PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Low birth weight not associated with asthma risk

New study helps understand who is at risk and why

2013-01-15
(Press-News.org) ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (January 15, 2012) – Asthma is a serious condition that affects more than 25.7 million Americans, and is responsible for nearly 4,000 deaths annually. While the cause of asthma remains unknown, a study released today in the January issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), has concluded that low birth weight is not associated with asthma risk in young children.

"Asthma is the most common chronic illness in childhood and is a leading reason for missed school days," said allergist Hyeon Yang, M.D., lead study author. "While environment, genetics, and their interaction are thought to increase one's risk of developing asthma, we now should not assume that low birth weight is associated with asthma. This is an important finding as we continue to understand who is at risk for asthma and why."

Researchers examined a group of children born between January 1, 1976, and December 31, 1979, in Rochester, Minnesota. A total of 3,740 children in the study were born with normal birth weight and 193 children with low birth weight. Of the 193 children born at a low weight, only 13 (6.7 percent) developed asthma, and 201 of the 3,740 children born at a normal weight (5.4 percent) developed the disease.

The study concluded that birth weight did not have any association with a child developing asthma within the first six years of life.

"Asthma is a lifelong disease that is increasing every year within the United States, both by the number of people affected and by cost," said allergist Richard Weber, MD, ACAAI president. "While researchers are still determining what exactly causes the disease, we do know how to effectively treat asthma in children and adults. It is important that those with symptoms see an allergist for proper diagnosis and treatment."

According to the ACAAI, asthma can occur at any age but is more common in children than adults. In young children, boys are nearly twice as likely as girls to develop asthma. Although birth weight is not associated with asthma, obesity is a recently identified risk factor.

Asthma by the numbers: Asthma results in 456,000 hospitalizations and 1.75 million emergency room visits annually The estimated economic cost of asthma is $20.7 billion annually Asthma accounts for 10.5 million missed school days each year Patients with asthma reported 13.9 million visits to a doctor's office and 1.4 million visits to hospital outpatient departments Improved asthma outcomes with allergists include: 54 percent to 76 percent reduction in emergency room visits 60 percent to 89 percent reduction in hospitalizations 77 percent reduction in lost time from work or school

If you or your child has asthma, an Asthma Relief Self-Test is available at www.AllergyAndAsthmaRelief.org that is designed for you to review your asthma symptoms and help find relief.

###

About ACAAI

The ACAAI is a professional medical organization of more than 5,700 allergists-immunologists and allied health professionals, headquartered in Arlington Heights, Ill. The College fosters a culture of collaboration and congeniality in which its members work together and with others toward the common goals of patient care, education, advocacy and research. ACAAI allergists are board-certified physicians trained to diagnose allergies and asthma, administer immunotherapy, and provide patients with the best treatment outcomes. For more information and to find relief, visit www.AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org. Join us on Facebook and Twitter.

END



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Fetal exposure to PVC plastic chemical linked to obesity in offspring

2013-01-15
Irvine, Calif. — Exposing pregnant mice to low doses of the chemical tributyltin – which is used in marine hull paint and PVC plastic – can lead to obesity for multiple generations without subsequent exposure, a UC Irvine study has found. After exposing pregnant mice to TBT in concentrations similar to those found in the environment, researchers saw increased body fat, liver fat and fat-specific gene expression in their "children," "grandchildren" and "great-grandchildren" – none of which had been exposed to the chemical. These findings suggest that early-life exposure ...

Quality of instruction trumps language in reading programs for elementary-age ELLs

2013-01-15
WASHINGTON, January 14, 2013─New research synthesizes studies of English reading outcomes for Spanish-dominant English language learners (ELLs) in elementary schools. The review, Effective Reading Programs for Spanish-dominant English Language Learners (ELLs) in the Elementary Grades: A Synthesis of Research, appears in the December issue of Review of Educational Research, a journal of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Conducted by Alan C. K. Cheung, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Robert E. Slavin, Johns Hopkins University and the University ...

New research shows uncertain benefits after grade 2

2013-01-15
WASHINGTON, January 14, 2013─ Education researchers Paul Hanselman and Geoffrey D. Borman have evaluated the impact of literacy instruction in grades 3 through 5. Their findings were published in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis (EEPA) in Online First. EEPA is a peer-reviewed journal of the American Educational Research Association. The researchers examined Success for All, an instructional approach that is among the most mature and proven school reform models, to identify impact on reading achievement among older elementary students. This study, a follow-up ...

Post-Concussion Syndrome a Significant Problem for TBI Victims

2013-01-15
Post-concussion syndrome a significant problem for TBI victims Traumatic brain injuries are insidious harms. At first, it might seem like the consequences of a blow to the head -- be it from a motor vehicle accident, a slip and fall or another cause -- will fade away over time. Since there is so little that can be done in the immediate aftermath of a head injury, most doctors hope that rest and careful monitoring will help the brain heal itself. Unfortunately, a new study shows that that the effects of traumatic brain injury can linger for years after the initial ...

