Top asthma articles for June-July 2014

Here are my suggestions for some of the top articles about asthma for June-July 2014:

Anti-IL5 Benralizumab reduces exacerbations, improves lung function in asthma patients with elevated eosinophils http://buff.ly/SWyV1r

8 Things to Do For Your Asthma in 2014 http://buff.ly/1mtcrlK

Definition of reactive airways disease (RAD)? "RAD, a lazy term of uncertain meaning that should be abandoned" http://buff.ly/NamCLJ

Specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) profile for 40 allergens using a novel microarray technique (BioIC): IgE sensitization to mites, pets, cockroaches, seafood, and cheese, is associated with elevated FeNO in children http://buff.ly/1ou6ylC

Decrease ICS by 50% after a period of asthma stability - Risk of asthma exacerbation remains low http://buff.ly/1iCVtwV -- Asthma exacerbations were statistically no more likely among individuals who reduced ICS compared to those who maintained their ICS dose, supporting current guidelines which recommend decreasing ICS by 50% after a period of asthma stability.

All patients with asthma are at higher risk of anxiety (43% increased risk in mild asthma), consider anxiety screening http://buff.ly/1mi3quz

Children with severe asthma had 32 times higher risk for developing COPD, 43% of the COPD group had never smoked http://buff.ly/1oIJ3FH

Chinese herbal products are used by 86% of adults with asthma in Taiwan. Ding-chuan-tang (panting-stabilizing decoction) is most popular, followed by xiao-qing-long-tang (minor green-blue dragon decoction) and ma-xing-gan-shi-tang (ephedra, apricot kernel, licorice, and gypsum decoction) http://buff.ly/1fs26xP

Allergic rhinitis impairs asthma control by enhancing lower airway inflammation - a striking impact found in study http://buff.ly/1lwo3mQ

Seasonality of Asthma: 2-fold increase in pediatric asthma exacerbations during September. Returning to school after summer is strongly associated with an increased risk for asthma exacerbations http://bit.ly/1hfKJpw

Asthma was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.41 of depression. People with asthma, regardless of severity, may benefit from depression screening in clinical settings. http://bit.ly/1lF81EK

Pediatrics asthma: allergists achieved higher FEV1 than pediatricians and pulmonologists. Diagnosed allergic rhinits and treated it http://bit.ly/1khwBhy

More adolescents with severe asthma reported insufficient weekday sleep (44%) vs. adolescents without asthma (31%) http://buff.ly/1eHU2Jn

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.