Slight Elevations in Bilirubin Tied to Lower Death Risk

By Todd Neale, Staff Writer, MedPage Today

Even within the normal range, higher bilirubin levels appear to be associated with reduced risks of lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and death, a longitudinal, prospective analysis of a large database showed. 

Although the study cannot establish causality for any of the relationships, there is some experimental evidence that bilirubin has benefits for respiratory health because of its cytoprotective properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative effects, according to the researchers.

H.R. 168: To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment... (GovTrack.us)

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Sponsor:	Rep. Clifford Stearns [R-FL6]hide cosponsors Cosponsors: John Lewis [D-GA5]
Text:	The text of this legislation is not yet available on GovTrack. It may not have been made available by the Government Printing Office yet.
Status:	Introduced Jan 5, 2011 Referred to Committee View Committee Assignments Reported by Committee ... House Vote ... Senate Vote ... Signed by President ... This bill is in the first step in the legislative process. Introduced bills and resolutions first go to committees that deliberate, investigate, and revise them before they go to general debate. The majority of bills and resolutions never make it out of committee. [Last Updated: Jan 8, 2011 6:17AM]
Last Action:	Jan 5, 2011: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Current Status

The Safety of Tiotropium — The FDA’s Conclusions

Theresa M. Michele, M.D., Simone Pinheiro, Sc.D., and Solomon Iyasu, M.D., M.P.H. - New England Journal of Medicine

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death worldwide, and the rate of COPD-related death is increasing.¹ No current drug therapy alters the progressive decline in lung function that characterizes this disease. In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of tiotropium delivered by the HandiHaler device, the first long-acting anticholinergic bronchodilator for treatment of COPD. Trials supporting tiotropium’s approval demonstrated sustained bronchodilation over a 24-hour period. More recent studies have shown that treatment with the tiotropium HandiHaler reduces COPD exacerbations. Concerns have been raised, however, about tiotropium’s safety. In particular, disparate sources have identified stroke, cardiovascular events, and death — which have been studied as individual or composite end points — as possible adverse outcomes.