StemCell Therapy

Entrance to the Walt Disney Company in Burbank, Calif.(Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)Disney might be the first U.S. company to thank entities involved in perpetrating the Uyghur genocide, but its not the first to willfully ignore the situation.

When Attorney General Bill Barr spoke at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in July, he criticized the entertainment industry for its alleged cooptation by the Chinese Communist Party. Chinese government censors dont need to say a word, because Hollywood is doing their work for them, he said.

Just two months later, a new controversy has proven him right. Disneys live-action remake of Mulan had already attracted criticism in recent months for its stars endorsement of the Hong Kong governments crackdown on pro-democracy protests. But Disneys latest PR nightmare is worse by an order of magnitude. In fact, its not about censorship: The films credits include thanks for a handful of CCP entities in the Xinjiang region, the site of Beijings ongoing genocide of the Uyghur people there.

Social-media users were the first to point out that Disney thanks the CCPs publicity department in Xinjiang, as well as agencies in the city of Turpan. Among these entities was the Turpan Municipality Public Security Bureau, which was added to a U.S. government blacklist last October for activities that are contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. (Filming took place before its addition to the list, though.) And the CCPs Xinjiang publicity department is responsible for diffusing propaganda that convinces outsiders the genocide taking place there is anything but that.

The Mulan production team, according to a profile in Architectural Digest, visited the region prior to filming. The films director also visited in September 2017, as the Washington Posts Isaac Stone Fish notes. But just months before that trip, Chen Quanguo, Beijings top official in Xinjiang, had already began the mass-detention campaign that has since swept up well over a million people. Chens efforts amount to a systematic attempt to stamp out Turkic minorities and the Islamic faith in Xinjiang using brutal gulags, mass surveillance everywhere else, and a forced-sterilization program to drive down Uyghur birthrates (efforts that constitute genocide). Disneys partner the Turpan Security Bureau is complicit in these atrocities.

Disney has apparently turned a blind eye to all of this. Even granting the company the most generous benefit of the doubt, if the crew was unaware of what was happening in 2017, its unfathomable that such ignorance could have persisted through the beginning of the films production in 2018. Those working on the film might even have seen the camps: On Twitter, Shawn Zhang notes that if the crew took highway G312 to Shanshan desert where the filmed, they could see at least 7 re-education camps.

Disney might be the first U.S. company to thank entities involved in perpetrating the Uyghur genocide, but its not the first to willfully ignore the situation. Who can forget the revelation that McKinsey held a massive corporate retreat just four miles from one of the concentration camps? Or that the NBA operated a training center in Xinjiang that, unsurprisingly, drew its own human-rights complaints? But the most lurid examples ignore the most widespread normalization of the abuses by multinational companies: Uyghur forced labor plays a massive role in the global textile industry, allegedly implicating numerous well-known brands, such as Nike, Adidas, and Uniqlo.

In each of these cases, business leaders weighed the potential downsides of doing business with Xinjiang-based entities. Disneys decision to move forward with production shows how executives evaluated that potential tradeoff. That they are willing to accept some level of complicity in the Xinjiang genocide is not news. Just last fall, then-Disney CEO Bob Iger said that the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong is not something we should engage in a public manner because it might harm the company.

But this episode nonetheless offers a couple of lessons. The U.S. government has made significant progress toward curtailing companies involvement in tainted supply chains. In a supply-chain business advisory issued July 1, the Trump administration warned businesses of the coming crackdown, writing that entities with business with Xinjiang ties should be aware of reputational, economic, and, in certain instances, legal, risks associated with certain types of involvement.

The Trump administration also promulgated new sanctions against a Chinese paramilitary group that facilitates forced labor, and on Monday evening, the New York Times reported that the White House was considering new rules that would effectively ban the import of all cotton and tomato products from Xinjiang.

But the U.S. governments warnings about customs enforcement and export controls dont precisely implicate companies such as Disney. Its not as if the Trump administration would prevent the company from offering Mulan for streaming and download. For companies in certain industries, the odds of their products facing heavier regulation is particularly terrifying. But while the addition of several Turpan-based government entities to the Commerce Departments blacklist would prevent companies from cooperating with them in the future, Disney could still seek partners in Xinjiang untouched by the current sanctions. The risk to companies that act similarly is merely reputational right now.

The furor over Mulan is a reminder of the other industries that can be of use to the Chinese regime. No doubt the latest Disney film is a subtle propaganda coup, showing that American producers can shoot in Xinjiang as if no genocide were taking place. And its not just film. To this day, Twitter factchecks the U.S. president, but affixes no such label to official Chinese accounts that spread propaganda whitewashing the Uyghur genocide. Chinese officials on the platform are permitted to cast doubt on the research and reputations of those who have worked to reveal the CCPs Xinjiang crimes to the rest of the world. Beijings genocide-denial campaign has a global reach and that is, in no small part, thanks to American ingenuity.

Since Mulans release this past weekend, Disneys reputation has certainly taken a hit. Disney has revealed that its willing to debase itself in pursuit of the Chinese market. But is this revelation enough to change the calculus of American businesses willing to tune out whats happening in Xinjiang? Only if consumers make Disney pay.

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Disney Should Suffer for Willful Blindness to Chinese-Government Atrocities - National Review

While there is no cure for blindness and macular degeneration, scientists have accelerated the process to find a cure by visualizing the inner workings of the eye and its diseases at the cellular level.

In an effort led by UW Medicine, researchers successfully modified the standard process of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to detect minute changes in response to light in individual photoreceptors in the living eye.

The results were published Sept. 9 in Science Advances.

We have now accelerated the life cycle of vision restoration, said lead author Vimal Prabhu Pandiyan, a ophthalmology researcherat the University of Washington School of Medicine.

The study was fundedin partby the National Eye Institutes Audacious Goals Initiative, which embraces bold ideas in helping people to see better.

The OCT modifications outlined in the study will help researchers who want to test therapiessuch as stem cells or gene therapy to treat retinal disease. They now have the tools to zoom in on the retina to evaluate whether the therapy is working.

Corresponding author Ramkumar Sabesan, a UW assistant research professor of ophthalmology, said the only wayto objectively measure the eye currently is to look at a wide retinal area. Sabesan said researchers currently can attach electrodes on the cornea but it captures a large area with around 1 million cells. Now they are talking about nanometers, or one billionth of a meter a small fraction of the size of a cell, providing orders of magnitude improvement.

Since photoreceptors are the primary cells affected in retinal generation and the target cells of many treatments, noninvasive visualization of their physiology at high resolution is invaluable, the researchers wrote.

Cone photoreceptors are the building blocks of sight, capturinglight and funneling information to the other retinal neurons. They are a key ingredient in how we process images and patterns of light falling on the retina.

Optical coherence tomography has been around since the 1990s. In this study, researchers used OCT with adaptive optics, line-scanning and phase-resolved acquisition to deliver the concept of Thomas Youngs interference to the human eye. With the ability to zoom in on the retina at high speeds, they found that cone photoreceptors deform at the scale of nanometers when they first capture light and begin the process of seeing.

As Sabesan explained: You can imagine a picture that looks visually and structurally normal. But when we interrogate the inner working of the retina at a cellular scale, we may detect a dysfunction sooner than what other modalities can do. A doctor then can prescribe medication to intervene early or follow the time-course of its repair via gene therapy or stem cell therapy in the future.

We will now have a way to see if these therapies are acting in the way they should, Sabesan said.

The study also involved researchers at Stanford University, University of California,Berkeley, and University of California, Riverside.

The study was funded by NIH grants U01EY025501, EY027941, EY029710, EY025501, and P30EY001730; Research to Prevent Blindness Career Development Award; Foundation Fighting Blindness; Murdock Charitable Trust; Burroughs Welcome Fund Careers at the Scientific Interfaces; and Unrestricted grant from the Research to Prevent Blindness.

