StemCell Therapy

All those who suffer from type 2 diabetes are in a constant tug of war with their blood sugar levels (in other words, blood glucose). Managing the condition requires being mindful of what you eat and drink. When you crave a little bit of sweetness in your life, research has shown that theres a certain sweetener that can help control blood sugar levels.

Dr Grace Farhat, a lecturer from Liverpool Hope University in food science and nutrition, revealed: Stevia a naturally-occurring sweetener could be a new player against obesity and diabetes.

Stevia is a plant-based alternative to sugar that has been used by the indigenous people of South America for thousands of years.

Previous studies have suggested certain non-nutritive (also known as artificial) sweeteners may increase appetite while also altering the make-up of the gut bacteria, resulting in several human conditions such as obesity and diabetes, added Dr Farhat.

In her experiment, test subjects were asked to drink either plain water, water mixed with 60g of sugar, or water mixed with just 1g of stevia sweetener (a non-nutritive sweetener), before having an unlimited pizza lunch half an hour later.

We wanted to see if stevia led to people eating more, because thats the presumption when theres sweetness without the calories, said the doctor.

The non-nutritive sweetener (stevia) adds a sweetening effect without adding carbohydrates or calories.

But what we found was that there was no difference in food intake between stevia, water or sugar, continued Farhat.

READ MORE: High blood pressure: Five potassium rich foods which could help lower your reading

People ate the same amount of food after these different preloads.

This finding suggests stevia doesnt increase your appetite to compensate for the lack of calories, like some other sweeteners.

Whats also important, added Farhat, is to note that those who consumed stevia were less hungry than when they just had plain water.

It shows we can reduce hunger without the need for consuming more calories.

And thats important, because if were going to control diabetes and obesity we need to control appetite and blood sugar levels.

Results such as these reveal that consuming stevia will help prevent people from overeating and consuming more carbohydrates which affects blood sugar levels.

With the NHS spending 14 billion each year - 10 percent of its overall budget - treating diabetes and its complications, and an estimated 1.2 million increase in the number of people suffering from the condition by 2030, this breakthrough study gives a glimmer of hope to more easily controlling blood sugar levels.

Dr Farhat added: While further studies are needed, our research shows stevia could be a promising option when it comes to controlling energy intake.

Therefore, it could have a beneficial effect when it comes to obesity and diabetes.

Published in the journal Nutrients, Dr Farhat concluded: Stevia lowers appetite sensation and does not further increase food intake and post-lunch glucose levels.

It could be a useful strategy in obesity and diabetes prevention and management.

Diabetes UK has reported that stevia is 200300 times sweeter than sugar and is heat stable, so it can be used in cooking and baking.

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Type 2 diabetes: This popular sugar-alternative could be key weapon in fighting condition - Express

The worst result, after buying shares in a company (assuming no leverage), would be if you lose all the money you put in. But if you buy shares in a really great company, you can more than double your money. For instance the Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. (NASDAQ:TNDM) share price is 164% higher than it was three years ago. Most would be happy with that. It's also up 11% in about a month.

See our latest analysis for Tandem Diabetes Care

Because Tandem Diabetes Care made a loss in the last twelve months, we think the market is probably more focussed on revenue and revenue growth, at least for now. Generally speaking, companies without profits are expected to grow revenue every year, and at a good clip. That's because fast revenue growth can be easily extrapolated to forecast profits, often of considerable size.

Over the last three years Tandem Diabetes Care has grown its revenue at 51% annually. That's well above most pre-profit companies. Meanwhile, the share price performance has been pretty solid at 38% compound over three years. This suggests the market has recognized the progress the business has made, at least to a significant degree. That's not to say we think the share price is too high. In fact, it might be worth keeping an eye on this one.

You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

NasdaqGM:TNDM Income Statement, January 15th 2020

We're pleased to report that the CEO is remunerated more modestly than most CEOs at similarly capitalized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. This free report showing analyst forecasts should help you form a view on Tandem Diabetes Care

We're pleased to report that Tandem Diabetes Care shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 53% over one year. That certainly beats the loss of about 12% per year over the last half decade. The long term loss makes us cautious, but the short term TSR gain certainly hints at a brighter future. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Tandem Diabetes Care .

But note: Tandem Diabetes Care may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.

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Announcing: Tandem Diabetes Care (NASDAQ:TNDM) Stock Increased An Energizing 164% In The Last Three Years - Yahoo Finance

When a stranger at a party told Tom Watson he thought he had diabetes, he was horrified.

But even after being officially diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, it took years for Tommy Two-Dinners to change his life.

A landmark birthday was the final straw for the former MP and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and the start of a new regime which led to him losing a whopping eight stone.

Here, in an exclusive extract from his new book Downsizing, he reveals how...

I celebrated my 50th birthday on January 8, 2017 with a huge knees-up.

I booked brilliant covers band Rockaoke, laid on a free bar for the first hour or so and put on a giant buffet of my favourite sweet and savoury treats - the centrepiece an enormous cake in the shape of a large grey robot sporting my signature black-framed glasses.

The following morning I woke nursing the mother of all hangovers. Half of me felt elated because the party had gone so well but the other half felt sad and solemn.

The reality of my midlife milestone had finally started to sink in.

All my fifty-something contemporaries at the party, to a man and a woman, looked fitter, slimmer and younger than me. FIFTY AND FAB! proclaimed a birthday card. FIFTY AND FAT, more like, Id thought as Id opened it.

A voice seemed to float up from my subconscious. I dont want to die. I really dont want to die.

At well over 22 stone - the heaviest Id ever been perhaps premature death was an inevitability though.

Morbid thoughts began to swirl around my head the prospect of leaving my beloved kids fatherless; being unable to see Malachy and Saoirse grow up; never meeting my grandchildren and I felt my eyes brimming with tears.

Its time, Tom, continued the voice. Enough is enough. If you dont address your weight, you are actually going to die...

I reached for a notebook and pen and wrote three words: Project Weight Loss.

Monday August 7, 2017 was Day One. It was, at last, time for me to regain control.

I turned up a few minutes early for my first appointment with personal trainer Clayton, feeling anxious and self-conscious. I looked colossal in my new sports gear even the XXXL kit was a pretty snug fit.

First of all, Clayton asked me to do as many press-ups as I could. I could barely manage one the utter shame and collapsed in a pathetic heap.

But my desire to get healthy superseded any sense of indignity, and as I virtually crawled back home I felt a genuine feeling of elation.

Claytons session had almost killed me but I was going to return for more of the same. The switch had been flicked.

Determined to curb my long-term sugar addiction, I made a concerted effort to omit sugary carbohydrates from my diet (so no cakes, biscuits or chocolates) and I tried my best to limit starchy carbs like bread, rice, pasta and potatoes. I endeavoured to drink more water and eat more vegetables, and try to make more home-cooked meals.

The morning after my inaugural workout, I tackled a job that had desperately needed doing for months: a wholesale clear-out of my little kitchen.

This meant bidding farewell to sweet snacks (goodbye, my beloved KitKats) as well as my favourite breakfast cereals and muesli bars. Nothing remotely sugary was spared the cull.

Even many of the supposedly savoury convenience foods were laden with sugar (61.2g in a supermarket sweet n sour chicken, no less), so into the bin went a stack of microwaveable meals, shrink-wrapped frozen pizzas, tubs of instant noodles and jars of cooking sauces.

Then it was time to clear the fridge of Guinness and Coca-Cola: the drinks Id swigged more than any other in my lifetime, but which had no doubt contributed to my health problems.

I returned to Westminster in early September, following the parliamentary recess, eating more healthily, exercising more regularly and sleeping more soundly.

Then I was introduced to the low-carb, high-fat philosophy of so-called ketogenic nutrition which comprised meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, oils and vegetables. All manner of starchy carbohydrates (pasta, rice, grains and potatoes, for example) were strictly forbidden, as were sugary carbs in all their many guises.

In the first week of October I decided to fully embrace a ketogenic diet.

Id restrict starchy carbohydrates to around 20g per day and opt instead for protein-rich foods plenty of red meat, poultry, fish and dairy in addition to low-sugar fruits and vegetables like blueberries and broccoli.

To combat sugar withdrawal cravings and stop myself feeling hungry, Id increase the amount of saturated fat in my diet (including butter, cheese and double cream).

Alcohol would be strictly limited to the occasional glass of dry white wine or a vodka and low-sugar tonic.

I remember sitting down and formulating a meal plan for the week before heading off to Tesco.

Into the trolley went lamb chops, salmon steaks, chicken thighs, leafy greens and mixed salad for my main dishes. Then, for desserts, I grabbed punnets of blackberries and raspberries (both had lower fructose levels) as well as tubs of full-fat Greek yoghurt and double cream.

