Blood levels of immune cells called monocytes may help predict disease severity and determine the risk of poor outcomes in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other fibrotic diseases, a retrospective study suggests. The study, “Increased monocyte count as a cellular biomarker for poor outcomes in fibrotic diseases:…
High Monocyte Levels Linked to Poorer Outcomes in IPF, Other Fibrotic Diseases, Study Finds
Although patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) who take Ofev (nintedanib) or Esbriet (pirfenidone) have similar clinical outcomes, adherence to treatment is higher among those who have secondary insurance coverage, especially from charitable organizations, a study finds. The study, “Retrospective Analysis of Medication Utilization and Clinical Outcomes in…
It is inevitable as we grow and develop throughout the years that our priorities will change. Throughout the last decade, which I believe is considered “young adulthood” for me, I have adapted mine seemingly hundreds of times. The greatest adjustment, however, came with my diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary…
Envisia Genomic Classifier — a non-invasive diagnostic test developed by Veracyte and used as a complement to high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) imaging — improves diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) compared with HRCT alone, according to a recent study. The findings were published…
In my career, I am privileged to offer children and families support in some of their most vulnerable moments. These include times when children are experiencing bullying, trauma, or grief. When a child is being bullied because they are different, their parents and caregivers regularly make the comment,…
After contracting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and having an exacerbation of my idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, I was homebound. I wasn’t able to walk more than 15 feet and was having some anxiety. The majority of my anxiety issues pertained to coughing episodes. When I stood up from sitting, my…
Quantification of so-called honeycombing areas (patches of cystic spaces) in the lungs seen through high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) may be a predictor of mortality in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to a retrospective analysis. The study, “Quantitative CT analysis of honeycombing area predicts mortality in…
The quality of life of people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is strongly associated with clinical changes in lung function, comorbidities, disease duration, and overall clinical course of the disease, a study shows. The study, “The clinical course of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and its association to quality…
One of my favorite courses when preparing for a career in trauma, mental health, and children’s counseling was my training in narrative therapy. This type of therapy is less traditional than other well-known methods such as cognitive, behavioral, or psychodynamic therapies. Despite this, I have seen it…
Two federal grants totaling $6.1 million were awarded to Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) to investigate the molecular origin of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), as well as of other forms of pulmonary fibrosis (PF). The first is a $3.5-million five-year…