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Seeing the eye like never before | Newsroom - UW Medicine Newsroom

A few doctors performing an eye procedure.

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For the first time in the world, CRISPR, the powerful gene editing tool that can cut and paste DNA, has been used inside a human body. Scientists at the Casey Eye Institute at Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, have administered a CRISPR-based drug to treat a form of congenital blindness, according to two biotech companies that created the treatment.

This dose is truly a landmark event for science, medicine, and most of all for people suffering from eye disease, said Cynthia Collins, president and CEO of Editas Medicine, a Massachusetts-based gene editing company.

This state-of-the-art clinical trial aims to test an experimental treatment for the congenital condition known as Leber 10 congenital amaurosis. The disease is caused by a faulty gene that results in blindness from birth or during the first months of life. The evil affects one in every 40,000 children born. There is currently no approved treatment option.

The first patient in the clinical trial received a dose of the experimental drug called AGN-151587 through an injection into the eye. The idea is that the drug takes the CRISPR tool directly to the cells of the eye that are affected by the evil eye. CRISPR is able to find its way into those cells and correct the gene by editing the DNA to remove the mutation.

The editing done by CRISPR is permanent, which means that patients need a single dose of the drug.

The clinical trial is expected to involve 18 patients in total and will analyze the use of different doses of the drug, to refine how much is needed to reach the goal of reversal of blindness without causing side effects. There is little information about the first patient of this treatment; it is not known when the procedure took place.

CRISPR has also been at the center of the controversy regarding gene editing. In November 2018, Chinese scientist He Jiankui revealed that there was created the first human embryos edited with CRISPR and that resulted in the birth of twin girls. The scientific community was outraged by Hes work, which bypassed various ethical and regulatory approvals.

Scientists have been working to refine the ability of gene editing tools like CRISPR so that they can edit DNA accurately and effectively. In October of last year, a team of researchers from Harvard University presented a cutting-edge technology known as base editing the editing of bases.

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CRISPR is used for the first time within the human body - The Bulletin Time

Zomatos recent move to provide up to ten days of leave a year for its women and transgender employees while they are on their periods has created a stir. Even though the ten-day period leave does not even amount to one day a month, when periods generally occur for about four days every month, for all twelve months of the year, the move is still seen to be controversial in some quarters.

Barkha Dutts somewhat unexpected tweet on August 11, critical of Zomatos move was met with many strong disagreements and some equally strong agreements.

The views expressed in support of the move argued that some womens experiences with periods can be very painful, and the move accounts for variations in period pain experiences.

Further, some questioned the comparisons made between womens work behaviour (including leave from work behaviour) and their male counterparts. They asked why should womens work behaviour be judged according to that of male behaviour, especially when they are biologically different.

Also read: A Reminder: Periods Dont Stop During a Pandemic

Relatedly, some have implicitly or explicitly emphasised equity rather than equality. Another article has argued in support of the move, stating that women are socialised into negating and suppressing period pain, and Zomatos move is an opportunity for us to finally take womens bodies, and their (dis)comfort at the workplace, seriously.

While there is merit in all of these perspectives, I would like to add to the discussion the dimension of public infrastructure provisioning, particularly a dearth of public toilets.

Accessible and clean public toilets are few and far between in India, adding another aspect to the handling of periods. This is especially relevant to women in jobs where the workplace is on the road and doesnt quite exist as a singular specified space that comes with its amenities like that of a toilet.

While toilets have rapidly been constructed, under various government schemes such as the Swachh Bharat Mission, even in Delhi, a majority of them remain unusable or dirty, according to the governments own assessment.

The dearth of clean, accessible and safe public toilets affects all women on their periods in jobs on the road, independent of the pain levels. Womens period leave, arising from such a dearth, is then akin to forced leave, and a result of the failure of public infrastructure provisioning, the cost of which women have disproportionately been bearing.

Also read: #PeriodTalk: High Time We Challenge the Secrecy Around Menstruation

The importance of clean and usable toilets, especially during periods, is obvious, and is also documented. A 2018 NDTV report stated that nearly 23 million girls drop out of school annually in India owing to inadequate menstrual hygiene facilities, like toilets.

One criticism of Zomatos move is that by providing for leave for women, women workers are being made less attractive to hire as compared to their male counterparts, and as such the move actually disadvantages women by impeding their employment.

However, this argument completely discounts the supply-side, where period pain and difficulty in handling periods in the absence of clean and accessible toilets can be factors that discourage women from entering such jobs.

The low and dropping female labour force participation rates in India underscore the need to retain women in the workforce.

With growing urbanisation, logistics services, such as food delivery, offer an important potential area of employment for women. Taking measures which strengthen the retention of women in (logistics) jobs, such as Zomato has, is important, not for the women alone, but also for the economy, and through its positive spillover effects, for those around them (such as better nutritional outcomes of their children; lower drop-out rates from schools of brothers; and marriage at a later age of younger sisters).

Also read: The Sexual Autonomy of Indias Muslim Women Is a Political Prisoner at Best

At the end, Barkha Dutt is exceptional, in several (admirable) ways, but do we want to create such conditions that women need to be exceptional to be able to do a job? I for one cannot but welcome Zomatos move enough, if for nothing else, then to prompt a discussion on periods and the many issues intersecting with it period pain, access and awareness about menstrual hygiene, menstrual taboos, dearth of related public infrastructure seldom openly in the mainstream in India.

Gender blindness is never the same as gender equality and this move prompts us to draw the distinction.

Garima Sahai is at the University of Cambridge where she wrote her doctoral dissertation on gender and labour in India. She has previously worked on gender and labour in India at the World Bank, and during her MPhil at the University of Oxford.

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Period Leave: Gender Blindness Is Never the Same as Gender Equality - The Wire

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--According to Coherent Market Insights, the North America & Europe age-related macular degeneration therapeutics market is estimated to be valued at US$ 9,958.7 million in 2020 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period (2020-2027).

Key Trends and Analysis of the North America & Europe Age-related Macular Degeneration Therapeutics Market:

Key trends in the market are the increasing prevalence of age-related macular degeneration, the increasing number of approvals and launches of therapeutics for treatment of age-related macular degeneration, and strategic acquisitions, partnerships, and agreements by key players. These factors are expected to aid growth of the market.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology 2020, the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in the U.S. is roughly 8590% dry age-related macular degeneration and 1015% wet age-related macular degeneration.

Moreover, the increasing number of approvals and launches of age-related macular degeneration therapeutics is expected to drive the market growth during the forecast period. For instance, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) Prior-Approval Supplement (PAS) for the EYLEA (aflibercept) Injection prefilled syringe.

Furthermore, adoption of strategic acquisitions by key players is expected to propel the market growth during the forecast period. For instance, in February 2020, Gemini Therapeutics and Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) entered a research collaboration to expand, explore, and discover new targets for treatment of age-related macular degeneration.

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Key Market Takeaways:

The North America & Europe age-related macular degeneration therapeutics market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 10.2% during the forecast period owing to launches of age-related macular degeneration therapeutics by market players. For instance, in October 2019, Bausch + Lomb, a subsidiary of Bausch Health Companies Inc., launched PreserVision AREDS 2 Formula mini gel eye vitamins for people with moderate to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the U.S.

Among regions, North America is expected to hold dominant position in the market during the forecast period owing to high presence of key players such as Novartis AG, and the increasing prevalence of age-related macular degeneration. According to FIGHTING BLINDNESS CANADA, August 2018, every year, around 1.4 million Canadians over age 50 experience vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Competitive Landscape:

Key players operating in the North America & Europe age-related macular degeneration therapeutics market are Novartis AG, Bayer AG, Bausch Health Companies Inc., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Pfizer, Inc., and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.