For snacking, I stocked up on my favourite hard and soft cheeses, and threw in a few large bags of unsalted walnuts and macadamia nuts.

My first day on the diet was Monday October 9 2017. For breakfast, I ate a two-egg omelette, with two rashers of fried bacon cooked in butter. Lunch comprised scrambled egg, again with two rashers of bacon (I still couldnt quite believe that two of my favourite foodstuffs were part of a diet).

My snack quota comprised a small handful of nuts and, when I felt a serious hunger pang, a few blackberries with double cream.

Later that day I went out for dinner with friends. That evening I eschewed my regular order of chicken dhansak, tarka dhal and peshwari naan, instead opting for tandoori chicken and a small serving of saag paneer (a tasty dish of Indian cheese with spinach puree).

As my first day on keto came to a close, my stomach felt pleasantly full. I hadnt suffered any energy slumps and had genuinely enjoyed the food Id eaten.

On days four, five and six I did experience some cravings, yet I always managed, somehow, to quell the hunger pangs by gulping down a big dollop of thick double cream. I would be lying, though, if I said this felt like a normal thing to do.

By the beginning of Keto Week Two I was waking up feeling absolutely bloody brilliant. The general malaise that used to greet me when my alarm went off aching joints, sore back, banging head, breathlessness simply disappeared.

Initially I had shed nearly two stone in two months. But when I applied strict ketogenic nutrition principles I began to see remarkable results.

After just one week, I lost seven pounds. I was totally and utterly elated. This may sound melodramatic but, apart from the birth of my kids, it was the best week of my life.

Technically, once the NHS tells you youre a type 2 diabetic, youre always a type 2 diabetic. But in January 2018, a blood test indicated Id put my type 2 diabetes into remission.

On Monday 10 June, 2019 I hit my eight-stone weight-loss target, just under two years after commencing my diet and fitness plan.

Though delighted to have shed every one of those 112 pounds I found myself being dogged by a deeper question.

If I hadnt lost that eight stone, would I still be alive today?

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Labour heavyweight Tom Watson on how he lost 8 stone and reversed Type-2 diabetes - Mirror Online

Concenter Biopharma of Jerusalem is developing a drug to treat and even prevent type 2 diabetes by restoring the bodys insulin sensitivity.

ByAbigail Klein Leichman, ISRAEL21c

Of the 463 million people in the world with diabetes, up to 95 percent have type 2 (T2D). In T2D, peripheral cells mostly muscles are resistant to insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas to stabilize blood-sugar levels and enable the body to use and store sugar from carbohydrates in food.

Medications available today treat the symptoms and complications of T2D but do not solve the core problem of insulin resistance.

Zygosid-50, a drug under development in Israel, could be the first to restore near-normal cellular sensitivity to insulin, without side effects.

Concenter BioPharmain Jerusalem is raising funds for clinical trials approved by the FDA based on evidence from earlier testing in animal models for T2D.

In December, Concenter Biopharma cofounder and CSO Prof. Mottie (Mordechai) Chevion won first place at the 17th Annual World Congress on Insulin Resistance, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease.

The World Congress attracts the top researchers and clinicians, who understand the problem and the limited solutions available which arent really solutions at all, says Concenter Biopharma CEO Dror Chevion, Motties son.

To receive the award out of 80 submitted abstracts and six chosen for presentation is a real vote of confidence in our science and our achievements, Dror Chevion tells ISRAEL21c. The people sitting in that conference will be the ones prescribing our drug to patients.

Mottie Chevion developed the nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory Zygosid family of drugs in his lab at Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem.

Zygosids work by robustly reducing insulin resistance and normalizing all diabetes-associated parameters to the normal range, says the professor. On the molecular level, Zygosid-50 is a potent anti-inflammatory drug that forces an intra-cellular exchange removal of bad free iron with zinc, depositing the zinc ion within the cells.

In 2015, some of the lab staff and their families successfully tried using Zygosid molecules topically for skin conditions including diabetic foot ulcers and psoriasis. They experienced no negative side effects.

My father felt it was inhumane not to try to bring these drugs from the lab to patients. He asked me to join him and take this initiative forward, says Dror Chevion.

The intellectual property was licensed to the inventors through the university andhospital tech-transfercompanies.Silkim Pharma was set up as a holding company for the IP. Concenter Biopharma was founded as a subsidiary in 2019 to further develop and commercialize Zygosid-50 for treating and preventing T2D.

Concenters U.S. regulatory consultant, Dr. Susan Alpert, arranged meetings with the FDA in 2017 and 2018 to help determine which indication to focus on. The conclusion was to start with T2D and conduct clinical phase 1 and phase 2 trials in Israel while finalizing the pill formulation and preclinical toxicity studies.

One in three people in the world is diabetic or prediabetic, says Dror Chevion. The number is expected to reach 700 million by 2045. In the United States, 31 million people suffer from diabetes and 90 million are prediabetic. And the age of people with type 2 diabetes is getting younger and younger.

In animal trials, Zygosid-50 restored insulin sensitivity by over 90%, bringing blood sugar into balance and lowering chronic and systemic inflammation levels. The drug also replenishes zinc deficiency.

The FDA responded to Concenters investigational new drug (IND) application with a request for additional preclinical toxicity studies and more information on the drugs manufacturing process.

This is a great achievement for a small company, notes Dror Chevion.

We are working on a plan to accommodate those requests and to make the final formulation of the drug as a pill. We want to perform clinical studies here in Israel. Then we will submit another IND application to go to phase 2b, by the end of 2020. We are currently raising funds to do all of that.

Concenter was self-funded until six months ago. The company will launch a $5 million round for its T2D activities during 2020.

Concenter BioPharmas scientific advisory board includes three globally recognized diabetes experts: Dr. Peter Nawroth of Germany, Dr. Ralph DeFronzo from the United States, and Dr. Itamar Raz, chairman of the Israeli Council on Diabetes and the National Diabetes Prevention and Care Plan.

Diabetes is a global epidemic and is expected to grow, says Dror Chevion. The estimated cost of treating diabetes per year is over $850 billion. More than 150 companies are developing diagnostics or applications for diabetes, but there are no drugs to treat the actual problem of insulin resistance without side effects. This is what we are doing.

diabetesHebrew University-Hadassah

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This Jerusalem pill can fix the root cause of diabetes - World Israel News

Quin is designed to help diabetic people manage their insulin intake more efficiently. Credit: Quin

Quin chief technology officer Isabella Degen has been managing her diabetes with insulin for 26 years, and co-founded Quin five years ago. A portmanteau for Quantifying Intuition something, the companys website notes, that people who take insulin have to do several times a day the app is designed to help diabetic people manage their insulin intake more efficiently.

The app tracks many different factors, such as food and insulin intake, alongside data from diabetes devices and phones, to help patients decide how much insulin to take and when based on their past experience. Instead of being locked into a constant guessing game, app users can pull up an objective assessment of how different insulin doses have previously affected them in different circumstances, to make a more educated assessment of what the best course of action will be for them.

Unlike similar health management apps, which use an algorithm to correlate the input of all users data into a single consistent average, Quins management techniques are based entirely on a patients own data crucial when it comes to managing a condition as individualised as diabetes. Chloe Kent spoke to Degen about how the app works and where the company hopes to see it head in 2020.

Chloe Kent: How does the Quin app work?

Isabella Degen: The app works observes the trial and error of people who take insulin. They tell us when they eat something and tell us how much insulin theyre taking. The app itself is observing in the background how active they are, what time it is, things like location and menstruation and other stuff we can observe about them from the phone. Quin is essentially taking all that information and breaking it down.

Lets say youve had 100 lattes, and every time youve had a latte youve logged that and said which insulin youve taken. Sometimes you may have taken it ten minutes earlier, sometimes later, and you take one to five units depending on what else is going on. The next time you come and say okay, Im going to have a latte right now, Quin is looking to show you past decisions that worked well for you when having a latte and that match you right now, so the user can make a much more informed decision.

CK: Why does diabetes management need such individualised data?

ID: Diabetes is an umbrella term of high blood glucose. People are diagnosed with Type I and Type II, but these are umbrella terms as well. One person takes one unit of insulin with a latte but another may have a very different result to that. Our bodies are fundamentally different. For that reason we only look at remembering a single persons outcomes and what they do.

We do have a second part of our business model. Between all this different customer data, were interested in seeing whether we can tell just by looking at what people do and the outcomes they achieve if there are groups of people who have very similar ways of treating diabetes? They perhaps have a more similar base of whats broken in the endocrine or metabolic system. We can then work with researchers to further target these subgroups so we can get more targeted treatment.

CK: How does Quin compare to an artificial pancreas type system?

