Copyright 2009 Medical News Today Latest Cystic Fibrosis News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/cystic_fibrosis/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156229.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156229.php An otherwise effective treatment for cystic fibrosis places patients at a high risk of sensorineural hearing loss, according to new research published in the July edition of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). Cystic Fibrosis Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156013.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156013.php One-step screening for both genetic and chromosomal abnormalities has come a stage closer as scientists announced that an embryo test they have been developing has successfully screened cells taken from spare embryos that were known to have cystic fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156009.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156009.php Women with cystic fibrosis can have fertility treatment to help them have babies without any long-term adverse effects on either themselves or their children, according to new research presented at the 25th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Amsterdam. Until relatively recently, cystic fibrosis (CF) was a death sentence and most people with the disease died by the time they reached their teenage years. Cystic Fibrosis Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155844.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155844.php An article in Science magazine this month highlights several promising new CF therapies, including VX-770 and VX-809 developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, as part of a look back at key moments in CF research since the discovery of the CF gene 20 years ago. The article notes the CF Foundation's role in scientific discoveries: "The CF Foundation had been instrumental in funding the gene hunt and subsequent CF research, raising and investing tens of millions of dollars. Cystic Fibrosis Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155756.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155756.php An article published Online First and in an upcoming edition of The Lancet reports the findings of the INSPIRE trial on treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) with interferon gamma-1b (Ifn-g1b). It is written by Professor Talmadge E King Jr, of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), USA and his team. Results show no improvement in survival compared with placebo. There is no effective treatment for IPF which is a fatal disease. Clinical Trials / Drug Trials Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154223.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154223.php Luminex Corporation (NASDAQ: LMNX), the worldwide leader in multiplexed solutions, today announced that it has launched two new cystic fibrosis (CF) tests in Europe, the xTAG® Cystic Fibrosis 39 Kit v2 and xTAG® Cystic Fibrosis 71 Kit v2, as CE IVD Marked products under the European Directive on In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices. Cystic Fibrosis Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153995.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153995.php New legislation introduced would allow patients with rare diseases to participate in clinical drug studies without losing their eligibility for government healthcare coverage. The "Improve Access to Clinical Trials Act" is co-sponsored by Representatives Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Cliff Stearns (R-FL) and 30 members of the House of Representatives. Cystic Fibrosis Fri, 29 May 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151857.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151857.php Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced the initiation of a Phase 3 registration program for VX-770, an investigational Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) potentiator that targets the defective CFTR protein that causes cystic fibrosis (CF). Cystic Fibrosis Wed, 27 May 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151453.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151453.php Sections of proteins previously thought to be disordered may in fact have an unexpected biological role - providing certain proteins room to move - according to a study published by researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center in this month's issue of the journal Structure (Cell Press). Biology / Biochemistry Wed, 20 May 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150782.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150782.php In a Phase III study, TIP, an inhaled investigational formulation of tobramycin, improved lung function (as measured by FEV1) in cystic fibrosis patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) infection, compared to placebo. Cystic Fibrosis Mon, 18 May 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150388.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150388.php Cystic fibrosis patients may benefit from a new therapy that increases airway hydration, preventing the buildup of mucous, which is a key factor in the disease, according to researchers at Parion Sciences in Durham, N.C. The research was presented on Sunday, May 17, during the American Thoracic Society's 105th International Conference in San Diego. Cystic Fibrosis Wed, 13 May 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149810.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149810.php Current CIHR-funded research: Should children with chronic conditions such as cystic fibrosis and asthma have a right to participate in any medical decisions made about their treatment? Dr. Donna Koller, a professor at Ryerson University and adjunct scientist at SickKids in Toronto, believes so. Pediatrics / Children's Health Tue, 12 May 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149618.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149618.php The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation announced the launch of GREAT STRIDES, a national walk that generates critical funds for life-saving cystic fibrosis (CF) research. The 2009 goal of GREAT STRIDES, the largest CF fundraiser, is to raise $40 million. Tens of thousands of walkers are expected to turn out at 600 sites nationwide from now until June. The greatest number of walks takes place the weekend of May 16-17. May is National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month. Cystic Fibrosis Tue, 05 May 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148870.