A find not to be sniffed at; HEALTH.A REMEDY for symptoms of the common cold is a step nearer after scientists found the gene that causes mucus to build up. It could lead to relief from conditions such as asthma and cystic fibrosis cystic fibrosis (sĭs`tĭk fībrō`sĭs), inherited disorder of the exocrine glands (see gland), affecting children and young people; median survival is 25 years in females and 30 years in males. - as well as blocked noses and phlegmy phlegm n. 1. Thick, sticky, stringy mucus secreted by the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, as during a cold or other respiratory infection. 2. chests. A research team isolated a master gene called SPDEF which controls other genes that produce mucus. They were able to turn it off in the lungs of mice. Researcher Dr Jeffrey Whitsett, of Cincinnati Children's Hospital, said: "Most cold medications deal with mucus but we need effective therapies." |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion