StemCell Therapy

Differences in lifestyles between socioeconomic groups are pretty pronounced. And now scientists have found a depressing new marker. Hidden in the sewage lies a clear difference between wealthy areas and poorer ones.

No, it's not gold in sewage this time. It's the remnants of the food we eat and the drugs we take that can paint a broader picture of how we live.

The study took place in Australia, where, over the course of the week of the national census in 2016, samples were taken from 22 wastewater treatment plant catchments, and examined for 42 biomarkers of things such as drugs and dietary metabolites.

These were later compared with census data on metrics such as rent prices, employment and education levels for each area.

"We show the extent to which consumption of chemicals such as opioids and illicit drugs are associated with sociodemographics. We also examine chemicals that reflect individuals' consumption of food components in wastewater and show that disparities in diet are associated with educational level," the researchers write in their paper.

"Our study shows that chemicals in wastewater reflect the social, demographic, and economic properties of the respective populations and highlights the potential value of wastewater in studying the sociodemographic determinants of population health."

What they found is sobering.

In wealthier areas, biomarkers were consistent with a better diet. Metabolites produced by the dietary intake of B vitamins (not supplements) were significantly more abundant in areas with higher rents, in agreement with previous research that found socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are less likely to meet nutritional guidelines.

Wealthier and better educated areas also had much higher concentrations of the biomarkers associated with eating a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as grains. All of these are associated with a healthier overall diet.

Interestingly, wealthier areas also had higher caffeine consumption. Coffee consumption is pretty universal, but is higher among better-off socioeconomic groups, especially ground coffee and espresso as opposed to instant coffee.

"We suggest," the researchers wrote, "that increased caffeine consumption in socioeconomically advantaged groups may reflect 1) greater financial freedom to indulge in caffeinated beverages (i.e., coffee) and/or 2) cultural institutionalisation of regular coffee drinking among advantaged and/or educated populations."

In lower socioeconomic areas, there were significantly higher levels of prescription medication for treating depression (desvenlafaxine, amitriptyline and citalopram), chronic pain (opioids such as methadone, codeine, tramadol and oxycodone, as well as pregabalin, for neuropathy) and blood pressure (atenolol).

"We considered antidepressants as a proxy for psychological distress," the researchers noted.

They were even able to link demographics with specific types of antidepressants. A higher proportion of labourers were prescribed desvenlafaxine. Amitriptyline was most often prescribed to people who didn't finish high school. And people taking citalopram tended to live alone, and were often separated or divorced.

We don't have to take the sewage at face value, either. All of these results appear to be consistent with other studies into the lifestyles of demographic groups.

Wastewater-based epidemiology is relatively new, and to date has been used primarily to study and monitor the use of drugs, both legal and illegal.

This study, the researchers said, shows that it can also be used as a means of studying the general health of human populations, and identifying areas that aren't doing so well.

"Our study shows that chemicals in wastewater reflect the social, demographic, and economic properties of the respective populations and highlights the potential value of wastewater in studying the sociodemographic determinants of population health," the researchers wrote.

The research has been published in PNAS.

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There's a Depressing Difference Between The Sewage of Wealthy Areas And Poorer Ones - ScienceAlert

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Scientists from Russia, China, and the US have drawn the attention of the scientific community to one of the newest and most promising areas in bioprinting - laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT). The researchers have compared laser printing parameters, bioink composition, donor ribbons, and collector substrates for LIFT bioprinters, as well as post-printing treatments of fabricated materials - all of this may affect the properties of printed tissues and organs. The study will help scientists select the most appropriate techniques and materials, avoid many pitfalls in the process of bioprinting, and set the priorities for the development of this technology in the coming years. The details of the analysis were published inBioprinting.

Tissue-engineering materials are increasingly used in medicine, mainly because they are created through mimicking the natural environment for cell development. The use of cell carriers (scaffolds) is a step forward compared to traditional cell therapy, which employs stem cells on their own. Bioprinting technologies allow to recreate tissues or organ models ("organs-on-chips") through layer by layer deposition of cells and biomolecules such as drugs or growth factors (compounds regulating cell growth and development) on a three-dimensional support structure.

LIFT technology transfers cells and biomolecules using laser pulse energy. The laser beam of a LIFT bioprinter focuses on the donor ribbon - a glass slide coated with an energy absorbing material (e.g. metal) and a layer of bioink (hydrogel with cells and biomolecules). Where the laser beam hits the surface, it heats and evaporates the energy absorbing layer, generating a gas bubble that propels a jet from the hydrogel layer. The resulting jet lands on another glass slide, the collector substrate, depositing a droplet.

LIFT technology provides a high print speed and cell survival rate, precise transfer of cells or molecules, and allows to work with various objects including microorganisms and whole cell structures such as spheroids. However, each hydrogel-cell combination requires a calculation of specific laser transfer parameters.

The authors of the paper analyzed 33 studies of bioprinting using LIFT. They systematically analyzed the descriptions of laser sources, energy absorbing materials, donor ribbons, and collectors substrates, as well as comparing the objectives and outcomes of the studies.

The most commonly used laser wavelengths were 193 and 1064 nanometers (short ultraviolet and near infrared ranges, respectively), although much longer and shorter wavelengths were successfully experimented with as well. Gold, titanium, gelatin and gelatin-containing mixtures were used as an energy absorbing material, while researchers in five studies did not use this layer at all.

Most of the studies used murine fibroblasts (connective tissue cells that synthesize extracellular matrix proteins) or mesenchymal stromal cells (cells that can differentiate into various connective tissue cells). The choice depended on cell availability.

The bioink used by many research teams contained glycerol and methylcellulose to help the bioink retain moisture, or blood plasma to support cell growth. Another common component was hyaluronic acid because it improved bioink viscosity as well as promoting cell growth. One of the best bioink materials was collagen, the main component of connective tissue. In some studies, the bioink also formed a "functional pair" with the collector substrate: for instance, if the donor ribbon was alginate-based, then the collector substrate contained calcium ions, while fibrinogen-containing donor ribbons were used with collector substrates containing thrombin. Such "functional pairs" allow to maintain the shape of the printed constructs effectively, because the substances in the collector substrate act as bioink fixatives.

The studies also used different types of printing: 2D, whereby the cells were arranged in a single layer (the researchers printed lines, shapes, letters, numbers, or the Olympic flag), or 3D, which allows to recreate complex cellular structures such as stem cell niches. Three-dimensional structures were created by depositing the bioink layer by layer.

The authors of the studies used various techniques to assess the impact of the bioprinting process on cells. Most researchers note that cell viability was fairly high, and there was no damage to the DNA despite the mechanical impact and the spike in temperature. There were no changes in either the proliferation rate of cells or the ability of stem cells to differentiate (transform into more specialized cells). In some of the studies, printed tissues were implanted into laboratory animals. The authors of the review believe that with the improvement of this technology in the next few years, there will be more studies involving animals.

