StemCell Therapy

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Jan. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:IDYA), an oncology-focused precision medicine company committed to the discovery and development of targeted therapeutics, announced that the company has entered into a Sponsored Research Agreement with Boston Children's Hospital for preclinical evaluation of the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in Sturge Weber syndrome (SWS), a rare neurocutaneous disorder characterized by capillary malformations and associated with mutations in GNAQ.

Under the agreement, IDEAYA will collaborate with and support research at Boston Children's Hospital in the laboratory of Dr. Joyce Bischoff, Ph.D., Research Associate, Department of Surgery and Professor, Harvard Medical School, who is Principal Investigator of the research studies. The preclinical research will evaluate IDE196, a potent, selective PKC inhibitor, in vitro to assess whether pharmacological inhibition of PKC in endothelial cells having GNAQ mutations will restore normal cell function, as well as in vivo to assess whether pharmacological inhibition of PKC can regulate blood vessel size in murine models that recapitulate enlarged vessels seen in SWS capillary malformations.

SWS is a rare disease characterized by a facial birthmark, neurological abnormalities (e.g. seizures) and glaucoma, which occurs in 1 to 20,000 to 50,000 live births. The disease is believed to be mediated by a somatic GNAQ mutation in skin or brain tissue which enhances signaling in the PKC pathway in a reported 88% (n=26) of SWS patients. (NEJM Shirley et al., May 2019). "SWS is a rare disease that can present debilitating symptoms for patients, such as choroidal hemangiomas which may lead to glaucoma. There are no current FDA approved treatments specifically developed for SWS highlighting the high unmet medical need for these patients," noted Dr. Bischoff, Ph.D.

IDE196 is a potent, selective, small molecule inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), which IDEAYA is evaluating in a Phase 1/2 basket trial in patients with Metastatic Uveal Melanoma or other solid tumors, such as cutaneous melanoma, having GNAQ or GNA11 hotspot mutations which enhance signaling in the PKC pathway. "We are excited to work with Boston Children's Hospital to evaluate IDE196 activity in preclinical models relevant to Sturge Weber, a rare disease believed to be driven by genetic mutation of GNAQ. This important work is part of our broader strategy to deliver precision medicine therapies for patients with GNAQ or GNA11 mutations, by targeting the underlying biology of the disease," said Yujiro S. Hata,Chief Executive Officer and President at IDEAYA Biosciences.

About IDEAYA Biosciences

IDEAYA is an oncology-focused precision medicine company committed to the discovery and development of targeted therapeutics for patient populations selected using molecular diagnostics. IDEAYA's approach integrates capabilities in identifying and validating translational biomarkers with small molecule drug discovery to select patient populations most likely to benefit from the targeted therapies IDEAYA is developing. IDEAYA is applying these capabilities across multiple classes of precision medicine, including direct targeting of oncogenic pathways and synthetic lethality which represents an emerging class of precision medicine targets.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to IDE196 activity in preclinical models relevant to Sturge Weberand IDEAYA's ability to deliver precision medicine therapies. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause IDEAYA's preclinical and clinical development programs, future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainties inherent in the drug development process, including IDEAYA's programs' early stage of development, the process of designing and conducting preclinical and clinical trials, the regulatory approval processes, the timing of regulatory filings, the challenges associated with manufacturing drug products, IDEAYA's ability to successfully establish, protect and defend its intellectual property and other matters that could affect the sufficiency of existing cash to fund operations. IDEAYA undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of IDEAYA in general, see IDEAYA's recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 13, 2019 and any current and periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Biofidelity assay has potential to make high precision, cost-effective and non-invasive diagnosis more widely available, improving treatment and patient outcomes

Cambridge, UK, 9th January 2020 Biofidelity Ltd, a company developing high performing novel molecular assays for the detection of targeted, low-frequency genetic mutations, today announced the successful completion of a study to detect key lung cancer mutations in collaboration with Agilent Technologies, a global leader in life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets.

The collaboration, using an assay developed by Biofidelity, demonstrated an improvement in sensitivity of 50 times that achieved with current FDA-approved PCR-based diagnostics, matching that of specialized NGS assays, which require error-correction technology, while providing a dramatic simplification of workflows from more than 100 steps, to just 4 (four). Assays were performed using standard laboratory instrumentation, demonstrating the potential for straightforward adoption of Biofidelitys panels in decentralised testing laboratories around the world.

As well as extremely high sensitivity, 100% specificity was achieved in the detection of multiplexed panels of mutations from both tissue and plasma, with no false positives observed across more than 750 assays. Analysis of results is also dramatically simpler than sequencing-based assays, providing physicians a clear, simple, actionable result, with a turnaround time of less than 3 hours, making the Biofidelity assay suitable for recurrent patient monitoring.

Genetic testing for lung cancer mutations is usually carried out through invasive tissue biopsy, an expensive procedure carrying significant risk for patients with advanced disease. Up to 10% of such tests fail due to the lack of sensitivity of current testing solutions and poor sample quality.

Liquid biopsy, or testing directly from the patients blood, offers a non-invasive alternative with significant potential benefits to patients. However, its use has been limited by the lack of cost-effective, robust and rapid tests which are sufficiently sensitive to enable detection of the very small fractions of tumor DNA present in such samples.

Of the nearly 2 million new cases of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) diagnosed each year worldwide, fewer than 5% of patients receive high-sensitivity, non-invasive genetic testing. The assay developed by Biofidelity could provide a simple solution, enabling access to high-precision genetic testing for more than 1.7m new NSCLC patients every year with a test that outperforms DNA sequencing in a fraction of the time.

Work was supported by InnovateUK grant number 105202 as part of the Investment Accelerator: Innovation in Precision Medicine program.

Dr Barnaby Balmforth, Chief Executive Officer of Biofidelity, commented: Our goal is to improve patient outcomes in oncology by enabling much greater access to the highest precision diagnostic tests. This collaboration with Agilent in lung cancer has again demonstrated that Biofidelitys molecular assays dramatically increase the effectiveness and speed of diagnosis, supporting early detection of disease, better targeting of therapies and improved patient monitoring. By combining diagnostic outperformance and rapid results in a simple, cost-efficient format using existing instrumentation, we believe we have the potential to bring high precision testing to many more NSCLC patients, substantially reducing the need for invasive biopsies.

Tad Weems, Managing Director, Agilent Early Stage Partnerships, commented: As both a scientific collaborator and an investor in the company, Agilent has been impressed by the data from Biofidelitys assays, which detected a selection of NSCLC DNA mutations at extremely low frequencies in both tissue and plasma samples without the need for DNA sequencing. Biofidelitys assays are specific and sensitive, with the potential to provide improved and rapid routine cancer diagnostics.

