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Post by Ms. Kathy on Oct 31, 2006 8:46:10 GMT -6
Bionic eye offers blind a new vision.Christian Catalano. November 1, 2006. MELBOURNE scientists and electrical engineers are teaming up to create a bionic eye so powerful it may one day help the blind to read again. The device involves a miniature video camera fitted to a pair of glasses. The camera sends compressed digital images to a bionic implant on the back of the eye. Thousands of tiny electrodes in the bionic chip then stimulate the optic nerve, sending a signal to the visual centre at the back of the brain, where it is translated into an image. Collaborators from Melbourne University, the Centre for Eye Research Australia and the Bionic Ear Institute held meetings this week to discuss the project. A feasibility study will begin early next year, backed by a $20 million State Government grant. Melbourne University professor of medical bionics Rob Shepherd said the implant worked "like pixelation on a TV", with more electrodes generating a sharper image. "At the moment there are other researchers looking at using 16 electrodes. With that resolution you could probably identify the letter 'e' if it was the same size as a human," he said. "We're looking at 10,000 electrodes. It's a huge jump in technical ability that perhaps one day might make it possible to read large print and certainly detect structures when you're walking around and so forth." Most cases of blindness are caused by damage to the retina, which normally converts light into the electrical impulses that are decoded by the optic centre. Professor Shepherd said the bionic implant would basically do the job of the retina. Iven Mareels, a professor of electronic engineering at Melbourne University, said clinical trials were at least five years away. The biggest obstacle facing the team would be persuading the Therapeutic Goods Administration that the eye implant was safe, Professor Mareels said. "The approval systems are much more stringent than for any other part of the body, because you're actually dealing with an extension of the brain," he said. The implant would need to be able to conduct the electrical impulses and last within the body for several years, while also being able to resist infection. Getting around the body's immune system has long been the Achilles heel of bionics research. "Then there's the miniaturisation of the implant, because you have to build on a tiny scale to fit it inside the eye," he said. The new eye is one of several bionic projects in Victoria. Professor Graeme Clark, inventor of the bionic ear, said the most promising area of research was in carbon nanotubes, a new polymer that may allow spinal cord reattachment, peripheral nerve repair and the bionic management of epileptic seizures. "Weight-for-weight these nanotubes are 15 times stronger than steel and they conduct electricity like platinum wire. They have the potential to do some really exciting things," he said. Source URL: www.theage.com.au/news/national/bionic-eye-offers-blind-a-new-vision/2006/10/31/1162278142449.html
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Nov 1, 2006 7:45:32 GMT -6
Health Tip: Prevent Computer Eye Strain10.31.06, 12:00 AM ET (HealthDay News) -- Sitting in front of a computer for hours at a time can easily strain your eyes. But a few changes to your workstation can prevent eye strain, Prevent Blindness America says. Here are their suggestions: - Keep your computer screen between 20 and 26 inches away from your face, and position it slightly below eye level.
- Try to avoid glare by adjusting overhead lights, lamps, or blinds. You can also place a filter over your screen to reduce glare.
- Buy a computer monitor that can be adjusted to a level that's comfortable for your height.
- Attach a document holder to the side of the screen to avoid straining to read what you're typing.