ID: Its actually a very different approach. Quin focuses on people who take insulin using multiple-dose injection therapies, and the artificial pancreas is for people who use a pump. And really, there is no artificial pancreas on the market, were talking about products that take over autoregulation of insulin at certain points in time. Thats had immense regulatory challenges because nobody knows how much insulin to take.

Its very hard to recommend insulin doses. What we are doing is essentially saying lets learn from people in self-trials to get us to a point where were able to close the loop.

CK: How can Quin change the life of a diabetic patient?

ID: Our vision is that they become more confident. They can see something theyve achieved in the past that they should be able to achieve again, because the data is personal to them and not just averages across many people which may not be relevant. Its hard to set confidence on what works or not, so the next step is just to release the burden.

Taking a drug where nobody knows how much of it to take, its quite stressful. To not have to do all the thinking and the fine tuning, to think what should I do at this time or to even remember to make a decision, reduces the burden so that they can focus on what they want to focus on in their life.

CK: What sort of user feedback have you had so far?

ID: We did a questionnaire in our user base and 76% said theyre more relaxed and more confident, and 35% have said that they have improved outcomes. On the medical side theyve learned more about how insulin works they can see that their blood sugar is still high, but they can also see that theyve taken insulin and know its going to come down, so I think thats where the confidence comes from.

CK: How can people access Quin?

ID: Right now we have a closed research project, so people can apply through the site to participate if they own the right kit and theyre on a treatment that we support at the moment. We give them access to a version of Quin that changes every month, and then we work together with these users to give us feedback.

CK: Where do you see Quin heading once youre out of the test stages?

ID: Were planning to do a launch of the app in late 2020, which will then become available via the App Store. It will be a subscription-based business model, initially paid for directly by the customer but maybe also picked up by insurers in the future. Were launching geographically in the CE mark [region], and were looking at getting FDA approval in the middle of this year.

Excerpt from:
Quin's diabetes management app is taking anxiety out of the equation - Medical Device Network

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Heart problems, graft-versus-host disease are concerns

A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that bone marrow or blood stem cells from healthy donors can harbor extremely rare mutations that can cause health problems for the cancer patients who receive them. Such stem cell transplants are important for treating blood cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia. In the healthy bone marrow pictured, mature red blood cells are shown as small brownish-pink discs; red blood cells that are still developing are in deep blue; and developing white blood cells are in lighter blue.

A stem cell transplant also called a bone marrow transplant is a common treatment for blood cancers, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Such treatment can cure blood cancers but also can lead to life-threatening complications, including heart problems and graft-versus-host disease, in which new immune cells from the donor attack a patients healthy tissues.

A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that extremely rare, harmful genetic mutations present in healthy donors stem cells though not causing health problems in the donors may be passed on to cancer patients receiving stem cell transplants. The intense chemo- and radiation therapy prior to transplant and the immunosuppression given after allow cells with these rare mutations the opportunity to quickly replicate, potentially creating health problems for the patients who receive them, suggests the research, published Jan. 15 in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Among the concerns are heart damage, graft-versus-host disease and possible new leukemias.

The study, involving samples from patients with AML and their stem cell donors, suggests such rare, harmful mutations are present in surprisingly young donors and can cause problems for recipients even if the mutations are so rare as to be undetectable in the donor by typical genome sequencing techniques. The research opens the door to a larger study that will investigate these rare mutations in many more healthy donors, potentially leading to ways to prevent or mitigate the health effects of such genetic errors in patients receiving stem cell transplants.

There have been suspicions that genetic errors in donor stem cells may be causing problems in cancer patients, but until now we didnt have a way to identify them because they are so rare, said senior author Todd E. Druley, MD, PhD, an associate professor of pediatrics. This study raises concerns that even young, healthy donors blood stem cells may have harmful mutations and provides strong evidence that we need to explore the potential effects of these mutations further.

Added co-author Sima T. Bhatt, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics who treats pediatric patients with blood cancers at Siteman Kids at St. Louis Childrens Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine: Transplant physicians tend to seek younger donors because we assume this will lead to fewer complications. But we now see evidence that even young and healthy donors can have mutations that will have consequences for our patients. We need to understand what those consequences are if we are to find ways to modify them.

The study analyzed bone marrow from 25 adult patients with AML whose samples had been stored in a repository at Washington University. Samples from their healthy matched donors, who were unrelated to the patients, also were sequenced. The donors samples were provided by the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research in Milwaukee.

The 25 AML patients were chosen because they each had had samples banked at four separate times: before the transplant, at 30 days post-transplant, at 100 days post-transplant, and one year post-transplant.

Druley co-invented a technique called error-corrected sequencing, to identify extremely rare DNA mutations that would be missed by conventional genome sequencing. Typical next-generation sequencing techniques can correctly identify a mutation that is present in one in 100 cells. The new method, which can distinguish between true mutations and mistakes introduced by the sequencing machine, allows the researchers to find true mutations that are extremely rare those present in as few as one in 10,000 cells.

The healthy donors ranged in age from 20 to 58, with an average age of 26. The researchers sequenced 80 genes known to be associated with AML, and they identified at least one harmful genetic mutation in 11 of the 25 donors, or 44%. They further showed that 84% of all the various mutations identified in the donors samples were potentially harmful, and that 100% of the harmful mutations present in the donors later were found in the recipients. These harmful mutations also persisted over time, and many increased in frequency. Such data suggest the harmful mutations from the donor confer a survival advantage to the cells that harbor them.

We didnt expect this many young, healthy donors to have these types of mutations, Druley said. We also didnt expect 100% of the harmful mutations to be engrafted into the recipients. That was striking.

According to the researchers, the study raises questions about the origins of some of the well-known side effects of stem cell transplantation.

We see a trend between mutations from the donor that persist over time and the development of chronic graft-versus-host disease, said first author Wing Hing Wong, a doctoral student in Druleys lab. We plan to examine this more closely in a larger study.

Though the study was not large enough to establish a causal link, the researchers found that 75% of the patients who received at least one harmful mutation in the 80 genes that persisted over time developed chronic graft-versus-host disease. Among patients who did not receive mutations in the 80 genes, about 50% developed the condition. Because the study was small, this difference was not statistically significant, but it is evidence that the association should be studied more closely. In general, about half of all patients who receive a stem cell transplant go on to develop some form of graft-versus-host disease.

The most common mutation seen in the donors and the cancer patients studied is in a gene associated with heart disease. Healthy people with mutations in this gene are at higher risk of heart attack due to plaque buildup in the arteries.

We know that cardiac dysfunction is a major complication after a bone marrow transplant, but its always been attributed to toxicity from radiation or chemotherapy, Druley said. Its never been linked to mutations in the blood-forming cells. We cant make this claim definitively, but we have data to suggest we should study that in much more detail.

Added Bhatt: Now that weve also linked these mutations to graft-versus-host disease and cardiovascular problems, we have a larger study planned that we hope will answer some of the questions posed by this one.

This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant number R01CA211711; the Hyundai Quantum Award; the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Scholar Award; the Eli Seth Matthews Leukemia Foundation; and the Kellsies Hope Foundation. The Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research is supported by a Public Health Service Grant/Cooperative Agreement from the NCI, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), grant number 5U24CA076518; a Grant/Cooperative Agreement from NHLBI and NCI, grant number 1U24HL138660; a contract with Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA/DHHS), number HHSH250201700006C; and the Office of Naval Research, grant numbers N00014-17-1-2388, N00014-17-1-2850 and N00014-18-1-2045. Support also was provided by a UKRI future leaders fellowship and by a CRUK Cambridge Centre Early Detection Programme group leader grant.

The Washington University Office of Technology Management has filed a patent application for Ultra-rare Variant Detection from Next-generation Sequencing, which has been licensed by Canopy Biosciences as RareSeq. Druley is a coinventor on this patent. Canopy Biosciences was not involved in the generation of the data presented.

Wong WH, Bhatt S, Trinkaus K, Pusic I, Elliott K, Mahajan N, Wan F, Switzer GE, Confer DL, DiPersio J, Pulsipher MA, Shah NN, Sees J, Bystry A, Blundell JR, Shaw BE, Druley TE. Engraftment of rare, pathogenic donor hematopoietic mutations in unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Science Translational Medicine. Jan. 15, 2020.

Washington University School of Medicines 1,500 faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals. The School of Medicine is a leader in medical research, teaching and patient care, ranking among the top 10 medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.

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Mutations in donors' stem cells may cause problems for cancer patients - Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a common complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) that occurs when the donated (graft) cells are rejected and attack the hosts cells as foreign. GvHD is a serious condition with high morbidity and mortality. There is a need for new approaches for the diagnosis of GvHD to enable early intervention and reduce mortality. According to a December 2019 study by He and colleagues published in Blood Advances, an accurate prediction of GvHD development could be made by continuous monitoring of body temperature.