Notes To Editors

About Biofidelity

Biofidelity has developed a molecular assay with a simple workflow and fast time-to-result which can transform the detection of genetic abnormalities within a sample by reliably detecting large panels of DNA mutations at extremely low frequencies.

This assay has a simple workflow and is suitable for routine use in diagnostics labs around the world, without the need for investment in new instrumentation or infrastructure.

Biofidelity is developing genetic panels for use in precision medicine and patient monitoring across a range of diseases including NSCLC and colorectal cancer

Located in Cambridge, UK, Biofidelity is a private company founded in 2019.

For more information, visit http://www.biofidelity.com, or follow us on LinkedIn: Biofidelity.

Issued for and on behalf of Biofidelity by Instinctif Partners.For more information please contact:

BiofidelityDr Barnaby Balmforth, CEOT: +44 1223 358652E: info@biofidelity.com

Instinctif PartnersTim Watson / Genevieve WilsonT: +44 20 7457 2020E: Biofidelity@instinctif.com

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Biofidelity and Agilent complete successful molecular assay study for rapid and accurate detection of key lung cancer mutations - BioSpace

The advent of large data sets from many sources (big data), machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) are poised to revolutionize asthma care on both the investigative and clinical levels, according to an article published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

According to the researchers, a patient with asthma endures approximately 2190 hours of experiencing and treating or not treating their asthma symptoms. During 15-minute clinic visits, only a short amount of time is spent understanding and treating what is a complex disease, and only a fraction of the necessary data is captured in the electronic health record.

Our patients and the pace of data growth are compelling us to incorporate insights from Big Data to inform care, the researchers posit. Predictive analytics, using machine learning and artificial intelligence has revolutionized many industries, including the healthcare industry.

When used effectively, big data, in conjunction with electronic health record data, can transform the patients healthcare experience. This is especially important as healthcare continues to embrace both e-health and telehealth practices. The data resulting from these thoughtful digital health innovations can result in personalized asthma management, improve timeliness of care, and capture objective measures of treatment response.

According to the researchers, the use of machine learning algorithms and AI to predict asthma exacerbations and patterns of healthcare utilization are within both technical and clinical reach. The ability to predict who is likely to experience an asthma attack, as well as when that attack may occur, will ultimately optimize healthcare resources and personalize patient management.

The use of longitudinal birth cohort studies and multicenter collaborations like the Severe Asthma Research Program have given clinical investigators a broader understanding of the pathophysiology, natural history, phenotypes, seasonality, genetics, epigenetics, and biomarkers of the disease. Machine learning and data-driven methods have utilized this data, often in the form of large datasets, to cluster patients into genetic, molecular, and immune phenotypes. These clusters have led to work in the genomics and pharmacogenomics fields that should ultimately lead to high-fidelity exacerbation predictions and the advent of true precision medicine.

This work, the researchers noted, if translated into clinical practice can potentially link genetic traits to phenotypes that can for example predict rapid response, or non-response to medications like albuterol and steroids, or identify an individuals risk for cortisol suppression.

As with any innovation, though, challenges abound. One in particular is the siloed nature of the clinical and scientific insights about asthma that have come to light in recent years. Although data are now being generated and interpreted across various domains, researchers must still contend with a lack of data standards and disease definitions, data interoperability and sharing difficulties, and concerns about data quality and fidelity.

Machine learning and AI present their own challenges; namely, those who utilize these technologies must consider the issues of fairness, bias, privacy, and medical bioethics. Legal accountability and medical responsibility issues must also be considered as algorithms are adopted into routine practice.

We must, as clinicians and researchers, constructively transform the concern and lack of understanding many clinicians have about digital health, [machine learning], and [artificial intelligence] into educated and critical engagement, the researchers concluded. Our job is to use [machine learning and artificial intelligence] tools to understand and predict how asthma affects patients and help us make decisions at the patient and population levels to treat it better.

Reference

Messinger AI, Luo G, Deterding RR. The doctor will see you now: How machine learning and artificial intelligence can extend our understanding and treatment of asthma [published online December 25, 2019]. J Allergy Clin Immunol. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.12.898

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Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Are Poised to Revolutionize Asthma Care - Pulmonology Advisor

More than 250,000 participants in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have enrolled in Geisingers groundbreaking precision medicine project, MyCode. With DNA sequence and health data currently available on 145,000 of these participants, MyCode is the largest study of its kind in the world.

The program has the potential to help nearly 1,500 people who are at increased risk for potentially life-threatening conditions. Results will allow patients to work with their care providers to prevent or detect disease in its early stages, leading to better health outcomes.

Geisinger has reached a major milestone in precision health, said David H. Ledbetter, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief scientific officer for Geisinger and one of the principal investigators of the MyCode study. This number of enrolled participants speaks to the trust that our community has in Geisingers expertise and the ability we have through this project to make precision health accessible to all of our patients.

MyCode analyzes DNA samples to look for genes known to increase the risk of developing 35 specific health conditions. These include the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes known to increase risk for breast and ovarian cancer; as well as genes for familial hypercholesterolemia, which can cause early heart attacks and strokes; Lynch syndrome, which can cause early colon, uterine and other cancers; and several heart conditions, including cardiomyopathy and arrythmia.

The project has also identified several genes that can contribute to the development of cognitive disorders. While not always medically actionable, these results can provide valuable information to patients about probable genetic causes for neuropsychiatric conditions like epilepsy, bipolar disorder and depression, as well as learning disabilities and other similar conditions.

There are a lot of genes that have medical actionability, like finding a change in a gene that causes breast cancer and doing more frequent mammograms as a result, said Christa Martin, Ph.D., associate chief scientific officer and one of the principal investigators of the MyCode study. But there are other ones that might not be medically actionable but could have important implications to patients. So, one of our research projects is exploring reporting information back to individuals who have certain brain conditions.

When given the option to receive test results that included genetic changes that could explain their brain condition, more than 90 percent of patients responded in favor of receiving the results. The majority found the information personally useful to explain medical diagnoses they had been dealing with most of their lives.

Giving these patients a unifying medical explanation for their multiple, apparently unrelated learning, behavioral and psychiatric conditions had a powerful impact on these patients and their family members, Dr. Ledbetter said.

