Division of Allergy Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Archives
Tracking lung macrophages
May. 4, 2023—A new technique will allow researchers to track subsets of immune cells that patrol and defend the lungs, to better understand the roles of these cells during lung inflammation, infection and injury.
Children’s mystery symptoms may be alpha-gal syndrome
Apr. 13, 2023—A Vanderbilt study found that some children with mystery digestive symptoms may actually have undiagnosed alpha-gal syndrome, commonly known as the red meat allergy linked to tick bites.
Cell-free hemoglobin in pulmonary hypertension
Mar. 6, 2023—Cell-free hemoglobin generated by the lungs may be a therapeutic target for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension, Vanderbilt researchers found.
Diabetes drug may improve asthma
Feb. 21, 2023—New biomarker finding strengthens the case for using GLP-1R agonists to treat patients with Type 2 diabetes who also suffer from asthma.
Penicillin allergy test recommended for pregnant women
Feb. 16, 2023—Vanderbilt experts say getting rid of unnecessary penicillin allergy labels allows women to receive better treatments for common infections during pregnancy and delivery.
Study of two sepsis interventions finds identical outcomes
Feb. 2, 2023—Vanderbilt University Medical Center had a leading role in a large national study designed to compare two early interventions in the treatment of patients with sepsis, the body’s severe response to an uncontrolled infection.
VUMC establishes novel Center for Learning Healthcare
Jan. 26, 2023—Vanderbilt University Medical Center has established a first-of-its-kind Center for Learning Healthcare that will bring together clinicians, health system operations leaders and researchers to generate evidence in the course of health care delivery to continuously improve the quality, value and safety of health care offered to patients.
Vanderbilt mourns loss of ASAP co-founder Murray
Jan. 20, 2023—John Joseph Murray V, MD, PhD, a co-founder of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Asthma, Sinus and Allergy Program (ASAP), died on Jan. 6 at Vanderbilt University Hospital.
Vanderbilt study finds that the most common oxygen saturation targets for hospitalized patients appear equally safe and effective
Oct. 24, 2022—A Vanderbilt study looked at the oxygen saturation target that results in optimal outcomes — number of days alive and free of mechanical ventilation — in 2,500 critically ill adults receiving mechanical ventilation.
New target for lung fibrosis
Oct. 20, 2022—Blocking thromboxane-prostanoid receptor signaling protected animals from lung fibrosis in preclinical models, suggesting a new treatment for IPF — a chronic, progressive lung disorder that often kills within 3-5 years of diagnosis.
Skin pigment affects oxygen monitor
Oct. 11, 2022—Black patients in the ICU were more likely to have low or high blood oxygen levels than white patients, even when a pulse oximeter indicated 92-96% oxygen saturation, Vanderbilt researchers found.
Reduced exercise capacity in ICU survivors
Sep. 22, 2022—ICU survivors who have impaired exercise capacity months after discharge may have damaged muscle mitochondria — the energy powerhouses of the cell, Vanderbilt researchers propose.
