cystic fibrosis symptom and treatment

Glucagonoma Symptoms and Treatment

2008-09-01T11:58:00.000-07:00

Glucagonoma is a rare type of endocrine pancreatic tumor. This means it is a cancer of the glandular endocrine cells of the pancreas rather than the exocrine digestion-related pancreas cells. A "glucagonoma" is a cancer that produces too much production of a hormone called glucagon, which does reduce insulin production. Hence, glucagonoma can interfere with insulin and can give the appearance of diabetes mellitus. However, the effects of too much glucagon are not identical to having too little insulin.

Causes
Causes of this pathology remain unknown, although some genetic factors could play an important role, especially in patients who have a family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN I) or Wermer syndrome.Glucagonoma is usually malignant (cancerous). The cancer tends to spread and get worse. The cancer affects the islet cells of the pancreas. As a result, they produce too much of a hormone called glucagon.

Nonneoplastic pathologies can elevate glucagon levels that are high enough to produce cutaneous manifestations. Hepatic cirrhosis is an example. Since the liver is responsible for glucagon breakdown, cirrhosis may prolong the effective plasma half-life of glucagon and contribute to abnormally high serum levels. NME with normal glucagon levels has been reported in celiac sprue and pancreatitis; similar skin findings can present with cystic fibrosis.

Causes of this pathology remain unknown, although some genetic factors could play an important role, especially in patients who have a family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN I) or Wermer syndrome. The excess glucagon causes symptoms such as glucose intolerance and hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar). Spreading of the cancer (metastasis) to the liver may occur. Glucagonoma also cause a distinctive skin lesion called necrolytic migratory erythema. Symptoms

Glucagonoma is a tumor with a slow rate of growth. Most of the cases start with nonspecific symptoms. In a report of patients with functional pancreatic tumors, the average delay of diagnosis was 3 years. Approximately 50% of cases have metastases at diagnosis. For patients with metastases at diagnosis, the prognosis is poor.

Symptom information has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of symptoms of Glucagonoma. Furthermore, symptoms of Glucagonoma may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of symptoms and whether they are indeed symptoms of Glucagonoma.

The primary physiological effect of glucagonoma is an overproduction of the peptide hormone glucagon, which enhances blood glucose levels through the activation of catabolic processes including gluconeogenesis and lipolysis. Gluconeogenesis produces glucose from protein and amino acid materials; lipolysis is the breakdown of fat. The net result is hyperglucagonemia, decreased blood levels of amino acids (hypoaminoacidemia), anemia, diarrhea, and weight loss of 5-15 kg.

Treatment
All reported glucagonomas with the cutaneous syndrome originated from single pancreatic tumors of considerable size (diameter 1.5-35 cm).(319;327). All tumors occurred in the tail or body of the pancreas, where A cells normally are abundant, deriving from the dorsal anlage of the pancreas. At the time of diagnosis, 62% of the tumors had metastases. Glucagonomas not associated with the syndrome but characterized by morphologic and/or chemical criteria are diagnosed in various ways. First, the tumor may appear as a malignant pancreatic tumor, discovered because of local growth, with or without metastases. Second, the tumor may be associated with an insulinoma, gastrinoma, or as part of the MEN-1 syndrome.

Herbal Medicines For Celiac Disease

2008-05-14T01:26:00.000-07:00

Celiac disease is an intolerance to gluten, normally hereditary but occasionally the result of a bout of gastroenteritis in childhood. The term is derived from the Greek word koiliakos, which means "suffering in the bowels." As far as is known, there is an inability of the cells lining the upper part of the small intestine to break down gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, oats, barley, and rye. The disease reduces the intestines' ability to absorb nutritive substances from the diet and so is a cause of malabsorption. It is a condition that presents itself in small children, but is only diagnosed by a biopsy, which means removing a small sample of tissue from the colon in order to analyze it. Tests for it using blood and urine are currently being developed.

Celiac disease is less prevalent in children who are breastfed or introduced late to foods containing gluten. Many complementary practitioners believe that restoring the balance of beneficial bacteria in the bowel and improving the efficiency of the immune system will provide a cure. Constitutional treatment by a homeopath may also work to make the sufferer less sensitive to gluten - to the point that a gluten-free diet may be finally unnecessary.

Signs of possible celiac disease include an inability to gain weight, constipation, or, alternatively, bulky, smelly, frequent bowel movements, decreased muscle tone, protruding stomach, and general lethargy. The only effective treatment is to remove gluten from the diet, permanently or temporarily, but this must be done under the supervision of a physician or practitioner. Some sufferers outgrow their intolerance and can eventually return to eating a normal diet.

Nontropical sprue is a disease that occurs in adults. It is very like celiac disease and is treated in the same way, by excluding all gluten from the diet.

Symptoms often mimic other problems such as lactose intolerance (a sensitivity to the sugar in milk), as well as allergies, cystic fibrosis, immune deficiencies, or emotional problems. It is important that these are ruled out first, before removing gluten from the diet.

Treatment

Diet and Nutrition Breastfeed babies if possible: research indicates a possible link between celiac disease and formula-feeding. Avoid foods containing gluten for the first year of the child's life, including bread, cookies, cakes, and gravy thickened with flour. Switch to rice crackers and corn products. Avoid commercially prepared foods that often contain flour. Read all ingredient labels carefully. An allergy to milk may be involved in this condition: avoid cows' milk where possible. Eat fresh fish, vegetables, fruits, and nuts.

Consult a qualified practitioner/therapist for:

Herbal Medicine

A herbalist may prescribe slippery elm, marshmallow, camomile, or papain. Research indicates that papain - an extract of papaya, which is available as a supplement - may break down the gluten so that it does no harm.

About the Author
Read out for home remedies. Check out pregnancy and homeopathic remedies

Herbal Medicines For Celiac Disease

2008-03-01T11:49:00.000-08:00

Read out for home remedies. Check out pregnancy and homeopathic remedies

Curing the Symptoms of a Sinusitis Infection

2007-11-20T07:53:00.000-08:00

Sinusitis infections are a common condition which many people suffer from each year. There are many factors which contribute to a sinusitis infection. Frequently, the sinusitis will begin because of a cold or allergy though it can also develop because of fungal infections, reflux disease, and many other diseases such as cystic fibrosis. The sinusitis itself begins when the sinus cavity lining becomes swollen, usually because of a cold or allergy. When bacteria enter the sinus cavities and attack the swollen lining, greater inflammation occurs which causes the cilia, which usually flushes out mucus and bacteria that pollute the sinus cavities, to not function properly and therefore the bacteria and mucus become trapped which then causes the sinusitis infection.

There are many types of symptoms that may be experienced with a sinusitis infection. Some of the most common symptoms which may appear as cold like symptoms are cough, congestion, postnasal drip, green nasal discharge, and facial pain and pressure. A person may also experience a headache or even tooth pain due to the pressure of the inflammation pushing on the nerves in face. When the sinusitis infection lasts for twelve or more weeks it is then considered chronic sinusitis. With chronic sinusitis a person may also experience loss of sense of taste and smell and they also may become fatigued. Depending on which sinus cavity that the infection lies, there may also be other symptoms experienced.

There are several treatments which are used to treat a sinusitis infection. One common treatment which is used is over the counter or prescribed nasal sprays. Nasal sprays work by distributing saline solution or medication up into the sinuses. The nasal sprays however have a large particle size that cannot make it past the inflammation at the opening of the sinus cavities and up to where the infection lies. The nasal sprays may only offer relief to the lower part of the sinuses. Oral antibiotics are also a commonly prescribed medication by physicians. Oral antibiotics work on many types of infections by flowing through the blood stream to the area of infection. The sinus cavities only contain a small amount of blood vessels therefore it is difficult for an efficient amount of antibiotic to arrive at the sinusitis infection. Oral antibiotics also can cause problems throughout the rest of the body, such as abdominal pain. Another newer form of treatment is aerosolized medications. Aerosolized medications work great because they are directly distributed into the sinus cavities so that they can cure the problem where it started.

