A Mayo Clinic study reported that patients with fibrotic interstitial lung disease are at a threefold higher risk of substantial morbidity when hospitalized for acute lung exacerbations, whether or not they have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). While the frequency and outcomes of acute respiratory exacerbations in IPF patients are rather well-documented, corresponding…
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An interaction between cells in the lungs’ vasculature appears to spur tissue regeneration and is a potential target for therapies against fibrosis, according to a study titled “Targeting of the pulmonary capillary vascular niche promotes lung alveolar repair and ameliorates fibrosis,” published in the journal Nature Medicine. Lungs, as a result of their…
Genetic factors might drive at least part of the risk for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), particularly in familial forms of the disease, and a review from the Nanjing University School of Medicine, China, presented an updated view of genetic risk factors for IPF. The article, “Candidate genes of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis:…
Researchers recently developed new nanoparticles more efficient at delivering in vivo (living) RNA interference (RNAi) for silencing pulmonary fibrosis-associated genes. The study entitled “Self-assembled Micelle Interfering RNA for Effective and Safe Targeting of Dysregulated Genes in Pulmonary Fibrosis” was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. RNAi, a natural…
A case study of a pulmonary fibrosis patient who was ultimately diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and a telomere length disorder, highlighted the need to consider whether short telomere syndrome is present in people with lung fibrosis and cirrhotic liver. The findings were published in the journal QJM: An International Journal…
Meet youtuber Kelly Patricia and watch her talk and explain how it is to live with an invisible illness. “I made this video in honor of all of us who are fighting invisible illnesses. I hope that this can have its own meaning to you. Always remember that…
A motor protein called myosin II was identified in a recent study to be a driver of fibrosis development — a finding with a notable potential to lead to improved treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The study by Cleveland Clinic researchers is titled “Matrix-Driven Myosin II Mediates the Pro-Fibrotic Fibroblast Phenotype,“ and was published in the …
Boehringer Ingelheim recently announced that OFEV (nintedanib) has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) within the National Health Service (NHS) in England and in Wales. Nintedanib, an oral small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is recommended for…
Researchers discovered that mechanotherapy on damaged muscle tissue reduces both fibrotic tissue accumulation and inflammation while helping to increase tissue regeneration, according to a new study titled “Biologic-free mechanically induced muscle regeneration,” published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Although focusing on the repair…
UT Health Northeast, a medical center that is part of the University of Texas system, recently announced in a press release that four of its scientists have received a total of $2.1 million in competitive research grants. The researchers are Dr. Vijay Rao, Dr. Krishna Vankayalapati, Dr. Hong-Long Ji,…
