StemCell Therapy

We are all dealing with a threat that few of us have the knowledge or skills to combat directly. Helpless dread is an unbearable feeling. What do we do?

Fear is meant to affect our systems. We are to freeze or energetically deal with palpable physical threats that are the focus of fear. Our bodies feel some degree of fear now of the virus, the illness, the uncertainty or the socio-economic upheaval. Yet, no physical flight, fight or freezing can help us here. We are to keep calm and carry on. Still the fear acts on our system. And it can show in our thinking patterns.

Denial is a sort of a mental freeze. We conserve our energy by stating that the problem is not that big or perhaps doesnt even exist. Conserving our energy, not stressing excessively, can serve a purpose, keep us cool. Sadly, it hasnt remained that simple. Were seeing fellow citizens become so attached to their denial that theyre expending energy to prove how much they deny. People have congregated together, carelessly or carefully, to show their disregard for caution. Some have sickened or even died as a result. Their illness endangered, burdened and grieved their loved ones. A natural reaction gone too far.

Sometimes people are rather energized by fear. Good effects of this energy has been the community support organizations springing up, the creation of new ways to be neighborly and the flood of lovingly sewn cloth masks. It seems to me that most people have channeled their energy within this measure. Sadly weve also seen some frenetic extremes: food hoarding; bleach gargling; fistfights for toilet paper. In a panicky desire to feel control over uncontrollable circumstances, some energized minds have latched onto conspiracy theories. Some have acted on them.

People have attacked individuals of Asian heritage, burned cellphone towers and publicly accused everyone else of manufacturing bioweapons. I suppose even a scapegoat as large as a cellular network or a nation could feel less overwhelming than a random, invisible, mutable virus; the chain of cause and effect seems simpler. We all like to strike a blow at feeling helpless. But thats not where these blows ultimately landed. People have been hurt. A reaction gone way too far.

Why have we not been taught more about how our fear works and how we might make it work for us? Fear, like all of our emotions, is information about our situation and should be heeded as such. And fear, like all information, needs to be fact-checked and put in context.

As much as we would like to take direct action and make this threat go away, we dont yet have the tools to effectively fight this novel coronavirus. In the current context, our success will be just making as little happen as possible. The reactive part of our brains ask your kids about Survival State cant understand this lack of action; but our problem-solving Executive State can. We can fortify our executive state with good exercise, good music, deep breathing, prayer, meditation, dance, family hugs, all those arts and crafts you excel at and other techniques you already have. Keep calm and carry on.

Theres yet one more active inactivity that may help. Foldingathome.org is a distributed computing project for simulating protein dynamics. Volunteers let software run simulations on their personal computers that can help medical researchers find the weak points of the coronavirus. Its running in the background of my computer with no harm done. We can even form local teams, letting the Pendleton-Hermiston rivalry ride again for a good cause. Check it out at https://foldingathome.org/covid19.

Vikiirna Wenzel is a learner and a teacher, somewhere in the middle of East Umatilla County.

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Somewhere in the middle | Between blindness and frenzy - East Oregonian

Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have identified a so-called "executioner cell" that may hold the key to eventually finding a treatment to slow retinal degeneration that causes blindness in millions of people each year.

A multi-disciplinary team involving experts from TCD believe they have pinpointed a potential new therapeutic target for treating retinal degeneration.

It found a protein described as an "executioner cell", known as SARM1, is involved in neuronal cell injury. They believe that the same cell could also have a role in the progression of retinal degeneration leading to blindness.

The team's findings, which have been published in the journal 'Life Science Alliance', could hold out hope to millions of people around the world who are suffering varying degrees of loss of vision due to what are currently irreversible degenerative diseases of the retina.

In Ireland, around 5,000 people suffer vision impairment due to inherited degeneration of the retina. Another 80,000 also live with age-related macular degeneration.

Dr Ema Ozaki, research fellow at Trinity, said: "Lots of different factors can initiate retinal degeneration and lead to severe visual impairment and eventual blindness, but ultimately the end-point is photoreceptor cell death. Although it seems unlikely, the process of cell-death is in fact a programmed event that directs proteins in our cells to take on 'executioner' roles."

Photoreceptor cells are specialised neurons found in the back of our eyes that convert light into electrical signals that allow us to see. It is the death of these cells, and the cells that nourish them, that is termed retinal degeneration and is a characteristic of blinding diseases such as AMD and retinitis pigmentosa.

Assistant professor of immunology Dr Sarah Doyle said: "Our research indicates that SARM1 is likely to be a key executioner in the process of retinal degeneration, so inhibiting SARM1 activity may offer an option for protecting vision across multiple retinal degenerative diseases."

Irish Independent

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'Executioner cell' find may help to treat the causes of blindness - Independent.ie

Editor: David L. Joffe, BSPharm, CDE, FACA

Author: ChardaeWhitner, 2020 PharmD. Candidate, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Could vision loss and the visual disturbances that diabetes patients experience be prevented?

Diabetes can be a complicated disease, with many compounding factors for patients diagnosed with the disease. One of these many factors would be ocular complications, which are three times more likely to occur in patients with diabetes compared to those without. However, even with the evidence suggesting that patients with diabetes are at a high risk of developing ocular complications, there is limited data that explores the incidence of visual impairment and blindness in patients with diabetes. Also, the predictors of vision loss have limited data. Research conducted by Drinkwater J. et al. aimed to assess the 4-year cumulative incidence of visual impairment and blindness and their determinants in well-characterized community-based people with type 2 diabetes.

The Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II (FDS2) recruited 1551 subjects to participate in a prospective, observational study. Participants were selected from a zip code defined as an urban community surrounding the port of Fremantle in the state of Western Australia. Also, individuals who participated in the Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase I (FDS1) were eligible to participate.

During this 4-year study, participants were assessed at baseline and biennially with questionnaires covering health care utilization, medical condition, medication use, socioeconomic, demographic and lifestyle data, and physical examination. Fasting blood glucose and urine samples were also obtained. The visual acuity of the participants was measured using a Bailey Lovie chart at a distance of 3m in a well-lit room, with examiners using the best-corrected visual acuity measurement. Visual acuity chart used was 6/48, parameters were set as follows: >6/19 and <6/48 was classified as visual impairment >6/48 and those who could only count fingers or worse was classified as blindness. This measurement was assessed at each biennial face-to-face visit. The difference between the number of letters read by the best eye at baseline, and the year four visits was a way to determine if there was a change in vision. This was defined as a difference in visual acuity of >10 letters (two lines of the visual acuity chart). The presence and severity of retinopathy was assessed by using fundus photography; the severity of the diabetic retinopathy was classified as none, mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, or severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Ascertainment of other ocular conditions was also accessed such as cataract or glaucoma. Researchers used The Hospital Morbidity Data Collection, which captures all hospitalizations within the state of Western Australia, to determine if participants of the study had intraocular lens implantation for a cataract before and during the follow-up to the year four visit. Also, at each face-to-face visit subjects of the study were questioned as to if they had been told by a provider whether or not they had a cataract or glaucoma.

