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Current drug costs £750 per treatment, but doctors are increasingly using a £60 alternative Drugs firm that makes the £750 option claims the cheaper alternative puts patients at risk Four NHS trusts are being taken to court by the drug’s manufacturer over the issue By Sophie Borland PUBLISHED: 18:04 EST, 6 May 2012 | UPDATED: 18:04 EST, 6 May 2012 The NHS could save £85million each year by using a cheaper drug to treat a common form of blindness in the elderly, researchers claim. They have found that Avastin, a drug used to treat cancer, is just as effective against age-related macular degeneration as Lucentis, which is 12 times more expensive. Effective: New cost effective use of Avastin has been found, but is far cheaper Around 23,000 patients a year develop the more serious ‘wet’ form of AMD, and nearly three quarters go on to suffer severe sight problems. At present they are normally prescribed Lucentis injections, which cost £750 and are given every six weeks. But a number of doctors have started using Avastin, which costs £60 a time and is administered as frequently. As a result a team of researchers from universities including Oxford, Belfast, Southampton and Bristol carried out a trial on 610 patients to investigate whether it really was as effective. The study’s initial results showed that both drugs produced almost equal benefit. Finding: The £60 treatment could replace the £750 treatment to tackle AMD which robs sufferers of their central vision But the researchers calculated that switching patients to the cheaper Avastin could save the NHS £84.5million a year, based on 17,295 eyes being treated. AMD is caused by the deterioration and death of the cells in the macula, the part of the retina used to see straight ahead, and so robs sufferers of their central vision. The more common ‘dry’ form affects the eyes gradually. But one in seven of these will develop the more serious ‘wet’ form and lose their central vision almost immediately. Avastin, made by Roche, is not currently licensed to treat wet AMD but last year several NHS trusts began using it, as  long as it had been recommended by specialist doctors. Novartis is the drugs giant behind Lucentis Last month it emerged that Novartis, the drugs giant behind Lucentis, was taking these four trusts to court, claiming they were putting patients at risk. Experts accused the firm of trying to maximise its profits by blocking the cheaper drug. Professor Usha Chakravarthy of Queen’s University Belfast, who led the latest research, said: ‘The results at the end of the first year show that Lucentis and Avastin have similar effectiveness.’ She said both groups of patients  were able to read one or more lines of letters lower down – which are smaller and harder to see – on a standard  sight test. Novartis argues that Avastin is not as safe as Lucentis and claims that patients are at higher risk of stomach and gut disorders. But overall, researchers say both drugs are extremely safe. The study noted, however, that patients on Lucentis were at a slightly higher risk  of heart attack and stroke, while those on Avastin were marginally more likely  to need hospital treatment for  other problems. A spokesman for the Macular Disease Society said: ‘The trials cannot provide definitive safety information and the overall question of the safety of Avastin is, unfortunately, not answered to everyone’s satisfaction by these trials. ‘The use of Avastin will remain a matter of judgment for clinicians, with some satisfied with the evidence and others not.’   Au revoir, Carla! The Rottweiler wants to be France’s new… Woman, 22, given two life sentences for allowing professor,… A dark corner of America: Photographs show Philadelphia’s… ‘Sorry about all the smoke, I just came from the tanning… Thousands of pills filled with powdered human baby flesh… Au revoir, Sarkozy! Au revoir, austerity! New Euro crisis as… No need to adjust your screens! The house that was… Watch what you type! Surveillance cameras so strong they can… ‘Sorry’: Red-faced Fergie apologises to diners after… The world’s coolest hot tub? The two-tiered jacuzzi which… Even beautiful people make mistakes: Website connects… Bird’s eye Britain: Amazing collection of aerial photographs… Share this article: Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. The comments below have not been moderated. Newest Oldest Best rated Worst rated These two drugs do work from a similar mechanism. It was quite a surprise when the company, then Genentech, found that Doctors were sucessfully prescribing Avastin for wet macular degeneration before Lucentis was available for release. There are downsides for users however, the reason Avastin is cheaper is that to treat cancer with intravenous injection requires a higher strength than Lucentis which is injected directly into the eye. In order to use Avastin for the eye it is diluted by after-market labs who may or may not be diluting and re-packaging to quality standards in order to realize the savings. The other issue is that Lucentis is injected through a special filter when administered. This is necessary to avoid microscopic particles shed by the glass vials getting into the eye. Most after-market re-processed Avastin does not come with this filter mechanism. – An Ex Genentech employee. – woffa, Harrogate, 07/5/2012 13:37 Report abuse How ironic—-all those bowel cancer deaths because they were refused Avastin and now the government is going to prescribe for something else because its cheaper—-RIP those who were ignored by the bean counting accountants – Webb, Dover England, 07/5/2012 10:05 Report abuse New research suggests that hundreds of thousands of unexplained and unexpected deaths of older people and teenage asthma suffers in the last decade taking a cocktail well-known prescribed common copy generic drugs made in China could be at increased risk of developing dementia and even death. These drugs are exported from China in bulk to the EU mostly Spain by whom no one in the NHS or MHRA [...]

