StemCell Therapy

Aug 30, 2016

It is important to teach your children about eye health and safety from a young age. This includes awareness about how your overall health habits affect your eyes and vision as well as how to keep your eyes safe from injury and infection. Starting off with good eye habits at...

Aug 19, 2016

Since studies show that learning is 80% visual, children with untreated vision problems can really suffer when it comes to school. Most people think that good vision means 20/20 acuity but in reality, vision is much more complex. Your brain is actually what completes the processing of the visual world...

Jul 30, 2016

We have all seen the futuristic thrillers that use high-tech eye scanning identification systems but nowadays the technology does exist to use them in real life. A greater number of high security establishments have begun to use iris recognition for identification and security systems. How does it work? The...

Jul 22, 2016

There have been a lot of videos going viral lately of color blind people seeing color for the first time using specialized glasses. The emotional reactions of amazement, shock and joy even lead some to break down into tears. The glasses provide these individuals a way to view the world...

Jun 26, 2016

Whether it is the sea, the sand, the sun or the softball field, summer brings people outside and this creates exposure to a multitude of potential dangers to the eyes. One risk that is possibly the least obvious is the swimming pool. Swimming pools are the culprit for multitudes of...

Jun 19, 2016

After the age of 50 most people will eventually be diagnosed with cataracts. Cataracts are when the natural crystalline lens of the eyes become clouded, causing vision impairment that can not be corrected by glasses or contact lenses. While commonly an age-related condition, occasionally there are infants born with a...

May 26, 2016

According to the Vision Councils 2016 UV (Ultraviolet Radiation) Protection report, parents are more likely to wear sunglasses (56%) than their children (only 29%!). Yet children, who spend much more time outside, are typically exposed to three times the amount of sunlight and UV radiation that adults get. This early...

May 18, 2016

UV Awareness Month: This article might scare you, and we hope it does - just enough to motivate you to wear proper eye protection against the sun. Most people are aware of the dangers ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun pose to your skin, while the long-term effects of sun...

Apr 26, 2016

A stye (known by eye doctors as a hordeolum) is an infection of an oil gland which forms a pimple-like bump on the base of the eyelid or within the eyelid itself. Styes can be uncomfortable, causing swelling, pain, redness, discomfort and sometimes excessive tearing or blurred vision if it...

Apr 17, 2016

Along with congestion, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, headaches and difficulty breathing, individuals with allergies often suffer from eye allergies or allergic conjunctivitis resulting in red, watery, itchy and sometimes swollen eyes. Just as irritants cause an allergic response in your nasal and respiratory system, your eyes also react with an...

Mar 30, 2016

If you are over 40 and have difficulty seeing close up, you probably have a common age-relatedcondition called presbyopia which is when the eyes natural lens loses the ability to focus on close objects. Presbyopia is a natural process that occurs as the eye ages and affects the majority of...

Mar 09, 2016

When people think of workplace dangers to the eyes, it is usually machinery, chemicals or construction materials that come to mind. However, a growing danger to the eyes is one that may be less obvious - exposure to blue light from digital devices, television and computer screens and artificial lighting....

Mar 09, 2016

When people think of workplace dangers to the eyes, it is usually machinery, chemicals or construction materials that come to mind. However, a growing danger to the eyes is one that may be less obvious - exposure to blue light from digital devices, television and computer screens and artificial lighting....

Feb 28, 2016

Whether you are looking for regular prescription glasses, sunwear or protective sports eyewear, it can be tough choosing the best eyewear for children and teens. On the one hand, they need to be comfortable and provide the optimal fit for improved vision and protection. At the same time, they also...

Dec 31, 2015

Refractive errors including myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia.

Dec 09, 2015

Tis the season for giving, and parents, grandparents, family and friends need to know how to choose toys and games that protect childrens health and eyesight.

Nov 23, 2015

Have you ever thought about how vision works? It's an incredible system and process!

Nov 02, 2015

Prevention and treatment for eye complications associated with Diabetes

Oct 25, 2015

Beware this Halloween and think before you blink (in decorative contact lenses that is)! Sure, decorative contact lenses can enhance any Halloween costume, but if not taken seriously, they can also cost you your vision. Whether they are sold as cosmetic lenses, colored lenses or fashion lenses, they are anything...

Oct 13, 2015

Home Eye Injury Awareness and Prevention

Sep 24, 2015

Over the centuries there have been a lot of old-wives tales circulating about eyes and vision. You know, like the one that if someone hits you on the back while your eyes are crossed they will stay that way. Unlike this example, some of these myths do have roots in...

Sep 03, 2015

There are thousands of eye injuries a year related to sports. According to the National Eye Institute eye injuries are the leading cause of blindness in children in North America and most injuries occurring in school-aged children are sports-related. Further 99% of sports-related eye injuries can be prevented simply by...

Aug 30, 2015

The hormonal fluctuations experienced during pregnancy can cause many unexpected changes in your body, including your eyes and vision. Most of these changes are temporary and will return to normal once you give birth. Its important to know which vision changes are normal for an expecting mother and which could...

Aug 16, 2015

A babys visual system develops gradually over the first few months of life. They have to learn to focus and move their eyes, and use them together as a team. The brain also needs to learn how to process the visual information from the eyes to understand and interact with...

Jul 30, 2015

There is a lot more that goes into finding the right pair of sunglasses than just fit and fashion. While its important to look and feel great in your shades, sunglasses also have the very important job of properly protecting your eyes from the sun. Here are a few facts...

Jul 24, 2015

Cataracts are a leading cause of vision loss in the United States and Canada. Here are 6 things you need to know. 1. Chances are you will develop a cataract! Cataracts are considered part of the natural aging process so if you live long enough, you will likely eventually develop...

Jul 21, 2015

Independence Day may have passed but fireworks season is still in full swing and fireworks-related injury and death is a real and serious danger. According to the 2014 Annual Fireworks Report, compiled by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission there were at least 11 deaths and 10,500 injuries due to...

May 29, 2015

Your eyes are constantly at work for you, playing a vital role as you navigate through each day. As May is healthy vision month, here are some things to keep in mind: Know your genes While your eyes may be the same color as your fathers eyes, you may have...

May 17, 2015

According to WomensEyeHealth.org, of blindness and visual impairment occurs in women. Additionally, an estimated 75% of visual impairment is preventable or correctable with proper education and care. With the increased risks for women its critical for women to know about the risks and prevention to effectively protect their eyes...

Apr 30, 2015

Spring is in the air. But along with the beauty of the blooming flowers and budding trees, comes allergy season. The high pollen count and allergens floating in the fresh spring air can certainly wreak havoc on the comfort level of those suffering from allergies, causing an otherwise nature-loving individual...

Mar 31, 2015

Last week, people in South America, Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia and the Middle East saw a solar eclipse. As you may have heard, looking directly at a solar eclipse is very dangerous for your eyes and vision. Nevertheless, this rare event is something that many people want...

Mar 19, 2015

March is Save Your Vision Month, a time to raise public awareness about how to protect your eyes and your vision. Most people arent aware that 75% of potential vision loss can be prevented or treated. This largely depends on patients being proactive and educated about their eye health. Here...

Mar 11, 2015

Digital devices have impacted our world in so many positive ways, allowing us to connect, work, play and get information at the speed of light. But all of this good brings with it a measure of concern: Digital Eye Strain or Computer Vision Syndrome. Focusing on your vision on digital...

Feb 12, 2015

February is Low Vision and Age-Related Macular Degeneration awareness month. Low vision describes a set of conditions in which there is significant visual impairment which can not be corrected with traditional means such as glasses, contact lenses, medication or eye surgery. Low vision includes a loss of visual acuity...

Jan 27, 2015

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma is a serious, vision threatening disease. You can save your eyesight, by knowing the facts. Are you at risk of developing glaucoma? The short answer is yes. Anyone can get glaucoma and because of this it is important for every person, young and old...

Dec 31, 2014

Its that time of year againcoughs, sneezing, running noses and itchy, red eyes. How do you know when an eye irritation is something that needs medical attention? First of all, any time an eye infection is accompanied by fever, excessive discharge or pain, you should see your eye doctor immediately....

Dec 22, 2014

One of the most common patient complaints during the winter months is dry eyes. In the cooler climates, cold winds and dry air, coupled with dry indoor heating can be a recipe for eye discomfort. Dryness and irritation can be particularly debilitating for those who wear contact lenses or suffer...

Dec 04, 2014

Winter break is in a few weeksand, with college students finding their way home for the holidays, it is a good time for parents to check in and make sure their independent kids are taking care of themselves properly.Vision plays a key role in learning as well as extra-curricular activities...

Nov 25, 2014

November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month. Do you know the facts?

Oct 31, 2014

You may have experienced this before. Out of nowhere, your eyelid starts twitching uncontrollably. While this can be a cause of aggravation, eyelid twitches, spasms or tics are actually quite common. Here are 7 things you should know about this eye condition: Eye twitches are generally caused by a repetitive,...

Oct 23, 2014

October is 'Eye Injury Prevention Month' in the USA and 'Eye Health Month' in Canada. There are about 285 million people living with blindness and low vision all around the world. Children account for some 19 million of them. The vast majority of visual impairment is readily treatable and/or preventable....

Sep 28, 2014

The World Sight Day Challenge, slated to take place on October 9, 2014 is an annual awareness day that aims to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment worldwide. The day aims to create awareness that blindness can be avoided if there is universal access to quality vision and...

Sep 18, 2014

The new school year has kicked off and you can tick off purchasing all that back to school equipment. Now, it's time to think about what your child will need for after school sports and hobby activities. Making sure they have the right protective eyewear for their sporting or athletic...

Aug 27, 2014

A futuristic, yet simplistic, eye implant paired with a smartphone app may change the way eye doctors treat glaucoma.

Aug 24, 2014

School is starting: Do you know how to set up your childs homework and reading spot? Reading and writing are some of the most fundamental skills that your child to facilitate learning in school, so it is important to make sure that your child's eyes are comfortable when they are...

Jul 24, 2014

Summer vacation is well under way, but did you know that even when your child is out of the classroom, vision problems can have an impact on his/her daily activities? Look out for these 4 warning signs during the summer months they could be a sign of vision difficulties...

Jul 17, 2014

Eye floaters are actually more common that you may think. Many people notice specks or cobweb-like images moving around in their line of vision, at some point. Some even report experiencing a "snow globe effect" as if they are swatting at many imaginary bugs. Floaters may be an annoyance, but...

Jun 29, 2014

Cataracts affect millions of people nationwide and as the population continues to age, the numbers keep increasing. The good news is, cataracts are often manageable and treatable. As June is Cataract Awareness Month, here are some facts you should know to help you recognize cataracts and prevent permanent vision loss....

Jun 19, 2014

Have you ever wondered what your eyes do when you finally close them after a long day of visual processing and stimulation? Let's take a closer look at what happens behind your closed lids when your head hits the pillow. Firstly, once your eyes are closed, they do continue to...