Home remedies are also frequently used. Some people may breathe in hot steam. The steam is meant to help moisturize the sinuses and help thin the mucus. Though the steam may offer temporary relief and help some symptoms, in there is in fact an infection, only antibiotics may help cure it. Irrigation is also another common home remedy. Irrigation is used by inserting saline solution in to the sinus cavities to also help moisten them. Just like steam, this may only offer temporary relief and medication will need to be used.

Another option in treating a sinusitis infection when all other treatments have failed is sinus surgery. Sinus surgery is painful, can leave scar tissue which can lead to future problems, and usually only offers temporary relief since only a portion of the inflammation and infection is removed and so the sinusitis infection often returns.

Just like in any medical condition, different treatments work for different people. In sinusitis it all depends on what stage the sinusitis is in along with other factors. What is important is finding the treatment form that works best for you and treating the sinusitis before it gets to a chronic stage that may create more problems and involve more extreme treatment options.

About the Author
More sinusitis infection treatment information like Aerosolized Sinusitis Therapy can be found at Sinus Infection Problem - Sinus Dynamic

Himalayan Sea Salt versus White Table Salt

2007-10-08T00:53:00.000-07:00

Learn the difference between commercial salt and natural, organic, gourmet Himalayan sea salt crystal. Most people buy iodized salt from the grocery store and don't think a thing about it. They don't realize that good Himalayan sea salt can help give them good health, while refined salt can create some health risks. Salt comes from the sea. It may have been laid down centuries ago in salt deposits, or it may have been dehydrated from pure seawater. Grocery store salt is different from salt from natural sources. It has been heated-up to 1200° F.!-and refined to remove most of the natural elements. Grocery store salt is mostly chemical sodium chloride, while natural Himalayan sea salt has up to 84 natural minerals in it.

Your body craves natural salt. In fact, your blood actually contains 0.9% salt, which maintains the delicate balance of sodium throughout your body. Just about every system in your body needs good Himalayan sea salt to make it work. It is especially important for your nervous system, but every body structure absolutely requires it. The National Academy of Sciences advises that we consume at least 500 mg. of sodium a day to maintain good health. How much a person actually needs varies quite a bit, depending on their genetics and daily routine.

Popular diets say you should reduce or even eliminate dietary salt for good health, especially for cardiovascular disease. However, studies from Scotland, Finland and the United States showed little or no correlation between reducing your salt intake and reducing coronary heart disease. Perhaps refined table salt, which can act like a poison in your body, can be more of a risk. But the research is undeniable: reducing or eliminating dietary salt is basically wrong. Your body absolutely requires salt, but it has to be the right kind. Pure, natural unrefined Original Himalayan Sea Crystal Salt™ is such a salt. It gives you the healthy nutrients you need, in a form your body can use. It is pink because of the natural minerals in it! Gourmets say Himalayan sea salt tastes fantastic, with a richness you may have never tasted before from grocery store salt.

Natural health practitioners are convinced that good Himalayan crystal sea salt can improve your health. It keeps you safe and healthy during exercise; in fact, high-altitude hikers make sure they get enough so they don't go into hyperthermia. Taking adequate dietary salt has improved and even eliminated Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Hypertension and stomach cancer have been linked to salt imbalance from improper dietary intake. Cystic fibrosis has been linked to improper salt metabolism. Expectant mothers are always advised to take enough salt in order to help create a healthy infant.

If you've never tried good Himalayan sea salt, you are going to be amazed at how good it tastes and how affordable it is. You may also be surprised at how quickly your health improves from using good, natural, organic Himalayan sea salt.

About the Author
Isabella founded http://www.solaywellness.com after learning how beneficial natural salt is and about it's many uses, as well as how it can be used to help people look and feel better and live healthier. Visit Solay wellness for all of your natural home needs, personal care, plant food and gourmet salts.

mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis

2007-08-15T23:17:00.000-07:00

The majority of patients with cystic fibrosis die in early adulthood of lung disease. Lung transplantation is a treatment option for patients with advanced pulmonary disease, although the waiting period for organs may be as long as two years. Our purpose was to determine whether the risk of death due to respiratory failure could be predicted one or two years in advance on the basis of pulmonary function, blood gas levels, and nutritional status.

The study cohort consisted of 673 patients followed between 1977 and 1989. In each patient, pulmonary function, blood gas levels, nutritional status, and vital status were assessed between 1977 and 1987. Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis was used to compute the relative risk of death within one or two years after particular measurements. The effects of age and sex on mortality were also included in the analysis.

One hundred ninety patients (28 percent) died during the study period. Overall, patients with a forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) less than 30 percent of the predicted value, a partial pressure of arterial oxygen below 55 mm Hg, or a partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide above 50 mm Hg had two-year mortality rates above 50 percent. Among the laboratory measurements, the FEV1 was the most significant predictor of mortality, but age and sex were also significant in predicting risk. After adjustment for age and sex, the relative risk of death within two years was 2.0 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.9 to 2.2) for each decrement in the FEV1 of 10 percent below the predicted value. Among patients with the same FEV1, the relative risk of death was 2.0 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.5 to 2.6) in patients 10 years younger than other patients, and 2.2 (1.6 to 3.1) in female patients as compared with male patients.

Patients with cystic fibrosis should be considered candidates for lung transplantation when the FEV1 falls below 30 percent of the predicted value. Female patients and younger patients may need to be considered for transplantation at an earlier stage.

Nasal Polyps in Cystic Fibrosis

2007-07-24T21:39:00.000-07:00

Nasal polyps frequently appear in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The aims of this study were to focus on what problems (symptoms, endoscopic findings, and laboratory correlates) nasal polyps cause the CF patient, and how these correlate to the total health situation of this patient group.

The clinical histories, endoscopic investigations of the nasal cavity, and analyses of nasal lavage fluid of 44 patients with CF complicated with nasal polyposis have been compared with those of 67 CF control subjects. The patients were examined at annual control examinations (with pulmonary tests, working capacity, liver tests, and bacterial and blood tests) from 1995 to 1996 at Stockholm Cystic Fibrosis Center, Huddinge University Hospital. All patients were > 2 years of age. The endoscopic findings were related to the actual pulmonary function, inflammatory blood parameters, colonizing pathogens, antibodies (Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and genotype.

The patients with nasal polyps differed with respect to chronic colonization of P aeruginosa in sputum samples and had a higher occurrence of serum antibodies against the same species. The two groups did not differ in pulmonary functions, inflammatory parameters, or genotype. The polyps found were mainly small (within the meatus media) and gave no significant increase in ongoing clinical symptoms such as rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, or hyposmia. Neither was any significantly marked finding concerning the nose (mucosal swellings, secretion, etc.) made in the polyp patients. The patients with CF scored slightly lower in a smell identification test in comparison with the healthy control group. The nasal lavage fluid was analyzed (in 93 of the 111 patients) for the occurrence of P aeruginosa (by polymerase-chain reaction [PCR]), interleukin [IL]-5, IL-8, and lysozyme. The lysozyme and IL-8 content was equal in the two CF groups but increased in comparison with the healthy control group. P aeruginosa was not detected with PCR in any nasal lavage fluid. No measurable levels of IL-5 in the nasal lavage were found.

There was a higher frequency of chronic colonization of P aeruginosa in the lower respiratory tract in patients with nasal polyps. Otherwise, nonsevere nasal polyposis was not an indicator of lower respiratory tract morbidity in CF patients.

Vitamin E: Why It Is Important

2007-06-30T23:56:00.000-07:00

Vitamin E Vitamin E is a very important vitamin to humans. This vitamin is fat soluble, which means that it can be stored by the body. There are actually eight different forms of vitamin E, and each form has it's own activity in the body. The most common form of this vitamin is called Alpha-tocopherol.

This form of vitamin E works as a powerful antioxidant as well, and most supplements of this vitamin contain this form of it. The synthetic form of this type of vitamin E is only half as active as the natural form. Vitamin E works to protect your cells from the harmful effects of free radicals.

