Respiratory Disease News and Research

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Drinking coffee may lower risk of hospitalization for heart rhythm disturbances

Coffee drinkers may be less likely to be hospitalized for heart rhythm disturbances, according to a new study by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, Calif. The researchers, who note the findings may be surprising because patients frequently report palpitations after drinking coffee, are presenting the study at the American Heart Association's 50th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention in San Francisco on March 5, 2010.

3 Mar 2010

C1-INH replacement therapy effective for treating acute swelling attacks in HAE

C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) concentrate is an effective, well-tolerated therapy that rapidly relieves acute swelling attacks and successive attacks at any body location in patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE), a rare and serious genetic disorder, according to data presented today at the 2010 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting. Additional pharmacokinetic data presented at the meeting confirms that C1-INH concentrate has a longer half-life than other treatment options for HAE, which protects patients from rebound attacks.

2 Mar 2010

Patients with HAE experience prodromal symptoms before acute HAE attacks: Survey

Patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) experience prodromal or early warning symptoms before nearly three-quarters of their HAE attacks, according to survey findings presented today at the 2010 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting.

2 Mar 2010

IgPro20 protects PI patients against infection

Data presented today suggest that 20 percent liquid formulation, Immune Globulin Subcutaneous (Human) (SCIg), or IgPro20 effectively protects patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PI) against infection. The 20 percent formulation, the highest Ig concentration currently available, was also shown to sustain serum IgG levels without causing unexpected rates of adverse events. The data were presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, US.

2 Mar 2010

CPF to partner with ATS to fund Pulmonary Fibrosis research

The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis and the American Thoracic Society, the world's leading professional organization for pulmonary, critical care and sleep physicians, today announced that the CPF will again partner with the ATS to fund Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) research.

26 Feb 2010

Aradigm initiates dosing in Phase 2b trial of inhaled liposomal ciprofloxacin formulations in BE patients

Aradigm Corporation today announced that it dosed the first patient in the U.S. as part of its ORBIT-1 (Once-daily Respiratory Bronchiectasis Inhalation Treatment) trial, an international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2b study designed to evaluate the Company's inhaled liposomal ciprofloxacin (ARD-3100) in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (BE) under a U.S. IND. This orphan disease indication is a chronic, severe respiratory disease and there are currently no approved treatments for this disease in the U.S.

23 Feb 2010

Research reveals human Chlamydia pneumoniae has originated from animal source

Animals have been found to have infected humans sometime in the past with the common respiratory disease Chlamydia pneumoniae, according to Queensland University of Technology infectious disease expert Professor Peter Timms.

23 Feb 2010

Whooping cough vaccine may be losing its punch: study

Vaccination programs against whooping cough may not be fully effective because the bacteria that cause the disease have evolved new strains, a new study has found.

9 Feb 2010

CTS: More people are being admitted to Canadian hospitals each year with COPD

A review of Canadian data by the nation's leading lung specialists has provided the factual evidence to support what respirologists across the country have been suspecting for some time. Shockingly, more people are being admitted to Canadian hospitals each year with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than any other major chronic illness (including heart attacks) and that number has been increasing dramatically in recent years.

2 Feb 2010

Elevation Pharmaceuticals closes $30M tranched Series A financing

Elevation Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new aerosol therapies for patients with respiratory diseases, announced today the closing of a $30 million tranched Series A financing.

21 Jan 2010

Leafy green vegetables, folate and multivitamins can prevent lung cancer in smokers

Leafy green vegetables, folate, and some multivitamins could serve as protective factors against lung cancer in current and former smokers, according to a study that is a first step in understanding a complex association.

19 Jan 2010

WHO, CDC issue H1N1 updates

Though H1N1 (swine flu) activity worldwide has slowed, the potential of a new wave of infections in the northern hemisphere in late winter or early spring remains viable, Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's top flu expert, said Monday at the start of the WHO's weeklong executive board meeting, Reuters reports.

19 Jan 2010

OSA adversely affects glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) adversely affects glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago.

18 Jan 2010

Aid begins flowing into Haiti, up to 3m may be affected

"Aid started flowing into Haiti Wednesday in the wake of the earthquake that slammed the impoverished nation late Tuesday afternoon," CNN reports. "One of two [U.S] military cargo planes carrying a 30-man assessment team arrived at Port-au-Prince airport Wednesday evening to assess Haiti's needs."

17 Jan 2010

3D structure of PI3Kdelta: An important drug target for a wide range of diseases

Intellikine announced today the publication of an article entitled, "The p110delta structure: mechanisms for selectivity and potency of new PI(3)K inhibitors," now available as an advanced online publication at Nature Chemical Biology.

12 Jan 2010

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals receives payment from Roche to initiate pre-IND studies for RNAi therapeutics

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that it has received a milestone payment from its partner Roche related to initiation of pre-IND (investigational new drug application) studies for an RNAi therapeutics product candidate.

7 Jan 2010

Toxic chemicals make us susceptible to a wide range of diseases

From the Industrial Revolution and onward, the world has become an environment that is overflowing with dangerous toxins. Mass manufacturing has resulted in thousands of chemical pollutants being released in the atmosphere, water, and soil. As well, there has been a widespread increase of chemicals being added to almost every type of food and retail product.

6 Jan 2010

CDC and AAFP recommend whooping cough vaccine for adults and adolescents

Many people may think of whooping cough as a disease of the past -- something eradicated generations ago. However, the number of cases reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that whooping cough (pertussis) is still very much a public health concern; health experts estimate that up to 600,000 cases occur each year in adults alone. In fact, whooping cough cases are on the rise in San Diego

6 Jan 2010

January issue of Chest presents new studies on COPD

A new study shows that poor lung function during adolescence and through midlife may be influenced by several factors, including birth weight, height, and gender.

5 Jan 2010

CSL Behring awards four advocacy grants to patient organizations in the U.S.

CSL Behring, a global leader in the plasma-protein biotherapies industry and a subsidiary of CSL Limited, has awarded four advocacy grants totaling $87,000 to patient organizations in the United States through the Local Empowerment for Advocacy Development (LEAD) program.

29 Dec 2009