May 22, 2014

The heat of long summer days is nearly upon us. As the sun's rays intensify and people spend more time outdoors in the sunshine it is very important to be aware of the potential damage exposure to the sun can have on your eyes. May is UV Awareness month. Here...

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Fox Eye Care Group - Eye Doctor Winston Salem, High Point

Its not science fiction. Nowadays prospective parents cannot only know the sex of their unborn child but also learn whether it can supply tissue-matched bone marrow to a dying sibling and whether it is predisposed to develop breast cancer or Huntingtons disease all before the embryo gets implanted into the mothers womb. -Esthur Landhuis

Have you heard of designer babies? Or perhaps you saw or read My Sisters Keeper, a story about a young girl who was conceived through In Vitro Fertilization to be a genetically matched donor for her older sister with leukemia? The concept of selecting traits for ones child comes from a technology called preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), a technique used on embryos acquired during In Vitro Fertilization to screen for genetic diseases. PGD tests embryos for genetic abnormalities, and based on the information gleaned, provides potential parents with the opportunity to select to implant only the healthy, non-genetically diseased embryos into the mother. But this genetic testing of the embryo also opens the door for other uses as well, including selecting whether you have a male or female child, or even the possibility of selecting specific features for the child, like eye color. Thus, many ethicists wonder about the future of the technology, and whether it will lead to babies that are designed by their parents.

Todays post is an exploration of the ethical issues raised by prenatal and preimplantation genetic diagnosis, written by Santa Clara Professor Dr. Lawrence Nelson, who has been writing about and teaching bioethics for over 30 years. Read on to examine the many ethical issues raised by this technology.

Prenatal and Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis

Background:

The overwhelming majority of people on earth, due to a wide range of reasons, beliefs, bodily motives, and attitudessome good, some bad, and some in the moral neutral zonereproduce. They are the genetic, gestational, and/or social (rearing) parents of a child. Birth rates in some countries are at a historic low (Japans is beneath replacement with the consequent deep graying of an entire society). In others, mostly in the developing part of the world where infant and maternal morbidity and mortality (not to mention poverty and disease) are quite high, birth rates remain similarly high.

In the economically developed part of the world, the process of making and having babies has become increasingly medicalized, at least for those fortunate enough to have ready access to the ever more sophisticated tools and knowledge of obstetrical medicine. From the time prior to pregnancy (fertility treatments, in vitro fertilization) to birth (caesarean delivery, high tech neonatal intensive care) and in between (fetal surgery), medical science and technology can help many to reach the goal any good parent should want: the live birth of a healthy child to a healthy mother.

Medical and biological sciences can together determine whether a fetus will (or might) have over a thousand different genetic diseases or abnormalities

Parallel to obstetrical medicine, science and technology have progressed immensely in another are over the last 30 or so years. The Human Genome Project (and the related research it has stimulated) has generated an amazing amount of knowledge about the nature and identity of normaland abnormalhuman genetic codes. Now the medical and biological sciences can together determine whether a fetus will (or might) have over a thousand different genetic diseases or abnormalities. Ultrasound examination can look into the womb (quite literally) and see developmental abnormalities in the fetus (such as neural tube defects like spina bifida and anencephaly). Even a simple blood test done on a pregnant woman can determine whether the fetus she is carrying has trisomy 21 (down syndrome), a genetic condition associated with mental retardation and, not infrequently, cardiac and other health problems.

Pregnant women who have health insurance that covers obstetrical care (and many millions of American women donot), particularly if they are older (>35 years), are more or less routinely offered prenatal genetic diagnosis by their obstetricians. Chorionic villus sampling is a medical procedure that takes a few fetal cells from the placenta and can be done around 10 weeks after the womans last menstrual period. These cells can then be analyzed to determine the presence of genetic abnormalities. Amniocentesis is a medical procedure that obtains fetal cells from the amniotic fluid and is usually done later in pregnancy, typically after 14 weeks following the womans last menstrual period. When done by experienced medical professionals, both procedures carry about a 0.5% risk of spontaneous abortion. The genetic analysis done on these fetal cells can determine the presence of fatal genetic diseases (such as Tay-Sachs, trisomy 13 and 18), disease that can cause the born child much suffering (children with Lesch-Nyan, for example, compulsively engage in self-destructive behavior like lip chewing, while children with spinal muscular atrophy have severe, progressive muscle-wasting), and conditions that typically cause mental retardation (such as Fragile-X and Emanuel syndrome).

Although tremendous strides have been made in genetic sciences ability to detect chromosomal abnormalities, precious little success has been achieved in treating genetic disorders directly either prenatally or postnatally. Some symptomatic treatment may well be available, but almost nothing that will actually cure or significantly ameliorate the effects of the disease. A pregnant woman who wishes to avoid the birth of a child with genetic disease has little alternative but to seek termination of the pregnancy.

The science and technology of assisted reproduction (in this case in vitro fertilization [IVF]) meets the science and technology of obstetrical medicine in preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). Embryos are created in vitro by mixing oocytes taken from the woman who intends to gestate one (or more) of them from a donor, and sperm taken from her partner or a donor. Genetic analysis is performed on one or few cells from each embryo, the loss of which does not affect the embryos ability to develop normally once implanted in a womb. Only those embryos free of detectable genetic abnormalities are then implanted in the womans womb in the hope that they will then attach to the uterine wall and develop normally. While success rates for implantation vary, many women have given birth following PGD. The main advantage of PGD over chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis for many women and couples is that it avoid the need for a surgical abortion to end an undesired pregnancy, although it does result in discarding the affected embryos.

What ethical issues are raised by Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis and Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis?

Prenatal genetic diagnosis (PrGD) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) both raise a number of serious ethical questions and problems.

What role does money play in ethical issues with PrGD and PGD?

1. Both services are quite expensive (especially PGD which is typically not covered by even private insurance and has the added cost of IVF) and are not available to all who might need or want them. This raises difficult questions ofsocial justice and equity, including whether coverage for these services is morally responsible when social resources for all health care services (those that are life-saving and preventive) are seriously limited.

2. As PGD is generally paid for directly by the persons who utilize it, ethical questions arise aboutthe means clinics use to attract patients and the information they provide them about its risks and benefits. Clinicians are in a fiduciary relationship with their patients and are obligated to act so as to deserve and maintain the patients trust and confidence that their wishes and best interests are being faithfully served. Consequently, the marketing of infertility services ought to place the good of patients above other interests (especially a clinicians or clinics own economic interests), should not induce patients to accept excessive, unneeded, or unproven services, and should adhere to high standards of honesty and accuracy in the information provided to prospective patients.

What is the moral status of an embryo?

3. Both PrGD and PGD result in the destruction of embryos and fetuses.If, as some contend, all human embryos and fetuses have the same moral status as live-born persons, then they are entitled to basic rights, including the right not to be killed arbitrarily or for the purpose of advancing the interests of other persons. On this view, both PrGD and PGD would be seriously morally wrong. The opposing view would hold that embryos and fetuses lack any moral status whatsoever as they lack any properties, such as sentience or other cognitive traits, that determine moral standing and so can be destroyed at will.

Perhaps the more commonly heldand more ethically defensibleposition is that human embryos and fetuses deserve some modest moral status because they are alive, have some degree of potential to become human persons, and are in fact valued by moral agents whose views deserve at least some respect and deference from others. Nevertheless, they do not possess the full and equal moral standing of persons because they lack interests and other moral claims to personhood. Having a modest level of moral status does not preclude the destruction of embryos and fetuses for a morally serious reason or purpose, and the informed and conscientious choice of the persons who created the embryos to prevent the birth of a child with a serious genetic disease or abnormality is widely (though by no means universally) considered to be such a reason

Does PrGD and PGD lead to discrimination against the disabled?

4. Recently disability activists have strongly challenged what they deem to be the basic assumption underlying PrGD and PGD: reducing the incidence of disease and disability is an obvious and unambiguous good. They rightly criticize certain views that support this assumption: that the disableds enjoyment of life is necessarily less than for nondisabled people; that raising a child with a disability is a wholly undesirable thing; and that selective embryo discard or abortion necessarily saves mothers from the heavy burdens of raising disabled children. However,the ethical critique of the disability activists goes much deeper than this quite proper debunking of broadly drawn and inaccurate assumptions about life with any disability. First, they contend that the medical system tends to exaggerate the burden associated with having a disability and underestimates the functional abilities of the disabled. The activists also point out how medical language reinforces the negativity associated with disability by using such terms as deformity or defective embryo or fetus. Second, and more importantly, the disability activists claim that the promotion and use of PGD and traditional prenatal diagnosis sends a message to the public that negatively affects existing disabled people and fosters an increase in the oppression and prejudice from which they regularly suffer.

Adults who wish to reproduce are ethically obligated to do so in a responsible manner, and this means gathering and assessing fair and accurate information about what the future might hold for them and the child they might produce.

Insofar as individual clinicians do, in fact, exaggerate the problems and burdens of living as an individual with a disability or of living with a disabled person as a parent or family member, then they are doing a moral disservice to the people they are duty bound to be helping. Adults who wish to reproduce are ethically obligated to do so in a responsible manner, and this means (insofar as it is possible in a world about which we have imperfect knowledge) gathering and assessing fair and accurate information about what the future might hold for them and the child they might produce. Clinicians (especially genetic counselors) should endeavor to provide this kind of information, supplementedif at all possibleby the firsthand information that comes from those who have actually lived with disabilities of various kinds as parents of the disabled or from the disabled individuals themselves. On the other hand, these conditions are simply not utterly benign or neutral as each mayand often doesinvolve what can fairly be described as an undesirable event such as pain, repeated hospitalizations and operations, paralysis, a shortened life span, limited educational and job opportunities, limited independence, and do forth. [1]

Discrimination against persons with disabilities is just as morally repugnant as discrimination against persons based on race, religion, or sex, but it is not at all clear that PrGD and PGD reinforce or contribute to this in any manner. Regardless of how society might change (as it surelyought to change) its attitudes and practices to decrease or, better, eliminate the socially created disadvantages wrongly placed on the disabledand regardless of how individual persons might change their views on the prospect of knowingly having a child with a serious disability, other persons will prefer not to have a child with a serious disability, no matter how wonderful the social services, no matter how inclusive the society. It is this individual choice that PGD preserves, although the clinicians who offer PGD have a moral obligation to explore their own and their patients attitudes about, and understanding of, disability so these individual decisions can be made fairly and responsibly with accurate information about the real world of life with and without disability.

Should people be able to select the sex of their baby?

5. Both PrGD and PGD identify the sex of the embryo or fetus. This raisesthe question of whether it is ethically permissible for an embryo to be discarded or a fetus to be aborted because of sex. The selection of an embryos sex via PGD is done for two basic reasons: (1) preventing the transmission of sex-linked genetic disorders; and (2) choosing sex to achieve gender balance in a family with more than one child, to achieve a preferred order in the birth of children by sex, or to provide a parent with a child of the sex he or she prefers to raise. [2] While little extended ethical debate exists regarding the former, sex selection for the purpose of preventing the transmission of sex-linked genetic disease, the latter is the subject of heated ethical disagreement.

