Pulmonary Disease
19 Aug The Link Between Air Quality and Chronic Respiratory Diseases: Evidence From 9/11 Studies
[caption id="attachment_70340" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photo courtesy of Pixabay [/caption]
The attacks of September 11 left scars that extended far beyond the visible destruction. In the years that followed, research revealed another crisis: the lingering impact of toxic air on those who lived or worked near Ground Zero.
Firefighters, residents, and first responders developed chronic respiratory diseases at alarming rates. Today, these studies offer a reference point on how invisible particles impact entire lifespans. Below, we discuss the public health aftermath of the 9/11 crisis and how you can seek help.
Air Quality Post 9/11
The collapse of the World Trade Center released a cloud of fine caustic dust, chemicals, and construction debris. The toxic mix included silica, asbestos, heavy metals, glass fibers, hydrocarbons, and carbon nanotubes found later in tissue samples. First responders, residents, and workers inhaled these particles. Many woke with persistent coughs. Some exposed within hours of the collapse went on to develop WTC cough syndrome, a chronic ailment tied to airway inflammation, reflux, sinus disease, and diminished lung function.
29 May Legal Considerations After a Silicosis Diagnosis
[caption id="attachment_68836" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photo by Kelly[/caption]
The American Lung Organization says 2.3 million US workers are exposed to silica at work. Most of the workers come from the construction industry. Exposure to silica at work mostly happens in the construction industry. Silicosis can develop from silica exposure. The disease is incurable, but its symptoms can be managed through treatments.
According to silicosis attorney Christopher J. Canlas, workers who have been exposed to silica dust may get silicosis. Inhaling silica may injure you forever or even kill you. A silicosis attorney can help you check if you have an occupational disease and obtain compensation for your illness.
Legal assistance can help secure payments for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. The support of an experienced lawyer can result in the identification of a liable party for your illness. They will assess whether negligence or regulatory violations played a role in your silicosis diagnosis. They can also help you file claims or lawsuits.
Legal assistance may be necessary after a silicosis diagnosis to protect your rights and future.
19 Feb How to Manage Asthma
Posted at 22:27h
in Pulmonary Disease
Please seek immediate attention if you are experiencing severe shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
[caption id="attachment_66705" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photo by Sahej Brar on Unsplash[/caption]
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide. It can cause significant discomfort and, if not managed properly, may lead to severe health complications. Fortunately, asthma can be effectively managed with the proper treatment and lifestyle adjustments. This article provides a guide on controlling asthma, including medical treatments, lifestyle modifications, and prevention strategies.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways, making it difficult to breathe. It is triggered by various factors, including allergens, irritants, and infections, and can affect individuals of all ages. Effective asthma management involves medication and lifestyle adjustments to prevent flare-ups and control the condition. Asthma manifests in different forms, each requiring specific management strategies: ● Allergic asthma: Triggered by allergens such as pollen, dust mites, and pet dander. ● Non-allergic asthma: Influenced by factors like stress, infections, and weather changes. ● Exercise-induced asthma: Occurs during physical activity, causing breathing difficulties. ● Occupational asthma: This develops due to prolonged exposure to irritants in the workplace. ● Childhood asthma: Affects young individuals and often improves with age. ● Adult-onset asthma: Develops later in life and may be more persistent. ● Brittle asthma: A rare and severe form of asthma that is difficult to control and prone to sudden, life-threatening attacks despite treatment.
19 Feb Why treating COPD is important
Posted at 21:49h
in Pulmonary Disease
Treating COPD is essential for improving lung function, enhancing quality of life, and preventing severe complications. Effective management strategies include medication, pulmonary rehabilitation, and lifestyle modifications. Early intervention plays a crucial role in ensuring a longer and healthier life...
30 Nov Long Covid: RSNA Study Highlights Link Between Lung and Brain Function
Posted at 20:08h
in Author Interviews, COVID -19 Coronavirus, Mental Health Research, Pulmonary Disease
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_65216" align="alignleft" width="200"] Dr. Fain[/caption]
Sean B. Fain, Ph.D.
Professor and
Vice Chair for Research
Department of Radiology
Affiliate Appointments BME and ECE
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: This study uses MRI to investigate connections between lung and brain function. We employ an advanced MRI technique that uses hyperpolarized xenon gas as a contrast agent. This approach allows us to image which parts of the lung are effectively inhaling xenon gas and which parts are not (i.e. ventilation).
