LexisNexis SUMMARIES: CYSTIC FIBROSIS

The Gardian. Fight Against Cystic Fibrosis Rages on Across the Nation. May 16, 2006.

When the CF Foundations was founded in 1960, it was nicknamed “65 Roses”, because many of the children diagnosed with this disease would never live long enough to even be able to correctly pronounce the name. Cystic Fibrosis is a fatal inherited disease affecting young children. The disease causes a build-up of thick mucus in the lungs causing extreme respiratory problems. Lung disease is the leading cause of people with CF because years of chronic lung infections are so damaging to the lung disease. Tremendous accomplishments have been made in the battle against CF in the recent years and many are even living to the age of 37.


Science Letter via NewsRx.com and NewsRx.net, Science Letter. CYSTIC FIBROSIS; special supplement on cystic fibrosis published by Journal of Pediatrics. October 25, 2005.

This article stated that approximately 30,000 people have cystic fibrosis, and roughly one child of every 3,500 is born with it. Children with CF have a higher risk of being preterm with a relative risk of 2.62 associated with a lower birth weight and increased risk of being small for the rest of their life. This article was filled with many birthing and weight statistics. There is also a new screening that can be done on newborns for CF. The strategy combines (PAP) and (IRT) assays on newborn blood screening cards.


Global News Wire. ACN Newswire. FIRST CYSTIC FIBROSIS CORD BLOOD COLLECTION BY CYGENICS. April 27, 2006.

This was a fascinating article about precious stem cells from the cord blood of a new born baby. This clinical history was made at The Mercy Hospital in Werribee, Australia. A baby boy, Aiden Brundell, donated his cord blood to his sister Mikaela, who’s lungs were failing from Cystic Fibrosis, in hopes of one day saving her life. This was the first collection of cord blood ever taken from a sibling. Australians believe that this may be a major step towards treating the deadly effects of their most common severe genetic condition among children, for which there is no cure! :o( Professor Bob Williamson, spokesperson for CF stated, “Cord blood stem cells represent a real glimmer of hope for cystic fibrosis sufferers, with their potential to physically rebuild lungs previously considered damaged beyond repair.”