoking has always been associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Oral contraceptives 'beneficial' for asthmatic womenNovember 6th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has found that oral contraceptives might benefit women with asthma. The research team from McMaster University in Hamilton, ON, Canada found that women with asthma who were not taking oral contraceptives (OC) had lower exhaled nitric oxide levels (eNO), a marker of airway inflammation associated with asthma.
Supplements can raise asthma riskNovember 5th, 2009 SYDNEY - Researchers have identified a link between folic acid supplements taken in late pregnancy and allergic asthma in children aged between 3 and 5, suggesting that the timing of supplementation in pregnancy is important. Michael Davies, a professor at the University of Adelaide says that folic acid supplements - recommended for pregnant women to prevent birth defects - appear to have "additional and unexpected" consequences in recent studies in mice and infants.
Intake of folic acid supplements in late pregnancy could cause asthma in kidsNovember 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Folic acid supplements taken by mothers in late pregnancy could lead to allergic asthma in their children at the age of 3 to 5 years, according to a study. The study by University of Adelaide's Robinson Institute suggests that the timing of supplementation in pregnancy is important.
Psychiatric medication can increase premature child deliveryOctober 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Pregnant women with a history of depression who used psychiatric medication tripled their odds of premature child delivery, according to a new study. Researchers at the University of Washington, University of Michigan and Michigan State University found that a combination of medication use and depression - either before or during pregnancy - was strongly linked to delivery before 35 weeks' gestation.
No link between pets and childhood asthma: StudyOctober 14th, 2009 MELBOURNE - The traditional belief that childhood asthma is linked to pets or the modern obsession with hygiene has been established as untrue by a new study. The study 'Asthma in Australian Children', published by the Institute of Health and Welfare, revealed that kids with allergies to any kind of food, grass or bees were twice as prone to be an asthma patient as children with no allergies.
New links between chronic rhinosinusitis, depression establishedOctober 8th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Depression can be a common result of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), according to a new research. The study has been presented at the 2009 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting and OTO EXPO, in San Diego, CA.
Expectant mums shouldn't give up asthma medication: StudyOctober 6th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Women who shun asthma medications during pregnancy face increased risk of transmitting the condition to their offspring, reveals a new study. The research team from the Universite de Montreal, the Hopital du Sacre-Cur de Montreal and Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Centre has revealed that 32.6 percent of children born to mothers who neglected to treat their asthma during pregnancy developed the respiratory illnessin later life.
Pregnant women who ignore asthma pass it on to kidsOctober 6th, 2009 TORONTO - Women who avoid treating asthma during pregnancy are likely to transmit the condition to their offspring, say results from a study that examined more than 8,000 families in Canada. A team from the University of Montral (U-M), Hpital du Sacr-Cur de Montral (HdSE) and Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Centre found that 32.6 percent of children born to mothers who ignored their asthma during pregnancy developed the respiratory illness themselves.
Changes in humidity, temperature may trigger asthma among kidsSeptember 15th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Changes in humidity and temperature may trigger asthma among kids, suggests a report. Published in the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the report says that such weather changes have been found to result in a rise in Emergency Department (ED) visits for paediatric asthma exacerbations.
Asthmatic kids more vulnerable to H1N1 virusSeptember 9th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Children suffering from asthma are at an increased risk of contracting H1N1 virus, warns an expert. While talking to students and their parents at Thurgood Marshall Elementary, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius highlighted the work of the Philadelphia MCAN project as a model for childhood asthma management.
15pc preschoolers suffer from anxiety, depression: Canadian studyAugust 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Almost 15 pct of the preschoolers suffer from high levels of depression and anxiety, according to a Canadian study. The five-year investigation showed that children with atypically high depression and anxiety levels are more likely to have mothers with a history of depression.
