StemCell Therapy

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Henri Termeer, who passed away at the age of 71, was a founding father of modern biotechnology. He brought to his work, and to his life, a passion, a vision and a perseverance to bring ground-breaking medical innovations to those suffering from rare diseases.

Through his work, Termeer became a mentor and a role model for biotechnology entrepreneurs around the globe. The culture he created at Genzyme, and at the various institutions he worked for throughout his career, was widely seen as the gold standard for patient-focused drug development. He was a master at creating cultures where great science and great people could flourish. As the Boston Globe aptly noted, Termeer had magnetism and warmth, and a deft ability to harness top talent toward a common goal.

Termeer, who was a larger-than-life figure across the biotechnology field, was instrumental in the founding of BIO in 1993, serving as its first vice chair for health. He was named Chairman of the organization in 1996. During his tenure as Chair of BIO, and in the years that followed, Termeer was a key catalyst in the growth of the organization and in establishing BIOs position at the forefront of key policy and regulatory debates. He was an active member of BIOs Board of Directors since its founding until his death, with only a short break in his tenure. Termeer served on BIOs Executive Committee from 1993 to 2000.

Following are statements from leadership at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO):

Few people in our industry have had as profound an impact as Henri Termeer on the science of biotechnology and the patients who depend on it, said Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of BIO. He had a unique ability to inspire the men and women around him. Henri certainly was a brilliant businessman and a charismatic leader, but his burning passion was to do the unthinkable to innovate and to treat and cure rare diseases that others believed too difficult to tackle. Henri's love of his profession and the people in it was contagious. He taught us that even though our companies were sometimes competitors, our industry must speak with a united voice in the corridors of power. He was a founding father of BIO and thus the thriving ecosystem the biotechnology community enjoys today is another central part of his legacy. Henri was admired, respected and loved by all of us who were fortunate enough to know him as a colleague, a teacher, and a friend. He is an irreplaceable talent who will be long remembered and sorely missed.

Henri Termeer was a giant, said Ron Cohen, President & CEO of Acorda Therapeutics and Chair of BIO. He has left us much too soon. High among his many legacies are the tens of thousands of patients and their families who have benefited from Genzymes innovations, and the scores of biotechnology professionals whom he mentored and who have gone on to be leaders at other companies.

I had the honor of having worked at Genzyme and calling Henri Termeer amentor, said Paul Hastings, Chairman and CEO of OncoMed Pharmaceuticals and Vice Chair of BIO. He taught us all to be tough and business minded, while simultaneously taking into account how every decision impacted every person in the organization that was part of making Genzyme what it was. His focus on always doing the right thing for people and the business was something truly special. We all lost a great friend, a great mentor and awonderful role model.

From 1993-1998, Hastings served as Vice President, Global Marketing, Genzyme Therapeutics, President of Genzyme Europe and President of Genzyme Therapeutics.

"Henri has left us far too soon, but his legacy and contributions to our industry and patients with rare diseases will last forever, said John Maraganore, CEO of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. Indeed, Henri pioneered the advancement of innovative medicines for orphan disease and inspired other companies and entrepreneurs to follow. He will be deeply missed."

"As an industry leader Henri was unparalleled and unrivaled, said Jeremy Levin, chairman and CEO of Ovid Therapeutics. As a mentor and friend, he was a foundational component of my business philosophy and career. He will be mourned and deeply missed but never forgotten."

About BIO

BIO is the world's largest trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the worlds largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIOtechNOW is BIO's blog chronicling innovations transforming our world and the BIO Newsletter is the organizations bi-weekly email newsletter. Subscribe to the BIO Newsletter.

Upcoming BIO Events

Originally posted here:
BIO Statement on the Passing of Biotechnology Giant Henri Termeer - Business Wire (press release)

GETTY

Research suggests simple changes like moving more and eating the right food could be the key to tackling the painful condition that affects 10 million UK adults.

Some 8.5 million sufferers have the most common form osteoarthritis which is caused by wear and tear on joints.

For decades it was thought to simply be part of growing old but now research suggests cases of arthritis could be rocketing because of chronically unhealthy lifestyles.

Ali Mobasheri, Professor of Musculoskeletal Physiology at the University of Surrey, said: Chronic diseases all have an inflammatory component and this seems to be driven by our sedentary lifestyles. We are moving less and our diets have changed we are basically sitting on multiple health time bombs. Arthritis can be accelerated if people are obese because it has a hugely negative impact on joints. The answer is to eat well, control weight and move more.

Joints need regular movement to work properly.

Arthritis causes stiffness, swelling, and tenderness when joints are moved generally in the knees, hips and hands.

It typically affects people over the age of 40 and was previously thought to be due to muscles weakening and the body being less able to heal itself, or the joints slowly wearing out over time.

Joints need regular movement to work properly

Professor Ali Mobasheri

But the major review found the onset of the incurable condition is not inevitable.

The search for new ways of treating debilitating complaints comes after research showed nearly half of all British adults now live with chronic back pain or arthritis.

Up to 28 million people, or 43 per cent of all adults, have been in pain for more than three months with the problem set to worsen as the population lives longer, according to a review of 19 previous studies involving 140,000 people.

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Just one in seven adults under 25 reported chronic pain compared with almost two-thirds of people over the age of 75.

Problems like lower back pain or osteoarthritis affect 35 to 51 per cent of adults, with women most likely to suffer.

Prof Mobasheris research, published in journal Nature Reviews Rheumatology, is a damning indictment of 21st century living where shocking levels of inactivity and diets loaded with sugars are believed to be the major culprits.

Crucially, his research identified a link between metabolism and osteoarthritis.

GETTY

Studies show weight gain can increase inflammation and exacerbate arthritis.

Metabolic changes, caused by a poor diet and sedentary lifestyles, reduce the bodys ability to use energy sources efficiently, forcing it to generate alternative sources.

The stress this places on cells leads to an overproduction of metabolic and inflammatory substances, which is difficult for the body to flush out.

Abnormal levels in the body leads to inflammation of the joints cartilage which impedes on movement and causes pain.

Prof Mobasheri, presidentelect of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International, said: For too long osteoarthritis has been known as the wear and tear disease and it has been assumed that it is part and parcel of getting older. However, this is not the case and what we have learnt is that we can control and prevent the onset of this painful condition.

It is important never to underestimate the significance of a healthy diet and lifestyle as not only does it impact upon our general wellbeing but can alter the metabolic behaviour of our cells, tissues and organs leading to serious illnesses. The best advice is to control weight and avoid eating excess sugar.

GETTY

Experts recommend we take at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week and eat five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables every day.

Dr Natalie Carter, of Arthritis Research UK, said: We agree that arthritis isnt a wear and tear condition but can be managed by a healthy lifestyle, supported by a good diet and regular exercise.

Being overweight can put more strain on the joints, increasing the likelihood of developing arthritis. We are continuing to invest in research that looks at how diet, exercise and a range of other factors can help to prevent and limit the pain caused by osteoarthritis.

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Simple way to beat of arthritis: Balanced diet and exercise can help fight misery diseases - Express.co.uk

Lace up your shoes and join hundreds of others next Friday night for the Arthritis Foundation's big event event to raise funds to find a cure for what can be a very debilitating disease.

KSDK 8:58 AM. CDT May 15, 2017

Lace up your shoes and join hundreds of others next Friday night for the Arthritis Foundation's big event event to raise funds to find a cure for what can be a very debilitating disease.

Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in United States. Over 1.3 million people in Missouri along have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.

The Walk to Cure Arthritis raises money to find a cure and support the fight against arthritis. The Walk is happening Friday, May 19 at Logan University in Chesterfield from 6:30 to9 p.m.

More than 600 residents participate in the one or three mile walk. This family and pet-friendly event has food, drinks and entertainment for all ages. Visit http://www.walktocurearthritis.org/stlouis for more information.

2017 KSDK-TV

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St. Louis Walk to Cure Arthritis coming up | KSDK.com - KSDK

Keith Roach, To Your Health 5:06 p.m. ET May 15, 2017

Dear Dr. Roach: I am an 83-year-old man in reasonably good health. About six months ago, I started hearing a cracking noise when I turned my head sideways or up and down. Sometimes it would happen every 15 seconds. No one can hear it but me, which is why I havent gone to my family doctor. I also have had some light headaches.

R.P.

Dear R.P.: The cracking noise could be coming from one of the joints in your neck. Most people at age 83 have some degree of arthritis in the neck, and I think thats the most likely cause.

Sometimes there can be a snapping noise or sensation as tendons move over a bony prominence. Other times, there can be a cracking noise, such as cracking knuckles, for the same reason, with nitrogen bubbles forming in the joint with pressure changes. But a crunching or cracking noise most often comes from the joint itself, and often represents some degree of arthritis. If its not bothering you, nothing need be done. A set of X-rays could confirm and determine the severity of arthritis.

The headaches may have nothing to do with the sound, but there are headaches that can be triggered from neck arthritis.

Dear Dr. Roach: If a person has lower than optimally functioning kidneys, and protein is hard for kidneys to process, is it easier for kidneys to process plant protein or animal protein?

S.H.

Dear S.H.: Plant protein definitely is better for the kidneys. Switching from a meat-based diet to a plant-based diet has been shown to slow the progression of kidney disease from many different causes. A plant-based diet has probable benefits in terms of heart disease as well, compared with a diet high in animal protein, especially red meat.

Reducing animal protein is only part of what needs to be done for kidney disease. Depending on how advanced the kidney disease is, some people need to reduce the amount of potassium they take in. It also may be appropriate to look carefully at medication doses, which often need adjusting in people with kidney disease.

Dear Dr. Roach: I am an 85-year-old man who has been bothered with trigger finger for a number of years. My doctor says Im in good health for my age. Several years ago, a doctor said he could give a cortisone injection but would not guarantee it to work over a long period. I had three, and they did not work. What are my options now?

B.K.

Dear B.K.: A trigger finger is a condition where a finger (or the thumb, which is considered a finger) gets stuck in the bent position, requiring it to be pulled back into place again. It is caused by one of the tendons getting caught in a pulley system inside the finger. Treatment usually includes modification of activity, short-term splinting and anti-inflammatory drugs, or cortisone injection if that doesnt work. Only people who have failed to get relief from injections should be considered for surgery. Thats the choice you have to make now. The surgery is very effective (about 94 percent success rate), and most people are back to near-normal activities in a week or two.

Email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.

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Doc: Creaks and cracks in neck may be due to arthritis - The Detroit News

Stem Cell Therapy Can Help.

At the Lung Institute, we recognize that all patients have their own stories. While they have chronic lung conditions in common, our patients have had all kinds of careers and hobbies. Whether they enjoy growing plants in the garden, playing a round of golf or creating delicious meals, our patients are unique and deserve treatments unique to them.

At the Lung Institute, we screen each patient thoroughly, focusing on medical history and current condition to encourage only the best-possible treatment results.

Using the natural maintenance capabilities of stem cells, we first withdraw and separate the patients stem cells from their blood or bone marrow. We then reintroduce the stem cells into the body where they come to rest inside the lungs, promoting both natural healing and inflammation reduction.

To learn more about how stem cells work, review our Stem Cell Treatment Basics and discover how stem cell therapy can work to affect your quality of life. Click on the links below to read more about the two treatments we offer.

* All treatments performed at Lung Institute utilize autologous stem cells, meaning those derived from a patient's own body. No fetal or embryonic stem cells are utilized in Lung Institute's procedures. Lung Institute aims to improve patients' quality of life and help them breathe easier through the use of autologous stem cell therapy. To learn more about how stem cells work for lung disease, click here.

All claims made regarding the efficacy of Lung Institute's treatments as they pertain to pulmonary conditions are based solely on anecdotal support collected by Lung Institute. Individual conditions, treatment and outcomes may vary and are not necessarily indicative of future results. Testimonial participation is voluntary. Lung Institute does not pay for or script patient testimonials.

Under current FDA guidelines and regulations 1271.10 and 1271.15, the Lung Institute complies with all necessary requirements for operation. Any individual who accesses Lung Institute's website for information is encouraged to speak with his or her primary physician for treatment suggestions and conclusive evidence. All information on this site should be used for educational and informational use only.

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Lung Institute | Stem Cell Treatment for COPD & Emphysema

Helen Tran doesnt have much time to exercise. The mother of one is a full-time financial analyst who does her best to fit in a weekly walk or two.

But shes recently decided to step up her fitness regime in preparation for a 30-kilometre walk along the Mornington Peninsula to raise money for The Fred Hollows Foundation.

Ms Tran said she was inspired to take on the challenge, later this month, after a colleague told her about the important work the foundation did to end avoidable blindness in the worlds poorest communities.

I came from a Third World country and I understand how hard it would be for people to get the treatment, she said.

I just couldnt believe that with only $25 you could save a person from blindness. This is the least I can do to help people in need.

The Cairnlea resident will join 1900 walkers on May 26 for the Wild Women On Top Melbourne Coastrek, which will begin at Koonya Beach and finish at Point Nepean.

Organisers hope to raise more than $1.5 million for the Fred Hollows Foundation.

Foundation director Gabi Hollows said four in every five people who were blind dont need to be.

Everyone who takes on the Coastrek challenge is helping us to restore sight and change lives, she said. For every $1 invested in eliminating avoidable blindness, at least $4 is returned to the local economy, as adults can return to work and children can receive an education and fulfil their potential.

To support Ms Tran, go to melbourne.coastrek.com.au.

Alexandra Laskie

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Cairnlea woman to walk to fight preventable blindness - Star Weekly

Scientistshave been working for a very long time on how to cure colour blindnessand to make sure that these people could also enjoy the beauty of the surrounding just like the normal person. In the same cause, Magic Leap has developed a new idea of giving the unique experience to the colour blind people with the help of augmented reality technology.

This is a massive step in the field of technology if they can really implement this technology in the real world as there are may people who can not enjoy the life to the fullest just because of colour blindness. They have applied for the patent of this technology on 19 September 2016.

There are many people in the world that are suffering from colour blindness. Color-blind persons have difficulty distinguishing various colours. The elderly people often experience the change in their ability to sense different colours and many of these people see objects as if they have been viewed through yellowish filters.

Also, over time ultraviolet rays degenerate proteins in the eye, and light having short wavelengths is absorbed and blue cone sensitivity is thereby reduced. As a result, the appearance of all colours changes and specifically yellow tending to predominate.

To overcome the inability to distinguish colours, such people become habituated at identifying and learning reliable cues that indicate the colour of any specific object.

Also Read:EBay Enters Augmented Reality To Improve Customer Experience

These people could not enjoy the beauty of nature to the fullest just because of one disease. Its a very good approachby the Magic Leap company that they have decided to use the advancement of the technology to do something that will change the life of many people in the world.

If this technology is implemented successfully, then these people could also analyse and view things just like the normal person.

There is an augmented reality application program which is provided to help the people suffering from colour blindness. The program assists the users in determining different colours and difference between those would otherwise be invisible to them.

In this specific system, the program is based on a theory of the human visual system. The theory states that somewhere in the human visual system the processing is done on the pure colour. The assumption is that there are relatively few hues the visual system could actually see, but for the colour blind people, hue determination is impeded by slight changes in the eye.

The application has various modes or filters that could make hues easier to detect or differentiate. The program provides the user with a large number of configurable settings and adjustments so that he can find a particular setting that provides him with the desirable results.

Image Source: freshpatents.com

The program is helpful to those people that are suffering from with anomalous trichromacy, which is not actually blind to any particular colour but represents the less ability to differentiate between different colours. The tech provides a method and apparatus for dynamically modifying computer graphics content for colours, patterns, or both that are problematic for visually challenged, in particular, color-blind viewers, prior to display.

The graphics content could be modified in many stages of the graphics pipeline that are the render or raster stage so that the images that provided to the user are visible to color-blind viewers upon display without any further modification.

The present system provides a method and apparatus for dynamically modifying computer graphics content for colours that are problematic for visually challenged people. The graphics content is in the form of an original screen image and is provided to a color-blind filter of the present invention.

The color-blind filter detects the colours and modifies the given images. It also analyses the graphics content that could be problematic for colour challenged users. It then modifies these graphics content such that the graphics content is visible to colour challenged users.

Also Read:Augmented Reality Scenario Market Shift to Capture Real World Instances

Whats next?

The next challenge will implement this technology in the practical life. The actual output could only be observed when they use this technology in real life. But, if this works as it is said then it could change the whole life of the people that are suffering from colour blindness.

Image Source: Medium

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Magic Leap Has Developed Augmented Reality Experience For Colour Blindness - Techstory

Welcome to your weekly digest of approaching regulatory and clinical readouts. Puma's (NYSE:PBYI) breast cancer project neratinib will go before a US panel on May 24, but Roche's (OTCQX:RHHBY) rival Perjeta could soon show clinical data that render neratinib almost irrelevant, and the recent departure of a senior member of Puma's staff has fueled rumors of a negative outcome at the adcom.

On the same day Emmaus Life Sciences will go before the same FDA panel for its sickle cell disease project Endari, currently availbale as a nutraceutical. Regulators have questioned the efficacy analysis in the past, but with few options for patients approval could still ensue.

Puma becomes the prey

In just over a week a panel will discuss Puma's neratinib for use as an adjuvant treatment in Her2-overexpressing breast cancer. The filing was based on the phase III Extenet trial, in which patients received neratinib monotherapy after a year's Herceptin.

Puma has a number of hurdles in its path, the biggest of which is Perjeta. A positive result in Roche's phase III Aphinity study indicated that Perjeta could potentially be practice-changing for breast cancer, and Puma's shares dropped 14% (Aphinity all but confirms Puma's worst nightmare, March 2, 2017).

Roche's trial gave patients Perjeta plus Herceptin for a year versus Herceptin alone. Details, including the extent of Perjeta's benefit, will appear at Asco on June 5.

Other issues for Puma include the severe diarrhea seen with neratinib, questions over neratinib's marginal benefit in Extenet trial, and large numbers of patients being censored.

This week Puma shares took another tumble on the news that its senior vice-president of regulatory affairs, Dr. Robert Charnas, would step down. Speculation that the resignation could be linked with the upcoming panel meeting, rather than the health reasons cited in the company's 8-K, caused shares to fall 16%.

Neratinib sales are forecast to reach $809m by 2022, according to sellside consensus from EvaluatePharma, but just over a year ago these sat at $2bn. Neratinib's PDUFA date is set for July; a strong benefit with Perjeta could be hard for the FDA to ignore.

Lacking options

Emmaus Life Sciences' Endari, in sickle cell disease, will also face the panel on May 24, and has a PDFUA date set for July 7.

The Californian group says that if Endari is approved it will become the first treatment for pediatric patients and the first new therapy in nearly 20 years for adult patients. However, it does not treat the underlying cause of the disease, instead aiming to reduce the frequency of the episodes of pain called sickle cell crises. It has orphan drug designation in the US and EU and US fast-track designation.

Endari is said to work by reducing oxidative damage to red blood cells. It consists of the amino acid L-glutamine as a nutritional supplement - the same active ingredient as the company's Nutrestore nutraceutical, available for short bowel syndrome in combination with recombinant human growth hormone. Endari is filed as a drug under the 505(b)(2) pathway.

The phase III trial was conducted in 230 patients aged five and over. It tested 0.3g/kg of L-glutamine twice daily for 48 weeks, up to a daily limit of 30g. The powder is mixed with water or certain non-heated foods.

The placebo comparator was the food additive maltodextrin, and two thirds of patients were on background hydroxyurea treatment, an established drug used to reduce crises. The company reported a 25% reduction in the median frequency of sickle cell crises, with Endari patients having a median of three over the 48-week trial.

Initially the company reported a p value of 0.063, above the pre-specified p value of 0.045. However, using a different analysis it said the results were "highly statistically significant" at 0.005.

The FDA had raised concerns over the primary endpoint analysis after the data were initially unblinded in 2014. Emmaus provided a report by an independent statistician explaining the significant results using the modified Ridit method, adjusting for varying strata or subgroup size, which in this case was region and hydroxyurea use.

No doubt the panel meeting will pay close attention to the statistical analyses used.

Editor's Note: This article discusses one or more securities that do not trade on a major U.S. exchange. Please be aware of the risks associated with these stocks.

Read more here:
Panel Woes For Puma And Statistical Uncertainties For Emmaus - Seeking Alpha

The Cerbat Gem

Royal Bank of Canada Reiterates $40.00 Price Target for Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) The Cerbat Gem Puma Biotechnology Inc logo Royal Bank of Canada set a $40.00 target price on Puma Biotechnology Inc (NYSE:PBYI) in a research note published on Wednesday morning. The firm currently has a hold rating on the biopharmaceutical company's stock. 91 institutional investors are raising stakes in Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (PBYI)Post Analyst The 260817 Shares in Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) Acquired by Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers TrustBangaloreWeekly Well recognized Stock of Market: Puma Biotechnology, Inc.'s (PBYI ...Hot Stocks Point Rives Journal all 6 news articles »

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Royal Bank of Canada Reiterates $40.00 Price Target for Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) - The Cerbat Gem

A fascinating documentary that is making the rounds at film festivals like Tribeca and Cannes gives a rare view of a controversial treatment that more and more Americans are paying up to $50,000 to receive. Stem cell therapy is widely considered to be the next big hope in medicine, with researchers everywhere from Stanford to Johns Hopkins investigating the technologys potential to treat seemingly every ailment known to mankindAlzheimers, cancer, joint injuries, even basic signs of aging. The only hitch: With one tiny exception, it isnt legal in the United States.

We all know the stem cell revolution is occurring outside the U.S., says Brian Mehling, M.D., a Manhattan-based orthopedic surgeon who is certainly doing his part to foment the insurgency. A coproducer of the film, as well as its charismatic recurring subject, Mehling is bringing stem cell tourism into the spotlight and determined to lift the curtain on a medical field that remains mysterious to most. His Blue Horizon medical clinics, with locations in China and Slovakiaand three more set to open in Mexico, Israel, and Jamaicacater to American tourists looking to cutting-edge therapy for help when traditional medicine fails.

