Lung Transplantation and COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the lung transplant landscape. Immunosuppressants, comorbidities, and lack of response to vaccines put previous lung transplant recipients at high risk if infected with coronavirus, causing great concern and need for precautions. At the same time, COVID is a catalyst for lung transplantation in a small but growing number of patients. Continue Reading >
Case Study: Bullous Emphysema
A 59-year-old man presented to the pulmonary clinic at Temple Lung Center for initial evaluation of shortness of breath. He had had minimal contact with healthcare providers over the prior 30 years. He reported a 40 pack-year smoking history and stated that he had quit smoking about one year prior to his presentation. He noted difficulty breathing with minimal exertion and was unable to do his own grocery shopping. Continue Reading >
COVID-19: Lessons from the Pandemic
As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in Philadelphia, Temple physicians had already been in touch with international colleagues for months and knew it was crucial to share what we had learned. We formed the Temple University COVID-19 Research Group with the aim of analyzing and broadcasting key findings coming out of both clinical experiences and pivotal clinical trials taking place at Temple Health. Continue Reading >
“Breathing Lung” Technology Could Expand Transplant Availability
Tens of thousands of people in the United States are in need of a lung transplant, and they often must wait for months or years before a donor lung becomes available. FDA expanded approval of the TransMedics Organ Care System for Lung, or OCS™ Lung, may help increase the pool of available donor lungs for transplant. Continue Reading >
Alveolar Epithelial Regeneration May Hold Key to Emphysema Treatment
Understanding how alveolar epithelial cells regenerate is crucial for developing new therapeutic strategies for emphysema. Beata Kosmider, MS, PhD, at the Center for Inflammation and Lung Research has been awarded a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) grant to study alveolar type II (ATII) cell injury and repair in emphysema. Continue Reading >