StemCell Therapy

NightstaRx has raised 39.5M that will go towards three clinical programs testing gene therapies for rare diseases that cause blindness.

NightstaRx is developing gene therapies for genetic retinal diseases that cause blindness, with technology from the University of Oxford. Now getting closer to the clinic, the company has closed a Series C round with$45M (39.5M) that will go towards progressing its pipeline.The fundraising was backed by existing investors Syncona, the VC arm of the UKs Wellcome Trust, and New Enterprise Associates (NEA), which were joined by two new names: Wellington Management and Redmile.

NightstaRx has announced the money will fund an upcoming Phase III trial with its lead candidate NSR-REP1 in choroideremia, an ongoing Phase I/II study in X-linked retinitis pigmentosa and a planned Phase I/II program for inherited macular dystrophy.All indications pursued by the company have no effective treatment approved.

The biotechs technology is based adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors that deliver functional genes to patients with mutations that affect their sight. The DNA is delivered via an injection under the retina as a one-time treatment.

NightstaRx lead candidate, NSR-REP1, delivers a copy of the REP-1 gene, which encodes a protein involved in absorbing nutrients. Mutations in this gene, located in the X chromosome, cause choroideremia, a rare disease in which the retina degenerates slowly over the years, eventually leaving patients blind.A previous Phase I/II trial with NSR-REP1 in six patients with choroideremia where only one eye was treated showed significant improvementin their vision three and a half years after receiving the therapy.

Gene therapy is particularly suited to treat the eye, where it can sustain long-lasting gene expression without inducing an immune response, which has led many companies to develop their own approaches for multiple diseases affecting this organ. One of the most advanced is Spark Therapeutics, in the US, which expects FDA approval for its lead candidate in retinal disease this year. A second candidate, SPK-7001, is in Phase I/II for choroidemia, where it might have to compete with NightstaRx.

In Europe, most efforts are found in France. From there, GenSight is running two Phase III trialsin the rare genetic disease LHON;Horama is in Phase I/II in another rare condition, LCA; and Eyevensys will soon start a first trial in uveitis with the first gene therapy that does not use viral vectors.

Images via GeK / Shutterstock; NightstaRx

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40M in Series C for a British Biotech Treating Blindness with Gene Therapy - Labiotech.eu (blog)

NightstaRx has raised 39.5M that will go towards three clinical programs testing gene therapies for rare diseases that cause blindness.

NightstaRx is developing gene therapies for genetic retinal diseases that cause blindness, with technology from the University of Oxford. Now getting closer to the clinic, the company has closed a Series C round with$45M (39.5M) that will go towards progressing its pipeline.The fundraising was backed by existing investors Syncona, the VC arm of the UKs Wellcome Trust, and New Enterprise Associates (NEA), which were joined by two new names: Wellington Management and Redmile.

NightstaRx has announced the money will fund an upcoming Phase III trial with its lead candidate NSR-REP1 in choroideremia, an ongoing Phase I/II study in X-linked retinitis pigmentosa and a planned Phase I/II program for inherited macular dystrophy.All indications pursued by the company have no effective treatment approved.

The biotechs technology is based adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors that deliver functional genes to patients with mutations that affect their sight. The DNA is delivered via an injection under the retina as a one-time treatment.

NightstaRx lead candidate, NSR-REP1, delivers a copy of the REP-1 gene, which encodes a protein involved in absorbing nutrients. Mutations in this gene, located in the X chromosome, cause choroideremia, a rare disease in which the retina degenerates slowly over the years, eventually leaving patients blind.A previous Phase I/II trial with NSR-REP1 in six patients with choroideremia where only one eye was treated showed significant improvementin their vision three and a half years after receiving the therapy.

Gene therapy is particularly suited to treat the eye, where it can sustain long-lasting gene expression without inducing an immune response, which has led many companies to develop their own approaches for multiple diseases affecting this organ. One of the most advanced is Spark Therapeutics, in the US, which expects FDA approval for its lead candidate in retinal disease this year. A second candidate, SPK-7001, is in Phase I/II for choroidemia, where it might have to compete with NightstaRx.

In Europe, most efforts are found in France. From there, GenSight is running two Phase III trialsin the rare genetic disease LHON;Horama is in Phase I/II in another rare condition, LCA; and Eyevensys will soon start a first trial in uveitis with the first gene therapy that does not use viral vectors.

Images via GeK / Shutterstock; NightstaRx

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40M in Series C for NightstaRx to Treat Blindness with Gene Therapy - Labiotech.eu (blog)

"One of the biggest obstacles is our own perceptions of our capabilities, and part of the Lighthouse's mission is to change perceptions of the abilities of the blind in all fields." Bryan Bashin, CEO, The Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Instead, Ojok Simon wants them to know about a way they can earn money without leaving home: beekeeping. Simon, 36, became visually impaired after he was severely beaten by rebels who came to his village when he was a child. He has been a beekeeper for 15 years, and in 2013 he co-founded Hive Uganda, an organization that teaches advocates for visually impaired people and teaches them to make a living raising honeybees.

This year, his organization will receive a boost: Simon is one of three winners of the first-ever Holman Prize, started by The Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in San Francisco.

"It's like a blind Fulbright," said Will Butler, the organization's communication director, of the award, which gives up to $25,000 apiece to blind and visually impaired people seeking funding for ambitious personal projects.

The prize is named for James Holman, a 19th-century English navy lieutenant who lost his sight at 25. In those days, if a military man became blind, "the usual thing was they'd go sit in a convent or church and pray for the souls of dead English soldiers and sailors," said Bryan Bashin, The Lighthouse's CEO.

Holman didn't think that sounded like fun. So, "at a time with people didn't even think that blind people could get out of the house, he began to travel, and he became the most traveled blind person of the 19th century," eventually crossing through Scotland and France, and across Siberia, Bashin said.

Along the way she will videotape her encounters and blog about her journey. Her goal, she said, is "to show that blind people and other disabled people have got lots of get up and go and ability, and they are a great resource for the rest of the community, the rest of society, and particularly employers, to use better."

