Andrea Lobo,  —

Andrea Lobo is a Science writer at BioNews. She holds a Biology degree and a PhD in Cell Biology/Neurosciences from the University of Coimbra-Portugal, where she studied stroke biology. She was a postdoctoral and senior researcher at the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health in Porto, in drug addiction, studying neuronal plasticity induced by amphetamines. As a research scientist for 19 years, Andrea participated in academic projects in multiple research fields, including stroke, gene regulation, cancer, and rare diseases. She authored multiple research papers in peer-reviewed journals. She shifted towards a career in science writing and communication in 2022.

Articles by Andrea Lobo

Molecules in blood, urine may help detect PH in children with CHD

Two molecules, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), showed a potential to diagnose pulmonary hypertension  early in children with congenital heart disease based on their levels in blood and urine samples examined in a study. 5-HIAA is the main product of the breakdown of serotonin, a…

Economic burden in PAH mainly due to treatment, hospital costs

Healthcare costs were found to be more than eight times higher for people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) compared with patients without the disease in a real-world study — which contributed to the greater economic burden seen for those being treated for PAH. These costs were mainly driven by…

Gemcitabine, chemotherapy for solid tumors, may lead to PAH

Gemcitabine, a chemotherapy given to treat solid cancers, may drive the onset of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients or worsen existing PAH, a recent study reports. Stopping treatment with gemcitabine, with or without a subsequent PAH-approved treatment, led to clinical improvement or disease stabilization for a majority…

Higher Revatio dose not linked to increased mortality in PAH: Trial

Treatment with Revatio (sildenafil) at a higher dose than the recommended and previously approved doses did not significantly increase mortality of adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). That’s according to results from the Phase 3b/4 AFFILIATE trial (NCT02060487), which compared three treatment doses, each given three times…

FeNO levels may help diagnose severe idiopathic PAH: Study

Levels of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) — a measure of how much nitric oxide a person exhales — may be used as a diagnostic tool for severe disease in people with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (iPAH), a study has found. Specifically, patients with FeNO levels lower than 23…

Targeting HIF-2alpha protein may be therapeutic approach for PAH

Findings of a new study into pericytes — cells with multiple functions including immune cell regulation — suggest that targeting a protein known as HIF-2alpha, which is involved in the response to low oxygen conditions, or hypoxia, may be a potential therapeutic approach for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The…

Chiesi, Gossamer to advance seralutinib for PAH, other disorders

Chiesi Group has reached an agreement with Gossamer Bio to develop and market seralutinib for certain types of pulmonary hypertension (PH). The agreement seeks to support the therapy’s ongoing testing in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and to accelerate its development for pulmonary hypertension associated with…

Diet changes may treat pulmonary hypertension, study suggests

A diet poor in two amino acids called glutamine and serine may improve the health of pulmonary blood vessels and reduce the progression of pulmonary hypertension (PH), according to a recent study. Specifically, researchers found that these amino acids are used by cells in blood vessels to produce other…

PM20D1 levels may predict mortality risk in idiopathic PAH

Low levels of PM20D1, a molecule involved in metabolizing lipids, were identified as a risk factor for mortality in people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a study reports. As a result, PM20D1, or peptidase M20 domain containing 1, may be a biomarker of disease prognosis, according to scientists. Lipid…

Two genes identified as potential drivers of PAH with HIV infection

Two genes were identified as potential drivers of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in people with HIV-1 infection in a bioinformatics study, offering new perspectives to uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms that link HIV infection and PAH. The genes ISG15 and IFI27 are established hub genes involved in the type…

Low circALMS1 levels could be prognostic biomarker in PH: Study

Low levels of circular RNA Alstrom syndrome protein 1, or circALMS1, may be associated with poor outcomes with pulmonary hypertension (PH), a study suggests. This may be because low circALMS1 levels promote higher numbers and the migration of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMECs), and reduce the cells’ death. PMECs…