Dermatophagoides in childhood asthma allergy to dermatophagoides associates more severe childhood asthma with a potential role for acaricides

To evaluate hypersensitivity to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus [D. pteronyssinus] and Dermatophagoides farinae [D. farinae] in pediatric patients with asthma, and the use of acaricides. This is a randomized controlled trial in 82 asthmatic children. They were recruited and evaluated for severity and chronicity according to the Global Initiative for Asthma Guidelines. The study was carried out in the Pediatric Allergy Clinic, Al Noor Hospital, Khalifa Branch, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates between September 2008 and June 2010. Skin prick test [SPT] was performed including D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae, and for those who were sensitive to one, or the other. The therapeutic value of acaricides was evaluated by assessing the severity of asthma before and after their use. Approximately 81.7% of asthmatics were sensitive to house dust mites [HDM]. Hypersensitivity was associated with the more severe and persistent asthma [p=0.029]. The manifested severity of asthma was not HDM species-specific. There was a linear association between response of children to acaricides and increasing severity of asthma. Hypersensitivity to HDM is an important factor for persistent and severe forms of asthma. Acaricides can help control childhood asthma, and we recommend SPT as part of the routine work-up of patients with asthma to determine HDM sensitive patients that can benefit from acaricides use

Glycaemic control and its associated factors in type 2 diabetic patients in Amman, Jordan

A study of 1000 patients attending a diabetes referral centre in Amman, Jordan, identified factors associated with good glycaemic control, as measured by glycosylated haemoglobin [HbA1c] levels. Glycaemic control improved significantly between the first clinic visit and at 12-months follow-up. The proportion of patients with extreme HbA1c [>/= 10%] decreased from 15.3% to 6.0% after 12 months. The percentage of patients with optimal control [HbA1c < 7%] increased from 25.4% at the first visit to 27.5% at 12-month follow-up. Multivariate regression showed that low body mass index, shorter duration of diabetes and higher baseline HbA1c were related to reductions in HbA1c between the first and 12-month visits