Melville-Brown was thrilled to learn she had won ("My thinking is it's a cross between the Paralympics and The Apprentice, with a whiff of the Nobel!" she wrote to the organizers in an excited email). But she also said the honor comes with "a great responsibility. Because I am sort of representing lots of blind people, and especially those who were candidates for the prize. I'm sort of doing it on their behalf."

Two-hundred and two applicants from 27 countries and 35 U.S. states submitted 90-second video pitches for their projects.

"We were staggered by the amount of interest and the quality and diversity of the proposals," Bashin said. "One of the biggest obstacles is our own perceptions of our capabilities, and part of the Lighthouse's mission is to change perceptions of the abilities of the blind in all fields."

Winners will be flown to San Francisco and work with the project manager to refine their ideas. A year later, they will return to report on how they turned out.

In the Gulu district of northern Uganda, Simon's organization has already taught 38 people to be beekeepers, using local materials to make beehives and learning how to understand bees' behavior.

Ugandans prize the insects for their honey, their wax (used in soap and cosmetics), their propolis, and even their venom, which can be used to boost immunity. But much of the harvesting is done in the wild, which presents a challenge for the visually impaired. Hive Uganda teaches people to use frames and assess the honey harvest by feeling how heavy they are.

Winning the Holman will allow Simon to widen the scope of how many people he can help.

"I feel that now I'm going to be addressing the larger society ... to empower East Africa in general," he told the Washington Post. "My dream is becoming reality, and that change that I wanted, I started feeling at my fingertips."

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Blindness does not stop this beekeeper, baker, and kayaker from expanding their vision - The Guam Daily Post

Biotechnology varieties of corn and soybeans make up 95 percent of the 15.5 million acres planted this spring by Nebraska farmers, according to a report from the USDAs National Agricultural Statistics Service on Friday.

According to the report, Nebraska corn growers planted 9.8 million acres, down 1 percent from last year. Biotechnology varieties were used on 96 percent of the area planted, up 1 percentage point from a year ago. Growers expect to harvest 9.5 million acres for grain, which is down 1 percent from last year.

Statewide, soybean planted area is estimated at 5.7 million acres, up 10 percent from last years total and a record high. Of the acres planted, 94 percent were planted with genetically modified, herbicide resistant seed, down 2 percentage points from a year ago. Acres expected to be harvested are 5.65 million, up 10 percent from a year earlier.

Last year, Nebraska ranked sixth in the nation in harvested acres of principal crops at 19,223,000 acres.

Nationwide, the USDA reported that corn planted area for all purposes in 2017 is estimated at 90.9 million acres, down 3 percent from last year. Compared with last year, planted acres are down or unchanged in 38 of the 48 estimating states. Area harvested for grain, at 83.5 million acres, is down 4 percent from last year.

Soybean planted area for 2017, nationwide, is estimated at a record high 89.5 million acres, up 7 percent from last year. Compared with last year, planted acreage intentions are up or unchanged in 24 of the 31 estimating states.

The USDA reported that winter wheat seeded in the fall of 2016 totaled 1.11 million acres, down 19 percent from last year and a record low. Harvested acreage is forecast at 1 million acres, down 24 percent from a year ago.

Along with declining wheat acres, Nebraska wheat farmers are also having to deal with a wheat virus outbreak that has reached epidemic levels and has been damaging fields and yields in the southern Nebraska Panhandle, according to the Associated Press. The Nebraska Wheat Association earlier this month reported that as many as 85 percent of southern Panhandle fields have been affected by the virus.

Nationwide, all wheat planted area for 2017 is estimated at 45.7 million acres, down 9 percent from 2016. This represents the lowest all wheat planted area on record since records began in 1919. The 2017 winter wheat planted area, at 32.8 million acres, is down 9 percent from last year. Of this total, about 23.8 million acres are hard red winter.

For other Nebraska crops, the USDA reported that:

Alfalfa hay acreage to be cut for dry hay is at 770 thousand acres, up 3 percent from 2016. Other hay acreage to be cut for dry hay is 1.70 million acres, unchanged from last year.

Sorghum acreage planted and to be planted, at 140 thousand acres, is down 30 percent from a year ago. The area to be harvested for grain, at 110 thousand acres, is down 37 percent from last year.

Oats planted area is estimated at 115 thousand acres, down 15 percent from the previous year. Area to be harvested for grain, at 25 thousand acres, is unchanged from a year ago.

Dry edible bean planted acreage is estimated at 150 thousand acres, up 9 percent from last year. Harvested acres are estimated at 139 thousand acres, up 14 percent from the previous year.

Proso millet plantings of 130 thousand acres are up 37 percent from a year ago.

Sugarbeet planted acres, at 49.7 thousand, are up 4 percent from last year.

Oil sunflower acres planted are estimated at 55 thousand, up 90 percent from last year. Non-oil sunflower planted acreage is estimated at 6 thousand acres, down 52 percent from a year ago and a record low.

Dry edible pea estimated planted acres are 45 thousand acres, down 18 percent from last year. Harvested acres are estimated at 42 thousand, down 19 percent from the previous year.

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Biotechnology crops dominate Nebraska crop fields - Grand Island Independent

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS--(Marketwired - June 30, 2017) - Nerium Biotechnology, Inc. ("Nerium" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the voting results of its annual meeting of shareholders (the "Meeting") held on June 29, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This year's Meeting had extraordinary participation from Nerium's shareholders, with a total of 31,272,131 common shares, or approximately 85.75% of the outstanding common shares of Nerium, having been voted at the Meeting.

