RATIONALE: Trials have shown that treatment with Xolair resulted in improved lung function parameters, decreased symptoms and corticosteroid use. This study evaluates Xolair's efficacy upon lung function and maintenance treatment in patients with mild to severe persistent asthma.

RATIONALE: Adverse reactions to local anesthetics (LAs) are frequently reported and patients are referred for skin testing despite the fact that hypersensitivity to the most commonly used amide local anesthetics is rare. In this study, we evaluate whether skin testing for amide local anesthetic is helpful in determining safety of dose challenge. METHODS: Review of patients referred to Washington University for adverse reactions to LAs from 1994-2004. 35 patients (28 F, 7 M; age 22-79) underwent prick and intradermal (ID) skin testing and dose challenge with either preservative free mepivicaine or preservative free lidocaine or both. RESULTS: 35 patients tested with preservative free amide group LAs had negative prick and ID skin test RESULTS: 34 patients to preservative free lidocaine and one patient to preservative free mepivacaine. 6 of the 35 patients were tested with lidocaine and mepivacaine and had negative results to both. All patients tolerated re-challenges with preservative free lidocaine or mepivacaine, or both. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that hypersensitivity to the amide group local anesthetic is rare and adverse reactions reported are most likely vasovagal or possible hypersensitivity to the preservative e.g., sodium metabisulfite. When performed by a trained individual, dose challenge with preservative free amide anesthetic without skin testing may represent a safe and cheaper alternative.

Increases in contaminants associated with urban sprawl are a particular concern in the rapidly developing coastal areas of the southeastern United States. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are contaminants associated with vehicle emissions and runofff from impervious surfaces. Increased vehicular traffic and more impervious surfaces lead to an increased loading of PAHs into coastal estuarine systems. The phototoxic effect of PAH-contaminated sediments on a sediment-dwelling meiobenthic copepod, Amphiascus tenuiremis, was estimated in Murrells Inlet, a small, high-salinity estuary with moderate urbanization located in Georgetown and Horry Counties, South Carolina, USA. Field-determined solar ultraviolet radiation (UV) and UV extinction coefficients were incorporated into laboratory toxicity experiments, and a model was developed to predict areas of specific hazard to A. tenuiremis in the estuary. The model incorporated laboratory toxicity data, UV extinction coefficients, and historical sediment chemistry and bathymetric data within a spatial model of sedimentary areas of the estuary. The model predicted that approximately 8-16% of the total creek habitat suitable for meiobenthic copepods is at risk to photoinduced PAH toxicity. This area is in the northern, more developed part of Murrells Inlet.

Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2003) 73, P74–P74; doi:

Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2003) 73, P65–P65; doi: