Research on the lungs and respiratory health. Covers asthma prevention, immune cell activity, age-related decline, and pulmonary care.
A simple change in the way donor cells are processed can maximize a single cell's production of extracellular vesicles, which are small nanoparticles naturally secreted by cells. The finding offers new avenues for research around cellular therapies, where transplanted cells are used to help the body heal or work better.
A recent study by NTU Singapore has found a strong link between increasing air pollution and the rise of lung adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer. The study also discovered that declining smoking rates are associated with lower incidence of lung squamous cell carcinoma.
Researchers at University of Technology Sydney identified microRNA-21 as a potential therapeutic target for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Inhibition of microRNA-21 using antagomir-21 reduced inflammation and improved lung capacity in experimental models.
A new study published in Annals of Medicine recommends that athletes returning to training after long COVID undergo a series of tests and receive regular advice from medical specialists. The researchers defined long COVID as symptoms lasting more than four weeks, and warned of the risk of organ damage and mental health issues.
Pathologists have discovered that some patients with lingering COVID-19 symptoms may have underlying chronic lung disease prior to their infection. This finding suggests that clinicians should carefully consider alternative explanations for respiratory symptoms beyond long COVID.
A Rutgers study found that COVID-19 saliva testing kits with a preservative can accurately measure the oral microbiome, which may lead to new treatments for lung health in people with COVID-19. The study collected saliva samples from participants and compared their ability to measure microbes before and after COVID-19 infection.
Researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute have developed a microfluidic Organ Chip device that accurately models cystic fibrosis lung airway pathology. The model replicates key pathological hallmarks, including mucus layer changes and inflammatory responses, providing a comprehensive preclinical human model for investigating new therapies.
Researchers discovered that a specialized form of vitamin D can reduce inflammation caused by T cells in lung cells, which may be relevant to severe COVID-19. The study suggests that adding this concentrated intravenous metabolite to existing treatments could help patients recover from COVID infections.
A team of researchers has created a detailed map of the proteins in human lungs, shedding light on how the organs develop and function. The study found that the immune system in the lungs continues to mature after birth, providing new avenues for understanding diseases such as asthma and COVID-19.
A study of 18 COVID-19 patients found that SARS-CoV-2 damages lung tissue by preventing repair and generating healthy tissue, leading to conditions like diffuse alveolar damage. The data may help develop new therapeutics and inform treatment strategies for high-risk patients.
Researchers have developed a 3D cell culturing platform that allows study of lung fibroblasts and their microenvironment, enabling measurement of cell behaviors and microenvironment changes involved in IPF disease progression. The system's versatility enables personalized medicine and potential applications in studying other diseases.
Researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University discovered a genetic variant associated with a poorer prognosis of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The variant, rs5743899, was linked to increased immune activation and fibrosis, leading to reduced lung function in patients.
A recent study discovered high levels of mercury exposure in human bones from Copper Age Iberia, dating back 5000 years. Cinnabar powder used for pigments and rituals led to severe health effects, including intoxication.
Research suggests women with lingering COVID-19 symptoms experience heart rate irregularities during physical exertion, leading to delayed recovery and reduced exercise tolerance. Targeted rehabilitation programs are needed to manage these consequences in women with persistent heart and lung problems.
A study by West Virginia University researcher Sunil Sharma found that rural COVID patients who end up in an intensive care unit are more likely to die within 30 days compared to their urban counterparts. The researchers also discovered that rural patients with COVID-linked ARDS have a higher mortality rate, even when controlling for d...
The November issue of CHEST journal includes 69 articles on topics such as asthma, COPD, critical care and thoracic oncology. The journal also offers complementary web and multimedia activities to expand the reach of its research.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center found a new treatment option for inoperable pleural mesothelioma using immunotherapy agent durvalumab combined with platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients with epithelioid tumors experienced higher survival rates, including some who remained tumor-free after completing the trial.
Researchers used a new X-ray technique to capture detailed images of lung vessels affected by COVID-19. The study revealed that severe infection causes 'shunting' of blood between oxygenated and nutrient-rich systems, leading to reduced oxygenation.
A large UK Biobank cohort study found that Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry (PRISm) is strongly associated with an increased risk of death and comorbidities. PRISm was linked to symptoms such as breathlessness, cardiovascular disease, and multimorbidity.
