Articles tagged with Lungs
A recent study has found that the innate immune system responds more aggressively to lung infections than wound healing, leading to delayed wound recovery. This priority of responses, known as immune triage, highlights the complex interplay between different parts of the immune system and their impact on overall health.
The Temple Lung Center has become the first US site to perform bronchoscopic lung volume reduction using implantation of the Zephyr Endobronchial Valve, treating severe emphysema. The procedure improved lung function and quality of life for patients with severe emphysema.
A study found that progressive massive fibrosis cases among US coal miners rose by 31.5% annually between 1996-2016, defying expectations given improved dust control measures. The increases were highest in Virginia and Kentucky.
Researchers have developed a mouse model that induces scarring and damage similar to human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, allowing for the study of new pathways and targets. The model enables the testing of drugs in more clinically relevant ways, potentially leading to more effective therapeutic options.
A small experimental study found that e-cigarette vapor disables key immune cells in the lung and boosts inflammation. The vapour impairs the activity of alveolar macrophages, which are crucial for removing dust particles, bacteria, and allergens from the air spaces.
Researchers found that viruses like norovirus and rotavirus are transmitted through membrane-cloaked 'virus clusters' that increase disease severity. These clusters, previously unknown to cause human-to-human transmission, may lead to more effective treatments targeting these clusters.
Researchers discovered that cholesterol disruption causes PAP, a condition where air sacs clog with surfactant. A clinical trial to test statin therapy is planned, showing improved respiratory function in patients and laboratory models.
A new study by Brigham and Women's Hospital researchers models allergic lung inflammation in mice, revealing the role of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in triggering and amplifying an allergen-initiated immune response. The findings have implications for designing more precise clinical trials for severe asthma treatment.
Researchers at UTMB have developed a method to bioengineer human lungs in a lab, without any medical complications. The study used a support scaffold made from lung proteins and successfully transplanted them into adult pigs, with the animals surviving for several months post-transplant.
Scientists have identified a new target for treating pneumonia, which shows promise in restoring tight barriers and improving fluid clearance. The target is ENaC-alpha, a subunit of natural channels that mediate sodium uptake and play a role in fluid movement.
A small pilot clinical trial shows eating two CHORI-Bars daily for eight weeks improves lung function in obese adolescents with asthma. The study's findings are provocative and suggest a need for larger trials.
A study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests that males recover more quickly from influenza infections because they produce more of the key lung-healing protein, amphiregulin. The research found that females have slower tissue-repair during recovery due to relatively low production of amphiregulin.
Bottlenose dolphin populations vary in diving ability by almost 1000m due to lung architecture and gas management. The research suggests that deep divers use elevated heart rates during surface intervals and directed blood flow through collapsed lung regions to manage nitrogen levels.
A study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology found that active surveillance of lung subsolid nodules can reduce unnecessary surgery and overtreatment. Lung cancers arising from these nodules rarely led to death, suggesting they can be a biomarker for cancer risk.
Researchers discovered seal blood serum has anti-inflammatory properties, protecting against damage to pulmonary tissues and inflammation. This unique adaptation allows elephant seals and Weddell seals to safely dive deep without lung damage or inflammation.
Researchers developed a new synthetic surfactant that equaled or outperformed animal-derived surfactant in every outcome, including oxygenating blood. The synthetic surfactant could be produced at lower cost and tested with more lung diseases and injuries in adults.
Researchers found that even mild COPD patients have lost over 40% of their small airways, suggesting early intervention is crucial. The study's findings could lead to the development of new drugs to treat patients with COPD at earlier stages.
A new microfluidics technique has been developed to construct microchannels with efficient gas exchange, potentially delivering nearly a third of the oxygen needed by preterm newborns. The design uses both sides of the membrane for gas exchange and is more effective than previous single-sided counterparts.
A recent study published in eLife discovered that altered collagen structure leads to tissue stiffness during lung fibrosis progression. The researchers identified a compound that blocks LOXL enzymes, which can prevent tissue stiffening and limit fibrosis. This finding suggests new treatment approaches for lung fibrosis.
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have shown that metformin can reverse established lung fibrosis using a drug treatment targeting cell metabolism. The study used human lung fibroblasts and a mouse model of lung fibrosis, finding that metformin accelerated the resolution of well-established fibrosis.
