Starting a New Adventure
January 11, 2018
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fleickly · 
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Tags: Allergy Partners Columbus Indiana, New Career · Posted in: Allergy Clinic, Allergy Partners Columbus Indiana
Peanut Allergy; An Epidemiologic Analysis of a Large Database
Got published!!
My thanks to the families who signed on to the registry and my thanks to Food Allergy Support Indianapolis (FASI) for the focus of this report. This was also supported by FARE.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022347617312805
FEL 12/14/2017
December 14, 2017
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FARE Patient Registry
November 14, 2017
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Tags: FARE, Food Allergies · Posted in: FARE, FARE Center of Clinical Excellenc, Food Allergies, Food Allergy Community Events
Indianapolis Pollen Counts for Tuesday October 3rd Through Sunday October 8th, 2017
When there is low activity it makes more sense to post a few days worth of counts. This summary is from last Tuesday through Sunday.
Ragweed has been low with barely a ragweed pollen to count on Saturday and Sunday.
Oddly enough grass is still present with a moderate level of 5 on Tuesday and Wednesday followed by detectable but very low levels for the next 4 days (0.5 and 0.2 of a pollen grain of grass).
FEL 10/9/2017
October 9, 2017
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Tags: Grass Pollen Counts - Indianapolis, Pollen Counting Indianapolis, Ragweed Pollen Counts - Indianapolis, Seasonal Allergies, Weed Pollen Counts Indianapolis · Posted in: Grass Pollen Counts Indianapolis, Pollen Counting- Indianapolis, Ragweed Pollen Counts - Indianapolis, Seasonal Allergies-Pollen Counts, weed pollen counts Indianapolis
A message to share with your children.
A most terrible thing happened last week. We lost our 14 year old nephew. At the mass, Father James McPhillips gave a sermon. This sermon not only celebrated Kyle’s life, it also included a most powerful message to the young people who were in attendance. This was most touching. Father’s message was from the heart. I realize that not many young people read this blog, but parents do. I have taken the message from the homily. Share it with your children.
Taken in from the homily
………
Again, at a time like this— words seem very empty—But Id like to address some words to the young people here today
Kyle was really a good kid, but even good kids do foolish things sometimes—and what Kyle did the other day—was really really really foolish
You’ve got to know how precious your lives are
Each one of you is a special gift of God to our world
Each one of you are a unique presence of the Lord in our midst for you are made in His image and likeness
You are a one and only creation of God-the person you are with your unique gifts and talents, hopes and struggles will never be repeated in this world
I know its hard at times for you to believe how much you are loved and appreciated because those of us who are older don’t always make it clear how much you mean to us – how much you mean to God
A lot of times we presume you know how much you’re treasured – the truth is:
You’re our hope for the future and our joy in the present
When we have bad days-get discouraged-or have struggles—you’re the ones who make it all seem worthwhile
Please don’t ever doubt how precious you are or how valuable your lives are
Life is often hard—but at the same time—Life is good- it’s a gift from God
Today the Catholic Church celebrates throughout the world the feast of ‘the exaltation of the cross- I invite you to reflect on the crucifix
The fact is – God does His best work through the cross – if we let Him
You see – it’s especially in the hard times of life that God can form our character- ”In the midst of struggles He can form us to be people of courage- ‘people of compassion”people willing to give and sacrifice for others
That’s at the heart of love-”giving of self for others—and it’s usually during the struggles of life (the crosses of life) that God can do His best work in making us – making you” – the best you can be
It’s not easy” – but it is good
Sometimes as a people we tend to focus on – “the heartaches” – pain- frustration and disappointments of life
But there is so much love in our world – goodness– and caring
So much joy, happiness and peace if we just open our eyes to it and open our hearts to the Lord
And while we all face struggles at time – we can come through those struggles being better people – more loving people – more compassionate people—the fact is -it’s an adventure – don’t ever give up on the adventure
The Lord calls us to embrace the adventure – that’s what the Lord made us for
He never wants us to give up
Today we come to weep – we mourn with broken hearts because we know how good life is and we mourn that Kyle isn’t here to share the goodness of life with us
But as Christians we also come with great hope – because Kyle did receive God’s saving grace
As Christians we know this isn’t the end of life – but a new beginning
We know the Lord is with us in our heartache and we pray that Kyle will come to share forever with the Lord the joy of heaven
We pray for Kyle and for all those who have gone before us – that they will be – brought into the presence of our Lord
Father James McPhillips
St. Helen’s Church, Burton, Ohio September 14, 2017
FEL 9/18/2017
September 18, 2017
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Tags: Family Doings · Posted in: Family
School Forms
The phone at the office has been ‘ringing off the hook’. The calls are almost all about school forms.
August 1, 2017
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Finding A Path To Safety In Food Allergy- a Summation of a review
Critical Issues in Food Allergy- Summarizing a review.
Recently, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine hosted an effort to look at key issues surrounding the public health problem of food allergy. A report, ‘Finding a Path to Safety in Food Allergy: Assessment of the Global Burden, Causes, Prevention, Management, and Public Policy’ was created.
A very nice summation of this work appeared in the journal Pediatrics written by Scott Sicherer, Katrina Allen, Gideon Lack, Steve Taylor, Sharon Donovan, and Maria Oria.
Key points from the review;
- Food Allergy involves an immune response and is one of many ways a food can cause a problem.
- The true prevalence of food allergy is not known. Best estimates are 1-10% of the population.