Additionally, xenon provides insights into lung gas exchange (i.e. oxygen transfer into and out of the blood), as it freely diffuses into alveolar tissue and binds to red blood cells. Using this technology, we hypothesized that the severity of lung injury in individuals with Long COVID would correlate with the degree of cognitive dysfunction and brain imaging.
21 May ATS24: Mount Sinai Study Develops Algorithm to Distinguish Central vs Obstructive Sleep Apnea
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_61753" align="alignleft" width="154"]
Dr. Parekh[/caption]
Ankit Parekh, PhD
Director of the Sleep And Circadian Analysis (SCAN) Group
Assistant Professor of Medicine
(Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine)
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Sleep apnea is associated with incident cardiovascular disease, and is a common chronic condition affecting over a billion people worldwide. In diagnosing and treating sleep apnea, it is imperative to establish the type of sleep apnea—whether it is obstructive or central sleep apnea. The differential contribution of central vs. obstructive sleep apnea toward incidental cardiovascular disease in those with significant sleep apnea has not been well studied.
Our group has developed an automated algorithm that deduces on a breath-by-breath level whether reductions in airflow are predominantly due to obstructive or central phenomena. Our algorithm uses several features that are known to be key in distinguishing the type of events and derives a probability of obstruction across each “small” (reduced amplitude) breath. The breath-by-breath probability is then used to determine whether a patient’s burden of sleep apnea is predominantly obstructive or central.
In this work, we analyzed sleep study data from The Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) cohort (N=2793) consisting of elderly men, across two visits separated on average by 6.5 years, and derived the probability of obstruction on a breath-by-breath level. The median probability of obstruction for each subject was computed and analyzed against outcomes of cardiovascular disease. We also assessed the stability of the metric in those without any prevalent cardiovascular disease. We find that median probability of obstruction was stable across the two visits, and those with any incident cardiovascular disease had a lower median probability of obstruction: patients with incident cardiovascular outcomes had a significant burden of sleep apnea that was predominantly “central” in nature.
10 Dec Smoking Pot and Cigarettes Increases Risk of Emphysema
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_61120" align="alignleft" width="150"] Dr. Kang[/caption]
Jessie Kang, MD, FRCPC
Assistant professor
Department of Diagnostic Radiology
Faculty of Medicine
Dalhousie University
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
- Marijuana is the most widely used illicit psychoactive substance in the world.
- Use has increased in Canada since legalization of non-medical marijuana in 2018.
- It is commonly believed that smoking marijuana is not harmful to the lungs. There is an abundance of established research that identifies the harms of cigarette smoking. In contrast, very little is known about the effects of marijuana smoking, and even less research has been done on the combined effects of smoking marijuana and cigarettes.
09 Mar NEJM: GSK Vaccine Found Highly Effective Against RSV Respiratory Disease in Older Adults
Posted at 19:41h
in Aging, Author Interviews, Geriatrics, NEJM, Pulmonary Disease, Respiratory, Vaccine Studies
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_60160" align="alignleft" width="150"] Dr. Hulstrøm[/caption]
Veronica Hulstrøm MD, PhD
Senior Director
Clinical Project Lead for RSV Older Adults
GSK
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: The AReSVi-006 phase III trial is designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of GSK’s respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine candidate for adults aged 60 years and above. The phase III trial is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, international trial with 24,966 participants who received either the investigational vaccine or placebo.
12 Dec Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Associated with Increased Risk of Hospitalization with Pneumonia
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_59819" align="alignleft" width="150"] Dr. Lutsey[/caption]
Pamela L. Lutsey, PhD, MPH
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health
School of Public Health
University of Minnesota
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Emerging evidence suggests that patients with OSA may be more susceptible to developing pneumonia. Mechanistically, OSA causes upper airway sensory dysfunction and excessive microaspirations, which can result in significant increases in bacterial organisms in the airway leading to upper airway and laryngeal inflammation. Systemically, healthy sleep is believed to play an important role in the body’s inflammation control and immune system regulation. Despite this evidence, few studies have prospectively evaluated whether individuals with OSA are at elevated risk of being hospitalized with pneumonia, respiratory infection, or any infection
13 Sep CELEB Trial: Surgical vs Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Ms. Sara Buttery Research Physiotherapist at Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust University of the West of England London, England, UK MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you describe the BVLR technique? Response: The CELEB trial is a multicentre randomised controlled trial that was carried out at five centres across the UK, with the objective of investigating if Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is significantly superior to Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) in people who are suitable for both procedures. BLVR is a minimally invasive method of lung volume reduction whereby a fibreoptic camera is passed through the mouth, rather than by an incision in the chest wall as is the case with LVRS. The CELEB trial compared endobronchial valves (EBVs) as a type of BLVR, to LVRS. EBVs are designed to prevent airflow into the treated lobe, but allow air and mucus to exit. EBV treatment can be carried out under general anaesthetic or sedation. The primary outcome for the CELEB trial was the iBODE index score at 12 months post procedure, as a measure of disease severity.