Source: Forbes.com: www.forbes.com/forbeslife/health/feeds/hscout/2006/10/31/hscout535738.html
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Nov 1, 2006 7:53:19 GMT -6
Still feel like a smoke?Source: The Daily Telegraph www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20677422-5007132,00.html  By Clare Masters, Health Reporter November 01, 2006 12:00 THE image of this fragile newborn caught up in a tangle of tubes will soon be appearing on cigarette packs across the country. The confronting shot is part of the next series of seven graphic images and will be pasted on packs from today. Do you think they are the right approach? Vote in our poll at the bottom of the story. The new warnings cover the smoking-related health topics of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, blindness, the effect of smoking on unborn babies, the addictive nature of smoking and the toxicity of tobacco smoke. From a gruesome image of an eye, warning of blindness, to the shot of a heart bypass operation to the inside of a lung, the images are designed to shock smokers into giving up the gaspers. The images must cover 30 per cent of the front and 90 per cent of the back of packets, including explanatory information, as well as the Quitline logo and phone number. The first wave of images, plastered on packs since March this year, included images of gangrenous feet and a mouth rotted with cancer. The campaign reportedly triggered record numbers of smokers to quit. Director of Health Strategies at The Cancer Council NSW Anita Tang welcomed the new images saying they needed to change in order to keep their shock value. But Ms Tang warned the tobacco industry was going to grat lengths to avoid a negative impact. As reported by The Daily Telegraph this week Dunhill recently introduced a double-sided fold-out section enabling manufacturers to avoid displaying the warnings. "The Government requires that cigarette packs carry graphic warnings so that smokers can be better informed of the health risks, and to motivate them to quit smoking," Ms Tang said. "However, this intention is currently being deliberately undermined by the tobacco industry by developing new pack configurations such as the new split pack." Ash Australia chief executive Anne Jones said research has shown the graphic warnings are effective at encouraging smokers to quit and deterring young people from taking up the habit. "But I am concerned we may see another huge round of stockpiling the other products that smokers are used to," Ms Jones said. "When the first round came on we didn't see them for five months because of stock-piling." This image of a fragile newborn is among the next wave of cigarette scare ads. / The Daily Telegraph Galleries
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Nov 7, 2006 8:25:16 GMT -6
Trust denying patients vital anti-blindness drugSource: Your Local Guardian: Local London News www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/misc/print.php?artid=1003255Patients are being condemned to blindness as health trusts refuse to fund a drug that could save their sight. According to a recent report, sufferers of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are being denied Macugen, the only licensed drug in the UK to treat the condition. The report by the AMD Alliance also shows Richmond Primary Care Trust (PCT) is among 90 per cent of trusts in the UK who have failed to fund the treatment. Steve Winyard, head of campaigns at the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) said: "This report confirms what we have long suspected and what wet AMD patients have been telling us - that PCTs are refusing to fund a licensed treatment, even though it could save patients' sight." Macugen became available in May 2006 and since then only five PCTs nationwide are partially funding the treatment. Use of Macugen is awaiting guidance from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (Nice), which provides advice to health professionals on the use of drugs and treatments. But the Department of Health has advised that individual patients should not be refused treatment on this basis. Minister of State for the Department of Health, Andy Burnham, said: "Patients should not be refused a treatment simply because guidance from Nice is unavailable." Wet AMD accounts for more than half of registered blindness and affects 250,000 people in the UK. A further 26,000 develop the condition every year. An RNIB spokesman said: "The condition seriously compromises people's lives. "With wet AMD you can become blind in as little as three months." The situation is leaving patients with the bleak prospect of paying for private treatment - at a cost of between £10,700 and £25,000 per year - or going blind. The condition affects central vision and can destroy the ability to read, drive, shop and recognise faces. The report also suggests that the emotional impact of wet AMD blindness can be devastating, with patients at increased risk of depression and suicide. A spokesman from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCO) said: "When people do lose their sight it really is the most devastating thing that can happen to a person. We support the use of such drugs to treat wet AMD." Mr Winyard added: "We have a real chance now to turn wet AMD into a largely treatable condition. But only if it is detected and treated promptly. "Health officials are only fooling themselves if they think they can save money by refusing to fund the treatments." However, experts are warning that should the drug receive funding then the Government will also need to inject cash into the hospital infrastucture to help it cope with demand for the treatment. The RCO spokesman said: "Otherwise, administering these effective new drugs will be at the expense of other patients with cataracts, glaucoma and diabetes." A Richmond PCT spokesman said the trust is awaiting Nice guidelines on the use of Macugen and individual requests for the drug would be dealt with on a case by case basis. The RNIB urges the public to take regular eye tests, particularly as people may be unaware of the early stages of wet AMD. 9:00am Sunday 5th November 2006 By Sarah Newstead