The researchers from the University of Michigan, US, developed wearable sensors that monitor body temperature in mice that had undergone HSCT. The technology identifies patterns of temperature fluctuations as a predictor of GvHD development. The mice were monitored using machine learning to detect subtle patterns in temperature fluctuations. The researchers are hopeful that these experiments could be replicated in humans and temperature monitors could offer an efficient and low-cost method for quickly identifying patients developing GvHD.

The global distribution of GvHD is directly dependent on transplantation-related factors, including donor type, the ages of the donor and the recipient, the sex parity between the recipient and the donor, the pre-transplantation conditioning regimen, and the use of GvHD prophylaxis pre- and/or post-transplantation. Around 40%60% of HSCT recipients will develop acute GvHD, and another 40%50% of adult patients will develop chronic GvHD. GlobalData epidemiologists forecast an increase in the diagnosed incident cases of GvHD in the seven major markets (7MM: US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and Japan) from 18,500 cases in 2018 to 22,500 cases in 2028, at an Annual Growth Rate (AGR) of 2.20%.

In the future, the number of HSCT procedures will continue to expand in every market parallel to the increase in the incidence of the spectrum of life-threatening indications treated with HSCT, which includes non-malignant, malignant, genetic, metabolic, and autoimmune disorders. As a direct result of the expansion of HSCT, more patients will be at risk of developing post-transplantation complications such as GvHD. While reducing the incidence of GvHD is essential, the key to ensuring success with HSCT is reducing the morbidity and mortality caused by GvHD. Wearable sensors and machine learning processes that detect fluctuations in temperature patterns could provide low-cost, practical solutions to the early diagnosis of GvHD.

GlobalData is this websites parent business intelligence company.

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Role of wearable sensors in the early diagnosis of Graft Versus Host Disease - Medical Device Network

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Allogeneic Stem Cells Market by Application and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2020-2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Global Allogeneic Stem Cells Market: About this market

The allogeneic stem cells market analysis considers sales from regenerative therapy and drug discovery and development applications. Our study also finds the sales of allogeneic stem cells in Asia, Europe, North America, and ROW. In 2019, the regenerative therapy segment had a significant market share, and this trend is expected to continue over the forecast period. Factors such as functional restoration of tissues will play a significant role in the regenerative therapy segment to maintain its market position. Also, our global allogeneic stem cells market report looks at factors such as new product approvals, increasing strategic alliances in the field of regenerative medicines, and investments in the field of regenerative medicines. However, stringent regulations, high cost of allogeneic stem cell therapies, and serious complications associated with stem cell therapies may hamper the growth of the allogeneic stem cell industry over the forecast period.

Global Allogeneic Stem Cells Market: Overview

New product approvals

The new product approvals and special drug designations are anticipated to boost the growth of the market. Based on the application, the allogeneic stem cells market has been segmented into regenerative therapy and drug discovery and development. Manufacturers are increasingly emphasizing innovations and improvisation in the development of regenerative therapies. Many of the regenerative therapeutic candidates have obtained approval for clinical trials in the US, Europe, and APAC due to the efficacy of allogeneic stem cell therapeutics. This is encouraging market players to launch new product lines to stimulate the overall product demand for stem or regenerative therapy using allogeneic stem cell therapeutics and provide better options for their customers. Thus, new product approvals will lead to the expansion of the global allogeneic stem cells market at a CAGR of over 12% during the forecast period.

Special drug designations

Research in the field of stem cell focuses mainly on developing new treatments for deadly diseases, which have negligible treatment using traditional treatment options. Thus, therapeutic candidates, which are currently under development, have been awarded special drug designations by regulatory bodies considering their proven efficacy. Many drugs received designations such as the breakthrough drug designation and the orphan drug designation from regulatory bodies such as the US FDA and the EMA. Drug designations enhance the research and enable drugs to reach the market and provides strong incentives, which in turn, encourages vendors to expedite R&D on novel therapies such as allogeneic stem cell therapy. This development is expected to have a positive impact on the overall market growth.

Key Topics Covered:

PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT

PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE

PART 04: MARKET SIZING

PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS

PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY APPLICATION

PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE

PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE

PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK

PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES

PART 11: MARKET TRENDS

PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/phsh0a

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Allogeneic Stem Cells Market Expected to Grow with a CAGR of 12% Due to New Product Approvals, 2020-2024 - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Business Wire

Adult bone repair relies on the activation of bone stem cells, which still remain poorly characterized. Bone stem cells have been found both in the bone marrow and in the outer layer of tissue, called periosteum, that envelopes the bone. Of the two, periosteal stem cells are the least understood.

Having a better understanding of how adult bones heal could reveal new ways of repair fractures faster and help find novel treatments for osteoporosis. Dr. Dongsu Park and his colleagues at Baylor College of Medicine investigate adult bone healing and recently uncovered a new mechanism that has potential therapeutic applications.

Previous studies have shown that bone marrow and periosteal stem cells, although they share many characteristics, also have unique functions and specific regulatory mechanisms, said Park, who is assistant professor of molecular and human genetics and of pathology and immunology at Baylor.

It is known that these two types of bone stem cells comprise a heterogeneous population that can contribute to bone thickness, shaping and fracture repair, but scientists had not been able to distinguish between different subtypes of bone stem cells and study how their different functions are regulated.

In the current study, Park and his colleagues developed a method to identify different subpopulations of periosteal stem cells, define their contribution to bone fracture repair in live mouse models and identify specific factors that regulate their migration and proliferation under physiological conditions.

The researchers discovered specific markers for periosteal stem cells in mice. The markers identified a distinct subset of stem cells that showed to be a part of life-long adult bone regeneration.

We also found that periosteal stem cells respond to mechanical injury by engaging in bone healing, Park said. They are important for healing bone fractures in the adult mice and, interestingly, they contribute more to bone regeneration than bone marrow stem cells do.

In addition, the researchers found that periosteal stem cells also respond to inflammatory molecules called chemokines, which are usually produced during bone injury. In particular, they responded to chemokine CCL5.

Periosteal stem cells have receptors molecules on their cell surface called CCR5 that bind to CCL5, which sends a signal to the cells to migrate toward the injured bone and repair it. Deleting the CCL5 or the CCR5 gene in mouse models resulted in marked defects or delayed healing. When the researchers supplied CCL5 to CCL5-deficient mice, bone healing was accelerated.

The findings suggested potential therapeutic applications. For instance, in individuals with diabetes or osteoporosis in which bone healing is slow and may lead to other complications resulting from limited mobility, accelerating bone healing may reduce hospital stay and improve prognosis.

Our findings contribute to a better understanding of how adult bones heal. We think this is one of the first studies to show that bone stem cells are heterogeneous, and that different subtypes have unique properties regulated by specific mechanisms, Park said. We have identified markers that enable us to tell bone stem cell subtypes apart and study what each subtype contributes to bone health. Understanding how bone stem cell functions are regulated offers the possibility to develop novel therapeutic strategies to treat adult bone injuries.

Find all the details of this study in the journal journal Cell Stem Cell.

Other contributors to this work include Laura C. Ortinau, Hamilton Wang, Kevin Lei, Lorenzo Deveza, Youngjae Jeong, Yannis Hara, Ingo Grafe, Scott Rosenfeld, Dongjun Lee, Brendan Lee and David T. Scadden. The authors are affiliated with one of the following institutions: Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Childrens Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Harvard University.

This study was supported by the Bone Disease Program of Texas Award and The CarolineWiess Law Fund Award, the NIAMS of the National Institutes of Health under award numbers 1K01AR061434 and 1R01AR072018 and U54 AR068069 and the NIDDK of the NIH.

By Ana Mara Rodrguez, Ph.D.

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There is a new player in adult bone healing - Baylor College of Medicine News

Study after study has shown that people fear vision loss more than they fear cancer, stroke, heart disease, and other serious health problems. But a new study shows that Americans are scared about an issue they know very little about. And what they dont know is putting them at risk of vision loss, including blindness.

A survey conducted by The Harris Poll shows that while 81% of adults say they are knowledgeable about eye/vision health, less than 1 in 5 (19%) were able to correctly identify the three main causes of blindness in the U.S., which are glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic eye disease.

Why does this matter? Because most people are also unaware of key facts that could protect them from vision loss, according to the survey. For example, only around one-third of adults (37%) know you do not always experience symptoms before you lose vision to eye diseases. And less than half (47%) are aware your brain can make it difficult to know if you are losing your vision by adapting to vision loss.

