Research on the lungs and respiratory health. Covers asthma prevention, immune cell activity, age-related decline, and pulmonary care.
A new device that monitors lung fluid accumulation reduces heart failure-related hospitalizations by over half and death rates by 39% compared to standard care. Patients who used the Edema Guard Monitor took medication earlier, preventing pulmonary congestion from reaching advanced stages.
Researchers at the University of Leicester have identified a new biochemical process that controls lung function and contraction during asthma. Disrupting this process can prevent airway narrowing and maintain normal lung function.
The immunoproteasome regulates alternative macrophage activation by inhibiting IL-4 signaling, reducing repair and clean-up functions. Targeted treatment with specific inhibitors may accelerate healing processes in the lung after acute pneumonia.
CV screening workstations aid technicians in accurately reviewing LDCT scans, leading to reduced false positives and improved efficiency. The study found 97.8% sensitivity and 98% specificity in identifying abnormal scans, with average review time of 208 seconds.
Scientists at the University of Nottingham have developed a process to create hyperpolarized krypton gas for MRI scanning of the lungs, offering a clearer picture of lung disease. This technology uses clean energy combustion to retain the hyperpolarized state of krypton during preparation.
Organs-on-chips reconstitute functional interfaces between living tissues, enabling complex organ-level functions and insights into human pathophysiology. Researchers use these devices to study communication in biology and develop personalized medicine.
Research at Duke University Medical Center found that prostate cancer patients with lymph-only metastasis have the longest overall survival, while those with liver involvement fare worst. The study analyzed outcomes of 8,736 men with metastatic prostate cancer and provides valuable information on prognosis and treatment approaches.
A new strategic research centre will aid health professionals design bespoke physical activity and exercise plans for young people with cystic fibrosis. The centre aims to develop guidelines and recommendations for tailored activity and exercise regimes, addressing the current lack of definitive guidelines.
Researchers discovered that healthy carriers of a rare respiratory disease gene have enhanced respiratory capacity and increased height, with a 10% advantage. The study may lead to new treatment approaches for physical fitness training and lung function disorders, as well as height modification in growth disorders.
Recent research on cystic fibrosis lung infections highlights the ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to adapt and evolve in chronically infected patients. The review suggests that understanding this evolution is crucial for developing alternative treatment strategies to minimize symptoms and improve patient outcomes.
Research by Professor Cecilie Svanes of the University of Bergen has identified three development factors that influence lung aging. Children born during winter months or exposed to severe respiratory infections at a young age are more vulnerable to lung damage.
Researchers found that e-cigarette chemicals suppress key immune genes in the nasal mucosa, similar to smoking cigarettes. The study suggests that e-cigarettes may have broader effects on respiratory immune responses than initially thought.
Babies born to mothers exposed to air pollution from traffic sources during pregnancy have an increased risk of developing asthma before the age of 5 years. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, two markers of traffic-related air pollution, was found to increase this risk.
Researchers found that Viking populations' genes developed protection from intestinal parasites, which can lead to emphysema in smokers. The inherited trait was previously unknown.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that over 40% of Malawian adults have abnormal lung function, highlighting a major public health concern. The research also exposes the high burden of biomass smoke exposure in Malawi, contributing to respiratory diseases.
A study by Helmholtz Munich found that cigarette smoke damages the immunoproteasome, a protein complex responsible for degrading and presenting foreign proteins to the immune system. This impairment weakens the immune response in COPD patients, making them more prone to viral infections.
A new minimally invasive intervention involving lung coil implantation improved exercise capacity in patients with severe emphysema, with significant short-term costs. The treatment also showed long-term benefits, including reduced lung hyperinflation and sustained quality of life improvements.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai are working on a new risk assessment tool to identify patients susceptible to sudden cardiac arrest. The goal is to predict those at risk for the fatal heart rhythm malfunction, which claims 350,000 lives annually in the US.
The International Society for Heart Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) has updated its listing criteria for heart transplantation, expanding eligibility to patients with HIV and hepatitis. The new guidelines also relax the BMI threshold for overweight patients with heart failure.
A new study found that long-term ozone exposure increases the risk of ARDS in critically ill patients, with a significant association seen among trauma patients and current smokers. The study analyzed data from 1558 patients and found that higher ozone exposure was linked to increased rates of ARDS.
