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Race and gender influence diagnosis of COPD

A study of nearly 9,000 patients found that African-Americans are less likely than whites to have had a prior diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), regardless of their current disease severity. In contrast, women are more likely than men to have been diagnosed with COPD, even in the absence of airflow obstruction.

Japanese researchers identify a protein linked to the exacerbation of COPD

Researchers from RIKEN Advanced Science Institute have identified Siglec-14 as a protein involved in the exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients without this protein are less susceptible to exacerbation, suggesting potential new targets for treatment. The study's findings imply that personalized care base...

SourceRIKEN·JournalCellular and Molecular Life Sciences·DateMar 21, 2013

Researchers explore PKC role in lung disease

A new study investigates the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in airway smooth muscle contraction, revealing its potential as a therapeutic target for treating asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The research suggests that PKC activation could contribute to airway hyperresponsiveness and exacerbate lung diseases.

SourceRockefeller University Press·JournalJournal of General Physiology·DateFeb 25, 2013

Severity of emphysema predicts mortality

A Norwegian study found that emphysema severity is a strong predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in ever-smokers with or without COPD. The study also showed that airway wall thickness is associated with respiratory mortality in patients with severe emphysema.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateJan 18, 2013

Drugs limiting excess mucus could save lives

Researchers have designed new drugs that inhibit excess mucus production in airway cells, a major cause of death in respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD. The drugs target the MAPK13 protein, which is involved in the mucus pathway and can reduce mucus production by 100 fold.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateNov 26, 2012

Breathe in, breathe out: New way of imaging lungs could improve COPD diagnosis and treatment

A new approach to lung scanning, called parametric response mapping, allows for better distinction between early-stage small airway disease and emphysema in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The technique enables precise diagnosis and treatment planning, as well as tracking COPD progression over time.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalNature Medicine·DateOct 7, 2012

Antibiotic therapy improves moderate exacerbations of mild-to-moderate COPD

A multicenter trial found that antibiotic treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanate significantly improved clinical cure rates and prolonged the median time to next exacerbation in patients with mild-to-moderate COPD. Patients with elevated capillary C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were more likely to be cured without antibiotics.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateSep 7, 2012