A team of researchers discovered that a protein called RAGE can fix damage inflicted to DNA molecules, and also repair lung scarring in mice. The study reporting the findings, “Homeostatic nuclear RAGE-ATM interaction is essential for efficient DNA repair,” was published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research.
With the exception of using supplemental oxygen, pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is an invisible disease for the most part. Like other chronic illnesses, it can be extremely difficult for patients to deal with; others can’t understand many of the physical symptoms and side effects of the disease. No matter how many…
Radiation targeting the lungs damages alveolar type 2 cells, causing radiation-induced fibrosis — but a factor called Nrf2 is key in helping those cells recover, researchers at Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center found. Their study, “Loss of Nrf2 promotes alveolar type 2 cell loss in irradiated, fibrotic…
As a person living with pulmonary fibrosis, it’s important to fully understand your disease. Take the time to learn about the condition and how it’s treated, so that you can play a proactive role in your treatment and get the most from your health care team. We’ve put together a list of six…
A hard truth about being diagnosed with a chronic illness is that there is usually a life expectancy to go with it. Often times, once a patient hears the diagnosis of their disease, there comes a desire to know ‘how long’ one can live with the disease and what…
It likely wouldn’t surprise anyone to hear that after being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, there are many things about which a patient might feel differently. There also are changes both internally and externally that a patient will endure. These can be grander things, such as the way…
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently awarded a team of researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine a $2.1 million, four-year grant to study the mechanisms that cause scar tissue in the lungs and kidneys. The project aims to discover new molecular targets for the…
For patients diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis (PF), coming face to face with the realities of the disease happens quickly. This is often due to the physical impact of PF and that over time, the patient’s abilities to do things they once could do will shift dramatically as their disease progresses.
The first research projects using data from the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation’s Patient Registry are under way, the foundation announced at an international conference in Nashville that bears its name. A record 895 people attended the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Summit Nov. 9-11, where doctors and scientists discussed the latest developments in the field.
In my more recent columns, I have been writing about wrestling with end-stage pulmonary fibrosis and sharing my experience with seeking palliative care. As you can tell, I like planning ahead to take care of my own needs and the needs of my loved ones. My…
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