The ethical objections to sex selection for nonmedical reasons can be grounded both in the very act of deliberately choosing one sex over the other and the untoward consequences of sex selection, particularly if it is performed frequently. Sex selection can be considered inherently ethically objectionable because it makes sex a determinative reason to value one human being over another when it ought to be completely irrelevant: females and males as such always ought be valued equally and never differentially. Sex selection can also be ethically criticized for the undesirable consequences it may generate. Choice by sex supports socially created assumptions about the relative value and meaning of male and female, with the latter almost universally being considered seriously inferior to the former. By supporting assumptions that hold femaleness in lower social regard, sex selection enhances the likelihood that females will be the targets of infanticide, unfair discrimination, and damaging stereotypes.

Proponents of the ethical acceptability of sex selection would argue that a parents desire for family balancing can beand typically ismorally neutral. The defense of family balancing rests on the view that once a parent has a child of one sex, he or she can properly prefer to have a child of the other sex because the two genders are different and generate different parenting experiences.

To insist [that the experience of parenting a boy is different from that of parenting a girl] is not the case seems breathtakingly simplistic, as if gender played no role either in a persons personality or relationships to others. Gender may be partly cultural (which does not make it less real), but it probably is partly biological. I see nothing wrong with wanting to have both experiences. [3]

An opponent of sex selection for family balancing can argue that good parentswhether prospective or actualought never to prefer, favor, or give more love to a child of one sex over the other. For example, a morally good and admirable parent would never love a male child more than a female child, give the male more privileges than a female, or give a female more material things than a male simply because of sex or beliefs about the childs propergender. A virtuous and conscientious parent, then, ought not to think that, or behave as if, a child of one sex is better than one of the other sex, nor should a good parent believe or act as if, at bottom, girls are really different than boys in the ways that truly matter.

Sex selection is at least strongly ethically suspect, if not outright wrong

The argument in favor of sex selection for family balancing has to assume that gender and gender roles exist and matter in the lived world. For if they did not, then no reason would exist to differentiate the experience of parenting a male child from that of a female. However, it is precisely the reliance upon this assumption to which the opponent of sex selection objects: acceptingand perpetuatinggender roles inevitably both harms and wrongs both males and females, although females clearly suffer much more from them than males. While some gender roles or expectations are innocuous (e.g., men dont like asking for directions), the overwhelming majority (e.g., males areand should beaggressive, women areand should beself-sacrificing) are not. Consequently, given that sex selection is inevitably gendered and most gender roles and expectations restrict the freedom of persons to be who they wish to be regardless of gender, sex selection is at least strongly ethically suspect, if not outright wrong.

Watch: Designer Babies Ethical? L.A.s Fertility Institute Says Prospective Parents Can Choose Physical Traits, Not Just Gender, from CBS NEWS:

Questions 1. Is it ethical to use preimplantation genetic diagnosis to select the sex of your child? 2. Consider the arguments presented about PGD and the ethical issues it poses in regards to disabilities. Does PGD reinforce a message about the disabled that, as disability activists claim, negatively affects existing disabled people and fosters an increase in the oppression and prejudice from which they regularly suffer? 3. In the video above, the doctor interviewed named Dr. Steinberg says, Of course, once Ive got this science (of PGD), am I not to provide this to my patients? Im a physician. I want to provide everything science gives me to my patients. Do you agree with Dr. Steinbergs reasoning? Why or why not?

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Ethical Issues With Prenatal and Preimplantation Genetic ...

* As of February 1, 2016:

* In the state of Washington, it is against the law to apply a tattoo to anyone under the age of 18.

* In the state of New Jersey, it is against the law to engage in a body piercing of anyone under the age of 18 without written consent from his or her parent or legal guardian.

* In the state of California, it is against the law for anyone under the age of 18 to use a tanning machine.

* In Washington, New Jersey, and California, it is legal for a girl of any age to get an abortion without her parents consent or knowledge.

* Five Gallup polls conducted from 1992 through 2011 found that 69-74% of Americans favor a law requiring women under 18 to get parental consent for any abortion. Opposition to this view ranged from 23-28%.

* A 2005 CBS poll found 80% support for requiring that at least one parent be told before a girl under 18 years of age could have an abortion. Opposition to this view was 17%.

* A 2009 Pew poll found 76% support for requiring that women under the age of 18 get the consent of at least one parent before they are allowed to have an abortion. Opposition to this view was 19%.

* In 1996, Barack Obamas Illinois Senate campaign completed a candidate questionnaire and then resubmitted it with amended answers on the following day. In response to the question, Do you support parental consent/notification for minors seeking abortions? the answers were:

* When these questionnaires were published by Politico.com during the 2008 Presidential contest, Obamas campaign asserted that a staffer filled them out and some of the responses did not and do not reflect Obamas views.

* An investigation by Politico found that one of the questionnaires contains written notes that appear to be in Obamas hand, and the other questionnaire has a cover sheet indicating that Obama supplied the answers in a face-to-face interview at the house of a board member of the organization that issued the questionnaire. The board member has confirmed that Obama personally sat for this interview. In response to these revelations, Obamas presidential campaign wrote:

* On a 2001 vote in the Illinois Senate for a parental notification bill, Barack Obama voted Present.

* Illinois Senate rules state that a majority of those elected (30 Senators) must vote in favor of a bill for it to pass. Thus, a vote of Present has the same result as a vote of No.

* With regard to Obama voting Present on this and other abortion-related bills, Pam Sutherland, the president and CEO of the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council stated:

* In response to a 2004 candidate questionnaire that asked, Do you support parental notification or consent to obtain an abortion? Barack Obamas U.S. Senate campaign answered:

* The 2001 parental notification bill on which Obama voted Present had bypass provisions for sexual abuse, neglect, physical abuse, and cases where notification would not be in the best interests of the minor.

* In response to a 2007 candidate questionnaire asking if minors should be required to seek their parents consent before having an abortion, Barack Obamas presidential campaign did not explicitly answer the question and stated that:

* As of 2008, all of the 35 states with a parental consent or notification law in effect has a bypass provision that permits exceptions in various circumstances such as when notifying a parent not be in a minors best interests. This is also the case with a Congressional bill that Obama filibustered. Six of the seven states with a parental consent or notification law blocked by a court order or ruling have similar bypass provisions. The one exception is New Mexico, which has a 1969 law on its books that the state attorney general ruled unenforceable in 1990.

* The Democratic Party Platform makes no explicit reference to parental consent or notification laws. The Republican Party Platform supports parental notification laws and makes no explicit reference to parental consent laws.

* On September 16, 1988, 17-year-old Rebecca Suzanne Bell of Indianapolis, Indiana was admitted to a hospital with pneumonia and suffered a fatal cardiopulmonary arrest that night. During her autopsy, evidence of recent pregnancy with recent partial abortion was discovered. The cause of death listed on the autopsy report is Septic Abortion with Pneumonia and the manner of death as Undetermined. According to Merriam-Websters Medical Dictionary, a septic abortion is a spontaneous or induced abortion associated with bacterial infection and pneumonia is a disease of the lungs that is caused especially by infection.

* Indiana had (and has) a parental consent law in effect. According to a receipt from a local Planned Parenthood and Beckys friend Heather Clark, the two of them visited Planned Parenthood, where it was suggested that Becky travel 100 miles to Kentucky to circumvent the Indiana law.

* Heather Clark stated that Becky chose not to tell her parents about the pregnancy because she was recently hospitalized with a drug problem and thought that they would kick her out of the house if they knew she was pregnant. Ms. Clark also stated that after she and Becky went to Planned Parenthood, Becky wavered about having an abortion and considered running away and putting the baby up for adoption.

* The county coroner (who did not perform the autopsy and is now deceased) told Beckys parents that she had died from pneumonia and the source of the infection was an illegal abortion performed with unsterile instruments. Her parents came to blame Beckys death on Indianas parental consent law. This led to media attention and Beckys parents embarking on a speaking tour of 23 states with an advocacy group to lobby against parental involvement laws.

* Since this time, Becky Bells case has been cited as an argument against parental consent laws on 60 Minutes, ABC News, CNNs Larry King Live, in the magazines Seventeen, Rolling Stone, Newsweek, an American Civil Liberties Union pamphlet, and an original HBO movie named Public Law 106: The Becky Bell Story. In the last three years, this argument has been repeated in at least 13 different publications including a legal journal. When a parental notification law was put on the ballot in Oregon in 1990, polls found opposition to it at 22%. After Beckys parents toured the state appearing at rallies and on television and talk shows, the measure was defeated with 52% voting against it.

* Around the time that the Beckys parents appeared on 60 Minutes, James A. Miller, the research director of an organization dedicated to promot[ing] and defend[ing] the sanctity of life, corresponded several times with Dr. Jesse Giles, the author of the autopsy report and one of two pathologists who signed it. In an editorial published in the Baltimore Evening Sun and in a press release, Miller wrote that Giles said:

* When contacted by Just Facts, Dr. Giles refused to answer any questions.

* The other pathologist who signed the autopsy report was Dr. John Pless. He supervised the autopsy, as Dr. Giles was a fellow in training at the time. In a 1990 newspaper article, Dr. Pless is quoted as stating, I cannot prove she had anything but a spontaneous abortion [i.e., miscarriage], but that he found evidence of infection in Beckys reproductive system, and thus it seemed probable that an induced abortion was performed.

* The description of the reproductive system in the autopsy report contains no mention of an infection.

* When contacted by Just Facts, Pless confirmed his view as quoted above and stated that the same micro-organism that caused the pneumonia was cultured in the uterus and the lung. When Just Facts pointed out the autopsy report contains a list of Specimens for Culture that does not include the uterus, Pless said his memory may be faulty, but the only possible source of the infection was the uterus because there was no upper airway disease - so the only possibility was spread from the uterus.

* When Just Facts informed Dr. Pless that:

* The HBO movie cited above shows Becky going with a friend to obtain an illegal abortion. All primary sources researched for this case contain no testimony or documentation of such an event. This includes the coroners report, autopsy report, Beckys mothers written account, and an article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer in which the reporter quotes Beckys father and her closest friend Heather Clark. Ms. Clark, who accompanied Becky to Planned Parenthood, told the reporter that Becky did not have an induced abortion. She also said that when she visited Becky (four days after she had gotten sick and the night before she passed on), Becky asked her to schedule an abortion in Louisville, Kentucky for two days later.

Events in the week prior to Beckys death (as reported in the coroners report, autopsy report, Beckys mothers written account, and Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Sunday 12:45 AM

Becky comes home from a party and says she thinks someone put cocaine or speed in her drink and that she feels like shes got the flu like Dad.

Tuesday

Becky faints.

Wednesday

Becky stays home from school and develops a 104 fever. Her parents try to take her to the doctor, but Becky resists and they relent.

Thursday PM

Heather Clark visits Becky, and Becky asks her to schedule an abortion in Kentucky on Saturday.

