In this Cochrane review, researchers at the Sydney Children’s Hospital, in New South Wales, Australia, evaluated the evidence that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation reduces morbidity and mortality. Continue reading Omega-3 for cystic fibrosis
Category Archives: Cystic Fibrosis
Review: CAM for treating Alzheimer’s disease
Dr. Keith Wollen at Washington State University, in Port Angeles, has written a review of treatment options.
Let’s focus on CAM. Continue reading Review: CAM for treating Alzheimer’s disease
CAM Archive: Singing by people with cystic fibrosis?
They are at risk for respiratory infections due to excessive mucus in their airways. Airway clearance is therefore an important part of cystic fibrosis management.
This Cochrane review analyzed the evidence. Continue reading CAM Archive: Singing by people with cystic fibrosis?
Psychological treatment for cystic fibrosis
Cochrane reviewers report, “no clear evidence exists on the best psychological interventions to help people with cystic fibrosis.” Continue reading Psychological treatment for cystic fibrosis
Getting specific about CAM-drug interactions
Dr. Philip Hansten from the University of Washington School of Pharmacy has spent more than 30 years chronicling and documenting drug interactions.
In an article in Pharmacy Times, he and Dr. John Horn focus on the risks for people with diabetes or taking blood thinners. Continue reading Getting specific about CAM-drug interactions
Using probiotics in children with cystic fibrosis
The results of this study suggest that probiotics might delay respiratory impairment. Continue reading Using probiotics in children with cystic fibrosis
Comparing probiotics to treat diarrhea
Not all commercially available probiotics are effective in children with acute diarrhea, according to this study from researchers at the University of Naples Federico II in Italy. Continue reading Comparing probiotics to treat diarrhea
Salt water to treat cystic fibrosis
The Blogs are abuzz today with talk of nebulized hypertonic saline to treat cystic fibrosis (CF). Glenn Reynolds at Instapundit has a comment and links to Dean Barnett of SoxBlog who reports his experience with saline from a patient’s perspective. The historical perspective on the treatment is interesting as well.
Saline is not new therapy, but it has assumed a higher profile since publication of a study in The New England Journal of Medicine early this year. The authors concluded, “Hypertonic saline preceded by a bronchodilator is an inexpensive, safe, and effective additional therapy for patients with cystic fibrosis.” The accompanying editorial (summarized on Medscape) was less impressed.
Recently, the Cochrane Collaboration reviewed the results of nine trials of nebulized hypertonic saline for CF. The reviewers concluded it “improves mucociliary clearance in short-term clinical trials and appears to increase lung function compared to control.” However, “In comparison to recombinant deoxyribonuclease it may be less effective at improving lung function after three months.”
Maybe so, but Dean’s perspective is encouraging. “This seems like if not a miracle, something damn close to it. For years good people, the world’s best, have been pouring their hearts, souls and money into finding effective treatments for CF and generally coming up with very little. And all of a sudden, a super-promising new treatment comes along. And it’s salt water!”
7/9/06 09:56 JR