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Nov 7, 2006 8:28:35 GMT -6
From New Nation Online Edition Health Malnutrition causes night blindnessSource: The New Nation: Bangladesh's Independent News Sourcenation.ittefaq.com/artman/publish/printer_31962.shtmlBy Parvez Babul Sun, 5 Nov 2006, 04:51:00 VITAMIN A deficiency is a part of micronutrient deficiencies/ malnutrition, which causes night blindness and other diseases. Night blindness (officially known as nyctalopia, means inability to see in dim light), primary stage of becoming permanently blind. So, we should prevent malnutrition taking vitamin A-rich foods as we need to prevent night blindness, to control blindness and to ensure right to see especially to our children. National Food and Nutrition Policy (1997) of Govt. of Bangladesh highlighted the following information of our country: Prevalence of night blindness: 100 per day. Children becoming blind: 30000- 40000 per year. Vitamin A and its deficiency Scientists Elmer V. McCollum and M. Davis discovered vitamin A during 1912-1914. Vitamin A was first synthesized in 1947. Vitamin A deficiency in night blindness causes deterioration of light sensitive cells, which are essential for vision in low lighting. Vitamin A deficiency also can extensively damage the eye's clear front surface (cornea) when eye tissue begins to dry out and shrivel away to create blindness. Lack of vitamin A may result in xerophthalmia (dry eye), night blindness, and low body resistance to disease, poor growth and blindness in severe cases. Pursuant to the National Eye Care Plan of Govt. of Bangladesh and BNCB, community based preventive measures are required to prevent childhood blindness, which is related to Vitamin A deficiency disorders, diarrhoeal diseases malnutrition and measles. 27 percent of the blindness was due to problems in the cornea (vitamin A deficiency). Child Sight Foundation mentioned in its report that in Bangladesh, the major preventable cause of blindness in children is vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A deficiency principally affects children under the age of 6 years. Most vitamin A deficiency is the result of an inadequate diet, insufficient breast -feeding, severe diarrhea and measles. So, Vitamin A is needed for growth, to fight infection and for healthy tissues and eyes. Vitamin A is found in all the red and yellow fruits and vegetables, in dark green leafy vegetables, in milk, butter and egg yolk. Vitamin A deficiency is very common among our children. All children aged 6 months to 6 years should be given 200,000 IU vitamin A capsule every 6 months. But two fixed distribution months are to be selected to feed the capsules. Helen Keller International (HKI) and Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN) survey in 1982/83 revealed that 3.6 percent preschool aged children of Bangladesh were night blind. In 2002 this prevalence was 0.4 percent, which is below the one percent threshold that indicates a public health problem. However this reduction is partly due to the national vitamin A capsule distribution program of the Government of Bangladesh. Dietary intake of vitamin A remains low and the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among women of reproductive age and other population groups is still very high. Another survey report (2004) of Helen Keller International (HKI) and Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN) shows that 68 percent of children under 5 years of age are anemic, with the highest prevalence among those 6-11 months old 92 percent. Approximately 40 percent of adolescent girls and 31 percent of adolescent boys suffer from anemia as well as 46 percent of non-pregnant and 39 percent of pregnant women. The prevalence of anemia increased in comparison to a similar survey conducted in 2001. So, to control malnutrition: Integrate homestead food production activities into the on-going programmes and should be adopted throughout the country, in order to sustainability improve household livelihoods. Within the HNPSP (Health, Nutrition and population Sector Programme)-emphases on appropriate infant and young child feeding practices are needed, specifically among children less than two years, to prevent and reverse malnutrition when mortality rates are highest. Homestead food production, which includes poultry rearing and vegetable production, can be expanded to include more households all over the country. Because the increased availability of home-produced foods and income enables households to increase their consumption of micronutrient-rich foods from both animal and plant sources and to diversify their diet, and thus lower the risk of micronutrient deficiencies. Both maternal and child nutritional status is better among female-than among male-headed households. So, its need to emphasize programmatic efforts for empowerment of women to support an enabling environment at household level. At