Researchers in mice found that chemotherapy enhances cancer's spread by making blood vessel walls more receptive, allowing cancer cells to latch on. The study shows how a chemo drug like cyclophosphamide alters non-cancer cells' properties, facilitating the cancer cells' attachment and progression.
A team of scientists has identified a compound that shows promise in easing COVID-19 symptoms by targeting the cellular quality-control system damaged by coronaviruses. The compound, AMG PERK 44, was found to halt virus replication and boost lung function in mice infected with MERS.
Researchers found that certain T cells stop working before entering the tumor due to changes in gene expression, making ICB therapies less effective. Combining ICB with other forms of immunotherapy targeting different aspects of T cell function may improve response rates for non-small cell lung cancer patients.
Itepekimab, a novel monoclonal antibody, has been found to be safe and effective in treating moderate-to-severe asthma. In a phase 2 trial, it significantly improved lung function and reduced asthma control events compared to placebo.
A new vaccine has shown significant protection against Valley fever in dogs, offering hope for a potential human vaccine. The study found that two doses provided high levels of protection against the fungal disease.
A new study found that COVID-19 can trigger severe psychiatric symptoms in adolescents, with anti-neural antibodies playing a potential role. Two patients with mild/asymptomatic COVID developed suicidal thoughts and paranoid fears, while another patient without prior psychiatric history recovered fully after treatment.
Stem cell researchers have developed a new method to identify and develop personalized therapies for Cystic Fibrosis patients with rare mutations. By growing precursor lung cells from patients' own blood, they can screen for new drugs and validate responses in mature airway cells.
Researchers found a higher burden of infection, more inflammation, and lower diversity of microorganisms in children with cystic fibrosis compared to disease controls. This divergence was noted as early as toddlerhood, suggesting potential for earlier treatment and prevention of severe lung disease.
Researchers identified a protein leakage related to chronic airway diseases, which restricts breathing. Decreasing this leakage could improve asthma and COPD management by relaxing airways.
Researchers at University of Pittsburgh and Prairie View A&M University developed an algorithm to repurpose cancer drugs for pulmonary hypertension, a devastating lung disease. Two compounds improved human cells and rodent markers, supporting broader drug-repurposing platform use.
A study found that only a third of public health policies had been fully implemented globally by 2020, with low-income countries and those with high corporate influence showing slow progress. The researchers suggest that corporate influence cancelled out the positive relationship between democracy and implementation, highlighting the n...
Researchers from University of Copenhagen discover a protein analysis that can predict COVID-19 patient death or hospitalization with high accuracy, predicting 78.7% of hospitalizations and 93.9% of non-serious infections. This discovery has the potential to save lives by identifying high-risk individuals.
A group of researchers led by Indiana University School of Medicine's Benjamin Gaston will receive a research program project grant to fund the development of personalized therapeutic approaches for severe asthma. The grant will support three key projects focused on S-nitrosylation signaling, airway pH regulation, and androgen signaling.
A University of Illinois Chicago clinical trial aims to evaluate the impact of a healthy diet on asthma management in adults. Participants with uncontrolled asthma will be assigned to either an education-only group or a group receiving dietary counseling and guidance on the DASH eating plan, a diet approach proven for hypertension mana...
A Kaiser Permanente study found that the 2021 USPSTF guidelines will likely increase lung cancer screening of women, racial and ethnic minority groups, and individuals with lower socioeconomic status. This is expected to lead to an estimated 30% increase in lung cancer diagnoses compared to the 2013 recommendations.
A study found that prolyl oligopeptidase inhibition with KYP-2047 treatment reduces collagen amount and lowers inflammatory protein levels in lung tissue. The treatment also modulates apoptosis, preserving lung function after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Researchers evaluated D-Dimer blood test to rule out blood clots in COVID-19 patients, finding it effective. The study also highlighted the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications.
A retrospective cohort study of 27 patients with sarcoma lung metastases found high primary technical success rates for percutaneous image-guided microwave and cryoablation. The treatment modality and tumor location did not affect local progression, and smaller tumors showed lower cumulative incidence of local progression.
Researchers at USask discovered excessive sodium absorption in small airways of CF patients, providing new insights into the disease. The study's findings have the potential to improve life for people with CF who cannot benefit from existing medications.
A pre-clinical study by University of Illinois Chicago researchers shows that a drug targeting specific immune pathways can prevent lung damage and death in mice infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The study suggests targeted treatments may be more suitable for COVID-19 patients than broad immune suppressants.
