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Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases infant hospitalizations and death

Maternal smoking is associated with both respiratory and non-respiratory infections in infants, resulting in increased risk for hospitalization and death, according to an abstract to be presented Sunday, Oct. 27, at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition in Orlando.

22 Oct 2013

FDA approves SC formulation of Genentech's Actemra for rheumatoid arthritis

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a subcutaneous formulation of Actemra (tocilizumab) for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have used one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, such as methotrexate, that did not provide enough relief.

22 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

‘Limit diagnostic investigations’ in children with recurrent CAP

Research shows that pediatric recurrent community-acquired pneumonia in different lung areas is most commonly associated with mild conditions like rhinosinusitis and asthma, and not severe underlying disease.

21 Oct 2013

Astrazeneca, Evotec Launch Kidney Disease Collaboration

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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

Adolescents vaccination for pertussis linked with lower rates of infant hospitalizations

Widespread vaccination of adolescents for pertussis was associated with lower rates of infant hospitalizations for the respiratory infection than would have been expected had teens not been inoculated according to new research in Pediatrics.

21 Oct 2013

FEV1 poor mortality predictor in elderly

Research shows that forced expiratory volume in 1 second % predicted is ineffective for predicting mortality in elderly asthma patients.

18 Oct 2013

Astrazeneca, Taiwan's NRPB Launch Drug Discovery Collaboration

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18 Oct 2013

Diaphragm pacing systems improve quality of life for ALS patients

Respiratory failure is one of the major complications associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The quest for alternative approaches for treating respiratory failure has led to the study, and subsequent FDA approval, of diaphragm pacing for use in ALS patients. However, there are still important unanswered questions about its benefit and impact.

18 Oct 2013

Researchers identify novel gene mutation that causes common variable immunodeficiency

A 30-year-old woman with a history of upper respiratory infections had no idea she carried an immunodeficiency disorder - until her 6-year-old son was diagnosed with the same illness.

18 Oct 2013

Clinical attention improves QoL in COPD

A study in the primary care setting shows that clinical factors have the greatest influence on improving health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

17 Oct 2013

Astrazeneca, Taiwan's NRPB Launch Drug Discovery Collaboration

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17 Oct 2013

Discovery Labs submits IND application to start AEROSURF phase 2 clinical program

Discovery Laboratories, Inc., a specialty biotechnology company dedicated to advancing a new standard of respiratory critical care, today announced that it has submitted an investigational new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to initiate its AEROSURF phase 2 clinical program.

17 Oct 2013

Researchers receive grant to accelerate development of mobile seizure alert system for epilepsy patients

Approximately 2 million people, including 400,000 children, in the United States are being treated for epilepsy, and one-third continue to have seizures despite treatment. In order to address an important caregiver need, RTI International has been developing a prototype mobile seizure alert system to help epilepsy patients and their families cope with seizures.

17 Oct 2013

New method to display viral DNA in host cells at single-molecule resolution

The medical, humanitarian and economical impact of viral diseases is devastating to humans and livestock. There are no adequate therapies available against most viral diseases, largely because the mechanisms by which viruses infect cells are poorly known.

17 Oct 2013

Air pollution hampers fetal growth

Exposure to common air pollutants and traffic during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of restricted fetal growth, even at levels well below those stipulated in current European Union (EU) air-quality directives, according to one of the largest studies of its kind, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

17 Oct 2013

Respicardia awarded U.S. Healthcare Product of the Year for remede System

Respicardia®, Inc., a developer of implantable therapies to improve respiratory and cardiovascular health, announced that it has been awarded the U.S. Healthcare Product of the Year by Acquisition International for the remede System, the first and only implantable device for the treatment of central sleep apnea.

16 Oct 2013

Phase 3 ODYSSEY MONO trial with alirocumab meets primary efficacy endpoint

Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the Phase 3 ODYSSEY MONO trial with alirocumab, an investigational monoclonal antibody targeting PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9), met its primary efficacy endpoint.

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