Healthy and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) lung cells respond differently to transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) — a key mediator of fibrosis — both in terms of gene activity and DNA methylation, likely due to the fibrotic environment that IPF cells are exposed to in the lungs,…

No significant differences in survival rates, extending out 10 years, were found in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients given either a single- or double-lung transplant, a study reports. These findings, based on data cover more than 2,000 IPF patients who underwent either, suggest a bias in studies favoring a…

I have spent a lot of time writing about self-care and mental health as a caregiver. Even if the term “self-care” sounds silly to you, I recommend dedicating time every day to your mental health. If for no other reason than to help prevent caregiver burnout.

A positron emission tomography (PET) tracer that recognizes a potential protein biomarker of fibrotic interstitial lung diseases can be used to detect idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and several cancers in PET scans, a pilot clinical study suggests. The research, “Evaluation of integrin αvβ6 cystine knot PET tracers to…

If you’re aware of “FOMO,” you’ll know that it stands for “fear of missing out.” It can be used to describe the feeling that many people have of wanting to experience everything that life has to offer. Sometimes FOMO can lead to people compromising their physical health by depriving…

Fast weight loss in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), even after lung transplant, is linked with worse prognosis, and may indicate immune system activation, a study suggests. People who experience greater weight loss over a short period may be at greater risk for poor outcomes. The research, “…

April Kloxin, PhD, has received the 2019 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director’s New Innovator Award to develop next-generation materials and tools to help accelerate research on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Kloxin, a professor at the University of Delaware, is one of 60 researchers across the U.S. to win…

One of the reasons I enjoy traveling is its provided gift of reflection. While experiencing other cultures and countries, I ponder how I live my daily life. Since getting my idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis, my need for control and organization has increased. It is a way that I…

Scientists have found the mechanism by which a new mutation in the surfactant protein A1 (SFTPA1) gene leads to the onset and progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in mice. Their findings were described in the study, “A homozygous SFTPA1 mutation drives necroptosis of type II alveolar…

My husband, Jonny, and I return to the University of Nevada, Reno, every year for our alumni rugby game. The first weekend of October is among the best of the year. Our parents come to watch, and for one magical day we have our closest friends and family in one…