Magdalena Kegel,  —

When patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) breathe in small amounts of bile, some bacterial species switch to a chronic infection mode, aiding both bacterial colonization of the airways and the development of antibiotic resistance. The study, “Bile signalling promotes chronic respiratory infections and antibiotic tolerance,” published in the…

Increasing the pH balance of the acidic lung surface liquid found in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, using an inhaled alkaline buffer, helps to kill bacteria in the airways, research from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine found. The study, “Repurposing tromethamine as inhaled therapy to treat…

Because some cystic Fibrosis (CF) clinics often fail to follow published guidelines for the screening and care of diabetes in CF patients, but self-implemented ways can produce better patient outcomes, a recent study suggests that optimal care can differ from recommendations. CF-related diabetes is an increasingly common complication in CF patients, resulting in substantial…

Goiter and hypothyroidism — conditions linked to thyroid gland problems — are no longer major concerns for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), according to recent research showing that only a fraction of patients now have severe thyroid dysfunction, possibly mirroring lesser use of iodine-based drugs. The study, “Thyroid Function in…

ProQR Therapeutics is set to release results from a study on the effect of the investigational drug QR-010 on nasal potential difference – an evaluation of CFTR protein function in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The findings will be presented at the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (NACFC), Oct. 27…

Silencing a gene involved in the processing of the mutant CFTR protein in cystic fibrosis (CF) improved folding and increased the amount of functional protein that reached the plasma membrane — reaching clinically relevant levels when used in combination with the modulator drug VX-809 (lumacaftor). The results, from experiments in…

Pulmonary exacerbations have a negative impact on the general health-related quality of life in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), a study reported, stressing the importance of preventing such flares in this group. Assessing general, as opposed to disease-specific, health-related quality of life measures are needed when comparing different disease conditions and determining the usefulness of…

Two Texas surgical teams recently performed an extremely rare, lungs-and-liver double organ transplant at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center’s William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital. The operation, the first successfully completed in North Texas and only the 75th such surgery in the United States,  gave 25-year-old Josiah…

A Chicago Medical School review explored the scientific evidence behind three natural compounds — genistein, curcumin, and resveratrol — often proposed for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF). The review concluded that while the mechanisms by which these substances function should be further investigated as potential drug treatments, there is little evidence…

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with a fungal infection caused by Scedosporium apiospermum may have a clinical presentation resembling plastic bronchitis. A case report presents this unusual scenario, alerting clinicians to consider such fungus infection when encountering similar cases. Plastic bronchitis is characterized by a dysfunctional flow of lymph fluid, leading to the…