Stem cells are the undifferentiated cells that abound in newborns and have the ability to transform into blood, nerve, or muscle cells and aid the body in self-repair. Proselytizers like Mehling say they constitute the latest in holistic medicine, allowing the body to healwithout drugs, surgery, or side effects. At clinics such as Mehlings, doctors either inject the cells, which are generally obtained from umbilical cords during C-sections, into a patients spinal cord (much like an epidural), or administer them via IV drip. The process is alarmingly quick, and patients can typically check out of the facility by the end of the day. One of the few stem-cell therapies approved for use in the United States is one used to treat the blood disease known as beta thalassemia; in that instance, the treatment replaces damaged blood in the immune system and saves tens of thousands of lives each year. Few other stem cell applications, however, have been proven effective in the rigorous clinical trials the Food and Drug Administration requires before signing off on any treatment.

In fact, stem cell clinics remain completely unregulated, and there have been incidents of related troubles. In one recent report , Jim Gass, a resident of San Diego who traveled to stem cell clinics in Mexico, China, and Argentina to help recover from a stroke, later discovered a sizable tumor on his spinal columnand the cancerous cells belonged to somebody else. Troubling cases also emerged at a loosely regulated clinic in Sunrise, Florida where, earlier this spring, three women suffering macular degeneration reported further loss of vision after having stem cells, extracted from their belly fat via liposuction, injected into their eyes. Though, on the whole, reports of treatments at clinics gone awry remain relatively few.

In his film, Stem Cells: The Next Frontier , which is set to appear at Cannes Film Festival this month, Mehling offers a persuasive side of the story, with rapturous testimonials from patients, some of whom who have regained the ability to walk after their stem cell vacations. Added bonus: They come home with better skin, bigger sex drive, and (in the case of at least one balding patient) more hair.

However compelling, there is scant evidence that the injections actually make a difference, and most American doctors caution against buying into the hype. Stem cell researcher Jaime Imitola, M.D. and Ph.D, director of the progressive multiple sclerosis clinic research program at Ohio State University, says he is impressed by the evidence that stem cells can help with neurological disorders in animals. But the question is how can you translate it into clinical trials? We still dont know what were doing when we put stem cells in people.

David Scadden, a professor of medicine and stem cell and regenerative biology at Harvard, and the director of Harvards Stem Cell Institute, says that stem cell tourism is a waste of money for the time being. A world-renowned expert in stem cell science, he remains optimistic about its future applications. Researchers are currently looking into reprogramming, for instance, which effectively converts a mature cell into a stem cell. You rewind its history so it forgets its a blood cell or a skin cell and it rewinds back in time and it can become any cell type, he says. Youd be able to test drugs on these cells, and it could be used to reverse Type 1 diabetes.

For now, though, he does not recommend experimenting with stem cells before we understand them well enough to properlyand safelyharness their benefits. People call me about it all the timethey say, I have this knee thats bugging me, Im going to one of these clinics, he says. His response? For the most part they dont do harm. But nobody Ive spoken with has come back to me and said, You Harvard docs have to get on this . . . . Not yet.

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Stem Cell Tourism Is the Controversial Subject of a New Cannes Documentary - Vogue.com

Image for representational purpose only.

ALLAHABAD: In yet another case of corporal punishment, a Class XII student of St. Joseph's School, Allahabad became the victim of brutality of the worst kind.

Serven Terence (14), lost vision in his right eye allegedly because he was caned by the vice-principle for standing in the morning assembly with his school bag on. Initially the student was being treated in Allahabad, but now is in Lucknow. The family of the victim registered the First Information Report (FIR) in the regard on last Friday against the accused in the Civil Lines police station in the city. On May 9, Terence went to school and stood in the morning assembly with his bag on, spotting which vice-principal Leslie Cotino started canning him with a baton and amid the act the baton struck his right eye which started bleeding. He was rushed to the hospital in Allahabad, from where he was sent to Lucknow where it was informed that Terence has lost vision in his right eye. Serven, who is the lone child of his parents, will undergo surgery in a month. Meanwhile, an investigation has been launched into the matter.

Excerpt from:
UP Student loses eyesight after getting caned by vice-principal - The New Indian Express

A recently approved eye treatment offers a safe, long-term solution for that very annoying problem of aging: the inability to read close-up.

The condition, called presbyopia (which literally means old eye in Greek) happens to nearly everyone and usually hits sometime after age 40. Youll find yourself squinting to read menus or whipping out glasses to check your iPhone.

Approved last June by the FDA, the Raindrop Near Vision Inlay is a permanent, implantable device that restores close-up vision.

It allows you to turn back the clock, said Dr. Steven Stetson, the medical director ofDiamond Vision, who became certified to implant the inlay last fall.

Dr. Stetson

He said the treatment is allowing people in their 40s, 50s, and sometimes even 60s to read without glasses.

The Raindrop inlay is only the second permanent, implantable lens approved in the United States. Dr. Stetson, who is also certified to implant theotherFDA-approved inlay, called the KAMRA, said that it depends on each individual which inlay treatment works best.

For some, the Raindrop may perform better in dimmer light conditions, since it does not block any light to function, said Dr. Stetson. However, since the KAMRA inlay is placed in a small pocket instead of under a larger flap, patients may not need to take eye drops for as long afterward as with the Raindrop. Each patient is different and may heal at different rates, he added.

For both types, only one inlay, implanted in the non-dominant eye,is enough to correct vision.

Dr. Stetson said data from Europe, where these inlays have been in use for more than five years, indicate that vision improvement after the treatment is long-term.

Dr. Steven Stetson holds the Femtosecond laser and demonstrates how a patient would be positioned during the KAMRA inlay procedure in his office at Diamond Vision in New York on Aug. 26, 2016. (Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times)

The Raindrop corrects vision by changing the slope of the eye.

It makes the central cornea steeperprofocal, kind of like a hawk eye or like eagle eye, Dr. Stetson said.

The Raindrop looks like a small, clear contact lens and is made of a similar hydrogel material, he said.

It is implanted about a third of the way into the cornea, directly over the pupil. The inlay is a relatively thick compared to the thickness of the cornea, so when it is implanted it changes the curvature of the middle of the cornea, Dr. Stetson said.

The steeper slope allows people to focus more easily on nearby objects but because the inlay is small, the periphery of the cornea is unchanged and can still focus at a distance.

The other inlay, the KAMRA, corrects vision with a very different principle. The much thinner device (only 6 microns thick) is a dark brown color with a pinhole in the center. Light passing through the pinhole is focused when it hits the retina. This focus is necessary to see objects close up.

Young eyes have soft, flexible lenses, but with presbyopia, the lens becomes stiff and less able to focus on close images. The KAMRA inlay eliminates the need for the lens to focus because light passing through the pinhole is already focused.

Dr. Stetson said a big part of the reason these inlays are so successful is because doctors offer them to the right patients. He wont put the inlay in a person he does not think is a good candidate.

An employee in his Georgia office once flew to Manhattan with her husband so they could both get an inlay. But it turned out only her husband was a suitable candidate.

She was very heartbroken about that, but I think shes forgiven me, Dr. Stetson said.

The Raindrop is licensed for people 41 to 65 years old who have not undergonecataract surgery or aPRK (photorefractive keratectomy). This is because with PRK the layer just beneath the surface is disrupted and can change how the surface cells remodel, reducing the effect of the Raindrop, Dr. Stetson explained.

The KAMRA, approved for 45- to 60-year-olds, is more versatile because its smaller size does not change the shape of the cornea, and it is placed deeper in the cornea.