A new clinical trial is evaluating a method to pinpoint and spare healthy lung tissue during lung cancer radiotherapy using advanced image analysis techniques on 4D CT scans. The researchers aim to improve quality of life for patients by sparing functional portions of the lung.
Researchers found that commensal bacteria in the lungs instruct immune cells to produce IgA, a protein protecting against infections and allergies. The study suggests a link between antibiotic use, dysbiosis, and reduced IgA production, potentially contributing to rising allergy rates.
Selexipag, an orally available selective prostacyclin IP receptor agonist, demonstrates effectiveness in treating pulmonary hypertension, reducing hospitalizations by 40%. The medication targets a well-known disease pathway, improving heart function and opening blood vessels to the lungs.
The European Respiratory Society and ESCMID have published the world's first clinical guidelines for chronic fungal lung infections, describing key features of the disease and providing comprehensive treatment recommendations. Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis affects an estimated 240,000 people in Europe and 3 million worldwide.
Researchers discovered that mechanical forces regulate airway branching in the developing lung, challenging previous theories. The study's findings have long-term implications for understanding developmental disorders and treating growth disorders like cancer.
A new method allows researchers to create 3D images of oxygen and CO2 transport in the lungs, providing hope for improved treatment of COPD and lung cancer. The technique enables doctors to better predict patient outcomes and develop personalized treatments.
A Mayo Clinic study of 102 lung transplant patients found that those who were frail before surgery had lower survival rates at one and three years post-transplant. Frailty was associated with decreased survival and poorer outcomes.
A leading researcher at the Case Western Reserve University School of Nursing is developing new treatments for cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening genetic disease. The scientist will lead two studies to explore gene-modifying treatments that can minimize CF symptoms, including medications and genetic correction.
A new study has found a link between early pesticide exposure and decreased lung function in children, with increased organophosphate metabolites associated with reduced air capacity. The study's findings suggest that chronic exposure to pesticides could leave children at risk of developing respiratory problems like COPD.
A new technology called 'extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal' aims to minimize damage to lungs caused by mechanical ventilation. The study will test its effectiveness in reducing mortality rates and improving long-term survival for patients with respiratory failure.
A new study found that women with subsolid lung nodules have a higher risk of developing lung cancer than men. The study, which reviewed CT scans from the National Lung Screening Trial, discovered that women with ground-glass nodules had a significantly higher relative risk of lung cancer.
Adults with short stature receive fewer lung transplants, have higher death and respiratory failure rates while waiting, report says. Researchers call for height to be taken into account when allocating donor organs to address disparity.
A recent study has found that treating a parasitic worm infection can reduce lung damage and susceptibility to tuberculosis in mice. The research suggests that using inexpensive anti-parasitic drugs could be an effective way to prevent TB in areas where both infections are common.
Researchers used a 3D printed model of the human airway to study how airflow affects the transfer of volatile particles from the back of the mouth to the nasal cavity. They found that slow, steady breathing optimizes the delivery of these particles, leading to better food enjoyment.
Researchers have identified biomarkers and potential therapeutic approaches for pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM), a rare lung disease. A low-phosphate diet and EDTA treatment were found to prevent stone development and reverse lung calcification in animal models.
Lung researcher Dr. Marie-Liesse Asselin-Labat has received a competitive $1.225 million Viertel Fellowship to investigate lung development and cancer. The funding will support her work on developing better treatments for premature babies with underdeveloped lungs and those with lung disease, including cancer.
Research found that patients who listed at multiple centers had higher transplant rates and lower death rates while waiting. Wealthier patients were more likely to be insured and had the resources to list at multiple centers, addressing long waiting times and organ shortage issues.
A study published in the American Journal of Transplantation shows that new policies could increase pediatric lung transplants by twice as much. The research team tested alternative allocation models to improve pediatric access to donor lungs and found two models resulted in significantly more transplants for pediatric patients.
Researchers found that patrolling monocytes play a key role in blocking lung metastasis by recognizing and scavenging tumor cells. This discovery could lead to new treatments for lung cancer by augmenting existing immunotherapy approaches.
Clinicians presented rare cases of methemoglobinemia after Jungle Juice ingestion, as well as a patient with worsening dyspnea and dry cough following buttock augmentation gone wrong. Silicone emboli to the lungs can induce acute pneumonitis syndrome, which was successfully treated with corticosteroids.
Researchers detected carbon nanotubes in Parisian children's lung cells and exhaust pipes, suggesting widespread exposure to the pollutants. The findings prompt further investigation into the potential health effects of nanotubes, which are found naturally but also produced by human activities.
