A promising anti-inflammatory drug failed to improve symptoms of moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a large trial. The study suggests that other mediators may be necessary to cause COPD, and raises concerns about the safety of the drug.
A study found that children with cystic fibrosis exhibit defective bone mineralization as early as 2 years old, which is not caused by nutritional status or lung disease. This abnormality can lead to reduced bone density and increased risk of osteoporosis.
A large cross-sectional survey found that frequent consumption of cured meats is associated with lower lung function test scores and increased odds of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study suggests that high dietary nitrite intake may be a novel risk factor for COPD.
A national smoking ban in Ireland resulted in a significant reduction in air pollution in pubs, with an 83 percent decrease in airborne carcinogens. The ban also improved the respiratory health of bar workers, particularly non-smoking employees, who showed improvements in cough and phlegm production.
Researchers found that regular high-dose inhaled corticosteroid use among COPD patients lowered the risk of developing lung cancer. The study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, found a significant reduction in relative risk for users of over 1,200 micrograms per day.
Overweight and obese individuals are at a 50% increased risk of developing asthma, with targeted interventions potentially reducing incidence. Obesity contributes to various respiratory issues, including reduced lung function and increased oxygen cost of breathing.
Two new interferon-gamma blood test assays detected latent tuberculosis infection in supermarket customers who had been exposed to a contagious employee, but traditional tuberculin skin tests did not. The blood tests showed a better correlation with exposure than TSTs.
Research suggests that obstructive sleep apnea patients with moderate to severe disease are at higher risk for stroke due to silent brain infarction lesions. The use of continuous positive airway pressure therapy has been shown to lower markers of platelet activation and reduce the incidence of subsequent ischemic brain lesions.
A large retrospective cohort study found that moderate to high levels of regular physical activity slow lung function decline among smokers and reduce the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Regular exercise suppresses inflammatory markers in the lungs caused by smoking, reducing COPD pathogenesis.
Primary graft dysfunction is a significant risk factor for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), a chronic scarring process that affects lung function years after transplantation. The study found that all grades of primary graft dysfunction were associated with an increased risk of BOS.
Researchers found slow-release morphine sulfate significantly reduced daily cough scores by 40% in patients with long-term, treatment-resistant chronic cough. The optimal dose for suppression lies between 5 and 10 mg twice daily, with common side effects including constipation and drowsiness.
A study found that montelukast treatment in children with intermittent asthma reduced symptoms by 14%, hospital visits by 29%, and parent time off work by 33%. The medication also resulted in a savings of $96 per treated episode.
The study found that patients with higher nitric oxide levels had better survival rates, more ventilator-free days, and lower rates of organ failure. Lower tidal volume respiration was also associated with increased NO levels and improved outcomes.
A large randomized controlled trial found that taking low-dose aspirin every other day can reduce the risk of newly diagnosed adult-onset asthma by 22 percent. The study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, involved over 22,000 healthy male physicians aged 40 to 84 years.
A study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that combining a long-acting bronchodilator with an inhaled corticosteroid reduced exacerbations by 35% in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The treatment was well-tolerated, but raised concerns about potential sys...
Current guidelines only target US-born residents for TB testing; new changes aim to address the burden of latent TB infection in foreign-born populations, particularly those from high-risk countries. Eliminating TB will require a comprehensive strategy involving varying approaches for immigrant populations.
A study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that young adults with chronic cough and phlegm are at a fourfold increased risk of developing COPD. The presence of these symptoms is an early marker of airflow obstruction.
Research found that fluid displacement from the legs to the neck can narrow soft tissue around the throat and increase airflow resistance in healthy individuals, predisposing them to obstructive sleep apnea. The study involved measuring leg fluid volume, neck circumference, and airflow resistance in 11 non-obese subjects, with results ...
A study published by the American Thoracic Society found that human rhinovirus, a leading cause of common colds, can lead to progressive respiratory failure and death in immunosuppressed lung transplant patients. The virus was found to infect both upper and lower airways, contradicting previous assumptions.
A study by Allan Garland and colleagues found large differences in resource use among ICU doctors, but these variations did not affect patient outcomes. The researchers suggest that altering practice styles could reduce ICU costs without compromising care.
A randomized, multi-center study found that adding inhaled iloprost to bosentan treatment increases exercise capability and reduces clinical deterioration in PAH patients. In some cases, the combination also improves diagnostic functional class by one stage.
Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) was strongly associated with the development of respiratory symptoms, including cough, wheeze, and dyspnea, in healthy never-smokers. The study found a particular risk among individuals with bronchial hyper-reactivity who were persistently exposed to ETS.
Adolescents who smoke regularly have a significantly increased risk of developing asthma, with a four-fold increase in risk for those who smoked 300 or more cigarettes per year. The study found that exposure to cigarette smoke in the womb and later smoking habits also significantly raised the risk of asthma.
The American Thoracic Society has published a new statement on the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of liver damage caused by anti-tuberculosis medications. The document provides recommendations for identifying risk factors, recognizing symptoms and developing safe treatment programs.
Researchers developed a simple, noninvasive test to measure right ventricular function and predict survival of adults with pulmonary hypertension. The test, TAPSE, assesses echocardiographic abnormalities in the tricuspid valve and showed that patients with advanced right ventricular dysfunction had dramatically reduced survival rates.
