New Trends In Allergy And Atopic Eczema

Allergy and allergic diseases have increased in prevalence worldwide during the last decade. Relevant determinants influencing the development of allergic inflammation come from the environment and are either enhancing (e.g. environmental pollutants both indoors and outdoors) or protective (e.g. parasite infestations causing early stimulation of the immune system). In spite of considerable progress in experimental allergology and immunology, there is still a great discrepancy between theoretical knowledge and practical performance in the routine treatment of patients with allergies. The development of new therapeutic and preventive strategies for the future management of allergy is dependent on a better understanding of the pathomechanisms and molecular pathways involved. Based on an international symposium, this volume summarizes the latest findings in epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical aspects of allergic diseases such as asthma, food allergy, and, especially, atopic eczema. Risk factors for the development of allergies and novel treatment strategies are carefully evaluated. This update is essential reading for anyone interested in allergy: doctors working in the clinical fields of dermatology, pneumology, internal medicine, pediatrics, ENT, epidemiology and public health, as well as researchers in molecular genetics, immunobiology, food and nutrition sciences, and pharmacology.

New Trends in Allergy V' is the fifth volume of a series focussing on new trends in experimental and clinical allergology. The interdisciplinary character is documented by articles from such different fields as basic immunology, chemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, epidemiology, pneumology, dermatology, otolaryngology, pediatrics and psychosomatic medicine. Special emphasis is given to the role of both anthropogenic (pollutants) as well as natural environmental factors in the development of allergy. Among new pathophysiological concepts, dendritic cells, lymphocyte interactions, mast cells, eosinophils and neutrophils as well as psycho-neuro-immunological influences are featured. Practical aspects focus on asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic eczema, occupational and food allergy as well as anaphylaxis. The most recent therapeutic strategies comprise novel pharmacotherapy and allergen-specific as well as unspecific (e. g. anti-IgE) immunotherapy.

There is no doubt among experts that the prevalence of allergic diseases has increased in many industrialized countries in recent years. The rea sons for this increase are unknown; only suppositions exist. Many people focus on environmental influences. However, the assumption that air pollution alone is responsible for this increase seems to be too simple: many other influences, including the genetic predisposition of individual patients, allergen exposure, and possibly socioeconomic factors, also have to be taken into consideration. Although our understanding of the complex mechanisms of allergic diseases has considerably improved thanks to the progress made in ex perimental immunology and allergology, we still have a long way to go before this scientific knowledge is translated into new therapeutic mo dalities. For this reason, the scientific community welcomed the gathering of scientists from very different disciplines and different parts of the world at an international symposium, "New Trends in Allergy IV" together with "Environmental Allergy and Allergotoxicology III" in Hamburg in 1995. This volume contains the invited papers, covering a wide range from basic science to practical clinical diagnosis and therapy. A further unique feature of this event was the concomitant first official workshop of the Environmental Pollution and Allergy Committee of the International Association of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (IAACI), at which the state of scientific knowledge in this field was defined and formulated.

This book is a comprehensive, practical guide to the latest developments in the understanding and management of atopic dermatitis. Detailed information is provided on age-specific clinical symptoms, features, and diagnostic methods. Current theories on the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis are closely examined, with attention to the roles played by genetic, allergic, immunologic, and skin barrier dysfunctions. In the second half of the book, the scientific background to and the practical use of the full range of treatment methods are described, covering topical agents, systemic agents, phototherapy, allergen-specific immunotherapy, and the most recently developed biologics and small molecules. This textbook will be an excellent guide to diagnosis and treatment for not only dermatologists but also practitioners in allergy and general medicine, including pediatricians, allergists, and primary care physicians. In addition, it will be of value for all scientists interested in developing new drugs for atopic dermatitis.