This vitamin also plays an important part in your immune system, in repairing DNA, and in various other metabolic processes of the body. Foods that are high in vitamin E include leafy green vegetables,nuts, vegetable oils, and various other foods. Most cereals found on store shelves today are fortified with vitamin E as well. Requirements recommended for vitamin E range from six milligrams a day for very small children, to nineteen milligrams a day for lactating women. Normal adults should have around fifteen milligrams of vitamin E each day. A deficiency of vitamin E is very rare in humans, however, certain individuals may be at risk for a deficiency of vitamin E.

This includes people who have disorders of the metabolism of fat, people who can not secrete bile, people with certain rare genetic disorders that interfere with the absorption of this vitamin, and premature infants who have a very low birth weight. People who have a deficiency in zinc may have low blood levels of vitamin E. Not having enough of this vitamin can lead to medical symptoms that should be checked by your physician.

Normally there will be neurological, or nerve, degeneration in the limbs and extremities, most notably in the hands and feet. A physicians's visit is important as all the symptoms of vitamin E deficiency may be caused by other medical conditions as well.

Certain classes of individuals may need to take extra amounts of vitamin E to prevent a deficiency. These are individuals that can not absorb fat, and since vitamin E is fat soluble, these people may need additional amounts of the vitamin in their diet in the form of a supplement. People who have Cystic Fibrosis and Crohn's Disease are two of the classes of people who may require a vitamin E supplement.

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James Brown writes about VitaSprings.com coupon code, Puritan's Pride online coupons

Fatty Acid Deficiency and Cystic Fibrosis

2007-06-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Cystic Fibrosis is a disease that results in excess mucus being trapped in the lungs. It is most often associated with a deficiency of essential fatty acids. Consuming more, often in the form of fish oils, is a great way to get relieve from the symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis.

David P. Katz wrote an article called Seriously Ill Cystic Fibrosis (Nutrition, Vol. 12, No. 5, 1996) that states those individuals who are not unable to absorb fats and various nutrients need to increase their consumption of essential fatty acids. Most people who have been diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis have an essential Omega 6 fatty acid deficiency. Consuming enough fish oil can help reduce the inflammation experienced.

There have been many studies involved to establish the link between the need for fish oil supplements to control Cystic Fibrosis. In almost every study it was found that taking such a supplement did help the patients. A article written by Lawrence and T. Sorrell (Lancent, Vol. 342, August 21, 1993) explains the research they did regarding the effects of fish oil supplements on patients with Cystic Fibrosis. Half of the patients received a fish oil capsule with 2.7g of EPA. The other half of the patients got a placebo of an olive oil capsule. This was done daily for a six week period of time. Those who took the EPA ended up with less mucus in their lungs, they were able to breath easier, and they felt better.

Due to the positive effects that essential fatty acids have for those with Cystic Fibrosis, it is a good idea for them to consider adding such supplements to their daily diet. This can be in the form of fish oil supplements and Vitamin E because of the antioxidant properties.

The research has shown that essential fatty acid deficiencies can be linked to Cystic Fibrosis so make sure you take the necessary daily value to protect yourself from such ailments. Take fish oil supplements and increase the amount of fish and walnuts. You consume.

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You can also find more information at golden flax seed and magnesium phosphorus. OmegaFlaxSeedOil.com is a comprehensive resource to help individuals gain the benefits of essential nutrition s

women with cystic fibrosis

2007-06-04T11:10:00.000-07:00

To determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence in female patients (aged 15 years) attending a cystic fibrosis centre, in whom stress UI could be common, as chronic coughing and sputum production are frequent symptoms associated with progressive lung disease in these patients.

Patients and methods An anonymous questionnaire was completed by 176 women with cystic fibrosis (mean age 24.6 years, sd 5.8) during routine assessments as outpatients.

In all, 72 patients (41%) were classified as never incontinent; occasional UI was reported in 61 women (35%). Regular UI, occurring twice or more a month for at least two consecutive months in the last year, was reported in 43 patients (24%). Regular UI was associated with increasing age and a lower mean ( sd) forced expiratory volume/s (of that predicted) than in women with no urinary symptoms, at 26.9 (6.5) years and 53.5 (23.5)%, and 23.1 (5.4) years and 65.5 (23.2)%, respectively (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). All incontinent women recorded stress UI; coughing, laughing and physical activity were associated with UI in 92%, 33% and 21% of the patients, respectively.

Stress UI is a common symptom in women with cystic fibrosis. As urine loss can be under-reported to the healthcare providers, women should be asked about incontinence as part of their routine follow-up. Pelvic floor muscle exercises are effective in treating stress UI and should be considered for those with women with cystic fibrosis and regular UI.

Liver Disease In Cystic Fibrosis

2007-06-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

The median age of the population with cystic fibrosis (CF) has increased worldwide, which has led to the suggestion that the prevalence of liver disease would increase. The aim of this study was to evaluate the natural history of CF-associated liver disease over a 15-year period in a well-controlled population of patients with CF.
During the years 1976 through 1993, 124 patients were followed up by yearly liver function tests (LFTs). Fifteen patients were followed up with liver biopsies throughout the whole study period. More than 50% of the patients had pathological LFTs in infancy, later being normalized. Approximately 25% of children 4 years of age or older had biochemical markers of liver disease during the study period. In about 10% of the patients, cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis was confirmed at biopsy and 4% of patients had cirrhosis with clinical liver disease. Severe liver disease developed mainly during prepuberty and puberty. Of the 15 patients prospectively followed up with liver biopsies, only 3 had progressive fibrosis.
No specific risk factor was identified, but deficiency of essential fatty acids was found more often in patients with marked steatosis (P < .05).
No patient developed clinical liver disease in adulthood and the histological changes in the liver biopsies were usually not progressive.
Liver disease was no more frequent at the end of the study period although the median age of the patient population had increased. Modern treatment might positively influence liver disease because it seemed less common, less progressive, and less serious than previously reported.

Aberrant CFTR

2007-05-19T12:46:00.000-07:00

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Initially, Cl- conductance in the sweat duct was discovered to be impaired in CF, a finding that has been extended to all CFTR-expressing cells. Subsequent cloning of the gene showed that CFTR functions as a cyclic-AMP-regulated Cl- channel; and some CF-causing mutations inhibit CFTR Cl- channel activity.
The identification of additional CF-causing mutants with normal Cl- channel activity indicates, however, that other CFTR-dependent processes contribute to the disease. Indeed, CFTR regulates other transporters, including Cl(-)-coupled HCO3- transport. Alkaline fluids are secreted by normal tissues, whereas acidic fluids are secreted by mutant CFTR-expressing tissues, indicating the importance of this activity. HCO3- and pH affect mucin viscosity and bacterial binding. We have examined Cl(-)-coupled HCO3- transport by CFTR mutants that retain substantial or normal Cl- channel activity.

Here we show that mutants reported to be associated with CF with pancreatic insufficiency do not support HCO3- transport, and those associated with pancreatic sufficiency show reduced HCO3- transport.
Our findings demonstrate the importance of HCO3- transport in the function of secretory epithelia and in CF.

Nutritional Benefits for Cystic Fibrosis

2007-05-12T09:18:00.000-07:00

Background Many patients with cystic fibrosis are malnourished at the time of diagnosis. Whether newborn screening and early treatment may prevent the development of a nutritional deficiency is not known.

Methods We compared the nutritional status of patients with cystic fibrosis identified by neonatal screening or by standard diagnostic methods. A total of 650,341 newborn infants were screened by measuring immunoreactive trypsinogen on dried blood spots (from April 1985 through June 1991) or by combining the trypsinogen test with DNA analysis (from July 1991 through June 1994). Of 325,171 infants assigned to an early-diagnosis group, cystic fibrosis was diagnosed in 74 infants, including 5 with negative screening tests. Excluding infants with meconium ileus, we evaluated nutritional status for up to 10 years by anthropometric and biochemical methods in 56 of the infants who received an early diagnosis and in 40 of the infants in whom the diagnosis was made by standard methods (the control group). Pancreatic insufficiency was managed with nutritional interventions that included high-calorie diets, pancreatic-enzyme therapy, and fat-soluble vitamin supplements.

