A new technique to create lung cells from other, more easily accessible cell types could be useful for understanding diseases like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The technique was described in an article, “Reconstructed Single-Cell Fate Trajectories Define Lineage Plasticity…
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The European Patent Office (EPO) has issued a “notice of intent” to grant a patent to MN-001 (tipelukast), MediciNova’s investigational oral therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Once issued, the patent will…
People with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis have shorter telomeres — the protective caps at the end of chromosomes — but shortening may occur prior to disease onset. The study with that finding, “From organ to cell: Multi-level telomere length assessment in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis,” was published…
Statins, a class of medications widely prescribed to lower cholesterol levels and prevent heart disease and stroke, may be an effective treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a study suggests. The study, “Screening for YAP Inhibitors Identifies Statins as Modulators of Fibrosis,” was published recently…
The newly founded Pulmonary Wellness Foundation recently launched its interactive online 2020 Lecture Series, covering an array of topics related to respiratory health for patients, caregivers, family members, and clinicians. The free webinars are presented at 7 p.m. EST every Wednesday by the nonprofit and its founder, cardiopulmonary…
Blocking production of the enzyme JNK1 in cells lining the lungs’ airways protected mice from developing induced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and almost completely reversed tissue fibrosis (scarring) in a mouse model, a study shows. The study, “Airway epithelial specific deletion of Jun-N-terminal kinase 1 attenuates…
Female sex, younger age, and a better lung function at time of diagnosis tend to support a a better overall prognosis among people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a large registry-based study reports. In contrast, the presence of pulmonary hypertension (PH), lung cancer,…
The antibiotic azithromycin (AZT), frequently prescribed for fighting bacterial infections, has anti-fibrotic effects and promotes the death of fibroblasts — cells promoting fibrosis, or scarring — in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a new study shows. These findings suggest the potential of AZT as a therapeutic…
The protein peroxiredoxin-4 may be a useful blood marker in the early detection of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF), a study has found. The finding was described in the article “The overexpression of peroxiredoxin-4 affects the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis,” which was published…
New York cardiopulmonary physical therapist Noah Greenspan has launched the Pulmonary Wellness Foundation (PWF), a nonprofit group that provides free online information on a range of prevalent, rare and ultra-rare pulmonary diseases for those who can’t afford to pay for it. PWF specifically targets patients with pulmonary fibrosis,…