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Market Segmentation:

Related Market Intelligence Report:

Verteporfin Market, by Indication (Macular Degeneration, Pathological Myopia, and Ocular Histoplasmosis), by Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies and Online Pharmacies), and by Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) - Size, Share, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2020 2027

Read more: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/verteporfin-market-4154

Eye Health Supplements Market, By Ingredient Type (Lutein and Zeaxanthin, Antioxidants, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Coenzyme Q10, Flavonoids, Astaxanthin, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Other Ingredients), By Indication Type (Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Cataract, Dry Eye Syndrome, Other Indications), By Form (Tablet, Capsule, Others), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa) - Size, Share, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2020 2027

Read more: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/eye-health-supplements-market-3791

About Us:

Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having sales office at global financial capital in the U.S. and sales consultants in United Kingdom and Japan. Our client base includes players from across various business verticals in over 57 countries worldwide.

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North America & Europe Age-related Macular Degeneration Therapeutics Market to Surpass US$ 15122.8 Million by 2027, Says Coherent Market Insights...

An inspirational blind six-year-old girl has been tackling the slopes this winter.

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Tallulah doesnt need to see to shine. Source: Seven Sharp

Tallulah Mackay was born without sight.

When she was born we thought nothing, she had no reaction, but as she's gotten older, she's getting better at focussing and honing in on the minimal vision she has, mum Jess Mackay says.

This hasnt stopped the tenacious Tallulah, who this year has decided to take up skiing.

She's always been pretty rambunctious and crazy and fearless, Jess says.

The family shared plenty of images of the spirited southern six-year-old trying her hand at all sorts of activities despite her sight issues.

Check out Tallulah hitting the slopes on the South Islands Southern Alps with her family in the Seven Sharp report above.

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Inspirational six-year-old skier undeterred by blindness, tackles Southern Alps - TVNZ

Social media was briefly taken over by data purportedly showing that only 6% of Covid deaths were from the virus alone, leading some to conclude that Covids true death toll was only a small fraction of the reported 169,000 death. These claims were false. But they provide new perspective on how Americas ill health paved the way for the death of thousands of our citizens.

The Center for Disease Controls September 2 release of Covid death data generated an internet firestorm: according to the CDC, For 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned. Ninety-four percent of Covid deaths had so-called comorbidities such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity. This led to internet claims that the true Covid death toll is just 10,000 Americans, undercutting our nationwide economic, social and educational lockdown.

In fact, doctors regularly report multiple causes of death, including factors such as respiratory failure that a Covid infection might itself have caused. Moreover, the number of excess deaths in 2020 that is, the additional deaths this year relative to what might be expected from prior years experience is similar to the 169,000 deaths for which Covid was listed as a factor.

However, the CDC data do make an important point: that Americans poor state of health, mostly related to our own lifestyles, made the U.S. dramatically more vulnerable to Covid.

To date, the United States has suffered 56 Covid-related deaths per one million Americans, a death rate more than twice that of Canada and five times that of Germany, leading to claims that the federal or state governments have mismanaged the Covid response. That may be true.

But U.S. policymakers also suffered under the handicap that Americans entered the Covid pandemic in much poorer health than citizens of other developed countries. For instance, over 27,000 U.S Covid deaths list diabetes as a comorbidity, accounting for 16% of total Covid-related fatalities. But what if instead of having the highest diabetes rate among rich countries the U.S. had the same rate as Australia, with less than half the U.S. level? The same holds for obesity, listed as a comorbidity in 4% of Covid cases. Forty percent of Americans are obese, the highest in the developed world and over twice the OECD average. U.S. death rates from heart disease are also higher than most European and Asian countries. Hypertension is listed as a comorbidity in 22% of Covid deaths. If Americans simply had the same health status as other high-income countries, it is likely that tens of thousands of lives could have been saved.

Most Covid-related comorbidities are lifestyle-related. General practitioners tell me that their Type 2 diabetes patients can tell you their weight and know how it relates to their illness. They know that by losing weight their can reduce their risk of blindness, limb amputations or death. They simply arent able to do it.

Obviously, many other issues affect Covid death rates, from preexisting factors such as population density and mobility to policy responses including testing and quarantining. But had our country been in better health when Covid hit, our death toll almost surely would have been smaller. Americans should know that, under threat from Covid, poor personal health could leave their children orphans.

Some argue for sugar taxes, but the problem goes beyond sugar alone. Americans consume about 25 percent more calories per day than Dutch citizens, for instance, while exercising less. These are difficult issues to address using the typical policy levers.

Instead, public officials could exercise the bully pulpit, just as they did with cigarette smoking. Public statements, advertising and educational campaigns slowly helped shift our culture away from smoking, such that less than 15% of Americans smoke today, versus 42% in the 1960s.

We cant do much today to reduce the comorbidities that made us so susceptible to Covid-19. But by strongly encouraging healthier lifestyles we can better prepare for the next pandemic, while improving Americans quality of life and cutting our sky-high healthcare costs.

Read more here:
Americans' poor health paved the way for Covid deaths - American Enterprise Institute

On Dec. 26, 2004, French author Emmanuel Carrre, his girlfriend and their respective sons were vacationing at a cliff-top hotel in Sri Lanka. Their relationship was dying, and, feeling out of sorts, they decided not to go down to the beachfront scuba diving lesson theyd signed up for. It was a consequential decision, for that was the morning the tsunami hit.

A family they knew was staying on the beach. That morning the grandfather, Philippe, was reading the paper while his 4-year-old granddaughter, Juliette, happily played in the wavelets nearby. Suddenly Philippe felt himself swept up by an enormous wall of black water, pretty sure he would die, certain his granddaughter already had.

In his memoir, Carrre bears witness to the days of suffering and endurance that followed the wave. When Philippe tells his daughter and son-in-law about the death of their child, Juliettes mother, Delphine, screams. Her husband thought, "I can no longer do anything for my daughter, so I will save my wife."

Carrre had lamented that he had always been unable to love, but in those horrific days he and his girlfriend stayed with the family, searched among the corpses, enveloped the family with compassion and practical care.

He is with Delphine when they come across a woman, Ruth, who was on her honeymoon and has lost track of her husband, Tom. For two days she sat outside the hospital, not eating or sleeping, convinced that if she nodded off Tom would never emerge alive from wherever he was.

"Her determination is frightening," Carrre writes. "You can sense that shes quite close to passing to the other side, into catatonia, living death, and Delphine and I understand that our role is to prevent this."

Carrres memoir describes how a self-absorbed man is altered in crisis and develops a deep and perceptive capacity to see the struggles of others. The book is called "Lives Other Than My Own."

I thought of that book this week because the sensitive perceptiveness Carrre displays is the opposite of the blindness Donald Trump displayed in quotes reported by Jeffrey Goldberg in The Atlantic and Bob Woodward in his latest book about the administration, "Rage."

Goldberg says Trump told people that he sees the war dead as "suckers" and "losers." Trump cant seem to fathom the emotional experience of their lives their love for those they fought for, the fears they faced down, the resolve to risk their lives nonetheless.

If he cant see that, he cant understand the men and women in uniform serving around him. He cant understand the inner devotion that drives people to public service, which is supposed to be the core of his job.

The same sort of blindness is on display in the Woodward quotes. It was stupid of Trump to think he could downplay COVID-19 when he already knew it had the power of a pandemic. It was stupid to think the American people would panic if told the truth. It was stupid to talk to Woodward in the first place.

This is not an intellectual stupidity. I imagine Trumps IQ is fine. It is a moral and emotional stupidity. He blunders so often and so badly because he has a narcissists inability to get inside the hearts and minds of other people. Its a stupidity that in almost pure clinical form, flows out of his inability to feel, a stupidity of the heart.

In most times and cultures, people realized that understanding a person or situation is as much an emotional process as an analytical one. In the Bible the word "to know" covers a range of activities, from having a conversation with, to having sex with, to entering into a commitment with and much else all the different ways we come to understand each other.

St. Augustines theory of knowledge begins with emotion. Love is a focus of attention. Love is a motivation to learn more about a person. Love is a reverence for the image of God in each person.