We are pleased to announce that Nerium's shareholders voted to elect all six of Nerium's director nominees to the board of directors (the "Board"). Each Nerium director nominee received at least 77% of the votes cast by shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting. The dissident's director nominees each received 20% of the votes cast by shareholders, which includes the 7.48% of the votes cast by the dissident shareholders. The voting results of the election of directors are as follows:

"We thank Nerium's shareholders for their consideration and support during this process," said Richard Boxer, Chair of the Special Committee of Nerium's Board. "We are pleased that the Company's shareholders voted overwhelmingly to reject the dissident's nominees and elect all of Nerium's nominees to the Board. Your directors will continue to act in the best interests of Nerium and all of its shareholders, and are committed to addressing legitimate shareholder concerns. We intend to provide shareholders with a more detailed update on the Company's business in the coming weeks."

All other matters set out in the Company's management information circular were approved by the requisite majority of the shareholders at the Meeting.

About Nerium Biotechnology, Inc.

Nerium Biotechnology, Inc. is a biotechnology company involved in the research, product development, manufacture and marketing of Nerium oleander-based products. The Company's shares are not listed on any stock exchange or quotation system.

Forward Looking Statements: Statements made in this press release that relate to future plans, expectations, events or performances are forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not based on historic facts, but rather on current expectations regarding future events. They are based on information available to management and/or assumptions management believes are reasonable. Many factors could cause future events and outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements are based on what management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof and, except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise such forward-looking statements. More information about the Company is available in its disclosure documents, all of which are available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com.

Excerpt from:
Nerium Biotechnology Shareholders Overwhelmingly Elect All Six Management Nominees to Nerium's Board - Marketwired (press release)

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Biotechnology Separation Systems Market 2017 Industry Analysis ... - World Of WallStreet

Question: I have an old mixed-breed dog that has had arthritis for years and it has gotten to the point where he needs my help to get up off the floor. It is getting very hard for me to lift him. He took many different NSAIDS in his life, but now his kidneys and liver are not good, so we decided to take him off of those since they can cause more damage. We tried Tramadol and Gabapentin, but they did not help and just made him loopy. I read about a new drug for dogs called Galliprant. I asked my vet about it but he did not know anything. Would it help my Snoopy without hurting him?

Answer: It is not uncommon for dogs to have deteriorating kidney and liver function as they age. They often have stiff, aching joints as well.

We have been blessed with many good NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to help decrease inflammation and pain. These drugs have been lifesavers for many dogs, and have allowed them to live longer happier lives. Unfortunately, they do have limitations and can cause gastrointestinal issues, like ulcers or vomiting, but more importantly, they are filtered through the kidneys and liver, and complications can develop if the function of these organs are compromised. This is why routine blood testing is mandatory when your dog is taking NSAIDS.

Galliprant is a new class of non-COX inhibiting NSAID medications that are used to treat osteoarthritis pain in dogs. Plumbs Veterinary formulary says: It could potentially cause significantly fewer severe adverse effects in dogs than other NSAIDS. The main side effect is diarrhea or vomiting.

Since Galliprant is a new class of osteoarthritis medication, long-term experience is somewhat limited. Most patients that have been placed on it long term are elderly dogs that have failed all other alternatives. Most owners report that their dogs response to the medication has been very good especially with the response in their dogs comfort level and increased mobility. I would feel very comfortable using this medication on my elderly dog.

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New drug Galliprant a good option for elderly dogs with arthritis - Palm Beach Post

SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco-based fashion designer Yuka Uehara will lead the Arthritis Foundations 15th Annual Fashion Fights Arthritis Friday, October 20, at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.

The Arthritis Foundations Fashion Fights Arthritis is a community-driven fundraiser and a fun, lighthearted way of talking about the seriousness of arthritis the nations leading cause of disability.

More than 50 million adults and 300,000 kids in the U.S. have arthritis, including 5.9 million adults in California alone. The disease costs the U.S. economy $128 billion annually and limits activity more than heart disease, cancer or diabetes.

This years event will feature a thrilling runway show featuring Yuka Ueharas Tokyo Gamine Haute Couture line, and will offer a champagne reception, silent auction, luncheon and a live auction.

All proceeds support the Arthritis Foundations mission to conquer and cure arthritis.

Tickets are now on sale online at http://www.arthritis.org/FashionFightsArthritis or call 415-356-5484 for more information.

Yuka Uehara is a Japanese-born, San Francisco-based fashion designer.Originally a medical student, Uehara began working in design when her father, filmmaker Ryuji Fukuyama, hired her to work in the costume department of his productions.

She has been working in fashion ever since, teaching herself both design and craft. Film and storytelling still informs her creative practice as she is a firm believer in the relationship between costume and character.

Fashion sends a message about who you are and where you come from. It is for that reason that Uehara has a close bond with her clients, making items that work in harmony with their personas, strengthen their narratives. Every woman is the protagonist of her own story, Uehara exclaims, Fashion is there to encourage that.

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Fashion Fights Arthritis '17 comes to San Francisco Oct. 20 - Inquirer.net

Reader Charles Wang wrote to ask if stem cell therapy - the use of stem cells to treat various medical conditions - is approved in Singapore. Mr Wang also asked where one could seek this treatment if it is available. Health reporter Linette Lai answered.

Any new treatment must be backed up by sufficient scientific evidence to ensure that it is safe and effective. However, there is still not enough scientific evidence available for stem cell therapy to be approved as a mainstream treatment in Singapore.

A Ministry of Health spokesman said: "To date, stem cell therapy has not been substantiated by sufficient clinical evidence as a form of mainstream treatment for any diseases or ailments, and it is not available as a treatment in our public hospitals.

"If any registered medical practitioners or institutions want to administer stem cells as a form of medical treatment, it would have to be conducted within the context of clinical trials."

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Is stem cell therapy approved in Singapore? - The Straits Times

LUCY Clarke was facing a downhill spiral when she flew to Russia to undergo a cutting edge stem cell transplant.

Two years on she says the procedure not only halted her illness in its tracks, but reversed much of the damage inflicted by multiple sclerosis.

The 41-year-old from Inverness is now backing crowdfunding efforts so that her friend and neighbour, Rona Tynan, can receive the same life-changing operation in Mexico before she becomes too ill to qualify.