Results The diagnosis of cystic fibrosis was confirmed by a positive sweat test at a younger age in the early-diagnosis group than in the control group (mean age, 12 vs. 72 weeks). At the time of diagnosis, the early-diagnosis group had significantly higher height and weight percentiles and a higher head-circumference percentile (52nd, vs. 32nd in the control group; P = 0.003). The early-diagnosis group also had significantly higher anthropometric indexes during the follow-up period, especially the children with pancreatic insufficiency and those who were homozygous for the F508 mutation.

Conclusions Neonatal screening provides the opportunity to prevent malnutrition in infants with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic Fibrosis And Omega 3

2007-05-08T10:09:00.000-07:00

The primary aim of medical and scientific research on cystic fibrosis is to understand, treat and cure cystic fibrosis. An inherited disease, cystic fibrosis is thought to affect about 30,000 Americans and is the most common, life-shortening genetic disease known. Cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening disease caused by a defective gene and affecting about 30,000 children in America.

Researchers from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, the University of Massachusetts and Massachusetts General Hospital took tissue samples from 38 patients with cystic fibrosis. It was found they had extremely high levels of arachidonic acid (AA) and abnormally low levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). People who did not have CF did not have the fatty acids imbalance.

Researchers believe that many of the symptoms of cystic fibrosis follow the same pattern: mutated gene produces a mutated glycoconjugate resulting in a defective cellular component. There are approximately ten million symptomless carriers of the defective cystic fibrosis gene in America.

They say too much of one acid and too little of another means patients' bodies are more prone to inflammation. In the New England Journal of Medicine, they suggest Omega-3 oils, found in fish, could help correct the imbalance.

Each week three young people in the UK die from the disease, which is caused by the faulty CFTR gene. CF causes an abnormally thick, sticky mucus to be produced in the body, causing chronic inflammation of the lungs leading to life-threatening infections. The average life expectancy for a person with CF is around 31.

To diagnose cystic fibrosis, the laboratory carries out a sweat test. When the lungs and airways are choked, the cystic fibrosis patient coughs and produces very thick sputum. The authors concluded that forced ionisation of the indoor air represents a natural and efficient treatment for respiratory diseases in patients with cystic fibrosis.

When the cystic fibrosisTR is not normal, the regulation of salt through the membranes becomes defective. In the respiratory system the thin mucus lining becomes thick and sticky. As the digestive juices do not reach the intestine, due to blocked ducts from the pancreas and liver, the fats and protein are not digested.

Dr Steven Freedman of the gastroenterology division at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, who led the research, said: "Since 1989, we have known that the defective CFTR gene is responsible for CF. "But we didn't understand how this defective gene leads to the symptoms of the disease. "This new study sheds light on what may be happening and provides a link between CFTR function and fatty acid metabolism." He added: "It is known that high amounts of AA and low amounts of DHA would predispose to inflammation. "This discovery may help explain why there is an excessive inflammatory response among CF patients. "This is the basis for why Omega-3 fish oils, found in cold-water fish as well as supplements, reduce inflammation since they increase levels of DHA and suppress AA." 'No diet change'

Dr Adam Jaffe, head of the CF Research Group at London's Institute of Child Health, told BBC News Online the research was interesting but not conclusive. "Patients shouldn't change their diet based on spurious associations between fatty acids and inflammation. "But I would not be against them adding supplements to their diets."

About the Author
Tom O`Connor is an expert on the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids. http://www.1st-Omega-3.Com.

Liver Disease in Cystic Fibrosis

2007-05-03T10:16:00.000-07:00

The median age of the population with cystic fibrosis (CF) has increased worldwide, which has led to the suggestion that the prevalence of liver disease would increase. The aim of this study was to evaluate the natural history of CF-associated liver disease over a 15-year period in a well-controlled population of patients with CF. During the years 1976 through 1993, 124 patients were followed up by yearly liver function tests (LFTs). Fifteen patients were followed up with liver biopsies throughout the whole study period.
More than 50% of the patients had pathological LFTs in infancy, later being normalized. Approximately 25% of children 4 years of age or older had biochemical markers of liver disease during the study period. In about 10% of the patients, cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis was confirmed at biopsy and 4% of patients had cirrhosis with clinical liver disease.

Severe liver disease developed mainly during prepuberty and puberty. Of the 15 patients prospectively followed up with liver biopsies, only 3 had progressive fibrosis. No specific risk factor was identified, but deficiency of essential fatty acids was found more often in patients with marked steatosis (P < .05).

No patient developed clinical liver disease in adulthood and the histological changes in the liver biopsies were usually not progressive. Liver disease was no more frequent at the end of the study period although the median age of the patient population had increased.

Modern treatment might positively influence liver disease because it seemed less common, less progressive, and less serious than previously reported.

Cystic Fibrosis With Vitamins And Over The Counter Products

2007-04-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease that affects the entire body, causing progressive disability and early death. Cystic fibrosis affects the entire body and impacts growth, breathing, digestion, and reproduction. Difficulty breathing and insufficient enzyme production in the pancreas are the most common symptoms.

The Pancreas of patients with Cystic Fibrosis fails to produce enough enzymes that are necessary to break down food. As a result the food eaten retains its fats and most of its nutrients as it passes through the body.

The bronchial tubes in the lungs also malfunction and produce a thick, sticky mucus. Germs multiply in this mucus and cause respiratory infection such as pneumonia, accompanied by a cough and high fever that is more severe than normal.

A multitude of other symptoms, including sinus infections, poor growth, diarrhea, and potential infertility (mostly in males) result from the effects of cystic fibrosis on other parts of the body. Patients with Cystic Fibrosis also sweat profusely and their perspirations also contains an unusually high percentage of salt.

Cystic fibrosis is the most common life-limiting recessive disease among people of European heritage. Two copies of the recessive mutated gene, one from each parent is needed by the human body to develop Cystic Fibrosis.

Because cystic fibrosis testing is expensive, testing is often performed on just one parent initially. If that parent is found to be a carrier of a CFTR gene mutation, the other parent is then tested to calculate the risk that their children will have cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis can result from more than a thousand different mutations and, as of 2006, it is not possible to test for each one. Most commercially available tests look for 32 or fewer different mutations.

Couples who are at high risk for having a child with cystic fibrosis; i.e. cystic fibrosis has developed in family members, will often opt to perform further testing before or during pregnancy. After birth cystic fibrosis may be diagnosed in newborn with sweat testing, or genetic testing.

Most states and countries do not screen for cystic fibrosis routinely at birth. Children with cystic fibrosis typically do not gain weight or height at the same rate as their peers and occasionally are not diagnosed until investigation is initiated for poor growth. Males tend to have a longer life expectancy than females but the reason is unknown.

Use a mask nebulizer and other inhalations treatments are the most common forms of treatments for cystic fibrosis. The goal is the treating and limiting the amount of lung damage caused by thick mucus and infection. Albuterol and ipratropium bromide are inhaled to increase the size of the small airways by relaxing the surrounding muscles. As lung disease worsens, breathing support from machines may become necessary.

Most individuals with cystic fibrosis take additional amounts of vitamins A, D, E, and K and eat high calorie meals.

Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with treating Cystic Fibrosis such as Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin A, Lactase Enzyme, Papaya, Protein Tablets, Vitamin B, Amino Acid and L-Carnitine.

Dr. Harry Schwachman reported "most patients with cystic fibrosis have low levels of vitamin E". Vitamin E protects lung tissue form inhaled pollutants and aids the functioning of the immune system.

Vitamin K helps the blood to clot after and injury.

A number of studies have suggested that taking antioxidants such a Vitamin A reduces the risk of bronchoconstriction. Vitamin A is stored in the liver and fat cells of the human body and can reach toxic levels. DO NOT take more than the recommended dosage of Vitamin A.

Lactase Enzyme makes milk products more readily digestible.

Papaya contains lipase, which assists in Fat and Cellulose digestion.

Protein tablets increase protein intake.

All of the different Vitamin Bs taken together as B-Complex work together as a team to perform vital biological processes, such as energy production and efficient metabolic function. Vitamin B boost energy levels and help fight fatigue.