"LIFT technology is quite new, and is only beginning to 'conquer' the world of biomedicine. Naturally, it will be improved and further used in tissue engineering, possibly even in clinical practice. In my opinion, however, its most promising application is in combination with other technologies, which will allow to create tissues and organs for transplantation", says Peter Timashev, one of the paper's authors, Director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University.

Source: Sechenov University

Related journal article:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bprint.2019.e00052

Excerpt from:
Laser printing technology: Creating the perfect bioprinter - posted by Biophotonics.World at Biophotonics.World - Biophotonics.World

The San Diego Zoos project to save the northern white rhino is now researching how to make sperm and egg cells to help resurrect the nearly extinct species, a zoo scientist said Thursday.

Marisa Korody, a conservation genetics scientist at the zoos Institute for Conservation research, gave the update to a scientific audience at the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine in La Jolla.

ICR scientists have developed induced pluripotent stem cells from frozen tissue samples, Korody said. These cells act like embryonic stem cells. In theory, they can be converted into nearly any cell type in the body.

A number of tests have confirmed that these are true pluripotent stem cells, she said, displaying a video of beating heart cells, or cardiomyocytes, made from the cells.

In theory, sperm and egg cells can be united to produce embryos, which can be implanted into closely related southern white rhino females, serving as surrogate mothers. Six of these are now being trained at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

But making these gametes is complicated, she said. They require supporting structures to mature properly, and nobody knows how to determine if they do mature properly. This means the zoo and colleagues are performing original science.

So-called primordial germ cells, the common ancestor of eggs and sperm, have arisen spontaneously. But they need to be reliably generated under controlled circumstances.

All rhino species and subspecies are endangered due to habitat loss and poaching for their horns, Korody said. Its our fault, we really need to help these species, she said.

On the positive side, Korody said the dozen or so tissue samples from northern white rhinos contains enough genetic diversity to bring back a viable population.

This is known because that diversity is greater than that in the southern white rhino, which rebounded from near-extinction to a population of about 18,000.

A long-discussed state initiative to refund Californias stem cell program with $5.5 billion has at last begun.

Backers filed the initiative Thursday, according to the California Stem Cell Report, which closely tracks the program, called the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, or CIRM. If it gets 633,212 valid signatures, the initiative will appear on the November 2020 ballot.

CIRM was founded by the passage of Proposition 71 in 2004. It got $3 billion from the sale of state bonds. It has been severely criticized for overpromising the speed at which stem cell treatments would get to patients. Advocates said the agency has had to go slow because of safety reasons.

Theres also the question of whether the agency should get more money, or whether its work should be transferred to private entities. California has the biggest biomedical industry in the nation, but it also has billions in state liabilities for purposes such as pensions. Critics say the state needs to address these unfunded liabilities.

Robert N. Klein, a real estate investment banker who led the original campaign to create CIRM, said in a recent interview that the new funding was necessary to ensure that therapies now in the clinic can reach patients.

The initiative sets aside $1.5 billion for research and development of treatments for neurological conditions, such as Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, and stroke. It also provides money to help disadvantaged patients receive these treatments, Klein said.

Patients who live far away from major academic centers may have difficulty arranging to stay nearby while awaiting or receiving treatment, Klein said.

Initiative supporters need to convince the public that the $5.5 billion from state bonds is a wise use of public money. Earlier this week, a study from University of Southern California professors said that it was.

CIRM, funded with $3 billion from state bonds, has yielded $10.7 billion of additional gross output, or sales revenue, the study said. In addition, more than 56,000 full-time jobs were created. Go to http://j.mp/cirmeireport for the study.

The agency said the study and another report were funded by $206,000 from CIRM, which said the study was independent.

However, the California Stem Cell Report said the study didnt convince critics of the agency, who said the agency has received enough money as it is.

Read more:
Saving rhinos with stem cells; $5.5 billion stem cell ballot measure readied - The San Diego Union-Tribune

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG) Osteoarthritis affects millions of people in the US. Symptoms range from minor pain to crippling pain that compromises quality of life. A groundbreaking study is underway at four prestigious research facilities in the United States. One of those is right here on the Gulf Coast. Tonight, Drexel Gilbert is on the road in Gulf Breeze.

Lori Jamison is a Pensacola native who, as a teenager, played basketball at Pine Forest High School. Today, she suffers from osteoarthritis in her knee. She believes its a result of basketball injuries.

I get stiffness, it interferes with my mobility. Sometimes its like a sharp needle going down your leg. When I go to the movie theater, I have to sit on the back row so I can stretch it out, Jamison said. She is participating in a clinical trial at Andrews Research and Education Foundation in Gulf Breeze.

The research is studying stem cell treatment for osteoarthritis in the knee. AREF is one of only four facilities in the country participating in the study. The others are Emory Orthopedics & Spine Center, Duke University and Sanford Health. Researchers hope it leads to FDA approval for the treatment. If that happens, it could be life-changing for patients.

Hopefully reduce their pain if not actually get rid of their pain. That is our goal. We want to delay, if not prevent, total knee replacement, said Dr. Josh Hackel, who is the primary investigator for the Andrews phase of the study. Were comparing three different stem cell sources. Bone marrow from their pelvis, adipose- thats tissue from their belly fat- and the third is umbilical cord tissue donated from pregnant mothers.

The bone marrow and belly fat stem cells are harvested from the study participants, under local anesthesia. The stem cells are later implanted into the knee joint using ultrasound guidance to implant the cells into the knee joint.

Jamison has already undergone stem cell harvesting.

It was very easy, very convenient, no downtime after the procedure was done, Jamison said

This $13 million clinical trial is being funded entirely by a grant from Bernie Marcus, founder of the Marcus Foundation and co-founder of Home Depot. Osteoarthritis is an issue that is close to the philanthropists heart because his mother was left disabled by the illness at a young age.

There will be around 120 participants at each of the four sites. There are plenty of openings. If youd like to be considered for the study, call AREF at 850-916-8591.

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Drexel on the Road: Stem cell study for osteoarthritis - WKRG News 5

Michael J. Holtzman, MD, has received close to $7.5 million in total funding for research aimed at developing stem cell-based treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and other disorders.

Holtzmans research atWashington University School of Medicine in St. Louis identified a subset of stem cells cells that are able to grow into other more specialized types of cells that line the airways and help drive mucus production in the lungs.

Stem cells that give rise to mucus cells lining the airway and other sites are part of our immune defense strategy, Holtzman, the director of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, said in a university press releasewritten by Julia Evangelou Strait.

These cells are activated by common respiratory viruses and other inhaled agents, and prevent airway injury and promote repair.

Once the problem is resolved, the [immune] system should go back to a normal baseline level. But in some people, the stem cell is changed in a way that continues to promote inflammation and mucus production and ultimately compromises airway function even for normal breathing, Holtzman said.

