Cystic Fibrosis News and Research

Latest Cystic Fibrosis News and Research

Researchers produce synthetic phages that attack broader range of bacterial strains

Bacteriophages ("phages" for short) are viruses that infect bacteria. Phages are highly host-specific and will typically only infect and kill an individual species or even subspecies of bacteria. Compared to conventional antibiotics, phages do not indiscriminately kill bacteria.

4 Nov 2019

UI scientists are developing new delivery tools for gene editing

News of advances in gene-editing technology raises the prospect of actually using this approach to treat disease in patients. But one of the hurdles that remains is how to deliver these tools to the right cells in the patients safely and efficiently.

31 Oct 2019

Three-drug combination improves lung function, reduces symptoms in CF patients

A phase three clinical trial that UT Southwestern participated in determined that a three-drug combination improved lung function and reduced symptoms in cystic fibrosis patients who have a single copy of the most common genetic mutation for the disease.

31 Oct 2019

Anti-inflammatory agents can safely, effectively reduce symptoms of major depression

Anti-inflammatory agents, such as aspirin/paracetamol, statins, and antibiotics, can safely and effectively curb the symptoms of major depression, finds a pooled analysis of the available evidence, published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

29 Oct 2019

New cystic fibrosis drug now available through NHS England

On October 24, 2019, cystic fibrosis (CF) patients rejoiced at the news that three years of talks between the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals had succeeded in a compromise which could see about 5,000 patients gaining access to a potentially life-saving drug called Orkambi within the next month. Orkambi is perceived to be a ‘wonder drug’ because it helps these patients to breathe easier and better, and can be started as young as two years.

28 Oct 2019

Glycans in mucus are responsible for microbe-taming, study reveals

More than 200 square meters of our bodies -- including the digestive tract, lungs, and urinary tract -- are lined with mucus. In recent years, scientists have found some evidence that mucus is not just a physical barrier that traps bacteria and viruses, but it can also disarm pathogens and prevent them from causing infections.

14 Oct 2019

Combination drug appears to improve lung health in patients with cystic fibrosis, but with caveats

In adolescent and adult patients with cystic fibrosis taking lumacaftor-ivacaftor (ORKAMBI), the combination drug appears to improve lung function and body weight and reduce the need for intravenous antibiotic treatment, according to a French study published online in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

11 Oct 2019

Peripherally inserted central catheters associated with serious allergic reactions in patients

Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) that use a magnetized tip to guide insertion were associated with serious allergic reactions in patients, according to a study published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal for the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. Severe adverse reactions occurred in patients within minutes of PICC insertion.

8 Oct 2019

Study identifies a common denominator that triggers asthma in favorable environments

In recent decades, asthma has become a major public health problem. The exponential increase in asthma cases in industrialized countries over the past 50 years is due to major changes in our environment.

7 Oct 2019

$28 million grant supports Cincinnati Children's role as coordinating center for Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network

The federal agency that oversees a large network of research centers seeking cures for hundreds of rare, disabling and often fatal diseases has named Cincinnati Children's as its new data management and coordinating center.

4 Oct 2019

Fewer than half of U.S. adults get annual flu shot, shows study

So far this calendar year, 1,243 people scattered around 31 states had confirmed measles, the highest number of measles cases reported in the U.S.

3 Oct 2019

Nanoparticles moving through airway mucus may predict severity of COPD

In a proof-of-concept experiment, researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have successfully used microscopic man-made particles to predict the severity of patients' chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by measuring how quickly the particles move through mucus samples.

30 Sep 2019

Smart shirt technology is a promising tool for monitoring lung disease

A smart shirt that measures lung function by sensing movements in the chest and abdomen has proved to be accurate when compared to traditional testing equipment, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress.

30 Sep 2019

New protein could offer a fresh target for cancer treatment

A study has revealed a drug target called the mitoNEET cell protein, which determines how materials are transported from the mitochondria to the rest of the cell.

19 Sep 2019

Researchers explore how talk therapy can help cystic fibrosis patients with mental health problems

Drexel University researchers are exploring how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a type of talk therapy, delivered via telemedicine, may alleviate the anxiety and depression common among cystic fibrosis patients.

7 Sep 2019

Lungs feed deadly bacteria in cystic fibrosis

In cystic fibrosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a much-feared pathogen. The bacterium easily colonizes the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis, leading to chronic infections that are almost impossible to eradicate and are ultimately fatal.

22 Aug 2019

Wearable sensors decode dynamic sweat composition

A new wearable skin sensor developed at the University of California in Berkeley may be very useful to help us understand how the body’s chemical composition changes in a host of situations. For instance, these small patch-like devices could detect the presence of issues like fatigue or dehydration.

19 Aug 2019

Scientists find a potent weapon against antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a big threat to global health, and a growing number of infections are now becoming harder to treat. The usual treatments, like antibiotics used to treat them, becomes less effective. Now, a team of researchers may have found a potent weapon against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can help treat persistent infections.

15 Aug 2019

Powerful weapon discovered to fight antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus bacteria are a major cause of serious infections that often persist despite antibiotic treatment, but scientists at the UNC School of Medicine have now discovered a way to make these bacteria much more susceptible to some common antibiotics.

14 Aug 2019

Three new early-career investigators join federally funded precision medicine initiative

Three new early-career investigators have been selected to be a part of the University of Kansas Medical Center's $11.5 million precision medicine-focused federal grant.

9 Aug 2019

Cystic Fibrosis News and Research

Latest Cystic Fibrosis News and Research

Researchers produce synthetic phages that attack broader range of bacterial strains

UI scientists are developing new delivery tools for gene editing

Three-drug combination improves lung function, reduces symptoms in CF patients

Anti-inflammatory agents can safely, effectively reduce symptoms of major depression

New cystic fibrosis drug now available through NHS England

Glycans in mucus are responsible for microbe-taming, study reveals

Combination drug appears to improve lung health in patients with cystic fibrosis, but with caveats

Peripherally inserted central catheters associated with serious allergic reactions in patients

Study identifies a common denominator that triggers asthma in favorable environments

$28 million grant supports Cincinnati Children's role as coordinating center for Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network

Fewer than half of U.S. adults get annual flu shot, shows study

Nanoparticles moving through airway mucus may predict severity of COPD

Smart shirt technology is a promising tool for monitoring lung disease

New protein could offer a fresh target for cancer treatment

Researchers explore how talk therapy can help cystic fibrosis patients with mental health problems

Lungs feed deadly bacteria in cystic fibrosis

Wearable sensors decode dynamic sweat composition

Scientists find a potent weapon against antibiotic resistance

Powerful weapon discovered to fight antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus

Three new early-career investigators join federally funded precision medicine initiative

Fluidics in Modern Healthcare & Medical Device Innovation

Scaling 3D biology: Automation, imaging, and the future of high-throughput research

How does norepinephrine influence anxiety-related behaviours?

Cystic Fibrosis News and Research

Latest Cystic Fibrosis News and Research

Fluidics in Modern Healthcare & Medical Device Innovation

Scaling 3D biology: Automation, imaging, and the future of high-throughput research

How does norepinephrine influence anxiety-related behaviours?

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