Friday

Becky starts bleeding and tells her Mom. Becky agrees to go a doctor, who diagnoses her with pneumonia and sends her to the hospital, arriving at 4 PM.

Friday PM

The doctor says to Beckys family: We dont know if we can save the baby. 11:29 PM: Becky passes on.

* In March 1989, six months after Becky Bells death, 16-year-old Erica Kae Richardson of Cheltenham, Maryland was assisted by her aunt in obtaining an abortion without her mothers consent or knowledge. Ericas aunt, a registered nurse, first took her to Washington Hospital Center, which would not perform the abortion because the pregnancy was 19 weeks along. She then took her to the Metropolitan Womens Center in Laurel, where Dr. Gene Crawford carried out the abortion, puncturing her uterus in the process. Erica died several hours later from rupture of [her] lower uterus and cervix with complications, including hemorrhage into the pelvic cavity surrounding the uterus and air embolism.

* The current Maryland notification law allows abortion providers to bypass notifying a parent if, in their opinion, the minor is capable of giving informed consent to an abortion. The law also stipulates that abortion providers cannot be prosecuted or sued for failing to notify a girls parents.

* A 2000 U.S. Department of Justice study of crimes reported to law enforcement agencies in twelve states from 1991-1996, found that the incidence of forcible rape peaked at the ages of 14 and 15.

* A 1987 survey of U.S. woman aged 18-22, found that of those who had intercourse at 15 years of age or younger, 40% had been forced to have sex against their will or were raped.

* A 2006 U.S. Department of Justice study found that 58% of female forcible rape victims were raped before their 18th birthday.

* Arkansas law requires written consent of a parent (not a step-parent) before an abortion is performed upon a female who is less than 18 years of age. In 2006, a 15-year-old Arkansas girl accused her 41-year-old stepfather of raping her, getting her pregnant, forcing her to have an abortion in Illinois (where there is no parental consent or notification law in effect), and continuing to rape her afterwards.

* The girls claim that she was taken to an abortion clinic in Granite City, Illinois was corroborated by a photo of her stepfathers car at this facility. He was arrested, charged with a dozen counts of rape and committed suicide before trial.

* In 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would have made it illegal to take a minor across state lines to circumvent state laws that require parental involvement in a minors abortion. It required that abortion providers in states without parental involvement laws give at least 24 hours notice to a parent before performing an abortion on a minor who resides in another state. This provision included exceptions for parental abuse, neglect, and if the physical health of the minor is endangered. 93% of Republicans voted for it and 71% of Democrats voted against it. (Click for a record of how each Representative voted.)

* After being approved by the House, the bill was sent to the Senate where it was blocked by a filibuster conducted by 37 Democrats, 4 Republicans, and 1 Independent. Participants in the filibuster included Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Robert Menendez, and Susan Collins. (Click for a record of how each Senator voted.)

* A sexual relationship between a 22-year-old man and a 13-year-old girl is illegal in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. All states have laws requiring healthcare and other workers who interact with children in a professional capacity to report suspected cases of child abuse, which in 29 states and the District of Columbia, explicitly includes a sexual relationship between a 22-year-old man and a 13-year-old girl.

* In 2002, Life Dynamics, an organization dedicated to ending legal abortion, phoned more than 800 Planned Parenthood and National Abortion Federation abortion clinics and offices. In these calls, a woman from Life Dynamics told workers at these facilities that she was 13-years-old, had been impregnated by her 22-year-old boyfriend, and wanted to get an abortion to hide the situation from her parents.

* In more than 90% of the phone calls, the Planned Parenthood and National Abortion Federation workers did not act to report the matter.

* Some workers encouraged the caller to come in for the abortion and lie about the age of the person who impregnated her.

* Some workers told the caller that they were required to report the situation, but werent going to do so.

* In states that have parental notification laws, some workers told the caller to find a person who was old enough to impersonate one of her parents and have them sign the required paperwork. In one state that requires a notarized signature from a parent, a worker told the caller that the facility had a notary public who would notarize a fraudulent signature for her.

* After Life Dynamics released the recordings, Planned Parenthood issued the following statement:

* A Connecticut TV station (WTIC Fox 61) scrutinized the recordings of the phone calls to the abortion clinics in Connecticut. They found that the dial tones recorded on the tapes matched the phone numbers of the facilities, the names of the people on the tapes matched the names of the workers at the facilities, and the content of the conversations matched what was reported by Life Dynamics.

* In briefs submitted to the United States Supreme Court regarding a Minnesota parental consent law, the American Psychological Association asserted that the law should be struck down on the grounds that:

most adolescents are competent to make informed decisions about important life situations.

* In a brief submitted to the United States Supreme Court regarding a death penalty sentence in Missouri for a person who committed a capital murder at the age of 17, the American Psychological Association asserted that crimes committed by minors should never be subject to the death penalty on the grounds that:

Adolescent decision-makers on average are less future-oriented and less likely to consider properly the consequences of their actions.

In comparison with adults, studies show that adolescents are less likely to consider alternative courses of action, understand the perspective of others, or restrain impulses. In a study of more than 1,000 adolescents and adults it was not until age 19 that this development of responsible decisionmaking plateaued.

See the original post here:
Abortion - Just Facts

The Arthritis Foundation is the largest and most trusted nonprofit organization dedicated to conquering the challenges of people with arthritis, the nations leading cause of disability.

The Arthritis Foundation is the Champion of Yes. We lead the fight for the arthritis community and help conquer everyday battles through life-changing information and resources, access to optimal care, advancements in science and community connections. Our goal is to chart a winning course, guiding families in developing personalized plans for living a full life and making each day another stride towards a cure.

Reach

The Arthritis Foundation, NortheastRegion serves New York, New Jersey, and portions of Pennsylvania.

Prevalence

Arthritis is a serious and growing health crisis, striking 50 million Americans (one in every five adults) and about 300,000 children. In the Northeast Region, 7 million adults and 32,000 children are diagnosed with arthritis. It is a complex and incurable condition; two major types of arthritis alone osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis cost the U.S. economy more than $156 billion annually in lost wages and medical expenses.

Core Areas

Help & Support Our goal is to help those with arthritis live life to its fullest easing their pain and illuminating a path toward wellness. Through personalized information and support, we expertly guide individuals affected by arthritis in developing a customized plan for how to say Yes and make every step another victory.

Advocacy & Access We are the authority on arthritis and have a strong voice at the state and federal levels. In telling the untold stories of those with arthritis to insurers and regulators, we work to make sure that all people with arthritis have access to optimal care and game-changing medicine. Through the Arthritis Foundations effective and committed nationwide advocacy network now more than 100,000 members strong we are working to address key issues on both the state and federal levels with lawmakers, insurers, employers and providers.

Scientific Discovery Finding a cure for arthritis is, and always will be, a priority for the Arthritis Foundation. Science and technology is advancing every day, and the optimism and energy we pour into research and scientific discovery are helping pave the path toward progress. Last year, more than $1.8 million was provided in funding to local researchers within the New England Region.

Juvenile Arthritis The needs of families living with juvenile arthritis (JA) are unique and urgent. In the United States, an estimated 300,000 children have JA or other rheumatic conditions. Multiply that by their parents, siblings, extended family and others, and the number of people affected is astronomical. For almost seven decades, the Arthritis Foundation has upheld our unwavering promise to assist them and their caregivers. Were boldly leading the JA fight, ensuring easy access to life-changing resources, community and care.

See original here:
Eastern Pennsylvania | About Us | Arthritis Foundation

What can go wrong with unapproved stem cell clinics? The answer including from presentations at the FDA today turns out to be very serious, negative results right here in the U.S.

Thomas Albini, MD gave a talk entitled, Severe Visual Loss After Intravitreal Injection of Autologous Adipose Tissue-derived Stem Cells for Age-related Macular Degeneration.

Stem cell clinic transplants of fat stem cells led to blindness in three women, reported Dr. Albini.

Weve heard encouraging news about how stem cells might help patients regain lost vision or preserve existing vision in the face of a disease like macular degeneration in the future. Theres real potential there with rigorous clinical trials that are ongoing.

Here in this very different case we heard from Dr. Albini about how stem cells inappropriately used by a stem cell clinic in South Florida reportedly caused 3 women to go blind. All had retinal detachment potentially, Dr. Albini said, due to the fat stem cells taking up residence and resulting in pulling of the eye tissue internally. A nurse practitioner reportedly did the transplants rather than a physician. The patients assumed, we were told in the talk, that the listing in clinicaltrials.gov of the trial meant the interventions were legit.

This is such a deeply tragic case we can only hope that more people arent blinded from this kind of stem cell clinic offering.More on this situation here at Nature by Heidi Ledford.

Michael Miller, MD, PhD, spoke next with his talk entitled, Glioproliferative Lesion of the Spinal cord Arising from Exogenous Stem Cells. This case already has had quite a lot ofmedia attention and involves stroke patient Jim Gass, who ended up with a large spinal tumor that dramatically negatively affected his health. We have to give Mr. Gass huge credit for having the courage to go public with this case. He got ES cells and allo MSCs both in China. Then he traveled to Argentina for autologous MSCs and then to Mexico where he got MSCs and neural stem cells. See image above from the talk. The spinal tumor had many weird features of various primitive tumors. It was clearly a malignancy. There were no major cancer-related mutations detected in the OncoPanel assay.

The bottom line. So when those promoting stem cell clinics or wanting much less oversight ask what can go wrong? and they dont really believe much can go wrong, we now know for sure that that view is just not accurate. Intensely bad stem cell clinic outcomes are occurring right here in the U.S.

Follow this link:
stem cell negative outcomes Archives - The Niche

Background: Vitamin and mineral supplements are commonly used to prevent chronic diseases.

Purpose: To systematically review evidence for the benefit and harms of vitamin and mineral supplements in community-dwelling, nutrient-sufficient adults for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects were searched from January 2005 to 29 January 2013, with manual searches of reference lists and gray literature.

Study Selection: Two investigators independently selected and reviewed fair- and good-quality trials for benefit and fair- and good-quality trials and observational studies for harms.

Data Extraction: Dual quality assessments and data abstraction.

Data Synthesis: Two large trials (n= 27658) reported lower cancer incidence in men taking a multivitamin for more than 10 years (pooled unadjusted relative risk, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.87 to 0.99]). The study that included women showed no effect in that group. High-quality studies (k= 24; n= 324 653) of single and paired nutrients (such as vitamins A, C, or D; folic acid; selenium; or calcium) were scant and heterogeneous and showed no clear evidence of benefit or harm. Neither vitamin E nor -carotene prevented CVD or cancer, and -carotene increased lung cancer risk in smokers.

Limitations: The analysis included only primary prevention studies in adults without known nutritional deficiencies. Studies were conducted in older individuals and included various supplements and doses under the set upper tolerable limits. Duration of most studies was less than 10 years.

Conclusion: Limited evidence supports any benefit from vitamin and mineral supplementation for the prevention of cancer or CVD. Two trials found a small, borderline-significant benefit from multivitamin supplements on cancer in men only and no effect on CVD.