For both inlays, the procedure to implant them is very simple and very easy for the patient, Dr. Stetson said.

The surgeon uses a laser to cut a very precise flap in the cornea then slips the device into place. The operation takes only 10 to 15 minutes.

Side effects are minimal, but proper pre- and post-op care is essential. Patients with a history of dry eyes should seek treatment for the condition beforehand.

Diamond Vision clinics have an array of laser, LASIK, and dry eye treatments that will prepare eyes for an inlay. Afterward, patients generally need to use anti-inflammatory eye drops for two to three months.

And while it may take up to three weeks to regain distance vision in the operated eye, many patients can read again shortly after surgery.

Near vision usually comes back quickly. In many patients, its within a few days, Dr. Stetson said.

Diamond Vision Manhattan Location 15 W. 44th St., Ninth Floor 212-838-2020 DiamondVision.com

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Restore Your Eagle Eyesight - The Epoch Times

If you have glasses or contact lenses, your prescription is likely a baffling list of numbers and acronyms. Blame Ferdinand Monoyer.

The French ophthalmologist, born on this date (May 9) in 1836, was responsible for the diopter the unit of measurement we use to assess lenses and vision as well as modern-day eye charts seen in many opticians across the globe.

On what would have been his 181st birthday, Google has designed an animated Google Doodle to honour the anniversary. The Doodle features a pair of eyes on the left, which form the 'O's in the word Google, alongside an eye chart on the right. As the eyes squint, the letters on the right become blurred. Monoyer's signature is also hidden in the chart.

Although not the first to create an eye chart for ophthalmology Germany's Heinrich Kchler is widely accepted as the first to create a chart in 1836 using figures cut from calendars, books, and newspapers glued in rows of decreasing sizes Monoyer's legacy has been the one that has lasted the longest.

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Building on the work of Kchler, as well as the visual acuity chart design of Herman Snellen from 1862 used commonly in the US, Monoyer developed his chart to run alongside a visual acuity measurement known as the diopter. The diopter measures the distance you'd have to be from text to read it.

The Snellen Eye Chart was invented as a way to improve the subjective nature of vision testing and involved patients reading passages of text held their hands or held at a distance by the doctor. This test was dependent, however, upon the reading ability of the patient, typeface, and the fact the patient could guess the next word by reading a sentence. So he switched to letters.

Characters on the first Snellen Charts included: A, C, E, G, L, N, P, R, T, 5, V, Z, B, D, 4, F, H, K, O, S, 3, U, Y, A, C, E, G and L, and were Egyptian Paragons or slab serifs of contrasting line thickness with cross strokes on terminals.

Specsavers

Monoyer, who ran an ophthalmic clinic at the hospital in Nancy, France, took this initial idea and used it to introduce the first test-types corresponding to a decimal system in 1875. He selected his font style on a letter-by-letter basis because he didn't feel there was a need to select the same linear dimensions in every case. For example, a letter H that is as wide as it is high can look too drawn out, and he believed that if you're going to judge a person's vision by it, that letter needed to be as legible as possible.

In Monoyer's charts, every row represents a different diopter, from smallest to largest. A diopter indicates how powerful a lens is in order to properly focus light on a persons retina. It is officially defined as being the inverse of a persons focal length in metres.

A shortsighted person with a 1.00 diopter lens can see objects at one metre clearly before they become blurred. Similarly, someone with a 2.00 diopter measurement needs a lens that's twice as powerful, meaning they can only see objects up to a 1/2 metre away clearly. A 3.00 lens would mean the person can only see a distance of up to 1/3 of a metre clearly, and so on. Most nearsighted people are in the range of -1.50 to -7.00 diopters.

Alternatively, longsighted people who need a +1.00 diopter lens can see objects at one metre clearly, but anything closer than that is blurred.

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Ferdinand Monoyer is the reason your eyesight is measured in decimals - Wired.co.uk

When her seven-year-old daughter, Zoe, struggled to keep up with school work, Mrs Michelle Clarke scheduled an appointment to have her eyes checked.

The 36-year-old stay-at-home mum said: "Zoe was below average in class, and she was having a lot of trouble reading and writing. For instance, she would mix up her 'b's and 'd's. She did not like to learn at all.

"Her teacher highlighted that she was squinting a lot in class and felt she had some eye problems that were affecting her learning."

Mention poor grades and, more often than not, learning disorders such as dyslexia and attention deficit disorder come to mind.

But what does your little one's vision have to do with those persistent Band 3 or 4 scores?

Plenty, it seems. Vision and learning are closely related.

For children to reach their full academic potential, good vision is important, said Mr Yap Tiong Peng, a senior consultant optometrist trained in behavioural optometry at Igard Group Singapore. He has 18 years of clinical and research experience.

Behavioural optometrists look at how the eyes and brain function as they process visual information and how that may affect development in children.

Studies showed that nearly half of the children who struggle to read and learn in school complain of vision-related issues, Mr Yap explained.

Optometrist Titus Wu of Titus Eye Care, who has been in practice for nine years, estimated that as many as one in four children he sees in his practice may have learning difficulties linked to their vision woes, which are mostly due to undetected myopia and binocular vision-related issues.

Binocular vision refers to the ability to process information when both eyes work together at the same time.

This is as important as having clear vision in each individual eye, Mr Wu said.

Senior consultant optometrist Rachel Kelly of Igard explained that if your eyes do not coordinate well, for instance, you may have trouble reading or maintaining focus on an object.

Children with such vision woes tend to feel fatigued and have headaches when reading and studying.

They may also skip small words when reading, reread sentences and insert words that do not exist in the text, said Ms Kelly.

She added: "The child may appear inattentive in class, avoid reading and studying, make careless mistakes and have difficulty completing assignments.

"Sometimes, the symptoms show up only intermittently when the child has to read a larger volume of text, especially when running up to the school examinations."

As such, it is not unusual for parents and teachers to dismiss the child's complaints as a behavioural issue when he may be struggling with poor vision.

A common misconception parents have is that their kid has perfect vision that allows him to read and write well just because he had aced his cursory eyesight test during school check-ups, said the optometrists.

Mr Wu reckoned that about 15 per cent of children who pass a vision screening test actually have a vision problem that requires intervention.

In Singapore, the Health Promotion Board conducts yearly eye tests for pre-schoolers.

Routine eye checks are also conducted in primary school.

The screening test involves reading off an eye chart from a distance to check for myopia.

Children also undergo three-dimensional vision tests to screen for squint and other conditions.

Mr Yap said that while these routine vision screenings pick up refractive errors such as myopia, they may not detect other vision problems that can hinder learning.

Sometimes, the more subtle symptoms may also elude some eye-care professionals using standard eye examinations, he added.

In Zoe's case, she was found to be suffering from an alignment problem of the eyes, which gave her double vision and affected her ability to focus.

Her optometrist prescribed bifocal spectacles to alleviate some symptoms, and Zoe underwent thrice-weekly vision therapy.

Vision therapy is a set of techniques used by optometrists to improve a person's vision and the way they process what they see.

Depending on the specific problem, the intervention programme may involve the use of eye exercises and devices such as lenses, prisms and coloured filters.

"The aim of the treatment is to allow the child to gain control of his binocular vision by encouraging the two eyes to work together properly and for the whole visual system to work efficiently," said Mr Yap, who was part of the team that treated Zoe's vision problems.

Children who have problems with convergence and accommodation - these help us to see near and far objects clearly without double images - tend to have high success rates using vision therapy, with over 90 per cent seen at Igard resolving their vision problems and symptoms within a few months of therapy, Mr Yap shared.

But adjunct associate professor Audrey Chia, deputy head of the paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus department at Singapore National Eye Centre, cautioned: Be sure to have a healthy dose of scepticism before buying into treatment options not backed by strong scientific evidence.

"Some parents seeking a second opinion come into the clinic with a five-page report on what is wrong with their child's vision.

"But when we examine the child, they do not have any pressing problems," said Prof Chia, who also heads the eye clinic at KK Women's and Children's Hospital.

While it is important to ensure that a child has no major eye issues, over-diagnosis can be a double-edged sword.

Prof Chia said: "When you do 101 tests, you are bound to find something wrong. The question is, will the child's learning really improve even when you try to resolve that one problem?

"Even when symptoms seem to go away after doing eye exercises, what might have really improved might be the child's mental capacity to cope with learning over time."

Prof Chia urged parents not to lose sight of what is most important for their child.

"Many of these programmes often make parents feel like they are doing something for their child," she said.

But whether they are needed or whether a kid's learning could benefit equally from quality time spent with their parents is debatable.

"Sometimes, we need to accept that our child will have strengths and weaknesses. No one is perfect," Prof Chia said.

This article is adapted from Young Parents magazine (www.youngparents.com.sg)

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When bad eyesight causes bad grades - The New Paper

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Dr. Glaser of Clemson Eye performs a regular eye exam on a female patient. | Photo Provided.

Women are more likely to have eye-related diseases and conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Nearly two-thirds of blindness and visual impairment occurs in women, and women make up the majority of the 4.4 million Americans age 40 and older who are blind or visually impaired. About 64% of the patients Clemson Eye sees on an annual basis are women.

You may be busy, on the go, and caring for your family, but it is important that you make the time to take care of you.

Here are five important steps to protect your sight.

Get a dilated eye exam. Getting a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the best way to know if your eyes are healthy and you are seeing your best. The sooner aneye-related issues is detected, the sooner it canbe treated.

Live a healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy foods, maintaining a healthy weight, managing chronic conditions, and not smoking can lower your risk of eye disease. Youve heard carrots are good for your eyes, but eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens, is important for keeping your eyes healthy, too. Research has also shown there are eye health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.

Know your family history. Talk to your family members including parents, grandparents, aunts, and unclesabout their eye health history. Its important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with an eye disease, since many diseases are hereditary. This will help to determine if you are at higher risk for developing an eye disease yourself.

Use protective eyewear. Protect your eyes when doing chores around the house, playing sports, or on the job to prevent eye injuries from happening. This includes wearing safety glasses, goggles, safety shields, and eye guards that are made of polycarbonate. Eyewear should sit comfortably on the face, so talk to your eye care provider about the appropriate type of protective eyewear for your sport or job. Make a habit of wearing the appropriate type at all times, and encourage your teammates and coworkers to do the same.

Wear sunglasses. Wear sunglasses outside to protect your eyes from the suns ultraviolet rays. When purchasing sunglasses, look for ones that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB radiation, so you can keep your eyes healthy. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can increase your risk for getting an eye disease like cataracts or age-related macular degeneration. A wide-brimmed hat offers great protection, too! These steps can help you keep your eyes healthy and prevent vision loss and blindness from eye disease.

***

Courtney Mitchell is the marketing manager for Clemson Eye, P.A.

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Your annual reminder to get your vision checked - Greenville Journal

CBS Minnesota / WCCO

Teen Creates Fashionable, Durable Diabetes Tape WCCO | CBS ... CBS Minnesota / WCCO A University of St. Thomas freshman is not waiting for her college degree to pave her own career path. and more »

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Teen Creates Fashionable, Durable Diabetes Tape WCCO | CBS ... - CBS Minnesota / WCCO

CREDIT: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

A top White House official tried to defend the American Health Care Act (AHCA) the GOPs response to Obamacareearlier this week by implying that health care systems shouldnt help someone who sits at home, eats poorly and gets diabetes.

According to the Washington Examiner, Mick Mulvaney of the Office of Management and Budget delivered the line on Thursday while speaking to the LIGHT Forum at Stanford University. Mulvaney was asked whether he agreed with the Jimmy Kimmel testor the idea famously forwarded by the late-night show host that No parent should ever have to decide if they can afford to save their childs life. Kimmel made the quip while delivering an impassioned account of his newborn sons struggle to survive a congenital heart disease.

Mulvaney said he agreed with the idea in principle, but with one a very specific caveat: taxpayers shouldnt help people who fall ill because of, ostensibly, their own actions.

That doesnt mean we should take care of the person who sits at home, eats poorly and gets diabetes, Mulvaney said. Is that the same thing as Jimmy Kimmels kid? I dont think that it is.

Mulvaney was attempting to defend the AHCA, which was narrowly approved by House of Representatives this month without a single Democratic vote. In its current form, the bill would essentially allow insurance companies to price people with pre-existing conditions out of the health insurance marketplace. Meanwhile, so-called Trumpcare includes a $880 billion cut to Medicaid, which stands to result in roughly 24 million Americans losing their health insurance because of premium increases.

Mulvaneys statement was widely panned by progressives as compassionless, but diabetes advocates also noted that it is also inaccurate: The American Diabetes Association was quick to condemn Mulvaneys remarks, saying they are extremely disappointed and describing his statement as misinformed.

Mr. Mulvaneys comments perpetuate the stigma that one chooses to have diabetes based on his/her lifestyle, the statement read. We are also deeply troubled by his assertion that access to health care should be rationed or denied to anyone. All of the scientific evidence indicates that diabetes develops from a diverse set of risk factors, genetics being a primary cause. People with diabetes need access to affordable health care in order to effectively manage their disease and prevent dangerous and costly complications. Nobody should be denied coverage or charged more based on their health status.

Indeed, poor diet and lack of exercise does not appear to have been the cause of diabetes for professional athletes who suffer from the disease, such U.S. soccer star Jordan Morris.

Whats more, Huffington Post health care reporter Jonathan Cohn pointed out that health care systems that attempt to segregate patients by medical condition (or, presumably, how they acquired their condition) often hurt all people with illnesses, because the practice almost inevitably leads to shabby care for the sick, regardless of how they got that way.

Roughly two-thirds of the states operated [condition-segregated health care systems] before the Affordable Care Act took effect, and they inevitably offered coverage that was less affordable, less available or less comprehensive than standard policies, he said.

The idea that the needy somehow contributed to their own plightand that more privileged Americans shouldnt be required to care for themis an old conservative argument traditionally applied to economics. In 2013, Republican and then-congressman Stephen Fincher attempted to justify cutting food stamps by misquoting a Biblical verse, declaring Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX) repeated the exact same verse earlier this year to justify increasing the work requirements for unemployed adults on the food stamp program.

Now the same idea is reemergingoften with religious undertonesas a way to cut ostensibly underserving sick people out of health care systems. In March, Rep. Roger Marshall (R-KS) argued against Medicaid expansion by arguing that society will always have sick people.

Just like Jesus said, The poor will always be with us, Marshall told Stat News in March, citing scripture in a way that arguably belies its original intent. There is a group of people that just dont want health care and arent going to take care of themselves.

Just, like, homeless people. I think just morally, spiritually, socially, [some people] just dont want health care, he added. The Medicaid population, which is [on] a free credit card, as a group, do probably the least preventive medicine and taking care of themselves and eating healthy and exercising. And Im not judging, Im just saying socially thats where they are. So theres a group of people that even with unlimited access to health care are only going to use the emergency room when their arm is chopped off or when their pneumonia is so bad they get brought [into] the ER.

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Top Trump official says we shouldn't take care of someone who 'eats poorly and gets diabetes' - ThinkProgress

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG-TV9) - More than a thousand people walked a course around New Bo Market Saturday in an effort to end type 1 diabetes.

The Eastern Iowa chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation held its 19th annual One Walk in front of the New Bo Market Saturday morning. The weather helped boost the turnout for some food, music and festivities that accompanied the walk. Sponsors provided some free snacks and games for kids as teams met in a tailgate format ahead of the walk.

Teams competed to raise money to talk part in the walk. All the money raised goes to JDRF to fund research into treatment and finding a cure for type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes can hit children or adults at any age and, unlike type 2 diabetes, is not preventable. It causes the pancreas to stop producing insulin, a hormone that helps breakdown food into energy. People with type one must constantly monitor blood sugar levels and manage it with insulin injections and diet restrictions. More tha 1.25 million Americans are living with type 1 diabetes, 200,000 of them less than 20 years old. 40,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. every year.

Warning signs of T1D may occur suddenly and can include:

Extreme thirst Frequent urination Drowsiness or lethargy Increased appetite Sudden weight loss Sudden vision changes Sugar in the urine Fruity odor on the breath Heavy or labored breathing Stupor or unconsciousness

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Hundreds walk against diabetes - KCRG

After being diagnosed with diabetes, every meal became a complicated math lesson.

Barbara Goldsmith had to become vigilant about everything she put in her body. The Edinburgh resident meticulously counted carbohydrates, too many of which can spike her blood sugar level and wreak havoc on her body.

She calculated how much she has eaten, and immediately following a meal, factored in housework, gardening or some other activity so that her sugars dont rise to unsafe levels.

On top of the four different medications she takes, diabetes has shifted everything in Goldsmiths life. But changing her lifestyle has been her only option.

Lauren Witt unpacks the blood sugar monitor that she keeps with her at all times. The 29-year-old was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes five years ago, and utilized the Johnson Memorial Health Diabetes Care Center in Franklin to learn about testing her glucose levels, managing her diet and adapting her lifestyle to the disease. Ryan Trares

The blood sugar monitor and testing strips that Lauren Witt keeps with her at all times. Witt, 29, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes five years ago, and utilized the Johnson Memorial Health Diabetes Care Center in Franklin to learn about testing her glucose levels, managing her diet and adapting her lifestyle to the disease. Ryan Trares

Lauren Witt sets up the blood sugar monitor and testing strips that she keeps with her at all times. If her blood sugar, or glucose, reaches a certain level, she may need an emergency shot of insulin. The 29-year-old was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes five years ago. Ryan Trares

Lauren Witt sets up the blood sugar monitor and testing strips that she keeps with her at all times. If her blood sugar, or glucose, reaches a certain level, she may need an emergency shot of insulin. The 29-year-old was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes five years ago. Ryan Trares

Lauren Witt sets up the blood sugar monitor and testing strips that she keeps with her at all times. If her blood sugar, or glucose, reaches a certain level, she may need an emergency shot of insulin. The 29-year-old was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes five years ago. Ryan Trares

The different types of insulin that Lauren Witt keeps with her at all times in case of a diabetic emergency. The 29-year-old was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes five years ago, and utilized the Johnson Memorial Health Diabetes Care Center in Franklin to learn about testing her glucose levels, managing her diet and adapting her lifestyle to the disease. Ryan Trares

Lauren Witt, 29, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes five years ago, and utilized the Johnson Memorial Health Diabetes Care Center in Franklin to learn about testing her glucose levels, managing her diet and adapting her lifestyle to the disease. Ryan Trares

Watch what you eat and how much you eat. If you have medication, take it. Watch your sugar, and try to stay active. Those are the main things, she said. I dont know what would happen to me if I dont do that.

More and more Johnson County residents such as Goldsmith are living with diabetes or are on their way to developing it in the future. The disease has become worryingly more prevalent throughout Indiana, growing by more than 50 percent from 2000 to 2009.

Battling the growing epidemic has required a multi-faceted approach. Health officials have focused on educating patients about ways to avoid the disease, stressing diet and exercise, and teaching how the sugars we consume impact the body.

The hope is to stem the increase of new cases, while helping people already diagnosed live healthier and minimize the impact.

Diabetes is a global epidemic. Its out of control, said Dr. Gaston Dana of Johnson Memorial Internal Medicine Specialists. Once you develop it, you have it for life. By realizing that you can make changes in lifestyle that can significantly impact that, you can possibly stop that.

Diabetes is broad term for diseases characterized by high levels of glucose, or sugar, in the blood. The disease is caused by defects in insulin production, how insulin acts in the body, or a combination of both. Insulin is a hormone necessary for the regulation of blood glucose levels.

When insulin production and action in the body works improperly, complications such as heart disease, stroke, amputation and blindness can occur. At its worst, the disease can cause death.

The disease can come in varying forms. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system attacks beta cells in the pancreas, the only cells in the body that make insulin to regulate glucose.

Type 2 is the more common form, accounting for between 90 and 95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. The bodys cells start resisting insulin and not using it properly, which eventually causes the pancreas to lose the ability to make it.

Diabetes levels in Indiana, particularly Type 2, have risen sharply since 2000, climbing from 6 percent of the population to 12.9 percent. In Johnson County, 11 percent of people have the disease. Treating diabetes costs Indiana $6.6 billion in medical costs each year, according to the American Diabetes Association.

I would say its over 50 percent of our patient population that is dealing with diabetes, Dana said.

Many of those people are referred to the Diabetes Care Center at Johnson Memorial Health, where specialists help patients adapt to what is a consuming and jarring diagnosis.

No one wants to have this diagnosis. Probably 50 percent of the people who sit in front of me are angry and in denial, said Carla Duncan, a registered nurse at the Diabetes Care Center. Theyre not hearing a word that I say, so you have to find a way to connect to them.

The staff works to ensure their patients understands what their disease is and what theyll be going through. They explain the genetic factors of the disease, how things such as being overweight, skipping meals or smoking can turn the hereditary aspects of diabetes on. Medication and how it can impact the disease is also covered.

The key is to help people understand how the disease is managed now, Duncan said.

A lot of the people who come here have preconceived ideas and old beliefs about diabetes. My grandma did this, it worked for her 50 years ago, why are you telling me something different now,' she said. So just making people realize that what we knew 50 years ago is different than what we know now about diabetes.

Lauren Witt was 24 when she was diagnosed with diabetes. She noticed that she was losing a lot of weight, despite still eating the same amount she always had. Her vision would get blurry, and on one occurrence, she passed out.

A blood test confirmed that her glucose levels were incredibly high. Once doctors determined that she had Type 1 diabetes, she was referred to Duncan to help manage the disease. She helped Witt learn to take insulin, count carbohydrates and learn more about nutrition.

(Duncan) has been so helpful. I call her my diabetes mom. She always takes care of me, and I can count on her to help with whatever questions I have, she said.

In the five years since diagnosis, Witt has adapted every part of her life around the disease.

It affects everything I do. When I wake up, I need to make sure sugar is decent, that I didnt get too low during the night. When I exercise, I have to have something to eat with me because my blood sugar can drop quickly. And everything I eat I have to count, she said. A lot of people dont know a lot about food, so to learn actual nutrition helped me comprehend everything better.

