Smoking / Lung / Asthma

More than 1 billion people worldwide smoke tobacco regularly, and it's estimated that more than 20 million Americans have the lung disease asthma. Hundreds of thousands of Americans die every year due to lung-related diseases.

The Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine trains pulmonary physicians, physician-scientists and pre- and postdoctoral basic scientists in physiology, cell biology, and molecular biology of the respiratory system.

The Division enjoys extensive support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the form of numerous individual research grants, program project and SCOR grants, and an institutional training grant that supports graduate students and Ph.D. and M.D. postdoctoral fellows.

The clinical facilities of the affiliated hospital system — Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children's Hospital, both of BJC HealthCare — together with more than 14,000 square feet of research space and a stimulating intellectual environment, provide an ideal setting in which to obtain training in diagnosis and treatment of patients with lung disease and in the basic mechanisms of lung function.

The Division is responsible for a full spectrum of patients with pulmonary disorders. Specific centers of excellence now include asthma, cystic fibrosis, lung transplantation, critical care medicine, pulmonary vascular disease, pulmonary emphysema, sleep disorders and many more.

The stories and experts below provide can more information pertaining to smoking, asthma and lung disease.

Faculty Experts:

Showing 3 Smoking / Lung / Asthma Experts.

Ramaswamy Govindan Assistant Professor of Medicine, Medical Oncology Govindan is developing novel Phase II studies for patients with lung cancer and esophageal cancer. He is in the process of developing collaborative studies predicting chemoresponsiveness in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. In addition, he is working with physicians from the Departments of ... Expertise: clinical trials for cancer, Lung cancer, medical oncology, esophageal cancer Media assistance: (314) 286-0141 / ericsong@wustl.edu

Michael Holtzman Selma and Herman Seldin Professor of Medicine Holtzman Holtzman is renowned for his research into the underlying cause of asthma, and has proposed a new model of the disease that incorporates the role of a viral response early in life. Expertise: airway diseases, allergies, asthma, pulmonary disease, respiratory disease, viral response Media assistance: (314) 286-0141 / ericsong@wustl.edu

H. James Wedner Professor of Medicine Wedner is known for his clinical treatment and prevention of asthma and allergies. Expertise: allergies, Asthma, mold allergy, cat dander, animal allergy, pet allergy, pet dander Media assistance: /

Showing 3 Smoking / Lung / Asthma Experts.

News Stories & Tip Sheets:

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The atopic march Researchers discover why eczema often leads to asthma May 18, 2009 -- Top: normal lungs. Bottom: asthmatic lungs. Download Many young children who get a severe skin rash develop asthma months or years later. Doctors call the progression from eczema, or atopic dermatitis, to breathing problems the atopic march. Now scientists at the School of Medicine have uncovered what might be the key to atopic march. They've shown that a substance secreted by damaged skin circulates through the body and triggers asthmatic symptoms in allergen-exposed laboratory mice.

Drug-free treatment for uncontrollable asthma New procedure alleviates symptoms in people with severe asthma May 18, 2009 -- A new drug-free treatment for asthma has been shown to be effective in an international study of patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma. The results showed statistically significant improvements in quality of life and reductions in asthma attacks and emergency room visits for patients who underwent the treatment.

Asthma testing Washington University physicians provide free asthma screening at Science Center May 11, 2009 -- If you've regularly been coughing, wheezing or short of breath, you may want to get tested for asthma at the Saint Louis Science Center on Saturday, May 16, 2009. As part of a nationwide program, Washington University School of Medicine physicians will be at the Science Center to test lung function and answer questions about asthma. The screenings are free.

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Related News Clips:

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Show More Smoking / Lung / Asthma Clips

Revealed: Secret allergy triggers CNNhealth.com and 1 others June 16, 2009 -- You could blame weeds, trees, and grasses if you start itching, sneezing, coughing, and wheezing this fall. But the usual suspects aren't the only triggers. A host of household items candles, chemicals, stuffed animals, and spices may be the real culprits. Includes advice from WUSTL allergy and immunology professor James Wedner.

Control your DNA destiny MSNBC.com March 12, 2009 -- Some genetic traits are easier to defy than others. Others, such as cancer or diabetes, are not so simple to escape. Advice on how you can reduce your risk with proven tips for protecting your health from head to toe. WUSTL surgery professor Ming You, director of the Chemoprevention Program at WUSTL's Siteman Cancer Center, comments on the role heredity plays in asthma, allergies and lung cancer.

Secret allergy triggers -- revealed! CNN.com Oct. 29, 2008 -- A look at allergy triggers other than the usual suspects. Includes comments by WUSTL allergy and immunology chief James Wedner.

Coated ventilator tubes cut pneumonia threat MSNBC and 6 others Aug. 20, 2008 -- Ventilator tubes treated with silver to reduce infections cut the risk of pneumonia in gravely ill patients by 36 percent compared with similar, untreated tubes, according to a WUSTL study published in JAMA. WUSTL pulmonary specialist Marin Kollef and colleagues conducted the study.

China trying different things to improve air quality for Olympics CBS Evening News July 17, 2008 -- The Beijing Olympics begin in just over three weeks, and the Chinese are trying to clear the air. In a recent test, Beijing's air failed to meet international health guidelines six days out of seven. WUSTL chemical engineering professor Jay Turner comments.