The European Respiratory Journal Makes COPD a Priority
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a major problem for public health worldwide and its burden is expected to increase in the next decade. Despite the extensive resources invested in research and the wealth of studies published in leading scientific journals, there are still many unknown aspects regarding the nature of COPD, which make this disease difficult to treat. Read more …

Commonly Prescribed Antibiotic Reduces Acute COPD Attacks
A common antibiotic added to the usual treatment plan for some patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can reduce acute exacerbations sudden onsets of worsened cough, wheezing and labored breathing and improve quality of life, according torecent findings from the COPD Clinical Research Network. Read more …

Source: The New England Journal of Medicine, 08/25/11: Azithromycin for Prevention of Exacerbations of COPD

Impact of Exacerbations on Emphysema Progression in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Study shows that annual changes in CT parameters of emphysema are greater in patients with a history of exacerbations of COPD than in those without a history of exacerbations. Read more …

Source: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2011: Impact of Exacerbations on Emphysema Progression in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Heart Disease Drug May Help Bronchitis, Emphysema Sufferers
Beta blocker drugs, prescribed for heart diseases, may also help sufferers of chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Researchers in the Asthma and Allergy Group at Dundee, NHS Tayside and St Andrews University, found the drugs reduced mortality rates and hospital admissions for patients already taking regular inhaler therapies. Read more …

Source: British Medical Journal, 05/10/11: Effect of β Blockers in Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Scientists Find Possible Lung Stem Cell, Could Lead to New Therapies for Emphysema, Other Ills
Scientists believe they’ve discovered stem cells in the lung that can make a wide variety of the organ’s tissues, a finding that might open new doors for treating emphysema and other diseases. When these human cells were injected into mice, they showed their versatility by rebuilding airways, air sacs and blood vessels within two weeks. One expert called that “amazing.” Read more …

Source: The New England Journal of Medicine, 5/12/11: Evidence for Human Lung Stem Cells

Simple Blood Test Detects Early Emphysema in Smokers Before Symptoms Appear
During a regular annual physical exam, blood is usually drawn to check the health of a person’s heart, kidneys and liver. Now, researchers at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center say a blood test that detects the early development of emphysema — well before symptoms occur — may someday also be offered. Read more … 

Source: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 3/11/11: Circulating Endothelial Microparticles as a Measure of Early Lung Destruction in Cigarette Smokers

Pack-a-day Smokers Declining
Fewer U.S. adults are smoking, and those who do smoke are on average smoking less, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Smoking rates in the U.S. have dropped dramatically over the past several decades, falling from 40% in 1965 to about 20% in 2006. Much of that decline is due to a disproportionate decrease in the number of people who smoke at least a pack a day, the study found. Read more …

Source: Journal of the American Medical Association, 2011: Prevalence of Heavy Smoking in California and the United States, 1965-2007

Association of COPD Candidate Genes with Computed Tomography Emphysema and Airway Phenotypes in Severe COPD
The principal determining factors influencing the development of the airway disease and emphysema components of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have not been clearly defined. Genetic variability in COPD patients might influence the varying degrees of involvement of airway disease and emphysema. Therefore, we investigated the genetic association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in COPD candidate genes for association with emphysema severity and airway wall thickness phenotypes. Read more …

Quitting and Smoking Reduction
Quitting has immediate and long term benefits. It’s never too late to stop smoking. It has even been proven that lung cancer patients who quit smoking have better treatment outcomes than those who continue to smoke. Read more …