Research on the lungs and respiratory health. Covers asthma prevention, immune cell activity, age-related decline, and pulmonary care.
A Penn study identified immunostimulatory defective viral genomes as a key player in eliciting an immune response against RSV. In human and mouse models, the presence of DVGs was correlated with improved immune function and reduced disease severity.
A study found voriconazole significantly increases risk for skin cancer and death in lung transplant recipients, with a 73% greater risk for skin cancer. Physicians are advised to counsel patients on skin cancer risk and consider patient-specific factors when prescribing the drug.
Researchers at Harvard University discovered that termite mounds breathe once a day as temperature oscillations drive ventilation. The mounds' structure, with central chimneys and thin exterior walls, allows gases to exchange and maintain efficient airflow.
Researchers aim to optimize aerobic exercise training for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, which could improve blood pressure in the lungs, skeletal muscle, and heart metabolism. High-intensity interval training has shown promising results in reversing enlargement of the right ventricle and improving blood pressures.
Researchers found that bacteria in different lung regions evolved distinct traits, including antibiotic resistance and virulence, affecting patient health. The study suggests that understanding this bacterial diversity could lead to new treatments for chronic infections.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed an algorithm that can assess the onset time, pitch and magnitude of wheezing sounds to provide healthcare professionals with information about lung condition. The algorithm is effective regardless of patient size and can handle breathing pattern variability.
Researchers at U-M have identified a key link between stress signals and bacterial growth in the lungs, which may lead to better prevention and treatment of pneumonia. The study found that certain bacteria thrive in response to catecholamines, a type of distress signal produced by the body's immune cells.
A new technique has been developed to objectively quantify ciliary movement, allowing for faster and more accurate diagnosis of cilia-related disorders. The method, which uses computational methods, correctly identified over 90% of cases with primary ciliary dyskinesia.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have developed a DNA-loaded nanoparticle that can penetrate the human airway mucus barrier in lungs, offering a potential breakthrough for treating cystic fibrosis and other lung diseases. The biodegradable nanoparticles successfully delivered therapeutic genes to the lungs of animals, producing hi...
A new study reports that a targeted molecular contrast agent can be used to cause lung adenocarcinomas to fluoresce during pulmonary surgery, enabling real-time optical imaging and precise visualization of tumor margins. The technique showed promise in localizing tumors and detecting metastatic cancer cells with high accuracy.
Researchers at Helmholtz Munich have discovered that increased protein turnover by the 26S proteasome is responsible for the activation of myofibroblasts, leading to pulmonary fibrosis. Inhibiting the 26S proteasome can prevent differentiation of primary human lung fibroblasts into myofibroblasts.
Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles have created a dynamic functional mouse model for lung injury repair. The novel model used targeted Type 2 Alveolar Epithelial cells (AEC2) to study the effects of cell depletion on lung function and disease.
Scientists propose using embryonic stem cells to repair damaged lung tissue, with successful results in mouse models. The study overcomes a major obstacle by harvesting stem cells from the ideal time frame for lung regeneration.
University of Michigan researchers created a computer model that predicts the flow of liquid medication in human lungs, providing new insight into treating acute respiratory distress syndrome. The model suggests using a less concentrated version of the medication and optimizing its delivery based on individual patient characteristics.
A groundbreaking study reveals that COPD can develop without accelerated lung function decline. The research indicates two major trajectories of lung function leading to COPD: a fast decline trajectory and an alternative trajectory where suboptimal lung function development in childhood and adolescence is the primary determinant.
Researchers have measured the immense airflows generated by breathing dolphins, finding they can inhale up to 33.4 l/s but exhale up to 137.6 l/s, surpassing terrestrial champion horses. The study reveals the dolphins' lungs are compressible and highly efficient.
A new study published in Radiology found that MRI and CT scans can help explain COPD symptoms and exercise limitations, allowing for more personalized treatment. The findings suggest that lung imaging can provide a deeper understanding of the disease and improve patient outcomes.
A phase 2 trial has shown that gene therapy can improve lung function in people with cystic fibrosis, with a significant benefit seen in patients who received the treatment. The technique uses inhaled molecules of DNA to deliver a normal working copy of the CFTR gene to lung cells.
Researchers at Brown University have discovered a molecular mechanism behind pulmonary fibrosis in Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome patients. They propose two therapeutic strategies: manipulating CHI3L1 and CRTH2 proteins to slow down scarring.
