Blindness News and Research

RSS

Accumulated exposure to lead may be an important but unrecognized risk for developing cataracts in men

Lead continues to pose a significant public health problem in spite of substantial reductions in lead exposure in the United States in the recent past, according to background information in the article.

8 Dec 2004

Magnetism does not cause paranormal experiences

Previous research has shown that paranormal experiences can be achieved via electromagnetic stimulation of the temple lobe. Now scientists from Uppsala and Lund universities in Sweden are calling into question how the experiments were set up and therefore questioning the results.

7 Dec 2004

One-fifth of people in Southwestern Pennsylvania—nearly half a million people—report having a disability

“The size of the population with disabilities is rather surprising,” said Ralph Bangs, codirector of the Urban and Regional Research Program in Pitt’s Center for Social and Urban Research (UCSUR), who coauthored the study with José René Argueta, a Pitt Ph.D. candidate in political science.

4 Dec 2004

Landmines are a deadly attraction for children

Saying that landmines are a deadly attraction for children, UNICEF has called for all countries that care about children to stop producing landmines.

3 Dec 2004

Type 1 diabetes could be prevented by a new nasal insulin vaccine

A world-leading medical trial conducted in Melbourne suggests that the onset of type 1 diabetes could be prevented in many at-risk people by a new nasal insulin vaccine.

29 Nov 2004

Scientists have given blind nerve cells the ability to detect light

Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have given "blind" nerve cells the ability to detect light, paving the way for an innovative therapy that could restore sight to those who have lost it through disease.

24 Nov 2004

BMA Cymru Wales to petition parliament to ban smoking in public places unless Wales goes smoke free within 10 months

BMA Cymru Wales is seriously considering the possibility of petitioning Parliament for a ban in public places in Wales using the rarely used private bills procedure.

14 Nov 2004

Hospital admissions for diabetes on the rise

The number of hospital admissions for diabetes increased by almost 12 percent between 1999 and 2003, according to a new report released by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) in conjunction with American Diabetes Month.

11 Nov 2004

Patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension who kept their blood pressure very tightly controlled had fewer eye disorders caused by their diabetes

According to the article, type 2 diabetes and hypertension are often associated. At age 40, approximately 32 percent of patients with type 2 diabetes are also hypertensive, and that proportion increases to 47 percent by age 60, the article states.

8 Nov 2004

Study highlights the effectiveness of azithromycin (Zithromax) in reducing infection rates of trachoma

The New England Journal of Medicine published today a study entitled "Mass Treatment with Single-Dose Azithromycin for Trachoma."

4 Nov 2004

Gene mutations responsible for causing cataracts in children, identified

Gene mutations responsible for causing cataracts in children have been identified by a team of University of Utah vision researchers. The discovery was reported in a recent issue of The Journal of Medical Genetics.

4 Nov 2004

Discovery of a new blindness gene

The discovery by a Leeds University scientist of a new blindness gene could help to save the sight of thousands of sufferers of retinal disease which affects premature babies as well as people over 60.

4 Nov 2004

Do cholesterol-reducing drugs decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes in diabetics?

International researchers will, for the first time, present findings from the landmark 4D trial about whether a cholesterol-reducing drug decreases the risk of heart attacks and strokes with type 2 diabetics on dialysis at the American Society of Nephrology’s 37th Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri.

1 Nov 2004

FDA warns of risks associated with using decorative contact lenses

This Halloween season, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is again warning consumers about the serious risks of using decorative contact lenses distributed without appropriate involvement by an eye care professional.

29 Oct 2004

Drug-loaded contact lenses to treat eye diseases

When a person suffers from eye ailments today, nine times out of ten, he will be prescribed eye drops to treat his illness or relieve his discomfort.

29 Oct 2004

Controversial theory about how diabetes causes extensive tissue damage

A controversial theory about how diabetes causes extensive tissue damage will appear in the November issue of Diabetes. At stake in the heated debate over the theory are researchers' efforts to find new ways to reduce loss of vision, kidney failure, heart damage and other side effects of diabetes.

29 Oct 2004

Fetal tissue restores lost sight from retinitis pigmentosa

Three years ago Elisabeth Bryant believed she would be blind for the rest of her life. "I couldn't see anything," she says. Now, although her vision is not perfect, she can see well enough to read, play computer games and check emails.

28 Oct 2004

Gene variations explain why people with type 2 diabetes are at much greater risk for coronary artery disease

New studies by an international team of scientists led by Joslin Diabetes Center have found variations in a gene that help explain why people with type 2 diabetes are at much greater risk for coronary artery disease, the leading cause of death for this group.

21 Oct 2004

Discovery of fundamental mechanism within cells that link obesity and type 2 diabetes

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health have discovered what they believe is the fundamental mechanism within cells that links two fast-rising public health threats: obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

18 Oct 2004

Researchers have discovered an effective new way to treat giant cell arteritis

Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered an effective new way to treat giant cell arteritis (GCA), a debilitating cause of headaches, fatigue, muscle pain and even blindness. The findings of this research will be presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting.

13 Oct 2004

Blindness News and Research

Accumulated exposure to lead may be an important but unrecognized risk for developing cataracts in men

Magnetism does not cause paranormal experiences

One-fifth of people in Southwestern Pennsylvania—nearly half a million people—report having a disability

Landmines are a deadly attraction for children

Type 1 diabetes could be prevented by a new nasal insulin vaccine

Scientists have given blind nerve cells the ability to detect light

BMA Cymru Wales to petition parliament to ban smoking in public places unless Wales goes smoke free within 10 months

Hospital admissions for diabetes on the rise

Patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension who kept their blood pressure very tightly controlled had fewer eye disorders caused by their diabetes

Study highlights the effectiveness of azithromycin (Zithromax) in reducing infection rates of trachoma

Gene mutations responsible for causing cataracts in children, identified

Discovery of a new blindness gene

Do cholesterol-reducing drugs decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes in diabetics?

FDA warns of risks associated with using decorative contact lenses

Drug-loaded contact lenses to treat eye diseases

Controversial theory about how diabetes causes extensive tissue damage

Fetal tissue restores lost sight from retinitis pigmentosa

Gene variations explain why people with type 2 diabetes are at much greater risk for coronary artery disease

Discovery of fundamental mechanism within cells that link obesity and type 2 diabetes

Researchers have discovered an effective new way to treat giant cell arteritis

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 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