Taking Time to Express Gratitude

Two years ago, I let my colleagues know that I was closing my counseling practice of 30 years due to serious health concerns. A therapist I’d collaborated with in the past left me the most wonderful voicemail. She encouraged me about the positive impact I’d had in the…

Ofev, an approved therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), can prevent the progression of squamous cell carcinoma in the lungs associated with IPF, a case study reports. The study, “Nintedanib prevented fibrosis progression and lung cancer growth in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis” was published in the journal…

Studies supporting an investigational new drug (IND) application for X-165, a potential candidate for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other fibrotic disorders, have been completed, X-Rx recently announced. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, an IND application permits the manufacturer to transport…

Ed. note: A continuation of the monthly “Gratitude Miniseries.” As September drew to a close, I was preparing this column by intending to say the month was full of all good things. That was before I learned that a close friend and colleague had died of complications…

Combining Ofev (nintedanib, marketed by Boehringer Ingelheim) with sildenafil does not offer additional clinical benefits when compared to Ofev treatment alone regarding quality of life and lung function in patients with idiopathic…

Veracyte will present new results that showcase the ability of the Envisia Genomic Classifier to provide reliable data that helps physicians diagnose interstitial lung disease (ILD) — including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) — at CHEST 2018 meeting. Veracyte also will present new results about the capability of the…

I am writing this column from my hospital room, and I’m feeling pretty frustrated. As I was rushing into the grocery store this evening with my oxygen tank strapped to my back and a million things on my mind, I unfortunately didn’t notice the person smoking right outside…

A recent study in mice shows that endometrial regenerative cells (ERCs) can ease some of the common symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Titled “Human Endometrial Regenerative Cells Attenuate Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice,” the study was recently published in the journal Stem Cells International.  Therapeutic…

Treatment with Esbriet (pirfenidone) or Ofev (nintedanib) significantly slowed the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in a real-life clinical setting, an Italian study reported. The study, “Pirfenidone and Nintedanib in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Real-life experience in an Italian referral centre” was published in the journal…

I understand that it is uncommon to see a young adult wearing supplemental oxygen and using a wheelchair due to fatigue. It might spark a passerby’s curiosity about what has made this young person’s lungs so sick that they can’t breathe efficiently. I understand curiosity, but as…