Daily Archives: July 21, 2017

Not everyone needs all of the protective features offered by a fully rugged laptop, but there are some situations where a greater degree of protection than is found on a standard laptop is welcome. According to Panasonic, field service engineers specialising in indoor maintenance and repairs is one use case.

Panasonic's semi-rugged Toughbook CF-54, newly equipped with a 7th-generation (Kaby Lake) Intel Core i5 processor, replaces the Toughbook CF-53, which we reviewed way back in October 2011.

There are three models on offer that share a range of core specifications, with some variation including around storage, RAM, and the 14-inch screen:

Entry Model Intel Core i5-7300U vPro processor, Windows 10 Professional, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 14-inch 1,366 x 768 pixel non-touch screen

Mid Model Intel Core i5-7300U vPro processor, Windows 10 Professional, 4GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 14-inch 1,920 x 1,080 non-touch screen

Premium Model Intel Core i5-7300U vPro processor, Windows 10 Professional, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 14-inch 1,920 x 1,080 touchscreen

The 14-inch Toughbook CF-54 runs on a 7th-generation Intel Core i5 processor and weighs 1.9kg, although this will rise if you customise the system with optional add-ons.

The Toughbook CF-54 officially becomes available in August, and at the time of writing Panasonic had not finalised pricing. However, I found the Mid Model online at a starting price of 1,389 (ex. VAT).

Its semi-rugged status makes the Toughbook CF-54 quite sizeable (345mm wide by 272mm deep by 29.8mm thick) and heavy, with a starting weight of 1.9kg -- which will rise as customisations are added to the two flexible configuration areas. One of these is a bay that can accommodate a second battery, a smartcard reader or a PC card instead of the standard DVD drive. The other is a configurable port that can be used for a second RJ-45 LAN port, d-GPS, or an additional USB port.

You can also add 4G LTE to the standard configuration, select different hard drive/SSD capacities, and upgrade the RAM to a maximum of 32GB. The standard ports and connectors are three USB 3.0, HDMI, RJ-45 LAN, nine-pin D-Sub (True Serial), and VGA ports, plus an SD card slot. These sit in small groupings under hinged covers that protect them from damage by dust and liquids (although we could not find a formal IP rating among the specifications).

The CF-54's ports and slots are protected by hinged covers.

The Panasonic Toughbook CF-54 benefits from a magnesium chassis, with magnesium plating used on all four of its sides. The lid and base sections are kept tight shut with a sizeable clasp to help the laptop stay shut during the rigours of transportation in tough environments. The lid section has the characteristic Panasonic Toughbook silver styling and sports a honeycomb effect that provides good protection from knocks. Panasonic says the Toughbook CF-54 will survive drops of up to 76cm (which is equivalent to the height of an average desk).

The keyboard and (relatively small) touchpad are both spill resistant, while Panasonic's characteristic carry handle is solid and easy to grip, and tucks away neatly when not in use.

Panasonic says battery life is up to ten hours. If the configurable bay is used to house a second battery, claimed longevity rises to 17 hours. Hot-swap capability means you can slot in a new battery without closing the Toughbook CF-54 down.

Lighter and more compact than the Toughbook CF-53, Panasonic's new semi-rugged CF-54 offers a solid, up-to-date choice for professionals requiring a well-protected laptop for moderately challenging field service work.

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Panasonic Toughbook CF-54, First Take: A semi-rugged laptop for field-service pros - ZDNet

Three triple-combination treatments fromVertexPharmaceuticalsshowed promising results in Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with one F508del mutation and one so-called minimal function mutation (F508del/Min) in the CFTR gene, the defective gene that causes CF.

Vertexannounced that these are the first data to demonstrate that it is possible to treat the underlying cause of CFinpatients with these mutations, which are particularly difficult to treat.

Minimal function mutations are gene changes that leave the CFTR protein minimally functional or unable to function at all. Earlier studies showed that patients with these types of mutations are not responsive to treatment withKalydeco (ivacaftor),tezacaftor, or the combination of the two.

Two Phase 2 trials studied tezacaftorand Kalydecoin combination with eitherVX-440orVX-152, two investigational therapies thatare next-generation correctors of the defective CFTR protein.

The trials showed that patients improved their lung function, as measured by percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second(ppFEV1),and lowered the amount of chloride in their sweat, a measure of how well the CFTR protein works.

A Phase 1 clinical trial explored atriple combination with VX-659, which is another corrector.This study showed similar improvements in lung function and sweat chloride analyses.

The trials showed thatall of the treatmentswererelatively safe, with the majority of adverse events being mild or moderate.

These safety and efficacy data are clear and compelling, indicating significant potential benefit for people with CF from each of these three different triple combination regimens, Jeffrey Chodakewitz, MD, executive vice president and chief medical officer at Vertex, said in apress release.

We will be collecting and evaluating additional data from these and other studies and will make a decision on which regimen(s) to take forward intopivotalprogram(s), which we expect to begin in the first half of 2018, Chodakewitz added.

The Phase 2 study (NCT02951182) is evaluating two doses of VX-440 200 mg and 600 mg every 12 hours in combination withtezacaftorand Kalydeco.The trial includes adult patients who have either two F508del mutations or the F508del/Min combination of mutations.