Thus, Holtzmans team is searching fortherapeutic targets to control this stem cell response.

The largest of the grants hes received at $6.6 million is the outstanding investigator award from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Instituteof theNational Institutes of Health (NIH), given to researchers with proven expertise in innovative research and considered likely to make major advances. The grant will provide seven years of funding for research intended to further characterize these cells and their underlying mechanisms of action.

The award also supports ongoing efforts to identify pharmacological strategies to manipulate these stem cells. One lead compound has shown promise in animal models, preventing airway inflammation and mucus production after a respiratory viral infection.

Pending clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, clinical trials for this potential therapy are planned in people with COPD, asthma exacerbations, and related upper airway disorders.

Holtzman also received a NIH Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) of $300,000 to support a startup company he launched in anticipation of the successful development of these treatments.

Besides lung diseases, Holtzman received another $300,000 STT and a $250,000 award from the Siteman Investment Program in support of a stem cell-targeting compound aimed at treating breast cancer.

Your first reaction might be to wonder how in the world such similar compounds could be effective in what seem to be such different tissues, Holtzman said. But airway and breast tissues and other related sites share secretory function and overlap in how this function is controlled.

As a result, he concluded, our compounds can be precisely tailored to address whether the dysregulated stem cell is in airway versus breast tissue, or other sites as well.

Marisa holds an MS in Cellular and Molecular Pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied novel genetic drivers of ovarian cancer. She specializes in cancer biology, immunology, and genetics. Marisa began working with BioNews in 2018, and has written about science and health for SelfHacked and the Genetics Society of America. She also writes/composes musicals and coaches the University of Pittsburgh fencing club.

Total Posts: 157

Patrcia holds her PhD in Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases from the Leiden University Medical Center in Leiden, The Netherlands. She has studied Applied Biology at Universidade do Minho and was a postdoctoral research fellow at Instituto de Medicina Molecular in Lisbon, Portugal. Her work has been focused on molecular genetic traits of infectious agents such as viruses and parasites.

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To Find Therapies for COPD, Other Disorders, Researcher Awarded $7.5M - COPD News Today

Timothy Caulfield is a Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy at the University of Alberta and host of A Users Guide to Cheating Death

It happened with stem-cell research. Ditto genetics and precision medicine. And now we are seeing it play out with microbiome research. Good science is being exploited to market bunk products and ideas.

Gut hype is everywhere.

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The pattern is now familiar, as highlighted by what happened with regenerative medicine. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, stem-cell research started receiving a massive amount of media coverage. It was presented as a potentially revolutionizing field of study. This hyped language was then exploited by clinics around the world to push unproven and dangerous stem-cell therapies. And now regulators, including the the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. and Health Canada, are trying to contain the mess.

Microbiome research is headed down the same path, but at an accelerated pace.

There is no doubt that the human microbiome the vast collection of microorganisms that live on and in all of us plays an important role in our health and well-being. Researchers around the world are now studying the complex relationship between the microbiome and a range of conditions, including obesity, depression and cardiovascular disease. This is a genuinely exciting area of scientific inquiry with great promise. Indeed, Im involved with an interdisciplinary research team, led by the University of British Columbias Stuart Turvey, exploring the impact of the microbiome on the development of childhood asthma.

But it is still early days for microbiome research. There are, in fact, only a few microbiome-related interventions that are ready for the clinic, such as the use of probiotics to help prevent diarrhea when taking antibiotics and fecal transplants for the treatment of a particular severe intestinal infection. Despite this reality, the idea that the microbiome is relevant to our health in ways that are immediately applicable to the massive wellness industry has permeated pop culture incredibly quickly. (A Google Trends analysis of the word microbiome in the United States reveals an increase in interest starting around 2013.) The ubiquity of microbiome-related products and promises often framed in the rhetoric of gut health has led to growing concern that the research is being inappropriately hyped.

As with stem cells, the language of microbiome research is now being used to legitimize some potentially harmful and thoroughly unproven alternative therapies, including the idea that we need to do regular colonics (basically, an enema) to cleanse and detox our bodies.

As is so often the case, proponents of these kinds of alternative gut-health practices want the best of both worlds. They want to situate the therapy as both ageless wisdom (many ancient civilizations practised inner cleansing) and rooted in modern, cutting-edge science (colonic hydrotherapy helps to detoxify the colon and increase peristaltic activity). And they claim it has both amorphous wellness benefits (youre feeling lighter, your futures brighter) and can treat serious health conditions (one of the most important high-blood-pressure natural remedies).

But despite the use of ancient anecdotes and science-y, microbiome-infused language, there is absolutely no evidence to support the practice or the too-good-to-be-true claims. Indeed, studies have found that while colon cleanses can affect the gut microbiome it is, after all, a pretty dramatic assault on your innards the change doesnt last. After a few weeks, our gut reverts back to its precolonic state.

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The language of gut health and microbiome research is also used to sell a range of foods and supplements. While research continues, there is still little evidence to support the use of probiotics by healthy individuals. As noted in a recent commentary in the journal The Lancet: increasing evidence suggests that both commercial and clinical use of probiotics is outpacing the science. And there may be situations where probiotics might even be harmful, adversely affecting the way our body reacts to some drugs. But the lack of evidence to support the claims of health benefit hasnt stopped the rapid expansion of the probiotic industry, which is estimated to be worth almost US$74-billion by 2024.

But perhaps the most absurd example of the twisting of microbiome research is the marketing surrounding the raw water phenomenon. Over the past few years, a number of bottled water companies have started offering water that is straight from the natural source, such as a stream or spring. It is untreated and unfiltered. One of the arguments for the practice is the idea that drinking raw water improves microbiome health because it contains healthy microbes and minerals removed by public water-treatment facilities. This is, of course, beyond absurd (as are the ridiculous prices people are willing to pay). The production and distribution of clean water is one of the single greatest public-health achievements. Raw water kills more than 500,000 people a year.

In this era of misinformation, scientists must take extra care not to hype their work. Indeed, we need the scientific community particularly those working in these emerging and genuinely exciting fields of study to speak up when science is being misrepresented. We need credible voices to explain what is and isnt currently possible.

And we all need to be aware that science-y language is often used to market bunk.

Keep your Opinions sharp and informed. Get the Opinion newsletter. Sign up today.

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Microbiome research needs a gut check - The Globe and Mail

A newly designed viral vector the vehicle that delivers a gene therapyto a patients cells for use insickle cell anemia is more efficient than earlier vectors at introducing healthy copies of genes into stem cells and can be produced in greater amounts, studies in animal models show.

The study Development of a forward-orientated therapeutic lentiviral vector for hemoglobin disorders was published in the journal Nature Communications.

Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that binds oxygen, allowing oxygen to be transported around the body. Mutations in the HBBgene, which encodes a component of hemoglobin, causessickle cell.

Gene therapies involve either altering the mutated gene or introducing a healthy version of that gene to the body. Still under development for sickle cell, an estimated 27 patients have undergone experimental gene therapy. One strategy involves removing hematopoietic stem cells (which function to produce blood cells) from a patients bone marrow. A healthy copy of the HBB gene is then introduced into the cells using a modified, harmless virus known as a viral vector. The cells are then transplanted back into the patient where they will produce healthy red blood cells.

Traditionally, viral vectors for sickle cell have been designed in a way known as reverse structural orientation. This means that the HBB gene is translated or read from right to left, like reading an English sentence backwards. The reverse structural orientation design ensures that a key section of the gene (known as intron 2), which is necessary for the production of high levels of the HBB gene, is retained during viral vector preparation.

However, this design makes preparing the viral vectors more difficult, and decreases the efficiency of introducing the gene into the stem cells.

Researchersat the National Institutes of Healthdesigned a new viral vector, one in which the HBB gene is forward orientated and read from left to right. Genes essential for the virus were inserted into intron 2, meaning that only vectors that retained intron 2 would be produced (a type of positive selection).

Our new vector is an important breakthrough in the field of gene therapy for sickle cell disease, John Tisdale, MD, chief of the Cellular and Molecular Therapeutic Branch at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the studys senior author, said in a press release.

Its the new kid on the block and represents a substantial improvement in our ability to produce high capacity, high efficiency vectors for treating this devastating disorder, he added.

The researchers compared the new vectors to traditional reverse-orientated vectors in mouse and monkey models. The new vectors were four to 10 times more efficient at introducing the healthy HBBgene into the stem cells, and could carry up to six times more HBB genes compared to the conventional vectors.

Furthermore, the new vectors remained incorporated into the cells of monkeys up to four years after a transplant. These vectors could also be produced in greater amounts, which may lessen the time and costs required for large-scale vector production.

The researchers hope that these characteristics will make gene therapy for sickle cell disease more effective and increase its use. The new vector design still needs to be tested in clinical trials in patients.

Our lab has been working on improving beta-globin vectors for almost a decade and finally decided to try something radically different and it worked, Tisdale said.

These findings bring us closer to a curative gene therapy approach for hemoglobin disorders, he added.

Patricia holds her Ph.D. in Cell Biology from University Nova de Lisboa, and has served as an author on several research projects and fellowships, as well as major grant applications for European Agencies. She also served as a PhD student research assistant in the Laboratory of Doctor David A. Fidock, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, New York.

Total Posts: 94

Margarida graduated with a BS in Health Sciences from the University of Lisbon and a MSc in Biotechnology from Instituto Superior Tcnico (IST-UL). She worked as a molecular biologist research associate at a Cambridge UK-based biotech company that discovers and develops therapeutic, fully human monoclonal antibodies.

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New Viral Vector for Sickle Cell Gene Therapy Likely to Be More Effective, NIH Study Says - Sickle Cell Anemia News

This article, written byKatharine Sedivy-Haley, University of British Columbia, originally appeared on The Conversation and is republished here with permission:

When I was applying to graduate school in 2012, it felt like stem cells were about to revolutionize medicine.

Stem cells have the ability to renew themselves, and mature into specialized cells like heart or brain cells. This allows them to multiply and repair damage.

If stem cell genes are edited to fix defects causing diseases like anemia or immune deficiency, healthy cells can theoretically be reintroduced into a patient, thereby eliminating or preventing a disease. If these stem cells are taken or made from the patient themselves, they are a perfect genetic match for that individual, which means their body will not reject the tissue transplant.

Because of this potential, I was excited that my PhD project at the University of British Columbia gave me the opportunity to work with stem cells.

However, stem cell hype has led some to pay thousands of dollars on advertised stem cell treatments that promise to cure ailments from arthritis to Parkinsons disease. These treatments often dont help and may harm patients.

Despite the potential for stem cells to improve medicine, there are many challenges as they move from lab to clinic. In general, stem cell treatment requires we have a good understanding of stem cell types and how they mature. We also need stem cell culturing methods that will reliably produce large quantities of pure cells. And we need to figure out the correct cell dose and deliver it to the right part of the body.

Embryonic, 'induced and pluripotent

Stem cells come in multiple types. Embryonic stem cells come from embryos which makes them controversial to obtain.

A newly discovered stem cell type is the induced pluripotent stem cell. These cells are created by collecting adult cells, such as skin cells, and reprogramming them by inserting control genes which activate or induce a state similar to embryonic stem cells. This embryo-like state of having the versatile potential to turn into any adult cell type, is called being pluripotent.

However, induced pluripotent and embryonic stem cells can form tumours. Induced pluripotent stem cells carry a particularly high risk of harmful mutation and cancer because of their genetic instability and changes introduced during reprogramming.

Genetic damage could be avoided by using younger tissues such as umbilical cord blood, avoiding tissues that might contain pre-existing mutations (like sun-damaged skin cells), and using better methods for reprogramming.

Stem cells used to test drugs

For now, safety concerns mean pluripotent cells have barely made it to the clinic, but they have been used to test drugs.

For drug research, it is valuable yet often difficult to get research samples with specific disease-causing mutations; for example, brain cells from people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Researchers can, however, take a skin cell sample from a patient, create an induced pluripotent stem-cell line with their mutation and then make neurons out of those stem cells. This provides a renewable source of cells affected by the disease.

This approach could also be used for personalized medicine, testing how a particular patient will respond to different drugs for conditions like heart disease.

Vision loss from fat stem cells

Stem cells can also be found in adults. While embryonic stem cells can turn into any cell in the body, aside from rare newly discovered exceptions, adult stem cells mostly turn into a subset of mature adult cells.

For example, hematopoietic stem cells in blood and bone marrow can turn into any blood cell and are widely used in treating certain cancers and blood disorders.

A major challenge with adult stem cells is getting the right kind of stem cell in useful quantities. This is particularly difficult with eye and nerve cells. Most research is done with accessible stem cell types, like stem cells from fat.

Fat stem cells are also used in stem cell clinics without proper oversight or safety testing. Three patients experienced severe vision loss after having these cells injected into their eyes. There is little evidence that fat stem cells can turn into retinal cells.

Clinical complications

Currently, stem cell based treatments are still mostly experimental, and while some results are encouraging, several clinical trials have failed.

In the brain, despite progress in developing treatment for genetic disorders and spinal cord injury, treatments for stroke have been unsuccessful. Results might depend on method of stem cell delivery, timing of treatment and age and health of the patient. Frustratingly, older and sicker tissues may be more resistant to treatment.

For eye conditions, a treatment using adult stem cells to treat corneal injuries has recently been approved. A treatment for macular degeneration using cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells is in progress, though it had to be redesigned due to concerns about cancer-causing mutations.

A path of cautious optimism

While scientists have good reason to be interested in stem cells, miracle cures are not right around the corner. There are many questions about how to implement treatments to provide benefit safely.

In some cases, advertised stem cell treatments may not actually use stem cells. Recent research suggests mesenchymal stem cells, which are commonly isolated from fat, are really a mixture of cells. These cells have regenerative properties, but may or may not include actual stem cells. Calling something a stem cell treatment is great marketing, but without regulation patients dont know what theyre getting.

Members of the public (and grad students) are advised to moderate their excitement in favour of cautious optimism.

Katharine Sedivy-Haley, PhD Candidate in Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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BEYOND LOCAL: Expert recommends 'path of cautious optimism' about the future of stem cell treatment - CollingwoodToday

The only country that has stood out in creating companies to offer stem-cell therapies has been Japan, while the other countries across the globe have been struggling to achieve the same. It has been five years since Japan has been legally allowed to extract stem cells from different skin biopsies, using them in the injections for chronic and complex diseases such as heart diseases. More than 3,700 treatments have received green light as a result of the regulatory laws being passed. However, a majority of the treatments and therapies have not passed the randomised, controlled, double blind clinical trial a global standard to prove its safety and effectiveness. Not having passed the trial proves its unreliability on the outcome of the treatment altogether.

Although, in fast need of getting therapies and products commercialised, many entrepreneurs and scientists across the world are looking to enter Japan for a more rapid route of getting their business started. Therefore, looking at the rush that various companies are in, in order to commercialise their products, the government is looking to introduce a stringent policy framework for better regulatory changes. This also forces other countries to keep an eye on the regulations to ensure ethical work is being conducted.

The law requires high quality processed stem-cells in certified cell-processing centres and treatments that need to be passed through an independent ethical-review board. While the double-blind clinical trials are expensive in Japan, as claimed by Japans Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, there are many ethical issues that are involved by giving placebos to people who are suffering from illnesses. This is the reason behind the need for stringent ethical laws that do not hamper the lives of people in any way and risking their health.

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Threatening regulatory policies for the birth giver of stem-cell technology - Medical Herald

A phase I/II trial run by the Dutch company ProQR has found that its RNA therapy could significantly improve the vision of people with Lebers congenital amaurosis, a rare genetic disease for which there is no treatment.

The RNA drug, called sepofarsen, is designed to treat people with a specific mutation in a gene called CEP290. This mutation causes the RNA transcript of the gene to have the wrong three-dimensional structure, blocking its translation into a protein. This, in turn, causes vision loss in the first few years of life.

Sepofarsen is an RNA molecule that specifically binds to the faulty RNA transcript to stabilize its structure and allow the retinal cells to produce the protein.

In a phase I/II trial run in the US and Belgium, the RNA drug significantly improved the vision of children and adults with this condition over a 1-year period.

In some cases the patients vision improved to a level that could be deemed life-changing, said Stephen Russell, a professor at the University of Iowa and principal investigator of the study.

The effects of the drug were stronger on patients that had a certain level of visual acuity to start with. These are ultimately the target population of ProQR, which is already running a phase II/III study that will follow the response of 30 patients over the course of 2 years. Results from that trial are expected in 2021 and will inform whether the FDA and the EMA approve the drug or not.

The main goal of the phase I/II trial was to determine the safety of sepofarsen. While the treatment caused cataracts in eight out of 11 patients, all of those who underwent lens replacement surgery recovered their vision. Other side effects of the drug on the eye were manageable with additional treatments.

There are hundreds of different genetic mutations that cause blindness. The rarity of each of these conditions individually has meant that many of them have no treatment available. In recent years, gene therapy has become an option to treat some of these conditions; the first was Luxturna, approved in 2017. Another approach that has only entered the first clinical trial this year is CRISPR gene editing, which is being carried out by Editas Medicine and Allergan.

In contrast, ProQRs RNA drug could provide an alternative approach that does not involve a permanent change in the DNA of retinal cells. The drug is instead delivered to the eye via injection every 6 months.

Still, each of these new treatments can only address one specific mutation of the many causing blindness. As all these new technologies are developed, together they could eventually provide solutions covering a wide range of these mutations.

More:
RNA Therapy Improves Vision in Untreatable Genetic... - Labiotech.eu

Contact: Emily Damm

Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill, center, signed a proclamation on Sept. 24 to designate Oct. 15 as White Cane Awareness Day, affirming the significant role that persons with disabilities have in the local community and recognizing the white cane as a tool of independence. Looking on were representatives from MSUs National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision, Delta Gamma sorority, MSU Disability Support Services and local community members. The NRTC will host activities in honor of the occasion on MSUs Drill Field Oct. 15. (Photo by Emily Damm)

Mississippi States National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision is celebrating White Cane Awareness Day Oct. 15 and is inviting members of the university and local community to a range of activities on the Drill Field.

An informational booth from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. will feature:

The MSU sorority Delta Gamma, which supports the philanthropy Service for Sight, has partnered with NRTC to lead the obstacle course, which participants will complete with simulator glasses or blindfolds. In case of rain, the event will move to the first floor of the Colvard Student Union.

In September, Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill signed a proclamation to designate Oct. 15 as White Cane Awareness Day, affirming the significant role that persons with disabilities have in the local community and recognizing the white cane as a tool of independence.

This celebration started in 1964 when Congress adopted a joint resolution designating Oct. 15 as White Cane Safety Day. This day helped motorists and cyclists learn about the laws that affected people with blindnesslike stopping at crosswalks when they notice someone with a white cane. It has since been transformed from solely an awareness day to a celebration of the ways that people with disabilities contribute to society.

For more information, contact Emily Damm, NRTC Communications Specialist, at 662-325-6695.

Here is the original post:
National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision hosts White Cane Awareness Day at MSU - Mississippi State Newsroom

By Express News Service

HYDERABAD:Prevalence of blindness and visual impairment is one of the highest in Telangana, as inferred from the National blindness and visual impairment survey in India report, released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday.

The survey was conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi. 31 districts from 24 States and Union Territories were selected and 3,000 people from each district 3,000 people were surveyed. From Telangana, the erstwhile Warangal district was selected.

The survey reports that the prevalence of blindness was second highest in Warangal among the 31 districts, with a prevalence rate of 3.47 per cent, whereas the prevalence of visual impairment was 20.31 pc. The district with highest prevalence of blindness and visual impairment was Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh (3.67 and 21.82 per cent) respectively.

The survey was undertaken in Telangana in 2016, before the start of the States Kanti Velugu programme. The major reason behind people losing vision was found to be untreated cataract in 66.2 percent cases, and refractive error in 70.6 percent cases.

See the article here:
Prevalence of blindness, visual impairment high in Telangana - The New Indian Express

Last Updated On 10 October,201906:48 pm

In Pakistan, 2.2 million people are affected by blindness.

LAHORE (Web Desk) - World Sight Day is being observed across the world today to create awareness about the need to pay attention on vision impairment and blindness. This years theme is - Vision First.

In Pakistan 2.2 million people are affected by blindness while 20 million people are facing weakness of eyesight. Pakistan has also fallen on number three in the list of countries having more blind people.

