How Schools Can Help Address Social Determinants of Health in Asthma Management.

Schools are in a unique position to address social determinants of health (SDOHs) in pediatric asthma management because of their potential to provide resources and facilitate collaboration with health care providers and services for children at risk within their community. SDOHs include economic factors, educational attainment and health literacy, neighborhood factors and the built environment, social and community aspects including discrimination and racism, and health care access and quality. These factors have a significant impact on asthma health in children, and certain populations such as minoritzed populations and those living in high-poverty environments have been shown to be at greater risk for adverse effects of SDOHs on asthma outcomes. School-based asthma programs address several SDOHs including health literacy, the built environment, and health care quality and access and have been shown to improve asthma outcomes. Key components include connection between the school and the health care team, self-management education, and directly observed therapy. School nurses play a key role in directing and managing effective programs because they can evaluate and support a student's health while considering the effect of SDOHs at interpersonal, institutional, community, and policy levels.

The Need for Required Stock Epinephrine in All Schools: A Work Group Report of the AAAAI Adverse Reactions to Foods Committee.

Epinephrine is the first line of treatment for anaphylaxis that can occur outside a medical setting in community environments such as schools. Patients with diagnosed IgE-mediated food allergy at risk of anaphylaxis are prescribed self-injectable epinephrine and given an individualized anaphylaxis action plan. As students, such patients/families provide their school with completed medication forms, a copy of their anaphylaxis plan, and additional student-specific epinephrine. However, students approved to self-carry prescribed self-injectable epinephrine may forget to do so or have other reasons for lacking prescribed epinephrine such as familial inability to fill the prescription due to cost or other access barriers. Undiagnosed students lacking prescribed epinephrine may also experience anaphylaxis at school. The presence of non-student-specific school stock epinephrine allows school nurses and other staff the ability to treat anaphylaxis onsite while awaiting Emergency Medical Services. Notably, not all states legally mandate K-12 schools to stock epinephrine. In states with laws only voluntarily allowing schools to stock epinephrine, it provides the ability to opt-out. Herein, we present a comprehensive review of barriers to school stock epinephrine, related improvement strategies, and workgroup recommendations supporting the need for mandated stock epinephrine in all schools in every state. Proposed solutions include ensuring legal immunity from liability for prescribers; advocacy for legislation to stabilize cost of self-injectable epinephrine; educational initiatives to schools promoting merits and safety of epinephrine and related anaphylaxis training; and partnerships between patient advocacy groups, medical and nursing organizations, public health departments and other health professionals to promote laws and district policies addressing need for stock epinephrine and school nurses to train and supervise school staff.

Pharmacology Update: Emergency and Controller Medications for Treatment of Asthma.

Asthma is the most common noncommunicable chronic childhood disease, affecting more than 5 million children in the United States. Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism. Treatments for asthma are divided into fast-acting medications that are used to relieve symptoms and slower acting (controller) medications that prevent symptoms. Albuterol is the most common fast acting medication for asthma, and it exists in multiple forms, including metered-dose inhaler and nebulized therapy. The use of spacers and holding chambers can further improve medication deposition in the airway. The cornerstone controller therapy for asthma is inhaled corticosteroid. Other medications for asthma include long-acting beta agonists, long-acting antimuscarinics, and antileukotrienes. The newest agents for controller asthma therapies are biologics.

The Vital Role of the School Nurse in Managing Asthma.

Since asthma is the most common noncommunicable chronic childhood disease in the United States, school nurses will encounter students with this health condition. The purpose of this article is to present the school nurse as the leader in directing the management of a student's chronic health condition at school. This article provides a table of resources and discusses many aspects of asthma management, including utilization of the student's asthma action plan, student-specific school accommodation needs, the importance of developing individualized healthcare plans, providing education to school staff related to asthma management and determining of the family and student knowledge level, as well as strategies to minimize exacerbations. The article also explores school nurse opportunity to advocate for emergency asthma medication access as a part of emergency preparedness. School-based asthma management can be complex and school nurses have a pivotal role in asthma management in a school.