policy level a framework needs to be set within which such efforts can be implemented. Girls need to continue their schooling for as long as possible, prevent early marriage, and be given opportunities to practice their decision- making skills within their families and the community, which will benefit future generations. Program implementers and the communities need to promote this, and schools teachers be trained to support and encourage the girls and their parents. Avoid blindness through Vision 2020 About 40,000 children are blind in Bangladesh. Malnutrition affects thousands of children in our country, leading to blindness, illness and death. Many of the causes of blindness are directly related to poverty, including hunger, malnutrition and limited access to health, education, water and sanitation services. World Health Organization (WHO) pointed out in its report that VISION 2020 seeks to ensure the best possible vision for all people by adopting an integrated approach based on priority diseases in poverty stricken areas, development of eye care facilities and training of eye care personnel; thereby contributing directly to improvement in quality of life and creating more favorable economic social and health conditions for individual and society at large. The number of blind people in the world is yet to double over the next 20 years, despite the availability of highly cost-effective interventions. 4 out 5 people who will lose their sight will do so unnecessarily. As recognition of this unacceptable prognosis the World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness in 1999 launched the joint initiative known as VISION 2020: the right to sight. This provides programmatic framework for eliminating avoidable blindness by the year 2020. If the political will and adequate resources can be galvanized in tandem, this goal is eminently achievable. VISION 2020 aims to eliminate the main causes of avoidable blindness by the year 2020 by bringing together governments, non-governmental agencies, eye care professionals, and other organizations involved in blindness prevention, to facilitate the planning, development implementation of sustainable national eye care programme. The successful implementation of VISION 2020 would not only reduce individual suffering, but would also provide significant social and economic benefit. Approximately 90 percent of visually impaired children in low-income countries are deprived of schooling. Lack of infrastructure, affordable health care, production of accessible and suitable school materials and qualified teachers prevent visually impaired children from attending school in many low-income countries. Inclusive education of children, who are blind or visually impaired, needs to be expanded. Most importantly, primary eye care needs to be incorporated in the primary health care system and the identified barriers in availing services need to be removed. Up to 60 percent of children in low income countries are likely to die within one year of becoming blind. Moreover, around 500,000 children become blind each year. This equates roughly to one child becoming blind each minute. Many of the conditions associated with childhood blindness are also causes of child mortality, i.e., premature birth, measles, vitamin A deficiency etc. VISION 2020 programmes contribute to lowering the risk of child mortality through childhood blindness control intervention and promotion of basic public health care. Such as interventions include vitamin A supplementation has been found to be among most cost effective of all health interventions. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) form a blueprint for action agreed to by governments worldwide, as well as the world's leading development organizations to become the part of the solutions of the problems: Of the three million children who suffer from clinical vitamin A deficiency, an estimated 250,000 - 500,000 annually go blind. 70 percent of them die within 12 months of losing their sight. As many as a third of the world's people are affected by micronutrient deficiencies. 6 million children under the age of five die needlessly each year as a result of malnutrition. That is one child every 6 seconds. 80 percent of maternal deaths are caused by diseases and complications linked to hunger and malnutrition, such as anemia, vitamin A deficiency and other micronutrient deficiencies. Also to raise mass awareness to prevent blindness-Govt. should declare the World Sight Day (2nd Thursday of October) as a National Day and observe it all over the country with the participation of all classes of people, especially at the grassroots level. Helen Keller says, "The fact that loss of sight and other misfortunes are largely preventable should be instilled into the public mind…only then shall we be worthy of our heritage of law and civilization". |
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Nov 7, 2006 8:47:45 GMT -6
