Before my mom had a double-lung transplant, my dad was her only caregiver. Holly, my mom, was reasonably independent until a couple of months before being admitted to the ICU. Ed, my dad, was her companion and helper, encouraging her to walk for exercise and helping her…
Processa Pharmaceuticals will explore and further develop the anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory compound HT-100 as a potential treatment for rare fibrotic-related diseases in adults, including focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, scleroderma, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The company announced that it has acquired the exclusive global rights to develop…
I often write about living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and what I’ve lost as a result of my diagnosis. It’s easy to write about because my life has changed drastically over the past three years. But I need to remember that the changes haven’t been all bad.
Immune cells can sense the mechanical forces at work in the lungs via a gate called PIEZO1, and deleting this gene in immune cells led to worse lung infections, researchers report. But its loss eased the inflammation associated with lung scarring in a mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis. Their study…
A protein called GDF15, which is secreted by a type of lung cells, is increased in the lungs and blood of people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a study shows. Supported by this finding, researchers believe that GDF15 may serve as a biomarker to help identify people who have…
Rare diseases deeply affect not only the children who experience them, but also their healthy brothers and sisters, as their parents can attest.  Two entries in November’s “Disorder: The Rare Disease Film Festival” will focus on what siblings go through, according to the San Francisco festival’s co-founder,…
On Independence Day, I found myself alone, drunk, and crying. Every other person at the small party had adjourned to the parking lot to smoke. I have always had a problem with smoking. The first fight my husband, Jonny, and I ever had was when I found out that he…
Patients who take either Esbriet (pirfenidone, sold by Genentech) or Ofev (nintedanib, by Boehringer Ingelheim) — two anti-fibrotic therapies approved to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis — often experience significant gastrointestinal side effects, a Dutch study shows. The study, “Self-reported Gastrointestinal Side Effects of Antifibrotic Drugs in…
Over a month ago, I returned from a three-week vacation to Europe. My wife and I were active every day of the trip. Most of our physical activity consisted of walking, but we also went swimming when we had the opportunity. We established a routine in each country we…
Do you ever wonder what your bigger picture looks like and what life lessons you’re meant to learn? I am aware that this is a very philosophical question to open a column with, but I can’t help but wonder about it after being diagnosed with a fatal lung disease. Since…
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