Food Insecurity in the Food Allergic Population: A Work Group Report of the AAAAI Adverse Reactions to Foods Committee.

Food allergies affect 32 million Americans. Restricted diets due to food allergies can be difficult to maintain especially when the household is food insecure. Food insecurity is defined as the inability to acquire food for household members due to insufficient money or resources for food. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many people to face food insecurity for the first time with Latinx, Native American, and Black communities disproportionately affected. Because of the increase in food insecurity, this work group developed a survey regarding food insecurity screening. This survey was sent out to a random sample of American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology members to assess food insecurity knowledge and practices. The majority of survey participants did not routinely screen their patients for food insecurity. The biggest barrier identified to screening was lack of knowledge of how to perform a screen and resources available when a patient screened positive. This work group report provides guidance on how to implement and perform a food insecurity screen, including federal resources and assistance programs.

Multifaceted role of the registered nurse on an oral immunotherapy clinical team.

Oral immunotherapy (OIT) emerged into clinical practice, and its delivery highlights the multifaceted expertise of registered nurses (RN) as central to allergy/immunology interprofessional collaborative teams. The allergist-RN model of clinical evidenced-based OIT provision is presented. RN competencies, role components, and intervention examples are included to assist RNs and allergists in maximizing RN capabilities. RNs' patient-centered focus, and the ability to evaluate and incorporate physical, psychological, and sociological patient aspects are assets to OIT teams. RNs can establish best practices, initiate scholarly inquiry, and disseminate new knowledge to interdisciplinary colleagues. RNs also implement allergist-prescribed standing protocols within their legal practice scope by using their clinical judgment during evaluation of a patient receiving OIT. The same RN may serve as a nurse clinician, patient and family educator, case manager, research collaborator, and OIT program manager. Allergy/immunology practices use diverse staffing models, which thus require adaptation of presented descriptions per clinical team needs and resources.

Pharmacology Update: School Nurse Role and Emergency Medications for Treatment of Anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis is a rapidly occurring allergic reaction that is potentially life threatening. Recognition of the early signs and prompt treatment of anaphylaxis is critical. School nurses are tasked with educating nonmedical school personnel on the recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis and emphasizing that epinephrine is the first line of treatment for anaphylaxis. Fortunately, there is now availability of multiple epinephrine administration devices. However, this also means that there are more devices that school nurses and nonmedical assistive personnel need to learn about to be able to administer in an emergency. Once epinephrine is administered, emergency medical services must be activated. Education regarding what to expect after the administration of epinephrine with respect to side effects and onset of action is also necessary. Though adjunctive medicines, such as antihistamines and inhalers, may also be administered after the injection of epinephrine, they should not be solely relied on in anaphylaxis. School nurses are uniquely situated for this role, as they understand the local environment in a school and can assess and reassess the needs of the faculty and staff.

Parent perspectives on food allergy management and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: U.S. national emergency was declared in mid-March 2020 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Subsequently, a period of stay-at-home orders, regulatory changes, evolving medical recommendations, and food supply chain disruptions occurred. There is little published research on how such changes affected food allergy management for children with this diagnosis. Objective: The study goal was to identify parent perspectives with regard to if and/or how pandemic-related regulatory changes and evolving medical recommendations have affected food allergy management. Methods: A survey was distributed to parents of children with food allergy. An electronic Internet forms survey link was available for completion during July 2020. Data were presented as descriptive statistics, cleaned, and coded into a spreadsheet before analysis. Frequencies and percentage were calculated to describe participants' characteristics and responses. Results: Of 377 responses, 359 met inclusion criteria. Concerns about COVID-19 exposure were expressed in 65.7% about accessing an emergency department and 73.6% had school reentry concerns; 66% had not discussed recommended anaphylaxis management algorithm changes with a provider; 85.8% had not discussed the temporary U.S. Food and Drug Administration food labeling policy with a provider. Most (62%) reported shortages of preferred safe food brands. 62% spent more time cooking safe foods from scratch. With regard to the recommendation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for classroom dining, 57.7% planned to request modifications. With regard to the CDC's recommendation to use inhalers versus nebulizers, 37.7% had not discussed the topic with a provider. Ninety-two written comments were analyzed and grouped into seven themes. Conclusion: New pandemic-related regulations, food supply chain disruptions, and evolving medical recommendations resulted in intensified burdens for respondents, including the increased time needed to complete food allergy management and school reentry concerns. Study results can inform clinical team members (e.g., physicians, nurses, dieticians) of effects that pandemic-related changes may have on this patient population, with subsequent consideration of patient-specific screening, education, and shared decision-making with regard to risk mitigation needs.