Microchips restore sight to people suffering retinitis pigmentosa – an incurable condition that leads to blindness Condition affects one in every 3,000-4,000 people Clinical trial with two sufferers ‘exceeds expectations’ Sufferers able to detect outlines of objects ‘within days’ Vision expected to improve further as 3mm chip ‘beds in’ By Jenny Hope PUBLISHED: 03:14 EST, 3 May 2012 | UPDATED: 18:17 EST, 3 May 2012 Surgeons in Oxford, led by Professor Robert MacLaren, fitted the chip at the back of Chris’ eye in a complex eight-hour operation last month. Chris, from Wiltshire, said: ‘I’ve always had that thought that one day I would be able to see again.’ It was the ‘magic moment’ that released Chris James from ten years of blindness. Doctors switched on a microchip that had been inserted into the back of his eye three weeks earlier. After a decade of darkness, there was a sudden explosion of bright light – like a flash bulb going off, he says. Now he is able to make out shapes and light. He hopes his sight – and the way his brain interprets what the microchip is showing it – will carry on improving. Mr James, 54, is one of two British men who have had their vision partly restored by a pioneering retina implant. The other, Robin Millar, one of Britain’s most successful music producers, says he has dreamed in colour for the first time. Both had lost their vision because of a condition known as retinitis pigmentosa, where the photoreceptor cells at the back of the eye gradually cease to work. Their stories bring hope to the 20,000 Britons with RP – and to those with other eye conditions such as advanced macular degeneration which affects up to half a million. Mr James had a ten-hour operation to insert the wafer-thin microchip in the back of his left eye at the Oxford University Eye Hospital six weeks ago. Three weeks later, it was turned on. Mr James, who lives in Wroughton, Wiltshire, with his wife Janet, said of his ‘magic moment’: ‘I did not know what to expect but I got a flash in the eye, it was like someone taking a photo with a flashbulb and I knew my optic nerve was still working.’ The chip is 3mm by 3mm, and is implanted into the eyeball of sufferers The Six Million Dollar Man: A similar ‘bionic’ technology was used to restore sight to the blind, and the first group of British patients to receive the electronic microchips were regaining ‘useful vision’ just weeks after undergoing surgery The Wiltshire man can now recognise shapes after becoming the first British patient to be fitted with the digital chip Robin Millar from London, one of two men to undergo cutting edge bionic eye treatment Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:””; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”,”serif”;} Enlarge   The microchip has 1,500 light sensitive pixels which take over the function of the retina’s photoreceptor rods and cones. One of the first tests was making out a white plate and cup on a black background. Mr James, who works for Swindon Council, said: ‘It took a while for my brain to adjust to what was in front of me, but I was able to detect the curves and outline of these objects.’ Tim Jackson, a consultant retinal surgeon at King’s College Hospital and Robert MacLaren, a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Oxford and a consultant retinal surgeon at the Oxford Eye Hospital, who are running the trial, say it has ‘exceeded expectations’ with patients already regaining ‘useful vision’. The first group of British patients to receive the electronic microchips were regaining ¿useful vision¿ just weeks after undergoing surgery The company hopes for a further trial with ten new patients later this year Ten more Britons with RP will be fitted with the implants, which are also being tested in Germany and China. The device, made by Retina Implant AG of Germany, connects to a wireless power supply buried behind the ear. This is connected to an external battery unit via a magnetic disc on the scalp. The user can alter the sensitivity of the device using switches on the unit. Mr Jackson said: ‘It’s difficult to say how much benefit each patient will get, this pioneering treatment is at an early stage. ‘But it’s an exciting and important step forward. Many of those who receive this treatment have lost their vision for many years. The impact of them seeing again, even if it is not normal vision, can be profound and at times quite moving.’ Mr Millar, 60, who was behind Sade’s Diamond Life album, has been blind for 25 years. He said: ‘Since switching on the device I am able to detect light and distinguish the outlines of objects. ‘I have even dreamt in very vivid colour for the first time in 25 years so a part of my brain which had gone to sleep has woken up! I feel this is incredibly promising and I’m happy to be contributing to this legacy.’ The patients were able to detect light immediately after the microchip was activated, while further testing revealed there were also able to locate white objects on a dark background, Retina Implant said The chip pairs with an external device to process images Chris James from Wiltshire, said: ‘I’ve always had that thought that one day I would be able to see again.’ Woman, 22, given two life sentences for allowing professor,… Bad hair, soft focus, lots of leather and FAR too much… Mother ‘made sex tape with her son, 16, and sent him naked… The moment British woman was mauled by ‘tame’ cheetahs at… Salma Hayek’s billionaire husband ‘wanted supermodel Linda… Tanning mom lashes out at ‘jealous, fat and ugly’ critics… Friends’ Monica Geller was ‘a slut’ and ‘a trollop’… One in three Americans would [...]

