A type 2 diabetes medication, metformin significantly eased lung inflammation and scarring (fibrosis) in a mouse model of silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF), both at early and late stages of the disease. Notably, these benefits were found to be associated with a reduction in oxidative stress, inflammation, fibrotic markers, and…
I received my new lungs a year ago, on Aug. 14, 2020. Now it’s time for me to reflect on my quality of life. Initially, I evaluated my progress by how long I stayed in the hospital. Unfortunately, I failed my goal to leave the hospital at the two-week mark…
People with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are at a greater risk of severe illness leading to mechanical ventilation or death than are infected patients without this progressive lung disease, a large database study reported. Among hospitalized individuals, however, its scientists saw…
Treatment with two approved antifibrotics did not lessen a risk of death in recently hospitalized idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients, but those using either therapy who went on to be discharged were more likely to live longer than those who were not, a database study reported. “To our knowledge, this…
In March 2019, my mom, Holly, got a second chance at life. Her bilateral lung transplant was a gift of the highest order. It saved and prolonged her life when nothing else would. It gave her body back the power to enjoy living. It restored her health and independence.
The degree of collagen degradation, a process called collagen turnover, evident in a person’s blood at the time idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is diagnosed predicts the severity of disease progression within one year, regardless of antifibrotic treatment, a study reported. These findings support the use of collagen turnover as a blood…
Many significant milestones in life occur during young adulthood. Some may buy their first home, get married, and start a family, which is a typical trajectory. Unfortunately, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive and fatal lung disease, doesn’t care about typical trajectories. It unapologetically interferes with the lives of patients…
Registration is now open for the 2021 Rare Diseases and Orphan Products Breakthrough Summit, which will be held virtually Oct. 18–19. The event, also known as the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) Summit, brings the rare disease community together to network and discuss developments in treatments and research…
Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), particularly idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), are associated with a substantial economic burden to healthcare systems due to the high cost of their treatments, a German study reported. Medication costs for IPF patients, recruited between November 2016 and April 2017 and followed for one year, rose from…
As a research sociologist, my goal is to research anything and everything I need answers to. I often become so preoccupied with this search that it becomes an obsession. Many people turn to online research for answers about health issues, and I am no different. When it comes…
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