Researchers found that lower than normal blood levels of vitamin D were associated with an increased risk of early signs of interstitial lung disease, a condition that can lead to progressive lung damage. Vitamin D deficiency was linked to larger volumes of damaged lung tissue and abnormalities on full lung scans.
Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital identify NEDD9 as a critical player in disease development, with potential therapeutic implications for patients with PAH. The study found that increased oxidant stress modifies an amino acid residue in NEDD9 to cause lung artery fibrosis.
Scientists at Trinity College Dublin have discovered how vitamin A supports the lung immune system in controlling tuberculosis (TB) by promoting autophagy and waste disposal. This finding has potential for developing more effective lung-targeted treatments using vitamin A to boost patient immunity.
A new international study, led by Queen Mary University of London, will monitor the lung health of over 3,000 primary school children in polluted areas for four years. The CHILL study aims to determine if policies improving air quality can improve lung growth and reduce respiratory symptoms in children.
A new online tool takes into account personalized risks and benefits of lung cancer screening, while also allowing for a range of patient preferences. The tool is designed to help doctors fine-tune their advice to patients, taking into account individual attitudes about looking for problems and dealing with the consequences.
A new study in Circulation presents evidence that fluid redistribution from the abdominal compartment to the heart and lungs may cause heart failure. The study used splanchnic nerve block to demonstrate this phenomenon in patients with acute heart failure, improving symptoms such as shortness of breath.
A new study finds that e-cigarette flavoring cinnamaldehyde significantly disrupts normal cell physiology, impairing airway cilia motility and mitochondrial function. This could have implications for respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
A recent study found that progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) cases among former US coal miners increased by 50% since 2000, with the highest rates in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. The researchers attribute this trend to inadequate dust control measures, longer working hours, and higher silica exposure levels.
Researchers found that stable heavy smokers experienced greater decline in lung function compared to those who never smoked. However, smokers who quit had a lower risk of developing emphysema and lung disease than stable, low-rate smokers despite having smoked more cigarettes.
A study found a dramatic spike in cases of progressive massive fibrosis, the most severe form of black lung disease, among former US coal miners, particularly those working in smaller mines and longer hours.
A study of 463 adults found that higher anthocyanin intake was associated with slower lung function decline over 10 years. Individuals in the highest quartile of anthocyanin consumption had a slower rate of decline in forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume compared to those in the lowest quartile.
A recent study has found that pregnant smokers who take daily vitamin C supplements may have babies with improved lung function and reduced risk of wheeze. The researchers measured forced expiratory flows in infants born to mothers who smoked, and found significant differences in lung function at three months and one year.
A recent study has identified monocytes as key instigators of early lung transplant failure, leading to organ rejection and death. The researchers hope their findings will lead to new therapies targeting inflammatory cells.
A new study has found a significant association between increased prenatal CO exposure and decreased lung function in infants. Infants whose mothers were exposed to CO during the second and third trimesters were at highest risk for reduced lung function.
Researchers at Michigan State University found that triclosan, a common antibacterial substance in toothpaste, can kill Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria by up to 99.9 percent when combined with tobramycin. This combination therapy offers a new potential treatment option for cystic fibrosis and other biofilm-related infections.
Lung transplant patients with recent alcohol use spent more time in the hospital and on ventilators, with no differences in lung function. Abstaining from alcohol may help optimize lung transplant outcomes.
A recent study published in The American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology has found that the duration, not peak exposure, is key to maturing preterm lungs. This breakthrough could lead to safer and more effective antenatal steroid treatment, benefiting millions of families worldwide.
A clinical trial conducted by Boston Children's Hospital has shown that adding chemotherapy to a treatment regimen including catheterization and surgery can deter abnormal cellular growth in children with pulmonary vein stenosis. The approach led to the stabilization of PVS progression and prevention of further lung damage in 31% of pa...
Researchers at IU School of Medicine are working on printing 3D pig liver tissue for xenotransplantation research. The collaboration with Lung Biotechnology aims to accelerate the development of unlimited organs for life-saving transplants.
Researchers have identified PFKFB3 as a key player in the development of pulmonary hypertension, a condition characterized by high blood pressure in the lungs. By targeting this enzyme, scientists hope to develop new treatments that can help alleviate symptoms and improve patient outcomes.