Parent perspectives on school food allergy policy.

BACKGROUND: Food allergy affects up to 8% of children in the U.S. There is minimal research to date on food allergy policies that are currently in place in schools and the opinions of parents of children with food allergy on the effectiveness of or need for these policies. METHODS: An electronic survey was disseminated to parents of children with food allergy. Frequencies were calculated to describe respondent characteristics and responses. Chi-square tests were performed to examine associations between school and child characteristics and outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 289 parent respondents, 27.4% were unsure or felt school was unsafe for their child with food allergy. While the majority felt that the polices in their child's school were helpful, most also believed that implementation of additional polices was necessary, including availability of stock epinephrine (94.2%), lunch menus with allergen information (86%), ingredient labels on food items (81%), and direct food allergy education for students (86%). There were significant differences in school food allergy policy depending on the age of the student body, private versus public school, and geographic location. CONCLUSIONS: While most schools reportedly have one or more food allergy policies in place, many parents have concerns over the safety of their child at school and feel that additional policies are necessary to improve the safety of the school environment for children with food allergy. The availability of stock epinephrine, improved allergen labeling of food and menus and increased food allergy education may be key policy areas on which to focus.

The Allergist's Role in Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Management in the School and Childcare Setting.

Anaphylaxis and food allergy management in childcare facilities and schools are growing challenges. An increasing number of children experience severe allergic reactions on school grounds as evidenced by reports of epinephrine use. Data also suggest that the prevalence of food allergy may be increasing, with a large percentage of school-aged children at risk for anaphylaxis. Moreover, anaphylaxis may occur for the first time in a previously undiagnosed child at school or childcare setting, suggesting that general preparedness is essential. Management includes strategies for minimizing the risk of reactions and allergen exposures as well as readiness to recognize and treat allergic reactions of any severity. The primary objective of this report is to offer health care providers an overview of relevant evidence, resources, and expert opinion to assist with developing interprofessional collaborative counsel on school food allergy management and anaphylaxis preparedness with families, schools, and childcare settings. We present the current evidence base, suggest resources, and highlight areas of current controversy that warrant further study.

Novel tetrahydropyran-based peptidomimetics from a bioisosteric transformation of a tripeptide. Evidence of their activity at melanocortin receptors.

We have prepared novel peptidomimetics based on a 2,4,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyran. This scaffold was constructed in an isosteric transformation using conceptual constraints imposed on a tripeptide moiety involving O(i)'-C(i+1)(gamma) and O(i)'-N(i+2) formal cyclization modes. A series of regioselective transformations commencing with a substituted dihydropyran-4-one readily provided the required analogues. Specific tetrahydropyrane analogues modeled on PheArgTrp as a truncated version of the melanocortin receptor message sequence, showed activity at the melanocortin receptors MC4R and MC1R. Thus, the 2,4,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyran scaffold has provided a potentially useful peptidomimetic lead, and conceptual cyclization of peptide moieties can offer a valuable design strategy in peptidomimetic research.

Solid-supported synthesis of putative peptide beta-turn mimetics via Ugi reaction for diketopiperazine formation.

The scope and limitations of the solid-supported synthesis of a bicyclic diketopiperazine, an internal, putative peptide beta-turn mimetic, are presented. The 4CC multicomponent Ugi reaction of alpha-N-Boc-diaminopropionic acid resin ester (an amine input), optically active alpha-bromoacid, aldehyde, and isocyanide is the key step in the proposed synthetic protocol. Application of cyclitive cleavage as the final step led to desired products in high purity.