Fibrosis File Teresa Geiger from the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) (www.coalitionforpf.org, 1-888-222- 8541) tells us about exciting research news that has taken place recently. The CPF and the American Thoracic Society have jointly funded a $100,000, two-year research award to Andrew M. Tager, M.D. from Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Tager will be investigating the…
Calling Dr. Bauer … Dear Dr. Bauer, I have emphysema and have been inhaling either Spiriva or Advair for about three years. I have just been diagnosed with glaucoma and can no longer take these inhalers. I also stopped my nasal spray. Could the inhalers have caused the glaucoma? Can I get any relief…
The GOLD Standards The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) recently updated clinical guidelines for the diagnosis, management and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The committee was made up of physicians and health professionals from all parts of the world. According to their web site at www.goldcopd.org, COPD is…
Product Corner New Oxygen System Coming Soon A new type of oxygen system will soon be avail- able from Inspired Technologies. Called the VIAspire™ personal oxygen system, it involves a concentrator that feeds into a larger reservoir to produce liquid oxygen in the home. You will fill your liquid portable from the reser-…
Feelings It always helps to vent! If you or your caregiver would like to write about how you really feel about any aspect of chronic lung disease, we will credit you with a year’s membership. Please send to: The Pulmonary Paper, PO Box 877, Ormond Beach, FL 32175. I was told that I…
You can make a difference! Presently, the Deficit Reduction Act calls for Medicare beneficiaries to take over ownership of their oxygen concentrators after 36 months of rental. It is then up to the oxygen user to determine if their equipment is work- ing properly. This leaves many unanswered questions as to travel needs, emergency equipment…
Respiratory News The Spanish pharmaceutical company, Almirall, is developing an inhaled dry powder medication for those with COPD they call aclidinium bromide. Brand names As an alternative to Lung Volume Reduction Surgery, several companies have been developing stents or valves that are placed in your airway during bronchoscopy to will be Eklira®/Bretaris. They…
Fibrosis File Pulmonary Fibrosis has been in the news recently. Ironically, we just lost death-defying Evel Knieval and also singer Robert Goulet to the disease. Dr. Steven Idell of Tyler, TX, has discovered an enzyme that carefully eliminates scar tissue and blood clots that inhibit lung function. It’s called single-chain urokinase plasmogen activator,…
Poetry Corner I was adjusting to being on O2 and had trouble learn- ing how to attach and detach the conserving device to my portable tanks. My daughter knew I like poems, so she wrote the directions in verse. Now I’m doing just fine! Conserving device … Green key-silver dome This is how…
Respiratory News London researchers have successfully implanted lung cells grown from embryonic stem cells into the lungs of mice. Stem cell therapy holds the hope of repairing diseased organs, such as the lung, with laboratory-grown tissue or cells. The British team had already cultivated lung cells and were testing to see if the cells…