Blog

July 14, 2015

COPD Foundation Release: FDA Approves First COPD Biomarker

The COPD Foundation is extremely pleased to announce that a new clinical biomarker, plasma fibrinogen, has been approved for use in interventional clinical trials in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the nation’s 3rd leading cause of death. This is the first COPD biomarker to receive qualification by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)…

June 30, 2015

In old age, current and former smokers face early lung disease

There may be 35 million older Americans with undiagnosed lung disease due to cigarette smoking, a new study suggests. They don’t meet the criteria for a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but they still suffer significant lung disease and impairment, the researchers report in JAMA Internal Medicine. “We think we can increase their…

June 16, 2015

Level of e-cigarette power contributes to potentially hazardous effects

The higher the power of an e-cigarette, the higher the concentrations of potentially hazardous substances the device produces, including acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde. Those are among the findings presented at an international conference of the American Thoracic Society by lead study author Dr. Daniel Sullivan, an internal medicine resident at the University of Texas Southwestern…

June 02, 2015

Study shows cost-effective expert recommended asthma test underutilized by physicians

Researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have found, for the first time, that spirometry was underutilized for asthma diagnosis and management in U.S. adults from 2001 to 2011, despite it’s accuracy, cost effectiveness and the publication of national guidelines advocating its use. Spirometry is a common test that allows physicians to…

May 19, 2015

Nudging Smokers

In the Issue of the New England Journal of Medicine an investigation of the role of financial incentives and nudges in promoting smoking cessation, with particular emphasis on the importance of loss aversion and pre-commitment is explored. In the past 40 years, we have seen a revolution in thinking about thinking.  The central idea is…

May 05, 2015

Market Forecast 2014-2024: Asthma and COPD Therapies

MD Spiro prides itself on not only offering incredible spirometry products for your practice, but also prides itself on providing articles and industry updates for our customers.  Below is a new study showing you trends, R&D progress, and predicted revenues in Asthma and COPD Therapies. So where’s the asthma and COPD therapies market heading? Visiongain’s…

April 20, 2015

Nationwide Climate Change Initiative Targets COPD and Asthma

Today, is Earth Day.  A statement released by the White House outlines an initiative to combat the health-related effects of climate change, with an emphasis on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.    “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is releasing an Adaptation in Action Report highlighting successful actions state and local…

April 07, 2015

Testing for Inhaled Insulin

Diabetics now have a new option thanks to the breakthrough new medication AFREZZA®, an inhaled insulin now available by prescription.  The labeling for AFREZZA®, mandates spirometry testing (specifically FEV1) to rule out chronic lung disease prior to initiating therapy, six months after initiation and every year thereafter1.  MD Spiro offers a number of spirometer options…