Medical experts opine that the garbage in the metropolis city of Karachi is the main reason behind the vision impairment problems in the city.An eye expert said unnecessary use of electronic instruments can affect eyesight and only way to protect our self from such disease is to take care of our self by having healthy food.

Every year this day strives to create awareness about the need to give the necessary attention to eye care. International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness plans the world sight day each year. World Sight Day 2019 motivates people to pledge to take an eye exam and encourage others for the same. The theme for this year is - "vision first". This theme highlights the importance of an eye exam to prevent any possible eye disorder.

The target set by this year is to end eye disease by 2020.

Initially started by the Lions Club International Foundation as part of the Sight First campaign in the year 2000, World Sight Day is now coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) under the VISION 2020 global initiative which aims to promote a world in which nobody is needlessly visually impaired.

The main aims of World Sight Day include:

To Raise public awareness of issues surrounding blindness and visual impairment.

To influence Governments, and in particular Health Ministers to participate in and donate funds to blindness prevention programmes.

To educate about blindness prevention.

To generate support for Vision 2020 programme and activities.

Across the world, events include seminars, donation drives rallies and online events. There is also an annual World Sight Day photography competition which is open to photographers both amateur and professional, anywhere in the world.

The rest is here:
World Sight Day observed to create awareness about vision impairment, blindness - Dunya News

The World Health Organisation report was published ahead of Christian Blind Mission Sunday on 13 October Photo: CBM

The first ever World Report on Vision, published by the World Health Organisation this week, highlights that more than a billion people are living with sight loss that could have been prevented or treated. Published ahead of World Sight Day on 10 October, the report provides a comprehensive review of the global evidence on blindness, visual impairment and access to eye health services worldwide.

The gaps highlighted in the report come as no surprise to us at Christian Blind Mission. For decades, we have been working in the worlds poorest places to strengthen sight-saving eye health services, working in partnership with local hospitals and health authorities to deliver more treatments for blinding diseases, train eye health workers and improve access to sight-restoring surgeries. A shocking 75 per cent of the worlds blindness is avoidable. That means every day, people are losing their sight because of diseases or conditions that could be prevented or treated.

The burden of needless blindness falls most heavily on the worlds poorest, where poor living conditions leave people at higher risk of disease and sight-saving treatment is often out of reach. The new report finds that rates of blindness in low- and middle-income countries are eight times higher than in high-income countries.

Too often, for people living in poverty, losing your sight also means losing the chance to go to school, earn a living or participate in your community. In many places, stigma against people with disabilities such as blindness for example the belief they cannot contribute to society results in discrimination and exclusion. We need an approach that both delivers eye health services and also tackles the wider barriers people face to inclusion everything from providing white canes and clear signage to training health workers to address the needs of patients with disabilities.

This week, churches across the UK are joining the fight against avoidable blindness by taking part in Christian Blind Mission Sunday. On or around 13 October, more than 140 churches are getting involved, inspired by Jesus radical example of solidarity with, and compassion for, marginalised people, to learn, pray and fundraise, to help reach people living with avoidable blindness.

In many churches, Christian Blind Mission Sunday will include the story of Jesus healing of a man born blind in Johns gospel (9:1-9). But stories of children, men and women living with avoidable blindness today will also feature people like Shalom, from Uganda, East Africa.

Shalom was three years old when her mother, Fridah, noticed she was blinking and squinting a lot in the sun. Now aged five, Shalom can barely see and had to stop going to school. Other children have been cruel to her, calling her names and throwing her toy doll, knowing that she will struggle to find it and pick it up.

Pic: CBM

Her mother told us: Shalom also wakes up and asks me: 'Mummy, am I also going to school today?' I tell her that she will go back to school when her sight is better.

Shaloms sight loss was caused by cataracts, a condition that clouds the lens of the eye. Cataracts cause half of all blindness and can be treated with straightforward surgery. While they mostly affect older people, some children are born with cataracts. For them, treatment is vital within a few years, or their blindness will be life-long. A cataract operation costs less than 100 for a child, just 24 for an adult, as they dont need general anaesthetic. But for families like Shalom, living in poverty, the cost of treatment or even transport to reach it is simply out of reach.

Thanks to initiatives like Christian Blind Mission Sunday and the vital funds they raise, CBM is working with hospitals, health authorities and other partners in Uganda and many other low-income countries to ensure that children like Shalom can access treatment, so they dont face a lifetime of needless blindness simply because they are poor. In the areas where we work, weve seen major progress, with stronger, more accessible and affordable eye-health services delivering hundreds of thousands of eye examinations, pairs of glasses and sight-restoring surgeries every year. But, as the WHO report finds, global efforts need to be dramatically scaled up if were to eliminate avoidable blindness and visual impairment.

The theme for this years Christian Blind Mission Sunday is Out of sight, out of mind, because too often, the needs of people with blindness or visual impairment have been ignored or overlooked, within their own communities and also on a global stage. We hope that the WHOs World Vision Report marks a pivotal moment, galvanising global action to improve eye health services, especially for the worlds poorest.

Kirsty Smith is Chief Executive CBM UK

Christian Blind Mission (CBM) is an international organisation working in the worlds poorest places to prevent blindness, improve health and transform the lives of people with disabilities. http://www.cbmuk.org.uk

Read more from the original source:
Out of sight, out of mind: Why we must open our eyes to avoidable sight loss - The Tablet

Most people like their Halloween costumes to be as accurate as possible, but changing your eye color to match it is potentially more dangerous that most aspects of costuming.

An FDA report from July 31st details the dangers of decorative contact lenses and how to avoid damage when looking for the right non-corrective lenses.

First of all, FDA warns against purchasing contact lenses over-the-counter or as cosmetics, as they are a regulated medical device, which means it is against the law to sell them in this manner.

Secondly, contact lenses are not one size fits all. An eye doctor must measure your eye to properly fit the lens in your eye and judge how your eye reacts to it. Poor contact lens fitting can cause serious damage, including cornea scratches, corneal infection, conjunctivitis, decreased vision, and blindness.

In addition, sellers of non-prescription lenses may give inadequate instruction of how to clean and care for contacts. Failure to do so can lead to infection, which causes further eye problems.

Regarding where non-prescription lenses are commonly sold, the FDA recommends to avoid purchasing contacts from street vendors, salons, beauty stores, boutiques, flea markets, novelty stores, Halloween stores, record or video stores, convenience stores, beach shops, and Internet shops that do not require a prescription. Places like these are not authorized to distribute contact lenses. In addition, the FDA also says that some lenses sold in this manner may be counterfeit products not approved by the administration. You can talk with your eye care provider if you have questions. If you find a website you think is illegally selling contact lenses over the internet, you should report it to FDA.