Amino Acid help regulate growth, digestion and maintaining the body's immune system.

L-Carnitine is essential for the body's ability to turn food into energy. L-Carnation increases energy at the cell level by increased fat burning, increases the body's ability to remove toxic disease-causing compounds and helps cells live longer.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and not to be construed as medical advice.

About the Author
David Cowley has created over 50 articles about the relationship between diseases and vitamins. For other Articles on Diseases and Vitamin Needs feel free to visit my Web Site at http://www.dfcinvestment-team.com/

Supplements Cystic Fibrosis

2006-11-28T11:12:00.000-08:00

Supplements Important to Cystic Fibrosis Patients by Steven Godlewski

Cystic Fibrosis or CF is an inherited disease that affects the normal movement of salt (sodium chloride) into and out of certain cells, including those that line the lungs and pancreas. This results in thick, sticky mucus and other secretions. The mucus clogs the lungs, causing breathing problems. It also provides a breeding ground for bacteria to grow. This leads to frequent lung infections, which eventually damage the lungs and contribute to early death.

Thick digestive fluids also may clog ducts leading from the pancreas to the small intestine. This prevents the fluids from reaching the small intestine, where they are needed to digest food. This can cause digestive problems and slow growth. Some CF patients also suffer from poor liver function which may eventually become chronic liver disease.

Malabsorption of fat soluble vitamins is likely in most patients with cystic fibrosis, especially for those who are pancreatic insufficient. Vitamins A, D and E have been found to be deficient in early diagnosed infants as well as older patients. Different levels of these vitamins are prescribed depending on the age of the patient, whether the patient is pancreatic insufficient or sufficient and other health factors that can be affected by cystic fibrosis. Vitamin K may also be prescribed under certain conditions.

The recommended daily supplements which usually achieve normal plasma levels in infancy are vitamin A 4000 iu (120 mcg), vitamin D 400 iu (10 mcg) and vitamin E 37 - 75 iu (25 - 50 mg). The recommended doses for children over 1 year of age are vitamin A 8000 iu, vitamin D 800 iu and vitamin E 100 - 200 mg.

These doses are considerably higher than the usual dietary intake and generally are adjusted to meet the needs of the patient as they get older. Vitamin K is generally prescribed for those cystic fibrosis patients who suffer from liver disease or who are going to undergo a surgical procedure, or whose blood tests do not me certain standards.

* Vitamin A: Vitamin A deficiency may cause night blindness in older patients and can progress to severe xerophthalmia if not checked.

* Vitamin D: Vitamin D deficiency may cause rickets which is very rare and osteomalacia. Although in the past there is little clinical evidence of vitamin D deficiency is rare in cystic fibrosis new research and studies osteoporosis, osteopenia and low levels of vitamin D metabolites are being increasingly recognized in children and adults with cystic fibrosis.

* Vitamin E: Vitamin E deficiency may cause neurological problems in older CF individuals. Correction of vitamin E deficiency improves hemoglobin levels. Vitamin E is an antioxidant and protects cell membranes from oxidative damage. Because of this role vitamin E may be important in controlling the progression of lung disease in cystic fibrosis.

Recent studies have suggested that cystic fibrosis patients have inadequate antioxidants defenses to cope with certain stresses on their system. Pulmonary dysfunction in cystic fibrosis is associated with oxidative stress and higher levels of supplementation may be required.

* Vitamin K: Regular vitamin K supplements are not given unless there is chronic liver disease, a prolonged prothrombin time or an upcoming surgical procedure. Given any of these conditions an oral daily supplement of 5-10mg is given for a week prior to the procedure. Vitamin K is required for the formation of osteocalcin which is involved in bone metabolism.

As you can see vitamin supplementation is essential for Cystic Fibrosis patients. It is crucial for you to discuss any changes to your current vitamin regimen with your physician prior to adding, removing or changing the doses of any vitamins. The balance of vitamins in your system can be very delicate and should be closely monitored by your physician.
About the Author

Steven Godlewski is currently working with the staff at PillFreeVitamins.com He has an extensive background in nutrition as well as other health related fields. For more health-related articles see their website at: http://www.pillfreevitamins.com

Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms

2006-06-03T09:24:00.000-07:00

Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms by Kent Pinkerton

Cystic fibrosis is a very serious disorder that is fatal if not treated properly. A defective gene causes thin body secretions, such as lung mucus, digestive juices, sweat and reproductive secretions, to become thick and sticky. Serious and life-threatening problems may arise due to this thickening. There is no permanent cure for cystic fibrosis yet, but symptomatic treatment is given.

When the lungs and airways are choked, the cystic fibrosis patient coughs and produces very thick sputum. He is short of breath and develops wheezing. Polyps may grow in the nasal passages. The frequency of sinus, chest infections, pneumonia and bronchitis increase.

As the digestive juices do not reach the intestine, due to blocked ducts from the pancreas and liver, the fats and protein are not digested. The stool is bulky, greasy and foul smelling. The cystic fibrosis patient may have excessive appetite but is undernourished and underweight, as the food is not digested properly for absorption. A trypsin test may indicate whether sufficient enzymes from the pancreas are available for digestion.

The sweat may taste salty. When we kiss a child with cystic fibrosis we can taste this excessive salt taste. To diagnose cystic fibrosis positively we measure this saltiness in sweat. Technicians coat an odorless chemical on a small area of the skin in the arm, and stimulate that area with electric current to produce copious sweat. This sweat should contain about 40 m mol/l in a normal person. Above 60 m mol/l of salt in a sweat test will confirm the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. With cystic fibrosis patients the duct that connects the testes and vas deferens may get blocked. Most cystic fibrosis patients are sterile.

Treatment is mainly to ease the symptoms and lead a normal life in spite of the malady. Bronchodilators and mechanical vibrators keep the lungs and airways clear. Enzyme and vitamin supplements keep the digestive system near normal. With correct lifestyle management Americans are living to their 30 s and 40s with cystic fibrosis.

About the Author Cystic Fibrosis provides detailed information on Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms, Causes Of Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Treatments and more. Cystic Fibrosis is affliated with Living With COPD .

Cystic Fibrosis Treatments

2006-05-29T04:27:00.000-07:00

Cystic Fibrosis Treatments by Kent Pinkerton

Cystic fibrosis, which affects 30 ,000 American children and adults, is a multisystem disease caused by a defective gene. Presently only symptomatic management is possible, but there are very promising gene- therapy trials under way.

In the respiratory system the thin mucus lining becomes thick and sticky. In cystic fibrosis management, the primary treatment of the system is to thin or clear this mucus. Bronco dilators like albuterol are used to clear the clogged airways. Mucus thinning drugs delivered by aerosol, like pulmozyme, are helpful. The most effective way of clearing this mucus is by mechanically dislodging it. Clapping on the chest and back, with the head tilted on the edge of a table, is quite effective. There is an electrical clapper that does the job safely. There is an electrical inflatable vest that vibrates and dislodges the mucus. Infection is an ever-present risk with cystic fibrosis patients. Regular shots for pneumonia and influenza are very important. Bacterial infection is fought with newer antibiotics like TOBY, which delivers the medicine directly into airways with aerosols.

Because of the blocked ducts of the pancreas and liver, the enzymes and bile do not reach the intestine. Though the patient eats normally or even in excess, the fats and proteins are not digested. So the cystic fibrosis patient needs to have the enzymes supplemented with oral pancreatic enzymes. There is also the need to take vitamins, especially the fat-soluble ones. If lung function is completely damaged, the only alternative would be lung transplantation. This would involve many factors, like the availability of a donor and the patient's present health, prior to undergoing major surgery.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has 115 centers all over America, and provides guidelines and advice. They support many studies to find gene therapy to cure cystic fibrosis. The target is to add normal genes to the cells of the airways to prevent further damage. Biotech laboratories produce healthy genes, which need to be delivered to the appropriate cells. These vectors, or delivery systems, are the key areas of research to combat cystic fibrosis. One method that is actively pursued is to modify the common cold virus to carry the healthy genes into the correct cells. On another track, the DNA molecules are compacted to their minimum size and delivered directly to the relevant cells without the need for a carrier such as a virus. This technology is called PLAS min.

