As a chronic disease that causes difficulties in breathing, persistent coughing, thick mucus and wheezing, most patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) struggle to manage the symptoms, often making exercise extremely difficult. 23 year-old Crystal Park, however, decided to take control of her body and the disease and, despite the difficulties,…

In a recent study published in the journal BioMedical Engineering OnLine, a research team from the University of Rio de Janeiro assessed the effectiveness of Forced Oscillation Technique for the evaluation of biomechanical lung function changes in patients with Cystic Fibrosis. With a mortality rate of 85%,…

Branching mini-lung. Credit: Nick Hannan, University of Cambridge The creation of a pair of mini-lungs was successfully completed by a group of investigators at the University of Cambridge and may revolutionize the treatment of conditions that affect the pulmonary system. The mini-lungs were created as part of a…

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. recently presented preliminary study results of FDA-approved Kalydeco for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) in combination with an investigational drug. Despite the fact that the combined therapy helped improve breathing in CF patients, the outcomes were less significant than expected by analysts, which disappointed investors. Vertex conducted…

Dorothy Andersen, M.D., was the first to write a full report describing cystic fibrosis in 1938, and since her initial writings, gradual improvements have been added to improve CF health management for patients. Technological improvements have assisted doctors and researchers at each step as new therapies, drugs and devices have…

When Julie Goodrow‘s first child was born in 2004, she never imagined that her life would be so different from other new mothers. Just one day after being born, the doctors told Julie that her daughter, Elena, now 11 years old, might suffer from a chronic and progressive disease, but it was…

Photo of the the Narberth Cystic Fibrosis Run The Narberth Cystic Fibrosis Run will celebrate its 20th year on April 25th, with proceeds to fund granting wishes to children suffering from CF and their families. To date, the Take A Breather…

Anthera Pharmaceuticals recently announced that it received a $3 million award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics to support both the manufacturing and clinical development of Sollpura™ (liprotamase), Anthera’s new pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics is an affiliate of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a non-profit organization. Anthera Pharmaceuticals is a…

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated recently received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration for Kalydeco® (ivacaftor) to treat children aged between 2 and 5 who suffer with cystic fibrosis (CF) and carry specific mutations in the CFTR gene. Children who carry one of ten different mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, including G551D,…

It is time to celebrate more birthdays. Patients with cystic fibrosis, an orphan disease affecting fewer than 200,000 individuals throughout the world, are experiencing an increase in longevity. Estimates from a study out of Queen’s University Belfast in the United Kingdom predicts a nearly 80% increase by the year 2025…