A recent discussion in our new Pulmonary Fibrosis News forums was about quiet hobbies that are beneficial for patients living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). As the forum’s moderator, I shared a post about my own quiet hobbies and asked patients to share some of the relaxing…
Quiet Hobbies Bring New Opportunities
Treatment with regulatory T-cells (Tregs), a subset of cells from the immune system, is able to resolve lung fibrosis in a mouse model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to researchers. Their findings support additional investigation of cell-based therapies to treat IPF in…
At least 800 people representing some 45 countries are soon expected to gather in Austria’s capital city, Vienna, for ECRD 2018, the 9th European Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Products. The May 10-12 meeting is sponsored by Eurordis, the Paris-based group that defines itself as a “patient-driven alliance”…
A combined treatment, pirfenidone and rapamycin, worked to prevent fibrosis in lung fibroblasts from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, new research showed, suggesting a possibly more effective way of treating IPF. The study, “Anti-fibrotic effects of pirfenidone and…
Editor’s note: A continuation of Charlene Marshall’s monthly “Gratitude Miniseries.” Unfortunately, April was not my best month. While many good things happened, which I am excited to share below, last month was full of unexpected hardships for both my friends and me. I have a concussion…
The Hastings Foundation has donated $12.5 million to the University of Southern California (USC) Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research to help advance research and development of new strategies to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other lung diseases. This second donation follows a previous gift of $7.5 million in 2014,…
Transplantation of stem cells derived from adipose (fat) tissue in an animal model of silica dust-induced pulmonary fibrosis led to remission of the disease, as well as a reduction in inflammation and cell death, a new study shows. The study reporting the findings, “Transplantation of adipose-derived mesenchymal…
Last week, I wrote about the top three things I wish I’d known when first diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. I shared what a difference it would have made to ignore information online about life expectancy, start exercising as soon as possible, and practice breathing exercises. Today, I’m sharing…
I have been lucky that many of my friends, colleagues, and family members have quickly adapted to my new normal since my idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis just over two years ago. They are also aware of the need to be sensitive to my diagnosis and declining health,…
Scientists found that a special kind of white blood cell could potentially be stimulated to migrate to the lungs of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients and help repair fibrosis damage. They showed how this process occurs naturally in mice with lung fibrosis. The study, “TRAIL-Dependent Resolution…