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DNA project will aid in early disease detection - Reading Eagle

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved avapritinib (Ayvakit; Blueprint Medicines, previously known as BLU-285) for the treatment adults patients with unresectable or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), a type of tumor that occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, most commonly in the stomach or small intestine, harboring a platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) exon 18 mutation.

The approval includes GIST that harbors a PDGFRA D842V mutation, which is the most common exon 18 mutation. Avapritinib is a kinase inhibitor, meaning it blocks a type of enzyme called a kinase and helps keeps the cancer cells from growing.

Each year, approximately 5,000 new cases of GIST are diagnosed in the United States. However, GISTs may be more common because small tumors, without clear signs or symptoms, often remain undiagnosed.

CauseGastrointestinal stromal tumors are caused by genetic changes in one of several genes

About 80% of cases are associated with a mutation in the KIT gene, and about 10 percent of cases are associated with a mutation in the PDGFRA gene. Mutations in the KIT and PDGFRA genes are associated with both familial and sporadic GISTs. A small number of affected individuals have mutations in other genes.

GISTs arise from specialized nerve cells found in the walls of the gastrointestinal tract. One or more mutations in the DNA of one of these cells may lead to the development of GIST. These cells aid in the movement of food through the intestines and control various digestive processes.

More than half of GISTs start in the stomach. Most of the others start in the small intestine, but GISTs can start anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract. The activating mutations in PDGFRA have been linked to the development of GISTs, and up to approximately 10% of GIST cases involve mutations of this gene.

Response to PDGFRAGIST harboring a PDGFRA exon 18 mutation do not respond to standard therapies for GIST. However, todays approval provides patients with the first drug specifically approved for GIST harboring this mutation, noted Richard Pazdur, M.D., director of the FDAs Oncology Center of Excellence and acting director of the Office of Oncologic Diseases in the FDAs Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Clinical trials showed a high response rate with almost 85% of patients experiencing tumor shrinkage with this targeted drug, Pazdur added.

ApprovalThe FDA approved avapritinib based on the results of a clinical trial involving 43 patients with GIST harboring a PDGFRA exon 18 mutation, including 38 patients with PDGFRA D842V mutation.

In this trial, patients received avapritinib 300 mg or 400 mg orally once daily until disease progression or they experienced unacceptable toxicity. The recommended dose was determined to be 300 mg once daily.

The trial measured how many patients experienced complete or partial shrinkage of their tumors during treatment, referred to as overall response rate or ORR. For patients harboring a PDGFRA exon 18 mutation, the overall response rate was 84%, with 7% having a complete response (CR) and 77% having a partial response (PR).

For the subgroup of patients with PDGFRA D842V mutations, the overall response rate was 89%, with 8% having a complete response and 82% having a partial response. While the median duration of response was not reached, 61% of the responding patients with exon 18 mutations had a response lasting six months or longer (31% of patients with an ongoing response were followed for less than six months).

The full approval of [avapritinib] is based on robust data from our Phase I NAVIGATOR study. This is an incredibly exciting milestone for our company and, more importantly, for GIST patients with a PDGFRA exon 18 mutation, who have been waiting for a new treatment option, explained Jeff Albers, Chief Executive Officer at Blueprint Medicines.

[Avapritinib] is the first of what we hope will be many approved medicines enabled by our research platform. Now, as we begin to deliver [avapritinib] to patients and their healthcare providers, we aim to fortify our leadership in the field of precision medicine and build a foundation for our broader portfolio by pairing our strong research and development capabilities with an equally talented commercial organization focused on addressing patient needs, accelerating diagnostic testing and enabling access, Albers added.

Adverse eventsCommon side effects for patients taking avapritinib were edema (swelling), nausea, fatigue/asthenia (abnormal physical weakness or lack of energy), cognitive impairment, vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, hair color changes, increased lacrimation (secretion of tears), abdominal pain, constipation, rash and dizziness.

Avapritinib can cause intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding that occurs inside the skull) in which case the dose should be reduced, or the drug should be discontinued. The newly approved agent can also cause central nervous system effects including cognitive impairment, dizziness, sleep disorders, mood disorders, speech disorders and hallucinations.

If this happens, the highlights of prescription information specifies that, depending on the severity, the drug should be withheld and then resumed at the same or reduced dose upon improvement or permanently discontinued.

Breakthrough TherapyThe FDA granted this application Breakthrough Therapy designation, which expedites the development and review of drugs that are intended to treat a serious condition, when preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over available therapies.

Avapritinib was also granted Fast Track designation, which expedites the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. Avapritinib received Orphan Drug designation, which provides incentives to assist and encourage the development of drugs for rare diseases.

New Drug ApplicationAs part of the approval process, the FDA administratively split the proposed indications for avapritinib under the initial New Drug Application (NDA) into two separate NDAs. These NDAs include one for the indication for PDGFRA exon 18 mutant GIST, and one for fourth-line GIST.

The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date for the fourth-line GIST indication is currently February 14, 2020. For the NDA for fourth-line GIST an extension of up to three months for the PDUFA action date will likely be required to enable Blueprint Medicines to provide top-line data to the FDA from VOYAGER, a Phase III clinical trial evaluating avapritinib versus regorafenib (Stivarga; Bayer) in third- or fourth-line GIST.

Ongoing studiesIn addition to the approved indication in GIST, Blueprint Medicines is investigating avapritinib in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and systemic mastocytosis and systemic mastocytosis with an associated hematologic neoplasm and mast cell leukemia.[1]

These studies are based on the understanding that mutations in two type-3 receptor tyrosine kinases, KIT and FLT3, are common in acute myeloid leukemia and systemic mastocytosis, leading to hyperactivation of key signalling pathways. [1]

Based on the structural similarity between FLT3 and KIT, researchers have found that tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting either FLT3 or KIT offer significant clinical benefit. [1]

These benefits have been shown in the ongoing PIONEER study, a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II study in patients with indolent or smoldering systemic mastocytosis whose symptoms are not adequately controlled by best supportive care. These patients typically have a single driver gain-of-function KIT mutation making them promising candidates for KIT D816V inhibitor therapy, including avapritinib.

Avapritinib is now being studies to help identify the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) in indolent systemic mastocytosis and to investigate efficacy of avapritinib vs. placebo in patients with indolent and smoldering systemic mastocytosis.