To safely wear decorative contacts, the FDA says to take these steps:

Link:
FDA report warns of danger involving decorative contacts and how to avoid it - WQAD Moline

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On World Sight Day, the Tej Kohli Foundation says that a focus on new technologies is needed to accelerate the global mission to end curable corneal blindness worldwide. The Foundation is currently funding the clinical trials and development of a liquid biosynthetic solution that could offer an accessible, scalable and affordable solution to corneal blindness that would be relevant to many of the 12 million people worldwide who suffer from this type of blindness.

The thesis of the Tej Kohli Foundation is that humanitarian efforts the world over will be greatly advanced by exponential growth technologies such as AI, robotics and genomics. The Foundation behaves like a venture fund by backing, incubating, acquiring and accelerating the development of technology solutions. Only successful projects secure further funding support, leaving the Foundation agile to back the projects that will have the greatest impact.

Blindness is heavily impacted by poverty. According to the WHO, 14 million of the 39 million people who are blind live in India. 12.7 million people are currently waiting for a cornea transplant, including 6 million in India. The Tej Kohli Foundations Cornea Institute at the LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad already conducts thousands of corneal transplants every year using donor cornea, largely for free. The Foundation recently cured five brothers and sisters in the same family from Rajasthan who had all been suffering with long-term visual impairment.

But the limited supply of donor cornea and the need for invasive surgery means that worldwide less than 1 in 70 will receive a cornea transplant each year. Artificial cornea or keratoprotheses are expensive and can cost up to US$20,000. The Tej Kohli Foundation is backing the development of technological solutions, because ending corneal blindness will require an affordable, accessible and scalable solution that does not rely on transplantation.

The Tej Kohli Foundation previously backed methods of synthesising artificial cornea from yeast and peptides, but new advances mean it has switched this funding to the development of the liquid biosynthetic, which aims to work by causing the regeneration of corneal tissue. The pro-regeneration tissue replacement could avoid the need for expensive corneal grafting and be applied in less than thirty minutes to fill a perforation or to repair a corneal ulcer.

In July 2018 the Tej Kohli Foundation also made a $2m gift to Massachusetts Ear and Eye, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, to fund innovation in research into nano-string and DNA-sequencing technologies for early diagnostics and prevention, as well as GelCORE, an adhesive biomaterial for replacing corneal tissue.

Michael Macfarlane, spokesperson for the Tej Kohli Foundation:

There are limits to the number of corneal transplants that can take place each year, especially in poor and remote rural areas. The Tej Kohli Foundation is a global focal point for scientists and others who are developing pioneering treatments in this field. Our mission is to work with a range of partners in our goal to eliminate corneal blindness by 2035.

Tej Kohli, co-Founder of the Tej Kohli Foundation:

Eliminating corneal blindness is what I am most passionate about. I favour a venture-led approach to philanthropy whereby we bring people together and provide the funding to accelerate the development of solutions that might bring us a step closer to ending corneal blindness. The way that we run our Foundation is directly aligned with how we manage our commercial ventures and investments, and this approach means we can drive greater progress from every pound or dollar or rupee that we spend on achieving our mission.

Find out more about the Tej Kohli Foundation at: http://www.tejkohlifoundation.com

A video about a family of five siblings having their long-term visual impairment cured by the Tej Kohli Foundation is available to embed using this link: https://youtu.be/Pmcb9pRxOSs

A video interview with Wendy and Tej Kohli in which they talk about the work of the Tej Kohli Foundation is available to embed using this link: https://youtu.be/JgOO4Cs-jnw

A video about the Tej Kohli Cornea Program is available to embed using this link: https://youtu.be/2zUBtj6H7GM

A video about the Tej Kohli Cornea Institute is available to embed using this link: https://youtu.be/lkZmI8lkpm8

About The Tej Kohli Foundation

The Tej Kohli Foundation was launched by Wendy and Tej Kohli in 2005 as a focal point for their global philanthropic endeavours. The Foundation includes:

http://www.tejkohlifoundation.com

About Tej Kohli

Tej Kohli is a London-based investor and entrepreneur with a well-publicized mission to cure corneal blindness worldwide by 2035. He first rose to success during the dotcom boom selling technology solutions and e-commerce payments software before becoming a real estate investor in technology hubs. He now focuses on high-impact investments into AI, robotics, biotech and genomics ventures. Tej Kohli is a Distinguished Alumni of the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur (IITK) where he completed a degree in Electrical Engineering.

http://www.tejkohli.com

END

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Tej Kohli Foundation advocates a scalable, accessible and affordable technology solution to end corneal blindness worldwide. - Business Wire

Kankakee County States Attorney Jim Rowe says when domestic violence happens, people often ask, Why doesnt she just leave?

Its pretty clear why victims dont just leave, said Rowe, a member of the Harbor House board, which provides emergency shelter for domestic violence victims. They are 70 times more likely to be killed within weeks of leaving a domestic violence relationship.

Speaking to the county board this week, Rowe said domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness among women and children.

When your choice is being homeless or to remain in a violent environment, you can imagine that its not as easy of a choice as why doesnt she just leave? he said. When you hear that in the community, respond with the question, Why doesnt the abuser just stop abusing? Run those words by them. Instead of investing their time in questioning victims, they can do a lot to empower survivors in our community by supporting Harbor House.

This is a particularly good message in October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Many of us, including me, have been guilty of asking the wrong question, implicitly blaming the victim. We should blame the perpetrator.

Often when someone is avoiding you, you cannot help but wonder, Was it something I said?

In the case of a reporter, the question becomes, Is it something I wrote?

This week, the city of Kankakee finally released the list of names of people it has blocked from access to its Facebook pages. As it happens, my Facebook account was one of 20 on the banned list for Mayor Chasity Wells-Armstrongs official page, which is considered a public record.

I was banned on July 31, 2018, three days after my story on then-Police Chief Price Dumas appeared. It was about documents we obtained showing that Dumas searched the names of two mayoral critics in the state criminal database, which is only supposed to be used for legitimate law enforcement purposes. The chief abruptly resigned three weeks later.

Im guessing my story is what upset Wells-Armstrong. It certainly wasnt because of my interaction with the page. There was none.

Its not unusual for reporters to get the cold shoulder from sources unhappy with news coverage. But we strive to be fair with every source, whether were blocked or not.

For many partisan Democrats and Republicans, it can be difficult to see beyond party labels. They have trouble calling out whats wrong on their side a malady I like to call partisan blindness. This problem has become particularly acute with the Ukraine scandal.

How can anyone deny that Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden, is cashing in on the family name? When his father was involved in Ukraine as vice president, Hunter was receiving $50,000 per month serving as a board member for a Ukrainian natural gas company, an industry in which he had no experience. This type of deal might be legal, but its unethical, although it happens far too often in our politics.

On the flip side, it was wrong for President Donald Trump to pressure Ukraine to investigate Biden and his son in apparent exchange for nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine. Not coincidentally, Biden is the front runner for the Democratic presidential nomination and leading Trump in polls. No president should use his official powers to get another country to dig up dirt on a rival.