Research at Mayo Clinic found that 42% of lung transplant patients exhibit depression-related emotional symptoms and 52% have depression-related physical symptoms. These findings highlight the need for interventions to reduce stress and support emotional health in patients awaiting a transplant.
A digital health application facilitated early detection and treatment of COPD exacerbation symptoms, with patient adherence exceeding 90% and response times to worsening COPD symptoms in less than 11 hours. The app uses a symptom score system to generate alerts and provide evidence-based treatment recommendations.
Researchers identify nanoparticulate carbon black as main culprit in emphysema. The material accumulates in dendritic cells and antigen-presenting cells, causing inflammation and DNA damage. Studies find that size and dose of particles affect toxicity.
The sonic hedgehog gene plays a crucial role in maintaining the normal physiological state and repair process of an adult healthy lung. In contrast to previous reports, hedgehog signaling decreases after lung injury, which correlates with the loss of cells that normally express the sonic hedgehog gene.
The University of Pittsburgh will lead a $15 million, five-year initiative to manage national clinical trials for breathing disorders. The program aims to develop new treatments for conditions like COPD and pulmonary hypertension.
Researchers have found five genetic regions that play major roles in cystic fibrosis disease severity, which could lead to new therapies. The study analyzed over 6,000 patients and identified genetic variations associated with lung disease.
A novel approach for identifying patients with undiagnosed clinically-significant COPD has been developed. The new tool consists of several questions that can be used to aid clinicians in finding people with moderate or severe COPD, or those at risk of exacerbations before loss of lung function occurs.
Researchers found that lung transplant patients living on or near busy roads with high levels of air pollution are more likely to die or experience chronic organ rejection compared to those in less polluted areas. Taking macrolides, a class of antibiotics, may protect against the devastating effects of air pollution.
Researchers found a link between metalworking fluid exposure and lymphocytic bronchiolitis, a condition causing immune cell overgrowth in the lungs, leading to irreversible damage. The study suggests that workers with higher exposure levels reported more symptoms despite similar lung function.
A UK Biobank study has identified genetic differences that affect lung health, including those who smoke and never smoked. The research may lead to improved treatments for diseases like COPD and help smokers quit.
A new UK Biobank study has identified six independent genetic variants associated with lung health and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The findings also suggest that genetic variations affecting gene regulation may play a role in COPD, providing potential targets for novel therapeutic strategies.
The study found that everolimus improved progression-free survival by 52% and increased median progression-free survival by over seven months in patients with advanced, nonfunctional neuroendocrine tumors. The treatment was well-tolerated, with common side effects including aphthous ulceration, rash, diarrhea, fatigue, and infections.
Researchers have shown that the mTOR inhibitor everolimus can delay tumour growth among both gastrointestinal and lung NETs, particularly for patients with lung tumours. The trial included 302 patients and found a 52% reduction in progression or death risk and a clinically meaningful improvement in median progression-free survival.
Researchers discovered genetic changes in premalignant lung lesions that occurred before cancerous growth, detectable in blood samples. The findings suggest that circulating DNA can be used to identify patients at risk of developing lung cancer, enabling early intervention and potentially improving treatment outcomes.
New research reveals that smog exposure can cause the formation of free radicals in lung proteins, leading to damage, inflammation, and breathing difficulties. The study, conducted in a controlled environment, suggests that ozone reacts with amino acids in lungs, triggering the creation of highly reactive species.
Researchers used ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) to recondition poorly functioning lungs, removing donor white blood cells and reducing the risk of acute rejection. This technique can increase access to transplantation and shorten waiting list times.
A new method of harvesting and growing lung stem cells has been developed by researchers at NC State University, which could provide an effective treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The study used a multicellular spheroid environment to enrich adult lung stem cells, which showed promise in mice trials with reduced inflam...
Researchers have identified a naturally occurring blood protein called lumican as a key player in the development of excessive scar tissue in fibrotic diseases. The study suggests that lumican triggers a vicious cycle when stimulated by tumor necrosis factor alpha, leading to increased production of scar tissue.
A CTCA study found that the lung microbiome diversity in patients with lung cancer was characterized by a significant presence of Streptococcaceae family bacteria. This discovery may lead to new pharmacological cancer prevention strategies and improved treatment outcomes for lung cancer patients.