Primary Funding Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

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Vitamin and Mineral Supplements in the Primary Prevention ...

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Tools for cytokine profiling

Across all applications

Solving your technical queries

Nature's InsideView interviews Dr Weimin Zhu for a profile feature on the RabMAb platform

Find out more about what affects antibody quality, and our KO-validation initiative. Free webinar

Easily plan and optimize your immunohistochemistry experiments with our comprehensive guide

Present, network, and collaborate at the University of Copenhagen, October 1921

Access protocols, tools and support at the bench from your iPhone or iPad

Let our lab team talk you through procedures including IHC, western blot, and aseptic technique

Register for this free webinar on September 7, 2016

Identify panels of biomarkers for the four most common forms of cancer

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Antibodies, Proteins, Kits and Reagents for Life ... - Abcam

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Generic Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate) - Gesundheit Des ...

Sept. 12, 2016 | Emory Eye Center to Host Education Program for Pediatric Ophthalmologists. Pediatric ophthalmologists and other ophthalmic subspecialists will come together Sept. 16-17, 2016, for an opportunity to learn more about pediatric ophthalmology and to share cases from their own practices. The gathering, known as the Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Meeting of the Southeast (POSMS), will be sponsored by the Emory Eye Center and Emory University School of Medicine's Ophthalmology Department.

Sept. 1, 2016 | Emory Eye Center Again Earns a Spot inU.S. News & World Report's Healthcare Rankings. (ATLANTA) Emory Eye Center is again noted as a top ophthalmology center in the United States, according to the prestigious U.S. News & World Report guide to Americas top medical institutions.

August 26, 2016 | $3,023,456 Five-Year Award Announced by NEI for Emory Eye Center Vision Research. (ATLANTA) Emory Eye Center Director of Research P. Michael Iuvone, PhD, and his colleagues announced today the news of a first-year funding award of $624,000 for their P30 Core Grant for Vision Research proposal by the National Eye Institute (NEI), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

August 18, 2016 | Center to Host 6th Annual Southeastern Ocular Oncology/Pathology Seminar (SEOP) Emory Eye Center will host the sixth annual Southeastern Ocular Oncology/Pathology Seminar (SEOP) on Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, in the Eye Centers Learning Resources Center, Calhoun Auditorium, from 8 a.m. to 4p.m.

July 18, 2016 | Nine Eye Center Physicians Named Americas Top Doctors Nine Emory Eye Center ophthalmologists were selected from the Atlanta metropolitan region as Americas Top Doctors.

May 26, 2016 | Emory Eye Center Postdocs Honored at Emory Research Symposium Postdoctoral research scientists placed among the top honorees at 9th Annual Postdoctoral Research Symposium.

May 25, 2016 | Top Southeastern U.S. Vision Research Scientists Gather for Symposium on Retinal Degeneration Emory Eye Center co-hosts with CVNR AVRC Retinal Degeneration Symposium.

May 23, 2016 | Child Survivors of Eye Cancer Gather for RB Day Picnic The 18th Emory Eye Center Retinoblastoma (RB) Kids Day Picnic held on Saturday, May 7, 2016, in Decatur, GA.

May 16, 2016 | Researchers Honored at 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting Emory Eye Center researchers were leading scientific contributors to this year's ARVO Annual Meeting.

May 3, 2016 | $150,000 Gift from Alcon Foundation Establishes Global Ophthalmology FellowshipThe Alcon Foundation pledges $150,000 to establish a Global Ophthalmology Emory (GO-E) Fellowship.

National Geographic Channel, Breakthrough Fighting Pandemics.

Ocular Surgery News, "Ebola virus poses threat of ocular complications during convalescence."

BBC News, "When Ebola lingers: A survivor's story."

BBC Radio 5 Live Drive, BBC 5 Live Drive [at the 2:20 min. mark].

Read more:
Emory Eye Center

< > iLASIK Experience new vision and a new outlook on life with iLasik

The doctors at Atlanta Ophthalmology have collectively performed more than 20,000 cataract surgeries. Together, they have created a Cataract Center of Excellence.

During cataract replacement, the most common surgical procedure in the country, the lens is removed and replaced with an artificial one called an intraocular lens or IOL.

In order for a person to see clearly, the light coming into the eye must be focused on the retina. The main focusing elements in the eye are the cornea and the lens.

To pre-register for an appointment, schedule an appointment, pay online, or refill your rx please create an account.

Atlanta Ophthalmology Associates is located in Atlanta, GA and offers an array of services in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. Our skilled doctors and friendly staff provide the highest quality eye care using the most sophisticated technology available. We are dedicated to helping every patient enjoy the best possible vision.

AOA is located in the Glenridge Medical Center at 5730 Glenridge Drive, Suite 120, Atlanta, Ga 30328. Patients will be met by an open, welcoming lobby where we will be conveniently located on the first floor. Free Handicapped parking is located in the front with a $3.00-$4.00 charge for parking in the rear of the building.

Laser refractive surgery for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

A Gentle Eyelid Cleanser

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Atlanta Ophthalmology Associates

Genetics seems rather intimidating, but in its purest sense it is rather simple.The basis of genetics is fairly simple: DNA => RNA => A Protein.

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, (DNA) is a long molecule that contains our unique genetic code. Nearly every cell in a persons body has the same DNA. Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it is called nuclear DNA), but a small amount of DNA can also be found in the mitochondria (where it is called mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA).

The information in DNA is stored as a code made up of four chemical bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). Human DNA consists of about 3 billionof these bases, and more than 99 percent of those bases are the same in every person. The order, or sequence, of these bases determines the information available for building and maintaining an organism.

DNA bases pair up with each other, A with T and C with G, to form units called base pairs. Each base is also attached to a sugar molecule and a phosphate molecule. Together, a base, sugar, and phosphate are called a nucleotide. Nucleotides are arranged in two long strands that form a spiral called a double helix. The structure of the double helix is somewhat like a ladder, with the base pairs forming the ladders rungs and the sugar and phosphate molecules forming the vertical sidepieces of the ladder.

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is very similar to DNA, but differs in a few important structural details: RNA nucleotides contain ribose sugars while DNA contains deoxyribose and RNA uses predominantly uracil instead of thymine present in DNA. RNA is transcribed (synthesized) from DNA by enzymes called RNA polymerases and further processed by other enzymes. RNA serves as the template for translation of genes into proteins, transferring amino acids to the ribosome to form proteins, and also translating the transcript into proteins.

RNAs serve as the working set of blue prints for a gene. Each gene is read, and then the messenger RNAs are sent to the molecular factories (ribosomes) that build proteins. These factories read the blueprints and use the information to make the appropriate protein. When the cell no longer needs to make any more of that protein, the RNA blueprints are destroyed. but because the master copy in the DNA remains intact, the cell can always go back to the DNA and make more RNA copies when it needs more of the encoded protein.

An example would be the suns UV light activating the genes in your skin cells to tan you. The gene is read and the RNA takes the message or blueprint to the ribosomes where melanin, the protein that tans your skin, is made.

As we discussed, each gene is made up of a series of bases and those bases provide instructions for making a single protein. Any change in the sequence of bases may be considered a mutation. Most of the mutations are naturally-occurring. For example, when a cell divides, it makes a copy of its DNA and sometimes the copy is not quite perfect. That small difference from the original DNA sequence is a mutation.

Mutations can also be caused by exposure to specific chemicals, metals, viruses, and radiation. These have the potential to modify the DNA. This is not necessarily unnatural even in the most isolated and pristine environments, DNA breaks down. Nevertheless, when the cell repairs the DNA, it might not do a perfect job of the repair. So the cell would end up with DNA slightly different than the original DNA and hence, a mutation.

Some mutations have little or no effect on the protein, while others cause the protein not to function at all. Other mutations may create a new effect that did not exist before. Many diseases are a result of mutations in certain genes. One example is the gene for sickle cell anemia. The mutation causing the blood disorder sickle cell anemia is a single nucleotide substitution (A to T) in the base number 17 out of 438 As, Ts, Cs and Gs . By changing the amino acid at that point, the impact is that the red blood cells are no longer round, but sickle in shape and carry less oxygen.

Some of these changes occur in cells of the body such as in skin cells as a result of sun exposure. Fortunately these types of changes are not passed on to our children. However, other types of errors can occur in the DNA of cells that produce the eggs and sperm. These errors are called germ line mutations and can be passed from parent to child. If a child inherits a germ line mutation from their parents, every cell in their body will have this error in their DNA. Germ line mutations are what cause diseases to run in families, and are responsible for hereditary diseases.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a widespread health problem with several known inherited causes. Inherited SCD generally occurs in healthy individuals who do not have other conventional cardiac risk factors. Mutations in the genes in charge of creating the electrical activity of the heart have been found to be responsible for most arrhythmias, among them Short QT Syndrome, Long QT Syndrome, Brugada Syndrome, Familial Bundle Branch Block, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Sudden Unexpected Death Syndrome.

As researchers discover the role genes play in disease, there will be more genetic tests available to help doctors make diagnoses and pinpoint the cause of the disease. For example, heart disease can be caused either by a mutation in certain genes, or by environmental factors such as diet or exercise to name a few.

Physicians can easily diagnose a person with heart disease once they present symptoms. However, physicians can not easily identify the cause of the heart disease is in each person. Thus, most patients receive the same treatment regardless of underlying cause of the disease.

In the future, a panel of genetic tests for heart disease might reveal the specific genetic factors that are involved in a given person. People with a specific mutation may be able to receive treatment that is directed to that mutation, thereby treating the cause of the disease, rather than just the symptoms.

The ultimate goal of the MMRLs Molecular Genetics Program is to identify the factors that are responsible for these diseases. This knowledge will facilitate the development ofgene-specific therapies and cures for arrhythmias and identify individuals at risk for sudden cardiac deaths.

With the addition of the Molecular Biology and Molecular Genetics programs, MMRL is now integrally involved in both basic and clinical research, and is among the relatively few institutions worldwide with a consistent and concerted focus on bridging basic and clinical science. With an eye toward designing specific treatments and cures for disease, the Laboratorys research has the potential to affect us all.

See more here:
Molecular Genetics - mmrl.edu

When Kris Boesens car fishtailed on a wet road, hitting a tree and slamming into a telephone poll, the 21-year-old never thought he would walk again. But results from an early-stage clinical trial using stem cells to restore movement have given the 21-year-old promise that his spinal cord injury may one day be reversed, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.

Boesen, of Bakersfield, California, qualified for the study at the Keck Medical Center of the University of Southern California (USC).

He was extremely excited about having an opportunity to try to do somethingto get better than he was at that point, Boesens father, Rodney Boesen, told the news station.

Doctors told the young man that hed likely never have movement or sensation below his neck, but the trial aimed to improve those functions.

In early April within two weeks to 30 day of Boesens injury neurosurgeon Charles Liu and his team injected 10 million stem cells, called AST-OPC1 cells, directly into his cervical spinal cord, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. Within two weeks, the effects of his accident began to improve.

