Respiratory News The FDA approved 39 new drugs in 2012 – the most in 16 years. There were eight approvals in December alone, including a new treatment from Johnson & Johnson called Sirturo for drug-resistant tuberculosis, the first new TB drug in decades. A new machine may increase the transplant pool and keep the lung…
Health Survey Finds Trends in COPD The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) recently published data from the nation’s largest telephone public health survey. The COPD Foundation re- ports the MMWR demonstrates that COPD is an important public health problem, and includes a number of trends worth noting:…
Sharing the Health Praxair of Danbury, CT, recalled all units of its Grab ’n Go Vantage Portable Oxygen Cylinder manufactured from June 17, 2009–November 16, 2012. According to the FDA, fires within the cylinder unit may occur as a result of physical impact such as dropping or knock- ing it over. Although the fires are…
Fibrosis File Online Support Groups for Those with PF The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) has part- nered with Breathe Support to provide online support groups for those with Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF), families and caregivers. By exchanging support in this manner, most people are guaranteed the opportunity to talk with others. The groups have evolved…
Understanding Claims of Equivalency You have probably seen or heard of pulse oxygen systems like portable oxygen con- centrators (POCs), conserver regulators, and liquid portables having pulse settings “equivalent to liter flow,” suggesting that setting the device to “2” pulse, for example, will give you oxygen equivalent to that of 2 LPM continuous flow.…
Flu Season 2013 – It’s Here Early and It’s Mean! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has cited the 2013 flu season as one of the worst in the last 10 years and it is just getting started. There is also a strain of a virulent stomach bug, called norovirus, making thousands sick…