Respiratory News and Research

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Long-term effects of a disaster on physical and psychological health

The long-term effects of a disaster on physical and psychological health are the focus of a new study of rescue workers who provided assistance after the explosion of a fireworks depot in the Netherlands in May 2000.

24 Apr 2007

Qigong helped people during SARS outbreak

Oriental therapies can help chronically ill people stay strong and reduce stress levels during epidemics, according to research in the April issue of the UK-based Journal of Clinical Nursing.

24 Apr 2007

New drug offers hope to muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis sufferers

Scientists in the United States say an experimental drug may be able to compensate for the genetic error responsible for some cases of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and cystic fibrosis.

23 Apr 2007

Protecting infants from viral infections may prevent the development of asthma late in childhood

Researchers studied 198 children at high risk of atopy, from birth to five years. All episodes of acute respiratory illness in the first year were recorded, and nasal aspirates were collected for viral identification.

20 Apr 2007

Probiotics for the prevention of pediatric antibiotic-associated diarrhea

Probiotics, the "good" bacteria in many dietary supplements, might counteract an unpleasant side effect for children on antibiotics, according to a new systematic review.

20 Apr 2007

Early-life respiratory viral infections, atopic sensitization, and risk of subsequent development of persistent asthma

Protecting infants from viral infections may prevent the development of asthma late in childhood, according to new research in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI).

20 Apr 2007

Tailored interventions based on sputum eosinophils versus clinical symptoms for asthma in children and adults

A new review suggests that asthma treatment based on tests of fluid coughed up from the lungs could reduce the frequency and severity of flare-ups in adult asthma patients.

19 Apr 2007

New approach to cystic fibrosis treatment

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered that an enzyme produced by lung-infecting bacteria further shuts down a protein that is defective in cystic fibrosis patients.

19 Apr 2007

Flu can actually trigger heart attacks

Doctors need to take concerted action to ensure that people who are at risk of heart disease receive the influenza vaccine every autumn, according to the authors of a new report published in the European Heart Journal.

19 Apr 2007

Australian child health and air pollution study

This is the first nation-wide study of child health in relation to air quality to be conducted in Australia.

19 Apr 2007

Ethanol vehicles pose a significant risk to human health

Ethanol is widely touted as an eco-friendly, clean-burning fuel.

19 Apr 2007

Escalating violence and widespread insecurity worsens shortage of health workers in Iraq

Escalating violence and widespread insecurity, combined with a worsening shortage of health workers, are putting severe pressure on the health of the Iraqi population. This pressure increases as people move within the country and into neighbouring countries in search of safer places to live.

18 Apr 2007

New hope for spinal cord injury sufferers

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most significant forms of neurotrauma with major economic and social impact.

17 Apr 2007

Irish smoking ban effective at clearing the air

A national workplace ban on smoking in Ireland resulted in an 83 percent reduction in air pollution in pubs, an 80 percent decrease in airborne carcinogens for patrons and staff, and an improvement in the respiratory health of bar workers, according to a one-year follow-up study.

17 Apr 2007

Eating cured meats increases the odds of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Frequent consumption of cured meats results in lower lung function test scores and increases the odds of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a large cross-sectional survey of adults in the U.S.

17 Apr 2007

Diets high in bacon, ham and hot dogs bad for the lungs

A study by researchers in the U.S. has found that cured meats such as bacon, ham, and hot dogs can cause lung damage.

17 Apr 2007

Alcohol consumption linked to sleep-related breathing disorder in men

Increased usual alcohol consumption among men is associated with an increased risk of a mild or worse sleep-related breathing disorder (SRBD), according to a study published in the April 15th issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (JCSM).

16 Apr 2007

Essential medicines for children

Following recommendations from the Expert Committee on Essential Medicines, the World Health Organization (WHO) will immediately begin work to create a medicines list specifically tailored to children's needs. A group of experts will meet in July 2007 to produce the first international list of medicines to tackle diseases with high mortality and morbidity rates in children.

16 Apr 2007

Smoke ban means Irish pubs have clean air and healthier workers

According to a new study air quality has improved in bars since smoking was banned in Irish pubs in March 2004 and pub workers are now exposed to far fewer cancer-causing substances.

16 Apr 2007

Ranbaxy receives U.S. approval to market Loratadine Antihistamine tablets

Ohm Laboratories, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, has announced that Ranbaxy has received approval from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration to manufacture and commercialize its Loratadine Orally Disintegrating Tablets, 10mg. The antihistamine previously made the switch from the prescription to the OTC market.

15 Apr 2007