From the results gathered from this 4-year prospective, observational study, 70 of the participants were excluded from the study due to missing visual acuity data at baseline or presence of visual impairment or blindness at baseline. Of the 1481 participants who had a normal or near-normal vision at baseline, 882 participants (58%) had their visual acuity measured at the Year 4 visit. For the participants included in the analysis, during the 4.1 years of follow-up the cumulative incidence of visual impairment was 0.9%, representing a crude incidence of 0.2% per year. None of the participants who were evaluated with normal or near-normal vision at baseline were found to have developed blindness by the Year 4 visit. Of the visual acuity observed, a cumulative incidence of vision loss was 2.9% and 1.9% had improved visual acuity.

The study also measured predictors of vision loss, and it was found that participants who had vision loss during follow up were more likely to be insulin-treated, have had a severe hypoglycemic event, have worse kidney function and be a current or ex-smoker at baseline compared to those without vision loss. Those who had vision loss also were observed as having higher systolic blood pressure and worse kidney function than those without. Those individuals who had improved visual acuity were likely to have had an intraocular lens inserted.

This study found that modifiable risk factors were independently associated with vision loss in community-dwelling patients with type 2 diabetes, which were smoking, severe hypoglycemia and highuACR. Strategies that focus on smoking cessation, avoiding severe hypoglycemia, and persevering kidney function will be pivotal in preventing vision loss in patients with type 2 diabetes.

PracticePearls

Drinkwater, Jocelyn J., et al. Incidence and Predictors of Vision Loss Complicating Type 2 Diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II.Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications, Elsevier, 22 Feb. 2020,www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1056872720300027?via=ihub.

ChardaeWhitner, 2020 PharmD. Candidate, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

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Predicting Vision Loss in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes - Diabetes In Control

The Tej Kohli Cornea Institute is building on its track record for funding research in the USA and on its 6-year legacy of making direct treatment interventions in India.

A new series of grants will support innovative UK technology, science and research projects that can help to alleviate and end corneal blindness by 2035.

The limitations of existing treatments for corneal blindness have created a substantial treatment gap in the poorer countries where 90% of visually impaired people live.

LONDON, April 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tej Kohli Cornea Institute, a longstanding project of philanthropist Tej Kohli, has established a series of grants to support UK-based innovations in science and technology with a clear pathway to alleviating corneal blindness. Annual grants are available to UK-based projects led by scientists, ophthalmologists, doctors, researchers and influencers in science and technology. The Tej KohliCornea Institute has also paid out an emergency grant of 80,000 toward the development of a genetic vaccine for COVID-19.

A young patient of the the Tej Kohli Cornea Institute in India awaits a free corneal transplant. The Tej Kohli Cornea Institute in the UK is building on its track record for making interventions to cure blindness by funding the invention of new and novel treatment solutions in the UK that can be scaled into poorer communities around the world.

The Tej Kohli Cornea Institute's move to support innovations borne from UK based scientific ingenuity reflects the need to develop brand new solutions that can bridge the corneal blindness treatment gap. The Institute will build on its track record for funding research in the USA. It will also leverage its existing knowledge and expertise gained from making thousands of treatment interventionsto alleviate corneal blindness in Indiabetween 2015 and 2019.

An Advisory Board that includes experts in ophthalmology and experimental medicine from institutions such as Moorfields Eye Hospitaland the UCL Institute of Ophthalmologywill connect the Tej Kohli Cornea Institute with high-impact scientific projects across the UK.

Tej Kohli, co-Founder of the Tej Kohli Foundationsaid:

"The UK ranks third out of 128 counties in the 2019 Global Innovation Indexand more than half of UK postgraduate researcherscome from outside of the UK. This UK ecosystem will enable the kind of unique interdisciplinary innovation that is needed to develop novel new solutions."

Sajjad Ahmad, consultant corneal surgeon and clinical academic at Moorfields Eye Hospital, and Tej Kohli Cornea Institute Advisory Board member, said:

"The UK is a leader in translating experimental medicine and laboratory science into corneal therapies. These grants will help to support UK ingenuity in developing new treatments that can be made accessible in poorer communities around the world."

Website: http://www.tejkohlicorneainstitute.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pauipxT3i8

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UK Science Is Boosted by the Tej Kohli Cornea Institute - Yahoo Finance

We often take our sight for granted until it starts to fade. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the top cause of severe vision loss and blindness in adults over age 50 in this country, affecting as many as one in three people as they age. AMD destroys the macula, the part of the eye that provides central vision, the type of vision you need to see whats in front of you in sharp detail. This is important for activities like driving which many of us arent doing as much of right now but also reading, cooking and gardening, which you may be doing more of. Its also important for seeing faces, and thats true whether those faces are in the room with you or on Zoom.

Research suggests that people who eat lots of leafy greens, and a variety of other fruits and vegetables, may have less risk of developing AMD or cataracts. Carotenoids are a family of nutrients that provide the yellow, orange and red colors in many fruits and vegetables. Our bodies use beta-carotene to make vitamin A, which is critical for vision. Two other carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, act as natural antioxidants, protecting eyes from the damaging ultraviolet light that could increase cataract risk.

Your body absorbs carotenoids best from vegetables that have been chopped, pureed or cooked. Cooking vegetables in oil or serving them with fat in the meal also boosts absorption. Dietary sources of carotenoids include:

For a 2015 study, researchers examined data from more than 100,000 adults enrolled in the Nurses Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. The group who had the highest blood levels of lutein and zeaxanthin were about 40% less likely to develop advanced AMD than the group with the lowest levels. Other carotenoids seemed to reduce risk by about 25 to 35%.

While getting nutrients from food is ideal whenever possible, the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), conducted by the National Institutes of Healths National Eye Institute, examined the effects of a cocktail of vitamin and mineral supplements. Researchers found that the risk of developing advanced AMD dropped by about 30%, helping to preserve vision longer, but it didnt prevent cataracts or early-stage AMD. Participants who benefited most were those who had the least healthful diets and who didnt eat many foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin.

