Category Archives: Research

Unique Gene Finding Related to COPD, Asthma, and Certain Cancers

Novel treatments for pulmonary conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), may be in the cards with new research findings. Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (WUSTL) discussed their study highlighting a protein linked to mucus production in eLife. Published on March 17, investigators documented calcium-activated chlorideContinue reading “Unique Gene Finding Related to COPD, Asthma, and Certain Cancers”

E-cigs ‘not a safe alternative’

E-cigarettes generate toxic chemicals similar to those found in tobacco and may harm the lungs and immune system, new research suggests. The findings, from a study of mice, indicate that “vaping” is far from being a safe alternative to smoking tobacco. In the experiments, mice exposed to e-cigarette fumes suffered mild damage to their lungsContinue reading “E-cigs ‘not a safe alternative’”

Poor diet ‘a risk factor’ for COPD, suggests study

A diet rich in whole grains and nuts but low on red meat and sugary drinks is associated with a reduced risk of developing chronic lung disease, according to the BMJ study. The study analysed data from over 120,000 US patients who took part in biennial health questionnaires throughout the late ’80s and ’90s. PatientsContinue reading “Poor diet ‘a risk factor’ for COPD, suggests study”

Respiratory virtual clinics improve COPD care and add value

Multidisciplinary virtual clinics are an innovative way to bring together hospital lung specialists and primary care clinicians to improve the care of people with long term lung conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD, according to a new study being presented at The British Thoracic Society’s Winter Meeting. COPD is a smoking-related condition affecting nearlyContinue reading “Respiratory virtual clinics improve COPD care and add value”

High incidence of bowel disease seen in people with lung conditions

People with airway diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD, have a higher incidence of inflammatory bowel disease IBD, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, according to the findings of a recent study. The research is published in the European Respiratory Journal. The results showed that the incidence of Crohn’s disease wasContinue reading “High incidence of bowel disease seen in people with lung conditions”

Childhood Trauma Linked to COPD Development Later in Life

There is a correlation between adverse childhood experiences ACE and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD development, with a more pronounced association in women, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC researchers found. In study results published in International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, researchers examined the data of 26,546 women and 19,015 men inContinue reading “Childhood Trauma Linked to COPD Development Later in Life”

Interleukin-26 in Antibacterial Host Defense of Human Lungs

Interleukin-26 in Antibacterial Host Defense of Human Lungs: Effects on Neutrophil Mobilization Karlhans F Che , Sara Tengvall , Bettina Levänen , Elin Silverpil , Margaretha E Smith , Muhammed Awad , Max Vikström , Lena Palmberg , Ingemar Qvarfordt , Magnus Sköld , and Anders Lindén Am J Respir Crit Care Med. First publishedContinue reading “Interleukin-26 in Antibacterial Host Defense of Human Lungs”

Drug-Free Mucus Clearance COPD Therapy Shows Positive Results

A recent study conducted by Trudell Medical International (TMI) demonstrated the effectiveness of the company’s Aerobika OPEP medical device in the treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a condition that affects about 250 million people in the world. The data of the study was presented at the 2014 European Respiratory Society (ERS) Conference, inContinue reading “Drug-Free Mucus Clearance COPD Therapy Shows Positive Results”

Statins in COPD: Useful or Not?

Statins were developed 3 decades ago to control blood cholesterol and its components, and thus reduce the risks for myocardial and other vascular events. That goal has been achieved successfully. With the widespread use of statins, it soon became clear that these drugs might have other actions, with anti-inflammatory action being one possibility. Some benefitContinue reading “Statins in COPD: Useful or Not?”