Monthly Newsletter from the Arizona Asthma Coalition |
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Emergency School Inhaler Program to Expand Thanks to Grant
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We are pleased to announce that Mercy Care, a statewide not-for-profit health plan, has awarded the Emergency School Inhaler Program a one-year grant to help expand the program statewide.
The goals of the grant are to:
- Operationalize program implementation by improving enrollment and data systems, developing new outreach materials and a website, providing help to the 475 existing school participants.
- Expand the program by enrolling 150 new schools by the beginning of the next school year.
- Measure outcomes and demonstrate program effectiveness.
The funding will support:
- Staff: a program director, Ashley Lowe PhD, MSPH, plus a program manager in Phoenix for the upper half of the state, a part-time program manager I Tucson for the Southern half of AZ, and a part time IRB & data coordinator
- Supplies: sufficient money to purchase inhalers and holding chambers for 600 schools
The evidence-based school inhaler program has been shown to reduce 911 calls in Pima County schools by 84% and minimize emergency visits for respiratory attacks, helping children recover and stay in school. Arizona is a pioneer in developing and implementing this intervention. We look forward to working with our partners throughout the state as we expand and strengthen this program.
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Thank You for a Successful Conference!
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The Arizona Asthma Coalition Board wish to thank attendees, speakers, and sponsors for your continued support of the Arizona Asthma Coalition's Asthma & Allergy Clinical Conference, held on November 5, 2022. Your support is greatly appreciated and is essential to the Arizona Asthma Coalition being able to put on the conference, and it will also help to sustain the AAC in its mission.
The Arizona Asthma Coalition relies on proceeds from the conference and generous sponsorship to remain fiscally sound. Without your support the AAC would not be able to sustain itself and carry out its important mission. Our mission as a statewide asthma coalition: to serve as a catalyst to decrease the burden of asthma in Arizona through awareness, advocacy and education.
With your support we will continue to:
- Provide outstanding clinical conferences for physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other caregivers
- Continue our advocacy for good public policy, including access to asthma care and improved air quality
- Collaborate with the Arizona Department of Health Services, American Lung Association, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and Maricopa County Air Quality Department to promote health improvement strategies for chronic lower respiratory disease
- Educate providers, patients, and family members on ways to control asthma, reduce suffering and eliminate deaths
This year’s conference was a success thanks to you all! We can’t wait to see you next year!
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Macrophages present antigens in allergic asthma
Shared from Science
Allergic asthma is caused by T cell–mediated inflammation in the airways that is triggered by inhaled allergens. Dendritic cells (DCs) have been implicated in capturing particulate allergens that reach the alveoli and migrating to the conducting airways, where they present the antigens to the T helper 2 (TH2) cells that drive inflammation. Tang et al. identified a population of macrophages located beneath the epithelium of the bronchial airways that captured soluble antigens and presented them to TH2 cells locally. In a model of ovalbumin (OVA)–induced asthma, soluble, fluorescently tagged OVA peptides delivered to the airway mucus were taken up by macrophages in the alveoli and by DCs and macrophages in the bronchi. The bronchus-associated macrophages (BAMs) were transcriptionally distinct from the DCs and alveolar macrophages.
Read more |
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PT027 recommended by FDA Advisory Committee as new rescue treatment for asthma
Shared from AstraZeneca
First and only rescue medication recommended for US approval that has been shown to reduce severe exacerbations
The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee (PADAC) has voted 16 to 1 that the data support a favorable benefit risk assessment for the use of PT027 (albuterol/budesonide) for the treatment of asthma in people aged 18 years and older. In adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, the Committee voted 9 to 8 that the data do not support a favorable benefit risk assessment for the use of PT027 for the treatment of asthma. In children aged 4 to 11 years, the Committee voted 16 to 1 that the data do not support a favorable benefit risk assessment for the use of PT027 for the treatment of asthma.
Read more |
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Weight Gain That Changes Gut Function Linked With Asthma Severity
Shared from AJMC
Changes in gut function caused by weight gain are linked with an increase in asthma severity, according to a study presented this week in the United Kingdom.
It is already known that obesity worsens several chronic inflammatory diseases, perhaps as as gut-derived bacterial fragments (endotoxins) and associated markers of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide binding protein [LPB]), enter the circulation through a damaged gut barrier, provoking systemic inflammation. The current study investigated the role of body weight on gut permeability and systemic inflammation and the impact on asthma control and asthma status. Read more |
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Open Seat on the Arizona Asthma Coalition Board
We are interested in adding a member to our board who has skill and experience in public policy and advocacy. As part of our effort to improve the health and quality of life for all asthmatics in Arizona, this new board member’s portfolio will include:
- Networking and building relationships with coalitions and partners
- Informing the Board and stakeholders about emerging public policies that would have an impact on people with asthma
- Advocating for public policies which support clean air, access to healthcare and best practices for preventing and treating asthma
The successful candidate will bring a strong public health policy perspective to our board. It currently includes physicians, nurse practitioners, a school nurse manager, respiratory therapists, asthma educators, program administrators and academic faculty in pharmacy and public health.
Relevant types of experience may include:
- Participation in local and/or statewide public health coalitions and partnerships
- Analyzing and summarizing public policy issues in writing
- Sharing information about policies with a statewide audience
- Tracking proposed legislation and sharing its relevance with stakeholders
- Representing your organization’s policy positions in presentations, media or testimony
If you are interested in being considered for this position, please send a cover letter and CV to Lisa Rascon at lrascon@peds.arizona.edu.
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Follow Our Facebook Page Arizona Asthma Coalition is now on Facebook! Head over to Facebook and like AAC to keep up to date on asthma, allergy and organizational updates in between our monthly newsletters. Follow us here |
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Join the Arizona Asthma Coalition As a nonprofit partnership since 1996, AAC has worked together with concerned stakeholders including public health, environmental quality, managed care, education, individual physicians and nurses, hospitals, foundations, families and other colleagues. Become a member of the Arizona Asthma Coalition or renew your membership and help us continue this important work. Join or renew here |
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Support AAC While You Shop! AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice. Designate Arizona Asthma Coalition as your charity of choice and you can support our efforts to address the growing and serious problems related to asthma in Arizona. Click here & select Arizona Asthma Coalition |
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