November 2002 

Julie Feldman MPH RD, Clinical Dietitian

Quest diagnostic labs announced on October 16th that they are introducing a test that will identify all genetic mutations that cause CF.  Prior to this test, our genetic screenings only identified roughly 125 of the most common genetic variations leading to CF.  This left many patients with CF like symptoms unable to verify their diagnosis and find appropriate treatment options.  This is especially exciting for geneticists and gynecologists counseling families on reproduction and family planning.

A black mouse named Freda

Hope for a cure for CF may lie in a black mouse named Freda.  This mouse is at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Southern Australia, and is the first living animal that has had a gene transferred into defective cells to control a disease.  Freda was bred to have CF, and has been free of the condition for 110 days since the genetic treatment.  Keep your eye on the mouse!

When Melissa Iaconetti returned to Israel after three months in the hospital, she was breathing freely.  This is because the 38 year old patient with CF was given a new set of lungs built from parts donated by her husband and her father during a full day operation at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Her father and husband lost 20% of their lung capacity, but were thrilled to give the gift of life to their loved one.

Support CF

The National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Committee has a new web site in the works.  The new address is www.cfawareness.org.  If you click on MERCHANDISE, you can purchase a lapel pin with a red rose on a purple ribbon.

Losing a Champion

The loss of Senator Paul Wellstone in a plane crash was a major blow for all of us who advocate programs benefiting education and  healthcare.  We should hope for more leaders in the U.S. government that are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in and advocate for those who are unable to do so on their own.

The bright orange color of pumpkin is a dead giveaway that pumpkin is loaded with an important antioxidant, beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is one of the plant carotenoids converted to vitamin A in the body. In the conversion to vitamin A, beta carotene performs many important functions in overall health.

Current research indicates that a diet rich in foods containing beta-carotene may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer and offers protect against heart disease. Beta-carotene offers protection against other diseases as well as some degenerative aspects of aging.

(Courtesy of the University of Illinois Extension)

Enjoy this Pumpkin Pie Recipe straight from Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Pie

Makes 1 nine-inch pie

For the best flavor, use a sugar pumpkin to make a homemade Pumpkin Purée. This variety of pumpkin, also known as 'New England Pie' and 'Sugar Pie,' weighs from five to eight pounds and is known for its sweet, fine-grained flesh.

1 cup packed light-brown sugar 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves 1 1/2 cups fresh Pumpkin Purée, or canned 3  large eggs, lightly beaten, plus 1 egg for glaze 1 1/2 cups evaporated milk 1/2 recipe Pâte Brisée 1 tablespoon heavy cream     1.  Preheat oven to 425°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. In a large bowl, combine sugar, cornstarch, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, pumpkin purée, and 3 eggs. Beat well. Add evaporated milk, and combine. Set aside.     2.  Between two pieces of plastic wrap, roll pâte brisée into a 12-inch circle. Fit pastry into a 9-inch glass pie plate; trim dough evenly along edge, leaving about a 1/2-inch overhang. Pinch to form a decorative edge. If the dough begins to soften, chill for 15 minutes.     3.  Make the glaze: Beat the remaining egg, and combine with heavy cream. Brush glaze very lightly on edges of pie shell. Fill pie shell with pumpkin mixture. Transfer to prepared baking sheet.     4.  Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°, and continue baking for 30 minutes more. Cool on a wire rack.