National Jewish Faculty Present Research at International Meeting of the American Thoracic Society
National Jewish faculty joins thousands of researchers from around the world to present the latest research in lung and related diseases at the 2007 International Meeting of the American Thoracic Society, May 18-23, in San Francisco. Listed below are a few highlighted talks National Jewish researchers will deliver.
In Asthma, Perception is Reality
For asthma patients perception can be as important as the physiological reality of their airways. A key to heading off an asthma attack is detecting it in its early stages and responding before it gets out of control. But National Jewish psychiatrist Frederick Wamboldt, M.D., and his colleagues found that asthma patients with a history of severe asthma attacks had not only more twitchy lungs, but also were less able to perceive increasing obstruction of their airways. Those patients were less likely to detect an impending attack and respond appropriately.
Medications Can Help Reduce Ill Effects of Air Pollution on Asthma Patients
Air pollution is known to effect lung growth and increase the frequency of asthma exacerbations. National Jewish pediatric allergist Ronina Covar, M.D., and her colleagues found that air pollution is associated with increased inflammation in the airways of some asthma patients, but not all. Children taking inhaled steroid controller medications appeared protected against the inflammatory effects of air pollutants.
Obesity Associated with Resistance to Asthma Medication
National Jewish pulmonologists David Beuther, M.D., and Rand Sutherland, M.D., have discovered that obese adult asthma patients are less likely to respond to corticosteroids, the mainstay of asthma treatment. Almost 90 percent of obese asthma patients demonstrated little or no improvement in lung function after a week of treatment with oral corticosteroi
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Contact: William Allstetter
allstetterw@njc.org
303-398-1002
National Jewish Medical and Research Center
21-May-2007