- Many foods can cause an allergic reaction however the most common responsible for the most serious reactions are cow’s milk, hen’s egg, peanut, tree nuts, and seafood.
- It was recommended that physicians use evidence-based standardized procedures as the basis for food allergy diagnosis and avoid Nonstandardized and unproven procedures.
- When food allergy is suspected, the patient should be evaluated by someone who has the training and experience to select and interpret appropriate diagnostic tests.
- Note the misconception and misunderstanding of widely available tests for food allergy- do not equate a positive skin test or blood test result as having an allergy to the food. These tests ONLY detect IgE antibody. These tests are not intrinsically diagnostic of a food allergy.
- The medical history is the key to the diagnosis. Food allergy should be considered when allergic symptoms occur within minutes to hours after the ingestion of a specific food, especially when they have occurred more than once.
- Large skin test response or elevated specific IgE levels correlate with higher risks of allergy, but sensitivity and specificity of these tests are often inadequate to confirm a diagnosis.
- The oral food challenge, especially when done in a double-blind fashion, is the gold standard for the diagnosis.
- Additional tests were not recommended and were considered unproven or non-standardized tests for food allergy include;
- Allergen specific IgG, IgG4, or IgA
- Provocation neutralization
- Immune complexes
- Human leukocyte antigen screening
- Lymphocyte stimulation
- Facial thermography
- Gastric juice analysis
- Endoscopic allergen provocation
- Hair analysis
- Applied kinesiology
- Cytotoxic assays
- Electrodermal testing
- Mediator release assays
- Bioresonance
- Iridology
- Since sensitization alone is not diagnostic of allergy, panels of food tests should not be ordered without a rationale.
- Early introduction may help prevent the development of food allergy.
- There is limited evidence to support or discourage eliminating allergenic foods from the diet of pregnant or lactating women.
- Studies on the effects of partially or extensively hydrolyzed infant formulas for preventing food allergy are inconsistent and have flaws in the methods with which they were performed.
- Studies on the use of pre or pro biotics also have limits due to the methods used leading to the conclusion that there is no evidence to their use to decrease the risk of a food allergy.
- Emergency management focuses on recognition of a situation and the prompt use of epinephrine.
- Nutritional monitoring for children with food allergy is a major emphasis.
- Attention to the psychosocial part of food allergy is a major emphasis.
- The needs to be a major awareness campaign to dispel the myths and misconceptions regarding food allergy.
- Food labels need to more helpful and definitive.
- Schools and early child care facilities need to be included in efforts to better manage food allergy.
- Research needs
- Determine the actual prevalence of food allergy
- What is the cost of food allergy?
- Diagnosis and prognosis
- Risk factors
- Prevention
- Management in health care settings, food establishments, schools, and travel
- Curative therapies
- Best modalities for family and physician education about management.
- Look to barriers to proper testing
- Educational approaches
- Six Major Actions to Achieve Food Allergy Safety
- Better information on prevalence which in turn is critical to knowing the scope of the problem
- Improve the quality of diagnosis and provide evidence-based care
- Evidence-based prevention strategies
- Improved education and training to recognize, manage, and prevent reactions
- Develop policies and related practices to help prevent and treat severe reactions
- Most critical- address research priorities regarding diagnosis, mechanisms, risk determinants,and management. Identifying safe and effective therapies as the ultimate goal.
The original work was very detailed. The Consensus report whittles the details down to key learning points. My summary of the summary is intended for the reader to look further into this.
We have a FARE Center of Clinical Excellence and we have an active FARE Community Engagement Council. There are many action points here wanting for solutions. We are looking for help to make a difference.
FEL 7/25/2017
July 27, 2017
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Indianapolis Pollen Counts for Thursday July 20th through Monday July 24th, 2017
We are still in that pollen hiatus: that time between the end of the grass season and the beginning of the ragweed season.
Weed counts for the past 5 days have been low ranging from 1-5 grains of weed pollen per cubic meter of air sampled for the day. The weeds are mostly the same nettle and plantain that have been out there for weeks. Recently, a few chenopod weeds have shown themselves.
FEL 7/25/2017
July 25, 2017
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Tags: Pollen Counting Indianapolis, Seasonal Allergies, Weed Pollen Counts · Posted in: Pollen Counting- Indianapolis, Seasonal Allergies-Pollen Counts, weed pollen counts Indianapolis
Support FARE at the Indianapolis FARE FOOD ALLERGY Heroes Walk – Saturday August 19th, 2017
FARE’s Food Allergy Heroes Walk is Saturday August 19th at White River State Park in Downtown Indianapolis – 10:00 am.
July 13, 2017
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Tags: FARE, FARE Walk Indianapolis · Posted in: FARE, FARE Center of Clinical Excellenc, FARE Walk Indianapolis, Food Allergies, Food Allergy Community Events
Indianapolis Pollen Counts for Wednesday May 24, 2017
All three pollens were at moderate levels today; tree – 58, weed – 24, and grass – 7 grains of pollen per cubic meter of air sampled for the day. The trees were hickory and mulberry. The weed was the pollen of plantain.
FEL 5/24/2017
May 24, 2017
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Tags: Grass Pollen Counts, Pollen Counting Indianapolis, Seasonal Allergies, Tree Pollen Counts, Weed Pollen Counts · Posted in: Grass Pollen Counts Indianapolis, Pollen Counting- Indianapolis, Seasonal Allergies-Pollen Counts, Tree Pollen Counts Indianapolis, weed pollen counts Indianapolis
