Effects of postage on recovery of pathogens from cystic fibrosis sputum samples.

Background: Regular surveillance microbiology of sputum is used in cystic fibrosis (CF) to monitor for new pathogens and target treatments. A move to remote clinics has meant greater reliance on samples collected at home and posted back. The impact of delays and sample disruption caused by posting has not been systematically assessed but could have significant implications for CF microbiology.

Delineation of blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) nursery habitats in the north-western Gulf of Mexico.

Coevolution with predators leads to the use of low-risk habitats by many prey species, which promotes survival during early developmental phases. These nurseries are valued by conservation and management agencies because of their contributions to adult populations. However, the physical and geographic characteristics, like shallow depths and isolation from other marine habitats, that restrict access to predators and thereby reduce risk to juvenile animals can also limit scientific research.

Longitudinal assessment of lung clearance index to monitor disease progression in children and adults with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Lung clearance index (LCI) is a valuable research tool in cystic fibrosis (CF) but clinical application has been limited by technical challenges and uncertainty about how to interpret longitudinal change. In order to help inform clinical practice, this study aimed to assess feasibility, repeatability and longitudinal LCI change in children and adults with CF with predominantly mild baseline disease.

Methods: Prospective, 3-year, multicentre, observational study of repeated LCI measurement at time of clinical review in patients with CF >5 years, delivered using a rapid wash-in system.

Lung clearance index in healthy volunteers, measured using a novel portable system with a closed circuit wash-in.

Introduction: Lung clearance index (LCI) is a sensitive measure of early lung disease, but adoption into clinical practice has been slow. Challenges include the time taken to perform each test. We recently described a closed-circuit inert gas wash-in method that reduces overall testing time by decreasing the time to equilibration.

Implications of fatherhood in cystic fibrosis.

Advances in fertility treatment mean that men with CF are increasingly able to become fathers. Here we report clinical outcomes in 22 men with CF who have become fathers for the first time. Overall mean (SD) FEV predicted declined from 60.