Mrs Tynan, 50, has until the end of August to raise the 60,000 needed.

However, both are angry at a cross-border divide which means that a small number of MS patients in England can undergo the treatment for free on the NHS, while in Scotland despite having some of the highest rates of MS in the world the health service has refused patients' funding and no clinical trials are planned.

Mrs Clarke, a chemistry graduate and acupuncturist, began investigating AHSCT (autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation) in 2014 after her condition progressed from relapsing-remitting to secondary progressive MS. At the time her son was three and she feared ending up in a wheelchair.

Although the treatment has been available overseas for decades, it has never been routinely available on the NHS and is considered unproven by many neurologists.

It is also a highly aggressive therapy, using intensive chemotherapy to strip out sufferers faulty immune systems before replenishing it with stem cells harvested from their own bone marrow or donor tissue. Despite the risks, many patients including Mrs Clarke credit it with transforming their lives.

She underwent the procedure in Moscow over a period of four weeks in April and May 2015. She said: From when my son was three to when I had the transplant, my walking had deteriorated, I needed to use a walking stick all the time, I had very poor balance, debilitating fatigue, I had brain fog, I used to slur my words.

"Im left-handed and my left hand was really weak so my writing was bad. Other things would come and go numbness in my legs, tingling, cramps in my calves, sore and painful legs. The majority of them have gone since the transplant.

I noticed quite quick improvements in things like balance. The biggest thing is not really having fatigue, and the brain fog completely went. I stopped slurring my words quite quickly after treatment. I was more alert. I had more concentration, more focus. Within six months the shaking in my left arm had gone. Ive still got drop foot in my right leg and I still use a walking stick, but once youve got to the stage of secondary progressive it all gets a bit scary. Things are going downhill and youre told theres nothing that can be done, so really my goal from treatment was just to halt the progression to know I wasnt getting any worse. Thankfully, and luckily, I have seen lots of benefits.

Eighteen months on, MRI brain scans show no signs of disease progression and while Mrs Clarke stresses that the treatment is neither a magic bullet nor a walk in the park, she is supporting Rona Tynans bid to undergo the same surgery in October.

Mrs Tynan, a retired Metropolitan police sergeant and mother-of-two from Inverness, also has secondary progressive MS. She is already in a wheelchair and fears that unless she undergoes the treatment soon she will become too ill. She said: Im a 7.5 out of 10 on the disease progression scale, where 10 is death. Most clinics stop taking you at seven, but Mexico just raised it to 8.5. Thats brilliant for people like myself, but I cant afford to get any more ill.

So far, Mrs Tynans fundraising page on JustGiving has raised nearly 4000, but she is frustrated that more is not being done to help Scottish patients. In England, clinical trials are ongoing in London and Sheffield but a small number of patients with relapsing-remitting MS can be referred for the treatment off-trial, for free, on the NHS. In Scotland, however, eligible patients have been turned down for NHS funding.

Mrs Tynan said: It seems crazy to me that Brits are going to Chicago and Mexico and Russia for a treatment that in the long-run could save the NHS loads of money. Scotland is one of the worst places in the world for MS yet in England you can get this treatment for free. Why arent we fighting in Scotland to get this?

Mrs Clarke added: Its very unfair. It just seems a no brainer to me why they wouldnt make it available not for all patients but for some. The Scottish Government said referral decisions were "for clinicians".

A spokesman said: "Whilst the vast majority of healthcare provided by NHS Scotland is delivered in Scotland, NHS boards can commission treatment in other countries on an ad hoc basis, particularly where highly specialised treatment is involved. Decisions to refer patients are for clinicians, based on agreed guidelines, which ensure best practice, equity of access and consistency of treatment for all patients.

"HSCT is not currently widely available anywhere on the NHS, but people from Scotland can participate in trials held in other centres across the UK, where clinically determined appropriate and beneficial."

Originally posted here:
Anger as Scots patients miss out on 'breakthrough' stem cell therapy ... - Herald Scotland

Designed by Pierpaolo Lazzarini from Italian company Jet Capsule. The I.F.O. is fuelled by eight electric engines, which is able to push the flying object to an estimated top speed of about 120mph.

Jet Capsule/Cover Images

A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore

Getty Images

A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore

Getty Images

Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea

Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea

Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company

Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea

Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi

Rex

Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session

Rex

A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China

Reuters

A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China

Reuters

A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China

Rex

A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China

Reuters

A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China

Reuters

A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London

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A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv

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Electrification Guru Dr. Wolfgang Ziebart talks about the electric Jaguar I-PACE concept SUV before it was unveiled before the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California, U.S

Reuters

The Jaguar I-PACE Concept car is the start of a new era for Jaguar. This is a production preview of the Jaguar I-PACE, which will be revealed next year and on the road in 2018

AP

Japan's On-Art Corp's CEO Kazuya Kanemaru poses with his company's eight metre tall dinosaur-shaped mechanical suit robot 'TRX03' and other robots during a demonstration in Tokyo, Japan

Reuters

Japan's On-Art Corp's eight metre tall dinosaur-shaped mechanical suit robot 'TRX03'

Reuters

Japan's On-Art Corp's eight metre tall dinosaur-shaped mechanical suit robot 'TRX03' performs during its unveiling in Tokyo, Japan

Reuters

Singulato Motors co-founder and CEO Shen Haiyin poses in his company's concept car Tigercar P0 at a workshop in Beijing, China

Reuters

The interior of Singulato Motors' concept car Tigercar P0 at a workshop in Beijing, China

Reuters

Singulato Motors' concept car Tigercar P0

Reuters

A picture shows Singulato Motors' concept car Tigercar P0 at a workshop in Beijing, China

Reuters

Connected company president Shigeki Tomoyama addresses a press briefing as he elaborates on Toyota's "connected strategy" in Tokyo. The Connected company is a part of seven Toyota in-house companies that was created in April 2016

