Blindness News and Research

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Regular usage of CGM devices help manage diabetes

The latest data from groundbreaking human clinical trials of the effectiveness of continuous glucose monitors (CGM) show that the primary determinant of improvements in achieving better diabetes control is regular use of monitors - six days per week or more - rather than the age of patients, and that benefits continue well past the time when people with type 1 diabetes begin using the devices - including experiencing fewer low blood sugar emergencies.

9 Sep 2009

Stemedica files patent application for diabetic retinopathy treatment

Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc., ("Stemedica"), a world leader in stem cell research and manufacturing, has filed a patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO") for a proprietary methodology in the treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy.

8 Sep 2009

Veterans with visual or mobility impairments play golf in Iowa City

More than 100 Veterans with visual or mobility impairments, blindness and other disabilities hit the golf course at the National Veterans TEE Tournament, September 6 - 10, in and around Iowa City, Iowa.

7 Sep 2009

$NEI awards grant to Vivakor for developing a digital photo-refractor$

NEI awards grant to Vivakor for developing a digital photo-refractor

Vivakor, Inc. announced that the National Institutes of Health-National Eye Institute has awarded a grant to Vivakor, Inc. in Coralville, IA through the Small Business Innovation Research Awards.

4 Sep 2009

Reliable and relevant information needed to rein in the costs of federal health-care programs, says study

For economists and policy-makers to understand the true value of the costs and savings of preventive health programs for chronic disease, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) should incorporate long-term clinical outcomes data and look beyond the 10-year window when making cost estimates, says a team of University of Chicago researchers in today's issue of Health Affairs.

3 Sep 2009

Low HDL-cholesterol and high triglycerides linked to increased risk of CHD

Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and raised triglycerides, affecting millions of patients worldwide, are strongly linked to significantly increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) even in patients who achieve or surpass current low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets.

3 Sep 2009

Millennium's sNDA to be reviewed by the FDA

The Takeda Oncology Company today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the Company’s supplemental new drug application (sNDA) based on long- term overall survival (OS) data from the landmark VISTA1 trial examining the use of VELCADE based therapy in patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma (MM).

3 Sep 2009

Strelitz Diabetes Center awarded a two-year grant for 12-LO research

Scientists at Eastern Virginia Medical School's Strelitz Diabetes Center have been awarded a two-year grant totaling $472,683 by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

3 Sep 2009

New device for treating hypoglycemia launched globally

At this year’s annual meeting of the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Medtronic, Inc. announced the global launch of a novel technology designed to provide additional protection against the risks associated with hypoglycemia.

3 Sep 2009

Antibiotic used to treat trachoma reduces child mortality in Ethiopia, study finds

The antibiotic used to treat trachoma, "the world's leading preventable cause of blindness," may also protect children living in Ethiopia from death from of other diseases, according to a recent study, the Associated Press reports.

2 Sep 2009

Strategy to enhance diabetes management across Canada

Research being driven by The University of Western Ontario that will enhance diabetes management across Canada recently received support from two of Canada's leading pharmaceutical companies in the form of a $500,000 contribution.

2 Sep 2009

Novo Nordisk's NCDP provides support for accurate cost and benefit assessments of preventive health

The National Changing Diabetes((R) )Program (NCDP), a program of Novo Nordisk, commends Representative Donna M. Christensen, M.D. (D-VI) and Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) for sponsoring legislation that will lead to a more accurate assessment of the cost and benefits of preventive health, including preventing complications and delaying progression of chronic diseases such as diabetes.

From Novo Nordisk 2 Sep 2009

GS-101 effective in inhibiting and regressing corneal neovascularisation

Gene Signal, a company focused on developing innovative drugs to manage angiogenesis based conditions, today announced the publication of interim results from a phase II study suggesting that the antisense oligonucleotide GS-101 (eye drops) is safe and effective at inhibiting and regressing corneal neovascularisation (abnormal new blood vessel growth).

1 Sep 2009

Phase II result reveals effectiveness of GS-101 eye drops at inhibiting corneal neovascularisation

1 Sep 2009

Thrombogenics issues business update and half year results

ThromboGenics NV (Euronext Brussels: THR), a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of innovative treatments for eye disease, vascular disease and cancer, is today issuing a business update and its half year results for the six month period ending 30 June, 2009.

28 Aug 2009

Alimera Sciences' $5 million extension of Series C financing closed

Alimera Sciences, Inc., today announced that it has closed a $5 million extension of its Series C financing which was originally completed in March 2008.

28 Aug 2009

Masimo SET pulse oximetry technology implemented in Childrens Hospital Los Angeles

Masimo (Nasdaq: MASI), the inventor of Pulse CO-Oximetry(TM) and Measure-Through Motion and Low-Perfusion pulse oximetry, announced today that Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of 'America's Best Children's Hospitals', has completed its system-wide conversion to Masimo SET pulse oximetry technology.

26 Aug 2009

Subject enrollment in patients with retinitis pigmentosa for Phase 2 clinical study completed by R-Tech Ueno

We are pleased to announce that subject enrollment for the phase 2 clinical study of 0.15% UF-021 (generic name; isopropyl unoprostone; active ingredient of Rescula(R) eye-drops) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa has been completed.

25 Aug 2009

Scientists cultivate multiple types of retina cells from human stem cells

A team of scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health has successfully grown multiple types of retina cells from two types of stem cells — suggesting a future in which damaged retinas could be repaired by cells grown from the patient's own skin.

25 Aug 2009

Saskatchewan government makes insulin detemir more accessible to residents

The Canadian Diabetes Association applauds the Government of Saskatchewan for increasing access to insulin detemir for residents of Saskatchewan living with diabetes. Insulin detemir, also known as Levemir, has been added to the Saskatchewan Drug Formulary, under Exception Drug Status (EDS) effective July 1, 2009. As well, the updated formulary now includes NovoRapid-NOO, Apidra-AVT and Humalog-LIL within its Revised Exception Drug Status Criteria.

20 Aug 2009