Posted on Fri, Nov. 03, 2006email thisprint this Flying hospital delivers eyesight to the blind By MARGIE MASON The Associated Press  More photosDANANG, Vietnam — Lam Vu Nhat Ni perches on her father’s lap, wearing hospital pajamas and squinting as she slowly counts the number of blurry fingers held just 3 feet in front of her. “Mot, hai, ba, bon,” the 7-year-old whispers in Vietnamese. Born with cataracts that have progressed in the past year, Ni can see the shapes, but it’s a struggle to make out all four digits. The second grader, too poor to imagine flying to Thailand or Singapore for advanced medical care, is among a handful of patients selected to have surgery at Danang’s airport aboard ORBIS International’s flying eye hospital — a converted DC-10 complete with operating room and rotating volunteer doctors from around the world. “Before I only saw planes in the sky, but now that I’m on board a plane and I’m really happy,” said Ni, who traveled six hours from her village with her father, who earns $50 a month farming rice. “I don’t feel like I’m in a hospital.” The front section of the plane has been converted into a classroom, complete with a medical library and a big screen that broadcasts close-up interactive surgeries from the operating room, located in the middle of the aircraft. The two-week stop in Danang in October was the flying hospital’s first time in communist Vietnam, arriving after a four-country tour in Africa. It has traveled to more than 70 developing countries for nearly a quarter century. The New York-based charity has not only saved or dramatically improved the sight of thousands through surgery on the plane, but also trained some 124,000 doctors, nurses and other health workers to perform the procedures themselves. “If we teach one doctor on board the plane a new operation, it’s more important than operating and restoring sight to 100 patients,” said Oliver Foot, the organization’s president and executive director. “That one doctor will go on himself to operate on thousands of blind people, and he will teach other doctors the skill he’s learned.” Since the plane began flying in 1982, Foot estimates millions have had their sight restored through the skills passed along by ORBIS doctors. But that is only a dent in the overall level of preventable blindness and eye conditions plaguing the poor. In 2002, the World Health Organization estimated some 124 million people had low vision and an additional 37 million were totally blind, mostly from cataracts and glaucoma. The Asia-Pacific, the world’s most populated region, is home to 53 percent of the world’s visually-impaired people, followed by 17 percent in Africa, according to WHO figures. Cataracts, which cause nearly half of the world’s blindness, are common in aging people, but some children are born with them. The procedure to remove the cloudy lenses is fairly simple, but it requires special instruments and skilled doctors. Trachoma, a chronic bacterial infection that causes the eyelids to turn inward and eventual blindness, is another problem that can easily be treated with antibiotics or surgery if caught early. Diabetes also is on the rise in the developing world, presenting even more challenges. Before the flying hospital touches down, ORBIS sends a team into the country to ask which procedures doctors want to observe, based on their experience and the equipment available at their hospitals. In little Ni’s case, Dr. Doug Fredrick, a pediatric ophthalmologist from the University of California, San Francisco, removed her cataract alongside Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Chi, the only physician in Danang who performs eye surgery on children. Hunched over Ni inside the mini OR, Fredrick explained every step, offering pointers he has learned during the past 20 years. Vietnamese doctors on board scribbled notes and peppered him with questions. “What I had only learned in books before I can see with my own eyes,” said Dr. Nguyen Tuan Thanh Hao, who performs about two surgeries a week at the Danang Eye Hospital. In Ni’s case, the results were immediate a day after the surgery when the bandage was removed. She will need glasses, but should now be able to read 5-point type. “Sau!” she shouted instantly when six fingers were held up 10 feet away. “I see everything clear now,” she said, smiling. “I could never see my father so clear.” |
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Nov 8, 2006 10:07:20 GMT -6
Source:Panorama-Armenian Information Portal www.panorama.am/uploads/9009/e.asp -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2006-11-2 6:31:35 PM GOVERNMENT APPROVES PLAN FOR PREVENTING BLINDNESSBlindness tends to rise in Armenia, Vahan Poghosyan, medical aid department head at the ministry of health, said today. He said 48190 people above 50 years have problems with sight and 33670 of them need surgery operation. In the words of Tatul Hakobyan, deputy minister of health, the operation costs about 25-30,000 Armenian drams (about $60-70) on state released funds. There are 3561 absolutely blind people in Armenia and 2375 of them became blind because of cataract. Poghosyan cited blinds’ union saying there are 255 blind children registered. Poghosyan also said no studies have been conducted to find out reasons for rise of blindness. The executive has approved today a national strategic plan for preventing blindness. The plan is one of main challenges outlined in Millennium Challenges Accord program. Government press services say that blind people are normally socially disadvantaged because there are very few work places proper for them. /Panorama.am/ |
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Nov 13, 2006 8:44:39 GMT -6
