Distal airway stem cells (DASCs), which can differentiate into bronchioles and alveoli, were found to prevent fibrosis and support tissue regeneration in the lungs of mice. These findings were reported in the study “Distal airway stem cells ameliorate bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis…
It is 9 pm. My deadline for this column is in 12 hours. Some people would call this procrastination. I call it practice. I’ve been writing several columns in my head for the past three days. I decided not to worry about it and instead enjoy the last glorious days…
A treatment algorithm based on high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy reduces short-term mortality of people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who develop acute respiratory failure, a study says. The findings of the study, “High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy to treat acute respiratory failure in patients with acute exacerbation…
One of my biggest fears after being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) as a young adult was losing my independence. In previous columns, I’ve talked about how I regularly participated in work and volunteer roles throughout the years, building a large network of friends and colleagues. Some described…
Europe’s umbrella organization for 800 rare disease associations has developed a sweeping initiative to help the continent’s 30 million rare disease patients and their caregivers learn about their conditions, find assistance and receive treatment. Eurordis-Rare Diseases Europe hopes to improve the current piecemeal treatment and support program with a holistic,…
Treatment with Esbriet (pirfenidone) slows the worsening of breathlessness in patients with more severe idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a post-hoc analysis of the ASCEND and CAPACITY trials shows. The study, “Effect of pirfenidone on breathlessness in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis,” was published in the European…
Note: This is the second article in a three-part series written in collaboration with respiratory therapist Mark W. Mangus Sr., RRT, RPFT, FAARC, and oxygen expert Ryan Diesem. The first part can be found here. When it comes to home improvement, people typically want three things from a contractor:…
The presence of auto-antibodies (self-directed antibodies) known as antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies do not correlate with disease severity or survival in North American patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to a new study. The study, “Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies in North American Patients with…
People with rare diseases know that the right government policies can make a big difference in the quality of their own lives, and those of their caregivers. But most lawmakers aren’t experts in even one well-known disease — let alone the world’s estimated 7,000 rare disorders. So how does the…
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has many pesky side effects. While many are invisible, such as dizziness, muscle pain, and shortness of breath, some are visible, like the chronic cough that accompanies this life-threatening lung disease. Sometimes, patients with IPF experience a productive cough and are able to move…
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