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A Toyota Motors employee demonstrates a smartphone app with the company's pocket plug-in hybrid (PHV) service on the cockpit of the latest Prius hybrid vehicle during Toyota's "connected strategy" press briefing in Tokyo

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An exhibitor charges the battery cells of AnyWalker, an ultra-mobile chasis robot which is able to move in any kind of environment during Singapore International Robo Expo

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A robot with a touch-screen information apps stroll down the pavillon at the Singapore International Robo Expo

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An exhibitor demonstrates the AnyWalker, an ultra-mobile chasis robot which is able to move in any kind of environment during Singapore International Robo Expo

Getty

Robotic fishes swim in a water glass tank displayed at the Korea pavillon during Singapore International Robo Expo

Getty

An employee shows a Samsung Electronics' Gear S3 Classic during Korea Electronics Show 2016 in Seoul, South Korea

Reuters

Visitors experience Samsung Electronics' Gear VR during the Korea Electronics Grand Fair at an exhibition hall in Seoul, South Korea

Getty

Amy Rimmer, Research Engineer at Jaguar Land Rover, demonstrates the car manufacturer's Advanced Highway Assist in a Range Rover, which drives the vehicle, overtakes and can detect vehicles in the blind spot, during the first demonstrations of the UK Autodrive Project at HORIBA MIRA Proving Ground in Nuneaton, Warwickshire

PA wire

Chris Burbridge, Autonomous Driving Software Engineer for Tata Motors European Technical Centre, demonstrates the car manufacturer's GLOSA V2X functionality, which is connected to the traffic lights and shares information with the driver, during the first demonstrations of the UK Autodrive Project at HORIBA MIRA Proving Ground in Nuneaton, Warwickshire

PA wire

Ford EEBL Emergency Electronic Brake Lights is demonstrated during the first demonstrations of the UK Autodrive Project at HORIBA MIRA Proving Ground in Nuneaton, Warwickshire

PA

Full-scale model of 'Kibo' on display at the Space Dome exhibition hall of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Tsukuba Space Center, in Tsukuba, north-east of Tokyo, Japan

EPA

Miniatures on display at the Space Dome exhibition hall of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Tsukuba Space Center, in Tsukuba, north-east of Tokyo, Japan. In its facilities, JAXA develop satellites and analyse their observation data, train astronauts for utilization in the Japanese Experiment Module 'Kibo' of the International Space Station (ISS) and develop launch vehicles

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The robot developed by Seed Solutions sings and dances to the music during the Japan Robot Week 2016 at Tokyo Big Sight. At this biennial event, the participating companies exhibit their latest service robotic technologies and components

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The robot developed by Seed Solutions sings and dances to music during the Japan Robot Week 2016 at Tokyo Big Sight

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Government and industry are working together on a robot-like autopilot system that could eliminate the need for a second human pilot in the cockpit

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Aurora Flight Sciences' technicians work on an Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automantion System (ALIAS) device in the firm's Centaur aircraft at Manassas Airport in Manassas, Va.

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Stefan Schwart and Udo Klingenberg preparing a self-built flight simulator to land at Hong Kong airport, from Rostock, Germany

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Phone screens are damaging our vision by making eyeballs grow ... - The Independent

Optegra releases Vision for Britain report

29 Jun 2017 by Emily McCormick

An estimated 15% of people risk losing their sight by not having regular sight tests, according to research by Optegra Eye Health Care.

The statistic is highlighted in the private eye hospitals newly-published Vision for Britain report.

Questioning 2000 people, Optegra reported that 50% of patients having their first sight test require vision correction, while one in 10 people require spectacles or treatment, despite thinking their eyesight is fine.

Despite research showing that 24% of people shy away from an eye test in fear of having to wear glasses, 82% of those questioned said they desired 20:20 vision. Furthermore, 60% said that they value their sight above all other senses.

In a bid to drive awareness of the importance of regular sight tests and support people in achieving perfect vision, Optegras 20-page report contains advice on daily eye care, tips on identifying vision problems in children and updates on the latest technological advances.

Having found that one-in-four people mistakenly believe that wearing glasses will make their eyesight worse, the report also contains some myth-busting information, Optegra highlighted.

Commenting on the report, optometrist and head of Optegra Eye Sciences, Dr Clare ODonnell, said: Without regular eye examinations, problems are being left undiagnosed and untreated which can lead to serious vision damage.

It is vital for everyone to have regular eye checks, even if they suspect nothing is wrong with their eye sight. By giving up just 2030 minutes of your time once every two years, you can potentially save your vision.

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Failing to have sight tests leaves Brits at risk of losing their sight - AOP

Surrounded by family and unexpected friends from afar, Bob B.J. Jenkins exited Triangle Waffle of Dunn to get into his brother Ed Jenkins rented sport utility vehicle to begin a quest for vision renewed.

Mr. Jenkins left Saturday morning on an 11-hour East Coast road trip to Retina Associates in Margate, Fla., to undergo an experimental eyesight operation.

He began to lose his vision more than 17 years ago, by way of macular degeneration, and it has deteriorated to the point of almost complete blindness. After losing sight in his right eye completely, he began to spend a lot of time in consolation with optometrists and eye specialists to save sight in his left eye.

He said he has peripheral vision, but everything in the center of his sight line is a blur. His current vision is 20/400.

He has been seen by opthamologists in Raleigh and Wilmington and through this network, Mr. Jenkins found Retina Associates of south Florida. His surgery is today.

See Surgery, Page 3

B.J. Jenkins, right, left Saturday on an 11-hour East Coast road trip to Margate, Fla. It is there he will undergo an experimental stem cell eyesight procedure costing more than $19,600. He raised funds for the surgery from many individuals and businesses in and around Dunn. His brother, Ed Jenkins, left, is his wheel man and moral support for the trip and todays operation.

Daily Record Photo/Shaun Savarese Surgery

Continued From Page One

Mr. Jenkins set a $22,000 goal that had to be reached in May. With 152 donations, he raised $21,249 in three months.

The money is for travel, room, board and the cost of a stem-cell operation that could possibly give him back his vision.

