Allergy-triggering Genes found by Scientists in Japan From HealthJockey.com Scientists in Japan may just have discovered a way to stop allergic reactions like wheezing, itching and swelling after identifying a key molecule which triggers allergic reactions. According to Tomohiro Kurosaki, group director of the Laboratory for Lymphocyte Differentiation at the RIKEN Research Centre for Allergy and Immunology, "If we can block STIM1 function, then we can block allergic reactions because STIM1 is very important for inducing allergies.

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Allergies may be rooted in Christmas trees From Baltimore Sun Though most of us don't associate mold with Christmas trees, Santilli says the dead tree begins decaying shortly after it's cut. Although the medical community has long known about "Christmas tree allergy," there has been some debate over what causes the sneezing, runny noses and watery eyes -- pollen or mold. In 1969, Canadian researchers interviewed 1,657 allergy patients and theorized that as many as 7 percent of people with allergies may also be allergic to their Christmas trees. Of...

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Is Your Christmas Tree Making You Sick? From About News Now, a new study reported by the College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology in the U.S. at their annual meeting reveals that your live Christmas tree may be one of the most dangerous culprits. Scientists measured indoor mold counts 12 times during a 2 week period in homes having a live Christmas tree. During the first few days the tree was in the home, mold spore counts stayed at around the 800 (spores per cubic centimeter) level.

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Small Business Turning Kitchens Into Laboratories to Find Treats ... From New York Times The company makes cake and muffin mixes for people with food allergies. Then, she started working on recipes that she could make commercially, knowing that thousands of families also have children with food allergies. "I really wanted to turn the tables when it came to people with food allergies," Ms. The companies were almost all started by people who are allergic or are relatives of children with life-threatening allergies to nuts, eggs and dairy products. Robert Pacenza, executive...

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Kids with allergies ask rights panel for lunch inspections From National Post TORONTO -- A group of Toronto-area children is asking the Ontario Human Rights Commission to force their school to launch mandatory lunch-bag inspections to screen out foods to which they have severe allergies, a case which could make all Ontario schools do the same. 11, contend that the local school board discriminated against them when it shut down a voluntary lunch screening program at St. Stephen's Catholic Elementary School, in Woodbridge, Ont., aimed at keeping peanuts, egg products or...

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Posted Under: Allergy and Immunology