By Daily Mail Reporter PUBLISHED: 12:00 EST, 18 April 2012 | UPDATED: 17:34 EST, 18 April 2012 A treatment that has helped mice see in the dark could one day restore sight to the blind. British doctors used injections of healthy cells to repair the damaged eyes of rodents. The results were dramatic, with small numbers of cells restoring vision up to half of normal levels. Scroll down for video The normal mouse swims towards the light in the test at Moorfields Eye Hospital The work is at an early  stage but if successful hundreds of thousands of Britons could benefit, such as those with age-related macular degeneration – one of the most common forms of blindness. University College London researchers took healthy rods – tiny structures in the back of the eye essential for seeing in dim light – from young mice and injected them into the eyes of adult mice whose rods didn’t work. After four to six weeks, the new rods appeared to be working almost normally and had formed the connections needed to transmit information to the brain. When the treated mice were put in a dimly-lit pool, they headed straight for the exit. Untreated mice swam in circles, proving the treated ones could see the way out, the journal Nature reports. Lead researcher Professor Robin Ali said: ‘Patients  who have lost all vision tell  me that what they’d really appreciate is a treatment that gives them the ability to see light, to be able to navigate to see the door.’ The British and American scientists say much more work is needed before the technique can be attempted on human patients. The first clinical trials might be five or 10 years away. The mice who had a transplant of photo receptors were able to follow the light (above). The untreated mice swam in circles (below) But the researchers wrote in the journal Nature: ‘The results presented here demonstrate for the first time that transplanted rod-photoreceptor precursors can integrate into a dysfunctional adult retina, and, by directly connecting with the host retinal circuitry, truly improve vision.’ The undeveloped precursor cells used in the study were taken from week-old mice. Up to 32,000 of the cells were integrated into the retinas of recipient animals. Tests showed that visual responses in the brains of the mice were enhanced after the procedure. To see how the transplants affected behaviour, mice were placed in a dimly lit Y-shaped water maze in which one of two routes led to escape. This required swimming towards a visual cue, a grating pattern. After treatment, four of nine night-blind mice completed the task in 70 per cent of trials. Untreated mice, and those given “sham” treatments, performed no better than by chance. Cell integration in animals that performed best tended to be clustered, rather than spread widely across the retina. This suggested that besides the number of cells, the closeness of the cells to one another might be important. Mice Professor Phil Luthert, director of the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, said: ‘This is a landmark paper and the techniques used here are part of a pretty big push in regenerative medicine. ‘It was only a few years ago that we wouldn’t have thought repairing adult systems in this way would be possible – it was assumed to be a bridge too far, but with retinas at least, it seems entirely feasible. ‘It is still going to be another five or ten years at least before we think about doing anything with patients, though we are now making significant progress along the way. ‘What is truly remarkable about this field is how well transplanted cells seem to be accepted by the retina where they move into the right place and effectively wire themselves up. ‘The next challenges faced by scientists in this area concern how many cells can be got into the retina, how well they can be made to connect and then to see just how effectively they will work. ‘We also do not know how long-term any effects will be, whilst we have good reason to believe that any procedures would be long-lasting, at this stage we are only speculating.’ The research offers new hope for patients with diseases such as the genetic disorder retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The disease destroys retinal cells, especially the rods, leading to progressive loss of vision.Around 25,000 people in the UK are affected by the disorder. David Head, chief executive at the retinitis pigmentosa charity RP Fighting Blindness, which part-funded the research, said: ‘This is fantastic progress and exciting for patients faced with sight loss as a result of retinitis pigmentosa. ‘To read that cells appeared to be functioning almost as well as normal rod-photoreceptor cells and had formed the connections needed to transmit visual information to the brain is truly amazing. This is a great step forward.’ Children grow up addicted to online porn sites: Third of… Who’s NOT a pretty boy, then? Nelson, the baby parrot, who… Revealed: Official fears from U.S. and UK over President… ‘Husband from hell’ financier ‘forced wife into bizarre sex… ‘It was $800 but he only gave me $30′: Colombian prostitute… Police identify body of Marine’s wife as cops launch probe… The ‘truth’ about Queen’s birth, by royal storyteller: But… Head girl, 17, died weighing just six stone after trying to… How the viscount’s brother led Pippa into a TV ambush… but… BREAKING NEWS: Television icon Dick Clark dies of massive… ‘A tasteless, racist spectacle’: Swedish minister triggers… Coming soon? The 14-year-old boy with the amazing voice… Share this article: Article source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2131642/Blindness-cure-step-closer-scientists-replace-lost-light-sensitive-cells-eye.html?ITO=1490

