Lung Disease News and Research

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Researchers complete first phase of landmark study on fungal complications of TB

The first phase of a landmark study of complications of tuberculosis - the first ever carried out in Africa - has been completed by researchers at Wythenshawe Hospital and the University of Manchester working with colleagues in Uganda.

30 Oct 2013

COPD–asthma overlap heightens exacerbation risk

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and concomitant asthma have significantly more exacerbations and hospitalizations than patients with COPD alone, research shows.

28 Oct 2013

FDA to phase out all inhaler medical products containing CFCs by Dec. 31

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will complete its phase-out of all inhaler medical products containing chlorofluorocarbons by Dec. 31, 2013. This effort is to comply with an international treaty to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the worldwide production of numerous substances, including CFCs, which contribute to ozone depletion.

24 Oct 2013

Twitch mouth pressure reflects COPD disease severity

Researchers from China have shown that a non-invasive method of measuring inspiratory muscle strength accurately reflects the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

21 Oct 2013

COPD investigational treatments: an interview with Dr. Tunde Otulana, Senior Vice President, Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Olodaterol is a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) bronchodilator delivered via the Respimat® inhaler. It is being investigated as a once daily maintenance bronchodilator treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema.

21 Oct 2013

New type of antibiotic kills multidrug-resistant germ common to health care settings

A new type of antibiotic called a PPMO, which works by blocking genes essential for bacterial reproduction, successfully killed a multidrug-resistant germ common to health care settings, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report.

16 Oct 2013

Seven promising scientists named 2013 NYSCF - Robertson Investigators

The New York Stem Cell Foundation today named seven of the most promising scientists as its 2013 NYSCF - Robertson Investigators.

16 Oct 2013

Sexual dysfunction ‘ignored in COPD’

Researchers say that physicians should address sexual issues in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as a matter of course, after finding that over three-quarters of men with the condition have some level of erectile dysfunction.

15 Oct 2013

Viewpoints: 'Death throes' of health law opponents; Ryan's plan on entitlements may offer way out of budget crisis

Politically, the biggest challenges facing the ACA are behind us. By my count, the law has already survived three near-death experiences: the Democrats' loss of a filibuster-proof Senate majority with the election of Scott Brown in Jan. 2010, the Supreme Court's June 2012 decision upholding (with one exception) the law's constitutionality, and President Obama's re-election last Nov. Much of what we see going on in Washington now is the death throes of the opposition, especially now that Americans are beginning to sign up for coverage (John McDonough, 10/9).

11 Oct 2013

Study explores impact of altitude and anemia in children with pneumonia

Pneumonia is the leading cause of death of young children around the world, and a study from an international group of researchers now finds that the risk of poor outcomes - including persistent pneumonia, secondary infections, organ failure or death - in children who contract pneumonia is four times higher in those who also have anemia and live at high altitudes (over 2,000 meters or about 6,500 feet).

9 Oct 2013

Gas transfer excels in predicting mortality in COPD

Researchers say that measuring gas transfer is the most effective way to predict mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, after finding that it outperformed both spirometry and plethysmography for the purpose.

3 Oct 2013

New classification criteria for systemic sclerosis published in ACR journal

New classification criteria for systemic sclerosis have just been published and are more sensitive than the 1980 criteria, enabling earlier identification and treatment of this disabling autoimmune disease.

3 Oct 2013

NIH award strengthens pioneering work in cystic fibrosis at Dartmouth's School of Medicine

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded a $5.9 million grant to support an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Lung Biology Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.

1 Oct 2013

Vitamin D levels linked to emphysema

Researchers have found a relationship between emphysema and serum vitamin D levels, suggesting that the vitamin may play a role in modulating lung structure.

30 Sep 2013

Reduced physical activity in COPD not just disease related

Researchers from the Netherlands have shown that physical activity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is influenced by both physical and psychosocial factors.

25 Sep 2013

Mild COPD phenotype discovery offers treatment hope

Research indicates that smokers with and without mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be classified into distinct phenotypes on the basis of computed tomography findings.

23 Sep 2013

European Commission and Japan approve once-daily dual bronchodilator Ultibro Breezhaler (QVA149) nearly simultaneously, for COPD patients

Novartis announced today that the European Commission approved once-daily Ultibro® Breezhaler® (indacaterol 85 mcg / glycopyrronium 43 mcg) as a maintenance bronchodilator treatment to relieve symptoms in adult patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) approved once-daily Ultibro® Inhalation Capsules (glycopyrronium 50 mcg / indacaterol 110 mcg), delivered through the Breezhaler® device, for relief of various symptoms due to airway obstruction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Ultibro® Breezhaler® / Ultibro® Inhalation Capsules were developed under the name QVA149.

23 Sep 2013

Mother who smoke during her pregnancy may transmit asthma to future generation

Asthma is a serious public health problem. An estimated 300 million people worldwide suffer from this sometimes deadly lung disease, a number expected to increase to 400 million by 2025. One well-established risk factor for asthma is having a mother who smoked during her pregnancy.

21 Sep 2013

Phase III EINSTEIN trial program: XARELTO reduces risk of DVT and PE

Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today a newly published, pooled analysis of the Phase III EINSTEIN trial program, showing XARELTO (rivaroxaban) is as effective as the standard of care in reducing the risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in people with symptomatic DVT or PE, while reducing the incidence of major bleeding by 46 percent.