Ophthalmologists, physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care, have more tools than ever before to diagnose these eye diseases earlier and to treat them better. But these advances cannot help patients whose disease is undiagnosed.

Further, ophthalmologists cannot adequately care for patients who are unaware of the seriousness of their disease. Far too often, ophthalmologists witness the consequences of patients entering our office too late to avoid severe vision loss.

In 2020, we want all Americans to have a clear vision when it comes to eye health. That starts with educating yourself about eye diseases.

The consequences of failing to increase awareness about eye health can be dire. Right now, the number of Americans affected by these potentially blinding eye diseases is expected to double within the next 30 years, due mainly to the aging of the population.

Its important to note that vision loss affects more than the eyes. Vision loss is also associated with the following:

All of these complications of vision loss can worsen other chronic illnesses.

Another key finding from the Harris poll is that less than half (47%) of respondents were aware that vision loss and blindness does not affect all people equally. But your risk of developing an eye disease varies significantly by your age, ethnicity, family history, and whether you smoke. Here are some relevant facts:

The Harris poll also found that only around one-third of adults surveyed (37%) know that vision loss is not inevitable as you age. Many people think vision loss is just a normal part of aging but it doesnt have to be. You can take many steps to reduce your risk of vision loss, including

Just because you can see well, doesnt mean all is well. Thats why the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that healthy adults see an ophthalmologist or an eye care professional for a comprehensive, baseline eye exam by age 40 and have their eyes checked every year or two at age 65 or older.

People who have other risk factors will need to be seen more frequently. People with diabetes should have a dilated eye exam every year. African Americans, age 40 and older, and people with a family history of glaucoma should have a dilated eye exam every 2 years.

If you are concerned about the cost of the exam, the Academys EyeCare America program may be able to help. This program provides eye care through volunteer ophthalmologists for eligible seniors 65 and older and those at increased risk for eye disease. See if youre eligible, visit http://www.aao.org/eyecareamerica.

Medicare provides an annual dilated eye exam for Medicare beneficiaries over 65 at high risk for glaucoma. Those eligible for this service are people with diabetes, family history of glaucoma, or African Americans over 50. To learn more, call 800-633-4227.

2020 is the year to get smart about eye health. For ophthalmologist-reviewed information about eye diseases and treatments, eye health news, and tools to locate an ophthalmologist, visit AAO.org/EyeSmart.

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Do You Know the 3 Main Causes of Blindness in the... - The Doctor Weighs In

A 4-year-old Iowa girls tragic bout with the flu should remind everyone why getting vaccinated is so important. Her family says that the unvaccinated girls infection led to serious neurological complications that have left her blind, perhaps permanently.

According to CNN, Jade DeLucia became sick with the flu right before Christmas. Though DeLucia appeared to have little more than a mild fever at first, her parents found her unresponsive one morning, prompting a trip to a local hospital.

Once there, she experienced a seizure, which necessitated an emergency airlift to another hospital 80 miles away in Iowa City. Doctors there eventually confirmed that the flu had made its way to the girls brain, causing a rare but well-known complication of flu called encephalopathy. DeLucia would spend over a week in the intensive care unit, fully in a coma.

Thankfully, during the first week of January, DeLucia woke up and steadily regained her ability to eat and talk. But her vision didnt return, despite her eyes being perfectly fine. The infection had damaged the areas of her brain that helped her see, and its unclear whether she ever will see again. She may also develop other lingering problems, such as learning or cognitive difficulties, her neurologist told CNN.

It affected the part of her brain that perceives sight, and we dont know if shes going to get her vision back, Theresa Czech, a neurologist who treated DeLucia at the University of Iowa Stead Family Childrens Hospital, told CNN. In about three to six months from now well know. Whatever recovery she has at six months, thats likely all shes going to get.

According to DeLucias family, she had gotten vaccinated for the flu last March. But they mistakenly believed that the vaccine would protect her for an entire year. In reality, an annual flu shot only provides some protection against the strains of flu encountered during the upcoming, current, or most recent winter season.

The vaccine doesnt completely eliminate the risk of contracting the fluon average, its about 40 to 60 percent effective at preventing the flu, largely depending on whether scientists havedone a good job at predicting the strains in circulation that season. But even when it doesnt fully work, it still greatly reduces the odds of someone developing the sort of serious, life-threatening complications that DeLucia encountered.

The family hopes that their story can encourage more people to get vaccinated.

If I can stop one child from getting sick, thats what I want to do, Amanda Phillips, Jade DeLucias mother, told CNN. Its terrible to see your child suffer like this.

While this current U.S. flu season is thought to be a relatively mild one, it still may be responsible for up to 12,000 deaths, 150,000 hospitalizations, and over 6 million doctors visits, as of the first week of January, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And its still not too late to get your flu shot or spray.

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A 4-Year-Old Girl's Sudden Blindness Is a Tragic Reminder of Why Everyone Should Get the Flu Shot - Gizmodo

Company Receives FDA Breakthrough Device Designation to Develop Smart Contact Lens;Partners with Palo Alto-based Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Mojo Vision, the Invisible Computing company, today announced a pair of initiatives integral to its goal of assisting people with low or impaired vision. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Device Designation to Mojo for the development of its smart contact lens. The company also announced a new partnership with Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, a Palo Alto-based nonprofit that offers rehabilitation services to more than 3,000 children and adults with blindness or impaired vision each year.

Mojo Vision is building the worlds first true smart contact lens, called the Mojo Lens. The company has been developing its smart contact lens through years of scientific research and holds numerous patents on the technology. Mojo is planning an early application of its product to help people struggling with low vision by using enhanced image overlays. These overlays provide real-time contrast and lighting enhancements, as well as zoom functionality. With its inconspicuous contact lens form factor, the Mojo Lens is designed to serve as a low vision aid that could remain discreet for the wearer and allow a hands-free experience, while delivering enhanced functional vision to assist in mobility, reading, and sighting.

At least 2.2 billion people struggle with vision impairment or blindness worldwide, but rehabilitation options and technologies to enhance their vision are very limited. For those with low or impaired vision, the ability to operate the Mojo Lens discreetly and hands-free will provide more confidence and independence in day-to-day activities like crossing intersections, identifying building entrances, navigating unfamiliar environments and interacting with others.

The FDA Breakthrough Device Program is intended to help patients receive more timely access to breakthrough technologies that have the potential to provide more effective treatment or diagnosis for life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases or conditions. Under the program, the FDA will provide Mojo Vision with priority review and interactive communication regarding device development and clinical trial protocols, through commercialization. The Mojo Lens is currently in the research and development phase and is not available for sale anywhere in the world.

"Receiving the Breakthrough Device Designation is a significant step in our research and development process. We look forward to continuing our work with the FDA to ensure our solution is safe and effective, and that we can bring the Mojo Lens to market and assist people with vision impairment," said Drew Perkins, CEO of Mojo Vision. "This designation continues our work towards developing a product that can truly impact peoples lives in a positive way."

Through the partnership with Vista Center, the nonprofit organizations clients will play a direct role in providing input to the companys team of scientists and engineers, helping them define the features and capabilities of Mojos innovative technology. In turn, Mojo will be able to deliver devices to market that will contribute to vision-loss rehabilitation, and improve the quality of life for Vista Centers clients and others with similar needs. The Mojo Lens will be designed to increase contrast, highlight edges, magnify objects (like text), and zoom-out to spot check surroundings, helping people with low vision navigate the world and increase their social independence.

"Through our partnership with Mojo Vision, we have a unique opportunity to help revolutionize the way those with impaired vision are able to see the world," said Karae Lisle, Executive Director of Vista Center. "Our clients will be at the forefront of this effort, playing direct, hands-on roles in the design of Mojos technology. Together through our efforts, we hope to change the future of vision-loss rehabilitation, improve the quality of life for our clients, and pave the way for others."

Mojo Vision is led by Silicon Valley veterans from Apple, Amazon, Google, HP, Microsoft, Motorola, Infinera, Agilent, and Marvell, among others, as well as medical device and optometry experts from companies including CooperVision, Abbott, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Philips Healthcare, and Zeiss Ophthalmology. Dr. Ashley Tuan, Mojos VP of medical devices and a Vista Center board member, is a Doctor of Optometry from The Ohio State University, has a PhD in Vision Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and has delivered several contact lens products. She is passionate about assisting people struggling with vision impairments.

Story continues

To find out more, go to http://www.mojo.vision.