04 Sep COPD: Inhalers Don’t Always Work for Smokers
Posted at 12:59h
in Author Interviews, NEJM, Pulmonary Disease, Tobacco Research, University of Michigan
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_59488" align="alignleft" width="125"]
Dr. Han[/caption]
Meilan K Han MD, MS
Henry Sewall Professor of Medicine
Professor of Internal Medicine and Section Head
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Medical School
University of Michigan
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: In the NIH sponsored SPIROMICS study we demonstrated that symptomatic, tobacco exposed individuals have frequent exacerbations. Many of these individuals are treated with the same inhaled medications that have shown benefit in COPD, but we don’t have any evidence basis for this practice.
15 May Lung Disease: In Clinical Trial New Boehringer Ingelheim Drug Prevented Worsening of IPF
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_59143" align="alignleft" width="160"] Prof. Richeldi[/caption]
Professor Luca Richeldi MD PhD
Chair and Head, Division of Pulmonary Medicine
Gemelli University Hospital - IRCCS
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
Rome
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you briefly explain the condition of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?
Response: As you may know, Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, irreversible lung disease with high mortality. IPF is one of the more common forms of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases and its symptoms of IPF include breathlessness during activity, a dry and persistent cough, chest discomfort, fatigue and weakness. IPF is considered a “rare” disease, but it affects more than 3 million people worldwide. Currently, there are two approved antifibrotic drugs that slow, but do not stop, the progression of fibrosis. Therefore, there is a need for additional treatments that can be used alone or with existing antifibrotic therapies.
Pre-clinical research indicated that phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibition is associated with anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects that may be beneficial in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
In this Phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we investigated the efficacy and safety of BI 1015550, an oral preferential inhibitor of the PDE4B subtype, in patients with IPF. Patients were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive BI 1015550 at a dose of 18 mg twice daily or placebo.
08 Dec NEJM: Dupilumab for Pediatric Uncontrolled Moderate-to-Severe Asthma
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_58461" align="alignleft" width="200"] Dr. Bacharier[/caption]
Leonard B. Bacharier, MD
Janie Robinson and John Moore Lee Chair in Pediatrics
Professor of Pediatrics
Director - Center for Pediatric Asthma Research
Scientific Director - Center for Clinical and Translational Research
Section Chief - Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
Division of Allergy, Immunology and Pulmonary Medicine
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Is Dupilumab used for other atopic conditions, ie eczema/atopic dermatitis?
Response: Many children with moderate-severe asthma continue to experience asthma exacerbations and poor asthma control despite use of controller therapies. Dupilumab has been shown to reduce asthma exacerbations in adolescents and adults, as well as to improve atopic dermatitis in children and adults.
22 Oct Pitt Scientists Repurpose Cancer Drugs to Treat Pulmonary Hypertension
Posted at 19:21h
in Author Interviews, Blood Pressure - Hypertension, Pulmonary Disease, University of Pittsburgh
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_58271" align="alignleft" width="200"] Dr. Chan - UPMC image[/caption]
Stephen Chan, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine
Director of the Vascular Medicine Institute
at Pitt and UPMC
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a type of high blood pressure that occurs in the vessels that transport blood from the heart to the lungs. As the disease progresses and the heart must strain harder against these high pressures, it can lead to heart failure, multi-organ dysfunction and death. PH affects people of all ages but hits young women more often than men.
Pulmonary hypertension is an example of a rare disease where there is an unmet need for new treatments, given its devastating consequences. Repurposing drugs that are already in use for other purposes can dramatically cut down the time and cost of developing treatments for rare diseases like PH. But a pipeline to predict and test for drugs in this way for PH and other rare diseases has not been described.
11 Sep Circadian Body Clock Helps Explain Why Asthma Worsens at Night
Posted at 12:42h
in Asthma, Author Interviews, Brigham & Women's - Harvard, Circadian Rhythm, Occupational Health, PNAS, Pulmonary Disease, Sleep Disorders
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Frank Scheer, PhD, MSc
Professor and Director of the Medical Chronobiology Program
Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Steve Shea, PhD
Professor and Director
Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: For hundreds of years, people have observed that asthma severity often worsens in the nighttime. As many as 75 percent of people with asthma—20 million people in the U.S.—report experiencing worsening asthma severity at night.
