A recent study has found that a popular over-the-counter menthol compound (Vicks® VapoRub® | Proctor & Gamble) used to relieve chest congestion symptoms may lead to mucus obstruction of small airways and increase nasal resistance in infants and small children. The findings of the research, published in the journal CHEST, corroborate the product labeling, which contraindicates its use in children younger than 2 years. Continue Reading

Atopic dermatitis (AD), a common form of eczema affecting 10 to 20% of children and 1 to 3% adults, usually precedes the development of asthma and other allergic disorders. Individuals affected with the chronic skin disorder are also at an enhanced risk of developing other cutaneous infections due to Staphylococcus aureus, Herpes simplex, vaccinia or small pox virus, and Molluscum. A study published in the October issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology suggests that oral vitamin D supplements induce the production of the broad spectrum antimicrobial peptide, cathelicidin in the skin and thereby, prevent skin infections due to atopic dermatitis. Continue Reading

Cold and cough medications used for temporary symptomatic relief have been associated with significant adverse effects in children less than 2 years of age. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Public Health Advisory, in Jan 2008, had recommended against the use of nonprescription cold and cough drugs in children under 2 years. The efficacy of these medications versus the potential side effects seen in these children was a point of controversy in several studies. Now, a new study, published in the August issue of Paediatrics , has reported ten unexpected infant deaths associated with the use of over-the-counter cold medications, leading to further concern regarding their injudicious use. Continue Reading

A recent study published in the current edition of American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine reports that daily maternal intake of nuts and its products during gestational period may increase the risk of developing asthma in the first eight years of the child’s life, compared to women who rarely consume such products during pregnancy. Continue Reading

Researchers from the University of Houston have suggested a new approach termed ’Paradoxical Pharmacology’ to treat asthma, in the long run by using beta-blockers, which initially worsen the symptoms but subsequently ease the difficulty in breathing on chronic administration. The study conforms to the concept of Paradoxical Pharmacology, which suggests that the administration of medicine may initially aggravate the symptoms before eventually providing an overall health improvement. Continue Reading

Based on the data from a randomized, prospective, clinical study, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved an expanded indication for a human plasma-derived, liquid fibrin sealant (Evicel™ | Omrix) in general surgery. Results from the study demonstrated that Evicel was superior to oxidized regenerated cellulose (Surgicel®| Ethicon), (used as control in the study), in providing hemostasis in less than 10 minutes.

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6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 in 0.9% sodium chloride injection (Voluven® | Fresenius Kabi), an intravenous solution which acts as a blood volume expander, has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of perioperative blood volume loss. Clinical trials have shown that the safety and efficacy of Voluven is comparable to other approved blood volume expanders such as fluids containing hetastarch in sodium chloride used during major surgeries in patients, including children under 2 years of age and patients as old as 75 years of age.

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Cigarette smoke affects the immune system’s ability to recognize pathogens, according to a research article published in the latest online edition of the Journal of British Pharmacology. A team of researchers from the Department of Cardiothoracic Pharmacology, Unit of Critical Care Medicine, Cardiac Medicine, Royal Brompton Hospital, National Heart and Lung Institute, London, UK, assessed the effects of cigarette smoke components on macrophages’ ability to sense bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

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Commonly prescribed antibiotics, topical steroids or even their combination, is not really effective in the treatment of acute sinusitis, according to a study by researcher Ian G. Williamson and colleagues from the University of Southampton, Southampton, England, published in the December 2007 issue of the Journal of American Medical Association.

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In the latest issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, researchers at the Pennsylvania State University’s College of Medicine have reported that buckwheat honey, which provides symptomatic relief for nighttime cough and sleep difficulty associated with upper respiratory tract infection in children, could substitute the use of dextromethorphan, the main ingredient in over-the-counter cough suppressants.

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