July 2005 

Julie Feldman MPH RD, Clinical Dietitian

How Are You Feeling?

You don’t need to wait until your next appointment with Dr. Pichurko to express your concerns regarding how you are feeling. The internet provides an excellent way to express your concerns as they arise and it also allows us to respond to you as we are able. When small issues are caught early we can often prevent big issues from arising. Feel free to email me any time at JULBETHY@yahoo.com.

Small Proteins Big Promise

Research published in the July issue of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy has shown that small bioactive peptides have the potential to attack two of the components responsible for the progression of lung damage in cystic fibrosis (CF): infection and inflammation. The data suggested that the lead peptides, significantly reduced the numbers of viable bacteria in the infected lungs of rats, as well as demonstrating good anti-inflammatory activity in mice. The in vitro antimicrobial coverage of most peptides was superior to most conventional antibiotics. some peptides also possessed potent anti-gram-positive and anti-Candida activity, an advantage, since those pathogens can be present in the CF lung, and other antibiotics used in CF therapy often lack useful gram-positive and fungal coverage

Money Where Your Mouth Is

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Inc., of Bethesda, the nonprofit drug development affiliate of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and Structural Genomix Inc., of San Diego, a developer of innovative cancer therapeutics, announced a three-year, $15 million agreement for the discovery of new therapies to treat the cause of cystic fibrosis. Visit them at www.stromix.com.

Good News for your Pancreas

Altus(R) Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced today that it has successfully completed a Phase II clinical trial of TheraCLEC(TM) in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with malabsorption due to pancreatic insufficiency. Altus' Phase II study is the largest prospective, randomized, double blind trial ever conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of enzyme replacement therapy in the treatment of patients with pancreatic insufficiency. TheraCLEC was well tolerated by patients and the trial achieved its primary efficacy endpoint, a statistically significant improvement in fat absorption. TheraCLEC is a highly purified, stable product containing non-animal derived enzymes. We believe it can provide improved compliance, stability and simplified dosing. This could, in turn, offer both clinical and quality-of-life benefits for patients with malabsorption. TheraCLEC is the first in a new class of orally-delivered recombinant enzyme replacement therapies from Altus and is intended to treat resulting from pancreatic insufficiency. http://www.altus.com/products/theraclec-clinical-trial.cfm

Cool, Refreshing, and Good For You Too!

Summer time is the best time to make sure you are getting enough calcium. For many of you, Summer is synonymous with Dairy Queen. Since I am always pestering most of you to add calories and protein to your diet, Dairy Queen affords you the perfect opportunity to take my advice and indulge in the flurry of your choice. Here is a delicious recipe for a homemade milkshake that packs the calories, protein, fat and calcium into the perfect summer snack.

• 1 Heath candy bar
• 2 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon fudge topping

1. Freeze the Heath bar.
2. Break the candy into tiny pieces with a knife handle before re- moving from wrapper.
3. Combine all of the ingredients in the blender and blend for 30 seconds on medium speed. Stop the blender to stir the mixture with a spoon; repeat until well mixed.
4. Pour into a 16-ounce glass.

Tidbit

• You can also make this treat with a variety of other candy ingredients. Some of the more popular Dairy Queen add-ins include pieces of Butterfinger candy bars, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and Oreo cookies. Now's your chance to be creative.
• Also, corporate procedure dictates that when a customer is served a Blizzard in a Dairy Queen outlet, the server must turn the cup upside down quickly to confirm the thickness of the treat before handing it over. If everything is in order, the Blizzard won't "kerplop" onto the counter in front of you.
• After using a conventional blender in this recipe (not a commercial mixer as found in Dairy Queens), your Blizzard may not be quite as thick as its commercial counterpart.
• If you would like a thicker treat, after pouring the mixture into your cup, simply place it in the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes, or until it reaches the desired consistency. Then give it your own thickness test. Cross your fingers and turn the cup upside down. Have a towel handy.