Throughout their lives, many people experience an array of ups and downs. Days, months, or even years can be plagued with challenges that seem unfair. Conversely, people also can experience prolonged periods when things go well. Rare disease patients who frequently experience ups and downs caused by their illness know…
Life With Chronic Illness Brings Both Highs and Lows
Alterations in the extracellular matrix — the network of molecules that surrounds and supports cells — and cell aging, a process of called senescence, both contribute to tissue scarring in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to a recent study. Yet, matrix changes do not lead to senescence, implying that…
My husband is retiring in a couple weeks. I’m not of retirement age, but sometimes life happens and decisions are forced upon us. (Photo by Ann Reynoso) My husband and I have quite an age gap. He is 16 years older than me, making our retirement stages uneven. While…
Gefapixant (MK-7264), an investigational cough suppressant, was safe and well-tolerated by patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but did not significantly reduce chronic coughing, according to data from a Phase 2 clinical trial. Results from this trial were shared in the study, “Treatment of Persistent Cough in Subjects…
Four months of treatment with Tyvaso (inhaled treprostinil) significantly improved lung function in adults with pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD), according to a post-hoc analysis of data from the Phase 2/3 INCREASE clinical trial. PH-ILD comprises a group of conditions characterized by significant lung scarring (fibrosis), including…
At its first virtual investor event, biotech company Centogene set a bold mission: to cure 100 rare diseases within the next decade. A leader in the field of genetic diagnostics, Centogene used the June 22 event to present its strategic priorities, outlining its plans to speed the discovery…
I was born into a risk management family. My parents built a mom and pop insurance agency into a regional empire, and now my brother and I are deep in it, too. This works because my personality is naturally cautious. I don’t go on solo mountain bike rides longer…
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can counteract some of the key features of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in mice and human lung cells, a recent study reveals. The findings suggest this treatment, involving the delivery of pure oxygen in a high pressure chamber, should be investigated more closely as a potential PF…
A couple weeks ago, my good friend Bert Maidment and I completed the American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb, an annual fundraising event. I had never before competed in an event like this. I’m not a runner or even a walker. Nevertheless, it was a fantastic adventure.
Investigators have discovered a new biomarker in a molecule called cutaneous T-cell-attracting chemokine, or CTACK, that may help determine the course of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The discovery was detailed in the study, “Cutaneous T-cell-attracting chemokine as a novel biomarker for predicting prognosis of idiopathic pulmonary…
