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When non-adherence to guidelines is a good thing: Study on COPD yields surprising results

A study on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) found that 44% of patients were under-treated, while only 19% received recommended medication regimens. Patients who were under-treated had fewer exacerbations, indicating that ignoring guidelines may be beneficial in certain cases.

SourceVeterans Affairs Research Communications·JournalInternational Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease·DateJan 20, 2017

Nanoparticle exposure can awaken dormant viruses in the lungs

Researchers at Helmholtz Zentrum München found that nanoparticles from combustion engines can reactivate latent herpes viruses in lung tissue cells. This process can lead to increased viral proteins and acute infection patterns. Further studies aim to investigate the molecular mechanism of virus reactivation by nanoparticles.

Not all Europeans receive the same care for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Researchers found substantial inequities in care practices for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients across seven European countries. The standard of care for DMD typically includes corticosteroid medication, physiotherapy, regular echocardiograms, and regular check-ups, but adherence to guidelines was low, particularly among non-...

SourceIOS Press·JournalJournal of Neuromuscular Diseases·DateJan 3, 2017

Interleukin-1α causes people to choke on air

Scientists have identified interleukin-1α as the key event triggering allergic reactions to air pollution. The release of IL-1α leads to inflammation in the lungs and intensifies the immune response, suggesting a promising therapeutic target for respiratory illnesses associated with air pollution.

SourceOsaka University·JournalImmunity·DateDec 22, 2016

Researchers identify biochemical mechanism behind a rare, painful genetic disease

A team of researchers at the National Institutes of Health has uncovered a possible biochemical mechanism behind ACDC disease, which causes calcium buildup in the arteries. The study suggests that treating this condition with drugs like etidronate could help reduce calcification and potentially lead to an effective treatment.

SourceNIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute·JournalScience Signaling·DateDec 13, 2016

Lung function decline accelerates in menopausal women

A longitudinal population-based study found that menopausal women experience an accelerated decline in lung function, with declines in forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second comparable to severe smoking. The study highlights the importance of maintaining respiratory health long after the menopausal transition.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateDec 2, 2016

Turning off asthma attacks

Johns Hopkins researchers have identified a critical cellular switch that turns on the inflammatory immune response contributing to asthma attacks. By inhibiting this pathway, they may be able to prevent continued inflammation and long-term structural changes in the lungs.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateDec 2, 2016

Inflammatory complications of immunodeficiency disease may benefit from imaging technique

Researchers used FDG PET-CT to assess anatomical structure and metabolic activity in a patient with GLILD, showing widespread metabolic activity affecting lymph nodes throughout the body. The study reveals that GLILD is a complex, highly metabolically active condition requiring optimal monitoring and treatment timing.

SourceBritish Society For Immunology·JournalClinical & Experimental Immunology·DateNov 30, 2016

The Lancet Respiratory Medicine: Donor lungs could be kept alive for substantially longer with new lung preservation technique

A new study found that a combination of cold preservation and ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) can extend donor lung preservation time to over 12 hours without jeopardizing recipient outcomes. This technique has the potential to increase organ availability by reducing geographical limitations and enabling longer-distance transports.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Respiratory Medicine·DateNov 17, 2016

Mimicking life-like cigarette smoke exposure in human lung airway chips

Researchers have developed a device that mimics the effects of cigarette smoke on human lungs, providing new insights into how non-smokers and COPD patients respond to smoke. The device enables the comparison of physiological responses in healthy individuals and COPD patients before and after exposure to cigarette smoke.

Long-term oxygen treatment does not benefit some COPD patients

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that long-term oxygen treatment does not improve survival or reduce hospital admissions for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and moderately low blood oxygen levels. Researchers say these results underscore the need for new treatments for COPD.

SourceNIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 26, 2016

COPD exacerbations lead to lung function decline, particularly among those with mild COPD

Research published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with significant long-term lung function loss. Those with mild COPD experienced the greatest FEV1 decline, with each exacerbation linked to an additional 23 m...

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateSep 8, 2016

Circulating immune cells as biomarkers for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

A study by Helmholtz Zentrum München found that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are increased in the blood of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), correlating with lung function decline. MDSC may serve as a biomarker for IPF diagnosis and disease progression.