For hospitalized patients with fungal infections, specialists save lives

Fungal bloodstream infections are responsible for the deaths of more than 10,000 people every year. New research shows that the death rate can be reduced by 20% if infectious disease specialists oversee care of such patients.

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Older adults with COPD more likely to use synthetic cannabinoids

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease that's often associated with a variety of health problems, including chronic muscle pain and insomnia. Psychoactive drug classes, like cannabinoids, are often prescribed to help reduce pain, promote sleep and decrease breathlessness. A study has found that older adults with COPD were twice as likely to use prescription synthetic oral cannabinoids compared to older adults without COPD, raising safety concerns.

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Pathway found for treatment-resistant lung cancer

A big way chemotherapy works is by prompting cancer cells to commit suicide, and scientists have found a pathway the most common lung cancer walks to avoid death. Scientists have found a first step appears to be lung cancer cells expressing high levels of the molecule TIMP-1, classically considered a tumor inhibitor but at high levels already associated with a poor prognosis for patients.

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How fungal biofilm structure impacts lung disease

Findings from an innovative new study reveal that the way in which human fungal pathogens form colonies can significantly impact their ability to cause disease. Understanding how these colonies form could lead to new therapies that target these infections in critically ill patients.

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Combination therapies could help treat fatal lung cancers

Combining a new class of drug with two other compounds can significantly shrink lung tumors in mice and human cancer cells, new research shows. The study looked at G12C KRAS inhibitors, a new type of drug that targets a specific mutation that can cause cells to multiply uncontrollably and lead to fast-growing cancers.

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Study questions routine sleep studies to evaluate snoring in children

A new finding suggests that the pediatric sleep study — used to diagnose pediatric sleep apnea and to measure improvement after surgery — may be an unreliable predictor of who will benefit from having an adenotonsillectomy.

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