Patricia Inácio, PhD,  science writer—

Two talks, presented today at the 30th Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (NACFC), focused on the role of nutrition in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). In a first presentation, “Have we journeyed to Junk?,” Tamarah Katz, MSc (Nutr&Diet), with the Sydney Children’s Hospital, quantified how much core (e.g., fruit, vegetables) and non-core foods (e.g., snacks, sweetened beverages) contribute to…

Kalydeco (ivacaftor), an approved therapy for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with a specific mutation, improves insulin secretion in those with CF-related diabetes, researchers led by Ronald Rubenstein, MD, with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, found. The mechanism underlying this benefit, however, remains unknown. The results were presented today at the 30th Annual North American…

In a talk presented today, Charles Esther Jr., MD, PhD, from UNC Chapel Hill, identified the loss of airway hydration as the first triggering factor in young children with cystic fibrosis (CF). The talk, titled “Mucus Dehydration as the Initiating Defect in Early CF Airways Disease,” was presented at the 30th Annual…

Recommendations by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) on enternal tube feeding for patients were supported by Jillian Sullivan, MD, from the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital today at the 30th Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference in Orlando, Florida. Sullivan’s presentation,“Role of the Gastroenterologist in Enteral Tube Feedings,” was part of a symposium…

In today’s symposium “Growing Older With CF” at the 30th Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (NACFC) in Orlando, Florida, Cathy Chacon, RN, from National Jewish Health, presented a discussion about integrating routine screenings into overall healthcare for aging CF patients. The session was titled “Recommended Screenings for Adults with CF.”…

In a recent symposium, scientists discussed the increased importance of physical therapy in addressing cystic fibrosis-associated muscle impairments and urinary incontinence. The presentation, titled “Posture, Pelvic Floor & Pistons: A Look Beyond ‘Kegels’ to Treat Urinary Incontinence,” was given today at the Symposium “Growing Older With CF” at the 30th…

In a recent presentation, researchers showed how Kalydeco (ivacaftor) is an effective therapy in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with pancreatic insufficiency, improving the patients’ pulmonary function and weight, along with other clinical parameters. The presentation, “Improvement in weight, pulmonary function and other outcomes with 3-month Ivacaftor treatment differed by exocrine pancreatic…

Young adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) are particularly vulnerable to depression. As a consequence, these patients may have low rates of adherence to treatments and a severely impaired quality of life, researchers report. The study, “Associations between adherence, depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life in young adults with…

Platelets  circulating in the blood of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients do not contribute to the increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines known to exist in these patients, and which   aggravate the chronic inflammation that marks the disease, researchers reported. Their study, “Decreased TGF-β1 and VEGF Release in Cystic Fibrosis Platelets: Further Evidence for Platelet…

Adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) show improvements in lung function decline when treated with a high dosage of tiotropium bromide taken over a long term (24 months). Patients with cystic fibrosis often succumb to chronic lung disease, the leading cause of death among cystic fibrosis patients. Chronic lung disease is often…