Preface to the 2008 Mini-Primer on Allergic and Immunologic Disease

Article Outline

• Acknowledgment
• Copyright

The cover of the 2008 Mini-Primer is designed to convey the theme of the Primer and now Mini-Primer series of educational trees by which the seeds of knowledge fall to fertile ground and, with proper nurturing, grow into magnificent living structures that carry on the age-old tradition of imparting knowledge to the next generation. The current series of Primers published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology began with the 2003 Primer (30 chapters), progressed with the 2006 Mini-Primer on Allergic and Immunologic Disease (10 chapters), and continues with this 2008 Mini-Primer (10 chapters). The 10 chapters contained in this supplement are the next 10 chapters identified by frequency of downloading from the publisher's (Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology) Web site of the 2003 Primer. The 30 topics covered in the Primer series are based on content outline of the board examination given by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. Therefore, every 6 years, the complete set of topics will be updated in the Mini-Primer published biannually.

Again, the topics covered in this Mini-Primer are a mixture of basic and clinical chapters: lymphocytes, dendritic cells as regulators of immunity and tolerance, adhesion molecules and receptors, mucosal immunity, genetics of allergic disease, secondary immunodeficiencies including HIV infection, immunologic lung disease, hereditary angioedema, anaphylaxis, and occupational diseases.

The authors of the chapters are international authorities, and they have provided short hard-hitting updates of information with recent references. Comprehensive coverage of the 30 topics will be provided by periodic publication of the larger Primer and by the Current Reviews articles appearing in the Journal. Continuing Medical Education questions for both the Mini-Primer and the Current Reviews articles enhance their teaching value for residents, educators, and practitioners alike.

The success of the 2006 Mini-Primer is providing a powerful tool for the preparation of board examinations in allergy and immunology and quick updates of special topics. We are grateful to the Directors of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology for their trust in us to serve as editors of the Mini-Primer and for their considerable financial support of their Primer and Mini-Primer series of review publications.

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We thank Mrs Carolyn Jackson and Mr George Woodward for their immeasurable efforts to bring the 2008 Mini-Primer to publication.