Diary of a Modern Consumptive by former TB patient, Paul Thorn, tells a remarkable story of survival. In 1995 Paul was infected in an outbreak that occurred at a West London hospital with a multidrug-resistant strain of tuberculosis. He spent three months in negative pressure isolation and was not expected […]
Respiratory
Data Shows Asthma Assessment Guidelines Are Outdated, According to Propeller Health Study
New research from Propeller Health, a digital therapeutics company, suggests that clinical guidelines for assessing asthma control may need to be updated to reflect objective patient information obtained from digital medicines. Propeller’s digital medicine platform helps patients manage diseases like asthma and COPD by delivering concrete insights on symptoms, triggers, […]
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Collaborates with Propeller Health to Support Consumers with COPD
Propeller Health’s digital medicines allow Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield consumers to better manage COPD symptoms Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio announced the rollout of an innovative new program, with Propeller Health’s collaboration, to help improve health outcomes for Ohio consumers enrolled in Anthem’s Medicare Advantage […]
Independent Study: Bronchiectasis Exacerbations Reduced, Lung Function Stabilized with SmartVest®
Electromed, Inc. announced the results of an independent, outcome-based clinical study presented during the third annual World Bronchiectasis Conference in Washington D.C. The study’s findings reveal that early use of high-frequency chest wall oscillation (“HFCWO”) therapy with the SmartVest® Airway Clearance System significantly reduced severe exacerbations and hospitalizations among non-cystic […]
More than 40 percent of Women with Asthma May Develop COPD, but Risk May Be Reduced
More than 4 in 10 women with asthma may go on to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a study conducted in Ontario, Canada, and published online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. In “Asthma and COPD Overlap in Women: Incidence and Risk Factors,” Teresa To, […]
FDA Approves ORKAMBI®, First Medicine to Treat the Underlying Cause of CF for Children Ages 2-5 Years with Most Common Form of the Disease
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ORKAMBI® (lumacaftor/ivacaftor) to include use in children ages 2 through 5 years with cystic fibrosis (CF) who have two copies of the F508del-CFTR mutation, making it the first medicine approved to treat the underlying cause of CF […]
Cannabis Does Not Improve Breathlessness During Exercise in Patients With Advanced COPD
Inhaled vaporized cannabis does not appear to improve or worsen exercise performance and activity-related breathlessness in patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a randomized controlled trial published online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. In “Effect of Vaporized Cannabis on Exertional Breathlessness and Exercise […]
Tobacco Regulation Advocates Get Support from Medical Professional Organizations in Court Filing
The American Thoracic Society led 10 medical professional organizations in filing an amicus brief last week regarding the FDA’s failure to apply pre-market review to new tobacco products. The brief was submitted in support of the American Academy of Pediatrics and its co-plaintiffs and outlines the compelling data indicating that the FDA’s failure to act […]
Higher Doses of Rifampin Appear More Effective in Fighting TB Without Increasing Risk of Adverse Events
Higher daily doses of rifampin, a cornerstone of tuberculosis treatment, killed more TB bacteria in sputum cultures, and the higher doses did so without increasing the adverse effects of treatment, according to a randomized controlled trial published online in the American Thoracic Society’s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. In “Efficacy […]
CDC Survey Results Show End to Decline in Youth E-Cigarette Use, Highlighting Urgent Need for FDA Action
Statement of American Lung Association National President and CEO Harold P. Wimmer in response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report “Tobacco Product Use Among Middle and High School Students—United States, 2011–2017,” released on June 6, 2018. “For the fourth straight year, the […]