The high levels of vitamins and minerals used in AREDS are difficult to achieve from diet alone. If you have intermediate AMD in one or both eyes, or advanced AMD in one eye, you might consider taking a widely available AREDS supplement, which should contain 500 mg vitamin C, 400 IU vitamin E, 10 mg lutein, 2 mg zeaxanthin, 25 mg zinc (as zinc oxide), and 2 mg copper (as cupric oxide). If you smoke, or used to smoke, its important to avoid older formulations that include beta-carotene, as beta-carotene in supplement form could increase your risk of lung cancer. While there is no treatment that can prevent AMD from developing, the AREDS formula can delay the progression to advanced AMD and help you keep your vision longer. Of course, consult your primary care doctor or eye care specialist.

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Heres how to eat in a way that naturally keeps your eyesight sharp - Seattle Times

An unhealthy lifestyle translates into many health problems.

Smoking, binge drinking and illicit drug use are known to cause cancer, diabetes, heart disease, lung damage, stroke and death. They can also lead to serious eye problems.

Cigarette smoking remains a major health issue despite of years of health warnings and public awareness campaigns.

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Smoking has been linked to early development of macular degeneration and cataracts.

Compared to non-smokers, people who smoke a pack or more per day are two-to-three times more likely to develop macular degeneration an aging condition in the retina, affecting the central vision.

The inhaled substances in cigarette smoke constrict the blood vessels and promote blood clot formation in the retina and optic nerves.

Partial to almost complete blindness happens when there is thrombosis, or blood clot, in the central retinal artery, which is the main artery that supplies blood, oxygen and nutrients to the retina.

Smoking increases the risk of ischemia, or stroke, in the optic nerve, which transmits the images from the eye to the brain, resulting significant permanent visual loss.

About one-in-six adult Americans binge drinks about four times a month, consuming about eight drinks each time.

There is a well-established linkage between Type 2 diabetes and excessive alcohol consumption.

The most serious ocular complications of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. The diabetes-damaged retina develops hemorrhages and swelling, resulting in visual loss.

Alcohol abuse increases the incidence of early onset of cataracts and macular degeneration.

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Methanol, or wood alcohol, in contaminated moonshine damages the optic nerve, and if untreated,the person will suffer partial to total blindness.

Ocular trauma with visual loss is too often seen with alcohol intoxication.

Illegal substance abuse is at the extreme end of vices.

It is estimated about 10 percent of adults use illegal drugs.

There are many deleterious effects to the eyes.

Intranasal cocaine use is particularly damaging and potentially leading to acute attack of angle closure glaucoma, retinal hemorrhages and optic nerve damage.

Smoking crack cocaine is associated with infection and diminished blood flow to the retina.

Methamphetamine use is known to cause infection in the cornea which is the transparent tissue in front of the eye.

Retinal inflammation is also seen in methamphetamine use.

Intravenous drug abuse introduces infection to the eyes and particles clotting the blood vessels in the retina and the optic nerve.

Many people assume their vices will get their eyes red and eyelids droopy.

In fact, they can suffer from many sight threatening complications.

Hopefully, this will motivatethem to give up their vices and adopt healthy habits.

Dr. Frederick Ho,the medical director of Atlantic Eye MD and Atlantic Surgery and Laser Center, is a board certified ophthalmologist. Atlantic Eye MDis located at 8040 N. Wickham Road in Melbourne. To make an appointment please call (321) 757-7272. To learn more visit AtlanticEyeMD.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Focus on Eyes: Cocaine, meth, other vices affect eyes more than you know

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Focus on Eyes: Cocaine, meth, other vices affect eyes more than you know - msnNOW

Indore: Very strange news has come out of Chambal's ravaged Bah. Two Mazra Pura Dal and Pura Shivlal villages of a village panchayat here have caused panic among the villagers after the news of about 20 dogs dying blindly after coughing. When informed to the administration, on the report of Lekhpal, the SDM of Bah has instructed the team of Animal Husbandry Department to investigate the matter.

According to the information received, about 20 dogs, blinded after coughing for three days, have diedofMazra Pura Dal and Pura Shivlal of Zebra Gram Panchayat located in the Cachar of Chambal river. Taking this as a side effect of the coronavirus epidemic, there is an atmosphere of panic among villagers and livestock farmers. The villagers have reported the death of the dogs to Lekhpal Rakesh Kumar.

Lekhpal has sent the report to the tehsil administration. Baham SDM Abdul Basit has issued instructions to veterinary officer Baah Dharmendra Kumar to go on the spot with the team and investigate the entire case. SDM Bah, quoting the oral report of Lekhpal, confirmed the death of the dogs and also said to send a veterinary doctor on the spot. He says that the matter will be cleared only after the report of the veterinary officer comes out.

Indore: Very strange news has come out of Chambal's ravaged Bah. Two Mazra Pura Dal and Pura Shivlal villages of a village panchayat here have caused panic among the villagers after the news of about 20 dogs dying blindly after coughing. When informed to the administration, on the report of Lekhpal, the SDM of Bah has instructed the team of Animal Husbandry Department to investigate the matter.

According to the information received, about 20 dogs, blinded after coughing for three days, have diedofMazra Pura Dal and Pura Shivlal of Zebra Gram Panchayat located in the Cachar of Chambal river. Taking this as a side effect of the coronavirus epidemic, there is an atmosphere of panic among villagers and livestock farmers. The villagers have reported the death of the dogs to Lekhpal Rakesh Kumar.

Lekhpal has sent the report to the tehsil administration. Baham SDM Abdul Basit has issued instructions to veterinary officer Baah Dharmendra Kumar to go on the spot with the team and investigate the entire case. SDM Bah, quoting the oral report of Lekhpal, confirmed the death of the dogs and also said to send a veterinary doctor on the spot. He says that the matter will be cleared only after the report of the veterinary officer comes out.

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Corona: 20 dogs died after coughing and blindness in Chambal - News Track English

Never, certainly in my lifetime, has a situation brought the entire world together to fight an enemy but even in this gathering strength there is division.

Dissenting opinion is critical for coming to resolutions if everyone thinks the same, then no new objectives can be created and perhaps areas of blindness will prevail. You can think of examples just like me whether it is in business when companies like IBM and Chrysler didn't think they needed to change or regimes like Nazi Germany thought they were invincible.

But our threat is more than another company or new way of doing things our enemy is not a scapegoat it is a virus. Perhaps a non-living entity that has no agenda but to survive and replicate.

Pope Francis delivered his-Urbi Et Orbi blessings an empty St. Peter's Square square - Getty-Images

It's easy to hate an enemy like this. And all of humanity is threatened in one way or another. Yes, we're touched in different ways we've probably all seen something on social media that shows that for some it's the heartbreak of cancelling or postponing important events like graduations, weddings or milestones like proms - things that many of us have taken for granted.

For some it means not being able to be at the side of people we love in person who are losing their lives to Covid-19.

