Blindness News and Research

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More precise and less invasive procedure for prostate cancer detection

Work by a University of Queensland researcher will make the trip to the doctor for a prostate cancer check a lot more appealing for men.

17 Jun 2004

Cholesterol lowering medications may reduce risk of glaucoma

Long-term use of statins, medications commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol, may be associated with a reduced risk of glaucoma among patients with cardiovascular diseases and high cholesterol, according to an article in the June issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

15 Jun 2004

Fruit consumption may protect against age-related maculopathy (ARM)

Eating fruit may help protect against the development of age-related maculopathy (ARM), an eye disease that can cause blindness, according to an article in the June issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

15 Jun 2004

Eye drops may prevent the onset of glaucoma in African Americans

Eye drops that reduce elevated pressure inside the eye can delay or possibly prevent the onset of glaucoma in African Americans at higher risk for developing the disease, researchers have found.

14 Jun 2004

Breath test device detects early symptoms of diabetes

John Plodinec and Chuji Wang already have developed a prototype and applied for a patent. They now are seeking a commercial partner to help them move their unique diabetes breath analyzer from the university laboratory into the marketplace.

10 Jun 2004

Investigational drug, LAF237 improved glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes

Research presented today showed that the investigational drug, LAF237, the first in a new class, improved glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. In this study, LAF237, which is administered as a tablet to be taken orally, was added to the standard diabetes treatment metformin in patients whose diabetes was not adequately controlled by metformin alone.

7 Jun 2004

Overweight families unaware & unconcerned about risk of diabetes and premature heart disease

Two new studies show that many children are at high risk for diabetes and premature heart disease, according to British and U.S. reports here today at the American Diabetes Association's 64th Annual Scientific Sessions.

5 Jun 2004

Depression, insulin regimen linked to poor diabetes control

In the largest study of diabetes and depression conducted to date, researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found a clear link between the complexity of the self-care regimens in patients with diabetes and the effect of depression on diabetes control.

5 Jun 2004

New advice to doctors on lowering diabetes-heart disease risks

Every year, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) issues Clinical Practice Recommendations, a series of updated recommendations, to help health care providers treat people with diabetes using the most current research available.

5 Jun 2004

Parents oblivious to their children's weight problems

5 Jun 2004

Tongue Display Unit allows blind people to see with their tongue

The Tongue Display Unit (TDU) can activate areas that are normally reserved for visual information and are unused when someone suffers from congenital blindness.

2 Jun 2004

Genes that allow nerve cells to communicate may have come from bacteria eons ago

Some of the genes that allow nerve cells and some other types of cells to send elaborate chemical messages to each other appear to have been transferred to animals or their immediate ancestors from bacteria eons ago.

2 Jun 2004

How to safely look at Venus passing across the face of the Sun

People could permanently damage their eyesight and even risk blindness if they look directly at Venus passing across the face of the Sun on June 8th warned the Government's Chief Medical Officer today as he offered eye-safe alternatives.

2 Jun 2004

ACE inhibitors for diabetics cut in half the risk of death

ACE inhibitors, a type of medication often used to treat high blood pressure or heart disease, can lower mortality rates for people who have diabetes -- whether they have cardiovascular disease or not, according to a study published in the June issue of Diabetes Care.

26 May 2004

Toxoplasma gondii discovery may help fight against malaria

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill scientists have discovered a protein in the cell wall of parasites that’s crucial to the molecular mechanism allowing them to move between cells, survive and cause disease.

25 May 2004

The worldwide prevalence of glaucoma is increasing

Early diagnosis of glaucoma is essential to prevent irreversible visual impairment, according to a Seminar in this week's issue of The Lancet.

20 May 2004

Scientists believe that the dog genome holds a wealth of information that will benefit human health

Recently completed genetic analysis reveals that half of the more than 300 inherited canine disorders — including a number of cancers — resemble specific diseases of man; many scientists believe that the dog genome holds a wealth of information that will benefit human health.

20 May 2004

Damaged metal halide lamps can cause sunburn

Ever think you could get a nasty sunburn — severe enough to peel — by attending an indoor event? Seems improbable, but it can happen. And it has — three times recently in Middle Tennessee.

19 May 2004

Increasing number of cases of wet age-related macular degeneration

Nearly all retina specialists are greatly alarmed by the increasing number of cases of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of severe vision loss and blindness in people over the age of 50, and believe the disease will have a serious impact on the public.

11 May 2004

New hope for advances in treatment methods for AIDS, Alzheimer's and age-related blindness

Pharmaceutical science leaders from the FDA, research institutions and top pharmaceutical companies will gather at the 2004 AAPS National Biotechnology Conference, AAPS' spring annual meeting.

4 May 2004