TeachableMedicalNews article 08142020
Teachable moment in classrooms:
- chemical basis of life chapter – protein structure and shape is important for proper function
- cellular basis of life chapter – ion channel proteins in plasma membrane
- cellular basis of life chapter – concept of gene mutation leading to protein malfunction
- cellular basis of life chapter – involvement of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum apparatus in protein processing
- tissue chapter –function of ciliated epithelium
- respiratory system chapter – anatomy of the conduction zone
- respiratory system chapter – the lining of bronchi and bronchioles
The news item: Recently a new treatment was reported for cystic fibrosis:
Studies Yield ‘Impressive’ Results in Fight Against Cystic Fibrosis (Published 2019)
The findings hold promise for a vast majority of those with cystic fibrosis, according to the director of the National Institutes of Health. “This should be a cause for major celebration,” he wrote.
The article mentions that cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder, and it affects the lungs and bowels of the patients.
So, Why Do I Care?? Over 30,000 people in the USA has cystic fibrosis, and 1000 new cases are diagnosed each year. The mean life expectancy is age 44 for cystic fibrosis patients. Only symptomatic treatments have been available until now, because gene therapy has been unsuccessful. Any treatment that reverses the root cause of this disorder is a revolutionary achievement that will literally breathe new life into patients.
Plain English, Please!!! First let’s talk about cystic fibrosis. This disorder causes