Internet Use Being Restricted for Those Accused of Sex Crimes

2013-01-15
Internet use being restricted for those accused of sex crimes When a person is arrested for committing a crime, there is often a period of confusion and uncertainty. Police may question the person that they arrested in the hopes that he or she will give them the information they need to support a conviction. If the crime is a very serious or high-profile incident, the situation will become even more stressful, and the consequences of a conviction much more severe. For individuals charged with sex crimes, there are often additional punishments put in place that will ...

After Pleading Guilty, Drunk Driver Faces Multiple Lawsuits

2013-01-15
After Pleading Guilty, Drunk Driver Faces Multiple Lawsuits Family members of those killed by drunk drivers might find that seeing the driver sent to prison relieves their suffering. Due to the magnitude of the loss, though, justice might not provide a huge consolation. Still, victims' families can take some comfort in knowing they have the legal option of seeking financial compensation for the loss of their loved one. Drunk Driver Pleads Guilty For example, take the case of a Pennsylvania man who pled guilty to killing three people as a result of driving drunk. ...

An Introduction to the SEC's Whistleblower Program

2013-01-15
An introduction to the SEC's whistleblower program In 2010, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, established a whistleblower program under the Dodd-Frank Act. The program rewards individuals who provide the SEC with original information that leads to successful sanctions against a company for securities violations. It also provides protection against retaliation for employees who blow the whistle on their employers. The SEC's whistleblower program The SEC has about $452 million in its coffers to provide cash awards to whistleblowers who provide information ...

Wiretaps Revolutionize White-Collar Crime Prosecution

2013-01-15
Wiretaps revolutionize white-collar crime prosecution After a long history of success in the investigation of drug crimes, wiretapping has recently gained momentum as a tool for the prosecution of insider trading and other white-collar crimes. In what has been widely regarded as a turning point for white-collar criminal prosecution, Raj Rajaratnam, co-founder of the hedge fund management firm Galleon Group, was convicted in May 2011 of insider trading and conspiracy charges supported largely by evidence obtained from wiretaps. Experts believe that the Galleon case ...

Guarding Against Allegations of Illegal Insider Trading

2013-01-15
Guarding against allegations of illegal insider trading Insider trading has become a hot topic in the news recently as federal prosecutors continue to crack down on white-collar crime. Unfortunately for some of those who are charged with insider trading offenses, the line between legal and illegal securities transactions is not always as clear as it seems. Insider trading is the trading of stocks, bonds or stock options by a corporation's "insiders," such as officers, executives and major shareholders. Contrary to popular misconception, insider trading is ...

Workers' Compensation Benefits May Be the Only Option

2013-01-15
Workers' compensation benefits may be the only option A recent Illinois appellate court decision precludes a widow from suing her husband's employer for negligence. The decision was based on the case Rodriguez v. Frankie's Beef/Pasta & Catering. In Rodriguez, Jose Rodriguez, an employee of the restaurant Frankies' Beef & Pasta, allegedly got in an argument with a co-worker. After the argument, the manager on duty urged the two employees to get along and sent the co-worker home. The next day, rather than reporting to work, the co-worker showed up at Frankies' ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Sulfated yeast rises to the challenge facing rare earth metals

Global analysis reveals how biochar supercharges composting and cuts greenhouse gases

Blocking a cellular switch could prevent lung-scarring disease

Planet formation depends on when it happens: UNLV model shows why

Deep sleep supports memory via brain fluid and neural rhythms

Biochar and iron additives show promise for reviving degraded peatlands and locking away carbon

Cancer cells reactivate embryo-like gene editors to fuel growth

AI analysis of world’s largest heart attack datasets opens way to new treatment strategies

Decoding dangers of Arctic sea ice with seismic, radar method

Counting bites with AI might one day help prevent childhood obesity

Utah chemists discover enzyme that could help build next-generation GLP-1 drugs

Surprising bacteria discovery links Hawaiʻi’s groundwater to the ocean

New grants for schools offer CPR training and resources to make campuses safer

30 NFL players urge fans to join Nation of Lifesavers, learn lifesaving CPR

Study finds humans outweigh climate in depleting Arizona's water supply

Old-school material could power quantum computing, cut data center energy use

Vanderbilt scientist tackles key roadblock for AI in drug discovery

Overheating bat boxes place bats in mortal danger during heatwaves

Study shows medical-legal partnerships aid recovery for patients with violent injuries

Learning the language of lasso peptides to improve peptide engineering

Social conflict among strongest predictors of teen mental health concerns

New framework can improve the planning stage of surgical quality improvement projects

Research shows anger, not fear, shifts political beliefs

Gale and Ira Drukier Prize in Children’s Health Research awarded to pediatric rheumatologist at Boston Children’s Hospital

UNF chemistry professor awarded NSF Grant to advance laser-based measurement technology

Research shows how Dust Bowl-type drought causes unprecedented productivity loss

Non-hibernating pikas' protein restriction tweaks their gut microbiome to help them survive the winter, when winter-active herbivores often struggle to find dietary protein

Not for hearing but for symbiosis

Disconnected cerebral hemisphere in epilepsy patients shows sleep-like state during wakefulness

Incentivizing risk to inspire investments in clean innovation for aviation

[Press-News.org] Low birth weight not associated with asthma risk
New study helps understand who is at risk and why