New Clinical Practice Guidelines on Non-Invasive Ventilation in Chronic Stable Hypercapnic COPD;

A subcommittee of the American Thoracic Society Assembly in Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology has released new clinical practice guidelines to help advise clinicians on the optimal management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic hypercapnia. Hypercapnia is the buildup of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream.

Chest X-Rays in Emergency Rooms Can Help Predict Severity of COVID-19 Illness in Young and Middle-aged Adults

Chest X-rays performed on young and middle-aged adults with COVID-19 when they arrive at the emergency room can help doctors predict who is at higher risk of severe illness and intubation, Mount Sinai researchers report.

Impaired Blood Clotting May Explain Higher COVID-19 Risk

A new review suggests that higher-than-normal levels of an enzyme involved in blood clot prevention may be a common risk factor for developing COVID-19—a respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2—in some populations. The review is published in Physiological Reviews.

ECMO Physicians Offer Guidance in the Context of Resource-scarce COVID-19 Treatment

Rapidly escalating numbers of COVID-19 patients suffering from respiratory failure threaten to overwhelm hospital capacity and force healthcare providers into making challenging decisions about the care they provide. Of particular interest is the role of ECMO – extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, a form of life support for patients with advanced lung disease – to support critically ill patients in the current pandemic.

Coronavirus’ Binding Action May Also Cause Kidney Damage and Infertility; Researchers Consider Potential Treatment Paths

Article title: COVID-19 infection and mortality – A physiologist’s perspective enlightening clinical features and plausible interventional strategies Authors: Zaid A. Abassi, Karl Skorecki, Samuel Noam Heyman, Safa Kinaneh, Zaher Armaly From the authors: “Cleavage of the S-glycoprotein by furin and its…

‘Are Noncommunicable Diseases Communicable?’ Rutgers Experts Available to Discuss Paper in Science Today

New Brunswick, N.J. (Jan. 16, 2020) – Rutgers professors Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello and Martin J. Blaser are available to discuss a paper in the journal Science today on whether diseases long thought to be noncommunicable – such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer…

Maternal Antibiotic Treatment May Harm Preemies’ Lungs

New research in mice suggests that exposure to antibiotics before birth may impair lung development in premature infants. The study, the first to explore the gut-lung axis in prematurity, is published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology—Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology and was chosen as an APSselect article for December.

E-cigarettes Boost Infection Risk by Blocking Action of Immune Cells

A new study finds that e-cigarette vapor weakens the mobility and function of immune cells designed to fight infection. This reduced ability may increase the risk of bacterial illnesses in people who vape. The research is published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology—Cell Physiology.

Mount Sinai Researchers Develop Novel Method to Identify Patterns Among Patients With Multiple Chronic Conditions

A study by researchers at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai proposes a novel method for identifying patterns in the frequency and cost of multiple chronic conditions (MCC).

Expert Available to Discuss Dangers of Vaping and Associated Lung Illness

WHO: Keith S. Naunheim, MD, Vallee L. Melba Willman Professor and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Saint Louis University (SLU), and past president of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons WHY: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers…

Experts @UCSDHealth & @UCSDMedSchool available to discuss dangers of #vaping and lung disease

In August, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a warning about a growing epidemic — lung injury caused by vaping. There have been more than 380 cases reported nationwide, with half of these patients requiring intensive care, and at…