Immunotherapy - top articles for May 2014

Here are my suggestions for some of the top articles about immunotherapy for May 2014:

Allergen specific immunotherapy not only effectively alleviates allergy symptoms, but it has a long-term effect after conclusion of the treatment and can prevent the progression of allergic diseases http://buff.ly/SJf4zJ

Should Gloves Be Worn When Giving Allergy Shots? Technically, it is not required http://goo.gl/WdTBD

How to Make Injections Less Painful: Can Vibrating Devices Make Shots Easier to Take? DentalVibe is a $695 device invented by dentist Steven G. Goldberg and sold to dentists by Bing Innovations LLC of Boca Raton, Fla. It has two prongs that provide pulsing vibrations. The Buzzy is a vibrating plastic oval device that can be held or strapped to the skin while giving a shot. It is sold by MMJ Labs LLC in Atlanta in heavy-duty professional models for $70 to $100, or a consumer version for $40 ($60 for a larger model). WSJ http://buff.ly/1j1yuxS

Comparison of long-term efficacy of 3- and 5-year dust mite immunotherapy: 3 years = adequate duration in children http://buff.ly/Qt1LCm

Fel d 1-derived peptide antigen desensitization (Cat-PAD) shows a persistent treatment effect 1 year after the start http://buff.ly/PITiIk

SCIT is more effective than SLIT in decreasing symptoms and medications in allergic rhinitis to grass http://buff.ly/PViMT1

Dust mite SLIT in children with allergic rhinitis and asthma: compliance 86%, symptoms improved in 65% of patients http://buff.ly/1lJEB5T

Vitamin D level higher than 30 ng/mL facilitates the optimal effect of allergen immunotherapy http://buff.ly/Qk6m5R

Regulatory Aspects of Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy: Europe Sets the Scene for a Global Approach http://buff.ly/PQy0Ni

Clinical efficacy of 300IR 5-grass pollen sublingual tablet: The importance of allergen-specific serum IgE http://buff.ly/VbKoUw

83% of children (younger than 4 yrs) receiving weekly SCIT lose their fear of injections during the treatment course http://buff.ly/Vhuc4g



Mechanisms of allergen-specific immunotherapy (click to enlarge the image). The diagram is based on: Mechanisms of allergen-specific immunotherapy. Akdis CA, Akdis M. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011 Jan;127(1):18-27.

The articles were selected from Twitter @Allergy and RSS subscriptions. Some of the top allergy accounts on Twitter contributed links. I appreciate the curation provided by @Aller_MD @AllergyNet @IgECPD @DrAnneEllis @AACMaven @AllergieVoeding @allergistmommy @mrathkopf @wheezemd.

Please feel free to send suggestions for articles to AllergyGoAway AT gmail DOT com and you will receive an acknowledgement in the next edition of this publication.

Image source: OpenClipArt.org, public domain.