 The following information on studies and related
articles in popular and scientific publications is provided as a
monthly resource to patients and professionals seeking up-to-date information on sarcoidosis. While results from individual studies may be encouraging, readers
should keep in mind that additional studies may be needed to
verify findings. Bookmark this page and check back each month!
FSR's Research Grants Program is the nation's first
privately funded program for sarcoidosis research. Learn more about FSR
funded research.
| 1 May
2009 |
FSR Announces
Awards for Abstract Excellence Presented at the ATS Annual
Meeting in San Diego
2009 Grant Recipients: Ali Kanchwala (East Carolina University),
Tahuanty Pena, (Wayne State/Detroit Medical Center)
Awarded through
the ATS Clinical Problems Assembly, Dr. Pena's research reviewed
the risk of fungal infections among sarcoidosis patients.
Focused on disease mechanisms and awarded through the ATS
Asthma, Allergy and Immunology Assembly, Dr. Kanchwala's
research investigated the role of a specific antimicrobial
peptide, cathelicidin, in innate immune defenses.
Meet FSR Funded
Researchers.
|
| 1 Mar 2009 |
Neurosarcoidosis: a study of
30 new cases. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry.
2009 Mar; 80(3): 297-304.
This retrospective survey of case
records from nine hospitals in the UK over a 12 year period
evaluated outcomes for a cohort (group) of 30 patients with
neurosarcoidosis. Thirteen patients had biopsy confirmed
disease, making this one of the largest series of NS patients.
The authors found that the most frequent features were
headaches, visual failure, ataxia and vomiting. However,
their findings do not support previously reported associations
of seizures with a poor long-term outcome.
|
| 16 Feb 2009 |
Environmental triggers and
susceptibility factors in idiopathic granulomatous diseases. Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2008 Dec;29(6):610-9. Epub
2009 Feb 16.
The authors
conclude that although recent findings reinforce the hypothesis
that transmissible agents, particularly mycobacteria, may be
causative in some sarcoidosis cases, the matter remains
controversial due to the inability to consistently isolate
microorganisms in pathological specimens. Whatever the etiology,
they suggest that future studies focus on specific disease
phenotypes to identify more homogeneous populations for
analysis. Unraveling how genetic risk factors and environmental
triggers interact to determine the disease is challenging but
will inevitably have an impact on both diagnostic and
therapeutic strategies in granulomatous lung diseases.
|
| 1 Feb
2009 |
FSR Announces the 2009
KISS Investigator Award
2009 Recipient: Lobelia Samavati, MD (Wayne State University)
Dr. Samavati is an Assistant
Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and Pulmonary
Critical Care Medicine at Wayne State University. She has
extensive experience in both basic and translational research
and recently received a jointly sponsored FSR-ATS award for
research investigating the role of specific proteins in
sarcoidosis as well as genetic abnormalities associated with
this disease. Meet
Dr. Samavati
|
| 1 Jan 2009 |
Cardiac Sarcoidosis. Am Heart J. 2009 Jan;157(1):9-21. Epub 2008 Nov 12.
Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is a
rare but potentially fatal condition that may present with a
wide range of clinical manifestations including congestive heart
failure, conduction abnormalities, and most notably, sudden
death. Recent advances in imaging technology allow easier
detection of CS, but the diagnostic guidelines with inclusion of
these techniques have yet to be written. It has become clear
that minimally symptomatic or asymptomatic cardiac involvement
is far more prevalent than previously thought. Because of the
potential life-threatening complications and potential benefit
of treatment, all patients diagnosed with sarcoidosis should be
screened for cardiac involvement. Patients with CS and symptoms
such as syncope need an aggressive workup for a potentially
life-threatening etiology.
|
| 1 Dec 2008 |
Antioxidant status associated
with inflammation in sarcoidosis: A potential role for
antioxidants. Respir Med. 2009
Mar;103(3):364-72. Epub 2008 Nov 17.
Researchers assessed antioxidant
and inflammatory status in sarcoidosis and the potential of the
flavenoid quercetin to mitigate the occurring inflammation.
Their results suggest sarcoidosis patients might benefit from
antioxidant supplementation not only by empowering the
relatively low protection against ROS but also by reducing
inflammation. |
Additional articles can be found in the Research News Archive. |