A single dose of sildenafil prevented rebound pulmonary hypertension and reduced mechanical ventilation time in ICU infants undergoing nitric oxide withdrawal. The study found significant benefits for the sildenafil group, with a total ICU stay of 47.8 hours compared to 189 hours for placebo recipients.
A computer-driven system can reduce mechanical ventilation time by 50% and ICU stay by 20% compared to traditional physician-controlled weaning. The system uses automated gradual pressure support reduction, spontaneous breathing trials, and incentive messages to ensure patient readiness.
A study published by the American Thoracic Society found that an antioxidant called heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is elevated in the lungs of patients with chronic silicosis. HO-1 protects against reactive oxygen species, which cause tissue injury and scar formation.
Researchers found that patients with symptomatic moderate asthma treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha experienced significantly fewer disease exacerbations than those on placebo. The study also showed a significant decrease in diurnal variation in peak expiratory flow rate.
Two new blood tests, T-SPOT.TB and QuantiFERON-TB Gold, have improved the detection of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection. These tests offer more accurate results, faster turnaround times, and no return visits compared to traditional tuberculin skin tests.
Researchers enhanced donor lungs using clinical maneuvers, increasing transplant procedures without compromising recipient function. The San Antonio Lung Transplant protocol improved lung procurement rates by up to 50%, reducing lengthy wait times and potentially eliminating deaths among patients awaiting lung transplantation.
A new study found that IPF patients who can cover less than 680 feet during the six-minute walk test are four times more likely to die. The test's accuracy was found to be superior to other measures, such as forced vital capacity percent (FVC%).
A study by Maria-Christina L. Machado and colleagues found that women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who use long-term oxygen therapy have a 54% increased risk of death compared to men. The primary risk factor for developing COPD is smoking.
Research suggests that children whose mothers had low vitamin E intake during pregnancy are more likely to develop wheezing and asthma by age five. Vitamin E exposure was found to have a dual effect on lung function and airway inflammation, with effects differing between early and later pregnancy.
Researchers found that infusing patients with low-dose ethanol, morphine or ketoconazole before and after surgery significantly reduced the incidence of pneumonia from 39% to 5.7%. The treatment also shortened ICU stay by 9 days in alcoholic patients undergoing aerodigestive tract surgery.
A study of 340 drivers found that chronic short sleep duration and severe sleep apnea increase the risk of sleepiness, performance impairment, and decreased task vigilance while driving. The researchers suggest that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration should implement plans to identify and treat sleep-impaired drivers.
A large-scale study found that NYC firefighters' lung function declined by 12 years of age due to WTC dust exposure, with early arrival time-based periods showing more frequent respiratory symptoms. Researchers emphasize the importance of medical surveillance for high-risk jobs and call for better protective equipment.
A study found that TB patients underweight at diagnosis who gain less than 5% weight during the first two months of treatment have a significantly increased risk of disease relapse. This association holds even among those with abnormal chest x-rays and positive sputum cultures after 2 months of anti-tuberculosis treatment.
Researchers conclude that enzyme urokinase is the primary treatment against infection in the lung lining due to its cost-effectiveness. The study suggests a significant healthcare savings of $15 million if used as the first line of treatment for pediatric empyema.
Quitting smoking significantly improves lung function test scores in asthmatics, even after just one week of no cigarettes. The study found a notable increase in lung function improvements compared to high-dose anti-inflammatory treatment.
Researchers found that laboratory animal workers who handled more than 50 rats per day had a two-fold reduction in the risk of developing work-related chest symptoms. This suggests that exposure to laboratory animals can lead to natural immunity, as indicated by high IgG4-IgE antibody ratios.
A biomarker named procalcitonin can reduce the length of antibiotic treatment for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients. Studies found that lower procalcitonin levels could shorten antibiotic use by an average of seven days, but guidelines suggest shorter courses and caution against over-reliance on this marker.
Researchers found that treating intubated patients with chlorhexidine paste reduced the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia by 65%, while a combination of chlorhexidine and colistin cut the risk by 55%. The study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, suggests a cost-effective approach to prev...
Researchers found that stopping inhaled corticosteroids in cystic fibrosis patients had no significant increase in lung-related adverse effects. The study showed that replacing the medication with a placebo was safe for most patients, suggesting that it may be possible to lower drug burden and reduce side effects.
A recent study by the American Thoracic Society found that marijuana smoking does not increase the risk of lung cancer or head and neck cancers. Heavy marijuana users, who smoked over 22,000 joints, did not have an increased risk of developing cancer.
A large study of 68,183 middle-aged women found that those who slept 5 hours or less per night were more likely to experience major weight gain and become obese over 16 years. The researchers didn't find a link between sleep duration and physical activity levels.
Researchers found that aerosolized cyclosporine preserves lung function and reduces chronic rejection in lung transplant patients. The new study used 58 patients and found that those who received the placebo experienced a decline in lung function four times as great as those who inhaled the cyclosporine.
A study of 85 women with COPD found they had lower lung function, more trouble breathing, and a worse quality of life compared to men. The researchers suggest that comprehensive assessments can lead to improved treatment outcomes for all COPD patients
A study of 2,112 adolescents found that low dietary intake of vitamin D is associated with significantly lower lung function. The researchers recommend promoting recommended levels of vitamin D intake to ensure optimal lung function and healthy bones.
A new study found that air pollution increases the risk of death by 32% for people with diabetes, 28% for those with COPD, and 27% for those with congestive heart failure. Lowering air pollution levels can lead to improved health outcomes and longer lifespans.