Patrícia Silva, PhD,  director of science content—

An international team of researchers recently discovered that a proper lung function development during childhood and adolescence has a major impact on the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the future. The study is entitled “Lung-Function Trajectories Leading to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease” and…

In a recent study published in the journal Lancet Respiratory Medicine, a team of researchers found that low concentrations of CC16 in serum are associated with reduced lung function in childhood, accelerated lung function decline in adulthood and development of moderate airflow limitation in the general…

A new study titled, “Retrospective Assessment of Home Ventilation to Reduce Rehospitalization in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease,” currently published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, suggests non-invasive ventilation plays a crucial role in administering effective multi-faceted patient care to COPD patients, leading to a…

Boehringer Ingelheim recently announced regulatory authority approvals in the first European countries for its Spiolto Respimat (tiotropium/olodaterol) therapy. The drug is a maintenance bronchodilator treatment designed to ease symptoms in adult patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Boehringer did not stipulate in its press release which European countries are…

Results from a recent study published in the journal Cell provide a new potential therapeutic avenue for preventing the transgenerational transmission of human mitochondrial diseases caused by mutations in mtDNA, the DNA located in the mitochondria. Mitochondria are double-membrane cellular organelles of bacterial origin that play…

Mitochondrial disorders are complex conditions for which few treatments are available. Now, using microscopic worms, researchers at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), are researching if existing human drugs aimed at improving metabolism and restore shortened lifespans, can open the opportunity for human clinical trials on innovative therapies for these…

Researchers at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) headed by Marni J. Falk, M.D., director and attending physician in the Mitochondrial-Genetic Disease Clinic, focused on a group of respiratory enzymes (called respiratory chain RC enzymes), which are essential for the production of energy. When disrupted (due to mitochondrial defects and mutations…