A study found a link between MUC5B-induced mucus accumulation and the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, reporting that a MUC5B mutation can prevent mucus clearance in the small airways and induce scarring, indicating a strong risk factor in IPF. The study, “Muc5b overexpression causes mucociliary dysfunction and enhances…
It’s no secret that life-threatening illnesses are overwhelming. Suddenly, patients must try to understand a flood of unfamiliar information, accept psychological and physical changes, and manage numerous appointments. Due to all of that, it is essential that patients find effective coping strategies. This is not something I’ve perfected,…
Cash-strapped governments across the 28-member European Union are struggling to control runaway healthcare expenditures — at exactly the same time as the promise of new but expensive therapies to treat rare diseases has never been greater. That’s the paradox faced by pharmaceutical companies as well as patient advocacy groups in…
Bridge Biotherapeutics announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the company’s Investigational New Drug (IND) application for BBT-877. The company now has permission to start human clinical trials with this potential therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The IND application was submitted in November 2018.
Christmas is a week away, and I’ve been tired from shopping, decorating, and making plans. I’m feeling discouraged because my fatigue has prevented me from accomplishing what I want to. I’ve had to do a lot of adjusting due to my pulmonary fibrosis (PF) troubles. I love decorating, but…
Sustained-release capsules of Ofev (nintedanib), which is used to treat idiopathic pulÂmonary fibrosis (IPF), were better at reaching systemic circulation in the body than the current marketed formulation, according to a study. Findings also suggested that the sustained-release formula of Ofev increased its absorption in the gut. The study,…
When I set out to establish a career some years ago, I couldn’t have foreseen that many of the skills that set me apart as a desirable employee would eventually be lost to a fatal illness. Unfortunately, this is now my reality as I continue my battle with…
The nerve injury-induced protein 1 (Ninjurin1, or Ninj1) may contribute to pulmonary fibrosis (PF) by promoting the inflammatory response of immune cells, called macrophages, leading to the activation of lung fibroblasts, a study shows. The study, “Ninjurin1 Plays a Crucial Role in Pulmonary Fibrosis by Promoting Interaction between Macrophages…
Panobinostat, an approved treatment for multiple myeloma, exerts anti-fibrotic activity, inducing cell death and reducing the proliferation of lab-grown fibroblasts from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients, a preclinical study reports. The data also suggest that, despite an ability to inhibit cellular pathways involved in fibrosis, approved IPF…
Most of society thinks of grief in the context of a loved one’s death. However, people with chronic illness grieve other things as well, such as personal losses inflicted by disease. Since my 2016 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis, I have become increasingly aware of the things I’ve…
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