Journal Club
The Itch Review, hosted by Dr. Gupta, Kortney, and Dr. Blaiss, explores allergy and immunology studies, breaking down complex research in conversations accessible to clinicians, patients, and caregivers. Each episode provides key insights from journal articles and includes a one-page infographic in the show notes for easy reference.
Journal Club Podcast Episodes
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A breakdown of the WAYPOINT Phase III trial on tezepelumab for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, including how this biologic works, key results on polyp size and congestion, and what the findings mean for expanding treatment options.
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A deep dive into how fexofenadine works, including its minimal brain penetration, lack of sedation, and effectiveness for treating environmental allergies. Highlights results from a systematic review covering brain imaging, impairment testing, and real-world use in children and adults.
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Discovers a potential game-changer in asthma rescue therapy: the BATURA trial tested adding a low-dose inhaled steroid (budesonide) to the usual albuterol inhaler in people with mild asthma.
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Learn how a recent study reveals a gap between patients and providers on how well indolent systemic mastocytosis symptoms are managed—and why bridging that perception gap matters for care.
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A breakdown of the OUtMATCH Phase III trial on Omalizumab (Xolair) for multiple food allergies—how this biologic works by blocking IgE, key results on raising reaction thresholds across several allergens, and what the findings mean for expanding treatment options beyond avoidance.
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A deep dive into the mortality risks tied to chronic hives (Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria). Dr. G and Kortney unpack key takeaways from a dataset of over 272,000 CSU patients and nearly 13 million matched controls.
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A breakdown of how to diagnose and treat Indolent Systemic Mastocytosis (ISM)—from baseline serum tryptase and KIT D816V mutation testing to when to consider the targeted therapy Avapritinib—and what this means for improving quality of life.
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A deep dive into mast-cell activation syndrome—what it is, how to spot it (symptoms in two or more organ systems plus lab and response evidence), and how to apply the practical “clinical yardstick” published in 2025 to guide diagnosis and management.
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Learn more about how Avapritinib performed in the PIONEER trial for indolent systemic mastocytosis, including how it targets the KIT D816V mutation, key outcomes on symptom scores, and how it could change the treatment landscape for ISM.
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Learn how dupilumab may help clear thick mucus and improve lung function in asthma. The VESTIGE trial adds new insight into treating mucus buildup.
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Discover how the KIT D816V mutation impacts mast cell behavior and anaphylaxis risk. Emerging research is reshaping how we understand these reactions.
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Learn how the Pediatric Asthma Impairment and Risk Questionnaire (Peds-AIRQ), a validated tool, was designed to better identify uncontrolled asthma in children ages 5 to 11.
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A deep dive into the REMIX clinical trials investigating remibrutinib for chronic hives (Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria). Dr. G and Kortney are joined by Dr. Blaiss to break down how this BTK inhibitor works to stop mast cells from releasing itch-causing chemicals, why researchers ran two identical trials, and what the results show for patients whose hives aren’t controlled by antihistamines.