For some its desperation to work because money is running out and income is needed to get necessities to live.

This is a humanitarian crisis affecting that's hard to get our heads around just how impacted the planet is - it's not like other tragic news events we've learned about before - it's not only affecting a segment of the world - it's all of us this time. And technology can bring us anywhere to see its affects on all of humanity instantly. It's a lot for many of us to process.

It's the worst of all things - thebrokenness of illness and those treating the victims worldwide, and of of the unimaginable suffering.

Africa - Where virus protection is almost non-existent - AP

It's the best of all things - theresilience of humanity singing to each other from theirbalconies to show solidarity and love.

The images are astounding from the Pope praying inan empty St. Peter's Square to celebrities catching and quarantining and even succumbing to illness just like any other human.

The horribleness of this modern-day plague and from now I just want to call it "The-Sickness-That-Must-Not-Be-Named" (because like Voldemort I don't want to give it any more power by naming it and frankly I'm just sick of saying or seeing its name) is a thing that everyone in the world can relate to in some fashion. It's the thoughts, images, sounds and emotions we go to bed with and wake up with.

There's some sort of tragic beauty in realizing the frailty and strength in humanity in all of this.

Then come the blamers and finger-pointers.

Did SARS-CoV-2 start in a "Wet Market" in Wuhan and come fron an animal a bat? A pangolin? Something else? Is it possible that "germ warfare" is going on here and the virus was purposely created? I've seen arguments on both sides and the jury still isn't out yet - "US explores possibility that coronavirus spread started in Chinese lab, not a market" (CNN, Thursday, April 16, 2020) and "Scientists Are Tired of Explaining Why The COVID-19 Virus Was Not Made in a Lab" (Monday, April 20, 2020).

Either way, who is responsible? Some want to point to an entire country as though every person living in China or those of Chinese descent are to blame, wherever they live - how can those thoughts be justified?

Should government leaders have acted sooner? In an unprecedented circumstance it's always easiest to look back and say what should have been done, but difficult to assess at the time.

When should countries, states, and cities attempt to go "back to normal"? And what does that mean? And who gets to decide which is the absolute "right" thing to do?

Midwest governors partnering to assess re-opening states - Daily Mail UKAnd it boils down to then threats, anger, hostility and I hope not violence against those who are considered at the least foolhardy and at the worst completely irresponsible and dangerous.

And now its turning into threats, anger, hostility for those on opposite ends of how we should proceed, and I fear violence against - not only in protestors but people on the street and against the police who will be charged with keeping order agains those who are at the least foolhardy and at the worst completely irresponsible and dangerous.

As a parent of children of any age, this is a terribly challenging time that ranges from families suffering in survival mode all the way to parents attempting to teach their children to be reasonable and to consider multiple perspectives because they have the luxury to do so.

We greatly value those who are providing "front line" services to our communities, commonly called "essential workers." But what of those who are saying "all jobs are essential" because simply living period depends on their paycheck?

What are the impacts of heading "back to normal" too quickly to prevent further economic destruction but wreaking havoc on our critically weakened healthcare system?

And further down what is the impact of hatred that is developing between groups of people that are polar opposites of these issues?

These are not easy times or easy answers.

Italians singing to each other during lockdown for Covid-19 - Times of Israel

All of this concerns me, but I realize that I cannot control others' thoughts, opinions and I certainly have no idea how to put myself in the shoes of those who are in varied ways facing the brunt of these circumstances beyond what I'm experiencing at the present moment.

All I CAN do, is hope to try to teach my older teens to think carefully about multiple viewpoints and not to not rush to judgment about anything, to not spread information without facts and to avoid the destructiveness of scapegoating, name-calling and insensitivity toward others because none of that makes anything better. Thank goodness, they aren't the types that do this anyway.

No matter the situation, this has been difficult, and I realize my kids have a right to their own frustrations, confusion, feelings of missing out, etc. But past this there needs to be helpfulness, resourcefulness and flexibility - and above all hope.

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Pandemic: The World United In Physical Humanity, Divided In Mental Resolve - ChicagoNow

Reprinted with permission fromWorld At Large, a news website which covers politics, nature, science, health, and travel.

Age-related macular degeneration (MD) is a variety of ocular disease that affects so many millions of people, its downright characterized as nothing more than the process of aging.

In fact, the study of MD has proven itself to be so fruitful for understanding aging as a whole, MD has become one of the first places that scientists have looked to in order to attempt to repair the damage of aging and restoring youthful, or normal function.

Now in a new paper published in Nature, researchers demonstrate an alternative to stem cells by creating replacement photoreceptors from skin fibroblast cells via pharmacological-conversiona process that promises to be cheaper, faster, and unburdened by ethical and legal restrictions.

Containing the genetic code for every protein we need to build and repair our cells, DNA can become damaged over time through the stresses of life. Similarly to how scratches or cracks in a CD prevent lasers from reading the information on the disk, damaged DNA becomes difficult, and even impossible for our RNA (which you could imagine as the laser inside the CD player) to read the genetic information contained therein.

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The photoreceptor is the neuron in the eye that turns on visual circuity in response to light which enables us to have vision, says Sai Chavala, Ph.D. and author of the new paper.

The loss of photoreceptors can result in MD and other retinal diseases that lead to irreversible blindness. In this new study, however, cells called fibroblasts can be chemically reprogrammed to produce photoreceptor-like cells that are now shown to restore vision in mice.

Fibroblasts are cells that help maintain the structural integrity of connective tissues, and a reduction in fibroblast cell count leads to wrinkled skin.

Sai Chavala and colleagues from the Center for Retina Innovation in Dallas, Texas, found a set of five compounds that can drive embryonic fibroblast cells to convert themselves into retinal, rod-like, photoreceptors in both mice and human cells.

Stem cell-based strategies are extremely exciting, Dr. Chavala tells World at Large, but adds that generating these cells can be cumbersome and time-consuming. Describing his strategy of chemically reprogramming existing cells as a breakthrough, Chavala added that the generation of the photoreceptors using his method requires a fraction of the time.

In the study, these converted photoreceptors were transplanted into the eyes of 14 blind mice to see if they would restore vision.

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Owing to their nature, mice with working vision prefer dark spaces, and so a test of whether or not the transplant was a success was fairly straight forward; create a bright space and a dark space and wait to see which one was preferred by the mice.

Six mice were found to not only have restored visual function and reflexesnotably in the pupilbut they also preferred to spend their time in the dark space. Chavala hypothesizes that it could have been down to how many of the chemically-reprogrammed cells survived the transplant into the retina that determined whether vision was restored in the mice or not.