Through his own failures, Trump illustrates by counterexample that the heart is the key to understanding. To accurately size up a human situation you have to project a certain quality of attention that is personal, gentle, respectful, intimate and affectionate more moving with and feeling into than simply observing with detachment.

Maybe I spend too much time on Twitter and in media, but I see less and less of this sort of attention in America, even amid the tragedies of 2020. Far from softening toward one another, the whole country feels even more rived, more hardened and increasingly blind to lives other than our own.

Brooks writes for The New York Times.

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Brooks: When a heart is empty, blind to the struggles of others - Austin American-Statesman

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that can make you susceptible to illnesses and diseases and is caused when a persons blood sugar levels become too high. Diabetes and pre-diabetes are conditions said to affect up to fifty percent of the population of the United States. Diabetes can hinder the quality of a persons life massively. It is critical that in order to live a long, healthy life, you do not consume sugary foods all of the time, otherwise, you may end up with diabetes, which during this current global pandemic, is contributing to high mortality rates. Diabetes must not be allowed to take over your life.

Diabetes is a condition with two main types. There is type one diabetes, which is when the bodys immune system begins to attack and destroy the cells that produce insulin type one diabetes is the most dangerous and the one that can cause the most amount of problems. Type two diabetes is when your body does not produce enough insulin and the bodys cells do not react to insulin. Type two diabetes is the most commonly found type of diabetes throughout the world, with over ninety percent of cases in the United Kingdom being attributed to type two diabetes.

Before moving onto the long-term effects that diabetes can have on your body, it is first important to mention the use of oral medication in the treatment of diabetes. Oral medication can be very successful in treating cases of diabetes and is the most commonly used method of treatment. When oral medication is used in combination with exercise and a healthy lifestyle, it can be very effective. One such medication, Dulaglutide, which is sold under the Trulicity brand name, is commonly used around the world to treat type 2 diabetes and helps to keep your blood sugar in check. However, the reason that online medication specifically has been mentioned, is that in some cases it may be counterproductive and illegal. You should only order online medication for your diabetes if your doctor has recommended it to you. You must not treat yourself, as self-treatment without medical intervention can have serious consequences on your health. You will likely not be a doctor, and no matter how many blog posts or forums you have read you do not know enough to treat yourself. Self-treatment can be a detriment to your recovery and can actually hinder it.

As diabetes increases your blood sugar and makes it higher than it should be, it can cause, after many years, serious problems in your body. Diabetes can harm your eyes, your kidneys, your nerves, your heart, your skin, your blood vessels, and many other parts of your body. The long-term effects of untreated diabetes can be very damaging and cause significant side-effects that can massively hinder your quality of life and in some cases leave you paralyzed. Below you will find the long-term effects of diabetes if left untreated. Always treat your diabetes never allow it to come to what is below:

Diabetes can cause significant eye problems and can directly contribute to blindness. The first sign that diabetes is causing you problems with your eyes is that you have trouble seeing during night time and your eyes become sensitive to light if you have never experienced these before, you may be suffering from diabetes. It can also lead to blindness and is very common among untreated diabetes patients.

Those who suffer from diabetes may go on to develop nasty sores, infections, and illnesses if the sores and infections go on for too long and are not treated, you may have to have the parts affected amputated. Infection also causes pus oozing, pain, and itching, as well as inflammation.

Having diabetes means you may not be able to control your blood pressure and your cholesterol levels. This can mean you may be more susceptible to a heart attack, angina, stroke, and other heart-related conditions it can also make the blood flow from your heart to your legs and feet much more difficult, which in some cases, can result in further amputation.

The nerves within your body can become very damaged as a consequence of untreated diabetes and you can begin to feel sensations such as tingling and loss of feeling. Nerve damage in male diabetes patients can also make it harder to grow and maintain an erection. If the nerve damage goes on and becomes too severe, you may become paralyzed in the parts of your body experiencing the nerve damage.

Food digestion can be hindered when you suffer from diabetes, and you may have trouble and weakness in your bowel movements. Diabetes can be very harmful to your digestive system and can wreak absolute havoc on it. Diabetes can be a big problem when it comes to digestion.

Kidney damage is another problem commonly associated with high levels of blood sugar. Your kidneys may not work as well as they once might have and could even stop working altogether. This could result in dialysis or a kidney transplant, both of which can hinder your quality of life massively and leave you in severe pain for the rest of it.

Mental health problems have been linked to diabetes patients through studies and research. Depression and anxiety have been said to be heavily linked to diabetes and it is even said that the two conditions go hand in hand. Patients who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience depression and anxiety than those who do not. Mental health problems, in combination with the previously mentioned conditions, can absolutely ruin your life and leave you a shadow of your former self. Rather than allowing diabetes to get this bad and completely ruin your life, seek treatment. Treatment for diabetes can consist of some simple lifestyle changes and some medication. Seek treatment and your symptoms will be reduced and you may be able to fight off diabetes.

Now, with the help of this page, you know everything that there is to know about the long-term effects of diabetes. Treatment is essential and you mustnt suffer silently with the condition as if you do you can do yourself more harm than you could possibly imagine.

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Long-Term Effects Of Diabetes To Your Body - Emagazine.com - E/The Environmental Magazine

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Onchocerciasis (River Blindness) Treatment Market Key Trends and Growth Opportunities - Daily Research Chronicle

SHERRIE Hewson wants to "live every day to the max" including celebrating her 70th birthday with a second facelift.

The Coronation Street actress learnt the important lesson after she lost her brother, Brett Hutchinson, 71, died from a brain tumour earlier this year.

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Brett died in April leaving Sherrie "completely broken", especially because she couldn't visit him due to the coronavirus lockdown.

She admitted she still does not feel "very strong" after losing her brother.

"Whenever I hear any Motown music, which he loved, I just cry. The pain is so terrible, my heart is broken," she told the Mirror.

"Now I look at my life and think, Hang on a minute, what have I got, how long have I got?

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I mean, look at my brother. Two years ago he was the healthiest thing on this planet.

So none of us know whats going to happen."

Sherrie explained that unknown in life is what inspires her to "be healthy and well for my grandchildren".

I wish I had planned more when I was younger. Instead I just went steaming ahead, thinking I was going to live forever," the actress explained.

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Brett was only a couple of years older than me, so as I go into my seventies his death has made me want to live every day to the max."

One thing she decided to do was to get some cosmetic surgery for a "boost".

Sherrie opted for a love handle facelift (LHF) which involves fat from around the hips and stomach and stomach area.

Doctors then combine that fat blood, to encourage stem cells to be released from the fat.

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The LHF was a quick treatment and its given me such a boost. I feel like its rejuvenated my skin and restored all the volume its natural looking with no cutting, and it was all done in under an hour," Sherrie explained.

I absolutely love the results.

She added: I had a facelift when I was 50 and Ive had bits and bobs done throughout the years a bit of botox and filler. But I havent had anything done for a long time now.

But as I approached 70. I just thought, What will I do for myself at this age? I thought I would give myself a last kind of boost so I can look in the mirror and think, Youre not bad for your age."

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Sherrie admitted the facelift from the Harley Street Skin Clinic would help her "give myself a lift after all the stuff I have been through, particularly in the last 18 months".

I need to give my self-confidence and self-worth a big kick up the a**e so can I feel good about myself and hold my head up high, she said.

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Sherrie has opened up previously about how she believed her brother had coronavirus when he died.

She's convinced that coronavirus played a part in his sudden downturn after he was diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma the most common and aggressive brain tumour in adults.

"Ill always believe that Covid had something to do with his, they call it pneumonia but I dont believe that," she said.

"Controversially I believe that thats what it was called but no one, you cant prove things, the sadness and the pain was too big to carry on and create a fuss."

