| Asthma Allergy Centre Research Group |
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Asthma Allergy Centre Research Group is actively engaged in clinical research
involving areas such as asthma, chronic sinus problems, and backflow of
nasal secretion into tear ducts during nose blowing.
In recent years we have made several important discoveries.
We and our colleagues at Kaiser Permanente have discovered one kind of
asthma that was previously unknown. In some asthmatic patients, the asthma
usually started with a cold or sinus infection, and the asthma episodes, which
can be mild or very severe requiring hospitalizations, lasted for a few months
to many years. The asthma then gradually became milder and finally
recovered. However, after an asthma-free period of a few months to several
years, another prolonged episode occurred again following another cold or
sinus infection. The research results were published in a medical journal
CHEST.
We and our colleagues at Kaiser Permanente also have investigated the
accuracy of the diagnosis of asthma. In a group of patients who were referred
to us for the diagnosis and management of their difficult to control asthma
symptoms, we found that 20% of them did not have asthma. So, many
diseases can mimic asthma and present to us with diagnostic and
management difficulty. The research results were presented at the Annual
Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and
appeared in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
In March 2006, we presented a research result that was previously unknown at
the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and
Immunology at Miami Beach, Florida. We found that the tear duct is not a
one-way duct just to drain tears into nose, as it has always been assumed. We
discovered that in over 50% of subjects, the fluorescent eye solution that was
instilled into their nose appeared in the eyes when the nose was blown. The
research found that there is a back flow of nasal secretion into eyes through
tear ducts when a person blows his or her nose. The research results also
appeared in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
involving areas such as asthma, chronic sinus problems, and backflow of
nasal secretion into tear ducts during nose blowing.
In recent years we have made several important discoveries.
We and our colleagues at Kaiser Permanente have discovered one kind of
asthma that was previously unknown. In some asthmatic patients, the asthma
usually started with a cold or sinus infection, and the asthma episodes, which
can be mild or very severe requiring hospitalizations, lasted for a few months
to many years. The asthma then gradually became milder and finally
recovered. However, after an asthma-free period of a few months to several
years, another prolonged episode occurred again following another cold or
sinus infection. The research results were published in a medical journal
CHEST.
We and our colleagues at Kaiser Permanente also have investigated the
accuracy of the diagnosis of asthma. In a group of patients who were referred
to us for the diagnosis and management of their difficult to control asthma
symptoms, we found that 20% of them did not have asthma. So, many
diseases can mimic asthma and present to us with diagnostic and
management difficulty. The research results were presented at the Annual
Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and
appeared in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
In March 2006, we presented a research result that was previously unknown at
the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and
Immunology at Miami Beach, Florida. We found that the tear duct is not a
one-way duct just to drain tears into nose, as it has always been assumed. We
discovered that in over 50% of subjects, the fluorescent eye solution that was
instilled into their nose appeared in the eyes when the nose was blown. The
research found that there is a back flow of nasal secretion into eyes through
tear ducts when a person blows his or her nose. The research results also
appeared in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
In March 2008, we reported two research papers at the Annual Meeting of the
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology the results of a major
advance for the medical treatment of chronic sinus problem. Previously, such
patients with chronic sinus problem would require sinus surgery. Our treatment
utilizing topical nasal decongestant, such as Afrin, 2 times a day for several
months. This would make sinus openings stay opened all the time similar to
sinus surgery. We use nasal steroids along with the topical nasal
decongestant to prevent to often feared "rebound" effects of topical nasal
decongestants. With added buffered salty saline nasal irrigation and low dose
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology the results of a major
advance for the medical treatment of chronic sinus problem. Previously, such
patients with chronic sinus problem would require sinus surgery. Our treatment
utilizing topical nasal decongestant, such as Afrin, 2 times a day for several
months. This would make sinus openings stay opened all the time similar to
sinus surgery. We use nasal steroids along with the topical nasal
decongestant to prevent to often feared "rebound" effects of topical nasal
decongestants. With added buffered salty saline nasal irrigation and low dose
the sinuses, not "pus pocket" as it was thought many years ago. The low dose
"macrolide" has anti-inflammatory effects on sinus linings, which helps reducing
the sinus lining inflammation. The use of topical nasal decongestant, topical
nasal steroids and the salty buffered saline irrigation help the sinuses to
ventilate and heal.
"macrolide" has anti-inflammatory effects on sinus linings, which helps reducing
the sinus lining inflammation. The use of topical nasal decongestant, topical
nasal steroids and the salty buffered saline irrigation help the sinuses to
ventilate and heal.
steroids. With in an average of 4 months, for some patients, much longer, we
are able to heal the sinus symptoms in about 50% of patients, and another
38% became very mild, with only minor thin mucus drainage remains.
are able to heal the sinus symptoms in about 50% of patients, and another
38% became very mild, with only minor thin mucus drainage remains.
We also discovered that about 7.5% of the patients with chronic sinus problem
have immunity defects. The immunity defects contributed to the treatment
have immunity defects. The immunity defects contributed to the treatment
"macrolide" (like azithromycin) along with the topical nasal decongestant/nasal
The major feature of chronic sinus problem is the inflammation of the linings of
failure and the recurrence of chronic sinus problem once it was heal.
In clinical practice, we have "cured" many patients' chronic or recurrent red,
itchy eyes, particularly with crusty eyelashes at arising when they stopped
blowing their nose. They were asked not to blow nose, instead sniff backward.
Nasal snot may also be removed with buffer saline irrigation.
itchy eyes, particularly with crusty eyelashes at arising when they stopped
blowing their nose. They were asked not to blow nose, instead sniff backward.
Nasal snot may also be removed with buffer saline irrigation.