Clinical trialsStudy of BLU-285 in Patients With Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) and Other Relapsed and Refractory Solid Tumors (NAVIGATOR) NCT02508532Study of Avapritinib vs Regorafenib in Patients With Locally Advanced Unresectable or Metastatic GIST (VOYAGER) NCT03465722Early Access Program (EAP) for Avapritinib in Patients With Locally Advanced Unresectable or Metastatic GIST NCT03862885Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Avapritinib (BLU-285), A Selective KIT Mutation-targeted Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, in Patients With Advanced Systemic Mastocytosis (PATHFINDER) NCT03580655Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Avapritinib (BLU-285), A Selective KIT Mutation-targeted Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, Versus Placebo in Patients With Indolent and Smoldering Systemic Mastocytosis (PIONEER) NCT03731260

Reference[1] Weisberg E, Meng C, Case AE, et al. Comparison of effects of midostaurin, crenolanib, quizartinib, gilteritinib, sorafenib and BLU-285 on oncogenic mutants of KIT, CBL and FLT3 in haematological malignancies. Br J Haematol. 2019;187(4):488501. doi:10.1111/bjh.16092

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First Targeted Therapy Approved for Rare Mutation of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors - OncoZine

As a doctor of Chinese medicine, I'm always looking for ways to get toxins out of my life. Whether it be skin care products, clean eating, or plastics, health is affected by lifestyle behaviors. And, in our current society, we are exposed to an unhealthy amount of chemicals throughout our lifetime, and I believe that they eventually take a toll on our body.

Nutrigenomics is a facet of epigenetics that integrates genomic science with nutrition and other environmental factors such as cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and exercise. Each of us carries a blueprint, if you will, within our genetic code, that signals our body to express genetic variations. This means that by studying your individual genetic code, you can help your body minimize unfavorable genetic expressions, like chronic disease.

Even though our genes are fundamental for determining expression and function, what we put in our mouth directly affects the extent to which certain genes are expressed.

This gives an individual a certain power over their genetic expression. But first, you must understand your genes and epigenetics.

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Are You Doing The Wrong Detox For Your Genes? Plus, Foods & Habits To Use - mindbodygreen.com

According to Barringer, rigid hereditary determinism predetermined the absolute limit of African Americans biological and social advancement. He argued that with emancipation came reversion of African Americans to savage status, creating a new, degenerate black generation that could not possibly survive in contact with civilized white society.

Barringer believed that under the conditions of slavery, blacks had advanced beyond their natural selection through selective breeding by slave owners. With emancipation came reversion of African Americans to their original savage nature, which put them on a path toward extinction, accelerated by an irrational procreation which further exacerbated their genetic inferiority and susceptibility to disease and criminality.4

The drastically high incidence of tuberculosis, syphilis and typhoid fever among African Americans (locally and in cities around the country) indicated nothing to Barringer about overcrowded housing or lack of clean water, sanitation or safe meats and pasteurized milk. Instead the high morbidity and mortality rates of African Americans proved the genetic unfitness of a markedly criminal race. Without white intervention, Barringer condemned blacks to a life of barbarism and death. To Barringer, the Negro Problem was more than a political problem; it was a huge public health threat to whites.

Barringers tripartite solution to the Negro Problem was political disfranchisement, transferring responsibility for African American education from black to white teachers, and training blacks to be law-abiding laborers and artisans. As he wrote, Every Negro doctor, lawyer, teacher or other leader in excess of the immediate needs of his own people is an antisocial produce, a social menace.5

Eugenics flourished under the leadership of President Edwin Alderman (1903-27) as he set out to build the research base of the University with recruitment of leading men of eugenic science into schools across Grounds: These included Harvey Jordan, Robert Bean and Lawrence Royster in the medical school; George Ferguson in education; Orlando White as director of UVAs biological station; and Ivey Lewis as chair of biology.

Together these faculty created eugenics research and education programs at UVA and throughout the state, and in doing so, trained UVA students as well as high school and college teachers in eugenic racism. They also collaborated with nationally renowned eugenics investigators, and presented their work at international eugenics meetings. Fully immersed in race science, these men contributed directly and indirectly to ethically contemptuous laws and policies designed to maintain a culture of white supremacy, and exclusionary white privilege.

Jordan, a professor of embryology, genetics and histology, was one of Aldermans early recruits. Joining the faculty in 1907, he served as dean of the medical school from 1939 to 1949. Believing that blacks inherited a susceptibility to contracting diseases such as syphilis and tuberculosis, Jordan called for compulsory registration of all who were ill. He argued that proposed eugenic marriage, segregation and sterilization laws, were public and racial health measures that should form part of the health code, to be administered under the State Police powers.6 The promise of eugenics as a solution to societys ills, and the power of physicians in solving such problems was best summed up when Jordan declared at the 1st International Congress of Eugenics in 1912 that the future physician must also take a more active part in helping to shape legislation in the interest of race welfare.7

Chair of Anatomy Dr. Robert Bean argued that the physical features of African Americans confirmed their inferiority when compared to whites. Furthermore, he advanced human types that represent different degrees of susceptibility of disease may be segregated and given differential treatment.8 Through medical school core courses, Jordan and Bean, combined, taught about 20% of the medical school curriculum.

Along similar lines, George Oscar Ferguson, a professor in the education school, in his use of intelligence testing among blacks, mixed-race and white children concluded, It does not seem possible to raise the scholastic attainment of the Negro to an equality with that of the white. [N]o expenditure of time or money would accomplish this end, since education cannot create mental power, but can only develop that which is innate.9

Eugenics began to shape public policy nationally as early as 1907, when Indiana passed a sterilization law. Two Virginia eugenics laws, both passed in 1924, had a profound impact in the commonwealth and throughout the country. The Virginia Sterilization Act and the Racial Integrity Act not only legalized sterilization of the mentally ill and persons of low literacy, but also cemented discrimination against marginalized and vulnerable populations, including African Americans. These laws codified Jim Crow into every aspect of community life, and in doing so, denied African Americans access to medical care, jobs and fair wages, as well as higher education and professional training. Simply put, eugenic laws created the one drop rule, where one drop of African American blood restricted a person of color to life behind the veil.10

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UVA and the History of Race: Eugenics, the Racial Integrity Act, Health Disparities - UVA Today

(Mainichi)

Some iPS cells for regenerative medicine, distributed by a stock project at Kyoto University's Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), showed cancer-related genetic and chromosomal abnormalities when differentiated to the target cells, several sources close to the project revealed.

Some of the iPS cells, even those produced at the same time, showed various abnormalities while others did not, depending on the research institution they were distributed to, prompting experts to voice concerns over their safety. The CiRA has acknowledged the facts, and the cells that developed abnormalities were not used in patients.