He said that through his Go-FundMe page and through personal and business donations, his fundraiser averaged a couple of thousand a week.

Though there had been concern over the legitimacy of the eyesight surgeons and operation, Mr. Jenkins was reassured by a guarantee of a refund if the doctors are unable to go through with the surgery.

Mr. Jenkins had a heart full of love before departing Dunn, thanking everyone who donated and raised awareness for his fundraising campaign and promising a chauffeured car ride to The Daily Record staff if the operation is a success.

Shaun Savarese

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Vision Quest: BJ Jenkins' Eye Surgery Today - The Daily Record (registration)

Ever wondered what it's like to be blind or severely vision impaired?

Now, you can see for yourself with the Fred Hollows Foundation's sight simulator.

Using the new online tool, you can enter a familiar location -- the Sydney Opera House, Parliament House or even your home address -- and see a familiar location through the eyes of someone who has cataracts, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy.

With cataracts, a person develops blurred vision, glaucoma creates tunnel vision and someone with diabetic retinopathy sees patches of dark, light and blurred sight.

The tool was launched in the United States earlier this year and has now been unveiled in Australia. It uses images from Google Street View, while a sliding tool allows you to adjust the severity of the eye condition.

Fred Hollows Foundation CEO Brian Doolan said he hopes the simulator will help more people understand what its like to have a visual impairment.

"Sight is something that, unless we have a problem with it, we hardly ever think about it. We just take it for granted," he told HuffPost Australia.

There are more than 32.4 million people in the world who are blind -- that's more than the population of Australia. For 80 percent of these people, their eye disease is preventable or treatable, but isolation, lack of money or education prevents them getting help.

"The leading cause of blindness is poverty, and the second leading cause is gender," Doolan said, noting that the majority of legally blind people in the world are women.

The Foundation works in 25 countries across Asia and Africa to help restore sight to many of these people. In 2016, the charity supported over 1 million eye surgeries and treatments, more than any other year in its 25-year history.

One of those people was Nabiritha, a seven-year-old girl from rural Kenya.

Nabiritha was born with cataracts and legally blind.

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, accounting for 51 percent of cases.

When the Foundation stepped in, a simple surgery taking less than an hour was able to give Nabiritha sight for the first time.

"Imagine for all those years my child has never known what I look like. I never thought this day would come," her mother Emily told the Foundation.

You can check out the Foundation's Sight Simulator for yourself here.

ALSO ON HUFFPOST AUSTRALIA

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See The World Through The Eyes Of A Person With Visual Impairment - Huffington Post Australia

It is predicted that by 2020 over 2,250,000 will register with some variety of sight loss. This is a shocking statistic; Vision loss is difficult to imagine until it happens and it can be hard to find solutions or workarounds.

AMD sufferers to hit 288 million

For many people their sight loss is down to a condition known as Age-related Macular Degeneration, or AMD. By 2020, the number of people living with AMD in the UK is estimated to increase to over 750,000. The number of people worldwide is expected to reach 196 million by 2020, increasing to 288 million by 2040. AMD is a condition that comes from deterioration, deriving from a breakdown of the macula which is a small area in the back, or retina, of the eye. This area has an important function in that it sees fine details clearly and allows us to perform activities that require precision. Anything that traumatises or damages the macula will affect your central vision.

Imagine seeing a painting but only the frame is visible

The result is that the central vision will become blurred, there will be dark areas and distortion. The periphery can remain; imagine seeing a painting but only the frame is visible. Because of this, it can be difficult to do activities like reading, driving, cooking and texting to name but a few. In the end stages the condition can make recognising a face difficult or impossible. The condition is also associated with increased cases of stress and depression as the eyes deteriorate.

The symptoms can be hardly noticeable, particularly as it can happen in one eye first, only becoming apparent when the other eye is afflicted. At this point the loss of central vision is apparent very quickly, words on a page become blurred, a dark and empty area appears in the centre of your vision or straight lines look warped or distorted. These are all indicators that you may have developed AMD and should go for an eye test.

Affecting nearly 30% of those over 75

AMD presents in two forms; the most common type is dry AMD which afflicts about 90% of sufferers and results from ageing and thinning of the tissues in the macula, the loss of vision is gradual. The other type, wet AMD, is due to abnormalities in the blood vessels underneath the retina in the back of the eye. The blood vessels leak or have trauma and therefore the vision loss is severe and rapid.

Age is a prominent risk factor for age-related macular degeneration. The risk of getting advanced age-related macular degeneration increases from 2% for those ages 50-59, to nearly 30% for those over the age of 75. A family history of this can be a factor, particularly if diagnosed at a young age. In terms of gender, women are more likely to get the condition but this could be down to life expectancy. Recent data has shown that smokers, and ex-smokers, are up to 4 times more likely to contract AMD.

Magnifying a solution

Living with AMD is hard as both types damage your central vision, but there are solutions to help ease the situation. A technique known as eccentric viewing can encourage your peripheral vision when it comes to reading. Larger print, better lighting and higher contrasting colours can also help.

In order to assist those suffering with AMD, at IntelliSight we stock the Eschenbach SmartLux Digital Magnifier. This subtle yet powerful mobile phone-shaped device offers variable levels of magnification, takes photos to allow users to zoom in and see more detail and offers increased contrast options between black, white and yellow. These three colours arent chosen at random; many AMD sufferers report that yellow background or text is easier to see than just plain black and white.

Were here to help. If you want to book an eye test, hear more about viewing aids, or have questions about AMD, then contact our friendly team on 01642 450 982 or visit us at High Street, Redcar just look for the black and orange store.

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Digital magnifiers - a sight for sore eyes? - Bdaily

Fifteen percent of Britons risk losing their eyesight by not having regular eye tests, according to new research commissioned by Optegra Eye Health Care.

The Vision of Britain report found people were leaving their eye problems too long before treatment, leaving 9.8m living in fear of losing their sight.