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital develop a new treatment strategy targeting nerve endings to combat allergic asthma. By selectively silencing sensory neurons called nociceptors, the approach reduces inflammation and bronchial twitchiness in mouse models of acute and chronic asthma.
A new Stanford University School of Medicine study found that cystic fibrosis is more deadly for Hispanic than non-Hispanic patients, with almost three times the mortality rate. Despite equal access to CF specialty clinics, genetic differences may be contributing to this disparity.
A new study published in Radiology found that annual low-dose computed tomography (CT) screening can safely monitor people with nonsolid lung nodules, reducing the need for unnecessary surgery and additional imaging. Nonsolid nodules are visible on CT scans of the chest and management is challenging.
A recent study published in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery found that statin therapy may reduce major complications after lung surgery. The study showed a significant reduction in postoperative complications, including pneumonia and deep vein thrombosis, but not in atrial fibrillation rates or inflammatory markers.
A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that more than half of long-term smokers and ex-smokers who pass lung-function tests have respiratory-related impairments. The researchers evaluated 8,872 people aged 45 to 80 who had smoked at least a pack of cigarettes a day for 10 years.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified two proteins responsible for initiating the labor process, which control genes for pulmonary surfactant components that promote labor. Surfactant is essential for normal breathing outside the womb. Understanding these molecular mechanisms may help prevent preterm birth.
The five-year survival rate for Canadians with cystic fibrosis who have received a lung transplant is 67 percent, according to new research published in the Journal of Heart Lung Transplantation. Additionally, half of those who have had transplants live beyond 10 years. The study found that factors such as age at transplant and certain...
Researchers at UGA have discovered a potential treatment for pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension using the drug triciribine. The study shows that triciribine can halt disease progression and may even reverse some of the damage to lung tissue.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found that obese patients are more prone to developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to a hormone imbalance. The study suggests that replacing the deficient hormone adiponectin may prevent ARDS in at-risk individuals.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh discovered a trigger that allows breast cancer cells to spread to the lungs. Blocking these signals in mice significantly reduces secondary tumor formation. The study's findings may lead to new treatments to stop breast cancer progression.
Researchers at Helmholtz Munich have identified FKBP10 as a potential new target molecule for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic lung disease. Analysis of patient data revealed elevated levels of the protein in IPF patients, which may lead to a new therapeutic approach.
A new clinical study published in The Lancet shows that augmentation therapy can preserve lung structure and add years of life for patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. The treatment has been found to be effective in slowing the progression of emphysema in severe cases.
A world-first study by QUT reveals that roadside air is more charged with particles than air under high-voltage power lines, with concentrations up to 15 times higher within 10 meters of a freeway. The study highlights the significant impact of motor vehicle emissions on urban air quality.
A new study from Northwestern University finds that soy supplements do not improve lung function for patients with asthma. Lifestyle and diet may play a role in managing the disease, rather than relying on individual strategies like increasing soy consumption.
A randomized trial of nearly 400 children and adults with poorly controlled asthma found that supplementation with soy isoflavone did not improve lung function or clinical outcomes. The study suggests that this supplement should not be used for patients with poorly controlled asthma.
Dead dolphins found with lung and adrenal lesions consistent with petroleum product exposure, supporting previous health assessments of live dolphins in Barataria Bay. The study suggests that contaminants from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill contributed to the high number of dolphin deaths in the affected area.
Researchers found that type II lung epithelial cells differentiated into mesenchymal cells instead of type I cells when seeded onto decellularized lung matrix. This study highlights the importance of factors like cell populations, growth medium, and stimuli in achieving physiologically appropriate environments for lung tissue growth.
Researchers found that air pollution directly impacts cognition, with particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide affecting the central nervous system via the sense of smell. Impaired lung function was also linked to cognitive decline in elderly women, regardless of air pollution exposure.
A recent study has found that shorter adults have a higher risk of dying while waiting for a lung transplant and are more likely to be placed on mechanical ventilation. The study analyzed data from over 13,000 adults initially listed for lung transplantation in the US between 2010 and 2011.
A large study found that regular aspirin use was associated with a slower progression of percent emphysema on CT scans over 10 years. Even after adjusting for confounding factors, participants who used aspirin regularly had a significantly slower rate of progression compared to those who did not.
