A study by Upstate Medical University found that recreational cannabis use is associated with a significant 96% decrease in the odds of subjective cognitive decline among adults. RT’s Three Key Takeaways: The study found that recreational cannabis use was associated with a significant 96% reduction in the odds of experiencing subjective cognitive decline compared to non-users.  This research uniquely focused on middle-aged and older adults and considered multiple facets of cannabis use: the type of use (medical vs. non-medical), the frequency, and the method of consumption (smoking, vapi ..read more

The injection lowered obstructive sleep apnea severity by up to nearly two-thirds in obese adults, with and without PAP therapy, in two phase 3 trials. RT’s Three Key Takeaways:  Tirzepatide achieved a mean apnea-hypopnea index reduction of up to 63% (about 30 fewer events per hour), meeting all primary and key secondary endpoints in two phase 3 clinical trials. The drug was effective in lowering the apnea-hypopnea index in patients who were and were not using positive airway pressure therapy over a 52-week treatment period. In addition to improving sleep apnea symptoms, tirzepatide led ..read more

Higher body mass index and increased physical activity can assist in overcoming lung function deficits in early childhood, researchers find. RT’s Three Key Takeaways: Higher levels of physical activity and a higher body mass index at age 4 are associated with accelerated lung function growth. This suggests that being active and having a higher BMI can help overcome early lung function deficits in children. The study identified four distinct growth trajectories for lung function among children aged 4-18: a low trajectory, a normal trajectory, a high trajectory, and a “catch-up” trajectory. The ..read more

Researchers have identified a molecular pathway that leverages the body’s natural healing processes to potentially reverse idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. RT’s Three Key Takeaways Researchers found that the molecular brake called MKP1, which is expressed at lower levels in fibroblasts from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is crucial for deactivating myofibroblasts that form scar tissue. When MKP1 is eliminated, fibrosis persists instead of resolving naturally, indicating that MKP1 is necessary for the spontaneous resolution of fibrosis. The study demonstrated that MKP1 helps ..read more

By Edwin Coombs, MA, RRT, NPS, ACCS, FAARC A recent study published in Respiratory Care examined performance characteristics of high-frequency infant ventilators and may raise concerns over how measurement accuracy can be affected, with respect to effective tidal volume delivery and/or impact on delivered pressure/amplitude.  In response, this brief article will review gas laws and how their respective variables can have an impact on the delivery of mechanical breaths. A Review of Some Basics The ideal gas law defines a relationship between pressure, volume, temperature, and the number o ..read more

Nearly one-quarter of adults age 50 or older hospitalized with RSV experienced an acute cardiac event, including those with no previous cardiovascular disease. RT’s Three Key Takeaways Underappreciated Severity of RSV in Adults: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been historically underestimated in its severity among adults, despite causing significant morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs, particularly in high-risk groups like older adults with chronic medical conditions. Prevalence of Acute Cardiac Events: Among hospitalized adults aged 50 years or older with RSV infection, nearly o ..read more

Dynarex adds new suite of portable respiratory solutions to its Resp-O2 product line, including a compressor for high-flow therapy, and more. RT’s Three Key Takeaways Dynarex Corp has expanded its Dynarex Resp-O2 respiratory therapy line to include portable solutions, catering to the evolving needs of patients and providers. Key features of the new offerings include a lightweight and durable 50 PSI compressor for high-flow therapy, a home care portable suction unit with a rechargeable battery, lightweight oxygen cylinders, and an Oxygen D Cylinder Shoulder Bag for comfortable administrat ..read more

Antibiotics do not reduce the severity or duration of symptoms in patients with lower respiratory tract infections, even if a bacterial infection is present, according to new research. RT’s Three Key Takeaways: The study, conducted by researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center, analyzed patients in US primary or urgent care settings who sought treatment for lower respiratory tract infections, specifically examining the impact of antibiotics on the severity and duration of their symptoms. Despite the common practice of prescribing antibiotics for these conditions, the study found that ..read more

A study based on data from over 27,000 pediatric patients tested during the pandemic finds no evidence that COVID-19 increases the risk of developing asthma in children. RT’s Three Key Takeaways: The retrospective cohort study conducted by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia included over 27,000 pediatric patients who underwent PCR testing for SARS-COV-2 from March 1, 2020, to Feb 28, 2021. These patients were followed for an 18-month period to monitor for new asthma diagnoses. The analysis revealed that testing positive for SARS-COV-2 did not significantly affect the likelihood of these chil ..read more

A phase 3 clinical trial, ivacaftor (Kalydeco, Vertex Pharma) was generally safe to administer to infants aged 1-month to <4-months old, according to research published in Journal of Cystic Fibrosis. According to results, ivacaftor improved CFTR function, pancreatic function, intestinal inflammation, and growth parameters over the 24-week treatment period.1 Adverse events were reported in four of seven infants (57.1%), but researchers say these were all mild in severity and none were considered related to ivacaftor.1 “Since pharmacokinetics was predictable, an ivacftor dosing regimen in inf ..read more