About Mojo Vision

Mojo Vision is the Invisible Computing company, dedicated to developing products and platforms that re-imagine the intersection of ideas, information, and people. Instead of being tethered to devices that are increasingly a distraction in many aspects of our lives, Mojo envisions delivering information and knowledge that is immediate but without the disruption of traditional devices. Mojo is inventing the future of computing Invisible Computing which imagines a world where information is there when you need it, technology fades away, and you can freely connect with others in a more meaningful and confident way. Founded by technology experts with decades of experience developing pioneering products and platforms and backed by some of the worlds leading technology investors, Mojo believes the future is invisible. Mojo Vision is based in Saratoga, CA.

About Vista Center

Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, is the premier regional resource nonprofit for vision loss rehabilitation services. For more than 75 years, Vista Center has served over 3,000 people annually and offers a wide range of comprehensive programs and services that empower visually impaired community members to embrace life to the fullest through evaluation, counseling, education, and training in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and San Benito counties.

We believe that vision loss need not be a barrier to independent living in the age of technology, heightened diversity, and inclusion in our community. http://www.vistacenter.org

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to the technical, operational, and financial benefits of Mojo Vision's solution. These statements are not guarantees of results and should not be considered as an indication of future activity or future performance. Actual results may vary materially from these expectations as a result of various risks and uncertainties.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200116005187/en/

Contacts

Brian Mast104 West Partners for Mojo Visionbrian.mast@104west.com 720-407-6060

Kim McCoy, Director of DevelopmentVista Center for the Blind & Visually Impairedkmccoy@vistacenter.org 650-858-0202

Link:
Mojo Vision Working with FDA, Nonprofit Organization to Assist People with Low Vision - Yahoo Finance

Regularly getting an eye exam is a key action people with diabetes can take to safeguard their vision. Diabetes not only doubles ones risk for cataracts and glaucoma, but it can lead to diabetic retinopathy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diabetic retinopathy is among the leading causes of blindness and low vision in the United States.

Biomedical research has produced remarkable advances in our ability to treat diabetic retinopathy. First, laser photocoagulation in the 1980s and 1990s was able to slow serious vision loss. Then, in 2010, clinical trials demonstrated that injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) could reduce vision impairment from diabetic macular edema, a subtype of diabetic retinopathy and the leading cause of vision impairment from the disease.

Concurrently, bioengineers developed imaging technologies, such as optical coherence tomography, which measures swelling of the light-sensitive retinal tissue at the back of the eye. The ability to image the retina in such detail has radically improved our ability to follow patients over time, so we can adjust treatment strategies as needed.

Yet, despite these diagnostic and therapeutic leaps forward, our ability to optimally leverage these advances depends on patients and eye health professionals detecting the disease in its early stages.

About one in three people with diabetes have diabetic retinopathybut are unaware he or she has it because, in its early stages, it is symptom-free. The best way for a patient or eye health professional to identify diabetic retinopathy is through a comprehensive dilated eye exam, which allows viewing of the retina at the back of the eye.

Timely eye exams are necessary to take advantage of the available treatments. The American Diabetes Association advises people with Type 2 diabetes to receive an eye exam as soon as possible after their diabetes is diagnosed. Those with Type 1 diabetes should have the exam within five years of diagnosis. The schedule for regular follow-up exams thereafter is every one or two years depending on the patients risk.

Diabetes leads to complications, such as heart, kidney and eye disease by affecting large and small blood vessels in the body. In the case of late-stage retinopathy, new small vessels grow abnormally in the eye. The fragility of these vessels makes them prone to rupture, which can cause bleeding inside the eye and potentially detachment of the retina, leading to blindness.

At any stage of retinopathy, inflammation and other factors cause the accumulation of fluid or edema, within the retina. When a person develops macular edema occurring in the area of the retina that enables sharp, central vision it results in the loss of vision required for activities such as reading or seeing faces.

The risk of developing retinopathy increases the longer a person has diabetes.1 It is estimated that individuals with Type 2 diabetes have a 50-60% lifetime risk of developing retinopathy, while those with Type 1 diabetes have up to a 90% lifetime risk. Of those who develop the disease, 5-10% of them progress to late-stage disease.

Much progress has been made in understanding the underlying pathology that leads to diabetic retinopathy. High blood glucose levels can lead to degeneration of neurons in the retina. At the same time, high blood glucose levels are associated with abnormalities of small vessels in the eye and to the neurovascular unit, a complex unit of cells that regulates blood flow to neurons.

These insights about pathology inform the steps that patients are advised to take to limit their risk as much as possible. The good news is that several studies demonstrate that the risk of developing retinopathy or having it progress to later stages is lowered significantly when diabetic patients tightly manage their blood glucose and blood pressure levels. Achieving optimal blood glucose and blood pressure targets require adhering to drug therapy and a healthy lifestyle, including diet, exercise and smoking cessation.

Lack of lipid control also contributes to diabetic retinopathy. Some studies have demonstrated that persons who have better control of their dyslipidemia have less diabetic retinopathy progression.

Finally, although advances such as laser coagulation and anti-VEGF therapies have been a game-changer for managing diabetic retinopathy, they are not a cure.

Researchers including those funded by the National Eye Institute continue to explore other potential therapeutic targets for preserving vision on behalf of the growing population of people who develop diabetes. According to the CDC, the number of Americans with diabetic retinopathy is expected to grow to 14.6 million by 2050.

In addition to having a comprehensive dilated eye exam, following these simple steps can help everyone stay on top of their eye health.

References

1 Klein, R., Klein, B. E., Moss, S. E., Davis, M. D. & DeMets, D. L. The Wisconsin epidemiologic study of diabetic retinopathy. II. Prevalence and risk of diabetic retinopathy when age at diagnosis is less than 30 years. Arch. Ophthalmol. 102 (1984).

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Early detection is crucial to prevent blindness from diabetic retinopathy - Open Access Government

The claim that belief in God requires some degree of blindness has been made countless times throughout recorded history. We are told we need merely accept His existence without needing to verify His existence. Yet, the existence of God does not require any degree of blindness to know He exists.

There are others who believe faith of any kind in God is automatically blind by its very definition. According to Merriam-Webster, faith has three definitions and only one has to do with having a firm belief in something in which there is no proof, which falls under 2 b. Those who do not believe in God often point to this definition as a reason to discount all faith.

2 a is often ignored, since both parts give faith a completely different meaning. Part 1 is defined as belief and trust in and loyalty to God. Part 2 is defined as belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion. Nothing under the first definition requires faith to have no proof.

There are absolutes that exist in the universe and the absolutes must have come from God. One such absolute is the first law of thermodynamics, which states energy can neither be created or destroyed. If energy cannot be created, where did the energy originate? Only God could have put energy in place at the beginning, since there is no other explanation for the very existence of something that cannot be created.

There are other absolutes, but each lead to the same questions and same point of origin. Absolutes exist and only God can bring about the answers to the questions, since only God can set the laws in place. Energy exists only because God put it there and no other scientific explanation can be given for something that we know exists that cannot be created or destroyed.

It is not just physics that proves the existence of God, but in mathematics as well. When a new formula is introduced, it is never referred to as an invention. New formulas are always referred to as discoveries. Why is it referred to as a discovery? The answer is all mathematics that will every be known is already in place and waiting for the right mind to make the discovery.

God is the only explanation for the existence of energy and God is the only explanation for the existence of mathematical formulas. The laws of physics and mathematics have been tested and both have been proven true. To deny the existence of God is to deny the overwhelming evidence that does exist.

There is other evidence of God in the very existence of Israel as a nation today. It is only through God that Israel survived her War for Independence and won the wars that followed. They should have been crushed in days due to overwhelming force of arms and soldiers, but God has never forgotten his covenant and acted on their behalf.

The Jews remain the chosen people of God and nothing can alter what God promised. His covenant was without end and no other religion has ever replaced Judaism. God scattered the people of Israel and God is calling His people home.

For those who believe Christians replaced Jews as the chosen people of God, should take a close look at Matthew 5:17 and 18.

There is scientific and mathematical evidence to show God does exist. The existence of Israel is further proof. God created energy, which cannot be created, and God created the mathematical formulas for us to discover. It is only God who could have intervened on behalf of the rebirth of Israel.

Bob Ryan is a science-fiction author and believes the key to understanding the future is to understand the past. As any writer can attest, he spends a great deal of time researching numerous subjects. He is someone who seeks to strip away emotion in search of reason, since emotion clouds judgement.Bob is an American with an MBA in Business Administration. He is a gentile who supports Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state.