One longstanding question has been to what degree the body’s internal circadian clock—as opposed to behaviors, such as sleep and physical activities—contributes to worsening of asthma severity. Our research used long term intensive monitoring throughout two circadian protocols in dim light and without time cues to carefully isolate the influence of the circadian system from the other factors that are behavioral and environmental, including sleep.
26 Aug COVID-19: Awake Prone Positioning with Oxygen Therapy Reduced Treatment Failures
Posted at 12:43h
in Author Interviews, COVID -19 Coronavirus, Critical Care - Intensive Care - ICUs, Lancet, Pulmonary Disease
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_58003" align="alignleft" width="200"] Dr. Jie Li[/caption]
Jie Li, PhD, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, FAARC
Department of Cardiopulmonary Sciences
Division of Respiratory Care
Rush University, Chicago
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Prone positioning has been shown to improve oxygenation and reduce mortality in intubated patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), as placing patients on their stomachs can help open alveoli and reduce ventilation to perfusion mismatch. At early pandemic, clinicians tried prone positioning for non-intubated patients with COVID-19 and found improvement in oxygenation. However, the evidence for patient outcomes such as intubation or mortality is still lacking. Thus we organized this international, multicenter, randomized controlled meta-trial, with 41 hospitals in 6 countries participated.
16 May DDW21: Fewer Respiratory Infections In Obese Patients Taking Daily Probiotics
Posted at 11:08h
in Author Interviews, Gastrointestinal Disease, Imperial College, Probiotics, Pulmonary Disease, Weight Research
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_57422" align="alignleft" width="187"] Dr. Mullish[/caption]
Benjamin Mullish PhD
NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer
Department of Metabolism
Digestion and Reproduction
Imperial College
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Which probiotic did you use and why?
Response: We recently reported the results of a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial in which participants who were overweight or with obesity (aged between 30-65 years of age) were randomized to receive probiotics or placebo for six months. The primary focus was on weight loss and metabolism. The probiotic used was Lab4P, containing three different strains of Bifidobacteria and two of Lactobacilli, which have shown to be safe and efficacious for use in rodent models and earlier clinical studies.
Of note, probiotics have also been shown to have other beneficial effects upon human health. Previous studies have suggested that they may have a role in preventing upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in healthy people and children; however, this has not been explored in older people or overweight/ people with obesity, even though such groups have higher rates of URTIs.
We looked back at our trial, and reviewed symptom diaries completed by participants daily during the study. We were looking at recorded symptoms most consistent with upper respiratory tract symptoms (including cough, wheezing and headache), and explored if rates of these were different between those participants taking probiotics compared to placebo over the six month course of the study.
16 Apr Sleep Apnea: CPAP Therapy May Reduce Risk of Dementia
Posted at 12:21h
in Alzheimer's - Dementia, Author Interviews, Cognitive Issues, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Pulmonary Disease, University of Michigan
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_57162" align="alignleft" width="125"]
Dr. Dunietz[/caption]
Galit Levi Dunietz MPH, PhD
Assistant Professor
[caption id="attachment_57164" align="alignleft" width="108"]
Dr. Braley[/caption]
University of Michigan, Medical School
Department of Neurology
Department of Nutritional Sciences
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5845
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Dementia is a public health crisis that affects more than 6 million Americans. As no treatments to effectively reverse dementia are currently available, interest has shifted toward modifiable risk factors for dementia, which may offer a critical window for prevention or intervention.
Recent research suggests that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common, yet undiagnosed, risk factor for cognition impairment in older adults. However, few studies have examined whether treatment of OSA with positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy could protect those with OSA against developing dementia, says principal investigator, Dr. Tiffany Braley, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Neurology from the University of Michigan.
To address this gap, Dr. Braley and Dr. Galit Levi Dunietz, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor and sleep epidemiologist, examined associations between PAP therapy use and 3-year incidence of Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or other forms of dementia (DNOS, “dementia not otherwise specified”).
Dr. Braley[/caption]
Tiffany Braley, MD, MS Associate Professor
13 Mar Clinical Pearl: Habit Cough in Children Cured with Brief Suggestion Therapy
A habit cough is a repetitive cough that occurs in the absence of any underlying disease....
