Blindness News and Research

RSS

Unusual molecule in brain and retina can trigger vision loss

Scientists have identified a double agent in the eye that, once triggered, can morph from neuron protector to neuron killer. The discovery has significant health implications since the neurons killed through this process results in vision loss and blindness.

2 Feb 2010

MSU scientist discovers the process that causes retinal cells to die

Scientists have long known that high blood sugar levels from diabetes damage blood vessels in the eye, but they didn't know why or how. Now a Michigan State University scientist has discovered the process that causes retinal cells to die, which could lead to new treatments that halt the damage.

2 Feb 2010

American Diabetes Association announces 2010 schedule for free community health events

In an age of soaring health care costs and staggering diabetes prevalence, the American Diabetes Association announced today its 2010 schedule for free community health events throughout the country -- the American Diabetes Association EXPO.

2 Feb 2010

More details on Obama's global health strategy expected along with budget release, Wall Street Journal reports

"The Obama administration is expected to propose in its fiscal 2011 budget Monday new funding to combat preventable and tropical diseases, malnutrition and other conditions afflicting the world's poor, as part of a strategy to broaden its approach to global health," the Wall Street Journal reports.

2 Feb 2010

Congressional leader stresses the importance of annual dilated eye exam for diabetes patients

In recognition of Black History Month, House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn is urging African Americans with diabetes to get an annual diabetic eye exam during February.

1 Feb 2010

Should medical workers participate in the development of "medicalized" weapons?

(Garrison, NY) The latest issue of the Hastings Center Report features articles on "medicalized" weapons that temporarily incapacitate targets, sharing the benefits of newly found biological resources, and applications of GINA (the Genetic Information Nondisclosure Act).

29 Jan 2010

Depression raises risks of advanced and severe complications from diabetes

Depression raises risks of advanced and severe complications from diabetes, according to a prospective study of Group Health primary-care patients in western Washington. These complications include kidney failure or blindness, the result of small vessel damage, as well as major vessel problems leading to heart attack or stroke.

28 Jan 2010

Researchers develop PEG-POD tool for gene therapy

Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at Tufts have developed a new tool for gene therapy that significantly increases gene delivery to cells in the retina compared to other carriers and DNA alone, according to a study published in the January issue of The Journal of Gene Medicine.

28 Jan 2010

FDA clears Notal Vision's ForeseeHome AMD Monitor

Notal Vision's ForeseeHome™ AMD Monitor has received Section 510 (k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

27 Jan 2010

Health News Digest features Sunridge International's patented 'PNT' procedure

Sunridge International's patented "PNT" procedure was the topic of discussion in one of Health News Digest's recent articles published on January 24, 2010.

27 Jan 2010

Potential risk factors in skipping insulin injections

More than half of people with diabetes who take insulin injections to control their diabetes say they have intentionally skipped an injection, with one-fifth of them reporting that they do so "sometimes" or "often," according to a study being published this month in Diabetes Care.

27 Jan 2010

Osiris Therapeutics completes enrollment in Prochymal MSC therapy Phase II trial for type 1 diabetes

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that it has achieved a $750,000 milestone payment from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) for completing enrollment in a Phase II clinical trial evaluating Prochymal, an adult mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy, as a treatment for patients recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The milestone is the fourth in a series of payments resulting from JDRF’s partnership with Osiris for the development of a therapy for type 1 diabetes.

27 Jan 2010

FDA's Ampyra approval wonderful news for people with MS experiencing walking problems

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the marketing of Ampyra™ (dalfampridine, formerly known as fampridine SR, from Acorda Therapeutics) for its ability to improve walking speed in people with any type of multiple sclerosis.

23 Jan 2010

HTDS evaluates business proposal ahead of dividend distribution

Hard to Treat Diseases (HTDS; http://www.htdsmedical.com/) subsidiary Slavica Bio Chem recently announced entry into the stem cell bank development. An unsolicited business proposal is currently being evaluated by the company from an obstetrician type medical company. This company is engaged in a treatment for pre-term labor and induction of labor. These symptoms affect millions of people worldwide.

23 Jan 2010

Braille Institute launches Solutions in Sight to help people find fulfillment in different aspects of life

Although there is controversy over almost every detail of health reform legislation, no one disputes the inescapable fact underlying the deepening the health care crisis: the US population is aging.

22 Jan 2010

Fast Forward, JDRF announce collaborative partnership with Axxam SpA

Fast Forward, LLC, the commercial drug development arm of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the leader in research leading to a cure for type 1 diabetes in the world today announced a collaborative partnership with Axxam SpA -- a leading company in conducting early-stage discovery research programs for the life science industry -- to develop new treatments for two autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes (T1D).

20 Jan 2010

NIH awards IU School of Optometry $2.35M for glaucoma research

An Indiana University School of Optometry researcher's ongoing work to improve testing for and treatment of one of the world's leading causes of blindness will advance with support from a $2.35 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

18 Jan 2010

MAGIC investigators identify new genetic variants that influence insulin and glucose regulation

An international research consortium has found 13 new genetic variants that influence blood glucose regulation, insulin resistance, and the function of insulin-secreting beta cells in populations of European descent. Five of the newly discovered variants increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes.

18 Jan 2010

UCL scientists: Simple eye test can help detect and diagnose major neurological diseases

A simple and inexpensive eye test could aid detection and diagnosis of major neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's at an earlier stage than is currently possible, according to new research by UCL scientists.

18 Jan 2010

New technique can restore facial movements in paralytic patients

Surgeons from UC Davis Medical Center have demonstrated that artificial muscles can restore the ability of patients with facial paralysis to blink, a development that could benefit the thousands of people each year who no longer are able to close their eyelids due to combat-related injuries, stroke, nerve injury or facial surgery.

18 Jan 2010

Blindness News and Research

Unusual molecule in brain and retina can trigger vision loss

MSU scientist discovers the process that causes retinal cells to die

American Diabetes Association announces 2010 schedule for free community health events

More details on Obama's global health strategy expected along with budget release, Wall Street Journal reports

Congressional leader stresses the importance of annual dilated eye exam for diabetes patients

Should medical workers participate in the development of "medicalized" weapons?

Depression raises risks of advanced and severe complications from diabetes

Researchers develop PEG-POD tool for gene therapy

FDA clears Notal Vision's ForeseeHome AMD Monitor

Health News Digest features Sunridge International's patented 'PNT' procedure

Potential risk factors in skipping insulin injections

Osiris Therapeutics completes enrollment in Prochymal MSC therapy Phase II trial for type 1 diabetes

FDA's Ampyra approval wonderful news for people with MS experiencing walking problems

HTDS evaluates business proposal ahead of dividend distribution

Braille Institute launches Solutions in Sight to help people find fulfillment in different aspects of life

Fast Forward, JDRF announce collaborative partnership with Axxam SpA

NIH awards IU School of Optometry $2.35M for glaucoma research

MAGIC investigators identify new genetic variants that influence insulin and glucose regulation

UCL scientists: Simple eye test can help detect and diagnose major neurological diseases

New technique can restore facial movements in paralytic patients

Achieving and maintaining ISO 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

Latest News