Pulmonary Research: Treating pulmonary diseases using Alaska pollock gelatin ♦ White blood cells guards against tumor lung metastasis ♦ New study explores how anxiety can aggravate asthma

A subpopulation of white blood cells guards against tumor lung metastasis Among foot soldiers on the immune front line is a subpopulation of white blood cells called “patrolling monocytes,” whose job is to cruise the bloodstream, cart off cellular debris, and block invasion of a less benign population of inflammatory cells. Now, a study illustrates that patrolling monocytes may also play an anti-cancer role, particularly in the lung.
Lung cancer surgery can be beneficial for high-risk patients with early stage disease

Surgical lung resection, in which part of a lung is removed, can be a safe and effective treatment option for high-risk patients with early stage lung cancer,

New study explores how anxiety can aggravate asthma A new study involved mimicking asthma symptoms to see how anxiety sensitivity affected asthma sufferers. The researchers recruited 101 college undergraduates who reported having asthma. The experiment aimed to mimic asthma symptoms by having study participants breathe in-and-out through a narrow straw, about the width of a coffee-stirrer straw.
Treating pulmonary diseases using Alaska pollock gelatin In recent years, patients with pulmonary emphysema have been increasing mainly among middle-aged and elderly males due to aging and excessive smoking. Emphysema makes brittle lungs, and in severe cases, holes develop in the lung tissue, causing air leakage. Researchers have developed a new sealant to close holes developed in lungs and blood vessels using Alaska pollock gelatin, and have reported that the sealant is about 12 times stronger than conventional sealants.

Pulmonary Research:Air pollution and impaired lung function risk factors for cognitive decline ♦ Risk factors can predict the risk for COPD ♦ Protein causes cystic fibrosis

Certain risk factors can predict the risk for COPD exacerbations in patients using inhaled medications Gastroesophageal reflux disease, being female, and certain scores on the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire were associated with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in subjects using long-acting controller medication.

Air pollution and impaired lung function prove independent risk factors for cognitive decline Studies have shown that both air pollution and impaired lung function can cause cognitive deficits, but it was unclear whether air pollution diminishes cognition by reducing breathing ability first or whether air pollution represents an independent risk factor for cognitive deficit. Now a new study found air pollution directly affects cognition and is not mediated by lung function.

Pulmonary rehabilitation helps patients newly diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea Pulmonary rehabilitation treatment could be a valuable addition to comprehensive therapy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Key component in protein that causes cystic fibrosis identified Nearly 70,000 people worldwide are living with cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening genetic disease. There currently is no cure but researchers have now identified a key component in the protein that causes the disease.The finding may lead to the development of new medications and improved therapies

Adding genetic information changes risk profile of smokers and results in greater adherence to CT lung screening Researchers have found that adding genetic information to a former or current smokers clinical risk profile results in a reclassification of their risk for lung cancer in about one in four patients. Preliminary findings from their lung cancer screening feasibility study also suggests that those whose genetic and clinical risk placed them in the highest risk category were more likely to adhere to follow-up computed tomography (CT) scans during screening.