Stem Cell Treatment Could Cure BlindnessBy Victor D'Angelo A new stem cell treatment could cure blindness. This is according to the treatment and research developed by British scientists. This is the first time in history that blindness has been cured by replacing worn out and damaged retinal cells with stem cells. Experts said that the research was "stunning." Stunning indeed as the treatment successfully restored sight to mice. Dr Robert MacLaren said there are 300,000 people with macular degeneration. "To have something in our pockets that might be a treatment we could offer patients is very exciting," he said. The researchers used stem cells to restore vision in blind mice in the testing. They were injected into the back of the eye where they replaced damaged photoreceptors. "Most of the patients I see have eye disease that results in death of the photoreceptors. This research is the first to show photoreceptor transplantation is feasible. "We are now confident that this is the avenue to pursue to uncover ways of restoring vision to thousands who have lost their sight." If this amazing research continues to progress it could very easily lead to a real cure for blind people. [Source: Dogflu.ca www.dogflu.ca/11112006/13/stem_cell_treatment_could_cure_blindness
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Nov 13, 2006 8:47:40 GMT -6
Blindness cure breakthrough [Source: Guardian Unlimited www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6200827,00.html] Press Association Wednesday November 8, 2006 3:58 PM Scientists are contemplating the real possibility of curing blindness after demonstrating that destroyed retinas can be rebuilt. In a breakthrough described by one expert as "stunning", British researchers restored sight to blind mice. Although much more work needs to be done, they believe the same goal could one day be achieved in human patients. For the first time, doctors would then be able to treat conditions that cause irreversible blindness, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic eye damage. Researchers at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London implanted immature "precursor" cells into the eyes of the mice which then developed into fully functioning photoreceptors. Previous attempts to achieve the same result using undifferentiated stem cells which have not yet acquired a specific function failed. Precursor cells are similar to stem cells but have proceeded further along the path of development. Those used in the mouse study had already been programmed to become photoreceptors, the pixel-like light-sensitive cells in the retina that make it possible to see. They were extracted from newborn mice which were in the process of developing their eyesight. Research suggests that human embryonic stem cells could be coaxed to become photoreceptor precursors. However the scientists believe a better approach might be to grow the precursors from adult stem cell-like cells found at the margins of the retina. These could then be transplanted into patients. © Copyright Press Association Ltd 2006, All Rights Reserved.
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Nov 13, 2006 8:51:36 GMT -6
Expert calls for early eye tests By REBECCA TORR Published: 11th November 2006 [Source: Gulf Daily News: The Voice of Bahrain www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=161457&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29236]EARLY detection of eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts is essential, a top ophthalmologist said yesterday. Cataracts are the major cause of blindness worldwide and 1,000 operations for its extraction are carried out in Bahrain annually, National Committee for the Prevention of Blindness chairman Dr Ahmed Abdulla Ahmed told the Rotary Club of Salmaniya at its weekly meeting held at the Golden Tulip Hotel. The second major cause for blindness in Bahrain is glaucoma and the solution lies in early detection and treatment by medication or surgical intervention, he said. Eye screening should be given to babies at least once in the first year, once between the ages of one and six, again between six and 14, then at 15 and once more between the ages of 20 to 40, he said. People aged 40 and above should have their eyes checked every two to four years, or more if there have problems. "Above the age of 40 we start to see more people with glaucoma and cataracts," Dr Ahmed pointed out. "Diabetes and high blood pressure can be dangerous for eyes, as well as anything else that may affect the nerves in the brain. The guest speaker said the committee's main aim is prevention of blindness and visual impairment. Therefore, it is a huge advocator of safety in workplace, homes and playgrounds, where most eye injuries occur. The committee, he said, helped to create more safety awareness through publications and giving lectures in clubs and associations. "Small companies here rarely have safety procedures, especially in construction work," said Dr Ahmed, who is also a long-standing Rotarian. For more information about the society or how to prevent blindness, contact Dr Ahmed at ahmedmd@batelco.com.bh. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © Gulf Daily News
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Nov 13, 2006 8:54:10 GMT -6