04 Mar Study Finds Face Masks Safe in Children and Should Be Encouraged
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dott.ssa Silvia Bloise MD Prof. Riccardo Lubrano MD PhD Pediatric and Neonatology Unit Maternal and Child Department Sapienza University of Rome Rome Italy MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Pending new evidence, the universal facial masking, with other preventive measures remain the only strategies to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The use of face mask is particularly debated in the children, especially in younger children. Therefore, we wanted to test whether their in children was associated with episodes of desaturation or respiratory distress.
09 Feb COPD: Hyaluronan is a New Natural Way to Treat Inflammation of Airways
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_56618" align="alignleft" width="199"]
Dr. Garantziotis[/caption]
Stavros Garantziotis MD
Division of Intramural Research
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Research Triangle Park, NC
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? How does hyaluronan differ from other medications for COPD? Is it used for other medical conditions?
Response: Hyaluronan is a natural sugar found in the human body, including in the lung. We have found that when the lungs are exposed to pollution, this sugar breaks down, and the breakdown fragments cause inflammation in the lung. We also found that if we give back the natural form of hyaluronan, it protects the lung from inflammation. Patients suffering from COPD also have a lot of hyaluronan breakdown in their lungs. We therefore reasoned, that giving them back the natural form of hyaluronan, as an inhalation treatment, would help them reduce inflammation. We tested this, as a first step, in the treatment acute inflammation of the lungs in COPD patients who are suffering an exacerbation of their disease.
Hyaluronan is different from existing medications in that it is a natural product of the body. It is used in Europe for conditions like cystic fibrosis, and after sinus surgery to humidify the airways. Because it is given by inhalation, it acts locally in the lungs.
15 Jan Rapid Test Identifies Secondary Pneumonia infections in COVID-19 Patients
Posted at 14:07h
in Author Interviews, COVID -19 Coronavirus, Critical Care - Intensive Care - ICUs, Pulmonary Disease
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_56422" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Dr. Conway Morris[/caption]
Dr Andrew Conway Morris
Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Career Development Fellow
University of Cambridge
Hon Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine
Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Patients with COVID-19 frequently need to come to the intensive care unit (ICU), where we use mechanical ventilation to support their lungs as they get over the intense inflammation caused by the virus. During the first wave of the virus we noted that a lot of our patients appeared to be developing secondary infections (infections they didn’t have when they came into the ICU).
We therefore rolled out a rapid diagnostic test for these secondary bacterial infections that we had developed previously, and this study reports the use of this diagnostic and also describes the types of bacteria seen. To see if the increase in secondary infections was due to COVID specifically, we compared them to patients who were managed in the same ICU but who did not have COVID.
12 Jan Ill-Health Common After COVID-19 But Surprisingly Unrelated to Initial Infection Severity
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_56399" align="alignleft" width="200"] Dr. Townsend[/caption]
Dr. Liam Townsend, PhD
Department of Infectious Diseases
St. James's Hospital and Department of Clinical Medicine
Trinity Translational Medicine Institute
Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Much is known about the clinical characteristics and pathological features of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, but there is relatively little known about post-COVID recovery. This has come under increasing scrutiny in light of reports that patients suffer persistent symptoms beyond resolution of initial infection, known as long COVID. We set out to assess patients in our post-COVID clinic for ongoing ill-health, with particular focus on fatigue and breathlessness. Given that COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory system, we also evaluated respiratory recovery. Patients underwent chest radiography and six-minute-walk testing, as well as routine blood tests including inflammatory markers and D-dimers. We included both patients who were admitted during their acute infection as well as those managed in the community in order to capture the full spectrum of disease.
12 Jan Short Telomeres LInked to More Severe COVID-19 Disease
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_56395" align="alignleft" width="165"] Dr. Blasco[/caption]
Dr. Maria A. Blasco, PhD
Director of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre
Head of the Telomeres and Telomerase Group – CNIO
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: In my group we have previously described that telomere dysfunction in alveolar type II (ATII) cells in the lung is sufficient to induce pulmonary fibrosis in mice, thus demonstrating that these cells, which have a role in lung regeneration, are at the origin of the disease (Povedano et al., Cell Reports, 2015). Indeed, we further demonstrated that telomere elongation in these cells by using a gene therapy strategy based on telomerase activation, was sufficient to stop the progression of pulmonary fibrosis induced by short telomeres in mice (Povedano, eLife, 2018).
