Amy Silverstein’s second memoir, “My Glory Was I Had Such Friends” (2017), left a lasting impression on me. It wasn’t just because of the way Silverstein’s devoted friends attended to her while she awaited a second heart transplant, or even how that story mirrored…
‘Truth in transplant’: Gratitude and suffering coexist after ‘the miracle’
“Hello darkness, my old friend/ I’ve come to talk with you again/ Because a vision softly creeping/ Left its seeds while I was sleeping/ And the vision that was planted in my brain/ Still remains/ Within the sound of silence.” Those words are from the song “The Sound of…
Proteins called histones can trigger lung fibrosis (scarring) by prompting platelets, cell fragments involved in blood clotting, to release a signaling molecule called transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1), a new study found. TGFB1, in turn, blocks the production of interleukin-27 (IL-27), a signaling molecule that normally helps to limit…
Today, I’m wrapping up another trip around the sun. On Oct. 4, 1957, the day I was born, the former Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, Earth’s first artificial satellite. I’ve often wondered if there’s any relationship between my birthday and my love of space. Astronomy was my science during my…
Treatment with AP01, Avalyn Pharma‘s experimental inhaled formulation of pirfenidone, appears to be slightly more effective for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) than the oral version, which is sold as Esbriet, and results in fewer side effects. AP01’s efficacy and safety profiles with progressive forms of pulmonary…
Have you ever read a book that totally resonated with you? One that reflects who you are and enables you to see yourself in the words? I love to read a variety of genres but tend to lean toward self-improvement, technical publications, and real-life stories. A longtime friend of mine, following…
The experimental oral therapy BMS-986278, taken at 60 mg twice daily for 26 weeks, resulted in a 69% reduction in the rate of lung function decline in adults with progressive pulmonary fibrosis taking part in a Phase 2 trial. These findings are consistent with previously reported data from…
When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in January 2017, I began to tackle the steep learning curve almost immediately. I may never reach the summit, but that doesn’t mean I’ve given up. There is always something to learn, and I acquire new knowledge on a regular basis.
A Phase 2a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ENV-101 (taladegib), Endeavor BioMedicines’ oral treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), has completed patient enrollment. Top-line data from the study (NCT04968574), which enrolled 41 adults with mild-to-moderate IPF, ages 40 and older, at sites in…
In May, my mom, Holly, told me about a memoir she’d just finished reading by Amy Silverstein, a writer who had died of cancer the previous day. Silverstein attributed her impending death to a 35-year reliance on transplant-related medications following a heart transplant at age 25 and…