The project stockpiles iPS cells provided by the same suppliers at the same time in a cell line. In clinical research and a trial, iPS cells and differentiated cells go through genome analysis, and are transplanted into mice to check whether they turn cancerous. It is then decided which cell line should be distributed to implementing agencies.

Of the 27 cell lines distributed since August 2015, test results were revealed for four. Of these, abnormalities were found in two cell lines. The two cell lines were distributed in several containers to two research institutions, respectively, and were differentiated to the same target cells at each institution.

For one of the cell lines, one institution found a genetic abnormality in relation to cancer, while the other found a numerical disorder in the chromosome. For the other cell line, one institution found a different genetic abnormality, while the other institution did not find any irregularities. Furthermore, the institution that found the abnormality did not find any problems in the cells kept in a different container.s

Genetic abnormalities included a high-risk abnormality, similar to those found in humans with cancer. When implanted in mice, abnormal tissue growth that cannot be seen with normal cells was confirmed.

"No matter what kind of cell, an error could occur during the process of cultivation and differentiation," said specially appointed professor and manufacturing supervisor Masayoshi Tsukahara of the iPS cell stock project. He explained, "There's no other choice but to conduct careful tests before putting them to use."

Several experts in Japan, however, expressed concerns that safety cannot be ensured if test results vary depending on containers.

Michael Snyder, professor at Stanford University's School of Medicine and the director of the Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, pointed to the need to evaluate the matter in an open discussion.

(Japanese original by Momoko Suda, Science & Environment News Department)

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Kyoto Univ.-distributed iPS cells found with abnormalities after differentiation - The Mainichi

That's the equivalent of more than 130 every week.

Every year more than 7,000 British drivers lose their licence as a result of poor eyesight, new research has revealed.

Figures uncovered by insurance company Direct Line through a Freedom of Information request show that 19,644 drivers had their licences revoked between January 2017 and September 2019 because their eyesight did not meet the required standard. Thats the equivalent of 134 drivers per week, or more than 7,100 a year.

The figures also show that an average of 12 people a week fail their driving test before it has begun because their eyesight isnt good enough. According to the government, all drivers must be able to read a clean number plate in daylight from a distance of 20 metres - something that is checked by an examiner before the driving test begins.

Night driving eyeglasses on car arm rest

However, it seems that most drivers arent having their eyes tested regularly to find out whether theyre up to scratch. Direct Line quizzed 2,000 UK adults and found that a fifth (21 percent) have not had their eyes tested in the past two years, while three percent confess to never having had an eye test.

Perhaps more worryingly, a quarter of respondents (24 percent) said they would rather wait until their licence was revoked, rather than voluntarily giving up driving because their eyesight had deteriorated. And Direct Line says people are unwilling to report friends and family with worsening eyesight to the DVLA, with only four percent of respondents having taken that course of action.

Elderly man in glasses driving a car

Steve Barrett, head of motor insurance at Direct Line, said drivers should take regular eye tests to make sure they arent putting themselves and others at risk.

If people do not have regular eye tests, they may not even realise their vision is impaired when they get behind the wheel, which leaves them a danger to themselves and other road users, he said. A simple eye test, that takes a moment in time, can ensure drivers have the appropriate corrective glasses or contact lenses so that their vision is adequate to drive.

Senior patient checking vision with special eye equipment

And Dr Nigel Best, clinical spokesperson for Specsavers opticians, said eye tests could uncover changes to our vision that we might struggle to notice.

Our vision can deteriorate slowly, meaning it is sometimes difficult to detect a change ourselves but subtle variations can increasingly affect both perception and reaction time when driving, he said. We welcome this research and hope it will make more road users aware of the risks they run by not having regular eye tests, whether it is potentially losing your driving license or worse, causing a collision on the road.

It takes around 25 minutes for an optician to conduct a thorough vision and eye health check. To take this simple step every two years or more, if recommended by your optician, isnt an arduous task, particularly when you weigh up the potentially negative consequences of driving with impaired vision.

Optician in surgery giving man eye test

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7,000 drivers a year lose their licence over eyesight concerns - Yahoo News UK

These days, when Nancy Cowan greets her famous falcon named Banner, she offers a bow and utters a little chup as a hello.

Banner, who went through a landmark cataract surgery in 2014, does the same in return. This bird of prey and her falconer have a unique relationship the human saved the falcon from an early demise by insisting that Banners eyesight be corrected, and thanks to animal imprinting, the falcon now sees Cowan as her mate.

She sees me as her boyfriend, husband, whatever, Cowan explained.

The imprinting process started after the surgery that gave Banner new lenses in her eyes so she could see again. Everything to Banner was new again and she needed to relearn the world, Cowan said.

Banners eyes were very blurry because she had stitches in the eyes. She had lots of medications and stuff poured into her eyes, Cowan said. We got her home. We thought she could see but we werent sure.

The same perch she sat on every day, the same one she could easily master without sight, became a foreign object. Even her favorite meal, a freshly plucked quail, was strange to her.

Cowan reintroduced Banner to her surroundings through her sense of touch. Once her talons touched the perch, she was able to identify it. The same went for the quail.

Months after the initial procedure, Cowan and her husband, Jim, who run the New Hampshire School of Falconry on their Deering property, discovered one of the implanted lenses in Banners eye had curled up, leaving her with enduring poor sight.

Cowan got back to work.

After a human goes through cataract surgery, a follow-up procedure using lasers to clear up any scar tissue is routine. Cowan found a doctor at Concord Eye Center willing to do the procedure and then pleaded to the New Hampshire Board of Medicine to allow a human procedure to be performed on an animal. Once again, Cowan prevailed.

After the laser cleared up her vision, Banner was seeing the world anew. Thats when she began to view Cowan as Mr. Right.

When falcons get ready to mate they will make a food transfer, Cowan explained.

Thats the males job to bring food to the female, Cowan said. In exchange, the female will offer a piece of food back to the male.

Twice a year, during the mating season for falcons, Banner will excitedly greet Cowan when she delivers a quail and offer a piece back. That was the telltale sign that Banner was in the mood for love, Cowan said.

Cowan is considering whether she could breed Banner, a lanner falcon, with a male gyrfalcon she has at the school. But thats just an idea.

Besides the occasional desire for avian hanky panky, Banners life has mostly returned to normal for a captive bird of prey, except for one thing she isnt used for hunting anymore.

If I can just handle her and have her have a happy life, interact with her as an imprint, thats all I want to do, Cowan said. Im not going to ask her to go into an environment where if she doesnt come back to me shes gonna get killed within a day or two via great horned owl or red tailed hawk. Im not going to ask that.