What makes interventions like thesewhich involve creating brand new cells to replace the damaged onesso effective and exciting in the field of aging is that they present an alternative to natural replication by bypassing the difficulties that our own cells have with trying to repair themselves from DNA that features double-strand breaks or other blemishes.

Adding that these conversions of fibroblasts to photoreceptors has also been done in humans, Chavala detailed why he believes the treatments and future research to spring from this discovery are going to change the field of ophthalmology.

CHECK OUT: In World First Blind People Have Their Vision Restored Thanks to Stem Cells From Deceased Organ Donors

We [] believe this can be a game changer in the field of regenerative ophthalmology. We also believe this is a platform technology and have already started establishing protocols to generate retinal ganglion cells valuable for patients suffering from glaucoma, says Chavala.

In addition to bypassing the ethical and political restrictions and hiccups with using embryonic human stem cells, the process takes two weeks, costs less, and is more scalable than using stem cells.

WATCH: Hundreds of People Are Being Cured of Blindness Every Day With Cheap, Minutes-Long Surgery

It is intriguing to postulate that the addition of other molecules or modifications to the culture conditions can yield other types of neurons beneficial for a variety of neurological diseases, he adds, discussing possible alternatives to photoreceptor generation from fibroblasts.

Finally, Chavala is rapidly approaching human trials and hopes to have an FDA-approved treatment out the other end of the pipeline in 2-3 years, saying he is thrilled with the possibility of allowing millions of people to regain their lost vision.

Its Not Hard To See That You Should Share This Good News With Your Friends On Social Media

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Irreversible No Longer: Blind Mice See Again Thanks To New Method of Synthesizing Lost Cells - Good News Network

DOG owners are being warned to be vigilant about a deadly infection.

Dogs could be at risk of serious illness from the increasingly common lungworm disease which can be caused by the animals eating garden slugs, according to a leading vet charity.

The average British garden contains up to 20,000 slugs and snails and, following Decembers recording breaking warm temperatures, that number is likely to increase.

As slug numbers increase thanks to recent warm, wet weather, families at home are being warned to be mindful of the increased risk of lungworm when letting dogs play in back gardens during the coronavirus lockdown.

Up to now, there have been 47 cases of lungworm reported across Dorset.

This number includes two in Weymouth, two in Dorchester, one in Puddletown and one in Bridport.

Company Bayer has set up a lungworm map monitoring cases and showing how much of a concern the disease is in any specific area around the country.

The PDSAs most current Wellbeing report says that 26 per cent of the UK adult population has a dog with an estimated 9.9 million pet dogs.

PDSA vet, Fran Neve, says: Cases of lungworm are becoming much more common and the condition can pose a risk to dogs across much of the UK.

"Once pets are infected, lungworm can go on to cause serious problems such as heart failure, kidney disease, breathing difficulties, seizures and bleeding/clotting disorders.

"Common symptoms include unexplained bleeding, coughing, seizures and even blindness.

"Symptoms can develop very quickly, and owners should contact their vet by telephone if they see any changes in their pets health.

"Owners can protect their dogs form lungworm by making sure their regular worming routine includes lungworm protection that is veterinary-licensed.

Slugs carry the lungworm parasite and some dogs deliberately eat the slimy invertebrates. Animals can also be infected when they forage in long grass and when slugs crawls into their food and drink containers.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of the infection include: coughing, changes in breathing or struggling to breathe, going off food, upset stomach with vomiting and/or diarrhoea, weight loss, tiredness, unexplained or excessive bruising, pale gums, blindness and bleeding.

How to prevent your dog catching lungworm

Regular worming treatments

Picking up your dogs faeces quickly. This will help prevent the spread of lungworm

Removing toys and bowls from the garden overnight so they are not exposed to slugs and snails

Changing the water in water bowls frequently

Lungworm cannot be transmitted to humans.

For more informations visit pdsa.org.uk and to check the map visit mypetandi.bayer.com/uk/lungworm-map/

READ MORE:Animal lovers send pet rehoming figures soaring amid Covid-19 crisis

Read more from the original source:
Dog owners warned to be vigilant about 'increasingly common' lungworm - Somerset County Gazette

There have been 187 cases of lungworm recorded within a 50 mile area of Bolton and dog owners have been urged to take precautions.

Data released by Bayer shows that cases have occurred in Hindley, Atherton and Radcliffe, as well as in the surrounding area.

Warm, wet weather encourages slugs and snails, increasing the chances of dogs contracting lungworm.

PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing said: "Lungworm is becoming more common in dogs across the UK. They can catch the deadly parasite if they eat infected slugs, snails and frogs; they might do this accidentally when they eat grass, drink from outdoor water bowls and puddles or play with toys which have been left outside.

"Lungworm infections are very serious and can be fatal. However, the good news is you can easily prevent infections by following a regular worming programme, with a product that includes lungworm prevention.

"Symptoms of lungworm include coughing and breathing problems, weigh loss, seizures, blindness and bruising caused by blood clotting problems. It's very important to contact your vet immediately if your dog is showing any of these symptoms."

For more information on lungworm visit the PDSA website and to check the map visit Bayer.

Read more:
Dog owners warned about deadly lungworm as cases reported near Bolton - The Bolton News

Herpes zoster (shingles) is not only painful and can significantly alter daily life for sufferers, but it can also leave them with devastating, long-lasting pain and nerve damage. Anti-viral drugs administered within 72 hours of the first signs of the telltale rash can treat shingles in its earliest stages to help reduce symptoms and avoid serious complications.

The typical shingles outbreak often starts with a general feeling of unwellness or fatigue. Other early signs and symptoms include mild skin irritation; a burning, tingling, itching, or numbness concentrated in 1 small area on 1 side of the body; aching muscles, fever, headache, chills, and gastrointestinal distress like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Pain can be intense and stabbing, and it usually worsens over the course of the illness.

Within 5 days of the first symptoms, an itchy and burning rash comprised of blisters filled with clear fluid typically forms. This is the infectious period, lasts 7 to 10 days until the blisters scab over, dry up, and grow smaller.

Individuals who experience these symptoms and have a history of chickenpox should consider the likelihood of shingles and seek a medical diagnosis. This is particularly true if blisters develop on the face.

Blisters near or in the eye can cause lasting eye damage or blindness, noted the National Institute on Aging.1 Hearing loss, a brief paralysis of the face, or, very rarely, swelling of the brain can also occur.

The risk of developing shingles increases for people over the age of 60; cancer, HIV and organ transplant patients; diabetics and anyone who is under a lot of stress.

Antiviral medicinesincluding acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovircan shorten the length and severity of the illness. According to the CDC, These medicines are most effective if you start taking them as soon as possible after the rash appears.2

OTC and prescription pain medications can be used as needed. Itchiness can be alleviated by using wet compresses, calamine lotion, and colloidal oatmeal baths.

