I don't remember who asked about allergy shots and such, but this came in
my inbox this morning:
 

Antigens in breast milk may help infants develop tolerance to allergens,
study suggests.


HYPERLINK
"http://recp.mkt32.net/ctt?kn=28&m=814956&r=ODE4NTA5MjAzS0&b=0&j=NDQ0OTcwNTg
S1&mt=2&rj=NDQ0OTcwNTgS1"Bloomberg (1/28, Cortez) reports that, according to
a study appearing online in the journal Nature Medicine, "[l]actating
mothers produce breast milk that contains antigens, substances that
stimulate the immune system." Children exposed to these antigens may in turn
develop a tolerance to certain allergens, according to investigators at
France's Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale. 

        This finding is "an important piece of evidence to a charged debate
as to whether breastfeeding helps protect a child against asthma," notes the
HYPERLINK
"http://recp.mkt32.net/ctt?kn=31&m=814956&r=ODE4NTA5MjAzS0&b=0&j=NDQ0OTcwNTg
S1&mt=2&rj=NDQ0OTcwNTgS1"AFP (1/28). Experimenting with lactating mice, the
research team suggests that "[b]reast-feeding induced tolerance may rely on
both the chronic administration of an antigen at a low dose, a setting known
to promote tolerance induction, and the presence of milk-borne [protein] TGF
beta (transforming growth factor-beta)." 

        Currently, there is some "evidence that being breastfed lowers the
risk of becoming asthmatic, but other studies have failed to find this," the
HYPERLINK
"http://recp.mkt32.net/ctt?kn=12&m=814956&r=ODE4NTA5MjAzS0&b=0&j=NDQ0OTcwNTg
S1&mt=2&rj=NDQ0OTcwNTgS1"BBC (1/28) adds. Yet, according to the French
group, their "study may pave the way for the design of new strategies to
prevent the development of allergic diseases." For the study, the group
"used an allergen called ovalbumin -- a protein found in egg whites" --
which they "allowed the mothers of newborn mice to breathe in." 

        According to the HYPERLINK
"http://recp.mkt32.net/ctt?kn=39&m=814956&r=ODE4NTA5MjAzS0&b=0&j=NDQ0OTcwNTg
S1&mt=2&rj=NDQ0OTcwNTgS1"Telegraph (1/28), the "ovalbumin [was then]
transferred from the mother" to infant through breast milk. But the team
found that "TGF beta, which suppresses the immune system, and white blood
cells called CD4+ T lymphocytes, were responsible for training a young
immune system not to over-react to [the] allergen." Researcher Valérie
Julia, M.D. said that this result is "protection from allergic airway
disease." The research team "suspects the same goes for hay fever too." Dr.
Julia added, "We believe that this will also work since breast feeding
induces protection against sensitization to allergens which is the first
step before developing clinical symptoms such as dermatitis, rhinitis, or
asthma." 

        Immunotherapy may help patients build resistance to allergens.
HYPERLINK
"http://recp.mkt32.net/ctt?kn=50&m=814956&r=ODE4NTA5MjAzS0&b=0&j=NDQ0OTcwNTg
S1&mt=2&rj=NDQ0OTcwNTgS1"HealthDay (1/27, Preidt) reported that patients
with "allergic asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, or stinging insect
allergies" could "be...good candidate[s] for allergy shots, also known as
immunotherapy," according to a recommendation released by the American
Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). Dr. Linda Cox, chair of the
AAAAI's Immunotherapy and Allergy Diagnostics Committee, said, "Patients who
receive immunotherapy are injected with increasing amounts of an allergen
until the target therapeutic dose is reached, in an effort to build
resistance to specific allergens." The relief experienced by patients after
such injections "can last long after completion of treatment and that
immunotherapy helps prevent the development of new allergies, and may
prevent the progression of allergic rhinitis to asthma," Cox added. 

 
Tara Guy, CHA/PA-C, HBCE, IBCLC
HYPERLINK "http://www.rockymountainbaby.com/"www.rockymountainbaby.com
helping mothers birth and parent from the heart
 
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."  Mahatma Ghandi
 

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10:59 AM
 

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