Visitors still come to the school looking for Banner, who was quite the local celebrity after her story went international, including an article in the London Daily Mail.

It was fantastic, Cowan said. In London, they were very excited. It went all over the world. Shes world-famous.

As a result of Banners celebrity-status and all she has learned from the bird, Cowan is working on a second book, which has the working title Eyesight and Insights, she said.

Boy, they teach you a lot of things that you never would have suspected when you have 11 birds youre dealing with. You really get a different viewpoint of the world than you do normally, Cowan said. So the insights will be there and the eyesight part is going to be about restoring Banners vision. And thats a long story.

Original post:
With restored sight, Banner the falcon has relearned the world - Concord Monitor

I write this article sitting in a car wash, leaning against a stone wall.

I am aware that I am surrounded by people I do not know. How do you sit at a car wash? Insulated and keeping to yourself? Or do you want to people watch or engage someone?

Is this meant to be an opportunity for alone time or can it be a time to say hello to the person next to you?

But the person next to me on this beautiful afternoon is texting on their cell phone.

I decide to keep to myself and check my emails. I eventually stop emailing and allow myself to become present to this moment ... even with a rock station blaring in the background ... breathing in and out, becoming a part of the whole.

We only have one moment at a time and we often take our moments for granted as we go from one thing to the next.

And besides taking time for granted, we also take our authentic self for granted, the self that was created in the image and likeness of God. That's the self that has a soul, a spirit, an essence created to love and receive love.

In our very busy lives, care for our souls is hardly something we worry or think about unless we go to a church or a synagogue or a worship center.

Care of the soul? I ask this question as the New Year begins and especially as a new decade begins.

A new decade! I am sure you feel it ... wonderment at the dawning of the year 2020!

A new year often includes new resolutions, but a new decade?

That feels ripe for mid-course adjustments if needed!

Yesterday I was talking to someone who said this year 2020 literally invites the invitation for clear vision. Isnt that something else!

The year 2020 is such a metaphor for clearer vision for us to consider.

We know that 2020 eyesight in an optometrist office is good news indeed! So how will we foster 2020 eyesight for soul-filled living?

Maybe some adjustment can happen with the eyes of your heart, to learn to look upon the world and see more clearly the presence of God in creation and in people. Maybe the adjustment needs to start within, at your soul level.

I saw the following on Facebook and it was recently texted to me. It is such a concrete way to do some soul-care:

Welcome to flight #2020! We are preparing for take off into the New Year! Please make sure your Attitude and Blessings are secured and locked in an upright position.

All self destructive devices should be turned off at this time. All negativity, hurt and discouragement should be put away. Should we lose our attitude under pressure during the flight, reach up and pull down a Prayer. Prayers will automatically be activated by Faith. Once your Faith is activated you can assist other passengers. There will be NO BAGGAGE allowed on this flight.

The Captain has cleared us for takeoff.

Our destination is kindness, understanding, forgiveness, caring, respect and love. Please take this flight with me ... Happy New Year & May you have a safe and smooth 2020.

May you go gently into this New Year in the ways best for you. May you see with 2020 vision the blessings and opportunities, the world and Gods people before you.

The Rev. Paula Vukmanic is rector of St. Francis Episcopal Church

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Dawn Unity Column: Instead of resolutions, the year 2020 offers a whole new vision - Palos Verdes Peninsula News

ALL drivers and riders should have an eye test this year to help reduce the number of accidents, says road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist.

The group is warning that the UK's driver eyesight regulatory system is no longer fit for purpose and needs to be updated.

Neil Worth, GEM road safety officer, said: "You should only drive when you're sure you can see properly. After all, poor eyesight is linked to more than 3,000 fatal and serious injury collisions every year.

"We continue to be concerned that there are too many people driving whose eyesight has deteriorated to a dangerous level. This puts their own safety at risk, as well as the safety of others sharing the same road space.

"A detailed professional eye examination will mean any problems can be identified and - in the vast majority of cases - corrected, meaning the risks are reduced considerably.

"So many people are staying behind the wheel into their eighties and beyond. This, coupled with the greater volume of traffic and an increase in distractions, both inside and outside the vehicle, points to the clear need for more regular and detailed eyesight testing."

The eyesight test was introduced to the driving test in 1937 and has been amended only in minor ways to reflect changing number plate sizes. It is the only eyesight test drivers are required to undertake until they reach the age of 70.

According to GEM, the test is crude and outdated, as it only measures visual acuity - the sharpness of an individual's vision. It could also quite easily examine a driver's field of view, as is done in many US states, to check whether motorists can see and react to what's happening around them.

Mr Worth added: "This year we are encouraging drivers to ensure their eyesight goes beyond 20/20. After all, 20/20 is only an expression of normal visual acuity, but the requirements for safe driving go beyond clarity of central vision.

"Asking someone to read a number plate at 20.5 metres (67 feet) cannot on its own be a measure of their fitness to continue driving. A proper eye test will also measure peripheral awareness, eye coordination, depth perception, ability to focus and colour vision."

GEM believes all drivers should have an eye test every two years, just to ensure there are no safety concerns about their vision and to deal with any issues at an early stage.

The organisation is also calling for every new driver to produce evidence of a recent eye test when first applying for a licence and to obtain a mandatory vision test every 10 years in line with licence renewal.

See the original post here:
20/20 vision alert to drivers - Eurekar

A West Australian mum said her son complained of losing his vision before he was diagnosed with a rare and potentially fatal disease.

Mum Christina Thomas, from Secret Harbour south of Perth, told Yahoo News Australia her eight-year-old son, Theo, first had trouble seeing in November while doing motocross.

Theo pulled into the pit area and said he was having trouble seeing because of a smudge, she said.

I told him to clean his goggles. He then went out to continue riding.

Theo kept racing but missed the chequered flag and did another lap. This continued a few times that afternoon.

Theo Thomas, 8, has a rare illness which affects the nervous system. Source: Supplied

On the following Monday, Ms Thomas received a phone call from her sons school.

They told me, Theo cant see, she said, adding Theo had been sitting at the front of the classroom.

He was a metre away from the whiteboard.

The boy was taken to an optometrist who noted vision loss in both eyes. He was rushed to Perth Childrens Hospital in the days that followed.

Theo had lost 100 per cent of the vision in his right eye and things only got worse.

The Secret Harbour boy was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica in December. Its widely considered to be a similar illness to multiple sclerosis with no cure.

According to MS Australia, neuromyelitis optica, also known as NMO or Devics syndrome, involves the inflammation and destruction of optic nerves.