By Fiona Macrae PUBLISHED: 17:56 EST, 8 April 2012 | UPDATED: 10:53 EST, 9 April 2012 A chemical that will stop people from developing the most serious form of age-related macular degeneration has been found by scientists. Given as a one-off injection, it would keep the disease at bay, allowing elderly men and women to continue to everyday activities from reading the newspaper to driving or watching TV. The most common cause of blindness in the elderly, age-related macular degeneration affects a quarter of over-60s in the UK and more than half of over-75s. Hope: The one-off jab of the newly discovered chemical could offer many elderly sufferers of macular degeneration the chance of lasting sight The number of sufferers is expected to treble in the next 25 years as the population ages but there are few treatments – and no cure – for the condition. Caused by the deterioration and death of the cells in the macula, the part of the retina used to see straight ahead, robs sufferers of their central vision. The more common ‘dry’ form affects the eyes gradually, sometimes over many decades. But one in seven of those with dry AMD will develop the more ‘serious’ wet form and lose their central vision almost immediately. The breakthrough, from Trinity College London, could prevent dry AMD turning into the more serious form, allowing people to continue going about their day-to-day lives. In tests on animals and on human eyes donated to medical research, a husband and wife team of scientists showed an immune chemical called IL-18 to be crucial to the conversion to the more serious form of the disease. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness among the elderly in the developed world. These pictures show how it affects the eye They believe that increasing levels of IL-18 in the eye will stop the process in its tracks in people. Dr Matthew Campbell said: ‘It means if you take someone with dry AMD and inject IL-18 into the retina, you could potentially prevent them from ever getting wet AMD.’ However, he stressed that the research is at an early stage. Dr Sarah Doyle, his wife and fellow researcher, said: ‘Our results directly suggest that controlling or indeed augmenting the levels of IL-18 in the retinas of patients with dry AMD could prevent the wet form of the disease.’ There are drugs that can be used to improve vision in those with wet AMD. But they are given late in the course of the disease and have to be regularly injected into the eye. Another treatment, called photodynamic therapy, is only suitable for around a fifth of patients. Common: The breakthrough treatment could strike a major blow against macular degeneration, which currently causes blindness in one in four over 60s in the country In contrast, it is possible that a jab that boosts IL-18 levels will be a widely suitable one-off treatment. The researchers, who detail their work in the journal Nature Medicine, are trying find a way of inserting gene for IL-18 into people’s eyes. Ferried into the eye inside an empty virus shell, it would ‘switch on’ and produce IL-18 when needed. Given routinely to people with dry AMD, it should stop them developing the more serious form. Dr Campbell said: ‘Essentially, it’s vaccination. More work needs to be done on this disease because the population is getting older and it is going to get more prevalent.’ If animal trials are successful, the treatment may be given to patients for the first time in around five years. Widespread use is around a decade away and dependent on any drug being shown to be safe and effective in stringent, large-scale trials. Avril Daly, of charity Fighting Blindness Ireland, which part-funded the research, said that a treatment that stopped dry AMD from turning into the more serious form would make a huge difference. ‘Anything that could prevent the onset of wet macular degeneration would be a huge relief and a huge benefit, not only to the individuals themselves but also to the healthcare service.’   Life on the edge: Inside the world’s largest STONE forest,… The last Onassis: Aristotle’s granddaughter Athina is a cool… What will Daddy say this time? Wayne Gretzky’s daughter… Double joy for Masters winner Bubba Watson who adopted his… The suicide forest of Japan: Mystery of the Mount Fuji… Model who appeared on German Come Dine With Me commits… Putting on their (Easter) Sunday best: First Family opt for… Mystery Maryland Mega Millions winner comes forward… but… Man ‘forced girlfriend to have sex with her son, 10, and two… That’s one way to dry your hair after a swim! Astonishing… Couple met and married within a month and stayed together… Widowed grandfather fights to raise his three grandchildren… Share this article: Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. The comments below have not been moderated. Newest Oldest Best rated Worst rated The stuff we sell is just the best Passing all consumer test Days of heaven, nights of sin Voodoo stick and sharks fin When all around you seems like hell, just one sip will make you well Multipurpose in a jar If you ain’t I’ll it’ll fix your car In days of yore for all bad feelings Washing socks and stripping ceilings Nowadays it’s used medicinally for all known human malady It was really vile weather when we got tarred and feathered You could hear the six guns sound as they chased us out of town – Fiya, USA, 10/4/2012 03:14 Report abuse Treatment is improving bit by bit. – Janet Holden, Sydney Australia, 10/4/2012 02:26 Report abuse More dangerous vaccines being pushed on the masses. All part of the NWO agenda. – The Illuminati conspiracy, South Wales ,UK, 09/4/2012 23:55 Report abuse Another injection aimed at the Elderly can we really trust this or any injection? – Carl Barron, Christchurch, Dorset, 09/4/2012 18:24 Report abuse [...]