The international symposium "New Trends in Allergy", held in Munich from July 13 to 15, 1990, brought together for the third time since 1980 some of the most experienced researchers working in the field of allergy. This volume comprises the papers presented at this meeting. All over the world, and not merely in the industrialized countries, allergy is becoming a cause of evermore serious diseases. In recent years, research in the field of allergy has provided numerous impor tant and fascinating results extending our knowledge considerably. Despite the new insights into basic mechanisms of allergic reactions, improved diagnostic methods, and new therapeutic approaches, how ever, many questions remain to be answered, including: Are allergies really increasing in frequency? If so, what are the reasons? Especially, does environmental pollution playa role? Which factors influence IgE synthesis? Can the IgE immune response be switched off? Does the nervous system interact with allergic reactions? If so, what are the mechanisms? Are new approaches in allergy prophylaxis and allergy therapy effi cient? What measures have proven useful and deserve to be employed in daily practice? In this volume, these questions and other current topics are dealt with. As each issue is covered by authors competent in the respective fields, the result is an extensive and critical review of the state of the art. Going through these papers, one comes to the conviction that allergy research is a multifacetted, explosively expanding, most stimulating field of work.

Anergic reactions and anergic diseases are found in many fields of medicine. As wen as affecting the skin, allergic diseases occur in internal organs such as the lungs and the kidneys and in the vascular and nervous systems. Interdisciplinary understanding and cooperation thus seem necessary to get a better insight into allergic reactions in the different fields of medicine in order that we may give our patients the best diagnostic and therapeutic care. Allergic diseases are on the increase. Studies from Sweden show that 15% of the population there are atopic, and some people speculate that in Germany about 10%-15% of all adults suffer from one of the many different allergic conditions. We in our clinic also have the impression that the incidence of atopic reactions has increased in recent years. The figure of 15% would mean something like 200 000 people in Munich alone! We all know that a wide variety of environmental factors can induce allergic reactions in the skin, the respiratory system, or internal organs. The most important anergens in our environment are pollen, molds, animal dander, housedust mite, food or food additives, various insects, industrial compounds and drugs. The direct costs of hospital and community medical care, other services, and drugs to help patients with asthma, hay fever, and skin allergies have in creased considerably in the last 10 years. The figures should make it clear to everybody that we are dealing with a health and environmental problem of great practical importance.

This comprehensive guide offers a state-of-the-art overview of basic and clinical aspects of atopic dermatitis (AD). The name "atopic dermatitis" was first used in 1933, and Drs. Lewis Webb Hill and Marion B. Sulzberger presented their report "Evolution of atopic dermatitis" in 1935. Their observations accurately forecasted the contemporary issues in the management of the condition, such as the conclusions that should be drawn from our understanding of the pathogenesis of AD, and the use of steroids as the main treatment. Several aggravating factors have recently been identified, and these also need to be addressed. In this context, the expert contributors to this book describe and discuss the evolution of atopic dermatology from Sulzberger’s era to the present day, including clinical manifestations, etiopathology and treatment. In addition, it explores skin care intervention, the role of microbiom and GWAS studies, and presents unique, previously unpublished cohort studies. It provides insights into the dynamic changes in AD since Sulzberger introduced topical steroids for its treatment. It is a valuable resource for dermatologists, medical practitioners and researchers who are interested in atopic dermatology.

Eczema: New Insights for the Healthcare Professional: 2011 Edition is a ScholarlyBrief™ that delivers timely, authoritative, comprehensive, and specialized information about Eczema in a concise format. The editors have built Eczema: New Insights for the Healthcare Professional: 2011 Edition on the vast information databases of ScholarlyNews.™ You can expect the information about Eczema in this eBook to be deeper than what you can access anywhere else, as well as consistently reliable, authoritative, informed, and relevant. The content of Eczema: New Insights for the Healthcare Professional: 2011 Edition has been produced by the world’s leading scientists, engineers, analysts, research institutions, and companies. All of the content is from peer-reviewed sources, and all of it is written, assembled, and edited by the editors at ScholarlyEditions™ and available exclusively from us. You now have a source you can cite with authority, confidence, and credibility. More information is available at http://www.ScholarlyEditions.com/.