SCIENCE FILE [from Los Angeles Times(Science File Section) www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-sci-retina11nov11,1,4111884.story?coll=la-news-] Transplanted retinal cells let blind mice see againBy Jamie Talan, Newsday November 11, 2006 A team of British scientists using cellular implants has restored sight in adult mice — possibly paving the way for similar techniques in the treatment of some forms of human blindness. Robert MacLaren, Rachael Pearson and their colleagues from the Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, plucked retinal cells from newborn mice and transplanted them into adult mice with impaired vision. With the new retinal cells, the animals were able to see lights. Other researchers have tried to transplant stem cells, but the new connections were not sufficient to restore vision. The study focused on photoreceptors, the light-sensitive cells in the retina. They are the only cells damaged in age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa — two conditions that can cause blindness. One in 10 people older than 65 is at risk for age-related macular degeneration, and 1 in 3,000 has retinitis pigmentosa. In these conditions, these cells are lost, but all other neuronal connections to the brain are intact. In the current study, the scientists looked at these photoreceptors' development from embryo to newborn. They found that the cells that worked best came from animals between the first and fifth days of life. "Photoreceptors are just being born and starting to make connections," said Pearson, one of the coauthors of the study published Thursday in the journal Nature. The retinal cells were transplanted in normal adult mice and others with two types of problems that cause blindness. Ten mice that received the transplants were studied. When a light was shone in the retina, electrical signals came out of the cells, suggesting that the animals were responding to light that they otherwise would not have seen. Scientists also observed the pupils constricting, another sign that the mice were registering the light in their eyes and the message was traveling to the brain. "We restored some aspects of visual function," Pearson said. "But we have no idea yet what the animals can or can't see. It's still a long way off from a human treatment." |
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Nov 29, 2006 7:36:43 GMT -6
Canada to be recognized for fighting childhood blindness Steven Edwards CanWest News Service Tuesday, November 28, 2006 NEW YORK — Canada will be honourerd tonight for preventing childhood blindness around the world by funding 80 per cent of vitamin A hand-outs to youngsters in poverty-stricken countries. The recognition comes from Helen Keller International, a charity founded in part by the blind and deaf Alabama woman who became an international symbol of courage in the face of overwhelming odds. With cash from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the organization distributes vitamin A capsules to thousands of children annually in 13 African countries. CIDA has given $95 million since 2003 for vitamin A distributions, earmarking 75 per cent of the money for Africa. "According to UNICEF, more than 2.1 million lives have been saved because of vitamin A programming. So, it goes without saying we're extremely pleased with the results," said CIDA's Bruce Montador, who will accept HKI's International Development Award at a New York reception. Combating vitamin A deficiency has emerged as one of the most cost-effective interventions, and just two two-cent doses a year will save a child's life and prevent blindness. HKI and other charities use community health workers to deliver the vitamin A to children whose diets lack the fruit and vegetables that provide the vitamin naturally. They are often located in remote rural or extremely poor urban areas. Despite the low cost of distribution, vitamin A deficiency remains the leading cause of preventable blindness in children in the developing world. Lack of vitamin A also impairs immunity and growth, thereby increasing the risk of early death. "Helen Keller International has a stellar reputation for its work in combating blindness and malnutrition around the world, and so we consider this award to be high praise indeed," said CIDA’s Bruce Montador, who will accept HKI’s International Development Award at a New York reception. Source: Canada.com--CanWest News Service: www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=03551b49-5b0d-46f8-9ba9-3001eb177cc2&k=33811© CanWest News Service 2006
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Dec 1, 2006 8:45:30 GMT -6
Published: November 30, 2006 12:58 pm Set your sights on safety
Make sure toys are safe, appropriateSource: The Daily Times www.pryordailytimes.com/features/cnhinsfamily_story_334125807.html?keyword=topstoryBy Dustin Shipman THE JOPLIN GLOBE (JOPLIN, Mo.) ’Tis the season to watch out for small parts, sharp points and battery chargers. Parents looking for that perfect holiday gift for their young child should know what to look for when it comes to making sure the toy is safe and age-appropriate. Last year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that 20 toy-related deaths occurred involving children under the age of 15, while as many as 152,400 children under the age of 15 were treated in emergency rooms for toy-related injuries. Sarah Hecker, a spokesperson for Prevent Blindness America — a non-profit organization that encourages parents to buy safe toys for their children — said parents should do their research before going shopping. ‘Know your kids’ When it comes to kids and their toys, every child is different. “The best advice is to make sure that you monitor your kids and make sure they are using their toys properly,” Hecker said. “What we have found is that for families that have children of multiple ages, sometimes toys that were meant for an 8-year-old end up in the hands of a 3-year-old.” Mariane Page of Liberal, Mo., said her youngest child is 9 and she does find herself avoiding some toys because they might pose a safety hazard. “We avoid some things that just seem like they could be dangerous, mostly we just use common sense,” Page said. “Things like darts boards, and lawn darts, and no guns. There