As this gene therapy experiments are at an advanced stage, the cystic fibrosis sufferers can hope for a permanent cure in the near future.

About the Author
Cystic Fibrosis provides detailed information on Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms, Causes Of Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Treatments and more. Cystic Fibrosis is affliated with Living With COPD .

Sinus Cystic Fibrosis Infection: a Closer Look

2006-05-07T21:16:00.001-07:00

Submitted by: marlonmj
A Printing Press

Have you heard of the infection called Sinus Cystic Fibrosis Infection? From the name itself it sounds for a serious ailment isn't it? What is this all about and how does it affects future sufferers? Let's try to figure out how!

According to scientific research Sinus cystic fibrosis infection is an inherited disorder of the exocrine glands, affecting children and young people. It is caused by a genetic abnormality in the sinus cystic fibrosis infection transmembrane conductance regulator gene that results in the disruption of chloride transfer across cell membranes. As a consequence, chloride ions build up in the cells of the lungs and other organs.

Moreover, water stays inside the cells to dilute the chloride rather than being drawn out of the cells by normal chloride movement and the normal secretions of the organs thicken. When the mucus in the exocrine glands becomes thick and sticky and eventually blocks the ducts of these glands especially in the pancreas, lungs, and liver which will soon be forming cysts. As a result this causes the sweat glands to secrete excessive salt, causing heat prostration in hot weather.

How can we detect if we acquire such infection?

Well there are symptoms varying according to the severity of the condition and the glands involved. Usually, it includes a distended abdomen diarrhea bulky, foul-smelling stools and malnutrition. In the long run, medical problems include nasal polyps and sinus disease, repeated respiratory infections, infertility, liver disease, and diabetes. Diagnosis is confirmed by a sweat test or measurement of transmembrane potential.

Accordingly, this is a cruel and deadly disease that affects almost every systems of our body like the respiratory system, the digestive system, endocrine system and reproductive system. This creates a disease complex with a wide range of disorders that can ultimately include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis-associated liver fibrosis, diabetes mellitus, cholelithiasis, and arthritis.

Treatment consists of dietary adjustment (low fat high calorie) and the administration of vitamins, pancreatin, and antibiotics to ward off secondary infections. Special measures are necessary to decrease the viscosity of pulmonary secretions aerosol application of recombinant human dbase, an enzyme that digests the sticky extra cellular DNA that helps form these viscous secretions, was approved in 1993. In some cases lung transplantation is helpful. The identification of the abnormal gene (1989) paved the way for gene therapy aimed at altering the genetic structure by transferring to the patient cells with normal genes.

Identification of the genes has also made tests for genetic screening and diagnosis possible. Evolutionary biologists have suggested that the gene that must be inherited from both parents to cause the disorder, affords carriers some protection against cholera, a disease that kills through profound loss of fluids.

Health is wealth they say. Monitoring our health should be our primary concern. Staying away from any infections by living a healthy life is the best solution to fight SINUS CYSTIC FIBROSIS INFECTION!

For additional information and comments about the article you may log on to http://www.sinusinfectionproblems.com

Cystic Fibrosis

2006-05-05T18:27:00.000-07:00

submitted by Kent Pinkerton

Cystic fibrosis is a medical condition that starts in early childhood, sometimes as early as from the time of birth. A defective gene causes the problem and there is no known cure, though there are some promising experiments going on towards gene therapy. The medical profession understands the symptomatic treatment well and the average lifespan of persons with cystic fibrosis is increasing.

Nature's mechanism for filtering out the dust and microorganisms people breathe in is to secrete thin mucus in the airways and the lungs, and clear it through the nose or the digestive tract. For the person with cystic fibrosis, this mucus, which normally is thin and slippery, becomes thick and sticky. Other affected and thickened secretions are sweat, digestive juices and the reproductive system.

Since the lungs are congested, the pulmonary capacity drops. The blocked airways cause severe breathing difficulties and asthma-like wheezing. The digestive juices from the pancreas and liver do not reach the intestine, as the ducts get blocked. The fats and proteins are not digested. Though the patient eats normally, maybe even in excess, he is undernourished and is under weight. Fat-soluble vitamins become deficient.

There are approximately ten million symptomless carriers of the defective cystic fibrosis gene in America. A person needs to inherit two defective cystic fibrosis genes to be afflicted with cystic fibrosis. Every time two carriers produce a child, the chances are 25 % that the child may be affected with cystic fibrosis, 50 % that the child may be a carrier and 25% that the child may be a non-carrier.

To diagnose cystic fibrosis, the laboratory carries out a sweat test. The treatment is only symptomatic. We cannot at this stage make the secretions thin, but can neutralize the effects of thickened secretions by regular treatment and management. A high-fat diet with enzyme and vitamin supplements helps the patient with nutrition.

A strict lifestyle regime to prevent complications is very important. Drinking plenty of liquid loosens the mucus. Regular exercise, as much as possible, keeps the respiratory system clear and improves the cardiovascular system. The cystic fibrosis patient must avoid smoky or dusty places. Hand cleaning is a simple but very effective step to prevent infection.

Few cystic fibrosis patients lived beyond their teens in the past, but thanks to improved management, 40 % of the 30,000 Americans with cystic fibrosis are over 18 and many are into their 30 s and 40s.

Cystic Fibrosis provides detailed information on Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms, Causes Of Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Treatments and more.

Causes of Cystic Fibrosis

2006-05-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

Submitted by: Kent Pinkerton

Cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening disease caused by a defective gene and affecting about 30 ,000 children in America. There is no cure for it so far, but there are lots of promising experiments and clinical studies going on to find a genetic therapy to cure cystic fibrosis. Humans transmit the genetic code to the next generation through DNA, containing 23 pairs of chromosomes. The seventh chromosome contains the defective gene that causes cystic fibrosis. There are over ten million Americans who this defective gene without having the disease. When both parents are carriers there is a 25% chance that the child will have a recessive gene; that is, the child has two copies of the defective gene from both parents. This gene signals the epithelial cells to produce cystic fibrosis trans-membrane conductance regulator (cystic fibrosisTR). It is a bad protein found in the digestive system, skin and reproductive system of cystic fibrosis patients. .... Read more

When the cystic fibrosisTR is not normal, the regulation of salt through the membranes becomes defective. This results in the secretions of the lining such as mucus, digestive juices and sweat, becoming thick and sticky.

The respiratory system secretes thin and slippery mucus to clear away the foreign bodies and microorganisms that invade the system. In cystic fibrosis patients this mucus, thick and sticky, not only fails to clean the system but also blocks the lungs and airways and creates a life-threatening problem with the respiratory system. As the microorganisms are not cleared there are serious infections, like bronchitis, pneumonia and influenza. So a cystic fibrosis patient has to take care of his respiratory system constantly, with bronchodilators, electrical clappers and electrical inflatable vest vibrators. Newer antibiotics control the infections to a good extent.

In the digestive system the ducts between the pancreas and intestine and between the liver and intestine are blocked. Due to the shortage of enzymes and bile, the cystic fibrosis patient is unable to digest fats and proteins. He becomes malnourished, underweight and weak. Enzyme and vitamin supplements take care of the problem to an extent. In the reproductive system the duct between the testes and prostate get blocked, and so a majority of cystic fibrosis patients are sterile.

Cystic Fibrosis provides detailed information on Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms, Causes Of Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Treatments and more.

Hope for Cystic Fibrosis Sufferers

2006-05-02T05:43:00.000-07:00

An inherited disease, cystic fibrosis is thought to affect about 30,000 Americans and is the most common, life-shortening genetic disease known. Much of the population has heard the term cystic fibrosis, but few understand its meaning or consequences.

Usually the earliest signs of cystic fibrosis include extremely salty-tasty skin, and extremely thick, sticky and copious mucus. The mucus causes blockages in the pancreatic duct and prohibits digestive enzymes from reaching the intestinal tract where they are normally used for digestion of fats. Without the enzymes fats cannot be digested and are excreted in bulky, greasy stools, another hallmark sign of cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis patients also suffer with chronic respiratory tract infections that include unrelenting coughing from the excess mucus in the lungs.

