Telehealth ‘Helpful’ Alternative to In-person Care, Rare Disease Patients Say

A majority of rare disease patients using telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic thought the experience positive, and many would like the option of continuing its use in future appointments, a series of surveys found. The surveys were conducted by the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) and involved more than 800…

A new way of assessing ultrasound, a non-invasive technique using sound waves to produce pictures inside of the body, may be effective in diagnosing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a study reported. This approach was able to quantify lung scarring, a hallmark of IPF, in a study in rats, as well…

All patients in a Phase 1/2 trial examining two doses of AP01, an inhaled version of pirfenidone for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), are switching to the higher dose based on the recommendation of a data safety monitoring board (DSMB). Avalyn Pharma, AP01’s developer, reported that…

A Phase 2 study of NP-120 (ifenprodil) for chronic cough associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has reached 25% of its enrollment target, Algernon Pharmaceuticals, the therapy’s developer, has announced. “I am very pleased to report that we have reached 25% enrollment in the study,” Christopher J. Moreau, CEO…

Oct. 10 was World Mental Health Day. I am a bit late to the party, but with a twice-monthly publishing schedule, this is my first opportunity to share a column inspired by Mental Health Day. In previous columns, I have discussed my mental health struggles and how I use…

A protein-coding gene called Spred2 may contribute to pulmonary fibrosis (PF) development, potentially representing a new therapeutic target, according to the results of a new study. Titled “Spred2-deficiency enhances the proliferation of lung epithelial cells and alleviates pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin,” the study was…

I began hearing the term “toxic positivity” this year, and the pandemic has illuminated the term’s meaning for me. According to The Psychology Group in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, toxic positivity refers to “the excessive and ineffective overgeneralization of a happy, optimistic state across all situations.” Since the beginning of…

Treatment with inhalable bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) — a soluble signaling molecule involved in the regulation of cellular identity — restored lung regeneration and improved lung function in a mouse model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The data showed that scar-forming cells in IPF lungs suppress BMP signaling…

People with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) who have three or more abnormally large lymph nodes in the area of the lungs and heart — a condition known as mediastinal lymph node enlargement (LNE) — have an increased risk of mortality and faster disease progression, a study found. The…

Esbriet (pirfenidone), an approved treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), seems to be safe in IPF patients who also have non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) when combined with cancer therapy. The finding is detailed in the study, “Safety and effectiveness of pirfenidone combined with carboplatin‐based chemotherapy in patients…