Among 47 patients with minimal function mutations analyzed so far, the average lung function was found to be improved by about 10-12%. Meanwhile, theamount of chloride in patients sweat decreased, indicating improved activity of the CFTR protein.

Researchers noted both of these positive effects in both dose groups (200 and 600 mg). In contrast, those who received a placebo had no changes in these parameters during four weeks of treatment.

The treatment was also beneficial to26 patients with two F508del mutations who were already receiving treatmentwith the tezacaftor-Kalydeco combo. These patients were randomized to receive either VX-440 or a placebo for four weeks.

Like the other patient group, the addition of VX-440 to the treatment plan improved lung function by 9.5%. It also significantly lowered sweat chloride levels.

A second Phase 2 trial (NCT02951195) studied three doses of VX-152 100 mg, 200 mg, and 300 mg every 12 hours together withtezacaftorand Kalydeco. Patients are adults with either two F508del mutations ora F508del/Minmutation combination.

In patients withF508del/Min mutations, two weeks of treatment allowed those in the lower dose group to improve by 5.6% on lung function tests, while those in the higher group improved by 9.7%. Sweat chloride levels also decreased in this study.

A similar result was observed in patients with two F508del mutations: 7.3% improvement in lung function and a decrease in sweat chloride levels.

The Phase 1 study (NCT03029455) differs in design from the Phase 2 trials as it evaluates increasing doses of VX-659 alone and in triple combination withtezacaftorand Kalydecoin healthy volunteers. The trialalso includes patients with the F508del/Min mutations.

As in the other studies, preliminary results showed an improvement of 9.6% in patientslung functionafter two weeks of treatment.

Patients with minimal function mutations have been waiting for a medicine to treat the underlying cause of their disease, which makes these data, showing pronounced improvements in lung function particularly important, said Steven M. Rowe, MD, co-chair of a steering committee of global CF experts who advise Vertex on the development of the triple combination treatments.

Its also encouraging to see that the addition of a next-generation corrector may lead to substantial additional benefits for patients with two copies of the F508del mutation, who were already receivingtezacaftorand ivacaftor, added Rowe, who is also a professor of medicine, pediatrics, and cell developmental and integrative biology at theUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham.

All three studies are still recruiting participants. More information and study locations can be found at the respective trial pages at these links:NCT02951182,NCT02951195, andNCT03029455.

Read the rest here:

Data From Vertex's Triple-Combination Trials Show Promising Benefits for CF Patients - Cystic Fibrosis News Today

Analyst's Bullish on these two stock Following meeting with Industry: CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF), Opko Health ... StockNewsJournal CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF) market capitalization at present is $7.26B at the rate of $31.13 a share. The firm's price-to-sales ratio was noted 1.93 in contrast with an overall industry average of 3.75. Most of the active traders and ... and more »

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Analyst's Bullish on these two stock Following meeting with Industry: CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF), Opko Health ... - StockNewsJournal

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Digestive Cares Pertzye (pancrelipase) to be given to cystic fibrosis patients through a so-called G-tube a feeding tube delivering nutrition directly to the stomach through a hole in the abdomen.

Pertzye is an enzyme replacement therapy for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency caused by cystic fibrosis or other conditions.

Although cystic fibrosis is well-known for problems with the airways, mutations in the defectiveCFTR gene in patients can also affectother organs, like the pancreas. Thisorgan releases digestive enzymes necessary to break down food into the gut.

The CFTR protein is a channel that allows chloride ions to pass over a cell membrane, and the loss of this ability makes mucus in the pancreas sticky, preventing it from releasing enzymes.

As a result, attainingproper nutritioncan be difficult for cystic fibrosis patients, but pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy can significantly improve the intake of nutrients and prevent gut problems.

We are pleased to offer the first FDA approved G-tube administration of enteric-coated pancreatic enzyme microspheres through a gastrostomy tube. This will allow physicians and dieticians to work together with EPI [exocrine pancreatic insufficiency] patients who have G-tubes and their caregivers to determine which method of administration of Pertzye is most appropriate, Tibor Sipos, president and chief scientific officer of Digestive Care, said in a press release.

A compound that is enteric-coated is protected from being broken down in the stomach. It is not released until it reaches the small intestine, where pancreatic enzymes normally enter the gut.

To allow administration through a G-tube, researchers adapted a pediatric dose form of the treatment a capsule with 4,000 lipase units using smaller size pancreatic enzyme microspheres. This allowed the enzymes to pass through a feeding tube of French size 14 (a diameter of 4.67 mm or 0.184 inches) or larger.

Digestive Care, Inc. and Chiesi are committed to delivering therapeutic treatment options that meet the unique health needs of CF [cystic fibrosis] patients, said Alan Roberts, senior vice president of scientific affairs at Chiesi, which is Digestive Cares marketing partner.

We continue to support patients and caregivers alike, through exploring treatment options that bring innovative solutions to CF patients and our various touch points within the CF community, added Roberts.

The FDAs labeling revision approval is considered by Digestive Care a milestone achievement in Pertzyes development program.

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Digestive Care's Enzyme Replacement Therapy via G-tube Approved by FDA for CF Patients - Cystic Fibrosis News Today