Digital Medication Adherence Program Found Effective in Kids
Working with LifeBridge Health in Maryland, Emocha Health found good results for its Digital Medication Adherence Program, which uses video technology and scalable human engagement to empower children to take their medication correctly. Asthma inhaler technique errors improved during the first week of the program and went from 80% to under 20% in four weeks. Eighty percent of the children were using their inhalers every day. Inadequate breath-holding was the most comment technique error seen in the trial, and forgetfulness was the most common adherence issue. The study appeared in the Journal of Asthma. Read More
Grant to Fund Studies of Rapid Eye Movement Disorder
An international team of researchers has received a five year, $35.1 million grant from the U.S. National Institute on Aging and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to identify biomarkers that suggest which patients with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep disorder will go on the develop neurodegenerative diseases and how quickly these diseases may progress. “Information that predicts the timing and type of synucleinopathy disorder is almost certainly hidden in one or more of the biomarkers that will be assessed as part of this study,” said Bradley Boeve, MD, a Mayo Clinic neurologist and the grant’s co-principal investigator. “If we can identify biomarkers that predict the future, we can then focus on these biomarkers for upcoming clinical trials designed to delay the onset of or prevent dementia or parkinsonism.” Read More
Movair Launches Advanced Ventilator for Homes and Facilities
Movair has completed the launch of its advanced ventilator, Luisa, for use in homes and institutions. The ventilator, which has been authorized for use through the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization, is portable and compact, and offers the added benefit of high-flow oxygen therapy (HFNC). At just eight pounds, the device has a battery run time of up to 18 hours, includes eight adjustable comfort settings, has a rotatable ten-inch display, and can be programmed in multiple languages. Patients can easily switch between HFNC and noninvasive ventilation with a push of a button. The device is made in Germany. “Increased respiratory patient illness, COVID-19, and product recalls have created a critical need for ventilators in the United States,” said David Shockley, CEO of Movair. “At Movair, we’re committed to advancing life-empowering respiratory therapies that help patients breathe better and live better. The launch of Luisa underscores this.” Read More
Study to Look for Beginnings of Pulmonary Fibrosis
The Three Lakes Foundation is funding new research led by investigators at Vanderbilt University Medical Center that’s aimed at uncovering the early drivers of pulmonary fibrosis (PF). The team will use a state-of-the-art platform to sequence single-cell tissue collected from individuals with a family history of PF. They believe studying biospecimens from pre-symptomatic individuals will provide critical clues as to the origins of the condition and could also lead to the discovery of new therapies that might stop or even reverse disease progression. ”To develop transformative therapies, it is essential to understand what initiates the disease and what drives progression of the disease,” said Jonathan Kropski, MD, assistant professor, department of medicine, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “To do this, research must focus on the very earliest aspect of the disease — before people develop symptoms and before it can be detected on x-rays or CT scans of the lung.” Read More
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Debbie Bunch is an AARC contributor who writes feature articles, news stories, and other content for Newsroom, the AARC website, and associated emailed newsletters. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, photography, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Connect with Debbie by email or on AARConnect or LinkedIn.