"Patientswho suffer these disabilities want more than anything else to do something for themselves, says Dr. Liu, director of the USC Neurorestoration Center, told the news station. They want to be more independent, less dependent. It makes all of us appreciate how important it is that we can do these things."

Today, three months after receiving the therapy, Boesen can feed himself, use his cellphone and operate his motorized wheelchair, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. He also can write his name, and hug family and friends.

"If I was there and I was able to thank them, he told the news station.I would just tell them, Thank you for giving (me) my life back. Thank you for allowing me to live my life again."

Since the procedure, Boesen has been evaluated four times, and he will be monitored every four months.

Read more:
Experimental stem cell therapy helps restore paralyzed man's ...

Color blindness means that you have trouble seeing red, green, or blue or a mix of these colors. It's rare that a person sees no color at all.

Color blindness is also called a color vision problem.

A color vision problem can change your life. It may make it harder to learn and read, and you may not be able to have certain careers. But children and adults with color vision problems can learn to make up for their problems seeing color.

Most color vision problems are inherited (genetic) and are present at birth.

People usually have three types of cone cells in the eye. Each type senses either red, green, or blue light. You see color when your cone cells sense different amounts of these three basic colors. The highest concentration of cone cells are found in the macula, which is the central part of the retina .

Inherited color blindness happens when you don't have one of these types of cone cells or they don't work right. You may not see one of these three basic colors, or you may see a different shade of that color or a different color. This type of color vision problem doesn't change over time.

A color vision problem isn't always inherited. In some cases, a person can have an acquired color vision problem. This can be caused by:

The symptoms of color vision problems vary:

See the original post here:
Color Blindness - Topic Overview - WebMD

This type of therapy is called therapeutic gene therapy or the use of genes as medicine. It is an experimental form of treatment that is still being developed, but it has the potential to revolutionise treatment for all kinds of genetic conditions.

Gene therapy targets the faulty genes responsible for genetic diseases. Inheriting a faulty (mutated) gene can directly cause a wide range of disorders such as cystic fibrosis and haemophilia. It can also cause susceptibility to some cancers. Gene therapy can be used to replace a faulty gene with a healthy version or to introduce a new gene that can cure a condition or modify its effects. This type of gene therapy is called therapeutic gene therapy or the use of genes as medicine. It is an experimental form of treatment that is still in its infancy but has the potential to revolutionise treatment for all kinds of genetic diseases.

Inheriting one or both copies of a faulty gene can cause a wide range of conditions such as haemophilia and cystic fibrosis, and can also result in increased susceptibility to some cancers. Gene therapy targets the faulty genes responsible for a genetic condition. Gene therapy can be used to replace a faulty gene copy with a working version or to introduce a new gene that can cure a condition or modify its effects.

One promising technique is to put the working gene inside a harmless virus, which has had most of its own genes removed it has been deactivated. A virus that causes disease (such as the common cold) works by slipping into a cell, taking over its DNA and forcing it to produce more viruses. Similarly, a deactivated virus can enter the specific cell and deliver the working gene.

Other techniques involve using stem cells. These are immature cells that have the potential to develop into cells with different functions. In this technique, stem cells are manipulated in the laboratory to accept new genes that can then change their behaviour. For example, a gene might be inserted into a stem cell that could make it better able to survive chemotherapy. This would be of assistance to those patients who could benefit from further chemotherapy following stem cell transplantation.

To make sure that future generations of the persons family were not affected by the genetic condition, their germ cells would need to undergo gene therapy too. However, a complicated range of ethical issues, as well as technical problems, means that gene therapy of germ cells is only a remote possibility.

The majority of trials are being conducted in the US and Europe, with only a modest number initiated in other countries, including Australia (1.6%). Most trials focus on treating acquired conditions such as cancer and AIDS, although an increasing number of genetic conditions are being targeted.

The concern is that manipulating factors such as intelligence might be tried, once gene therapy becomes commonplace. Ordinary characteristics, such as shortness or average IQ, might then be considered subnormal.

Another concern is that gene therapy might only be available to the rich. The challenge for nations experimenting with gene therapy is to come up with workable, fair and ethical guidelines for its use.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by: Better Health Channel - (need new cp)

Last updated: May 2011

Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residents and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that, over time, currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

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Gene therapy - Better Health Channel

Gene Therapy for Diseases

Gene Therapy has made important medical advances in less than two decades. Within this short time span, it has moved from the conceptual stage to technology development and laboratory research to clinical translational trials for a variety of deadly diseases. Among the most notable advancements are the following:

Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (ADA-SCID) ADA-SCID is also known as the bubble boy disease. Affected children are born without an effective immune system and will succumb to infections outside of the bubble without bone marrow transplantation from matched donors. A landmark study representing a first case of gene therapy "cure," or at least a long-term correction, for patients with deadly genetic disorder was conducted by investigators in Italy. The therapeutic gene called ADA was introduced into the bone marrow cells of such patients in the laboratory, followed by transplantation of the genetically corrected cells back to the same patients. The immune system was reconstituted in all six treated patients without noticeable side effects, who now live normal lives with their families without the need for further treatment.

Chronic Granulomatus Disorder (CGD) CGD is a genetic disease in the immune system that leads to the patients' inability to fight off bacterial and fungal infections that can be fatal. Using similar technologies as in the ADA-SCID trial, investigators in Germany treated two patients with this disease, whose reconstituted immune systems have since been able to provide them with full protection against microbial infections for at least two years.

Hemophilia Patients born with Hemophilia are not able to induce blood clots and suffer from external and internal bleeding that can be life threatening. In a clinical trial conducted in the United States , the therapeutic gene was introduced into the liver of patients, who then acquired the ability to have normal blood clotting time. The therapeutic effect however, was transient because the genetically corrected liver cells were recognized as foreign and rejected by the healthy immune system in the patients. This is the same problem faced by patients after organ transplantation, and curative outcome by gene therapy might be achievable with immune-suppression or alternative gene delivery strategies currently being tested in preclinical animal models of this disease.

Other genetic disorders After many years of laboratory and preclinical research in appropriate animal models of disease, a number of clinical trials will soon be launched for various genetic disorders that include congenital blindness, lysosomal storage disease and muscular dystrophy, among others.

Cancer Multiple gene therapy strategies have been developed to treat a wide variety of cancers, including suicide gene therapy, oncolytic virotherapy, anti-angiogenesis and therapeutic gene vaccines. Two-thirds of all gene therapy trials are for cancer and many of these are entering the advanced stage, including a Phase III trial of Ad.p53 for head and neck cancer and two different Phase III gene vaccine trials for prostate cancer and pancreas cancer. Additionally, numerous Phase I and Phase II clinical trials for cancers in the brain, skin, liver, colon, breast and kidney among others, are being conducted in academic medical centers and biotechnology companies, using novel technologies and therapeutics developed on-site.

Neurodegenerative Diseases Recent progress in gene therapy has allowed for novel treatments of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's Disease and Huntington's Disease, for which exciting treatment results have been obtained in appropriate animal models of the corresponding human diseases. Phase I clinical trials for these neurodegenerative disorders have been, or will soon be, launched.

Other acquired diseases The same gene therapeutic techniques have been applied to treat other acquired disorders such as viral infections (e.g. influenza, HIV, hepatitis), heart disease and diabetes, among others. Some of these have entered, or will soon be entering, into early phase clinical trials.

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Gene Therapy for Diseases | ASGCT - American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy

Gene therapy is using "genes as medicine". It is an experimental approach to treating genetic disease where the faulty gene is fixed, replaced or supplemented with a healthy gene so that it can function normally. Most genetic diseases cannot be treated, but gene therapy research gives some hope to patients and their families as a possible cure. However, this technology does not come without risks and many clinical trials to evaluate its effectiveness need to be done before gene therapy can be put to regular medical use.

To get a new gene into a cell's genome, it must be carried in a molecule called a vector. The most common vectors currently being used are viruses, which naturally invade cells and insert their genetic material into that cell's genome. To use a virus as a vector, the virus' own genes are removed and replaced with the new gene destined for the cell. When the virus attacks the cell, it will insert the genetic material it carries. A successful transfer will result in the target cell now carrying the new gene that will correct the problem caused by the faulty gene.

Viruses that can be used as vectors include retroviruses like HIV, adenoviruses (one of which causes the common cold), adeno-associated viruses and herpes simplex viruses. There are also many non-viral vectors being tested for gene therapy uses. These include artificial lipid spheres called liposomes, DNA attached to a molecule that will bind to a receptor on the target cell, artificial chromosomes and naked DNA that is not attached to another molecule at all and can be directly inserted into the cell.

The actual transfer of the new gene into the target cell can happen in two ways: ex vivo and in vivo. The ex vivo approach involves transferring the new gene into cells that have been removed from the patient and grown in the laboratory. Once the transfer is complete, the cells are returned to the patient, where they will continue to grow and produce the new gene product. The in vivo approach delivers the vector directly to the patient, where transfer of the new gene will occur in the target cells within the body.

Conditions or disorders that result from mutations in a single gene are potentially the best candidates for gene therapy. However, the many challenges met by researchers working on gene therapy mean that its application is still limited while the procedure is being perfected.

Before gene therapy can be used to treat a certain genetic condition or disorder, certain requirements need to be met:

Clinical trials for gene therapy in other countries (for example France and the United Kingdom) have shown that there are still several major factors preventing gene therapy from becoming a routine way to treat genetic conditions and disorders. While the transfer of the new gene into the target cells has worked, it does not seem to have a long-lasting effect. This suggests that patients would have to be treated multiple times to control the condition or disorder. There is also always a risk of a severe immune response, since the immune cells are trained to attack any foreign molecule in the body. Working with viral vectors has proven to be challenging because they are difficult to control and the body immediately recognizes and attacks common viruses. Recent work has focussed on potential non-viral vectors to avoid the complications associated with the viral vectors. Finally, while there are thousands of single-gene disorders, the more common genetic disorders are actually caused by multiple genes, which do not make them good candidates for gene therapy.

One promising application of gene therapy is in treating type I diabetes. Researchers in the United States used an adenovirus as a vector to deliver the gene for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) to pancreatic islet cells removed from rats. They injected the altered cells into diabetic rats and, within a day, the rats were controlling their blood glucose levels better than the control rats. This model mimics the transplantation of islet cells in humans and shows that the addition of the HGF gene greatly enhances the islet cells' function and survival.

In Canada, researchers in Edmonton, Alberta also developed a protocol to treat type I diabetes. Doctors use ultrasound to guide a small catheter through the upper abdomen and into the liver. Pancreatic islet cells are then injected through the catheter into the liver. In time, islets are established in the liver and begin releasing insulin.

