Dupilumab Cuts Lung Inflammation, Breaks Up Mucus Plugs in Asthma Patients
WASHINGTON — Dupilumab (Dupixent) reduced airway inflammation and increased lung capacity in patients with uncontrolled, moderate-to-severe asthma, while also reducing troublesome mucus plugs, a multinational postmarketing study showed. In the randomized study, treatment with dupilumab led to significant reductions in airway inflammation at 24 weeks, with 57% achieving a fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) level […]
4 Sneaky Signs Of Lung Cancer You Should Know
MirageC via Getty Images Don’t ignore these potential warning signs of lung cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, accounting for 1 out of every 5 cancer fatalities. Early detection is imperative for increasing survival with lung cancer before the disease spreads […]
EGFR Inhibitors for Lung Cancer Tied to Increased Keratitis Risk
Patients with lung cancer treated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors may have an increased risk of new-onset keratitis, a U.S. population-based cohort study showed. Over a 20-year period, 1.12% of patients who were treated with EGFR inhibitors developed new-onset keratitis compared with 0.74% of those who did not take these drugs (HR 1.520, […]
Cryobiopsy and Forceps Biopsy Go Head-to-Head for Diagnosing Lung Lesions
As a supplement to standard needle aspiration for diagnosing lung lesions, cryobiopsy was no better than forceps biopsy for producing a definite diagnosis in a randomized trial, but the tissue-freezing procedure was less time-consuming and did produce biopsy samples more suitable to molecular testing. Tested alone, the diagnostic yield was higher with mediastinal cryobiopsy versus […]
ACS: Millions More Should Get Lung Cancer Screening
The American Cancer Society (ACS) widened the pool of past and current smokers eligible for lung cancer screening in its new guideline recommendations, potentially opening the door to 5 million more U.S. adults. Annual lung cancer screening with low‐dose CT is strongly recommended for asymptomatic patients ages 50 to 80 years who either currently smoke, […]
Opportunistic Infections Put a Damper on Belatacept After Lung Transplant
HONOLULU — Lung transplant clinicians had a rocky start using belatacept (Nulojix) for immunosuppression at one large-volume center, though they maintained that the agent could still be used to preserve renal function without affecting the patient’s graft. Out of 388 lung transplant recipients from 2019 to 2022, there were 37 who did not tolerate nephrotoxic […]
Antioxidants stimulate blood flow in tumors
Vitamin C and other antioxidants stimulate the formation of new blood vessels in lung cancer tumours, a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation shows. The discovery corroborates the idea that dietary supplements containing antioxidants can accelerate tumour growth and metastasis. “We’ve found that antioxidants activate a mechanism that causes […]
Food allergy in infancy linked to childhood asthma and reduced lung function
Having a food allergy as a baby is linked to asthma and reduced lung function later in childhood, according to a world first study. The research, led by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and published in the Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, found that early life food allergy was associated with an increased risk of both […]
Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Also Help Lung Health
Omega-3 fatty acids may play a protective role in long-term lung health, according to longitudinal and Mendelian randomization analyses. Higher plasma levels of omega-3 fatty acid were associated with attenuated lung function decline in 15,063 patients with repeated measures of forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC), reported Patricia […]
Poor Sleep After COVID Hospitalization: Dyspnea Is Part of the Equation
Poor sleep may be traced back to lingering shortness of breath and decreased lung function from prior COVID-19 illness in patients requiring hospitalization, the CircCOVID study found. Approximately half a year following hospitalization for COVID-19, 62% of patients reported that they experienced poor sleep quality, while 53% felt their sleep had gotten worse since leaving […]