Patients with NMO have antibodies which mistakenly attack the nervous system.

The boy's receiving ongoing treatment but has some paralysis in his right arm and issues with his sight. Source: Supplied

NMO also affects the spinal cord and can leave patients paralysed.

Theos condition is rare too.

A study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry in 2017 found just 193 cases of NMO recorded in Australia and New Zealand.

Adding to the rarity of Theos diagnosis, NMO is found to be more common in women, with females six times more likely to be affected by it than males.

Ms Thomas said her boy was in really good spirits and never complained.

He never says hes in pain, she said.

He just stands an inch away from the TV to play Minecraft.

When asked about Theos future, his mum said she was unsure how long he would survive.

I know this will most likely kill him, she said.

Its just a matter of time. Ive been crying so much. Im surprised I have any water left.

Theos condition is a matter of two steps forward and one backwards.

Earlier this week, the boy was told by doctors hed regained 50 per cent of his vision, but he had a lumbar puncture.

He also has permanent damage to his retinal nerves and currently is suffering some paralysis in his right arm.

Theo's mum said he's suffered permanent retinal damage. Source: Supplied

Story continues

Theo can still walk. Hes stopped motocross for a while, but the plan is for him to be back riding shortly after doctors gave him the green light.

He will also be back in the classroom.

Hes very shy and quietly spoken, Ms Thomas said.

But hes determined in what he does.

Ms Thomas has started a GoFundMe page to help her family as Theo undergoes ongoing medical treatment.

Do you have a story tip? Email:newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us onFacebook,InstagramandTwitterand download the Yahoo News app from theApp StoreorGoogle Play.

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'This will most likely kill him': Boy, 8, diagnosed with rare disease after losing eyesight - Yahoo News Australia

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. The phrase 20/20 vision refers to normal eyesight vision; according to many ophthalmologists, a person with 20/20 vision can see what an average individual can see on a standard eye chart when they are standing 20 feet away from the chart. Why my reference to 20/20 vision as I start my insights column? Well, our calendars will show the year 2020 by the time you read this, so focusing (pun intended) on vision as we begin a new year seems insightful (pun intended again) to me.

During the past year, the University of Nebraska has been reflecting on its 150-year history since being chartered in 1869. This milestone was a stimulus to not just look backward, but also to look to the future across the entire breadth of the university including the UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff. Our Center is one of three R&E Centers in the state. The other two are the West Central REC in North Platte, and the Eastern Nebraska REC located north of Lincoln near Mead.

During the latter part of 2019, the three REC Directors (myself, Kelly Bruns and Doug Zalesky) have been involved with a planning process with the objective of developing a statewide strategic vision for the research and extension centers. While this process is still ongoing, there are some key outcomes relative to a unified vision. Here are two of those:

In an effort to better represent all three of the land-grant missions (i.e. research, teaching and extension) of the university across Nebraska; these Centers will transition to Research, Extension and Education Centers, or REECs. The second E will be added to focus greater involvement in teaching and educational efforts, in addition to extension education. The following paragraph from a draft document seeks to describe what the added E will entail for Research, Extension and Education Centers:

In partnership with UNL, the College of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources (CASNR), and local college resources, REECs will support college-going and workforce development. This includes providing internships and experiential learning opportunities for students, micro-credentials (certificate and digital badge programs) for lifelong learners and assisting with degree completion, particularly for mid-career individuals seeking career advancement through degree attainment.

A statewide survey of research and extension center stakeholders was conducted during the fourth quarter of 2019. Survey results from the over 250 respondents identified eight important opportunities on which to focus. These are listed in rank order according to survey results:

Water and nutrient management, impacting both water quality and quantity.

Innovative cropping systems to improve soil health, conservation, sustainability & profitability.

Developing resilient food animal production systems.

Precision agriculture for both crops and livestock.

Developing programing for financial resiliency of ag producers.

Connecting the rural-urban interface through agriculture and science literacy.

Workforce development for agricultural systems.

New and innovative technology to reach more people.

These eight opportunities are certainly not new to those who currently work at the off-campus research and extension sites. In fact, there are numerous current programs and initiatives at the Panhandle R&E Center, which focus on aspects of the above list. However, the survey will provide further guidance to our statewide planning and vision for the Panhandle REEC going forward.

During 2020, it is our objective to crystalize our strategic vision to define and emphasize pathways to continue to serve the Panhandle in meeting the challenges of the next decade, and beyond. I invite you to hold us accountable during our 2020 journey as we strive for 20/20 vision to better serve Nebraskans. Have a good month and enjoy the new year.

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Jack's Insights: 2020, the year of vision - The Business Farmer

A five year old girl Julia Zuikova of the Omsk region is rapidly losing vision, against which needs urgent surgery. The child was diagnosed with cataracts, what happened after three months from the moment of birth.

Gradually the number of health problems began to increase. In particular, it was found that the child also nystagmus and amblyopia. Right eye the girl stopped to see because of the film, therefore, an urgent need in operation to replace the lens. However problems with eyes for Julia Sunboy not over. There is a serious loss of vision in the right eye observed minus 14 in the left minus 7. Because of the nystagmus the doctors refused re-operation. Help five year old girl was offered at a clinic in Moscow, theres also warned that the possible optic nerve atrophy.

The childs parents sell the car to raise funds for the surgery. Also help one young patient tries to provide charitable center Raduga. Foundation website you can donate money to the preservation of vision girl you need a total of almost 1.58 million rubles.

Natasha Kumar is a general assignment reporter at the Times Hub. She has covered sports, entertainment and many other beats in her journalism career, and has lived in Manhattan for more than 8 years. Natasha has appeared periodically on national television shows and has been published in (among others) Hindustan Times.? Times of India

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Rapidly losing his eyesight five year old girl from Omsk region needs urgent surgery - The Times Hub

Animal care specialists at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park were concerned when they noticed cloudiness in the left eye of Leslie, a 3-year-old female western lowland gorilla. Closer inspection confirmed the lens had changed and the left eye was shifting haphazardly, prompting Leslie to favor use of her right eye.

Given Leslies young age and developmental stage, Safari Park veterinarians organized a team of internal and external experts, including ophthalmologists and anesthesiologists at UC San Diego Health, to perform the Parks first-ever cataract surgery on a gorilla.

As veterinarians, we are experts in our species but we are not necessarily specialists in all of the different fields of medicine, said Meredith Clancy, DVM, San Diego Zoo Safari Park associate veterinarian. We rely heavily on the amazing community we have here in San Diego to help us out.