Another application for gene therapy is in treating X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID), a disease where a baby lacks both T and B cells of the immune system and is vulnerable to infections. The current treatment is bone marrow transplant from a matched sibling, which is not always possible or effective in the long term. Researchers in France and the United Kingdom, knowing the disease was caused by a faulty gene on the X chromosome, treated 14 children by replacing the faulty gene ex vivo. Upon receiving the altered cells, the patients showed great improvements in their immune system functions. Unfortunately, two of the children developed a form of leukemia several years after the treatment. Further investigation showed that the vector had inserted the gene near a proto-oncogene, which led to uncontrolled growth of the T cells. The clinical trials were put on hold until a safer method can be designed and tested.

Excerpt from:
Gene Therapy - Biotechnology - Science and Research

Gene Eliza Tierney (November 19, 1920 November 6, 1991)[3] was an American film and stage actress. Acclaimed as a great beauty, she became established as a leading lady.[4][5] Tierney was best known for her portrayal of the title character in the film Laura (1944), and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as Ellen Berent Harland in Leave Her to Heaven (1945).[6]

Tierney's other roles include Martha Strable Van Cleve in Heaven Can Wait (1943), Isabel Bradley Maturin in The Razor's Edge (1946), Lucy Muir in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947), Ann Sutton in Whirlpool (1949), Maggie Carleton McNulty in The Mating Season (1951), and Anne Scott in The Left Hand of God (1955).

Tierney was born on November 19, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Howard Sherwood Tierney and Belle Lavina Taylor. The family owned a brownstone at 900 St. Mark's Avenue, which was at the time a very fashionable street in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. She was named after a beloved uncle, who died young.[6][pageneeded] She had an elder brother, Howard Sherwood Butch Tierney, Jr., and a younger sister, Patricia Pat Tierney. Their father was a successful insurance broker of Irish descent, their mother a former physical education instructor.[6][pageneeded]

Tierney attended St. Margaret's School in Waterbury, Connecticut, and the Unquowa School in Fairfield. She published her first poem, entitled "Night", in the school magazine and wrote poetry occasionally throughout her life. Tierney played Jo in a student production of Little Women, based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott.

Tierney spent two years in Europe, attending Brillantmont International School in Lausanne, Switzerland, where she learned to speak fluent French. She returned to the U.S. in 1938 and attended Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Connecticut . On a family trip to the West Coast, she visited Warner Bros. studios, where a cousin worked as a producer of historical short films. director Anatole Litvak, taken by the 17-year-olds beauty, told her that she should become an actress. Warner Bros. wanted to sign her to a contract, but her parents advised against it because of the relatively low salary; they also wanted her in a higher social position.[6][pageneeded]

Tierney's society debut occurred on September 24, 1938, when she was 17 years old.[6][pageneeded] Soon bored with society life, she decided to pursue an acting career. Her father said, If Gene is to be an actress, it should be in the legitimate theatre.[7] Tierney studied acting at a small Greenwich Village acting studio in New York with Broadway director and actor Benno Schneider. She became a protge of Broadway producer-director George Abbott.[7][8]

In Tierney's first role on Broadway, she carried a bucket of water across the stage in What a Life! (1938). A Variety magazine critic declared, "Miss Tierney is certainly the most beautiful water carrier I've ever seen!" She also worked as an understudy in The Primrose Path (1938).

The following year, she appeared in the role of Molly O'Day in the Broadway production Mrs. O'Brien Entertains (1939).[6][pageneeded] The New York Times critic Brooks Atkinson wrote, "As an Irish maiden fresh from the old country, Gene Tierney in her first stage performance is very pretty and refreshingly modest."[6][pageneeded] That same year, Tierney appeared as Peggy Carr in Ring Two (1939) to favorable reviews. Theater critic Richard Watts, Jr. of the New York Herald Tribune wrote, "I see no reason why Miss Tierney should not have an interesting theatrical career that is, if cinema does not kidnap her away."[6][pageneeded]

Tierney's father set up a corporation, Belle-Tier, to fund and promote her acting career. Columbia Pictures signed her to a six-month contract in 1939. She met Howard Hughes, who tried unsuccessfully to seduce her. From a well-to-do family herself, she was not impressed by his wealth.[6][pageneeded] Hughes eventually became a lifelong friend.

After a cameraman advised Tierney to lose a little weight, she wrote Harper's Bazaar magazine for a diet, which she followed for the next 25 years. Tierney was initially offered the lead role in National Velvet, but production was delayed.[6][pageneeded] When Columbia Pictures failed to find Tierney a project, she returned to Broadway and starred as Patricia Stanley to critical and commercial success in The Male Animal (1940). In The New York Times, Brooks Atkinson wrote, "Tierney blazes with animation in the best performance she has yet given".[6][pageneeded] She was the toast of Broadway before her 20th birthday. The Male Animal was a hit, and Tierney was featured in Life magazine. She was also photographed by Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, and Collier's Weekly.[6][pageneeded]

Two weeks after The Male Animal opened, Darryl F. Zanuck, the head of 20th Century Fox, was rumored to have been in the audience. During the performance, he told an assistant to note Tierney's name. Later that night, Zanuck dropped by the Stork Club, where he saw a young lady on the dance floor. He told his assistant, "Forget the girl from the play. See if you can sign that one." It was Tierney. At first, Zanuck did not think she was the actress he had seen. Tierney was quoted (after the fact), saying: "I always had several different 'looks', a quality that proved useful in my career."[6][pageneeded][8]

Tierney signed with 20th Century-Fox[6][pageneeded] and her motion picture debut was in a supporting role as Eleanor Stone in Fritz Lang's western The Return of Frank James (1940), opposite Henry Fonda.

A small role as Barbara Hall followed in Hudson's Bay (1941) with Paul Muni and she co-starred as Ellie Mae Lester in John Ford's comedy Tobacco Road (also 1941), and played the title role in Belle Starr, Zia in Sundown, and Victoria Charteris (Poppy Smith) in The Shanghai Gesture. She played Eve in Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake (1942), as well as the dual role of Susan Miller (Linda Worthington) in Rouben Mamoulian's screwball comedy Rings on Her Fingers, and roles as Kay Saunders in Thunder Birds, and Miss Young in China Girl (all 1942).[citation needed]

Receiving top billing in Ernst Lubitsch's comedy Heaven Can Wait (1943), as Martha Strable Van Cleve, signaled an upward turn in Tierney's career. Tierney recalled during the production of Heaven Can Wait:

"Lubitsch was a tyrant on the set, the most demanding of directors. After one scene, which took from noon until five to get, I was almost in tears from listening to Lubitsch shout at me. The next day I sought him out, looked him in the eye, and said, 'Mr. Lubitsch, I'm willing to do my best but I just can't go on working on this picture if you're going to keep shouting at me.' 'I'm paid to shout at you', he bellowed. 'Yes', I said, 'and I'm paid to take it but not enough.' After a tense pause, Lubitsch broke out laughing. From then on we got along famously."[6][pageneeded]

Tierney starred in what became her best remembered role: the title role in Otto Preminger's film noir Laura (1944), opposite Dana Andrews. After playing Tina Tomasino in A Bell for Adano (1945), she played the jealous, narcissistic femme fatale Ellen Berent Harland in Leave Her to Heaven (1945), adapted from a best selling novel by Ben Ames Williams. Appearing with Cornel Wilde, Tierney won an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. This was 20th Century-Fox' most successful film of the 1940s. It was cited by director Martin Scorsese as one of his favorite films of all time, and he assessed Tierney as one of the most underrated actresses of the Golden Era.[9]

Tierney then starred as Miranda Wells in Dragonwyck (1946), along with Walter Huston and Vincent Price. It was Joseph L. Mankiewicz' debut film as a director, In the same period, she starred as Isabel Bradley, opposite Tyrone Power, in The Razor's Edge (also 1946), an adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's novel of the same name. Her performance was critically praised.[citation needed]

Tierney played Lucy Muir in Mankiewicz's The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947), opposite Rex Harrison.[10] The following year, she co-starred again with Power, this time as Sara Farley in the successful screwball comedy That Wonderful Urge (1948). As the decade came to a close, Tierney reunited with Laura director Preminger to star as Ann Sutton in the classic film noir Whirlpool (1949), co-starring Richard Conte and Jos Ferrer. She appeared in two other film noirs: Jules Dassin's Night and the City, shot in London, and Otto Preminger's Where the Sidewalk Ends (both 1950).[citation needed]

Tierney was loaned to Paramount Pictures, giving a comic turn as Maggie Carleton in Mitchell Leisen's ensemble farce, The Mating Season (1951), with John Lund, Thelma Ritter, and Miriam Hopkins.[6][pageneeded] She gave a tender performance as Midge Sheridan in the Warner Bros. film, Close to My Heart (1951), with Ray Milland. The film is about a couple trying to adopt a child.[6][pageneeded] Later in her career, she was reunited with Milland in Daughter of the Mind (1969).

After Tierney appeared opposite Rory Calhoun as Teresa in Way of a Gaucho (1952), her contract at 20th Century-Fox expired. That same year, she starred as Dorothy Bradford in Plymouth Adventure, opposite Spencer Tracy at MGM. She and Tracy had a brief affair during this time.[11] Tierney played Marya Lamarkina opposite Clark Gable in Never Let Me Go (1953), filmed in England.[6][pageneeded]

Tierney remained in Europe to play Kay Barlow in United Artists' Personal Affair (1953). While in Europe, she began a romance with Prince Aly Khan, but their marriage plans met with fierce opposition from his father Aga Khan III.[12] Early in 1953, Tierney returned to the U.S. to co-star in film noir Black Widow (1954) as Iris Denver, with Ginger Rogers and Van Heflin.

Tierney had reportedly started smoking after a screening of her first movie to lower her voice, because she felt, "Isound like an angry Minnie Mouse."[13] She subsequently became a heavy smoker.[13]

With difficult events in her personal life, Tierney struggled for years with episodes of manic depression. In 1943, she gave birth to a daughter, Daria, who was deaf and mentally disabled, the result of a fan breaking out of rubella quarantine and infecting the pregnant Tierney while she volunteered at the Hollywood Canteen. In 1953, she suffered problems with concentration, which affected her film appearances. She dropped out of Mogambo and was replaced by Grace Kelly.[6][pageneeded] While playing Anne Scott in The Left Hand of God (1955), opposite Humphrey Bogart, Tierney became ill. Bogart had a personal experience as he was close to a sister who suffered from mental illness, so during the production, he fed Tierney her lines and encouraged her to seek help.[6][pageneeded]

Tierney consulted a psychiatrist and was admitted to Harkness Pavilion in New York. Later, she went to the Institute of Living in Hartford, Connecticut. After some 27 shock treatments, intended to alleviate severe depression, Tierney fled the facility, but was caught and returned. She later became an outspoken opponent of shock treatment therapy, claiming it had destroyed significant portions of her memory.[citation needed]

In late December 1957, Tierney, from her mother's apartment in Manhattan, stepped onto a ledge 14 stories above ground and remained for about 20 minutes in what was considered a suicide attempt.[14] Police were called, and afterwards Tierney's family arranged for her to be admitted to the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas. The following year, after treatment for depression, she was released. Afterwards, she worked as a sales girl in a local dress shop with hopes of integrating back into society,[14] but she was recognized by a customer, resulting in sensational newspaper headlines.

