Patricia Inácio, PhD,  science writer—

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…

A recent study confirmed that different structure and composition of airway microbiota (symbiotic helpful and harmful microrganisms) exist in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with stable or declining lung function; and shed new light on the fact that microbiota in stable lungs provides higher resilience to bacteria than lungs in severe function decline.

Individuals carrying the mutated gene for cystic fibrosis (CF) show an increased risk for asthma, in particular CF carriers from Asian countries. The study, “Risk of asthma in heterozygous carriers for cystic fibrosis: A meta-analysis,” was published in the Journal of Cystic Fibrosis. People with CF are known to have a higher…

New research from the University of Iowa’s Pappajohn Biomedical Institute (PBI) suggested that the sticky mucus found in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients is more viscous than usual because the thin layer coating the airways is more acidic in these people, a finding that supports a current therapeutic approach for CF. The study, “Acidic…

Ivacaftor (Kalydeco) treatment improves airway flexibility and capacity in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), according to the results of a study, “Acute administration of ivacaftor to people with cystic fibrosis and a G551D-CFTR mutation reveals smooth muscle abnormalities,” published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation…

Arch Biopartners is collaborating with the University of Cincinnati (UC) for a new drug candidate, AB569, for treating Pseudomonas aeruginosa pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis. Last year, the U.S. FDA granted orphan drug status to Arch Biopartners’ AB569. The company also applied for orphan drug designation from the…

Young children with cystic fibrosis (CF) exhibit a more pro-inflammatory gastrointestinal microbiome, which may underlie impaired nutrient absorption, according to the study “Metagenomic evidence for taxonomic dysbiosis and functional imbalance in the gastrointestinal tracts of children with cystic fibrosis,” published in the journal Scientific…

A recent study describes a new assay, CFseq, that uses dried blood spots to screen for defects in the gene underlying cystic fibrosis (CF) in newborns, and allows for comprehensive, specific, and rapid early detection of the disease. The study, “Next-Generation Molecular Testing of Newborn Dried Blood Spots for Cystic…

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS), a liver-induced lung disorder, may be underdiagnosed in at-risk patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), according to a study titled “Hepatopulmonary Syndrome in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis and Liver Disease,” published in the journal Chest. Cystic fibrosis-associated liver disease (CFLD) is the third cause of mortality among…