Scientists at Karolinska Institutet have discovered a carbohydrate called mannose as a biomarker for severe COVID-19 disease severity. The study found that glycolysis and glutaminolysis play a crucial role in SARS-CoV-2's spread and growth, providing potential new therapeutic strategies.
A new study by researchers at Boston University School of Medicine found that epithelial cells use MHC-II to direct immune cells in the lungs, playing a key role in pulmonary immunity. The findings have implications for understanding, preventing and treating multiple lung diseases.
A global study found that air pollution contributed to almost 6 million premature births and 3 million underweight babies worldwide. Indoor air pollution, mainly from cook stoves, accounted for two-thirds of the measured effects.
A BfR study confirms that perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) does not accumulate excessively in human lung and kidney tissue. Only one sample contained a measurable PFBA value, supporting the conclusion that PFBA is unlikely to cause health problems.
A new study found that benzo(a)pyrene plays a small part in the global risk of developing PAH-associated cancer, with 89% of the risk coming from other unregulated chemicals. Degradation products formed in the atmosphere can also be more toxic than the emitted PAHs.
Researchers link repeated injury to airway stem cells with chronic lung disease, suggesting that biological aging of these cells may contribute to the development of this condition. The study found that injury caused activation of a subset of stem cells, leading to their premature aging and loss of functional capacity.
Patients with dementia presenting with shortness of breath were less likely to be tested for pulmonary embolism compared to those without dementia. Clinical signs and risk factors, such as elevated heart rate, were also evaluated differently in patients with dementia.
A single-center study in Libreville, Gabon, found that COVID-19 severity and death were associated with advanced age and stage of lung damage. The study involved 837 patients with no symptoms in 63% of cases.
Eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, play a crucial role in destroying malignant tumors by recruiting T-cells and releasing destructive proteins. The study, published in Cancer Research, reveals that eosinophils combat cancer effectively but require the help of T-cells to do so.
A meta-analysis of the UKLS trial and nine previous trials found that low-dose CT (LDCT) screening for lung cancer reduces mortality by 16%, with a stronger benefit seen in the three to six years after randomization. This evidence supports the implementation of long-term lung cancer screening programs internationally.
Treatment with atezolizumab plus carboplatin and pemetrexed was safe and yielded promising brain progression-free survival rates of 60% in patients with nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer with untreated brain metastases. The combination also showed systemic responses in 47.5% of patients.
CD8+ T cell priming in the spleen generates long-lived, stem-like memory T cells with enhanced ability to differentiate into T effector cells. Spleen-primed T cells have superior capacity to respond to rechallenge infection and expand into infection-fighting T effector cells.
Patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial disease are hospitalized sooner and more often than their age- and sex-matched counterparts, according to a study published in CHEST. The risk is higher for people with compromised immune systems or damaged airways.
A new electronic 'nose' has been developed to detect when a lung transplant is beginning to fail, with 86% accuracy. The device uses machine learning algorithms to analyze exhaled breath patterns and identify lung diseases, offering new hope for patients diagnosed with chronic allograft dysfunction.
New research found that COVID-19 infection does not significantly impact lung function in young adults, including those with asthma. Lung function in children and adolescents also appears to be unimpaired after infection, apart from severe cases.
A study of 814 babies found that those born to physically inactive mothers had lower lung function compared to those born to active mothers. Regular physical activity during pregnancy may reduce the risk of impaired infant lung function, potentially improving respiratory health later in life.
A single-center retrospective study found that preoperative thoracic CT findings can complement preoperative clinical risk factors to improve risk assessment for the need of postoperative mechanical ventilation. Bronchial wall thickening, pericardial effusion, and anteroposterior chest diameter were identified as independent predictors...
A new study suggests that COVID-19 deaths are driven by a buildup of coronavirus in the lungs. Researchers found that people who died from COVID-19 had 10 times more virus in their lower airways than those who survived.
Researchers at Texas A&M University designed a new framework to create the most optimal oxygen concentrator, capable of producing high-purity oxygen and adapting to changing patient needs. The LiLSX-based system outperformed other zeolites in simulation tests.
A new global study found a significant decline in solid organ transplants performed during the first wave of Covid-19 in 2020, with over 48,000 years of patient life lost. Kidney transplantation showed the largest reduction across nearly all countries.
A study by researchers at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III found that metoprolol significantly reduced lung infiltration and improved oxygenation in severely ill COVID-19 patients. The treatment also led to a shorter stay in the ICU and fewer days on mechanical ventilation.