By Fiona Macrae PUBLISHED: 17:56 EST, 8 April 2012 | UPDATED: 17:57 EST, 8 April 2012 A chemical that will stop people from developing the most serious form of age-related macular degeneration has been found by scientists. Given as a one-off injection, it would keep the disease at bay, allowing elderly men and women to continue to everyday activities from reading the newspaper to driving or watching TV. The most common cause of blindness in the elderly, age-related macular degeneration affects a quarter of over-60s in the UK and more than half of over-75s. Hope: The one-off jab of the newly discovered chemical could offer many elderly sufferers of macular degeneration the chance of lasting sight The number of sufferers is expected to treble in the next 25 years as the population ages but there are few treatments – and no cure – for the condition. Caused by the deterioration and death of the cells in the macula, the part of the retina used to see straight ahead, robs sufferers of their central vision. The more common ‘dry’ form affects the eyes gradually, sometimes over many decades. But one in seven of those with dry AMD will develop the more ‘serious’ wet form and lose their central vision almost immediately. The breakthrough, from Trinity College London, could prevent dry AMD turning into the more serious form, allowing people to continue going about their day-to-day lives. In tests on animals and on human eyes donated to medical research, a husband and wife team of scientists showed an immune chemical called IL-18 to be crucial to the conversion to the more serious form of the disease. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness among the elderly in the developed world. These pictures show how it affects the eye They believe that increasing levels of IL-18 in the eye will stop the process in its tracks in people. Dr Matthew Campbell said: ‘It means if you take someone with dry AMD and inject IL-18 into the retina, you could potentially prevent them from ever getting wet AMD.’ However, he stressed that the research is at an early stage. Dr Sarah Doyle, his wife and fellow researcher, said: ‘Our results directly suggest that controlling or indeed augmenting the levels of IL-18 in the retinas of patients with dry AMD could prevent the wet form of the disease.’ There are drugs that can be used to improve vision in those with wet AMD. But they are given late in the course of the disease and have to be regularly injected into the eye. Another treatment, called photodynamic therapy, is only suitable for around a fifth of patients. Common: The breakthrough treatment could strike a major blow against macular degeneration, which currently causes blindness in one in four over 60s in the country In contrast, it is possible that a jab that boosts IL-18 levels will be a widely suitable one-off treatment. The researchers, who detail their work in the journal Nature Medicine, are trying find a way of inserting gene for IL-18 into people’s eyes. Ferried into the eye inside an empty virus shell, it would ‘switch on’ and produce IL-18 when needed. Given routinely to people with dry AMD, it should stop them developing the more serious form. Dr Campbell said: ‘Essentially, it’s vaccination. More work needs to be done on this disease because the population is getting older and it is going to get more prevalent.’ If animal trials are successful, the treatment may be given to patients for the first time in around five years. Widespread use is around a decade away and dependent on any drug being shown to be safe and effective in stringent, large-scale trials. Avril Daly, of charity Fighting Blindness Ireland, which part-funded the research, said that a treatment that stopped dry AMD from turning into the more serious form would make a huge difference. ‘Anything that could prevent the onset of wet macular degeneration would be a huge relief and a huge benefit, not only to the individuals themselves but also to the healthcare service.’   What will Daddy say this time? Wayne Gretzky’s daughter… Mother convicted of child endangerment after SECOND infant… That’s one way to dry your hair after a swim! Astonishing… ‘I believe I am Hitler’s grandson’: French plumber tells his… It’s the B-easter bunny! Meet the world’s biggest rabbit who… ‘Get away from me you damned priest!’: Shocking documentary… The last Onassis: Aristotle’s granddaughter Athina is a cool… Double joy for Masters winner Bubba Watson who adopted his… America’s silliest town names: Keep driving through Elephant… Sorry ladies! ‘Ridiculously Photogenic Guy’ is taken: Runner… Life on the edge: Inside the world’s largest STONE forest,… Pippa joined by Percy on Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s… Share this article: Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. The comments below have not been moderated. Newest Oldest Best rated Worst rated While it does happen quickly, there is already a viable treatment, using lasers. I have benefitted from this form of treatment for a couple of years now. All that is needed, then, is a 6 monthly maintenance check and the odd quck laser application (it is all very quick and pretty much automated, now)…………My only issue, now, is a few annoying “shapes” in my field of vision………. and they are permanent, unfortunately. – old grumpy, Gosport, England, 09/4/2012 14:17 Report abuse Well what a surprise, NOT! “Within five years” it’s always bloody five years. Hey DM how about instead of raising and dashing hopes; announce that something is available NOW. The only other hurdle is whether the misnamed “NICE” will allow it to us taxpaying plebs. – The Punisher, Darlington, HMP-ENGLAND, 09/4/2012 14:03 Report abuse If all goes well, by the time I’m 70, it will be the new 50 and old age won’t be so frail and sickly as it can be now. Something to hope for. – me, at [...]

By Fiona Macrae UPDATED: 02:37 EST, 8 March 2012 Important breakthrough: One in ten glaucoma sufferers go blind, due to late diagnosis, drugs not working or the disease being particularly severe (file picture) A treatment for one of the most common causes of blindness could soon be available. British researchers have used stem cells to heal the damage caused by glaucoma. The treatment has only been tested on rats, but scientists say it could be tested on humans by 2015 and in widespread use four years later. At present one in ten glaucoma sufferers go blind, due to late diagnosis, drugs not working or the disease being particularly severe. Researchers at University College London took healthy stem cells – ‘master’ cells capable of turning into other types of cell and widely seen as a repair kit for the body – from human eyes. They used a cocktail of chemicals to turn them into retinal ganglion cells – those that die in glaucoma. They then injected these into the eyes of rats with glaucoma-like damage. After just four weeks, the cells had connected with existing nerve cells, and the animals’ eyes worked 50 per cent better, the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine reports. Researcher Dr Astrid Limb, who was part-funded by the Medical Research Council, said: ‘Although this research is still a long way from the clinic, it is a significant step towards our ultimate goal of finding a cure for glaucoma and other related conditions. ‘The human eye is actually very efficient. We can still have fairly good vision with very few functioning retinal nerve cells, which is why many glaucoma patients don’t show symptoms until it is too late to treat the underlying cause of their vision loss. ‘If we can restore even a small number of retinal ganglion cells through cell therapy, and achieve functioning vision, we could potentially delay or even reverse blindness caused by glaucoma.’ Glaucoma affects half a million Britons and 70million people around the world. Researchers at University College London, pictured, took healthy stem cells – widely seen as a repair kit for the body – from human eyes The researchers cautioned that their work is still at an early stage but added that even a small improvement on vision could make a big difference to quality of life. In glaucoma, the build-up of pressure in the fluid in the eye damages cells in optic nerve, which ferries visual information to the brain for processing. The researcher envisions the setting up of cell banks, similar to those used to store blood. Other possibilities include to take healthy stem cells from a person’s own eye and developing a drug that triggers the development of replacement cells inside the eye, removing the need for any sort of op. Professor Peng Khaw, the study’s co-author, said that even a small improvement in vision could transform lives. He added: ‘Research like this gives hope to the many millions of people who have lost their sight due to glaucoma.’ Dr Dolores Conroy, of charity Fight for Sight, which also helped fund the research, said: ‘Currently, there is no way to restore the vision of the millions of people who have lost their sight through glaucoma. ‘This research shows that in the near future, it may be possible to use adult stem cells to preserve and restore sight lost through this devastating eye condition. ‘These results bring us another step closer to treating one of the leading causes of sight loss in the UK with stem cell therapy.’ Other research teams are trying to use stem cells to treat age-related macular degeneration, the most common form of blindness in the elderly and the first trials are already underway. Banker who ‘worked with Manhattan madam’ suspended from job… Twin sisters, 73, ‘found dead in home from natural causes’… How to get ANYTHING through TSA nude body scanners: Blogger… Pictured: The dramatic moment crazed gunman is taken down by… Now that’s how to enjoy the high life: The luxury tree… ‘We hid this during the election’: Obama ally confesses he… ‘They said they’re fine and that they don’t want to have any… ‘They treated us like the hired help’: Clinton bodyguard… Woman teacher suspended after colleagues ‘find footage of… Long to rain over one? Her Majesty’s Displeasure as… Hunt for small town girl from Tennessee who moved to LA to… Headless body mystery: ‘Loud argument’ heard at home of… Share this article: Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. The comments below have not been moderated. Newest Oldest Best rated Worst rated Something else not mentioned in the article is that marijuana has a 65 – 70 effectiveness in staving off the pressure problems in the eye that lead to glaucoma, my own opthalmologist has admitted to me that if we lived in some other parts of the world like california or Spain for instance he would be prescribing it for me as I have this precondition. – Sonja, Bonniebutwetscotland, 08/3/2012 18:43 Report abuse …and some people want to stop Stem Cell research, which may cure diseases like this. Myself and thousands of others will benefit one day! – Muso, UK, 08/3/2012 16:26 Report abuse Why do treatments take so long to come out?? I would do anything to be able to get my nan this treatment who’s been suffering from glaucoma for a number of years and is only getting worse – aaron, manchester, 08/3/2012 12:05 Report abuse The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Article source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2111888/Stem-cell-repair-kit-glaucoma-mean-treatment-common-cause-blindness.html?ITO=1490

It has been found in a recent report that if you have erectile dysfunction problems, you are more likely to have open-angle glaucoma than men without ED. Medical researchers in Taiwan said “Our findings suggest that prospective studies should be undertaken to develop the appropriate clinical guidelines for evaluating concurrent or subsequent erectile dysfunction in OAG patients.” Dr Shiu-Dong Chung findings were from research via a case controlled study of 4605 men over 40 years old, recently diagnosed with ED and 23,025 control patients (5:1 for each ED patient). The control volunteers were paired by age and they did not suffer from organic or psychogenic erectile dysfunction. Common factors linking erectile dysfunction to glaucoma could include certain parts of metabolic syndromes, such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. The medical team said, “To our knowledge, this is the first study to document the association between ED and OAG based on a population-based dataset. This finding suggests that there may be a common mechanism of disease for ED and OAG, which is not entirely explained by the variables included in the multiple logistic model.” Open-angle glaucoma can be seen as an indication when found in patients with erectile dysfunction to be associated with cardiovascular diseases. Suggested in the study, erectile dysfunction and open-angle glaucoma seem to have the similar links to endothelial dysfunction in connection with nitric