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of shingles, afflicting up to 20% of patients. This long-term, debilitating nerve pain occurs in the same areas that were covered by the rash. Steroids, analgesics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and the application of capsaicin or lidocaine in transdermal patch form can help deliver pain relief.

The risk of developing PHN, its duration, and severity increases with age. Additionally, its incidence is greater among immunocompromised individuals, those who have pain during the early stages of shingles, and those who experienced a severe rash that covered a large portion of skin. Patients over the age of 60 who do not seek treatment for the illness are more likely to develop PHN than those who are treated.

Other complications of shingles may be rare, but serious, including postherpetic itch, brain inflammation, hearing or vision problems, pneumonia, bacterial skin infections, facial paralysis, loss of taste, and vertigo.

Although there is no cure for shingles, an effective vaccination against it is available as the first line of defense. Shingrix was licensed by the FDA for adults 50 and older in 2017. It has proven to be over 90% effective at preventing shingles in clinical trials, and is recommended by the FDAs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices as the preferred shingles vaccine.

Read this article:
The Importance of Early Treatment for Shingles - Drug Topics

David Leitch, director of John Wick, Deadpool 2 and Hobbs & Shaw, has partnered with Amblin, as well as producing partner Kelly McCormick on a new project for the big screen. They are adapting a biopic based on the book My Victory at Dakar, by Jutta Kleinschmidt, who was the first and only woman to win the brutal off-road endurance race The Dakar Rally.

Variety describes the treacherous race:

The Dakar Rally often called the most dangerous race on the planet is found at the intersection of impossible terrain and logistical blindness. Originating in 1978, the multi-stage race began in Paris and ended in Dakar, Senegal. Now, some 40 years later, the race has claimed over 70 lives and victory at Dakar remains the Everest of motorsports. The 2020 rally took place in the Saudi Arabian desert for the first time, and drivers werent told the course until minutes before the start of each stage.

And Kleinschmidts journey:

Kleinschmidt, who was born in Germany, bought her first motorcycle at age 18. After studying physics, she worked at BMW for six years before quitting in 1992 to pursue her passion of motorsports. In 1997, she became the first woman ever to win a stage of the rally and, in 1999, she earned recognition finishing third overall as half of the first all-female team to stand on the winners podium. In 2001, after 15 years of trying, Kleinschmidt won the race.

The script will be penned by Greta Heinemann (Good Girls), who grew up on the Bavarian-Austrian border, just minutes from where Kleinschmidt was raised. This sounds like an inspiring and exciting story that will make for a great movie. Are you interested in this kind of sports movie?

Continue reading here:
JOHN WICK's David Leitch to Produce Amblin's Biopic About the First Woman to Win Off-road Endurance Race 'The Dakar Rally' - GeekTyrant

Retinal Prosthesis Market report provide the COVID19 Outbreak Impact analysis of key factors influencing the growth of the market size (Production, Value and Consumption). This Retinal Prosthesis industry splits the breakdown (data status 2014-2019 and Six years forecast 2020-2026), by manufacturers, region, type and application. This study also analyses the Retinal Prosthesis market Status, Market Share, Growth Rate, Future Trends, Market Drivers, Opportunities and Challenges, Risks and Entry Barriers, Sales Channels, Distributors and Porters Five Forces Analysis.

Retinal Prosthesis Market competitive landscapes provides details by topmost manufactures like (Philips Healthcare, Retina Implant, Second Sight Medical Products, Bionic Eye Technologies, Bionic Vision Australia, VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies, Abbott Vascular), including Capacity, Production, Price, Revenue, Cost, Gross, Gross Margin, Growth Rate, Import, Export, Market Share and Technological Developments

Get Free Sample PDF (including COVID19 Impact Analysis, full TOC, Tables and Figures)of Retinal Prosthesis[emailprotected]https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=2161980

Retinal Prosthesis Market Competition by Manufacturers (2020 2026): Retinal Prosthesis Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers, Retinal Prosthesis Market by Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers, Revenue and Share by Manufacturers, Average Price by Manufacturers By Market, Manufacturers Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product Type, Market Competitive Situation and Trends, Market Concentration Rate.

Scope of Retinal Prosthesis Market:Retinal Prosthesis is being used for improving eyesight of people with partial or complete blindness. The technology is still in its nascent stage hence a mixed speculation continues to hover around it.

Visual devices such as bionic eye and visual prosthesis are expected to have bigger impact in years to come, which in turn will pave the way for retinal implant market.

The global Retinal Prosthesis market is valued at xx million US$ in 2018 and will reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx% during 2019-2025. The objectives of this study are to define, segment, and project the size of the Retinal Prosthesis market based on company, product type, end user and key regions.

On the basis of product type, this report displays the shipments, revenue (Million USD), price, and market share and growth rate of each type.

Argus II Implantable Miniature Telescope

On the basis on the end users/applications,this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, shipments, revenue (Million USD), price, and market share and growth rate foreach application.

People with Partial Blindness People with Complete Blindness Retina Implant Alpha AMS

Do You Have Any Query Or Specific Requirement? Ask to Our Industry[emailprotected]https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=2161980

Retinal Prosthesis Market: Regional analysis includes:

The Study Objectives Of This Retinal Prosthesis Market Report Are:

Contact:

ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email:[emailprotected]

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Retinal Prosthesis Market Research Report 2020 Elaborate Analysis With Growth Forecast To 2026 Cole Reports - Cole of Duty

Bhubaneswar: At a time when studies have been affected across the board owing to the nationwide lockdown, the picture is even grimmer for blind students as online classes are of little help for them.

India is home to 20 per cent of total visually-impaired population in the world which counts nearly 62 million among which 8 million are afflicted with complete blindness and the remaining with low vision.

However, the silver lining amidst this crisis is that many youngsters have come forward to record audiobooks which are reportedly providing immense help to the blind students to take up their studies.Abhaya Mohanta, Co-founder of We4You, which records audiobooks for the blind students in the state, said,

Several youngsters and people from other states have joined us for taking up the initiative during the lockdown. While everyone is scared and confused about how to spend the time effectively, we have received several volunteers who are willing to become voice donors. From passionate youngsters to motivated elderly people, a lot of volunteers are getting associated with this noble initiative through which they can properly utilise their time during this lockdown and can even contribute their bit towards being responsible and sensible citizens of the country.

