News

Researchers have created an automated way to engineer a more stable peptide-based therapy, which could inform the production of new and improved treatments for diseases like pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

The research was led by Yousef Al-Abed, PhD, co-director of the Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, and detailed in a recent study, titled “Thiocarbazate building blocks enable the construction of azapeptides for rapid development of therapeutic candidates,” published in the journal Nature Communications. read more

“Intimacy doesn’t have all that much to do with backseats of cars. Real intimacy is brushing your teeth together.” ― author and screenwriter Gabrielle Zevin

Feelings of intimacy can help us feel more connected to the people we love. Intimacy is a decision. It’s often a risk, too, because it demands vulnerability and authenticity.

When you’re intimate with someone, you feel safe enough to let your guard down and let them see the real you. You may even discover parts of yourself that you haven’t met before. read more

Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson

Day 30 of 30

This is Lauren Thompson‘s story:

My name is Lauren Thompson, and I was born on Jan. 8, 1995. I was a pretty normal child until the age of 7, with surprisingly no symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension. So, at least, we thought.

I played in one season of soccer and, at its end, had my normal pediatrician appointment. That was the moment when my journey started. I was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension in May 2002. The doctor gave my family the news and told them I had six months to live. read more

Immune cells called eosinophils help protect against the progression of pulmonary hypertension (PH) by reducing lung inflammation and regulating the growth of muscle cells around blood vessels, a new study indicates.

The study, “Eosinophils Protect Against Pulmonary Hypertension through 14-HDHA and 17-HDHA,” was published in the European Respiratory Journal.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is marked by chronic inflammation around the lungs’ blood vessels, though the specific immunological mechanisms driving this inflammation are incompletely understood. read more

Becky Weiss, left, stands with her daughter, Emily. (Photo courtesy of Becky Weiss)

Day 29 of 30

This is Becky Weiss‘ story:

When my daughter Emily decided to attend college in Texas, I was hesitant to let her go. We were living in Georgia and the school was 800 miles away. What if something happened?  I wouldn’t be able to get to her quickly enough. Keeping her with us was not an option, though. I had to let her spread her wings and fly. I am so glad that I did. Emily spent one semester at college in Texas and grew and learned so much. She realized, though, that she needed to be closer to us. She moved home in January 2020. Thank God she did. The pandemic started a few months later. read more

The identified cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients seen at a specialized care center differed substantially from national registry data, a study revealed.

Most care center patients were diagnosed with PAH associated with connective tissue disorders and exposure to toxins, whereas idiopathic PAH (IPAH), of unknown cause, was most prevalent in the national database.

“Differences in our population may reflect the regional variation of the referral site, but it is noteworthy for its contrast with historically reported [clinical characteristics],” the researchers wrote. read more

Photo courtesy of Shirley Craig

Day 28 of 30

This is Shirley Craig‘s story:

Pulmonary hypertension came into my life over 32 years ago … and I’m still here, surprised and very thankful!

My family, faith, doctors, and PH family has sustained, encouraged, and loved me along the way.

Living in Alaska in 1990 with my husband and son, I noticed extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, and pain in my chest. A trip to the ER over a school break led to a heart catheterization and a “one year left to live” diagnosis. YUK! read more

Isolation from classmates during the pandemic was hard on Evelyn Keltgen. (Photo courtesy of Evelyn Keltgen)

Day 27 of 30

This is Evelyn Keltgen‘s story:

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a very difficult time for everyone, but it has been especially hard on teens in the high-risk category due to health concerns. I’ve had pulmonary hypertension (PH) my entire life, so I’ve never known anything different. I’ve always needed to be very careful about germs so that I don’t get sick.

When the pandemic first hit, I was in seventh grade. My eighth-grade year was by far the most difficult for me. My pulmonary hypertension put me in the high-risk category, so I stayed home from school and did virtual learning. Regular colds take a huge toll on me, as I’m usually sick for over a week, so I can’t imagine what COVID-19 would do to me. read more

Nicole with her daughter, Talitha. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Moores)

Day 26 of 30

This is Nicole Moores’ story:

There are many horrible things I can say about pulmonary hypertension (PH), but today I’ll share some of the good that’s come from my daughter’s diagnosis.

Talitha, my daughter, was diagnosed at just 3 years old. To say the least, that day was one of the most devastating of my life. Since I have only one child, Talitha is my world, and the thought of possibly losing her to this awful disease is absolutely crushing. read more

Treatment with the approved therapy Uptravi (selexipag) safely reduces disease severity and improves heart and lung health in people with pulmonary hypertension (PH), according to a review study.

Researchers recommended that Uptravi be considered for use in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or chronic thromboembolic PH (CTEPH).

“The percentage of patients with hospitalization for worsening of PH was significantly lower in [Uptravi] groups,” the team wrote.

The study, “Selexipag in patients with pulmonary hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials,” was published in the journal Current Problems in Cardiology. read more