Cleveland Clinic Researchers Develop New Model for Prioritizing Lung Transplant Candidates

CLEVELAND: A team from Cleveland Clinic has developed a new model for prioritizing patients waiting for a lung transplant, aimed at improving outcomes and reducing deaths among those in need of donor lungs. The new method offers an improved strategy for organ allocation by taking into account how the time a patient has spent on the waiting list could impact the severity of their disease and the urgency of their need for a transplant.
The results of a study looking at this new method were published today in The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Air monitor can detect COVID-19 virus variants in about 5 minutes

Now that the emergency phase of the COVID-19 pandemic has ended, scientists are looking at ways to surveil indoor environments in real time for viruses. By combining recent advances in aerosol sampling technology and an ultrasensitive biosensing technique, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have created a real-time monitor that can detect any of the SARS-CoV-2 virus variants in a room in about 5 minutes.

May 2022 Toxicological Sciences Features Leading Research in Respiratory Hazards, Proteomics, and More

The May 2022 issue of Toxicological Sciences, the Society of Toxicology’s official journal, is now available and features leading research in carcinogenesis, computational toxicology and databases, and more.

Focus on “Growing Stronger” for Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month in September

September is Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, presented by the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) as a way to drive awareness of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), a debilitating, incurable lung disease. Learn more about the numerous endeavors intended to rejuvenate the fight against PF throughout September.

New Approach Methodologies, Single Cell RNAseq, and More Featured in 2021 Toxicological Sciences

Toxicological Sciences delivers cutting-edge research in toxicology in the areas of clinical and translational toxicology, emerging technologies, and more in the August 2021 issue.

Microchip Models of Human Lungs Enable Better Understanding of Disease, Immune Response

In Biomicrofluidics, researchers review lung-on-chip technologies that represent the vital properties of lung tissue and are capable of recapitulating the fundamental aspects of various pathologies. The researchers reviewed various lung-on-chips and their applications in examining, diagnosing, and treating human viruses, including the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The knowledge accumulated paves the way to use these models to study the interaction of several human respiratory viruses with the airway epithelium and alveolus in an organ-relevant setting.

Initial Severity of COVID-19 Is Not Associated with Later Poor Health or Respiratory Complications

A new study published online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society examines the recovery of lung function and overall wellness in individuals who had varying degrees of COVID-19 severity. Little is known about lung health following infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and whether later respiratory problems, fatigue and ill health are associated with the disease’s initial severity.

Biohybrid Model Uses Organic Lungs, Synthetic Muscles to Re-Create Respiration Mechanics

Discussed in APL Bioengineering, researchers created a high-fidelity respiratory simulator that accurately represents the interplay between the abdomen, diaphragm, lungs and pleural space, the fluid-filled membrane surrounding the thorax and lungs. The model, using swine lungs, soft robotic materials and artificial muscles, allows precise tuning of pressure in each part of the system, so specific disease conditions can be tested. It also proved extremely useful for testing ventilator-only respiration by removing the elastomeric diaphragm.

Survival of Coronavirus in Different Cities, on Different Surfaces

One of the many questions researchers have about the COVID-19 virus is how long it remains alive after someone infected coughs or sneezes. In Physics of Fluids, researchers examine the drying time of respiratory droplets from COVID-19-infected subjects on various surfaces in six cities around the world. Using a model well established in the field of interface science, the drying time calculations showed ambient temperature, type of surface and relative humidity play critical roles.

Respiratory doctor can talk about causes of seasonal allergies

Do-Yeon Cho, M.D., respiratory researcher and expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, can comment on seasonal respiratory system irritation and disease, such as: causes and prevention of seasonal allergies during the warmer weather upper respiratory airway diseases Cho…

Respiratory doctor can talk about causes of seasonal allergies

Do-Yeon Cho, M.D., respiratory researcher and expertat the University of Alabama at Birmingham, can comment on seasonal respiratory system irritation and disease, such as: causes and prevention of seasonal allergies during the warmer weather upper respiratory airway diseases  Cho is…