MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire survey of 255 dermatologists in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
RESULTS: Familiarity with diagnostic criteria varied considerably. The usage of moisturisers by the respondents from Vietnam and Indonesia was significantly less frequent than the other countries. Most respondents (91% to 100%) used topical corticosteroids in children with mild-to-moderately severe dermatitis. Some respondents in the Philippines (17% to 19%) and Vietnam (11% to 25%) only used topical corticosteroids for severe disease. For infected eczema, most respondents would prescribe systemic antibiotics for mild-to-moderate infection. A minority in the Philippines (14%) and Vietnam (11%) did so only for severe infection. The top 4 systemic antibiotics prescribed most frequently were: erythromycin, cloxacillin, cephalosporin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. In Indonesia, a large proportion of the respondents (47%) prescribed amoxicillin most frequently. The majority of respondents (60% to 100%) prescribed both sedating and non-sedating oral antihistamines. Most respondents used oral corticosteroids to treat severe AD. Some in Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam used cyclosporin (7% to 58%), azathioprine (5% to 31%) and methotrexate (5% to 14%). With the exception of those in Singapore, the majority of respondents (71% to 97%) did not use phototherapy.
CONCLUSION: Familiarity with diagnostic criteria, the early and judicious use of moisturisers and topical corticosteroids, as well as the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus superinfection with penicillinase-stable antibiotics should be emphasised in this region.
METHODS: A study of all patients with significant GOER seen at the Paediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children, Hackney Road, London, between December 1994 and August 1995.
RESULTS: The median age at referral was 16 months. Presenting symptoms were recurrent vomiting (72%), epigastric and abdominal pain (36%), feeding difficulties (29%), failure to thrive (28%) and irritability (19%). Continuous 24-h lower oesophageal pH studies performed in 57 children showed 20 (35%) had a reflux index of between 10% to 20%, 14 (25%) had a index > 20%, and six (11%) had a postprandial reflux index > 10%. Reflux was shown in 38 (62%) of 62 children who underwent barium studies. None had significant anatomical abnormalities, but in the 22 children who had a negative barium studies, six had severe reflux (reflux index > 20%). Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy performed in 47 children showed reflux oesophagitis in 29 (62%), oesophageal ulceration in three, and Barrett's oesophagus in one. All of the children were treated with standard medical therapy. Sixty-six per cent were able to discontinue medication within 12 months and remained well. Four children (6%) required Nissen's fundoplication for failure to respond to medical therapy.
CONCLUSIONS: Most infants with GOER have an uncomplicated course. False negative results were noted in both pH monitoring and barium meal. Up to 80% of children, with therapy, will improve within 12 months.
Methods: Specialists from allergology, dermatology, and otorhinolaryngology were surveyed on practical considerations and key decision points when treating patients with allergic rhinitis and/or urticaria.
Results: Clinicians felt the need for additional tools for diagnosis of these diseases and a single drug with all preferred features of an antihistamine. Challenges in treatment include lack of clinician and patient awareness and compliance, financial constraints, and treatment for special patient populations such as those with concomitant disease. Selection of optimal second-generation antihistamines depends on many factors, particularly drug safety and efficacy, impact on psychomotor abilities, and sedation. Country-specific considerations include drug availability and cost-effectiveness. Survey results reveal bilastine as a preferred choice due to its high efficacy and safety, suitability for special patient populations, and the lack of sedative effects.
Conclusions: Compliance to the international guidelines is present among allergists, dermatologists and otorhinolaryngologists; however, this is lower amongst general practitioners (GPs). To increase awareness, allergy education programs targeted at GPs and patients may be beneficial. Updates to the existing international guidelines are suggested in APAC to reflect appropriate management for different patient profiles and varying symptoms of allergic rhinitis and urticaria.
AIM OF THE STUDY: As allergy could be mediated by both IgE and IgG, we further evaluated the anti-allergy potential of CNAE in both in vitro model of IgG-induced macrophage activation and in vivo anaphylaxis models to further dissect the mechanism of action underlying the anti-allergic properties of CNAE.
MATERIAL & METHODS: The anti-allergy potential of CNAE was evaluated in in vivo anaphylaxis models of ovalbumin-challenged active systemic anaphylaxis (OVA-ASA) and IgE-challenged passive systemic anaphylaxis (PSA) using Sprague Dawley rats as well as IgG-challenged passive systemic anaphylaxis (IgG-PSA) using C57BL/6 mice. Meanwhile, in vitro model of IgG-induced macrophage activation model was performed using IC-21 macrophages. The release of soluble mediators from both IgE and IgG-mediated pathways were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The signaling molecules targeted by CNAE were identified by performing Western blot.
RESULTS: IgG, platelet-activating factor (PAF) and IL-6 was suppressed by CNAE in OVA-ASA, but not IgE. In addition, CNAE significantly suppressed PAF and IL-6 in IgG-PSA but did not suppress histamine, IL-4 and leukotrienes C4 (LTC4) in IgE-PSA. CNAE also inhibited IL-6 and TNF-α by inhibiting the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in the IgG-induced macrophage activation model.
CONCLUSION: Overall, our findings supported that CNAE exerts its anti-allergic properties by suppressing the IgG pathway and its mediators by inhibiting ERK1/2 phosphorylation, thus providing scientific evidence supporting its traditional use in managing allergy.
Methods: The drug classification systems of the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Canada were selected to study alongside Thailand's system. The regulatory review was conducted through each country's drug regulatory agency website and available published research. Complementary interviews with drug regulatory authorities were conducted when written documentation was unclear and had limited access. Fifty-two common drugs were selected to compare their actual classifications across the different countries.
Results: All selected countries classified drugs into two major groups: prescription drugs and non-prescription drugs. The studied countries further sub-classified non-prescription drugs into 1-4 categories. Principles of drug classification criteria among countries are similar; they comprised of three themes: disease characteristics, drug safety profile, and other drug characteristics. Actual drug classification of antibiotics, dyslipidemia treatments, and hypertension treatments in Thailand are notedly different from other countries. Furthermore, 77.4% of drugs studied in Thailand fall into the behind-the-counter (dangerous) drug category, which varied from antihistamines to antibiotics, dyslipidemia treatments, and vaccines.
Conclusion: Thailand's drug classification criteria are comparable with other nations; however, there is a need to review drug classification statuses as many drugs have been classified into improper drug categories.