The procedure is simple and it doesnt involve any physical presence to lend your voice.Mohanta said, We send the volunteers books through WhatsApp or email by scanning the books properly or in PDF format. More than 80 new volunteers have joined us for recording audio materials during corona lockdown.He said the books meant for students from Class I to post graduation are recorded in various languages like English, Hindi and Odia. Students preparing for competitive examinations across the country also send the PDF of the required books and they are also being recorded and delivered through mail.

The books are provided free of cost and are easily accessible. The audiobooks are also being provided through memory chips, pen drives, compact disks, MP3 players and other storage devices as preferred by the students. Till now we have sent audio books to more than 10,000 active users across the country and state.

Sunanda Menon, a resident of Bangalore, who spends three hours a day for recording large volume of literature books for the blind students, said Since all of us are staying home during the lockdown, this initiative has opened an opportunity to provide some good services to the blind students.

Amita Singh, head of Odisha Bikerni Bike Group, said that recording multiple books for the blind students is definitely a tough job but doing this one can break the boredom during the lockdown. I recorded as many books as possible in a day, she added.

Pabitra Patra, a Plus III first year a blind student of Ravenshaw University, said Classes have already been started through a video app but that is not helpful for us. The audiobooks, however, help us in accessing necessary study material.

Arindam Ganguly, OP

Read more here:
Audiobooks come to the rescue of visually impaired students - OrissaPOST

Blindness is the inability to see anything, including light.

If youre partially blind, you have limited vision. For example, you may have blurry vision or the inability to distinguish the shapes of objects. Complete blindness means you cant see at all.

Legal blindness refers to vision thats highly compromised. What a person with regular vision can see from 200 feet away, a legally blind person can see from only 20 feet away.

Seek medical attention right away if you suddenly lose the ability to see. Have someone bring you to the emergency room for treatment. Dont wait for your vision to return.

Depending on the cause of your blindness, immediate treatment may increase your chances for restoring your vision. Treatment may involve surgery or medication.

If youre completely blind, you see nothing. If youre partially blind, you might experience the following symptoms:

Your childs visual system begins to develop in the womb. It doesnt fully form until about 2 years of age.

By 6 to 8 weeks of age, your baby should be able to fix their gaze on an object and follow its movement. By 4 months of age, their eyes should be properly aligned and not turned inward or outward.

The symptoms of visual impairment in young children can include:

The following eye diseases and conditions can cause blindness:

Blindness is a potential complication if you have diabetes or have a stroke. Other common causes of blindness include:

The following conditions can impair vision or cause blindness in infants:

The following categories of people are at risk for blindness:

A thorough eye exam by an optometrist will help determine the cause of your blindness or partial loss of vision.

Your eye doctor will administer a series of tests that measure:

Theyll examine the general health of your eyes using a slit lamp. Its a low-power microscope paired with a high-intensity light.

A pediatrician will screen your baby for eye problems shortly after birth. At 6 months of age, have an eye doctor or pediatrician check your child again for visual acuity, focus, and eye alignment.

The doctor will look at your babys eye structures and see whether they can follow a light or colorful object with their eyes.

Your child should be able to pay attention to visual stimuli by 6 to 8 weeks of age. If your child doesnt react to light shining in their eyes or focus on colorful objects by 2 to 3 months of age, have their eyes examined right away.

Have your childs eyes examined if you notice crossed eyes or any other symptoms of impaired vision.

In some cases of vision impairment, one or more of the following may help restore vision:

If you experience partial blindness that cant be corrected, your doctor will provide guidance on how to function with limited vision. For example, you can use a magnifying glass to read, increase the text size on your computer, and use audio clocks and audiobooks.

Complete blindness requires approaching life in a new way and learning new skills. For example, you may need to learn how to:

You can also consider getting some adaptive products, like a specialized smartphone, color identifier, and accessible cookware. Theres even adaptive sporting equipment, like sensory soccer balls.

A persons long-term outlook for restoring vision and slowing vision loss is better when treatment is preventive and sought immediately.

Surgery can effectively treat cataracts. They dont necessarily result in blindness. Early diagnosis and treatment are also important in cases of glaucoma and macular degeneration to help slow down or stop vision loss.

To detect eye diseases and help prevent vision loss, get regular eye examinations. If you receive a diagnosis of certain eye conditions, such as glaucoma, treatment with medication can help prevent blindness.

To help prevent vision loss, the American Optometric Association recommends you have your childs eyes examined:

If you notice symptoms of vision loss between routine visits, make an appointment with their eye doctor immediately.

More here:
Blindness: Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors & More

After being shortlisted for the LVMH Prize in 2017, South Korean label BLINDNESS headed by designers Jisun Park and Kyu-yong Shin has continued to sculpt out a head-turning repertoire of innovative menswear. Late last year, the brand continued to showcase its experimental take on the sartorial by being shortlisted as finalists for the coveted Woolmark Prize, and have now returned with a lush new arrangement of loosely-tailored goods for the FW20 season.

Spotlighted in a high-contrast lookbook, BLINDNESSs latest thematic underlay incorporates ideas of pollution and environmental consciousness, expressing these motifs in the form of marine-styled fishnets that are spotlighted throughout the lookbook. The looks remain anchored by various leather boots and Chelseas, whereby tight trousers are balanced by oversized jackets, further accented by pops of color. Notable pieces include a large black overcoat with louche tailoring, whereby white stripes have been knit into the woolen textile, various lapel blazers featuring similar detailing, and cable-knit sweats with pronouncing distressing. Throughout the lookbook, hints of military and navy dress take hold, reemphasizing the collections ties to protecting the seas.

Take a detailed look at BLINDNESS FW20 above. For those interested in scoring a piece, the range is likely to hit BLINDNESS webstore in the coming weeks.

For more fashion news, the 2020 LVMH Prize has been canceled.

See the original post:
BLINDNESS Looks to the Seas for FW20 - HYPEBEAST

According to a case study, a teenage boy in UK suffered blindness due to his poor eating habits. It is said that the boy was a fussy eater, and use to eat a lot of junk food like white bread, chips and processed meat. He had a very poor diet due to which he had a vitamin B12 deficiency. He also suffered from anemia. After complaining about the same, the doctors prescribed him vitamin b12 shots and a proper nutritional food diet.

The boy at the age of 14, did visit his regular doctor, where he complained about fatigue. But otherwise he was healthy and was not taking any medicines, but he had also called himself as fussy eater where his 80% diet was on junk food. After a year, his hearing weakened, and then he again visited another doctor. He was also prescribed some test where it did not show any signs of blindness or hearing. By the next two years, his condition got more worst and his vision started getting more worst. The time he saw an ophthalmologist he was diagnosed with damage in his eyes nerves. Again after taking some tests it was showing that deficiency of vitamin B12. Further after revelation it was seen that the boy could not avoid certain food items like bread, meat, etc. and he had also stopped taking his injections. Further the diagnosis revealed that had deficiency of copper, vitamin D, and selenium too and his bones did get weak because of low mineral efficiency.