Lifestyle is a huge focus for patients with diabetes, Duncan said. Many of the people they see dont exercise, eat poorly or smoke, contributing to and exasperating the situation. Misconceptions about the disease also have to be overcome.

People have to adjust the food they consume, when and how much they eat, factor in exercise and adapt to the medications.

Changing your lifestyle is probably the hardest thing in the world. We want everybody else in the world to change, but not us. When were told to change, it gets very uncomfortable, Duncan said. The key to being successful at this is helping the patient get to that point in their life, when they say theyre ready to change.

Goldsmith was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes around 2005 but refused to change much about her life. She had always eaten whatever she wanted and didnt do much exercising.

Though she was told to watch her concentrated sugars, she didnt pay attention. She kept gaining weight, reaching 171 pounds at the most.

I knew I was diabetic, but I just didnt do anything about it. I didnt watch myself. Thats what got me out of control, she said.

But during a checkup with her doctor, a blood test revealed that Goldsmiths glucose levels were almost twice the normal levels.

(My doctor) was very upset with me. She put me on medication, and sent me to Carla, she said. Without their help I wouldnt be where I am today.

Duncan schooled Goldsmith on portion control, how to count her carbohydrates so that too much wouldnt spike her glucose levels.

Living a more active lifestyle was also very important. Goldsmith hurt her back, which prevents her from walking long distances or running. But after she eats, she makes sure to do housework, finish the dishes, take care of laundry anything to keep moving.

The more I move around after I eat, the better my blood sugar numbers will be. If you eat a meal and sit down, let it absorb, it will screw up your numbers, she said.

Following Duncans advice, Goldsmith lost 40 pounds and dropped to 133. Her blood sugar levels have stabilized and she feels better than she has for years.

In addition to her diet and exercise, she takes one pill after breakfast, and three others after dinner to help her body regulate her blood sugar. Three times a day, she has to test her blood to monitor her sugar levels.

Medical professionals measure blood sugar to determine if a patient has diabetes. A normal blood glucose level is below 5.7 percent, while diabetes is diagnosed if that level is 6.5 percent of above.

Patients need to know how different factors affect their blood sugar, how to test it and what those numbers mean.

Even most people who have had diabetes for many years cant tell me what their blood sugar should be, Duncan said.

Duncan and her staff also work with people who come to the center with prediabetes their blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not yet reaching the level to be considered diabetes. The condition can often be reversed with lifestyle changes, such as improving your diet and getting more exercise.

They have to know how to do that, though, Duncan said.

Weight loss, exercise, diet. Most people with prediabetes need to lose a little bit of weight, probably arent as active as they need to be, she said. Our goal is more about lifestyle. By changing lifestyle, we can change that diagnosis back to normal to prevent the diagnosis of diabetes until later in life.

If you go

Diabetes education series

What: A series of workshops and informational meetings presented by the Johnson Memorial Health Diabetes Care Center teaching people about diabetes, blood sugar and other aspects of nutrition and the disease.

Where: Johnson County Public Library, Franklin Branch, 401 State St.

Next session: 1 to 3 p.m. June 22, focusing on sugars and carbohydrates, reading a food label and balancing your plate.

Additional workshop: 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 28

Cost: Free. No registration necessary.

Information: (317) 346-3846 or JohnsonMemorial.org/Diabetes

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Diabetes cases on the rise - Daily Journal - Daily Journal

This article originally appeared on The Conversation.

The World Health Organisation estimates that the number of people with diabetes is422m, globally. And between 1980 and 2014 the number of people with the condition almost doubled. Despite the high prevalence of the disease, it is often misunderstood. Here are some common misconceptions about diabetes.

New research suggests Type 2 diabetes may be caused by high levels of toxins released by staph bacteria. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

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1. Diabetes is Purely a Disorder of the Pancreas

Diabetes doesaffect the pancreas, but it shouldnt just be thought of as an illness that affects the body from the neck down. If we take this viewpoint we miss the psychological impact of living with this condition. And its a big one. As well as the issue of adjusting to the diagnosis of a long-term health condition, people with diabetes aremore likely to develop depression. There is even a specific form of depression associated with diabetes known asdiabetes distress. Its when a person is struggling to cope with managing their condition.

Having diabetes affects your mental abilities too. Research suggests that diabetes can affect your ability tothink clearly, focus and recall memories.

Diabetes also affects other brain processes, such as how we weigh up food choices. Researchers are also investigating how hormones, such as insulin,seem to regulate food choices. These particular brain effects, within a system called the midbrain dopamine system, offer one potential explanation for why some diabetics find it difficult to follow health advice, no matter how often they are given it.

2. Only Overweight or Obese People Get Diabetes

There is a strong association between type 2 diabetes and obesity, but that doesnt mean that everyone who is diabetic is overweight or obese. Nor does it mean that everyone who is overweight or obese will develop diabetes.

However, a Public Health Englandreportsaid that obese adults in England were five times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than adults of a normal weight. But there is still a lot of work to be done to fully understand thelink between diabetes and obesity. This includes understanding the biological mechanisms that might link the two.

Type 1 diabetes isnt associated with obesity. It is considered to be an autoimmune disorder which means that the bodys own immune system attacks the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. Its a very successful attack; a type 1 diabetic is no longer able to produce insulin. There is some evidence thattype 1 diabetes is genetic, yet not everyone in possession of the diabetes risk genes will develop diabetes. There is also some evidence thattype 1 diabetes might be caused by a virus.

3. You Need to Inject Insulin Regularly

Type 1 diabetics do require insulin therapy, but this can be delivered using insulin pumps. These devices reduce the need to inject insulin regularly. The insulin is still delivered via a needle, which is attached to a piece of tubing and then to the pump, and there are several advantages to this method. One is that it is more discrete and the diabeticavoids the social stigmaassociated withinjecting in public. The second is that it reduces the need tofind different injection sites.

There are a range of treatment options for type 2 diabetes, and for gestational diabetes (which develops during pregnancy). These types of diabetes may be treated by lifestyle changes or, in the early stages, might be successfully managed by pills, such as metformin. As diabetics age, or as a pregnancy progresses, there may be a need for insulin or a combination of pills. Those diabetics who are struggling to manage their condition might also be offered a drug such as bromocriptine, which targets areas of the brain that help toregulate the bodys metabolism.

4. Diabetes is Easy to Manage

There is some evidence that alow-calorie dietmay return fasting blood glucose levels to normal in type 2 diabetics, which has led to suggestions that this may be a cure. But theres no evidence that this is permanent and most doctors agree that diabetes (excluding gestational diabetes) is for life.

The serious long-term complications of diabetes arelimb amputation, loss of sight and cardiovascular disease. This is why routine screening is in place to monitor these aspects of diabetic health. In short, some diabetes complications can kill.

Diabetes is a hidden disease and for many people it certainly isnt easy to manage. Being given healthy living advice and education is not enough to help everyone, and many fail tomanage their condition(although some manage successfully until their illness progresses and everything changes). Blood sugar levels areaffected bynutrition, activity, sleep cycles illness, and stress and other hormone effects. So the signs and symptoms of diabetes are rarely stable.

For most people, diabetes is for life. It is a serious condition that can feel unpredictable and overwhelming, at times. Many people with diabetes report experiencing the stigma surrounding the condition. Some diabetics even have their own misunderstandings and preconceptions. It is therefore vital to raise awareness of the reality of living with diabetes to help improve the experience of it.

Claire Rostron is a Senior Lecturer at The Open University.

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