Protein Prompts Immune System to Attack the Body, and Its Levels Correlate with Outcomes, Study Shows

The protein vimentin triggers autoimmune reactions in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and the intensity of the reactions correlates with the severity of the disease, according to a study. The findings underscore scientists’ belief that autoimmunity — the immune system attacking the body’s own cells instead of invaders — plays…

We need to breathe to stay alive. For some of us, the process is simple and we don’t think too much about it. For others, it’s a constant struggle that requires a lot of concentration and effort. For all of us, it’s important we’re aware that there’s a right—and wrong—way…

It’s funny that the older I seem to get, the more I enjoy spending time at home on weekends and completing different tasks around the house to leave everything in good order for the upcoming week. While the heat and humidity were the primary reasons I stayed…

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a public meeting in September 2014, where people living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) were asked about the daily effects of the disease and the therapies that were available to them. MORE: Six pulmonary fibrosis complications One of the main…

Thalidomide — a controversial drug that caused thousands of birth defects throughout Europe in the late 1950s and was more recently approved to treat multiple myeloma — may also in fact prevent pulmonary fibrosis (PF), Chinese researchers say.   Their study, “Anti-inflammation and Antioxidant Effects of Thalidomide on Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice and…

Being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness shakes you to your core. Not only does it leave you feeling confused, vulnerable, scared, and at times, hopeless, it also leaves your family feeling equally devastated. Then there…

Clinical trials are extremely important in advancing medicine, helping to better understand how diseases begin and their progression, and to ultimately find cures or ways to prevent the disease. Clinical trials for pulmonary fibrosis (PF) are no exception and are necessary to improve treatment for patients. MORE: Seven common symptoms…

Physical activity predicts mortality in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) as well as established measures, according to a study that suggests that traditional measures, nevertheless, might underestimate the impact of disease progression on patients’ everyday lives. Researchers at the German Center for Lung Research in Germany found that physical activity…

Sometimes, it is so discouraging to have PF. … Okay, having PF is discouraging A LOT of the time. I had a hard experience this week, as I’ve had many times before. I bet you’ve had experiences, too. Since my diagnosis with PF a little more than…

This video from Scleroderma and Raynaud’s UK is about Sue Dryden, a professional landscape gardener who has worked at the prestigious Hampton Court Palace in Surrey, England and the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show. MORE: Seven common symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis. Sue suffers from…