April 2004 

Julie Feldman MPH RD, Clinical Dietitian

The U.S. Senate declared on April 15th that May 2004 will be the first annual National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month.  Senate Resolution 298 is aimed to increase public awareness and promote support for CF research and care programs.  The CF foundation is gearing up for this exciting month by planning many activities.  They will visit Congress and post tools on their web site to help CF patients, family and friends educate their communities.  CF Awareness month was introduced to Congress by a mother of a young boy with CF named Lenora Degen.  She worked with her Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado to get this important legislation passed.  Never underestimate the effect that you, as one person, can have on the world.

CF Testing for All

Third Wave Technologies Inc. has officially launched its CF genetic testing product.  They have also announced that this test has been made available to the world's largest non-profit health maintenance organization.

Researchers at Children's Hospital and Research Center at Oakland California have identified a link between vitamin C levels and normal airway function.  They feel supplementing with vitamin C may alleviate symptoms associated with asthma, cystic fibrosis and COPD.  Vitamin C plays an active role in breathing by supporting normal hydration of airway surfaces.  We already know that when airways are not moist, they are more susceptible to infections.

Scientists have just shown that using recombinant human DNA is an effective method to recede sputum thickness in CF patients, and may also prevent the inflammation of the airways associated with the disease.

Organ Donation

Patients throughout the world are being forced to accept substandard organs during organ transplantation because of a lack of quality organs available.  Although 70% of the population has responded in surveys that they "would donate their organs", only 15% of the population has signed the donor list.  It is always a good time to remind family and friends that organ donation can save lives, maybe even your own.

Spice It Up

Yale University scientists believe that a substance in the common spice Curry, may be able to treat CF.  The substance, called curcumin, is already sold as a dietary supplement, but don't start popping the pills just yet.  

Curcumin, derived from turmeric, has long been used in Asian folk remedies as an antiseptic, a digestive aid or a cold treatment.  Using it in very high doses inhibits the cells release of calcium which allows the mutated CFTR gene of CF to reach the surface of the cell, something it could not do before.  

In mice, daily curcumin slashed the death rates from 60% to 10%.

The CF Foundation and SEER Pharmaceuticals are hunting for an appropriate dose and checking for side effects