Emphysema News and Research

Latest Emphysema News and Research

Loyola surgeon performs minimally invasive emergency procedure to repair AAA

Jack Kory of Mokena, Il. was eating his breakfast oatmeal when he suddenly felt the worst pain in his life. The searing pain came on suddenly in his stomach and spread to his knees. It was caused by an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) that had suddenly burst, causing massive internal bleeding. Traditionally, few patients have survived such ruptures. But Loyola University Medical Center vascular surgeon Dr. Richard Hershberger was able to repair Kory's aneurysm with a minimally invasive emergency procedure.

10 Oct 2011

Radiation risk in cigarettes hidden by tobacco companies

A new study of historical documents revealed that tobacco companies knew that cigarettes contained a radioactive substance called polonium-210, but hid that knowledge from the public for over four decades.

2 Oct 2011

Elevation presents positive data from EP-101 Phase 2a study on COPD at ERS annual meeting

Elevation Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new aerosol therapies for patients with respiratory diseases, announced today that it presented positive results from a Phase 2a study of EP-101 in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a large and growing disease characterized by significant unmet clinical needs, at the annual meeting of the European Respiratory Society.

27 Sep 2011

Scientists identify genetic variants associated with lung health

Scientists have for the first time discovered sixteen new sections of the genetic code that relate to lung health -- opening up the possibility for better prevention as well as treatment for lung diseases.

26 Sep 2011

Roxon plans to propagate tough stands on tobacco packaging

Health Minister Nicola Roxon plans to encourage other countries to follow Australia's push for plain-packaged tobacco at a major United Nations summit on chronic diseases today.

19 Sep 2011

Lung Flute provides relief to Buffalo-area patients with COPD

An easy-to-use device developed by a local biomedical company is providing relief to Buffalo-area patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

7 Sep 2011

Consumer groups, economists and members of Congress oppose Medicare's bidding system

As Medicare expands a controversial "competitive" bidding program for home medical equipment and services, economists, consumer groups, and members of Congress have gone on record to oppose that program citing reduced patient access to care, flaws in the program design, and impact on local jobs.

20 Aug 2011

Gene therapy cocktail can treat inherited diseases with 'misfolded' proteins

In a kind of molecular gymnastics, scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine have devised a gene therapy cocktail that has the potential to treat some inherited diseases associated with "misfolded" proteins.

16 Aug 2011

Structural changes associated with frequent exacerbations identified in lungs of COPD patients

Using computed tomography (CT), researchers have identified two types of structural changes in the lungs of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that are associated with frequent exacerbations, or episodes when symptoms suddenly worsen. Their findings are published online in the journal Radiology.

28 Jul 2011

Volunteers needed in worldwide study to help people breathe easier

Australian sufferers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), one of the most important causes of breathlessness and difficulty performing tasks of normal daily life, have the opportunity to participate in a worldwide study, starting this month, assessing a potential new treatment.

26 Jul 2011

Many smokers disbelieve health risk warnings: Survey

A new survey has revealed that nearly a third of smokers believe the health effects of smoking are exaggerated. Also less than four in 10 smokers are able to identify emphysema as a health effect of smoking. The survey was conducted over phone by the Cancer Council and included 861 smokers in 2009. The results were collated this year.

24 Jul 2011

Short telomeres may increase risk of emphysema

Telomeres, the body's own cellular clocks, may be a crucial factor underlying the development of emphysema, according to research from Johns Hopkins University.

15 Jul 2011

iBio successfully produces human plasma proteins using proprietary technology

iBio, Inc. today announced successful production of human plasma proteins using its proprietary iBioLaunch technology. Human alpha 1-antitrypsin and human C1 esterase inhibitor were successfully produced at high yield in green plants via the Company's proprietary iBioLaunch technology. Both of these proteins are important therapeutic products, but until now they have been made from human blood.

11 Jul 2011

Enrollment commences in InterMune's Esbriet Phase 3 study for IPF

InterMune today announced that patient enrollment has begun in ASCEND, a new Phase 3 study of pirfenidone for patients who suffer from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

8 Jul 2011

Low-dose spiral CT scan can decrease mortality from lung cancer

Current or heavy smokers who were screened with low-dose spiral computed tomography (CT) scanning had a 20 percent reduction in deaths from lung cancer than did those who were screened by chest X-ray, according to results from a decade-long, large clinical trial that involved more than 53,000 people.

1 Jul 2011

Novartis reports NVA237 Phase III trial results against COPD

Sosei Group Corporation, announces that results reported today by Novartis from the pivotal Phase III GLOW2 clinical trial show that once-daily NVA237 50 mcg significantly improved lung function in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) relative to placebo, with similar efficacy to open-label tiotropium.

30 Jun 2011

Two thirds of women with breast cancer more likely to die from cardiovascular disease

Breast cancer accounts for almost a third of all cancer cases reported in women. However advances in the treatment for breast cancer, and early detection, have improved the chances of survival from the disease.

20 Jun 2011

Scientists reveal complex protein mechanism that regulates genes linked with cancer

Scientists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and at IRB Barcelona reveal the mechanism of action of a protein that is essential for life and is associated with disease.

17 Jun 2011

Mist inhalers increase risk of death in patients with COPD

People who use a mist inhaler to deliver a drug widely prescribed in more than 55 countries to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be 52 percent more likely to die, new Johns Hopkins-led research suggests.

16 Jun 2011

Rotech commences $283.5 million registered exchange offer

Rotech Healthcare Inc., one of the largest providers of home medical equipment and related products and services, announced today that it has commenced a registered exchange offer to exchange up to $283.5 million aggregate principal amount of its Senior Second Lien Notes due 2018 which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended for an equal principal amount of its outstanding Senior Second Lien Notes due 2018, which were issued in a private placement.

15 Jun 2011