Cystic Fibrosis Gene Linked to Fatty Acids
Genome News Network
By Cheryl Simon Silver
February 20, 2004
"New research suggests that the gene that causes cystic fibrosis may affect a person' ability to metabolize ordinary fatty acids. The new information adds another piece to the complex puzzle of a devastating disease that has eluded a cure since the discovery of the cystic fibrosis (CF) gene more than a decade ago....

Freedman's finding that mice with the CF gene don't become sick until they are weaned from their mother's milk also suggests a fatty acid link. Human breast milk, like the milk from mice, is rich in DHA as well as other beneficial substances such as antimicrobial proteins. O'Sullivan has conducted a survey of mothers whose children are treated in cystic fibrosis clinics. He says there are "tantalizing hints" that breast feeding might also be beneficial for human babies who will develop cystic fibrosis. Thus, at his clinic and others, mothers of babies with the cystic fibrosis gene are strongly encouraged to breast feed. In future studies, the researchers will try to determine whether adding DHA to infant formula is equally beneficial and whether nursing mothers should take supplemental DHA..."

Study Offers New Model for Breast Cancer
: "Mon Mar 22 15:14:35 2004 Pacific Time
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 22 (AScribe Newswire) -- The last few years have witnessed critical advances in breast cancer therapies. Still, the disease afflicts one in eight American women, and scientists have yet to develop a living model with which they can study the intricacies of human breast-tumor behavior. Now, a team in the lab of scientist Robert Weinberg at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research has successfully grafted human breast tissue into the mammary glands of mice. As a result, the mice formed functional breasts that are capable of producing human breast milk. More importantly, some of these mice were engineered to form early-stage breast tumors like those found in humans. "[Mice capable of producing human breast milk. Why does that sound so disturbing? - J]

Times Record News: Washington: "Dry infant formula can be dangerous, researchers warn

By LANCE GAY
March 22, 2004



Disease detectives say a food-borne bacteria that causes rare but frequently fatal brain disorders in babies is found in almost one in four samples of powdered infant formula.

Donald Zink, a scientist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said it's not possible with current technologies to kill the pathogen in the processing of infant food, and the agency is alerting the public and neo-natal centers to recognize that dried infant formula is not a sterile product."

Sensitivity to Dietary Proteins released in Breast Milk Causing Colic in Infants
Advances in the Treatment and Diagnosis of Food Allergy Presented at the 2004 AAAAI Annual Meeting
Monday March 22, 12:00 pm ET
SAN FRANCISCO, March 22 /PRNewswire/

"Colic in breast-fed infants younger than 6 weeks of age is associated with intolerance to dietary proteins excreted in breast milk. These findings were presented today at the 2004 AAAAI Annual Meeting in San Francisco. Over a seven-day period, David J Hill, FAAAAI, and colleagues from Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, studied breastfed infants with colic less than 6 weeks old. Mothers were randomly assigned to a 'low- allergen' diet that excluded milk, egg, wheat, peanut, tree nuts and fish or a 'control' diet that included these foods. Ninety infants completed the program; 47 receiving the 'low allergen' and 43 the 'control' diet. More children in the 'low-allergen' group (74%) than in the control group (34%) saw a 25% decrease in their distress. In the last 48 hours of the study, the 'low-allergen' group had 128 minutes less distress than the 'control' group."