If something is wrong, it is wrong. It should not matter whether it involves a Democrat or a Republican.

David Giuliani is a reporter for the Daily Journal. His column As It Is expands upon regular news coverage. He can be reached at 815-802-5144 or dgiuliani@daily-journal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @TDJ_dgiuliani.

Read more here:
David Giuliani: The wrong question to ask - Kankakee Daily Journal

ILLUSTRATION BY NICK TAYLOR

What is the first news event you can recall?

I remember the Silver Jubilee clearly because we had a fancy dress street party in Sheffield. I dressed up as a Japanese girl with a too-big red kimonocultural appropriation hadnt been invented in 1977. I was six. Three years later, there was the bombing of Bologna train station by Italian neo-fascists. I remember hearing that one of the dead was a three-year-old girl and being unable to process how someone that young could become a victim of terrorism.

What is the biggest problem of all?

High humidity leading to rain and/or frizzy hair on a live broadcast. Alternatively, the idea that expertise doesnt matter, wisdom and experience count for little.

If you could spend a day in one place at one moment in history, when and where would that be?

I would choose Bucharest, outside the presidential palace in December 1989, watching Ceau sescu appear on the balcony and seeing how the mood of the crowd suddenly changes and sours about 10 minutes into his speech. You can actually see his expression change from dominance, to pure incomprehension until he realises hes reached his end. He was executed by firing squad four days later. I took my son to that spot a few years ago and in baking heat we played the old film footage as we sat on the ground underneath that very balcony.

What is your favourite quotation?

Time held me green and dying,/though I sang in my chains like the sea. Dylan Thomas. Ive had 30 years to think about what it means and I still dont know. But it makes me feel very mortal, and urgentas if there is still so much to do.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I have facial blindness. Its hugely embarrassing as it makes me seem supercilious or snobbish. You learn to create ambiguous greetings like Really nice to see you, which could cover an old acquaintance or someone youre meeting for the first time. My husband often stands behind me muttering she works in antiques, they gave us the fish kettle for our wedding, or you interviewed him for Newsnight last year, used to go out with Liz Hurley.

What frightens you most?

Miscarriages of justice. Sally Clark, for example, who lost her babies and was then accused of their murder. Cases like Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe show the collateral damage of political spats between governments which could happen to anyone.

Who would you like to spend a day in the shoes of?

A person of deep religious faith. A monk, priest or a rabbi maybeIm curious to see how you would make the intellectual leap to just believing in something without constantly seeking rational evidence.

What has been your most awkward on-air moment?

When I interviewed a bloke wearing a balaclava on Newsnight. He refused to remove it and halfway through our interview he forgot he was wearing it, took a sip of water and couldnt find his mouth. Its quite hard to hold it together when that happens.

Emily Maitliss new book is Airhead: The Imperfect Art of Making News(Michael Joseph, 18.99). She will be at the Wimbledon Book Festival on 10th October

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What would people be surprised to learn about Emily Maitlis? "I have facial blindness" - Prospect

Alcon, a global leader in eye care, as a part of its public service initiative, has rolled out a cinema campaign to create awareness about the role of a timely cataract surgery in avoiding blindness in view of World Sight Day observed on October10.

Alcon teamed up with Khushi Advertising Ideas Pvt. Ltd., a cinema advertising agency, and created an ad that has compelled people to sit up and take notice. The 30-second ad starts with nothing but a blank screen with only sounds of birds chirping and a baby laughing. This continues for about 12-13 seconds and leaves the audience visibly perplexed. Some even wonder whether there is a projector malfunction, until the first visual comes up, which is only the text that reads 1,20,00,000* people in India see the world like this.

Through the remaining ad, this number goes up by one every three seconds and the copy below it reads Every three seconds someone is getting blind due to cataract. This is followed by the logos of Alcon and World Sight Day in the last two seconds of the ad.

Vishnu Telang

Such strong messaging has left the audience shaken and I am sure, also awakened, said Vishnu Telang, CEO, Khushi Advertising. The ad is a true example of how powerful, something so simple can be. No influencers, no flashy design, no product display and no logo presence through 98% of the ad. The simple yet impactful communication did the job brilliantly. I am certain that people will recall this ad and the effort of Alcon for a long time.

Shourav Das

Shourav Das, Senior Manager, Practice Development, Alcon India, said, We wanted to bring the focus of both patients and care-givers on how cataract potentially lessens the quality of life. Following an eye surgeons advice and not procrastinating a simple cataract surgery can help one get back to life and light. With World Sight Day, we were planning a series of activities to spread awareness on this subject, which actually is the largest cause of blindness in India and when Khushi came to us with the concept, we loved the idea and went ahead with it. We at Alcon are positive that this campaign will touch a lot of people and raise even more awareness about cataract and dispel the myths woven around it.

Gautam Dutta

Gautam Dutta, CEO, PVR, said, This campaign is a perfect example of how cinema as a medium can be effectively used to spread awareness about health and social issues. Cinemas offer a captive and receptive audience who is more likely to absorb advertising communication and when the message is as powerful and relevant as this, the impact is massive. I am glad that Alcon and Khushi have made optimum use of this excellent advertising medium and created a campaign that is sure to open people's eyes to this grave issue."

The Video:

Info@BestMediaInfo.com

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On World Sight Day, Alcon India and Khushi create awareness about timely cataract surgery to avoid blindness - Best Media Info

Google Maps has up to date its voice steerage system particularly so that folks with lowered blindness or visibility can transfer extra independently. That is the brand new operate.

Among the finest makes use of of expertise is when its positioned on the service of accessibility. Accessibility permits to compensate for the absences of these much less lucky, serving to them to be extra unbiased each day.

Right this moment is the flip of Google Maps, an software that everyone knows and that helps us transfer round daily. Within the newest replace you obtain a brand new voice steerage software, designed particularly for individuals with lowered visibility or blindness.

One of many biggest difficulties for an individual with blindness is to find new locations. Its simple to recollect the best way to these locations that youre used to go each day, however going to new locations is extraordinarily difficult with out eyes to information you.

Functions corresponding to Google Maps assist information us, and with the brand new characteristic they may also assist individuals who have imaginative and prescient issues. That is doable due to a operate that Google is beginning to show name Voice steerage .

This new operate goes a step past the small print that Google Maps leaves us once we use the navigation on foot, a operate that for the standard person is greater than full due to the knowledge we see on the display, however which resulted inadequate for customers with lowered imaginative and prescient.

As defined by Wakana Sugiyama, protagonist of the video, these skills make her, as a blind individual dwelling in Tokyo, really feel extra included in society by with the ability to transfer with higher independence.

This new characteristic needs to be deployed over the following few hours, so be sure to have the Google Maps software up to date.

Excerpt from:
Google Maps for blind people improves thanks to the new voice guidance - Herald Publicist