Tag: lungs

High virus count in the lungs drives COVID-19 deaths

A buildup of coronavirus in the lungs is likely behind the steep mortality rates seen in the pandemic, a new study finds. The results contrast with previous suspicions that simultaneous infections, such as bacterial pneumonia or overreaction of the body’s immune defense system, played major roles in heightened risk of death, the investigators say. Led

COVID19's cytokine storm ushers in a local complement storm in the lungs

A new study published in the journal Science Immunology analyzed lung epithelial cells from patients infected with COVID-19 and found the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) induces the complement system as a dangerous weapon for viral infection. The complement system is an extension of the innate immune system to recognize pathogens and remove

COVID-19 and lung cancer have a common pathway, say researchers

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a transmissible viral disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the pathogen responsible for the ongoing global pandemic. The virus was first detected in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019 and to date has caused over 109 million infections worldwide. With over 2.4 million

The Best (and Worst) U.S. Cities for Healthy Lungs

EVERYONE’S BEEN paying much more attention (cough cough COVID-19) to what they’re inhaling these days. And it made us wonder: As a country, what are we inhaling these days? Our research team went deep into the data on 100 major U. S. cities and scored each on several sets of data to determine overall lung

Study helping to repair asthma patients’ lungs

A number of patients who suffer from asthma are bringing their condition under control, increasing their lung function and decreasing the frequency of asthma attacks—all without going to the doctor’s office. The patients involved in a URI College of Nursing professor’s study are benefitting from an emerging trend among nurses to increase patient care by

Shocking difference between healthy lungs and those of a smoker

Watch what cigarettes really do to the lungs: Shocking video shows the difference between healthy organs and those of a pack-a-day smoker WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT  Videos show the black, cancer-ridden lungs of a heavy smoker, failing to inflate This is compared to the healthy, red-coloured lungs of a non-smoker The non-smokers’ lungs filled to full