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Blind Faith is Not Needed to Believe in God - The Times of Israel

About 2.2 billion people today struggle to see without a pair of glassesBy ELIZABETH MERABMore by this Author22hoursago

How often do you clean your eyes or how well do you do it?Every day, we hear about whats bad for our health.Did you know that watching TV at night is bad for your eyes? In fact, looking at any type of screen right before bed in the dark, including your cell phone, e-reader, television and computer, can be harmful. This is because the levels of light are changing rapidly, so your eyes have to work hard to process the changes, which can lead to eyestrain, pain, headaches, dry eye and redness. Even worse? It can mess with your sleep schedule, too.Reading in dim light isn't advised either.These, coupled with other commonly ignored things like misusing eye make-up, sleeping in contacts, rubbing your eyes, overusing eye drops and not eating a well-balanced diet, among others, could be making your eyesight deteriorate. According to a recent report by the World Health Organisation, these have now led to at least one billion vision impaired people globally.In its first world report on vision, WHO said these simple, yet preventable, lack of simple eye care is increasingly pushing more people towards blindness now more than ever.Globally, the report added, about 2.2 billion people today struggle to see without a pair of glasses and have an impairment or blindness.While eye conditions and vision impairment conditions like short and far-sightedness, cataracts and glaucoma could be prevented, they are increasingly widespread, and far too often they still go untreated the report noted.

In a world built on the ability to see, vision, the most dominant of our senses, is vital at every turn of our lives, said WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus.Now, the world needs Sh1.5 trillion to address the backlog of blindness s due to short and farsightedness, and cataracts.Dr Alarcos Cieza, who heads WHOs work to address blindness and vision impairment, said: Millions of people have severe vision impairment and are not able to participate in society to their fullest because they cant access rehabilitation services. In a world built on the ability to see, eye care services, including rehabilitation, must be provided closer to communities for people to achieve their maximum potential.According to the report, millions of people are suffering from conditions which could be corrected through a simple operation or prevented from causing blindness if detected early. These conditions include cataracts and glaucoma. An estimated 826 million people around the world have unaddressed presbyopia, an age-related condition that causes vision to become blurred, but can usually be treated with multifocal lenses. And roughly 124 million people who are short or long-sighted (have a refractive error) do not currently wear glasses or contact lenses.Low- and middle-income regions of western and eastern sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia have rates of blindness that are eight times higher than in all high-income countries. Rates of cataract and trachomatous trichiasis are higher among women, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Whereas things like exposing your bare eyes to the sun are actually one of the most common causes of damaged eyesight, infections, chronic illnesses like diabetes, age, genetic disorders also contribute to this rising silent epidemic.Closer home, the report said, it is estimated that 224,000 Kenyans are blind while another 750,000 are visually impaired. The singles out the Kalenjin as largely predisposed to blindness. According to a survey in Nakuru, the odds of being blind were 2.5 times higher among the Kalenjin than the rest of the countys population.The situation in the country is worsened by the low number of eye specialists. Women, migrants, indigenous peoples, the disabled, and rural communities bear the greatest burden.Trachoma is largely found in poor, rural communities that have inadequate access to water, sanitation and health care.As a two-decade push to end blindness by 2020 draws to a close, the report noted that goal was unlikely to be met, as the number of people with myopia, an eye condition that makes it difficult for a person to see distant objects, was expected to increase from the estimated two billion people in 2010 to 3.4 billion by 2030.People in need of yearly or biennial retinal examination for diabetic retinopathy will increase by 50 per cent in 2040.

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Over 2bn struggle to see without glasses: WHO - nation.co.ke

(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK Priv Revaux, the affordable celebrity eyewear brand that exploded onto the scene two years ago, is continuing its massive retail expansion and exclusive optical partnership with Americas Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, part of National Vision Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: EYE), one of the nations largest optical retailers providing quality, affordable eye care and eyewear. After an extremely successful pilot program at select Americas Best locations, Priv Revaux is now available at all brand locations nationwide.

An impressive assortment of Priv Revauxs affordable, handcrafted, on-trend frames in both sun and optical are now available at all Americas Best locations nationwide. Prices start at $30 per pair for non-prescription sunglasses and as a special introductory offer in January, customers can get two pairs of optical frames with single vision lenses for $89.95. Each Priv Revaux style is made with high-end materials including acetate and proprietary lightweight, yet durable metal alloy. A majority of sunglasses also have polarized lenses with UVA/UVB protection.

I am so proud of our brand and how far we have come in only two short years, says Priv Revaux partner Hailee Steinfeld. Our expansion with an amazing group like Americas Best is representative of that progress. Adding our high-quality, affordably priced frames to their high-quality, affordably priced eyewear offerings is a total no brainer.

Adds Priv Revaux founder, David Schottenstein, I couldnt be more proud of our success with Americas Best, National Visions largest retail brand. This is an exciting time for us, and we look forward to supporting this expansion and our continued growth with our partners at National Vision.

The partnership expansion will kick off with an exclusive in-store shopping event and customer meet-and-greet with Priv Revaux brand partner Hailee Steinfeld on Saturday, January 11th from 2 4pm EST. The event will be held at Americas Best Contacts & Eyeglasses in Glendale, NY, located in The Shops at Atlas Park, 8016 Cooper Avenue. The partnership will be further amplified by a national advertising campaign from Americas Best, which will include social, digital and TV campaigns as well as dedicated in-store Priv Revaux fixtures utilizing the brands creative visuals and marketing assets. Additional in-store events will be planned throughout the year.

During the pilot phase, customers really embraced Priv Revaux, and we are thrilled to be able to offer their stylish frames to our Americas Best customers nationwide, said Megan Molony, National Visions senior vice president of merchandising. The partnership allows us to offer our customers a fantastic blend of stylish frames at a price they can afford and we are thrilled to be Prive Revauxs exclusive optical retail partner.

Priv Revaux was built on a shared passion for style and quality with the goal of disrupting the eyewear industry and making high end sunglasses accessible. Serial entrepreneur David Schottenstein along with an elite team including celebrity visionaries Jamie Foxx, Hailee Steinfeld and Ashley Benson, as well as VP of Celebrity Relations Dave Osokow and Creative Directors Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn have done just that. The brand launched in June 2017 via e-commerce and direct-to-consumer with affordable, high quality and on-trend eyewear starting at $89.95 for two pairs of optical frames with prescription.

With Priv Revaux we just want to make great eyewear, where people really appreciate the price point and quality sunglasses and frames that are fly and affordable, says Priv Revaux brand partner, Jamie Foxx. National Vision understands that, and I couldnt be more excited about our future together.

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There Might Be a Faster and Cheaper Way to Test for Myopia - InvisionMag

Neuroscientists have discovered that brain pressure is physiologically connected to eye pressure commonly associated with glaucoma. The theory that brain pressure might play a role in glaucoma has long been questioned by researchers, but until this new study, it had not been confirmed.

The groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Physiologyfound that the amount of strain on the optic nerve depends not just on eye pressure, but the difference in pressure between the brain and the eye. The study altered brain pressure in animal models and noted changes in the fluid drainage properties of the eye that could be blocked by chemicals that eliminate feedback signals from the brain. It was found that the eyes ability to clear fluid could change to restore a healthy pressure difference across the optic nerve.

Chris Passaglia, PhD, professor in the USF Department of Medical Engineering said, The drainage control system may service to protect the optic nerve from swings in eye or brain pressure. Its discovery offers a new target for glaucoma treatment, wherein the modulatory mechanisms of the system might be exploited to help lower eye pressure and impede disease progression in glaucoma patients.

Glaucomais relatively common and is the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 60. If left untreated, it can cause damage to the optic nerve. It is associated with increased pressure in the eye due to reduced ability of the eye to maintain proper fluid drainage. This pressure then applies mechanical strain to the optic nerve as the nerve exits the eye, resulting in vision loss and potential blindness.

Symptoms of glaucoma tend not to arise until the condition is advanced, so ophthalmologists recommend checking eye pressure during routine exams using an air puff test. However, this test may miss some complex aspects of the disease that makes diagnosis a challenge.

Some patients with high eye pressure dont always show signs of glaucoma, while others who exhibit symptoms of glaucoma have normal eye pressure. This is why it is so important to have other forms of glaucoma testing.

Additional studies are currently underway to pinpoint the location of the brain cells that are sending signals to the eye and find which nerve fibers in the eye are being mediated by the brain. Researchers hope this significant advancement will help physicians better diagnose and treat glaucoma and have a greater understanding of the disease.

While there are no known ways of preventing glaucoma, blindness or significant vision loss from glaucoma can be prevented if the disease is recognized in the early stages. Anyone with high risk factors should be tested every year or two after age 35. Those at higher risk include people of African descent, people with diabetes, and people with a family history of glaucoma.

Some other preventative steps for glaucoma include getting regular exercise, wearing protective eyewear when engaged in sports activities or home improvement projects, and consuming a healthy diet. Although there is limited scientific evidence suggesting that certain vitamins and minerals prevent glaucoma or delay its progress, carotenoids (especially lutein and zeaxanthin), antioxidants (such vitamins C and E), vitamins A and D, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids may all contribute to better vision.