The study of 2,000 people also revealed 50% of first time patients needed vision correction and one in 10 required glasses or treatment, despite thinking their eyesight was fine.

Nearly a quarter of respondents shied away from eye tests in fear of having to wear glasses and one in four mistakenly believed wearing glasses would make their eyesight worse. Despite shunning regular eye exams, the report showed 82% of British adults desired 6/6 perfect vision, with 60% admitting they valued their eyesight above any other sense.

Dr Clare ODonnell, OO and head of Optegra Eye Sciences said: Without regular eye examinations, problems are being left undiagnosed and untreated which can lead to serious vision damage.

It is vital for everyone to have regular eye checks, even if they suspect nothing is wrong with their eye sight. By giving up just 20-30 minutes of your time once every two years, you can potentially save your vision.

In response to the study, Optegra has produced a 20-page report containing advice on day to day eye care, from identifying vision problems in children and myth-busting. http://www.optegra.com/visionofbritain

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Delays present sight loss risk - Optician Online

In the summer of 2012, Sami Inkinen was 36, wealthy, and semiretired. Trulia, the online real estate company he cofounded and nurtured from a startup to a business with some 20 million users, had filed to go public, and he had decided to cease his operational role. The eight-year journey had been rewarding but exhausting. Inkinen planned to focus on angel investing.

That would leave plenty of time for his main hobby: triathlons. A champion who obsessively tracks his biometrics, Inkinen was a fitness freak even by Silicon Valley standards. He had less than 8% body fat.

But life is full of ironic twists, and he was hurtling toward a particularly sharp one. Soon after Trulia went public, Inkinen noticed something strange: His blood sugar levels were above normal and rising. He was prediabetic.

Inkinen skipped the doctor and began researching on his own. After discovering a decades-old paper that showed Type 2 diabetes can be prevented and sometimes reversed through lifestyle changes alone, he switched to a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet. As his blood sugar levels dropped, his excitement spiked.

This spring he took his mission even further: Inkinen launched Virta Health , a 60-person startup backed by $37 million in funding. The service combines Inkinens passiona data-heavy appwith the same medical approach that he credits with reversing his prediabetes. Virta is one of a handful of companies attempting to attack the epidemicsome 28 million Americans suffer from Type 2 diabeteswithout relying on medications.

Researchers long believed Type 2 diabetes was not curable, but today the prevailing view is that it can be reversed by weight loss, says Dr. George King, the chief scientific officer at Joslin Diabetes Center and a professor at Harvard Medical School.

More: A New Innovation for Type 2 Diabetes

In that sense, Inkinen is an improbable advocate. He seemed like an unlikely candidate to be heading toward Type 2 diabetes in the first place. A native of Finland, Inkinen was always very active, but his seemingly healthy diet was packed with sugar (in the form of fruit smoothies) and carbs (five bowls of oatmeal a day). After diagnosing himself as prediabetic, he abruptly cut back on carbs and sugar. (Today hes an evangelist for a ketogenic diet, the food trend of the moment in Silicon Valley. It embraces high-fat foods and limits carbs to less than 50 grams a day, the equivalent of a cup of brown rice.)

Inkinen credits that diet for fueling an epic journey: He and his wife rowed from Monterey, Calif., to Hawaii to raise awareness of the dangers of sugar. During the 45 days it took to paddle across 2,700 miles of the Pacific, Zillow ( z ) agreed to acquire Trulia for $2.5 billion. Still a board member, Inkinen approved the sale via satellite phone.

Having sold the company and completed his physical quest, Inkinen was ready for a new mission. Im not a spiritual person, he says, but I knew I had to make this happen. After he met Dr. Stephen Phinney, the author of the paper that had convinced him that diet could solve his condition, a solution began to take shape in Inkinens mind.

Today Virtas service begins with an in-depth video session with a company doctor, who goes over each patients medical history and lifestyle to develop an eating strategy. Virta mails customers devices to record blood sugar, ketones (which indicate low insulin), and blood pressure. Patients enter data into the app, and a wireless scale automatically sends their weight to Virta. Each patient is then assigned a health coach, who monitors the data.

Users text their coaches daily via the app (some people prefer to call or use video chats). Advice gets granular. If a patient is planning to attend a birthday party, for example, her health coach could help develop an eating strategy beforehand.

Many patients are on medications when they begin the Virta program, and the goal is to slowly transition them off. Both meal recommendations and medications are constantly adjusted depending on what is, and isnt, having a positive effect on blood sugar, says Dr. Sarah Hallberg, the companys medical director.

Virta subscribes to a low-carb diet with moderate protein and fat, but its not doctrinaire. We accept any lifestyle and diet, says Inkinen. Instead of telling a person to swear off fast food, an often unrealistic option, health coaches recommend low-carb options on the menu. Physical activity is encouraged but not mandatory. You want someone to exercise when they come to you and say theyre ready, says Hallberg.

More: This Health Startup Plans to Challenge the Multibillion-Dollar Diet Industry

The service doesnt come cheap: It costs $400 a month (and isnt covered by insurance, though some employers health plans will reimburse for it). Virta has several thousand patients, according to Hallberg, served by about 20 health professionals.

The goal is to create a plan dramatic enough that it lowers blood sugar, but not so extreme that its unsustainable. In a clinical trial conducted in partnership with Indiana University Health, researchers found that 56% of the roughly 240 participants on the Virta platform lowered their blood sugar below diabetic levels by the end of the 10-week trial, and 87% no longer needed insulin.

Whether these results can be maintained is another question. The first couple of months of a diet are easy compared with an indefinite, fry-less future. Hallberg contends that the personalized support paired with the benefits of reduced medication and weight loss will keep people motivated despite the copious research establishing how hard most people find it to change their patterns.

Inkinen understands that as an endurance athlete he has more discipline (and capacity for suffering) than most people. His goal with Virta, as it was with Trulia, is to turn what was once a personal problem into a service that a large number of people can use. The stakes are higher this time around.

A version of this article appears in the July 1, 2017 issue of Fortune.

