Category: Respiratory

Study of people exposed to air pollution reveals greater effects on females than males

The impact of breathing diesel exhaust fumes may be more severe for females than males, according to new research that will be presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Barcelona, Spain [1]. Researchers looked for changes in people’s blood brought about by exposure to diesel exhaust. In both females and males, they found […]

Bringing children closer to nature helps improve their lung health

Getting children closer to green spaces as they grow up could improve their lung health, according to a study published  in the European Respiratory Journal [1]. The research found that children tended to have better lung function if their exposure to vegetation close to their homes increased in the first ten years of life. Researchers […]

PCOS in mothers is linked to increased risk of health problems in their children

Children born to mothers with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have an increased risk of developing infections, allergies and other childhood illnesses by the age of 13, according to the largest study to investigate this. The study, which is published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals, looked at 1,038,375 children […]

Artificial intelligence could help diagnose lung cancer a year earlier

An artificial intelligence (AI) program can spot signs of lung cancer on CT scans a year before they can be diagnosed with existing methods, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress. [1] Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death with around 1.8 million lives lost around the world […]

Overweight and obesity may affect asthmatic children’s response to inhaled steroids

Asthmatic children are less likely to respond to inhaled steroid medication if they are overweight or obese, and this leads to more frequent asthma attacks, according to research presented at the ‘virtual’ European Respiratory Society International Congress [1]. The international study is the first to use information on genetic variants linked to body mass index […]

Electronic nose can sniff out when a lung transplant is failing

Electronic nose can sniff out when a lung transplant is failing

An electronic “nose” is capable of detecting with 86% accuracy when a lung transplant is beginning to fail, according to research presented at the ‘virtual’ European Respiratory Society International Congress [1]. Ms Nynke Wijbenga, a PhD student and technical physician at Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, told the congress that the finding could […]

Lung function appears to be unaffected after COVID-19 infection in young adults

Children and adolescents also have unimpaired lung function COVID-19 infection does not appear to affect the lung function of young adults, according to new research presented at the ‘virtual’ European Respiratory Society International Congress. [1] In the first study to investigate the impact of COVID-19 infection on lung function, researchers led by Dr Ida Mogensen, […]

Rescue and recovery workers and volunteers who arrived early at the World Trade Center site face higher risk of developing COPD

Twenty years on from the September 11 attacks, rescue and recovery workers and volunteers who attended the World Trade Center site are beginning to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often following a previous diagnosis of asthma, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress. [1] The study of almost 18,000 workers […]

E-cigarettes containing nicotine cause blood clotting and make small blood vessels less adaptable

E-cigarettes containing nicotine cause blood clotting and make small blood vessels less adaptable

Using e-cigarettes containing nicotine causes an immediate increase in the formation of blood clots and a deterioration in the ability of small blood vessels to expand and dilate, as well as raised heart rate and blood pressure, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress. [1] Researchers say these effects are similar […]