oxide. Joseph F. Harryhill MD, assistant professor of surgery in the Division of Urology at the University of Pennsylvania, since 1998, said “Sometimes men present with no cardiovascular symptoms, but you have to look at them and be concerned that erectile dysfunction is an early symptom of risk for cardiovascular disease such as coronary disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Now adding to that list would be the concern that men with erectile dysfunction also may have a higher incidence of open-angle glaucoma.” Commenting on the research report, Dr Harryhill said that at present his urology team during their consultations with patients being examined for ED, which they don’t as a rule check if they have been diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma or high intraocular pressure, although they do look for symptoms of vascular disease. “If this research pans out and it turns out that there is a strong link between these 2 conditions, maybe we should tell patients that they have an increased risk of having this problem and have their intraocular pressures checked” Dr Harryhill said. Pfizer’s Viagra has been used on a regular basis by erectile dysfunction sufferers for several years and is available to order from our site after completing a short confidential online consultation. Article Source: http://www.uk-med.co.uk/Health/Glaucoma-Sufferers-More-Likely-to-Suffer-from-Erectile-Dysfunction

By Nikki Murfitt Last updated at 10:00 PM on 3rd March 2012 When Downton Abbey’s much-loved cook Mrs Patmore sprinkled salt rather than sugar on to the pudding, it was clear she had to face up to her failing eyesight. In the hit ITV series, Downton grandee Lord Grantham generously sent  her to see a London specialist for a cataract operation. The storyline has uncanny parallels with events going on at the  real-life Downton – Highclere  Castle in Berkshire, where the drama is filmed. Paul Brooke-Taylor is grateful for the help given to him by Highclere Castle owner Lady Carnavon. He had suffered a stroke without knowing it For in a case of life imitating art, Paul Brooke-Taylor, head chef at the stately home, was beginning to lose his sight. His problems started just hours after being hit in the face by a football while playing for his local team. Initially doctors at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital sent the 36-year-old home, saying his sight would recover naturally after the shock of the impact. But when his  vision was still blurred two months later, Lord and Lady Carnarvon, the owners of Highclere, stepped in and sent him to see neurology specialist Dr Ashwin Pinto, who discovered Paul had suffered a stroke. The chef, who lives with wife Serena, 26, and their one-year-old son, Jack, a stone’s throw from the stately home, admits: ‘My wife burst into tears as we sat in Dr Pinto’s office at Southampton’s University Hospital, and I just sat there bewildered. ‘We were utterly shocked, especially considering we’d been told it was just a passing problem with my eyes. ‘I’m young, fit and I have a good diet – how could this have happened?’ Sight problem: Lesley Nicol, who plays Mrs Patmore in Downton Abbey An estimated 150,000 people a year in the UK suffer a stroke and for 20 per cent of them, including Paul, it is caused by damage to one of the posterior vertebral arteries. These are some of the vessels supplying the brain with oxygen-rich blood. The vertebral arteries run each side of the spinal cord and the back of the neck, merging inside the base of the skull close to the visual cortex, the part of the brain responsible for sight. Dr Peter Coleman, deputy director of research and information for the Stroke Association, says: ‘When the football hit Paul’s face, his head snapped back, injuring the vertebral arteries, and that caused a blood clot. ‘Natural movement of the head  is likely to have led to the clot dislodging and travelling to the posterior cerebral artery where it caused a blockage. ‘This caused parts of the brain area to die, resulting in the loss of sight.’ This type of injury is also known among medical experts as beauty parlour stroke syndrome because when the head is pushed back over a sink for washing, it can lead to over-extension of the neck and damage the arteries supplying the brain and, in the same way, lead to a stroke. Although Paul, who has worked for Lord and Lady Carnarvon for four years, was initially seen by Dr Pinto privately, he was able to continue his treatment with the specialist on the NHS. Paul says: ‘I spent four days in the stroke ward in Southampton having blood and eye tests and scans, including an MRA, which allowed doctors to assess damage to the blood vessels around my neck. ‘I felt a complete fraud the whole time I was there because from the outside, I looked absolutely fine. ‘The stroke didn’t affect anything but my vision, whereas many of the people I met were having to learn to walk and talk again.’ In more severe cases, a stroke can cause paralysis, speech problems and even death. Paul says: ‘I know that in that sense I was very lucky but up until the time I was diagnosed, I took a lot of my frustration out on my wife and could be really snappy. ‘I’d initially been told that my sight would return, and when each day it was just as bad, it was very hard to come to terms with. I was full of self-pity at times.’ Yet Paul didn’t stop working throughout his ordeal. ‘I can drive and go about my life normally but it is like looking through a misty window,’ he says. ‘More than a year on from my stroke, my vision is still impaired. The doctors say it might never get better. No one knows if it could improve over time.’ Paul does have to make some allowances for his condition – he has to be more careful with knives, for instance – but he knows he is one of the luckier stroke victims. ‘My employers, along with my family, have helped pay for my  initial private healthcare and I am so grateful to them. ‘And I still play football. In fact, I’ve just played in a 24-hour sponsored match to raise more than £5,000 for the Stroke Association. ‘I want to make people aware that strokes aren’t just something affecting the elderly or people who have led an unhealthy lifestyle.’ Paul’s message is that everyone who has an injury to their head, no matter how minor, and finds they have unusual symptoms should get properly checked – even if  that means asking for a second or third opinion. He says: ‘I didn’t have any of the typical stroke symptoms, such as facial paralysis or difficulty in moving, and that led to my diagnosis being delayed. I want to stop that happening to anyone else.’ As a precaution, Paul takes 75mg of aspirin every day, which works as a blood thinner to prevent clotting. He says: ‘I don’t want to be worrying that every time I have a headache it’s something more serious. ‘I’m more cautious about playing football and although my wife and I have  a passion for scuba-diving, I’m nervous about the effect the pressure might have on my brain.’ Just [...]