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Glaucoma Is Associated with Increased Pressure in the Brain: Study - Bel Marra Health

Susan Tedeschi, Ivan Neville, Buddy Guy, Derek Trucks, John Scofield and Warren Haynes are among the all-star lineup for an upcoming tribute to the late legendary blues guitarist B.B. King. The Thrill Is Gone: A Tribute To B.B. King will be held at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York February 16 and 17.

The Thrill Is Gone will also feature Anthony Hamilton, Bob Margolin, Bobby Rush, David Hidalgo, Jamey Johnson, Jimmie Vaughan, John Scofield, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Little Steven, Robert Cray, Robert Randolph, Shemekia Copeland, Southside Johnny, Steve Cropper, Tony TC Coleman and William Bell. Acclaimed drummer/producer Steve Jordan will serve as musical director. Additional guests will be revealed in the coming weeks. On January 28, the daily lineups will be announced.

Blackbird Presents and The Capitol Theatre are producing the concert in partnership with the B.B. King Estate. A portion of proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the Seva Foundation and its mission of transforming lives and strengthening communities by restoring sight and preventing blindness. Two-night tickets go on sale this Friday, January 17 at 12 p.m. ET via Ticketmaster. Single-day tickets will be available starting on January 31.

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The Thrill Is Gone: All-Star Tribute To BB King Coming To Capitol Theatre - JamBase

Aicardi syndrome is a very rare condition that usually affects girls.

Depending on its severity, it can cause developmental delay, epilepsy, problems with vision, and a shortened life expectancy.

In this article, learn more about Aicardi syndrome, including its risk factors, symptoms, and treatments.

Aicardi syndrome is a rare condition that almost exclusively affects females, with doctors having reported only a few cases in males.

Another name for Aicardi syndrome is agenesis of corpus callosum, or ACC.

Experts think that the condition develops in an embryo during early pregnancy, when there is a change in the DNA of one or more genes.

Aicardi syndrome is not passed down through families. It occurs in people with no family history of the condition.

Doctors usually diagnose Aicardi syndrome in early infancy after the baby experiences seizures called infantile spasms.

Children with Aicardi syndrome may also have developmental delays, learning difficulties, and partial sight or blindness. They may also have a shortened life expectancy.

Aicardi syndrome is very rare, occurring in just 1 in 105,000167,000 babies in the United States. Around the world, there are likely about 4,000 people with the condition. Most of these people are female.

Researchers believe that Aicardi syndrome results from genetic mutations that happen while an embryo is forming. One change may involve the X chromosomes in affected females.

Female embryos have two X chromosomes, while males embryos have just one.

Research indicates that when the characteristic genetic mutations occur in one X chromosome, female embryos can survive because another, healthy X chromosome is present.

If these changes occur in the single X chromosome of a male embryo, it is unlikely to survive. This could explain why babies born with the syndrome are almost exclusively female.

However, very rarely, male babies have been born with Aicardi syndrome. Some boys with the condition have an extra X chromosome.

A mutation in the TEAD1 gene on chromosome 11 may also be responsible for some cases of Aicardi syndrome in boys and girls.

Scientists have yet to prove these theories definitively, and research into the causes of Aicardi syndrome is ongoing.

Infantile spasms are usually the first symptom of Aicardi syndrome. These are seizures that involve single jerks of the whole body.

The spasms often appear before 3 months of age, and they can occur several times a day.

Before a doctor can make a diagnosis of Aicardi syndrome, they need to conduct tests to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms. These alternate causes could include:

Children with Aicardi syndrome usually have some degree of developmental delay and learning difficulties.

Epilepsy is a feature of Aicardi syndrome, and one study found that those with more severe epilepsy had poorer cognitive skills, involving organization and memory.

Some people with Aicardi syndrome have milder symptoms and may not receive a diagnosis until they are adults.

A doctor can detect Aicardi syndrome's changes to the brain with an MRI scan. Some or all of the following features could be present:

People with Aicardi syndrome often have chorioretinal lacunae, which are round, whitish-yellow lesions in the retina the tissue that lines the back of the eye. An ophthalmologist can see these lesions with an ophthalmoscope.

A person with Aicardi syndrome may also have:

Sometimes, these symptoms cause partial-sightedness or blindness.

Also, some people with Aicardi syndrome have distinct facial features and other physical attributes, including:

Other health issues associated with Aicardi syndrome are:

Aicardi syndrome can cause different symptoms in different people, and the treatments also vary.

The aim of treatment is to manage the symptoms, and a doctor will tailor their approach to address each person's situation.

Some treatments focus on easing the severity and frequency of seizures. Others, such as physical, speech, and occupational therapies, can help people with Aicardi syndrome overcome developmental delays and problems relating to vision.

Having a rare disease or being the parent or caregiver of someone with this type of illness can be difficult. A person may feel isolated.

Support groups give people a space to voice their concerns and speak with others who face similar challenges.

The following groups may be useful for people with Aicardi syndrome and their loved ones:

Aicardi syndrome is a rare condition that can cause seizures, vision problems, and other symptoms. It mainly occurs in females.

Most experts think that Aicardi syndrome results from genetic mutation in embryos during very early pregnancy. It is not passed down through families.

As there is no cure for the condition, treatment aims to manage each individual's symptoms.

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Aicardi syndrome: Definition, causes, symptoms, and more - Medical News Today

SparingVision, a biotechnology company innovating treatment of blinding inherited retinal diseases such as Retinitis Pigmentosa and pioneer in the development of a gene-independent treatment for retinitis pigmentosa, attends the Biotech Showcase in San Francisco to meet with investors and strategic partners. The company announces today that Stephane Boissel is joining its Board of Directors as Chairman of the Board. Stephane Boissel is set to replace Laurent Arthaud, a representative of Bpifrance, who will remain a Board Member.

Stephane Boissel is Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy at Sangamo Therapeutics, a gene-editing company listed on the NASDAQ. He was previously CEO of TxCell, a CAR-TReg company that he sold to Sangamo Therapeutics in 2018. Prior to TxCell, Stephane has served as CEO of Genclis a molecular diagnostic company, EVP and CFO of Innate Pharma, NASDAQ listed company and Transgene. He has been member of several boards of directors including Erytech Pharma a NASDAQ listed company and Elsalys Biotech, where he served as Chairman of the Board until 2018. Earlier in his career, Stephane Boissel worked in investment banking for Lazard, where he focused on principal investment in France, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Stephane Boissel is graduated from the IAE Lyon, University of Lyon and Paris-Dauphine University (France) and received his MBA from the University of Chicago.

"I would like to thank Laurent Arthaud who served as Chairman of the Board of SparingVision since our inception in 2016" said Florence Allouche, CEO of SparingVision, "We are pleased to welcome Stephane Boissel as new Chairman of the Board. He is a seasoned biotech professional who brings over 25 years of leadership across general management, corporate finance, strategy and business development, that will be a strong asset as SparingVision is entering in a new phase of its growth."

"I wish to thank the Board of Directors and Florence Allouche for their trust," said Stephane Boissel, new Chairman of the Board at SparingVision. "I'm delighted to share my vision and experience with Sparingvision and to join the company at such an exciting time. My first priority will be to help the team to secure the funding that will enable SparingVision to prove in human its unique concept of gene independent therapy in Retinitis Pigmentosa. Ophthalmology remains a field with significant unmet medical need and the SparingVision team is dedicated to rapidly bring its product to commercialization in order to address those needs."

About SparingVision

SparingVision is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of innovative therapies for the treatment of blinding inherited retinal diseases. SparingVision is developing SPVN06, a gene-independent treatment for retinitis pigmentosa, the most common inherited retinal degeneration. There is currently no treatment to treat all genetic forms of this rare retinal disease that leads to blindness and affects nearly 2 million worldwide. SparingVision is a spin-off of the Paris Vision Institute. Bpifrance, Foundation Fighting Blindness (US) and Fondation Voir & Entendre invested 15.5 million in the company. SparingVision was laureate and Grand Prize of i-Lab 2017, the French National Innovative Companies Competition. SparingVision has been awarded from the EIC Accelerator program (H2020 SME instrument Phase 2), securing non-dilutive funding of 2.5 million.

Florence Allouche, President CEO of SparingVision is PharmD, MBA from HEC Paris, Associate Professor at University of Paris. She has been honored by the Mercures Entrepreneurs Prize and the Women Trajectory's Awards from HEC Paris and was elected "Woman of the Year 2017" by the financial magazine "La Tribune".www.sparingvision.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200115005607/en/

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SparingVision to Attend the Biotech Showcase During JPMorgan Conference in San Francisco, Announces the Appointment of Stephane Boissel as New...