A retrospective study found that Caucasian and Hispanic children who undergo lung transplantation are at greater risk for developing chronic kidney disease. The study also identified high tacrolimus levels and acute kidney injury as risk factors for CKD in pediatric lung transplant patients.
A new study has found an association between vitamin E concentrations and exposure to fine particulate pollution in the general population. Higher levels of alpha-tocopherol, a form of Vitamin E, were linked to lower lung function and reduced exposure to PM2.5.
A study by LSTM scientists found that household air pollution (HAP) can cause weaknesses in the immune function of the lung, leading to higher rates of pneumonia. Healthy volunteers exposed to HAP showed a weaker killing response from their macrophage cells.
Researchers at Brown and Yale implicates a specific mitochondrial protein, NLRX1, in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from exposure to cigarette smoke. The study shows that suppression of NLRX1 is a major cigarette-induced signature of lung destruction.
Researchers identified mutations in PARN and RTEL1 genes, which cause excessive telomere shortening and lung scarring disease. The findings strengthen the link between lung fibrosis and telomere dysfunction.
Adult survivors of preterm births may have lung capacity resembling that of the healthy elderly or casual smokers by their early 20s. Premature infants are at increased risk for contracting bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a chronic respiratory condition mainly affecting infants born less than 28 weeks of age.
Northwestern Medicine researchers have identified a specific bacteria as the cause of a rare and deadly lung transplant infection. The bacteria can be successfully treated with antibiotics, saving other patients who had contracted the infection.
A new study found that lung cancer surgery patients have a higher risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTEs) than previously thought. The study, which analyzed data from 157 patients, showed that the incidence rate was 12.1%, with most events occurring after discharge from the hospital and without symptoms.
A study of over 8000 patients found that surgeons with higher volumes are less likely to perform high-risk pneumonectomies, leading to better long-term survival. The researchers suggest that surgeon experience is an important factor in determining surgical outcomes for non-small cell lung cancer patients.
The $1.6-million gift enables world-changing research in lung diseases and quantum computing through collaboration between the University of Waterloo and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. Researchers aim to develop targeted drug delivery systems for pulmonary diseases and advance quantum information science.
A study by the University of Michigan found that cleaner school bus fuels can improve children's health, particularly those with asthma, by reducing inflammation and airborne particles. The research suggests a potential 14 million fewer absences from school annually if all vehicles were altered to reduce emissions.
A new study found that wind instrument players have a reduced risk of developing obstructive sleep apnoea. The researchers believe this is due to increased muscle tone in the upper airways, common among wind instrument players.
A team of UC researchers will study the rare lung disease pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis, which causes 'lung stones' and reduces life expectancy by several decades. The grant will help them develop a mouse model to understand the cause of the disease and design trials for treatment.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have successfully grown a 3D mini lung from embryonic stem cells, replicating the organization of human airways. The study demonstrates a novel method for morphogenesis in a dish, enabling the creation of lung tissue with cell types found in the lungs.
A study found that UK patients with cystic fibrosis who received transplants had better survival rates than publicly insured Americans. The research suggests that a single-payer national health care system can provide complex, coordinated and expansive care with long-term outcomes similar to those achieved by private insurance.
A recent study found that sudden growth of Burkholderia multivorans preceded periods of acute illness in a CF patient. The team used an extensive collection of lung sputum samples to analyze the bacterial community, providing critical context for their research.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have successfully grown 'mini-lungs' using induced pluripotent stem cells derived from skin cells of patients with cystic fibrosis. These mini-lungs can be used to test potential new drugs and provide a more reliable alternative to traditional animal models.
Researchers discovered a new bodily process that explains low blood oxygen in cystic fibrosis patients with infected lungs, highlighting the importance of CFTR protein function in directing blood flow. The study suggests strategies aimed at restoring or activating the CFTR protein may improve blood oxygen levels and circulation.
A study of 1144 US adults found that those with COPD had higher levels of white blood cell count and fibrinogen, as well as elevated C-reactive protein, which were linked to an increased risk of dying. Elevated fibrinogen concentrations were also modestly associated with premature death.
A study found that poor indoor air quality in nursing homes negatively affects the lung health of elderly residents, with pollutants like PM10 and NO2 linked to breathlessness and cough. The researchers called for improved ventilation and regular respiratory checks to mitigate the issue.
Critically ill patients who undergo early exercise experience marked improvements in lung, limb, and respiratory muscle function. Researchers have identified specific mechanisms by which exercise turns off pathways involved in muscle wasting.