These all deficiencies caused the boy for his impartial blindness and hearing loss. Many people call themselves picky eaters, but such eating habits can lead to such disorders. The boys habits were quite extreme and harmful that even the vitamin B12 shots did not work for him. With his nutritional supplements, he was referred to treat with mental counseling for his eating habits. Though his vision did not get worse, surely his eyesight did not improve either.

Related

Continue reading here:
Study Shows Excessive Junk Food Leads To Blindness - TheLoop21

Richard P. Holm, M.D,, Prairie Doc Published 10:48 p.m. CT April 16, 2020

Rick Holm

In a recent national survey, 26.9 million American adults age 18 and older reported experiencing vision loss. Of course, vision loss means blindness or the inability to see at all, but the definition also includes those having trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. While not everything is preventable or reversable, early detection and intervention are among our most effective tools to prevent vision loss.

Mrs. E who lived well into her 90s, would come into my office, never complaining about her eyesight. However, the diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) was obvious to me because, when she and I had a face to face conversation, she would look a foot to the left of my nose. The AMD had destroyed her central vision and she used her peripheral vision to see. AMD is the most common cause of blindness in the elderly. Risk factors include a family history of AMD, aging, smoking, obesity and hypertension. We can reduce our risk if we stop smoking, eat less, exercise and visit our eye doctor on a regular basis.

Almost the opposite of AMD is glaucoma, where the peripheral vision is lost, and the central vision is spared. This gradual and painless loss of vision is due to injury of the optic nerve and is commonly the result of increased pressure of the fluid within the eyeball. When glaucoma progresses, even the central vision can be lost but, if diagnosed early, treatment can help.

Diabetic retinopathy and cataracts are more common than AMD or glaucoma. Diabetes causes new tiny, and unfortunately very fragile, blood vessels to develop on the retina, and, when these delicate blood vessels bleed, they cause swelling, scarring, and progressive spotty vision loss. Cataracts, the leading cause of blindness in the world, cause the clouding of the lens of the eye.

For most of these eye conditions, there are methods to diagnose, treat and prevent the blinding consequences, yet many people skip regular eye exams. The message is staring you in the face, or perhaps a foot to the left of your noseget your eyes checked every year. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, most non-urgent eye appointments are being deferred to the latter half of the year. Contact your eye doctor to discuss the best option for you.

Richard P. Holm, MD passed away in March 2020 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was founder of The Prairie Doc and author of Lifes Final Season, A Guide for Aging and Dying with Grace available on Amazon. Dr. Holms legacy lives on through his Prairie Doc organization. For free and easy access to the entire Prairie Doc library, visit http://www.prairiedoc.org and follow Prairie Doc on Facebook, featuring On Call with the Prairie Doc a medical Q&A show streaming on Facebook and broadcast on SDPB most Thursdays at 7 p.m. central.

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The message that is staring you in the face - Argus Leader

Adhering closely to the Mediterranean-style diet particularly one rich in vegetables and fish is associated with higher cognitive function among older adults, according to a National Institutes of Health-funded study published this week in the journal Alzheimers & Dementia.

The study found no link, however, between the Mediterranean diet and slower cognitive decline.

These findings suggest that eating healthful foods may help keep our brains functioning at higher levels during the aging process, even if those levels arent quite as high as they were when we were younger.

For the study, researchers at the National Eye Institute (NEI) analyzed data from two major randomized clinical trials the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) and AREDS2 that had previously investigated the effects of diet on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye disease that gradually damages the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. AMD is a leading cause of permanent vision loss and blindness in people aged 60 and older.

Both studies had reported that certain nutrients, particularly the antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables and the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, were associated with a lower risk of developing AMD later in life. The authors of the current study wanted to see if the diets of the participants in the AREDS studies also had an effect on their cognitive function. Other research has shown an association between AMD and dementia, and the two conditions are known to share some environmental risk factors, such as smoking and high blood pressure.

We do not always pay attention to our diets. We need to explore how nutrition affects the brain and the eye, says Dr. Emily Chew, the studys lead author and director of the NEI Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications, in a released statement.

For the study, Chew and her colleagues used data from 7,756 ARED participants who had completed cognitive tests while in those clinical trials. The participants were aged 55 to 80 when they entered the trials, and were followed for 10 years.

At the start of the trials, the participants filled out a detailed questionnaire designed to assess their diet over the previous year. Based on those questionnaires, the NEI researchers scored each participant on how closely they adhered to the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes whole fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, fish and olive oil, as well as reduced amounts of red meat and alcohol.

Then the researchers looked for associations between the participants diets and their cognitive functioning. They found that, in general, the people who most closely adhered to the Mediterranean diet had the highest cognitive function throughout the decade of the study. The differences were small, but still statistically significant.

The individual components of the diet that appeared to have the greatest protective effect on the brain were fish and vegetables. Fish was also the only food associated with slowing down the process of cognitive decline. At the 10-year mark, the people with the highest fish intake exhibited not only higher rates of cognitive functioning, but also the lowest rate of decline.

These findings held even after the researchers adjusted the data to account for education levels.

The benefits from the Mediterranean diet were similar for people with and without a gene ApoE known to raise the risk of late-onset Alzheimers disease. That finding suggests, say the researchers, that the diets influence on cognitive functioning is independent of genetic risk. The people with ApoE did, however, tend to have lower average scores for cognitive function than those without the gene. They also tended to show more cognitive decline.

This is an observational study, and therefore cant prove a connection between diet and higher cognitive abilities. In addition, it relies on people self-reporting the foods they ate. Such reporting can be inaccurate.

In addition, most of the people in the study had some degree of AMD. Whether or not the findings can be generalized to other populations is unclear.

Still, the findings are provocative, for they support other observational studies that have found a link between the Mediterranean diet (or one thats similar) and better cognitive function and slower cognitive decline.

Scientists arent sure why the Mediterranean diet might help the brain, explains the National Institute of Aging (NIA) on its website. This primarily plant-based diet has been shown to improve cardiovascular health, which may, in turn, reduce dementia risk. In contrast, the typical Western diet increases cardiovascular disease risk, possibly contributing to faster brain aging.

In addition, this diet might increase specific nutrients that may protect the brain through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, the agency says.

FMI: Youll find an abstract of the NEI study on the website for Alzheimers & Dementia, although the full paper despite being funded by the government is behind a paywall. For more information on diet and the risk of dementia, go to the NIAs website.

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Mediterranean diet linked to higher cognitive functioning during aging - MinnPost