Asthma

Asthma is usually managed by treating symptoms, but new research shows a potential way to target a root cause of the disease. A molecule prevented structural changes in the airways of asthmatic mice and eliminated their symptoms in weeks.

Corticosteroid inhalers are a common treatment for asthma, but patients with severe asthma don’t respond well to it. Now scientists have identified a mechanism that seems to block the drugs, and importantly, a potential way to bypass the problem.

Asthma is a very common condition and, while it’s treatable, there’s always a need for new options. Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have now found that an inflammatory “off switch” molecule could help treat severe asthma.

Scientists in Japan investigating new treatments for asthma have made a promising discovery, finding that a fermented soybean product can help temper inflammation associated with the condition in animal models.

Most asthma sufferers will know their symptoms are often worse at night. But why is this the case? A fascinating study has put more than a dozen asthma patients through two rigorous experiments and found the body’s circadian clock may be responsible.

A new article is reporting successful results from preclinical tests for a unique asthma vaccine. The results indicate the vaccine generates antibodies against the inflammatory molecules known to cause severe asthma.

An international team of scientists has identified a protein in the lungs that offers a new target for asthma treatments, along with another common condition affected by inflammation in the lungs, in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

People with chronic respiratory disease tend to produce thicker forms of mucus and scientists have now uncovered one of the key reasons why, raising new treatment possibilities for conditions like asthma, cystic fibrosis and COPD.

A newly published longitudinal study out of Canada has found a strong association between frequent use of household cleaning products and an increased risk of children developing asthma in the first three years of life.

Asthma and other allergic reactions are increasingly common today, and while manageable there’s currently no cure. Now, researchers at Yale University have found a new potential pathway for treatment, targeting cellular "gatekeepers" called microRNA.

Much like the gut, skin and mouth, our respiratory system is home to its own unique microbial population. Intriguing new research has now found a link between specific bacterial populations in the upper airways and the severity of asthma symptoms.

Diagnosing asthma in small children is often challenging, as standard measures such as lung function tests can't be used below a certain age. A new blood-analysis device could help, however, delivering definitive results in less than two hours.