Allergy-Associates – Page 34 – 6294 1st Ave N., St Petersburg, FL 33710 (727)345-1900

Promising new asthma drug nears testing finish line

June 19, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

Research on a very exciting new medicine for asthma was featured several weeks ago in The New England Journal of Medicine. This drug — the first ever to work on both the acute and late phases of allergic response — is an enzyme that inactivates GATA-3 messenger RNA, and is being called SB010. GATA-3 is a signal that favors T-helper cells to follow the TH-2 pathway, which promotes allergy. TH-1 eliminates allergy. Or, to use a Star Wars analogy: TH-1…

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Shingles Protection Aging Badly

June 19, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

When the shingles vaccine was being researched and developed, the patient population was studied for five years. These initial studies showed the vaccine to be 90 percent effective after five years. Based on that research it was therefore felt that Zostavax (shingles vaccine) could be given once in a lifetime. Unfortunately, it is starting to look like that won’t be the case. Now that longer-term studies are being completed, it is apparent that immunity wanes with time. In fact, efficacy…

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Q – Tips: Dog days of summer!

June 19, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

Alas, we’ve entered the “dog days” of Florida heat and humidity. Persons who are allergic to dust mite and/or mold should be aware that even with continuous air conditioning, ambient indoor humidity can creep up and allow dust mites and mold to flourish. Ideal indoor humidity is 50 percent or lower. If your level is higher, consider using a dehumidifier during the summer months.

Q – Tips: C. diff

June 19, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

C. diff (Clostridium difficile) is the most common cause of severe antibiotic-induced diarrhea. New research indicates that once an individual has C. diff, it never totally leaves their GI tract. New guidelines therefore, recommend lifelong use of probiotics.

Q – Tips: Keflex reactions

June 19, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

The most common adverse affect from cephalosporin antibiotic (Keflex) is diarrhea. It is much more common than allergic reaction. Therefore, if taking this family of antibiotics it is wise to also take a probiotic.

HAE drug works for ACE problem

April 30, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

It is hoped that recent research into expanding the use of a targeted, expensive drug could bring financial relief to many who share symptoms with those covered by the drug’s current restrictive application. At issue are serious symptoms caused by ACE-inhibitor-induced angioedema. The drug studied is Icatibant (brand name Firazyr), but its only approved application at present is for Hereditary Angioneurotic Edema, or HAE — a rare, but significant disease. People with HAE suffer repeated bouts of swelling (angioedema) of…

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Dear Doc: Wheezing when exercising? Learn facts

April 30, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

Dear Dr. K: I wheeze when I exercise. Does that mean I should stop aerobic activities? The unequivocal answer to your question is “no” — and I’m sure Roger Bannister would second my answer. Roger Bannister was the first runner to break the 4-minute mile. What many people don’t know is that he was a medical student when he performed that feat. (Pun intended.) In fact, in the 1950s when he broke four minutes the physicians at that time were…

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Sleep apnea in asthmatics needs closer attention

April 30, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

Tough news reported in research results recently published in The Journal of the American Medical Association that persons with asthma were twice as likely to develop sleep apnea as non-asthmatics. The study was done at the University of Wisconsin and involved thousands of people over a 25-year period. Sleep studies were done every four years in order to observe the frequency with which sleep apnea developed. The striking outcome was compelling because asthma itself is a frequent cause of disturbed…

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Xolair in pregnancy studied

April 30, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

The University of North Carolina recently completed a study of the use of Xolair (Omalizumab) in pregnancy. Xolair is a monoclonal, anti-IgE antibody that is used as an add-on-therapy for moderate to severe asthmatics not adequately controlled with inhaled steroids. Asthma is a common condition affecting roughly 10 percent of pregnant women. It is well known that poorly controlled asthma during pregnancy increases the risk for congenital anomalies, perinatal mortality, low birth weight and prematurity. Xolair has been a welcome…

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Q – Tips: Smoking

April 30, 2015 Stephen J. Klemawesch, MD

A recent study by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) reveals greater risk for death from smoking as related to diseases not previously tied to tobacco use: renal failure, intestinal ischemia, hypertensive heart disease and breast and prostate cancer.