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148870.php An innovative treatment for infections of the respiratory tract in cystic fibrosis patients has received orphan drug designation in the US. Axentis Pharma of Zurich, Switzerland announced today that this sought-after designation has been granted to its product candidate Fluidosomes-tobramycin, a therapeutic that will soon be tested in Phase II clinical trials. Cystic Fibrosis Tue, 05 May 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148737.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148737.php Pharmaceutical company Pharmaxis (ASX: PXS; Nasdaq: PXSL) is pleased to announce positive results of its recently completed international Phase III trial of Bronchitol(TM) in people with cystic fibrosis. The study represents one of the largest clinical trials conducted in cystic fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis Fri, 01 May 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148410.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148410.php An innovative treatment for infections of the respiratory tract in cystic fibrosis patients has received orphan drug designation in the US. Axentis Pharma of Zurich, Switzerland announced that this sought-after designation has been granted to its product candidate Fluidosomes-tobramycin, a therapeutic that will soon be tested in Phase II clinical trials. The company has now been granted orphan drug designation for this candidate in both Europe and the US. Cystic Fibrosis Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148219.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148219.php In a seminar published Online first and in a future edition of The Lancet the authors, Dr Brian O'Sullivan, from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA, and Dr Steven Freedman, at Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA discuss the issues of cystic fibrosis (CF) treatments. Cystic Fibrosis Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147960.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147960.php Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic disease that affects organs such as the liver, lungs, pancreas, and intestines. It disrupts the body's salt balance, leaving too little salt and water on the outside of cells and causing the thin layer of mucus that usually keeps the lungs free of germs to become thick and sticky. This mucus is difficult to cough out, and it clogs the lungs and airways, leading to infections and damaged lungs. Cystic Fibrosis Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147886.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147886.php Three reports describing advances in cystic fibrosis genetic testing appear in the May 2009 issue of The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics. Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease that affects mucus secretions in the lungs, liver, pancreas, and intestines. Approximately 1 in 4000 children born in the United States is affected with cystic fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147755.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147755.php Quest Diagnostics scientists provide new insights into genetic factors affecting the accuracy and quality of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) carrier and newborn screening in three separate articles published in the May 2009 issue of The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX) is the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services. Cystic Fibrosis Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147627.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147627.php Dartmouth Medical School researchers have devised a novel approach for thwarting the relentless bacterial infections that thrive in the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis (CF), unlocking new possibilities against a tenacious and toxic hallmark of the common genetic disease. Combining a mainstay antibiotic with drugs to deprive the bacteria of iron, which facilitates their persistent growth, appears to boost infection killing, they found. Cystic Fibrosis Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147292.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147292.php New research commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) programme will assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of methods used to treat lung infections caused by an organism called Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) in children and adults with cystic fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis Wed, 22 Apr 2009 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146993.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146993.php The bacteria responsible for chronic infections in cystic fibrosis patients use one of the sugars on the germs' surface to start building a structure that helps the microbes resist efforts to kill them, new research shows. Scientists have determined that the bacterial cell-surface sugar, a polysaccharide called Psl, is anchored on the surface of the bacterium as a helix, providing a structure that encourages cell-to-cell interaction. Cystic Fibrosis Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146934.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146934.php VIROLOGY: New gene regions linked with susceptibility to HIV-1-associated kidney disease HIV-1-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is a kidney disease that occurs commonly in individuals infected with HIV-1. Several studies have linked variants of genes expressed in kidney cells known as podocytes to HIVAN. Biology / Biochemistry Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145506.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145506.php By modifying the properties of the common antibiotic gentamicin, researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have developed what could become an effective treatment for many human genetic diseases, including cystic fibrosis (CF), Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Usher Syndrome and numerous cancers. The findings were published online March 23rd by the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. Genetics