BACKGROUND People with cystic fibrosis and pancreatic insufficiency are at risk of fat soluble vitamin deficiency as these vitamins (A, D, E and K) are co-absorbed with fat. Thus, some cystic fibrosis centres routinely administer these vitamins as supplements but the centres vary in their approach of addressing the possible development of deficiencies in these vitamins. Vitamin A deficiency cau...

BACKGROUND Survival from cystic fibrosis is increasing rapidly. Estimates of the extent of this improvement should allow health care facilities to be planned to deal with the expanding population of patients with cystic fibrosis. Estimates of life expectancy are also essential if accurate information on current prognosis is to be given to parents of an affected child, or to prospective parents ...

Cystic fibrosis patients are highly susceptible to infections with non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Especially Mycobacterium abscessus infections are common but reliable diagnosis is hampered by non-specific clinical symptoms and insensitive mycobacterial culture. In the present study we established novel methods for rapid detection and immune characterization of Mycobacterium abscessus infection ...

The effect of cystic fibrosis on caffeine metabolism was studied in young children using the caffeine breath test. Eight children with cystic fibrosis aged 2-6 years and nine age matched controls were studied on a single occasion, and the cumulative percentage of labelled caffeine exhaled as carbon dioxide measured over two hours. This was significantly higher in the patients with cystic fibros...

An understanding of the basic defect in the inherited disorder cystic fibrosis requires cloning of the cystic fibrosis gene and definition of its protein product. In the absence of direct functional information, chromosomal map position is a guide for locating the gene. Chromosome walking and jumping and complementary DNA hybridization were used to isolate DNA sequences, encompassing more than ...

Abdominal ultrasound imaging was performed in 50 children. Thirty nine were proved to have cystic fibrosis while 11 had respiratory infections and thus acted as controls. The pancreas was abnormal in 75% of cystic fibrosis patients aged under 5 years and in 95% over 5 years. In cystic fibrosis patients over 5 years old who had malabsorption, the pancreas was abnormal in 100%. Abnormalities of t...

cystic fibrosis (cf) is an inherited disease that primarily affects the lungs and the digestive system, however, it also affects a number of other organs and systems. more than 90% of mortality of  cf patients is due to lung complications.  healthy lungs are important for a long life for people with cf, we will discuss two important topics for maintaining respiratory health. chronic use of drug...

Pneumothorax is a common complication in cystic fibrosis and is associated with worsening of lung function. However, bilateral simultaneous pneumothorax in cystic fibrosis is a rare condition. We describe the case of a 17-year-old female with cystic fibrosis who presented with spontaneous pneumothorax. Clinically, she presented right-sided chest pain and progressive breathlessness. The pneumoth...

Regulator (ABCC7) Structure Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance John F. Hunt, Chi Wang and Robert C. Ford Perspective The Cystic Fibrosis Gene: A Molecular Genetic Lap-Chee Tsui and Ruslan Dorfman Cystic Fibrosis Status of Fluid and Electrolyte Absorption in M.M. Reddy and M. Jackson Stutts Anion Permeation The CFTR Ion Channel: Gating, Regulation, and Tzyh-Chang Hwang and Kevin L. Kirk P...

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a voluntary, nonprofit, health organization whose mission is "to assure the development of the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease." While substantial progress has been made, as evidenced by a marked increase in the median predicted age of survival, much work remains to be done. Ongoing medical...