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Fighting Diabetes With Food - Fortune

ALTON Alton Memorial Hospitals Diabetes Management office has earned the prestigious American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate. The ADA believes that this program offers high-quality education that is an essential component of effective diabetes treatment.

The Associations Education Recognition Certificate assures that educational programs meet the national standards for diabetes self-management education programs.

The process gives professionals a national standard by which to measure the quality of services we provide, said Lisa James, diabetes educator at AMH. And, of course, it assures the consumer that he or she will receive high-quality service.

Education Recognition status is verified by an official certificate from ADA and awarded for four years.

Self-management education is an essential component of diabetes treatment. One consequence of compliance with the national standards is the greater consistency in the quality and quantity of education offered to people with diabetes. The participant in a recognized program will be taught, as needed, self-care skills that will promote better management of his or her diabetes treatment regimen. All approved education programs cover the following topics as needed: diabetes disease process; nutritional management; physical activity; medications;

monitoring; preventing, detecting, and treating acute complications; preventing, detecting, and treating chronic complications through risk reduction; goal setting and problem solving; psychological adjustment; and preconception care, management during pregnancy, and gestational management.

Unnecessary hospital admissions and some of the acute and chronic complications of diabetes may be prevented through self-management education.

According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 29.1 million people or 9.3 percent of the population in the United States who have diabetes. While an estimated 21 million people have been diagnosed, 8.1 million people are not aware that they have this disease. Each day more than 3,900 people are diagnosed with diabetes. Many will first learn that they have diabetes when they are treated for one of its life-threatening complications heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and nerve disease and amputation.

For more information about diabetes education at Alton Memorial, call Lisa James at 618-463-7526.

James

http://thetelegraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_Lisa-James.jpgJames

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Alton Memorial Hospital's diabetes program honored by ADA - Alton Telegraph

AMARILLO - Medication or healthy food?

It's a decision many in our area have to choose between when spending their money.

But for 12 weeks, more than a dozen people suffering from type two diabetes had the chance to solely focus on their health.

Norma Mata isn't the same woman she was after starting on a 12-week lifestyle change.

"My food intake has been better," said Mata. "More salads, more grilled meats, and things of that sort."

Despite living with type two diabetes, she decided to take control of her health.

"My sugars have gone down tremendously. Eating healthy is beneficial for our health," added Mata.

High Plains Food Bank officials say they recognized the need to provide foods that heal, so they initiated a partnership with Heal the City.

The group noted that many of their patients are living with type two diabetes and could benefit from nutrition-based interventions.

"Most of these patients had been diabetic for over ten years," said Rachel Scott, a Clinic Coordinator for Heal the City. "A lot of them said no, I don't really know what it means, I don't really know what I'm supposed to eat."

This led both non-profits to create a 12-week pilot program called "Food to Health".

We're told it includes nutrition education, healthy food, and medical care for food insecure patients who struggle with type two diabetes.

"The good thing about this program is not only do they help your health get better and have all these bad numbers go down., they taught you how to do that so you can take that knowledge home," said Lourdes Sanchez, another participant of "Food to Health". "You know that when you go shopping you have to look at the nutritional facts, you know what to look for, so you're able to continue forward with what happened during the program because they taught you how to do it yourself. "

Mata and Sanchez are part of the twenty participants who started on this 12-week "Food to Health" journey.

Next week Scott says 16 of them will graduate from the program.

Before the program started, "Food to Health" participants had tests and blood work done. Next week, they will get their lab results to compare their progress.

Mata and Sanchez tell us after changing their diet and mindset, they noticed a big difference.

Officials say individuals and families who lack consistent access to enough healthy food may have a higher risk of developing chronic diseases like obesity, hypertension and type two diabetes.

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Local Organizations Helping to Fight Type Two Diabetes - MyHighPlains

Podimetrics, a startup created during an MIT hackathon in 2011, focuses on catching foot ulcersa complication of diabetes that can lead to amputationearly. The company unveiled data showing its remote-monitoring technology caught a majority of foot ulcers well before they appeared.

A number of factors contribute to the development of diabetic foot ulcers, including nerve damage, which stops patients from feeling small injuries in their foot. A healthy person might change his or her movement or adjust a shoe, but a person with diabetes-related nerve damage will not notice the pain. Repetitive injury over time can lead to an ulcer, and early detection can help prevent an ulcer from forming or getting worse.

American Diabetes Association guidelines recommend that people with diabetes undergo a comprehensive foot evaluation each year. Patients with a history of ulcers or amputations, insensate feet, foot deformities or peripheral artery diseaseshould get their feet checked out at every doctors visit.

The Podimetrics Remote Temperature Monitoring System is designed for the ongoing assessment of patients' feet. Itrelies on the concept that tissue heats up before it becomes a wound, said CEO Jonathan Bloom, M.D. A patient steps on the system's Smartmatfor 20 seconds at a time and it measures the temperature difference at various locations on the feet. Specifically, the software is looking for a hotspot, or a place where the temperature is persistently higher than in other areas.

A monitoring service alerts patients and physicians when the data show that inflammation may develop. The patient and physician then work together to prevent an ulcer from forming.

In a real-world setting, when a doctor gets a notification that a patient has a hotspot, the patient will be advised to reduce physical activity for a period to let the developing wound heal or may be asked to come in for a visit in serious cases, said lead investigator Robert Frykberg, M.D., of the Carl T. Hayden Veterans Affairs Medical Centerin a statement.

The 129-patient study, published in Diabetes Care, showed that the SmartMat detected as many as 97% of developing nontraumatic plantar foot ulcers an average of five weeks before they presented clinically. Additionally, 86% of patients used the device at least three times a week, and 88% of them said it was easy to use.

This is the big part, Bloom said. People actually use it.

[This] is critical for adherence and ultimately achieving ongoing prevention of [diabetic foot ulcers] and its devastating complications, he said in the statement.

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Study: Temperature-reading 'smartmat' catches diabetic foot ulcers early - FierceBiotech