Blind and partially sighted people risking their lives at unsafe crossings in 31 London boroughs Blind and partially sighted Londoners are being forced to use unsafe crossings at hundreds of roads across the capital, warns the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). Lacking There are 347 Transport for London pedestrian crossings across London which are lacking audible sounds and tactile rotating cones (1), making it extremely difficult and often very dangerous for people with sight loss to cross the road. A shocking 31 out of 33 boroughs are home to these dangerous crossings. Westminster is the worst offender with 45 while Hackney accounts for 18 and Southwark has a total of 17. Only Kingston Upon Thames and Hillingdon are not represented on the list. Caroline Pidgeon The figures, obtained by Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, also show that there are 113 crossings which fail national safety standards by not providing the minimum amount of time for people to safely cross the road. (2) Mohammed Mohsan Ali lives in Southwark and is registered blind, he said: “Many people don’t realise how frightening it can be to try and cross the road without the help of rotating cones or audible sounds, you can end up waiting for ages trying to guess when the cars might have stopped. “Bad experiences” “I have had some bad experiences crossing busy roads in London and it would really boost my confidence if I could make it safely and easily to the other side without my heart pounding in fear.” Hugh Huddy, RNIB Campaigns Officer, said: “If the green man sign on a crossing is broken, then it is marked as out of order. Bleeps and tactile cones are the way that blind and partially sighted people judge that it is safe to cross, so without them the crossing is effectively out of order to anyone with a sight problem. “Cannot be justified” “Failing to install and maintain accessible road crossings cannot be justified. Every crossing without bleeps or tactile cones is unsafe for the UK’s two million with sight loss.” Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commented: “It is shocking that in the year 2012 so many pedestrian crossings are unsafe for so many people. “I have long called for the minimum safety standards to be met at every pedestrian crossing across the whole of London. The RNIB campaign has my total support.” Ahead of the Mayoral and London Assembly elections in May, RNIB is calling on all candidates to make London more accessible and to work with Transport for London to ensure all crossings meet long standing national accessibility standards. ENDS Notes to Editor For media enquiries, please contact Rachel Cafferty in RNIB’s Public Relations Team on 0207 391 2043, email rachel.cafferty@rnib.org.uk (1) Tactile rotating cones: Small rotating cone devices can be installed on the underside of the Push Button box at crossings to allow a blind or partially sighted person to hold the cone between their finger and thumb and when it starts to turn they know that the green man is showing and it should be safe to cross. (2) Figures as of the 6th December 2011. Following a Freedom of Information request, Transport for London stated there were 347 pedestrian crossings across London which fail to meet minimum access standards for blind and visually impaired people. The figures relate to 31 of 33 London boroughs when including ‘the City of London Corporation’ as a borough. About RNIB Every day around 100 people in the UK start to lose their sight. There are around two million people in the UK with sight problems. RNIB is the leading charity working in the UK offering practical support, advice and information for anyone with sight difficulties. If you, or someone you know, has a sight problem RNIB can help. Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk Article source: http://www.rnib.org.uk/aboutus/mediacentre/mediareleases/mediareleases2012/Pages/pressrelease07feb2012b.aspx

Copyright © 2011 American Council of the Blind All content made available in publications, in any media on any web site domains administered by ACB, or as a broadcast or podcast on ACB Radio, archived or not, is considered to be the property of the American Council of the Blind. Those responsible for creative content may allow their materials to appear elsewhere with prior notification to the ACB national office and with appropriate attribution. Article source: http://www.acb.org/node/2