are a lot of things that we buy them now that we wouldn’t have a few years ago. You just have to know your kids and know when to say no to them.” Check the packaging Hecker said some of the toys that parents should avoid purchasing for young children are, for the most part, obviously dangerous. However, there are others that parents might not realize how dangerous they are until it is too late. “Any kind of BB gun, paintball gun or any toy that shoots anything is always dangerous to eyes,” Hecker said. “Flying toys and anything with sharp edges or points can be dangerous, and anything with small parts or easily removable parts can be a choking hazard.” Hecker said parents should always check the packaging of toys to make sure their children meet the age appropriate requirements that are listed on the packaging. Jennifer Sommer, Joplin, Mo., said that she uses the age requirements on toy packages to decide if a toy is right for her children. “I have two kids — one is 12 and one is 5,” Sommer said. “If there are toys that say (they’re for) 6 and above I will not buy them for my 5-year-old. Usually things like Legos are too small for him ... I don’t think he would swallow them at his age, but I still wouldn’t buy them for him.” Err on side of caution Hecker said parents should take the attitude that it is better to be safe than sorry. If they are wondering if a toy is safe for their child, perhaps it is not the best gift to be getting them. “Parents should err on the side of caution,” Hecker said. “Every year there is some new toy out there that everyone wants to get their hands on but just because it’s popular does not mean that it is the right toy for your child. “Warnings are put on toys for a reason, and parents should follow those directions.” For more information about toy safety, contact Prevent Blindness America at (800) 331-2020 or visit www.preventblindness.org. Dustin Shipman writes for The Joplin (Mo.) Globe. Shop safe The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers these tips for finding safe toys. Magnets: For children under 6, avoid building sets with small magnets. If swallowed, serious injuries and/or death can occur. Small parts: For children younger than 3, avoid toys with small parts, which can cause choking. Ride-on toys: Riding toys, such as skateboards and in-line skates, go fast and falls could be deadly. Helmets and safety gear should be sized to fit. Projectile toys: Toys such as air rockets, darts and slingshots are for older children. Improper use of these toys can result in serious eye injuries. Chargers and adapters: Charging batteries should be supervised by adults. Chargers and adapters can pose thermal burn hazards to children. Source: www.cpsc.gov |
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Dec 1, 2006 10:28:36 GMT -6
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Dec 4, 2006 10:37:26 GMT -6
Monday » December 4 » 2006 Canada recognized for fighting childhood blindness Steven Edwards CanWest News Service Wednesday, November 29, 2006 NEW YORK - Canada will be honourerd tonight for preventing childhood blindness around the world by funding 80 per cent of vitamin A hand-outs to youngsters in poverty-stricken countries. The recognition comes from Helen Keller International, a charity founded in part by the blind and deaf Alabama woman who became an international symbol of courage in the face of overwhelming odds. With cash from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the organization distributes vitamin A capsules to thousands of children annually in 13 African countries. CIDA has given $95 million since 2003 for vitamin A distributions, earmarking 75 per cent of the money for Africa. "According to UNICEF, more than 2.1 million lives have been saved because of vitamin A programming. So, it goes without saying we're extremely pleased with the results," said CIDA's Bruce Montador, who will accept HKI's International Development Award at a New York reception. Combating vitamin A deficiency has emerged as one of the most cost-effective interventions, and just two two-cent doses a year will save a child's life and prevent blindness. "When we saw that kind of potential yield, we decided to fund the distribution of more than two billion capsules of vitamin A," added Montador. HKI and other charities use community health workers to deliver the vitamin A to children whose diets lack the fruit and vegetables that provide the vitamin naturally. They are often located in remote rural or extremely poor urban areas. "The Canadian government through CIDA has played a pivotal role in scaling up vitamin A programs," said Sue Mather of HKI, which is presenting the award for the first time. Despite the low cost of distribution, vitamin A deficiency remains the leading cause of preventable blindness in children in the developing world. Lack of vitamin A also impairs immunity and growth, thereby increasing the risk of early death. "Helen Keller International has a stellar reputation for its work in combating blindness and malnutrition around the world, and so we consider this award to be high praise indeed," Montador said. CanWest News Service EDs: Refiled to correct third last sentence. Adds `the'after despite. PLEASE USE THIS VERSION. EDS: Tonight in copy isWednesday © CanWest News Service 2006 Source link: www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=e16df30b-3c1f-4a8a-b3bc-b167583a38b7&k=25312 Copyright © 2006 CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved. |
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