Original post:
Sherrie Hewson celebrates 70th birthday with second face lift to transform her looks - The Sun

Katie Kam hasnt eaten brisket since 1996. Or was it 1997? She was working a high school job at the now-shuttered BBs Smokehouse, in Northwest Austin, prior to that, but Kam has been a vegan for so long that the exact date of her last smoked meat meal is hard to pinpoint. Shes hoping to get her next bite about three years from now. Thats when Kam expects BioBQ, the company she started with cofounder Janet Zoldan in late 2018, will harvest its first lab-grown brisket. Kam and Zoldan want the worlds first lab-grown barbecue to be produced or, as they describe it, cultivated, in Austin.

Kam is an Austin native who holds degrees in chemistry and biology as well as a doctoral degree in civil engineering. A few years ago, she was seeking a new design challenge, and several articles about meat grown from animal cells piqued her interest. She reached out to the biomedical engineering department at the University of Texas seeking yet another degree, this one based on the study of cell-based meat production. Zoldan, an associate professor in cellular and biomolecular engineering, brought her in for a meeting and persuaded her to pursue a business rather than another PhD. Zoldan was already working with cardiovascular tissue engineering using human stem cells. She had designed a thermo-sensitive scaffolding system, a sort of framework, for the cells to grow upon, and thought it would translate well into growing bovine cells. The end application is a little bit different, but the route to it is very similar, Zoldan tells me.

The framework was only the beginning. Theyll need to design each component of a brisket separately, like the lean muscle, the fat, and the collagen. Kam has been reading meat science studies about the brisket structure theyre trying to replicate. The components will need to be grown alongside one another and intertwine to mimic the structure of a brisket. Thats a challenge, Kam says, that most lab-grown meat projects wont encounter because they focus on ground meat like burgers and chicken nuggetsfood that has no texture and orientation, unlike brisket, adds Zoldan.

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Then theres the flavor. From a functional perspective, the fat they design for the brisket will need to provide moisture and a pleasing texture, but it also has to contain the proper beefy flavor. Theyll seek help from food scientists to create the flavor, but as a vegan, Kam wont be able test it against a standard brisket from a steer. When I ask her about this, Zoldan chimes in. Its okay. Im here. Im a carnivore.

And that demonstrates the odd duality of a product like BioBQ. It is not to be confused with the Impossible Burger or other plant-based meats. This will be meat-based meat, which is grown from bovine cells harvested via biopsy. The fact that theyll produce real meat is the whole point. Kams mission isnt to persuade omnivores to adapt to her vegan diet, but rather to provide them a beef option that doesnt require animal slaughter. No animal had to die for this, she explains, which is why she feels that eating BioBQ wont compromise her vegan principles.

One other problem with the ethics of lab-grown meat is that current technology relies on fetal bovine serum (FBS), which is harvested from cow fetuses in the slaughterhouse. A vegan product it most certainly is not, but it has no peer when it comes to cell growth promotion in a lab environment. Kam said there is research being done on FBS replacements, which they plan to use. We are committed to testing and using alternatives to FBS, Kam says, even if those alternatives are not as efficient as FBS by the time theyre ready to begin cultivation. She adds, In addition to the animal welfare issues associated with FBS, FBS is not a sustainable resource and is not affordable.

Putting aside Kams ethical issues with meat consumption, she argues that the real downside of traditionally raised beef is that its an inefficient way to get protein. Vast amounts of acreage are set aside for growing plants to feed the cattle, and the animals require lots of water during their lifetimes. Combining the gestation period and the average lifespan of a market steer, it takes at least 27 months to make two briskets. Zoldan estimates that theyll be able to cultivate a complete brisket from just a few cells in three weeks once the process gets rolling.

Theres still much work ahead for the pair before BioBQ becomes a reality, which they hope is by 2023. What they lack now is the capital to move forward. We need funding, Kam says. We know exactly what we need to do in the lab. Hitching their marketing strategy to brisket and barbecue wasnt a bad idea. After all, it got me writing about lab-grown meat for the first time. But there is something about the idea of lab-grown brisket that keeps bothering me, and it has nothing to do with science fiction. If you could design any cut of beef from scratch, why choose one thats so difficult to make delicious? Why not a whole steers worth of ribeyes?

Im from Austin, and I know that briskets kind of a big deal here, Kam jokes. Brisket also raises the bar. It seemed like a great, challenging meat to demonstrate this technology working, she continues, and if they could successfully design a brisket, it would demonstrate their ability to design pretty much any other cut of beef from scratch. A futuristic vision is customizing each specific meat, Zoldan says. In addition to brisket, they also plan to offer BioBQ jerky as one of their initial products. Both women are clear that they dont envision BioBQ completely replacing traditionally grown beef. I dont think cell-based meats will take over the market, but I think theres a place for it on the market, Zoldan emphasizes.

As they drum up funding, Kam and Zoldan are also working to define the language around BioBQ. Focus groups have shown a disdain for the phrase lab-grown meat. The Impossible Burger has a brand name thats better than just plant-based burger. Maybe the name BioBQ will catch on just as organically. The thing I like about BioBQ is that it sort of forces a Southern accent when you say it, Kam says. Shes also working with a graphic designer on labeling and packaging solutions.

Kam and Zoldan are still years away from that first taste of BioBQ, and scaling up from there for public consumption will take even longer, but I wonder if theyd imagined that first bite. Would it come with any trepidation? Like that first person to eat a raw oyster, would the first bite of BioBQ require a certain level of bravery? Kams answer was immediate. She sees no reason why she would hesitate. In this age of consumers curiosity about where their meat comes from, Kam says that question about BioBQ will be easy to answer. Well know exactly how its made.

Excerpt from:
Two Austin Women Hope to Build the First Lab-Grown Brisket - Texas Monthly

Space blindnessthe loss of vision experienced in zero gravity (or microgravity) environmentsisnt just a dramatic plot point for Netflixs Mars odyssey, Away; space blindness (or rather impairment) is an actual documented phenomenon experienced by astronauts.

In fact, almost two-thirds of astronauts report problems with eyesight after months at the International Space Station. One astronaut reported that his impairment worsened so much that he couldn't read the words on a landing checklist.

Between 2015-2016, American astronaut Scott Kelly spent a year at the International Space Station. (His experience acts as the basis for Netflixs Away.) During that year, parts of Kellys retinas actually thickened. He also experienced swelling to the blood supply to the back of his eye. (Kellys strong vision was one of the reasons he was first selected as an astronaut.)

Former NASA Human Research Program Chief Scientist Mark Shelhamer noted in an interview with Air and Space that, for some, impairment has even lingered after returning from space and usually requires an astronaut being there for roughly six months. Stays in space longer than six months (and, for a hypothetical trip to Mars, longer than a year) present a lot of unknowns when it comes to vision impairment. Some research even now suggests that to prevent vision problems, astronauts may require artificial gravity.

NASAGetty Images

So Mishas being ordered to stay in his crew cabins to help restore his eyesight may not be an unlikely command on an extended space flight.

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Reasons for vision impairment arent known for certain, though researchers have several theories. One theory suggests that because zero gravity causes fluids in the body to rise (think of astronauts bloated-looking faces in space), all the extra fluid in the skull might create pressure on the back of the eye.

Testing the theory, researchers found oxidative stress caused by microgravity (or weak gravity) might be doing damage to blood vessels in the eye. If they can find a way to counter oxidative stress, perhaps they can protect astronauts vision.

In the universe of Netflixs Away, it doesnt seem like the problem was ever solved. The countermeasure instead was simply artificial gravity. But as it might take months for vision to return, locking a visually-impaired astronaut in his room doesnt seem like the best strategy for a 3-year-long mission to Mars.

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Netflix 'Away' Space Blindness - Is It Real? - menshealth.com

Alice Lukacs tells of her trips to the eye doctor.Getty Images

At first glance, a trip to McDonalds comes to mind. But no, its all about my eye journal which I started writing eight years ago in 2012, detailing the progression of my AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration).