Later in 1958, 20th Century-Fox offered Tierney a lead role in Holiday for Lovers (1959), but the stress upon her proved too great, so only days into production, she dropped out of the film and returned to Menninger for a time.[14]

Tierney made a screen comeback in Advise and Consent (1962), co-starring with Franchot Tone.[6][pageneeded] Soon afterwards, she played Albertine Prine in Toys in the Attic (1963), based on the play by Lillian Hellman. This was followed by the international production of Las cuatro noches de la luna llena, (Four Nights of the Full Moon - 1963), in which she starred with Dan Dailey. She received critical praise overall for her performances.[citation needed]

Tierney's career as a solid character actress seemed to be back on track as she played Jane Barton in The Pleasure Seekers (1964), but then she suddenly retired. She returned to star in the television movie Daughter of the Mind (1969) with Don Murray and Ray Milland. Her final performance was in the TV miniseries Scruples (1980).[6][pageneeded]

Tierney married two men: the first was Oleg Cassini, a costume and fashion designer, on June 1, 1941, with whom she eloped. Her parents opposed the marriage, as he was from a Russian-Italian family and born in France.[14] She had two daughters, Antoinette Daria Cassini (October 15, 1943 September 11, 2010)[15] and Christina "Tina" Cassini (November 19, 1948 March 31, 2015), born after their divorce, paternity of whom was the subject of intrigue and speculation at the time due to Tierney's links with Howard Hughes, Tyrone Power, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and Charles Feldman.[16]

In June 1943, while pregnant with Daria, Tierney contracted rubella (German measles), likely from a fan ill with the disease.[14] Daria was born prematurely in Washington, DC, weighing three pounds, two ounces (1.42kg) and requiring a total blood transfusion. The rubella caused congenital damage: Daria was deaf, partially blind with cataracts, and severely mentally disabled. She was institutionalized for much of her life.[14] This was partial inspiration for the Agatha Christie novel The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side.

Tierney's friend Howard Hughes paid for Daria's medical expenses, ensuring the girl received the best care. Tierney never forgot his acts of kindness.[6]

Tierney and Cassini separated October 20, 1946, and entered into a property settlement agreement November 10, 1946.[17] Periodicals during this period record Tierney with Charles K. Feldman,[18] including articles related to her "twosoming" with Feldman, her "current best beau".[19] An uncontested divorce followed in California; their final divorce decree was dated March 13, 1948. The Los Angeles Times reported that the couple reconciled on April 19, 1948, but did not remarry.[17]

During their separation, Tierney met John F. Kennedy, a young World War II veteran, who was visiting the set of Dragonwyck in 1946. They began a romance that she ended the following year after Kennedy told her he could never marry her because of his political ambitions.[11] In 1960, Tierney sent Kennedy a note of congratulations on his victory in the presidential election. During this time, newspapers documented Tierney's other romantic relationships, including Kirk Douglas.[20]

While filming for Personal Affair in Europe, she began a romance with Prince Aly Khan.[12] They became engaged in 1952, while Khan was going through a divorce from Rita Hayworth.[21] Their marriage plans, however, met with fierce opposition from his father, Aga Khan III.[12]

Cassini later bequeathed $500,000 in trust to Daria and $1,000,000 to Christina.[22][23] Cassini and Tierney remained friends until her death in November 1991.

In 1958, Tierney met Texas oil baron W. Howard Lee, who had been married to actress Hedy Lamarr since 1953. Lee and Lamarr divorced in 1960 after a long battle over alimony,[24] then Lee and Tierney married in Aspen, Colorado, on July 11, 1960. They lived quietly in Houston, Texas, and Florida[14] until his death in 1981.[24]

In 1960, 20th Century Fox announced Tierney would play the lead role in Return to Peyton Place, but she dropped out of the project after becoming pregnant. She later miscarried.[6][pageneeded]

Tierney's autobiography, Self-Portrait, in which she candidly discusses her life, career, and mental illness, was published in 1979.

Tierney's second husband, W. Howard Lee, died on February 17, 1981 after a long illness.[24]

In 1986, Tierney was honored alongside actor Gregory Peck with the first Donostia Lifetime Achievement Award at the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain.[25]

Tierney has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6125 Hollywood Boulevard.

Tierney died of emphysema on November 6, 1991 in Houston, thirteen days before her 71st birthday.[3] She is interred in Glenwood Cemetery in Houston. Tierney was survived by her daughters Daria and Christina. Certain documents of Tierney's film-related material, personal papers, letters, etc., are held in the Wesleyan University Cinema Archives, to which scholars, media experts, and the public may have access.[26]

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Gene Tierney - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

To understand diabetes, first you must understand how glucose is normally processed in the body.

Insulin is a hormone that comes from a gland situated behind and below the stomach (pancreas).

Glucose a sugar is a source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues.

The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. What is known is that your immune system which normally fights harmful bacteria or viruses attacks and destroys your insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This leaves you with little or no insulin. Instead of being transported into your cells, sugar builds up in your bloodstream.

Type 1 is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors, though exactly what many of those factors are is still unclear.

In prediabetes which can lead to type 2 diabetes and in type 2 diabetes, your cells become resistant to the action of insulin, and your pancreas is unable to make enough insulin to overcome this resistance. Instead of moving into your cells where it's needed for energy, sugar builds up in your bloodstream.

Exactly why this happens is uncertain, although it's believed that genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes. Being overweight is strongly linked to the development of type 2 diabetes, but not everyone with type 2 is overweight.

During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones to sustain your pregnancy. These hormones make your cells more resistant to insulin.

Normally, your pancreas responds by producing enough extra insulin to overcome this resistance. But sometimes your pancreas can't keep up. When this happens, too little glucose gets into your cells and too much stays in your blood, resulting in gestational diabetes.

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More:
Diabetes Causes - Mayo Clinic

Learn about Diabetes

You can learn how to take care of your diabetes and prevent some of the serious problems diabetes can cause. The more you know, the better you can manage your diabetes.

Share this booklet with your family and friends so they will understand more about diabetes. Also make sure to ask your health care team any questions you might have.

You can learn how to take care of your diabetes.

Diabetes is when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose is the main type of sugar found in your blood and your main source of energy. Glucose comes from the food you eat and is also made in your liver and muscles. Your blood carries glucose to all of your bodys cells to use for energy.

Your pancreasan organ, located between your stomach and spine, that helps with digestionreleases a hormone it makes, called insulin, into your blood. Insulin helps your blood carry glucose to all your bodys cells. Sometimes your body doesnt make enough insulin or the insulin doesnt work the way it should. Glucose then stays in your blood and doesnt reach your cells. Your blood glucose levels get too high and can cause diabetes or prediabetes.

Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause health problems.

Prediabetes is when the amount of glucose in your blood is above normal yet not high enough to be called diabetes. With prediabetes, your chances of getting type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke are higher. With some weight loss and moderate physical activity, you can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes. You can even return to normal glucose levels, possibly without taking any medicines.

The signs and symptoms of diabetes are

Some people with diabetes dont have any of these signs or symptoms. The only way to know if you have diabetes is to have your doctor do a blood test.

The three main types of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. People can develop diabetes at any age. Both women and men can develop diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes, which used to be called juvenile diabetes, develops most often in young people; however, type 1 diabetes can also develop in adults. In type 1 diabetes, your body no longer makes insulin or enough insulin because the bodys immune system, which normally protects you from infection by getting rid of bacteria, viruses, and other harmful substances, has attacked and destroyed the cells that make insulin.

Treatment for type 1 diabetes includes

Type 2 diabetes, which used to be called adult-onset diabetes, can affect people at any age, even children. However, type 2 diabetes develops most often in middle-aged and older people. People who are overweight and inactive are also more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes usually begins with insulin resistancea condition that occurs when fat, muscle, and liver cells do not use insulin to carry glucose into the bodys cells to use for energy. As a result, the body needs more insulin to help glucose enter cells. At first, the pancreas keeps up with the added demand by making more insulin. Over time, the pancreas doesnt make enough insulin when blood sugar levels increase, such as after meals. If your pancreas can no longer make enough insulin, you will need to treat your type 2 diabetes.

Treatment for type 2 diabetes includes

Gestational diabetes can develop when a woman is pregnant. Pregnant women make hormones that can lead to insulin resistance. All women have insulin resistance late in their pregnancy. If the pancreas doesnt make enough insulin during pregnancy, a woman develops gestational diabetes.

Overweight or obese women have a higher chance of gestational diabetes. Also, gaining too much weight during pregnancy may increase your likelihood of developing gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes most often goes away after the baby is born. However, a woman who has had gestational diabetes is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Babies born to mothers who had gestational diabetes are also more likely to develop obesity and type 2 diabetes.

More information about diabetes and pregnancy is provided in the NIDDK health topic, What I need to know about Gestational Diabetes.

Over time, diabetes can lead to serious problems with your blood vessels, heart, nerves, kidneys, mouth, eyes, and feet. These problems can lead to an amputation, which is surgery to remove a damaged toe, foot, or leg, for example.

The most serious problem caused by diabetes is heart disease. When you have diabetes, you are more than twice as likely as people without diabetes to have heart disease or a stroke. With diabetes, you may not have the usual signs or symptoms of a heart attack. The best way to take care of your health is to work with your health care team to keep your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels in your target range. Targets are numbers you aim for.

Most people with diabetes get care from primary care providers, such as internists, family physicians, or pediatricians. A team of health care providers can also improve your diabetes care.

In addition to a primary care provider, your health care team may include

If diabetes makes you feel sad or angry, or if you have other problems that worry you, you should talk with a counselor or mental health professional. Your doctor or certified diabetes educator can help you find a counselor.

Talk with your doctor about what vaccines and immunizations, or shots, you should get to keep from getting sick. Preventing illness is an important part of taking care of your diabetes.

When you see members of your health care team, ask lots of questions. Prepare a list of questions before your visit. Be sure you understand everything you need to know about taking care of your diabetes.

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Types of Diabetes | NIDDK

Objective

Seeks capital appreciation.

Investing primarily in companies engaged in the research, development, manufacture, and distribution of various biotechnological products, services, and processes and companies that benefit significantly from scientific and technological advances in biotechnology. Normally investing at least 80% of assets in securities of companies principally engaged in these activities. Normally investing primarily in common stocks.

Stock markets, especially foreign markets, are volatile and can decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. Foreign securities are subject to interest rate, currency exchange rate, economic, and political risks. Focus funds can be more volatile because of their narrow concentration in a specific industry. The biotechnology industry can be significantly affected by patent considerations, intense competition, rapid technological change and obsolescence, and government regulation. The fund may have additional volatility because it can invest a significant portion of assets in securities of a small number of individual issuers.

This description is only intended to provide a brief overview of the mutual fund. Read the fund's prospectus for more detailed information about the fund.

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FBIOX - Fidelity Select Biotechnology Portfolio | Fidelity ...