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Pilot Study Underway

Share International Foundation is currently seeking cystic fibrosis (CF) patients to participate in a study to determine the efficacy of a novel supplement to treat this condition. Share is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to research new therapies for cystic fibrosis. We have contracted a fully certified clinical trial center to undertake our study with IRB approval.

Overview: After extensive research, Share has developed a supplement which may address the basic defect of cystic fibrosis. Research indicates that the basic defect of CF results from an intracellular imbalance of several compounds in the CF cell, due to faulty trafficking of a defective CFTR protein. The active compound of Share's supplement, benzyl-isothiocyanate, is a natural substance, derived from papaya seeds. Analysis of Share's research supports the idea that this compound will activate an alternate channel in the cell, the multi-drug resistance protein (MDR), and, in doing so, help restore cellular balance. (See Pubmed article 16934416 for more details).

Purpose: Because fatty acid levels are generally abnormal in CF patients, the purpose of the trial is to determine the effectiveness of the supplement, and to measure the extent of its effect in regulating fatty acid levels.

Process and Duration: After having passed the screening process, subjects will participate in the trial for approximately four weeks. At the outset, a blood test will determine the baseline level of fatty acid composition. For three consecutive weeks, blood tests will be conducted once a week to compare fatty acid levels with the baseline.

Inclusion Criteria:

    - Male subjects, aged 18 years or older.
    - Delta F508 homozygote.
    - South Florida resident, or be able to travel to the South Florida area.

A $400.00 stipend will be paid to each subject who completes the trial.

Contact:
Jim Caldwell
Share International Foundation
954.661.6439
jim@sharktank.org 		  Shirley Zahn
Palm Beach Research Center
888.689.0606
shirley@palmbeachresearch.com

 
 
LATEST NEWS: Sharktank Releases Revolutionary Paper

A new model of cystic fibrosis pathology: Lack of transport of glutathione and its thiocyanate conjugates has been released by Medical Hypotheses of Elsevier Press. Authored by Melanie Childers, George Eckel, Alan Himmel, and Jim Caldwell.

Click here to read more.
Summary   Many of the symptoms of cystic fibrosis are not explained by the current disease mechanisms. Therefore, the authors conducted an extensive literature review and present a new model of cystic fibrosis pathology, which is the culmination of this research. Understanding that the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is responsible for glutathione (GSH) transport, the authors hypothesize that mutations of the CFTR, which create abnormal GSH transport, will lead to aberrations of GSH levels in both the intracellular as well as the extracellular milieu. These alterations in normal cellular GSH levels affect the redox state of the cell, thereby affecting the intracellular stress protein, metallothionein. The authors describe how this disruption of the redox state caused by excess cellular GSH, will naturally prevent the delivery of zinc as a cofactor for various enzymatic processes, and how these disruptions in normal redox may cause alterations in both humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Moreover, the symptom of thick sticky mucus in these patients might be explained through the understanding that oversulfation of mucus is a direct result of elevated cellular GSH and cysteine. The issues of hyperinflammation, altered pH and the imbalance of fatty acids that are typical in cystic fibrosis are addressed—all of which may also be linked to disruptions in GSH homeostasis. Additionally, this new model of cystic fibrosis pathology, clarifies the relationship between the CFTR and the multi-drug resistance proteins, and the lack of cell-mediated immunity by predicting that the substrate of these proteins is a glutathione adduct of thiocyanate. Finally, a new therapeutic strategy by using isothiocyanates to rectify the GSH imbalance and restore the immune system is suggested for the treatment of cystic fibrosis patients.