It all started, of all places, in the Opera House in Budapest, Hungary. I was enjoying a performance of the opera Carmen, sung in the original French with surtitles in Hungarian (my native language) projected onto the top of the stage. To my surprise, those letters started performing a strange dance, jumping up and down. I could not read a thing.

Back home in Montreal I rushed to make an appointment with my ophthalmologist Dr. Barry Kattleman. After thorough testing, he said the two dreaded words: macular degeneration and promptly referred me to Dr. Julius Gomolin, a retina specialist working at the Jewish General Hospital.

Now this diagnosis brought many unpleasant memories to mind. Years ago, my mother had macular degeneration. In those days, no help was available. Mother, though legally blind, never completely lost her eyesight. But her vision slowly deteriorated, her handwriting became illegible, her chair moving ever closer to the TV set to watch her favourite program All My Children. But I am lucky. In the last decade or so, new medicines injected into the eye have made a big difference in the treatment of macular degeneration.

So here I was at the Jewish General Hospital in the presence of Dr. Gomolin. A tall, good-looking man who somehow immediately wins your confidence, he explained the results of tests taken, admonishing me not to interrupt him, as I had already done, but to let me finish.

And finish he did, explaining that yes, I had macular degeneration of the wet kind, that he proposes giving me injections monthly in both eyes with the aim of stemming the progress of the disease. There was no guarantee, there could be side effects. I agreed to start as soon as possible.

My research showed me that, indeed, there were two kinds of macular degeneration, dry and wet. Earlier stages are considered the dry form. In the more advanced wet form, abnormal blood vessels can bleed and leak fluids in the retina, affecting central vision. I started with the wet form right away.

So eight years ago I started injection treatments, first in both eyes, later only in one, as the other eye no longer needed them.

Once a month, I would sign in at the Ophthalmology Department. Next, technician Jamie would examine my eyesight, then administer drops that would dilate and disinfect. Soon after, I would be called for scans of the eyes. Then, the worst part began. All of us patients were sitting in a row in the waiting area, like birds on a twig, our eyes blurring from the drops. There was little talk. Most of us were seniors, some with walkers, others with someone accompanying them, all of us anxiously waiting for our name to be called.

Finally, my turn came. Dr. Gomolin checked the scans, briefed me on the situation. More drops in the eyes to numb and clean, an eyelid holder inserted so I wont blink, the prick of the injection needle in the eyeball and the ordeal was over. Having made the next appointment, I would go down to the main floor and out the door, eyes blurred, staggering to a taxi to take me home.

When people ask me, horrified, what it is like to have an eye injection, I tell them there is nothing to it. Of course, your vision is blurred for hours afterwards. And, for this experience to be bearable, you have to have someone like Dr. Gomolin performing the procedure.

On a recent visit, Dr. Gomolins news surprised me. I think I will stop the injections he announced.

So my Big Macular Adventure has a happy ending. I think Ill go to McDonalds to celebrate.

Alice Lukacs writes the Life in the 90s column

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Senior Living: Time to celebrate after years of eye injections - County Weekly News

Sept. 15, 2020 05:30 UTC

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

GenSight Biologics (Paris:SIGHT) (Euronext: SIGHT, ISIN: FR0013183985, PEA-PME eligible), a biopharma company focused on discovering and developing innovative gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system disorders, today announced that it has submitted the Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for its lead product LUMEVOQ to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), seeking approval for the treatment of patients with vision loss due to Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) caused by mutation in the ND4 mitochondrial gene.

This first regulatory submission for GenSight is a major milestone in our progression from a pure research organization to one with commercial capabilities. It validates a technology platform that has the potential to address the high unmet medical needs of patients suffering from a range of rare diseases. I would like to thank all GenSight employees and partners whose motivation, focus and effort made this submission possible, said Bernard Gilly, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of GenSight Biologics.

LHON is a rare, mitochondrial genetic disease, mainly affecting young males. The ND4 mutation results in the worst visual outcomes, with most patients becoming legally blind. There continues to be a high unmet medical need for the 800-1200 new LHON patients in Europe and the U.S. each year, particularly those who are struck blind in their prime working years.

Lenadogene nolparvovec (tradename: LUMEVOQ) is a recombinant adeno-associated viral vector, serotype 2 (rAAV2/2), containing a cDNA encoding the human wild-type mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase 4 protein (ND4), which has been specifically developed for the treatment of LHON associated with mutation in the ND4 gene. It received orphan drug designation status for the treatment of LHON from the EMA in 2011 and from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2013.

GenSight submitted the MAA based on the benefit-risk balance established by results from a Phase-I/IIa study (CLIN-01), two pivotal Phase-III efficacy studies (CLIN-03A: RESCUE, and CLIN-03B: REVERSE) and the long-term follow up study of RESCUE and REVERSE (CLIN 06 - readout at Year 3 post injection). To demonstrate the efficacy of LUMEVOQ in the context of a contralateral effect, the Company used a statistics-based indirect comparison methodology to assess the visual outcomes in LUMEVOQ-treated patients (from LUMEVOQ efficacy studies) against those in untreated patients from Natural History studies and GenSights REALITY Natural History Registry.

GenSight expects to submit the Biologics License Application (BLA) for LUMEVOQ to the FDA in H2 2021. First-in-human data from GenSights second clinical stage program, GS030, are expected to be available in H2 2021.

About GenSight Biologics GenSight Biologics S.A. is a clinical-stage biopharma company focused on discovering and developing innovative gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system disorders. GenSight Biologics pipeline leverages two core technology platforms, the Mitochondrial Targeting Sequence (MTS) and optogenetics to help preserve or restore vision in patients suffering from blinding retinal diseases. GenSight Biologics lead product candidate, LUMEVOQ (GS010; lenadogene nolparvovec), is in Phase III trials in Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a rare mitochondrial disease that leads to irreversible blindness in teens and young adults. Using its gene therapy-based approach, GenSight Biologics product candidates are designed to be administered in a single treatment to the eye by intravitreal injection to offer patients a sustainable functional visual recovery.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200914005857/en/

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GenSight Biologics Submits EU Marketing Authorisation Application for LUMEVOQ Gene Therapy to Treat Vision Loss Due to Leber Hereditary Optic...

A research team at Severance Hospital said Thursday that the hospital has begun to treat ocular cancer patients by introducing the Ru-106 eye plaque brachytherapy, which can preserve patients eyesight.

Ru-106 eye plaque brachytherapy removes tumors with irradiation by attaching a plate with ruthenium isotope that emits radiation to the patients' eyeball. The metal plate is removed within seven days after surgery, the hospital said.

The existing surgical methods had to remove the eyeball and replace it with a prosthetic eye. However, the Ru-106 eye plaque brachytherapy preserves the eye and keeps a certain level of vision. According to the research team led by Professors Kim Min and Cho Yeon-a, patients can return to their daily lives relatively quickly as the treatment only takes about a week.

Brachytherapy, a type of internal radiation therapy, is most effective in treating uveal melanoma. Uvea is a layer sandwiched between sclera and retina. It got the name uvea from its black grape-like appearance. Uveal melanoma, a malignant tumor in the uvea, had to be treated by removing the eyeball or external beam radiation.

"Patients with retinoblastoma, which is commonly developed in children, can also be treated with the Ru-106 to preserve eyesight with limited effect," said Professor Kim Min of the Department of Ophthalmology at Severance Hospital. Professor Kim completed his training for one year at Wills Eye Hospital, one of the world's leading eye cancer institutions, and treated about 10,000 patients with eye tumors.

Professor Cho of the Department of Radiology Oncology recently published a paper on the effectiveness of brachytherapy for eye tumors and the possibility of conserving the eye.