As cystic fibrosis is inherited, there is little that can be done to reverse or cure this disease. Instead, current treatment is focused on alleviating and decreasing as many of the symptoms as possible. Mucus clearing is of the utmost important so as to keep the airways clear. Antibiotics for lung infections, mucus thinning drugs and pancreatic enzyme supplements are among the most common cystic fibrosis treatments.

A new hope for cystic fibrosis patients is slowly emerging, however. Scientists are finding and reporting that many of the mutations which may partially contribute to cystic fibrosis symptoms can be traced back to deformed or missing glycoconjugates1,2. For example, a mutation in the CFTR gene will produce an incorrect glycoprotein product. The mutated glycoprotein in turn results in the cellular chloride channel defects seen in cystic fibrosis2 - thus generating salty skin.

Researchers believe that many of the symptoms of cystic fibrosis follow the same pattern: mutated gene produces a mutated glycoconjugate resulting in a defective cellular component.

Recently researchers in lab experiments have confirmed that with the addition of glyconutrients, correct function was restored to defective CFTR in animal models with cystic fibrosis2. This is an extremely positive and encouraging step toward using glyconutrients for cystic fibrosis patients. Other studies have focused on glyconutrients as well as antioxidants for cystic fibrosis2. The current trend is to conduct more research into the role glyconutrients play in cystic fibrosis patients. In the meantime, however, many patients are choosing to supplement their regimen with these plant based glyconutrients.

The Benefits Of Salt Therapy

2006-05-01T21:40:00.000-07:00

The benefits of salt therapy (also called Halotherapy) or speleotherapy are well known and documented in Europe. Halotherapy uses dry aerosol micro particles of salt and minerals to treat respiratory diseases and seeks to replicate the conditions of speleotherapy (from Greek speleos=cave), a treatment that has been practiced in old salt mines of Eastern Europe since the early 19th century.

In the mid 18th Century a Polish health official Felix Botchkowski, noticed that the workers of salt mines did not get ill with lung diseases. He wrote a book about the effects of salt dust in 1843. His successor M. Poljakowski founded a Salt Spa in Velicko near Krakow, which is still in operation. During the Second World War salt mines were often used as bombproof shelters. After spending time there many people who suffered from asthma felt that their health had gotten better! Today there are many salt sanatoriums in Europe (Austria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia...).

The Halotherapy belongs to the category of the physical therapies non-drug and non invasive treatments of diseases. In the former Soviet Union, medical researchers engaged in a concerted effort to develop physical therapies in order to avoid the costs and side effects of drug therapy as well as microbial and tumour resistance. Russia has become the world leader in developing and testing new and increasingly effective physical therapies. Many of the clinical trials have focused on Halotherapy as a treatment of asthma and chronic bronchitis and also very effective as a main or adjuvant therapy across the entire range of upper and lower respiratory tract diseases.

Respiratory diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Most drug therapies of respiratory diseases have only palliative effects, and many have significant side effects, especially those with corticoids or steroids. So, a physical therapy like Halotherapy is greatly needed.

Speleotherapy also makes a great demand on patients' time. The mines are not conveniently located for most people and the total cost is fairly significant.

The effectiveness of speleotherapy is not acknowledged in all countries of the world, but in countries like Romania (Praid, Tg.Ocna,Seiged, Sovata, Slanic, Ocna), Poland (Wieliczka), Germany (Teufelshöhle), Austria (Hallen, Solzbad-Salzeman), Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Hungary, Russia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Nakhichevan mines in Azerbaijan, the salt aerosol plays an important role in the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases, working well with or without medical treatment and without any known side effects. Because of these, pregnant women with asthma or other respiratory diseases could use this therapy without any harm to the child. Very well known and appreciated in these middle-eastern European countries, this therapy is covered by the public health care system. In Romania there are also many salt lakes - Sovata with 7 salt lakes, Ocna Sibiului with 52 salt lakes in S-W of Transilvania, very well known in the treatment of infertility, metabolic diseases,skin diseases. These salt lakes were usually formed by collapsing of salt caves ceilings. All these salt lakes have different salinity, increasing with deepness – from 9g/l to 320g/l.

This salt therapy being very well known for its beneficial effects, a Romanian inventor puts his mind at work and developed a device that is able to reproduce a speleotherapy micro environment in your home in an affordable and convenient way. Internationally recognized, with Gold and Silver medal at “Salon International des Inventions”,Geneva and “World Exhibition of Innovation, Research and New Technology”, Brussels, this Romanian invention brings new hopes in the natural treatment of chronic respiratory diseases.

The inventor thought this device as an air salinizer that uses forced ionization of the indoor air by salt sublimation creating a micro climate of dry aerosol salt therapy in your living space. He used a natural process of salt crystallization to obtain salt micro crystals under 5µm in diameter, invisible to human eyes, being able to penetrate deep into the lung. The device uses only natural salt from within the mountain of salt, untreated or touched by the human processing technology.

Based on clinical studies, the inhaled saline has bactericide, mucokinetic, hydrophilic, anti inflammatory properties, reducing inflammation in the whole respiratory tract, absorbing edema from the mucosa lining the airway passages leading to widening of the airway passages, restoring the normal transport of mucus and unclog blockages in the bronchi and bronchioles leading to rapid elimination of the residual tar and foreign allergens, all of these in a natural process.

Edema of the nasal mucosa and the oropharynx and soft palate, causing nasal obstruction and snoring is diminished, leading to widening of the airway passage in the nose and the tubes of the sinuses and improving the sinuses drainage and reducing snoring.

In the auditory tube, edema of the Eustachian tube causing ear infection, is also diminished, leading to widening of the airway passages, better drainage and better aeration behind the tympanic membrane.

The salt therapy was found to have beneficial effects in the treatment of:

Asthma and Chronic Bronchitis

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

Allergic Rhinopathy or Hay Fever

Cystic Fibrosis

Sinusitis

Ear Infections

Smoking Cough

Various acute or chronic respiratory disease

Reduce snoring and activates better sleep by clearing the airway passages in oropharyngeal region

Increased resistance to Cold & Flu by opening and clearing the nasal airway and improving the drainage of the sinuses

Humidifies the bronchial secretions reducing broncho-spasm and facilitating elimination of the smoke residual tar, phlegm expel and other allergens

Improves the quality of the indoor air by eliminating the dust, cigarette smoke, bad odours, mould and mites, having bactericide reduction properties.

The salt therapy is a natural method of therapy and does not involve any risk and is finally adapted to the living space. However, this is not a substitute for medical treatment and should only be used as an adjuvant helping to improve the quality of patients’ life, reducing the antibiotics and corticoids or steroids intake, reducing the rate of annual hospitalizations and decrease the frequency of respiratory diseases attacks. For more information, clinical studies and testimonials you can visit the web site.

NB: The author grants reprint permission to opt-in publications and websites so long as the copyright and by-line are included intact and the article is not used in spam.
Educated and motivated person, having a multicultural background with extensive knowledge about European health products and practices.

LTiba
WebSite: http://www.salinetherapy.com
Phone: +1 / 519.641.SALT

Sinus Infection Medication

2006-04-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

Sinus Infection Medication by Eddie Tobey

Sinus infection or sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses. Sinuses are the hollow cavities in the bones around the nose. When these sinuses get inflamed because of some viral or fungal infection, it results in blockage of air or mucus inside, which causes lot of pain and discomfort, often known as a sinus attack. Sinus infections are very common and millions of people are attacked each year.

There are three kinds of sinus attacks: acute, chronic, and recurring. Acute sinus attacks are severe and last for around three weeks. Chronic attacks are more severe and last for three to eight weeks or more. Recurring sinus infections, on the other hand, are those that frequently appear over a period of time. Medication is given according to the kind of attack. Chronic sinus infections need prolonged treatment, whereas normal sinus infections can be treated with over-the-counter drugs.

There are many home remedies for treating sinus infections. Though these remedies may not provide any lasting cure, they definitely give some relief. Some common home remedies are: steam inhalation, hot or a cold compress over the inflamed area, a decoction of mustard seed powder and water instilled in the nostrils, consumption of jalapeno peppers, consumption of the juice of ripe grapes, application of a paste of cinnamon and water on the forehead, application of a paste of ginger and water/milk on the forehead, application of a paste of basil leaves, cloves and dried ginger on the forehead, inhalation of steam from eucalyptus oil, warm tea, and so on.

Medication also depends on the actual cause of the sinus infection. Sometimes, sinus infections are a result of some other ailments like asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergies to fungi, primary immune deficiency, HIV infection, cystic fibrosis and others. These infections have to be treated before treating the sinusitis itself. Medication for sinusitis usually involves a decongestant to clear the sinuses, an antibiotic to fight the infection, and a pain killer. Decongestant can be in the form of tablet or nasal spray. Some chronic cases can be treated using steroids like prednisone. However, steroids are not generally preferred because of the possible side effects. Acute or chronic sinus infections may require prolonged therapies like saline nasal rinses, topical/oral decongestants, antihistamines, mucolytic agents, and intranasal corticosteroids. Sinus infections that cannot be cured by medication require surgery. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery is a common surgery for enlarging the sinus openings and allowing drainage.

About the Author
Sinus Infections provides detailed information on sinus infections, sinus infection symptoms, sinus infection treatment, home remedy for sinus infection and more.

about-cystic-mesotheliomacystic

2006-04-01T21:12:00.000-08:00

Submitted by: Kent Pinkerton

Cystic fibrosis is a medical condition that starts in early childhood, sometimes as early as from the time of birth. A defective gene causes the problem and there is no known cure, though there are some promising experiments going on towards gene therapy. The medical profession understands the symptomatic treatment well and the average lifespan of persons with cystic fibrosis is increasing.
Nature's mechanism for filtering out the dust and microorganisms people breathe in is to secrete thin mucus in the airways and the lungs, and clear it through the nose or the digestive tract. For the person with cystic fibrosis, this mucus, which normally is thin and slippery, becomes thick and sticky. Other affected and thickened secretions are sweat, digestive juices and the reproductive system.

Since the lungs are congested, the pulmonary capacity drops. The blocked airways cause severe breathing difficulties and asthma-like wheezing. The digestive juices from the pancreas and liver do not reach the intestine, as the ducts get blocked. The fats and proteins are not digested. Though the patient eats normally, maybe even in excess, he is undernourished and is under weight. Fat-soluble vitamins become deficient.

There are approximately ten million symptomless carriers of the defective cystic fibrosis gene in America. A person needs to inherit two defective cystic fibrosis genes to be afflicted with cystic fibrosis. Every time two carriers produce a child, the chances are 25 % that the child may be affected with cystic fibrosis, 50 % that the child may be a carrier and 25% that the child may be a non-carrier.

To diagnose cystic fibrosis, the laboratory carries out a sweat test. The treatment is only symptomatic. We cannot at this stage make the secretions thin, but can neutralize the effects of thickened secretions by regular treatment and management. A high-fat diet with enzyme and vitamin supplements helps the patient with nutrition.

A strict lifestyle regime to prevent complications is very important. Drinking plenty of liquid loosens the mucus. Regular exercise, as much as possible, keeps the respiratory system clear and improves the cardiovascular system.
The cystic fibrosis patient must avoid smoky or dusty places. Hand cleaning is a simple but very effective step to prevent infection.

Few cystic fibrosis patients lived beyond their teens in the past, but thanks to improved management, 40 % of the 30 ,000 Americans with cystic fibrosis are over 18 and many are into their 30 s and 40s.Cystic Fibrosis provides detailed information on Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms, Causes Of Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Treatments and more.

Natural Asbestos Could Cause Cancer

2005-11-15T00:28:00.000-08:00

Not only Asbestos causes Mesothelioma Lung Cancer by Vera Cherneva

Mesothelioma lung cancer is usually associated with asbestos exposure. In fact there are many other risk factors that cause mesothelioma cancer. One of them is the erionite. Erionite is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that belongs to a group of minerals called zeolites. Zeolites are hydrated aluminosilicates of the alkaline and alkaline-earth metals. Erionite was used in the past as a noble metal-impregnated catalyst in a hydrocarbon-cracking process. It was studied for use in fertilizers and to control odors in livestock production, because of its ability to selectively adsorb molecules from air or liquids. In many countries erionite blocks were used (and may be are still used) as building material or in stucco pastes and whitewash.

Erionite was mentioned for the first time as a mesothelioma lung cancer risk factor in 1975, when Turkish government presented a study that uncovered a high incidence of a rare malignant mesothelioma in lung tissues of people in certain small villages in the Cappadocia area in Turkey's central mountainous region. In two small villages the mesothelioma lung cancer accounted for 43 % of the deaths during 23 years period of study. Erionite fibers were found in biopsies of lungs of the mesothelioma cancer afflicted people. Comparing this to a 9.7% rate of death from this disease among asbestos insulation installers shows how anomalous this condition was.

Further studies showed erionite causes similar diseases in laboratory animals. When researchers at Mt. Sinai Hospital injected rats with the same dosage of erionite that they used for asbestos, rats didn't live long enough to get mesothelioma cancer. At a much- reduced dose, the rats did get cancer. Erionite is probably the most toxic known mineral - a milligram of fibers in the lungs is lethal.

Today erionite is considered so hazardous that the EPA requires any one who intends to manufacture, import or process any article containing erionite to notify the E.P.A. 90 days in advance. This gives the EPA a chance to review, limit or prohibit that activity.

Erionite is no longer mined or marketed for commercial purposes. Although other natural zeolites have many commercial uses (pet litter, soil conditioners, animal feed, waste-water treatment, gas absorbents, etc.) So potential occupational exposure to erionite occurs during the production and mining of other zeolites.

And there are questions: Are there other mineralogical hazards like erionite and asbestos? Should we expected mesothelioma lung cancer increases not only from asbestos exposure after another 20 - 30 years?

Protect against mesothelioma by

2005-11-06T21:48:00.000-08:00

Lewis and Sholnick have announced the publication of some simple precautionary steps can be taken to avoid high risk situations in regards to asbestos and mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. It refers specifically to a cancerous tumor which involves the mesothelial cells of an organ, usually the lungs or abdomen. Despite being classified under the rather broad category of cancer, however, Mesothelioma is unique for a number of reasons. First is the immense devastation of the disease, and the inability for modern medical techniques to significantly slow its onset or offer a cure. Approximately 75 % of patients die within 18 months of the first signs of the disease. Second, is the long latency period between exposure to the cause of the disease, asbestos, and its onset.
Latency runs the gamut from 15 to 50 years, meaning that a person may have been exposed to asbestos more than a half century before the first serious signs of the disease manifest themselves. The average reported latency, however, is approximately 35-40 years.

Precautionary Steps
Because of the devastating nature of the disease and because we are able to point to a single root source, asbestos exposure, there is significant reason for all individuals to take necessary precautions to avoid contraction of the disease. While certainly no steps taken can fully eliminate all risk of asbestos exposure, some simple precautionary steps can be taken to avoid high risk situations.

For instance, a responsible parent should contact their childrenís local school district. In 1986 Congress passed the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, which required public and private nonprofit schools to inspect their buildings for asbestos-containing materials. Despite this, an untold number of schools either have not taken the necessary steps to eliminate the potential for asbestos exposure or the work has been done shoddily. In fact, just two years ago a New York school district was found to have high levels of asbestos despite having had a contractor "remove" the threat a mere five years before. Upon further investigation, however, the contractor used had already been cited numerous times for doing work not up to code in similar asbestos removal projects.
Consequently, concerned parents should first contact their childrenís school district to receive a copy of documentation stating that indeed, proper steps were taken to remove asbestos from the building. Then, parents should do a bit of their own research via the internet and the Better Business Bureau to ensure that the contractor hired has a stellar record. stellar record.

More information can be found at , a free online resource. for more information on mesothelioma and asbestos litigation.