Interferon Gamma for IPF THERAMetrics recently announced that it has been granted a patent for a pharma- ceutical kit that includes targeted treatment of IPF. The patent was granted by the Euro- pean Patent Office for a treatment involving inhalation of Interferon gamma, which is an already approved treatment for other diseases through…
Fibrosis File Latest Clinical Practice Guideline Recommendations The 2015 Clinical Practice Guideline: Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) recommends using the newly FDA- approved medications, Ofev (nintedanib) and Esbriet (Pirfenidone), to treat patients diagnosed with IPF. These internationally- recognized guidelines were formed by a con- glomerate of respiratory societies, including the American Thoracic…
The Other Face of COPD: Hypercapnia by Kate Bennett Excess carbon dioxide, or hypercapnia, is the flip side of insufficient oxygen, or hy poxia. A care partner shares lessons learned. I“ feels so good to feel so good again,” my husband Mick said as I was pack- ing for a trip. A person…
Keeping Your Cool This Summer Your body has to work harder to main- tain your normal body temperature in hot, summer weather. The harder your body works, the more oxygen it needs, which may make breathing more difficult. Plan to go out earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon when it…
Solve the Summer Quiz! 1: In which U.S. state is there a town named Summersville? 5 Missouri 5 Mississippi 5 Maryland 5 All of these 2: Which of these actors did not appear in the 1997 horror movie ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’? 5 Ryan Phillippe 5 Jennifer Love Hewitt…
More Myths Regarding Oxygen Therapy by John R. Goodman, BS RRT In our last issue John spoke about the myth of hypoxic drive and oxygen therapy. He now discusses other misconceptions that people believe which aren’t quite right! Have you ever wondered how many of the myths associated with medicaltherapy get started? For…
Oxygen Users Wanted for Study! Oxygen users are being asked to parti- cipate in the Peer-Led O2 Infoline for Patient and Caregivers (PELICAN) study, funded by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute. They would like to prove that people who are actively involved and learning about their oxy- gen equipment and treat- ment course…
The Ryan Report Thank you for all the positive comments about our annual POC (portable oxygen concentrator) comparison chart that was published in our last issue. The chart listed the volume each POC delivers at a setting of 2. I would like to take it a step further and list the volume of…
So Long, Trans Fats! The FDA Administration has made it official – trans fat, which is known to in- crease the risk of coronary heart disease, is not safe for human consumption. No food sold in the United States will be allowed to contain trans fat in three years. Ritz crack- ers, Girl…
Bronchial Thermoplasty Bronchial thermoplasty was approved by the FDA in 2010 for people coping with severe asthma. During an asthma attack, the smooth muscles that surround your airways will tighten – people who have had this procedure have had less asthma attacks for the past five years. Heat by radiofrequency energy is deliv-…