Read more here:
Severance uses radiotherapy to treat ocular cancer while saving eyesight - Korea Biomedical Review

Jon Becker, For the Daily News

Midland Eye Associates eying expansion plan

Midland Eye Associates has been serving the Mid Michigan community for more than 80 years and clearly has a vision for growing a practice that is recognized as a leader in its field. Already equipped with the latest and greatest in technology and led by two highly regarded optometrists, Dr. Carl Erickson and Midland native Dr. Paul Kimball, the practice is in a period of transition as it embarks on an ambitious expansion plan that will allow it to offer more services to more people.

A two-time Gold award winner in the Midland Daily News 2020 Readers Choice awards, Midland Eye Associates specializes in providing comprehensive primary vision care for all members of your family.

Our employees care about people, said Erickson. We have 10 people currently on staff that we feel strongly are second to none.

And its not just the technical knowledge of everything eyes that sets the practice apart. After a recent appointment, a senior citizen discovered it was pouring rain as she was about to exit the building. One of the staff members walked the woman out with an umbrella and held the doors open for her, a gesture that was very much appreciated.

We believe in customer service and being up-front and transparent with people, said Erickson, an honors graduate of the Michigan College of Optometry where he earned his doctorate of Optometry.

Midland Eye Associates is located at 217 N. Saginaw Road, an area that Erickson noted is ripe for investment. The practices plan to increase its physical footprint from 2,000 square feet to 5,500 square feet has been delayed but not derailed by COVID-19.

We should start demo in about two to three weeks, said Erickson. We now have three exam lanes. Once the project is completed, well have 9 exam lanes and will be able to increase services.

Erickson said the building expansion is an investment in the community that the City of Midland supports.

I think the city sees this corridor as the next area it would like to further develop, he said. It meets their criteria for an improved business corridor. Dr. Kimball was born and raised in Midland, so hes certainly happy to see whats in the works here.

Complete examinations at Midland Eye Associates include digital photo documentation of your eyes, testing for glaucoma, cataracts and other medical eye health issues. The eye doctors point out that conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes can affect eyesight.

We monitor and watch for changes in your eye health, and give you the best vision care possible, said Erickson. Routine eye exams are our bread and butter, but we offer a number of other services. Were a medically-oriented practice.

Glaucoma management care, macular degeneration care, cataracts (pre-op and post-op) diabetic management care and treating red-eyes and foreign bodies are among his specialties.

A new emerging trend is myopia contacts that are used for near-sightedness, he said. They reduce the risk for retina detachments and glaucoma. This is a service we have that is mainly kid-based.

Staying on the cutting edge of technology and a commitment to continuing education are hallmarks of a practice set in a welcoming and family-friendly atmosphere.

Our dedicated team is definitely what sets us apart, said Erickson. Customers tell Dr. Kimball and me all the time how much they appreciate our friendly and courteous service.

These customers certainly weighed in when it was time to rate local optometrists in the categories of best eyewear and best eye doctor.

Right now, with the pandemic still with us, these honors are kind of humbling, said Erickson. People are on edge and yet still took the time to recognize us. These are whole team awards.

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Midland Eye Associates eying expansion plan - Midland Daily News

A POLICE officer lost his eyesight overnight after leukaemia turned his blood to porridge.

George Attwood had been working a night shift when his vision became blurry.

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The officer was unable to read number plates or see what was on his laptop screen - no matter how close he was.

The 29-year-old contacted his GP in Dorset who told him he should go and see an optician for an eye test.

The fit and active officer who serves with Wiltshire Police then booked an appointment at Specsavers.

He was unable to read just one letter from the top line of the opticians chart.

George was taken to Bournemouth Hospital and after undergoing blood tests, it emerged that George had suffered bleeds at the back of his eyes.

It was then that George was given the news that he was suffering from leukaemia.

Doctors explained to George that the bleed had caused a high blood count that made his blood thick and porridge-like.

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Chances are the bleeds at the back of my eyes were caused by my blood, which they said was a bit like porridge and was so thick because of all the white blood cells

Within hours of being admitted to, George started a gruelling 10-day cycle of chemotherapy.

George is now set for three more rounds of treatment and has relived the horror of his ordeal.

George, from Verwood, Dorset, said: "After the optician told me I'd had a bleed at the back of my eyes I was quite tearful.

"I got back into the car and I broke down and told my girlfriend what they said.

"I remember thinking 'if I can't see, what can I do? Your eyes are so important, I can't drive or do my job'.

"When my GP contacted me asking to go in for some blood tests I assumed it was a routine check-up, but never in a million years did I consider it to be leukaemia.

He said that at first the news didnt sink in and added that he was in total disbelief.

What is Leukaemia?

Leukaemia is a type of blood cancer which effects cells in bone marrow and attacks the immune system.

The disease is often classified as what type of cell is affected (myeloid or lymphatic) and how it progresses (acute or chronic).

Acute leukaemia is when it is progressing aggressively and requires immediate attention.

The risk of developing acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) increases with age, with the cancer being most common in adults over 65.

Typically the symptoms of AML can become increasingly more severe over time.

According to theNHS website, the signs to look out for include:

Speak to a GP if you or your child have possible symptoms.

I didn't believe that this would happen to me.

"I've never been sick before, I've never had to go to hospital for anything.

"It wasn't until the Thursday when I woke up in hospital and the chemotherapy started that it really sank in, I was in a real state of shock."

George, who was previously a ministry of defence police officer, said he started to feel unwell at the start of July.

He said he suffered from a sore throat and had a coronavirus test to check he hadnt contracted the virus.

It came back negative and he was given penicillin, but when the course finished his sore throat came back and he started to suffer from sweating.

At this time he put it down to the hot weather.

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On July 29 George started having issues with his sight and believed he had contracted the coronavirus - remembering Dominic Cummings notorious lockdown trip to Barnard Castle being sight-related.

During his eye test days later on July 31, opticians said he had a bleed behind the eyes.

On August 5, doctors called him and told him he had leukaemia.

George said: "It all started as a sore throat, which made it painful to eat or swallow, then I began to experience breathlessness.

"When I was at work and had to walk up a flight of stairs I would be out of breath at the top, which had never happened before.

"I brushed the breathlessness and sweating I was experiencing off, and just put it down to the hot weather, it was a series of unfortunate events.

"That week I did my annual fitness test for the police and I almost collapsed but still powered on. I've aced all of those in the past and pretty much had 20/20 vision.

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George added that he was worried it was Covid, but said that being a front line police officer made him feel as though it was inevitable that he would catch it.

"I just hoped I wouldn't catch it horrifically and that youth and fitness was on my side.

"I had two night shifts to work and on the Wednesday [July 29] I lost my vision, it went all blurry, to the point where I couldn't read a number plate while stood next to it let alone 20 metres away.

"The optician said I'd suffered bleeds to the back of the eyes, in the centre field, which was why my vision was all blurry.

"I assumed it was to do with Covid as I'd seen in the papers about Dominic Cummings saying he'd driven to a castle because of eye issues.

"The optician referred me for an urgent referral to the hospital, and because of that my GP did some blood tests.

"As my girlfriend and I were cooking dinner I got a call from the GP saying 'sorry I'm the bearer of bad news, it looks like you've got leukaemia and you need to go to hospital'.

"The doctors at Bournemouth Hospital were amazing, they sat me down and explained what leukaemia was and why I was feeling the way I was."

7

It was at the hospital that doctors told George that the breathlessness had been caused by low blood levels.

George added: "A normal person should have a red blood count of about 120, mine was about 55.

"They then said a normal person should have a white blood count of about 10-20 and mine was 550.

"Chances are the bleeds at the back of my eyes were caused by my blood, which they said was a bit like porridge and was so thick because of all the white blood cells."

George said his sight is slowly improving but added that the chemo has taken a toll on his body.

George said: "At the end of the chemo cycle, I felt very tired but generally felt better.

7

"I could only walk short distances before I had to sit down and I couldn't stand for a full shower was feeling very tired.

