It is said that good things come to those who wait. But when you are waiting for a loved one to get out of surgery, patience has nothing to do with the outcome. Neither does worrying. Fear is difficult to subdue under these circumstances. The longer the wait, the more…

An inhaled form of APN01 (alunacedase alfa), APEIRON Respiratory Therapies (AResT)’s investigational therapy for certain lung diseases, was safe and well-tolerated in healthy people, according to data from a Phase 1 clinical trial. “In addition to meeting all primary [goals] regarding the safety and tolerability of APN01 via a new…

In recognition of Rare Disease Day Feb. 29, Bionews Services launched a social media campaign last month asking patients to describe what makes them rare. Running Feb. 7–29, the #WhatMakesMeRare campaign was aimed at uplifting people with rare diseases by encouraging them to share their stories and perspectives. The…

Cytori Therapeutics recently published a report of 12-month data from the Scleradec-I clinical trial studying hand dysfunction in people with scleroderma. Findings from the 12 patient trial, which was led by Dr. Brigitte Granel and Dr. Guy Magalon of the Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille in France, is titled “Autologous…

In a recent study entitled “Accuracy of invasive arterial pressure monitoring in cardiovascular patients: an observational study” the authors suggest that when evaluating a patient’s cardiovascular system, a non-invasive blood pressure measurement may be more accurate than the standard invasive method to measure arterial pressure. Improved…

Note: This story was updated Sept. 28, 2020, to clarify that Uptravi was being tested as part of an initial triple combination strategy with Opsumit and tadalafil for newly diagnosed patients. An initial triple combination strategy of the oral therapies Uptravi (selexipag), Opsumit (macitentan),…

In a previous column, I shared my son’s battle with weight loss and gain caused by illness. Equally challenging has been his efforts to meet daily water intake goals. How much water a healthy person should drink varies according to height, weight, activity level, and environmental conditions. Helpful online…

In the movie “13 Going on 30,” the character Jenna Rink sits in a closet crying on her 13th birthday. Distressed about her birthday celebrations going awry, Jenna longs to skip her teen years and go directly to the age of 30. “I just want to be 30. Thirty,…

First in a series.  Lung transplantation has an image problem. People often refer to transplant as the “last resort” or a “backup plan,” terms that connote failure. I’m no public relations guru, but I’m pretty well-versed in the success that’s possible with a…

It’s easy to compare friendship to a favorite painting or song when making a personal connection through experience, emotion, fear, or hope. But allow me to take the comparison a bit deeper. You don’t need to meet an artist to feel moved by their painting or lyrics to a song,…

When I was younger, I created what I call my “time capsule.” I made a point of preserving moments that felt beautiful, thrilling, or special by fully engaging all my senses, while also taking note of my emotions. In those fleeting instances, it felt as if I had frozen time.

Editor’s note: Charity Tillemann-Dick, soprano, former PHA spokeswoman, and two-time double-lung transplant recipient, reflects on her upcoming book, the writing process, and looking forward. This Q&A is a continuation of her interview ahead of the release of her book, “The Encore: A Memoir…