A new study by Stanford University researcher Annelise Barron has developed a protein mimic that restored breathing capacity to injured rats' lungs, outperforming animal-derived counterparts. The synthetic product could lead to better and cheaper treatments for acute lung injury in humans.
A new study reveals that marine mammals' unusual lung architecture allows them to avoid the bends by creating a ventilation-perfusion mismatch. This adaptation helps to minimize nitrogen uptake and reduce the risk of decompression sickness. However, excessive stress caused by human-made sound can disrupt this system.
A new study published in Journal of Clinical Oncology shows a four-year overall survival rate of 96 percent for patients with stage IV Wilms tumors with lung metastases, compared to 84 percent on the predecessor study. The approach resulted in sparing initial upfront lung radiation and reducing long-term risks for nearly half of patients.
Researchers at Osaka University have found that the double deletion of tetraspanins CD9 and CD81 in mice causes progressive aging and shortened lifespan. The study reveals that CD9/CD81 DKO mice develop an accelerated aging syndrome, with symptoms including emphysema, osteoporosis, and skin and muscle atrophy.
The molecular microscope system uses gene chips to read molecules in heart and lung transplant biopsies, providing more precise readings with fewer tissue samples. The system is showing promising results for both heart and lung transplant biopsies, improving patient outcomes and reducing errors.
CReM researchers engineered two new categories of lung epithelial cells in vitro using pluripotent stem cells. The study used single-cell RNA sequencing to generate comprehensive profiles of air sack-like and airway-like cells, which can be used to create lung tissue in vitro.
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have identified a new molecular target, FOXF1, that slows or stops idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in preclinical laboratory tests. The study found that FOXF1 inhibits IPF disease process by regulating genes involved in lung scarring and inflammation.
Three-quarters of COPD cases have origins in poor lung function pathways beginning in childhood, amplified by adult factors. Childhood illnesses and exposures are key indicators of COPD risk.
A new approach to treating malignant pleural effusion in cancer patients combines talc with an indwelling pleural catheter, allowing for effective home-based treatment. The study found that patients treated with this combination were more than twice as likely to have their fluid dry up compared to those treated with IPC alone.
A new lung MRI method helps identify where airway inflammation and smooth muscle dysfunction occur in patients with severe asthma. This innovation aims to personalize therapy for individual patients, improving disease control and quality of life.
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital describe an innovative approach that boosts neutrophil strength and kills bacteria more effectively, while minimizing lung tissue damage. By inhibiting IP6K, a key enzyme, the immune system produces 'super' neutrophils that actively kill bacteria without causing excessive inflammation.
A team of researchers found that lung tumor cells can revert to a developmental program similar to their nearest relatives when a key gene is lost. This discovery highlights the remarkable resilience and adaptability of cancer cells.
Scientists have identified genetic patterns in Haemophilus influenzae that make certain strains more dangerous than others. This discovery may lead to the development of new treatments and vaccines for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients.
A recent study found that transfusing older stored red blood cells can lead to adverse effects in critically ill patients. Free heme, a breakdown product from degraded red blood cells, is thought to be the key culprit behind this toxicity.
Rheumatologist Shervin Assassi is developing a blood test to determine which drugs work best for patients with lung disease and scleroderma. The new project aims to create prediction models that identify patients who are likely to respond to immunosuppression.
A new study reveals that primitive air-breathing fish, such as the South American lungfish, exhibit similar mechanisms controlling the heart as mammals. These mechanisms include a periodic breathing pattern and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), which enables the fish to maximize oxygen uptake during air-breathing bouts.
Researchers found that nerve cells in the lungs suppress immune response during infection with Staphylococcus aureus, leading to poorer outcomes. Disabling these neurons improved immune cell recruitment and cleared bacteria from the lungs, boosting survival rates.
Researchers have discovered that increasing lipid production in the lungs can reduce lung scarring by 70-80 percent. The study's findings suggest that failing to produce lipids due to injury or age-related metabolic changes may contribute to lung fibrosis development.
Researchers at Helmholtz Zentrum München have discovered a novel mechanism that causes malignant pleural effusion in lung cancer patients. The mechanism involves inflammatory messengers from the immune system, leading to fluid buildup and accompanying malignant cells.
A new research project aims to determine why mine dust-related lung diseases are increasing in prevalence among coal workers. The study will use a multidisciplinary approach to examine the relationship between mine dust exposures and severe lung disease, with a focus on identifying critical risk factors.