"Going from such a fit and active role to that was a real shock to the system."In my old job in the MOD police we were allowed to work out on shift and my girlfriend and I would go for long walks.

"We loved going up Snowdon and were planning to go up Ben Nevis this year as we're really into long-distance walking and hiking.

"I did the Salisbury half marathon in 2018, I've always been a person who can keep going mind over matter.

"Doing that and now suddenly having your body physically shutting down rather than mentally is a big change.

He added that specialists say his eyesight will take months to get better.

"I'm able to watch TV but I'm unable to read books or do puzzle books.

"There's no history of cancer or leukaemia in my family, doctors still don't understand why certain people get it.

"They said the only way to describe it was as bad luck, my family and girlfriend were absolutely distraught.

"I have an amazing support network around me, which is a big help."

George is now keen to raise funds for the ward he has been treated on and praised the staff at Bournemouth Hospital.

7

George said: "The hospital staff have been absolutely phenomenal, from day one they've put me at ease.

"I really want to give back to the ward and the staff because they've been absolutely amazing.

"I noticed some of the fitness equipment was outdated and they have a box full of arts and crafts to give people on the ward.

"I started using some of the stuff and I thought it was a great idea.

"I set up the GoFundMe page for the ward so I could focus on it between treatments and also because I was also getting loads of fundraising offers from people.

"As a police officer you always put yourself out there first, you're there on the front line trying to save people and be there for them. I think people like to give back to people that have done the same.

"I wanted to share my story to inspire people and remind everyone that during these tough times we still need to be focused and thankful for people."

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Specsavers' clinical services director Giles Edmonds said: "There are several changes we may notice in our vision which could be a sign of a wider health condition, as demonstrated by George's story. If you are experiencing any sudden eye health or vision changes, it's imperative you book an eye appointment so an optician can conduct a thorough examination.

"Your optician will ask if you are experiencing any concerns. Diagnostic testing will then look at the overall health of the eye to reveal any changes or concerns that are not visible to the naked eye.

"With George, swelling in the optic nerves and changes to the appearance of blood vessels behind the eye indicated something serious so he was referred to his local hospital to ensure he was seen quickly and by the right consultant. This is a common unknown fact that an optician can ensure a customer is seen by the right consultant at a hospital when an anomaly is identified.

"At a time when GPs and the NHS are under immense pressure, our opticians remain open to care for urgent cases like George's and to help people avoid busy A&E departments."

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I went blind overnight at the age of 29 it turned out to be leukaemia that had turned my blood to - The Sun

Washington Albert Bourla, the head of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, which is among the companies developing a coronavirus vaccine, said Sunday there is a good chance the company will know whether its vaccine works by the end of October.

In an interview with Face the Nation, Bourla said its not yet known whether Americans will be able to receive a coronavirus vaccine before 2021, as issuance of a license depends on federal regulators. But studies from Pfizer indicate we have a good chance that we will know if the product works by the end of October.

Still, Bourla said Pfizer is preparing for approval from the federal government and distribution of a vaccine before the end of the year.

We started already manufacturing and we have already manufactured hundreds of thousands of doses, so just in case we have a good study readout, conclusive and FDA, plus the advisory committee feels comfortable that we will be ready, he said.

Pfizer, which has partnered with BioNtech on its coronavirus vaccine, has begun enrolling 30,000 people in its phase three vaccine trial but is looking to expand its enrollment to 44,000. Bourla said the decision to increase the number of participants stems from its desire to expand to more vulnerable populations.

We go to younger people. Right now, the study recruits from 18 to 85. Now we will go to 16 years old, he said. Also, we will go to people with special conditions, chronic conditions like HIV patients, but also we will try to use it to increase the diversity of the population.

While Pfizer is one of several companies currently enrolling participants in its phase three vaccine trial, it is the only U.S.-based pharmaceutical company that has rejected federal dollars for its vaccine candidate.

Bourla acknowledged that if its coronavirus vaccine fails, Pfizer will absorb the financial hit. But he said he decided not to accept government funding for vaccine development to shield the pharmaceutical giant from politics.

I wanted to liberate our scientists from any bureaucracy, he said. When you get money from someone that always comes with strings. They want to see how we are going to progress, what type of moves you are going to do. They want reports. I didnt want to have any of that. I wanted them basically I gave them an open checkbook so that they can worry only about scientific challenges, not anything else. And also, I wanted to keep Pfizer out of politics.

While Bourla stopped short of predicting when Americans may be able to receive a coronavirus vaccine, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration and a member of Pfizers board of directors, has stressed he does not believe a vaccine will be widely available until 2021.

This is likely to be a very staged market entry, he said on Face the Nation. I think thats what people should expect. But for most people, they will not have access to a vaccine until 2021. I think maybe the first quarter of 2021, probably the first half of 2021. And thats assuming that these vaccines are demonstrated to be safe and effective in these large trials.

If any population in the U.S. is to receive a coronavirus vaccine this year, Gottlieb predicted it will be those who are at a high risk of becoming very sick from the virus or frontline workers who are at a high risk of contracting it.

What were going to be doing is targeting the vaccine to select groups of people who are at very high risk of a bad outcome from COVID to try to reduce their risk, he said. But its not going to be used to achieve broad-based immunity, at least in 2020, perhaps in 2021.

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20% increase in people with heart complications amid Covid: Report - WeForNews

The intent of flu shots is to avoid the flu. We know this. Its been drilled into our heads again and again. And yet, a little less than half of adults in the US got the routine jab for the 2018 to 2019 flu season. (This was actually a pretty high vaccination rate; in recent flu seasons, adherence has hovered around 40%.)

The reason for this shouldnt be the costmost insurance and Medicaid covers the flu vaccine as preventative medicine. Nor should itbe conveniencethe US passed a law in August allowing pharmacists across all 50 states to give flu shots. Instead, its the myth that the flu shot itself makes you sick.

Like most misconceptions that stick around, theres alittletruth to it. Its normal to feel peakyfatigued, achey, or warm with a low-grade feverafter getting a flu shot. This is the robust immune response as the bodys creating antibodies, actual protection against the flu, says Juanita Mora, an immunologist practicing in Chicago and volunteer medical spokesperson with the American Lung Association. It happens to about 10% of people who get the shot, she says.

In other words, feeling like youre in the early stages of getting the flu is actually a sign that youll be protected from the actual virus. What youre feeling is the bodys defense system gearing up.

Most versions of the flu shot are comprised of inactivated viruses, meaning they cant actually infect your cells. Immune cells, though, fire off chemical alarms as soon as they notice any virus-like particle. They activate the innate immune system, a generalized response that tries to make the body unlivable for any potential pathogen. That inflammatory reaction can cause a bit of a fever or a tiny swollen lump near the injection site.

The fatigue you might feel comes from gearing up a more specialized immune defense. Tiny, specialized cells called B-cells create antibodies, which are cellular fighter pilots specific to each virus. Making these antibodies requires expending a little extra energy at first, but the payoff is future protection: Once theyre present in your plasma, the antibodies can patrol for future flu viruses.

It is possible to get sick after getting the flu shot, Mora says. But it wouldnt be a result of the vaccine itself. If your body was in the early stages of fighting off another kind of infection, like a cold or strep throat, and then you get the shot, your B-cells can get overwhelmed. Instead of making antibodies to fight off the actual infection, they get pulled into making flu antibodies, which leaves you vulnerable to another ailment.

Additionally, it takes about two weeks for your body to whip its flu antibodies into shape; you could pick up a flu strain in the window between getting your jab and when protection kicks in. Thats why its important to make sure you only get a flu shot, or any vaccine, when youre feeling healthy.

Not everyone notices these symptoms after getting the flu shot. But if you do seem a bit off, the feeling shouldnt stick around for more than a day or two, and shouldnt require a visit to your healthcare provider. If you do have a more severe reaction, its worth giving them a callthere could be something else going on.

Read more from the original source:
Can the flu shot make you sick? - Quartz