Somi Igbene, PhD, science writer —

Somi graduated from Imperial College London in 2011 with a PhD in cellular and molecular immunology. She worked as a medical writer at several medical communications agencies in London, including Core Medica. Besides science writing, Somi works as a registered associate nutritionist, helping adults and children improve their diets to prevent type 2 diabetes.

Articles by Somi Igbene

Gastrointestinal Symptoms Common in CF; Women Most Affected

Adults and children with cystic fibrosis (CF) frequently have moderate to severe gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as fullness and bloating, and women are primarily affected, new research suggests. GI-targeted medications were largely not effective and both age groups reported being highly dissatisfied with them. The study, “Multicentre prospective…

Pulmonary Flares Raise Risk of Death, Lung Transplant With CFRD

Pulmonary exacerbations — the flares that cause a sudden worsening in respiratory symptoms — contribute to the higher mortality and lung transplant rates seen in people with cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD), an analysis of adults in a U.K. CF registry reported. “These findings have important implications for clinical teams.

Trikafta Treatment Clears Aspergillus Fungus in CF: Pilot Study

Trikafta, a triple therapy combining elexacaftor, tezacaftor, and ivacaftor, cleared Aspergillus fungus in the lungs and prevented severe infections in children and adults with cystic fibrosis (CF), a pilot study found. “These preliminary results are very encouraging and support the hypothesis that initiation of [Trikafta] therapy rapidly improves…

Regular Antibiotic Use in CF Linked to More Cases of Rash, Swelling

Regular use of antibiotics to treat persistent infections is linked with hypersensitivity reactions in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF), a new study has found. Specifically, “the risk is highly associated with the number of cumulative exposures to antibiotics and increasing age,” the researchers wrote. And intravenous, or into-the-vein, administration…

Reducing Trikafta Dose May Ease Mental Side Effects, Study Reports

Instead of stopping Trikafta treatment, reducing the dose and providing psychological support may reduce or resolve mental health side effects, including depression, anxiety, and brain fog in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), a new study reports. “It was reassuring that dose adjustments, in conjunction with psychological support and…