10 Dec Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Co-trimoxazole Therapy Did Not Prevent Disease Progression
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_56168" align="alignleft" width="133"] Dr. Wilson[/caption]
Andrew M. Wilson, MD
Clinical Senior Lecturer in Respiratory Health
University of East Anglia
Norwich and Honorary Consultant Physician in Respiratory Medicine
Norfolk and Norwich University
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Clinical trial evidence suggested a survival benefit for people taking co-trimoxazole and microbiological data suggested that infection was implicated in prognosis. However this large multicentre study did not show that co-trimoxazole had an beneficial effect in terms of time to all-cause mortality, hospitalisation or lung transplant in people with moderate and severe idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
22 Aug Triple-Drug Inhaler vs Dual Therapy for COPD
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_54747" align="alignleft" width="125"]
Dr. Trudo[/caption]
Frank Trudo, MD MBA
Vice President, US Medical Affairs
Respiratory & Immunology
AstraZeneca
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: ETHOS was a randomized, double-blinded, multi-center, parallel-group, 52-week trial to assess the efficacy and safety of PT010 in symptomatic patients with moderate to very severe COPD and a history of exacerbation(s) in the previous year. A subset of patients participated in the 4-hour pulmonary function test (PFT) sub-study, with the following primary endpoints: change from baseline in morning pre-dose trough FEV1 at Week 24 at (both doses of budesonide/glycopyrrolate/formoterol fumarate MDI versus glycopyrrolate/formoterol fumarate MDI), and FEV1 area under the curve from 0-4 hours at Week 24 (both doses of budesonide/glycopyrrolate/formoterol fumarate MDI vs budesonide/formoterol fumarate MDI).
29 Jun COPD: Reduction in Exacerbations and Mortality with Novel Triple Inhaled Therapy
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_54747" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Dr. Trudo[/caption]
Frank Trudo, MD MBA
Vice President, US Medical Affairs
Respiratory & Immunology
AstraZeneca
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: ETHOS is a randomized, double-blinded, multi-center, parallel-group, 52-week trial to assess the efficacy and safety of PT010 in symptomatic patients with moderate to very severe COPD and a history of exacerbation(s) in the previous year. Outcomes in the ETHOS trial included, as a primary endpoint, the rate of moderate or severe exacerbations.
MedicalResearch.com: How does PT010 differ from other treatments for COPD?
- Highly competitive: PT010’s Phase III clinical trial program demonstrates it has a highly competitive clinical profile in decreasing moderate or severe exacerbations. Severe exacerbations were defined as exacerbations leading to hospitalization or death.
- All-cause mortality: In a secondary endpoint, PT010 showed a 46% reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality compared with glycopyrronium/formoterol fumarate. The data from ETHOS show that reducing risk of all-cause mortality is achievable for patients with this progressive disease and could transform treatment goals in COPD.
- Two potential dose options: This is also the first time we have seen the benefit of closed triple-combination therapy at two ICS doses, which could transform care by allowing physicians to select the optimal dosing option for individual patients.
08 May MGH Study Finds Majority of COVID-19 Patients on Ventilators Do Not Die
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_54138" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Dr. Alladina[/caption]
Jehan Alladina MD
Massachusetts General Hospital
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Boston, Massachusetts
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: During the pandemic, clinicians around the world have shared anecdotal experiences to help inform care of patients with COVID-19. However, these anecdotes and observations, without careful analysis, can bias clinicians; many clinicians have even recommended experimental therapies based on this information alone.
To that end, the goal of our study was to rigorously examine the respiratory failure experienced by critically ill patients with COVID-19 and understand their response to the standards of care for respiratory failure.
23 Apr EVALI: E-Cigarette & Vaping Lung Injury Hospitalizations and Deaths
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_53973" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Dr. Werner[/caption]
Angela K. Werner, PhD, MPH
Environmental Public Health Tracking Program
National Center for Environmental Health
CDC
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: In August 2019, emergency department (ED) visits related to e-cigarette, or vaping, product-associated lung injury (EVALI) increased sharply, followed by a peak in September. This was followed by a gradual but persistent decline in the number of cases.
As of February 18, 2020 (CDC’s latest and final published update), there were a total of 2,807 hospitalized EVALI cases or deaths reported to CDC from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands). Sixty-eight deaths were confirmed in 29 states and the District of Columbia. Although clinical presentations and outcomes of EVALI patients have been reported, data on patients who died are more limited. This article fills a gap by reporting on a national study assessing detailed demographic, substance use, and clinical characteristics of EVALI patients who have died, and comparing them to the characteristics of EVALI patients who survived.