On December 10, 2019, surrounded by animal care experts and veterinarians in khaki uniforms and UC San Diego Health medical team members in scrubs, Leslie rested comfortably in the operating room at the San Diego Zoo Globals Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center. A pharmaceutical muscle blocker prevented even the slightest of movement, allowing Chris W. Heichel, MD, cataract surgery specialist at Shiley Eye Institute at UC San Diego Health, to perform the delicate procedure.

Heichel and his team employed a specialized microscope and instruments designed for cataract surgery to successfully remove the cataract in Leslies left eye using gentle suction. Once the cloudy lens was removed, a new artificial lens was inserted, which is designed to provide Leslie with clear vision for the rest of her life.

While Heichel has performed thousands of eye surgeries on human patients, ranging in age from one day to 105 years, this was his first surgery on a gorilla.

Fortunately, the similarities between the anatomy of human and gorilla eyes are great enough to allow us to safely navigate the procedure without complication, said Heichel. The remainder of the eye appeared to be in excellent health, indicating exceptional vision potential for the rest of Leslies life.

A cataract is a clouding of the clear lens behind the colored part of the eye, known as the iris. Cataracts typically develop over time, as part of the normal aging process, but they can also be caused by trauma to the eye. Once a cataract develops, the lens becomes progressively cloudier and vision deteriorates.

Heichel, Clancy and animal caregivers suspect that Leslies cataract was a result of an injury, either from a fall while the youngster was practicing her climbing skills or from an overly rambunctious play session with other young gorillas in her troop.

As she recovers, Leslie will require both topical and oral antibiotics and steroids to prevent infection and to control postoperative inflammation, said Clancy. Leslie will be monitored closely, but she is already back with her troop in the Gorilla Forest habitat at the Safari Park.

Following successful healing, the remaining concern is the possibility of cloudiness recurring.

The eye has an envelope that holds the lens in place. It should remain clear, but sometimes after cataract surgery, the envelope will get a little cloudy, said Heichel, professor of ophthalmology in the Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology at UC San Diego School of Medicine. In a human patient, we can laser the envelope to remove the cloudiness. That might not be quite so easy for Leslie, therefore I made a little opening in the back of the envelope to maintain her clear vision in the future. I am grateful for the chance I had to work with the exceptional San Diego Zoo Global team to help have a positive impact on Leslies life.

Because of Leslies age, the Safari Parks animal care team was concerned her 31-year-old mother, Kokamo, might be upset about Leslies absence from the gorilla habitat during the procedure. They elected to anesthetize Leslie and Kokamo at the same time, and use the opportunity to perform a routine health check on Kokamo, which included dental, cardiac and overall physical assessments. The results of Kokamos exam showed that she continues to be in good health.

Original post:
Researchers Come Together to Save 3-year-old Gorillas Eyesight - Tdnews

In addition to this being the start of a new year, it is the beginning of a brand new decade. This year also marks the commencement of my fifth decade as a pastor.

In every church I have served over the past 40 years, the leadership team would conduct the arduous work of casting a vision for the congregation. A carefully crafted vision pictured a preferred future for which goals and objectives became stepping stones. A vision serves as a vehicle to get you where you want to go. A vision is crucial for a church, an organization, a nation as well as an individual.

Crossing the threshold of this New Year, Im in the process of formulating a vision for this season of my life. Perhaps my work in progress will prompt you to initiate or personalize your own. Although my eyesight has diminished with age, when it comes to the next 12 months my vision this year is definitely 2020.

Because seeing is believing, visualizing desired change is the first stage in realizing what you long for. Picturing a preferred future can be translated into goals or resolutions. I believe my New Years resolutions will motivate me to become more effective as a husband, father, grandfather and pastor.

This year I resolve to glance back while gazing forward. Lessons learned this past year are worth reflecting on. Embracing nostalgic moments has a way of softening the hardship of current realities. But too much past-pondering can be counterproductive. The operative words are glance and gazing. My 2020 vision invites me to spend more time contemplating the future than considering the past.

This year I also resolve to focus on what is right with our world instead of being so quick to identify the issues that bother me. The headlines of national and world events can coax us into thinking crime, scandal and injustice dominate human existence. I am determined to look for the good and decent in every day. Godwinks, generosity and random acts-of-kindness are more common than we realize.

I also resolve to engage people who think differently than I do when it comes to matters of faith, political perspectives and cultural values. While I treasure what I believe to be true, I want to esteem people created in the image of our Creator even more. In this current milieu of hate speak and adversarial-ism, I refuse to give in to us-versus-them ideology.

Furthermore, I resolve to look inside myself when my sense of worth starts to blur and I have a hard time remembering what I am skilled at doing. Focusing on what others affirm in me can silence my doubts and clarify my calling in life. Reviewing past achievements (and failures) serves to remind me of what I can easily forget. Watching film is not just the prerogative of NFL players.

Finally, I resolve to look up when I start to lose my focus on matters of the heart. I determine to always admit my need for help no matter how many candles will adorn my next birthday cake.

Even though Ive been a man of the cloth since 1979, I first learned the importance of admitting my helplessness when the cloth that defined my position in life was a security blanket I pulled across the playroom. Requesting a helping hand from a parent paved the way for acknowledging ones need for God. And that need to look up never goes away.

So, theres my 2020 vision. My picture of a preferred future is still a work in process, but its something tangible on which to focus. Heres hoping youll discover the wide-eyed wonder of picturing your dreams for the coming year.

Greg Asimakoupoulos is the chaplain at Covenant Living at the Shores retirement community.

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Prescription for a 2020 Vision | On Faith - Mercer Island Reporter

Size really does matter with sound and vision

Independent.ie

If you haven't changed yours in a while, it's likely that you have what would be regarded as a 'small' set by today's standards - perhaps 28, 32 or 40 inches.

https://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/size-really-does-matter-with-sound-and-vision-38852072.html

https://www.independent.ie/world-news/and-finally/e80fc/38852330.ece/AUTOCROP/h342/ipanews_c04e315e-e4a8-4293-90f7-5de069ef42f2_1

If you haven't changed yours in a while, it's likely that you have what would be regarded as a 'small' set by today's standards - perhaps 28, 32 or 40 inches.

These days, the starting point for most sitting-room TVs is now between 40 and 43 inches. But a 40-inch model today is probably about the same overall dimensions as a 32-inch model from 12 years ago, because today's models have very thin 'bezels' (the metal or plastic frame around the screen). So in relation to the layout of your living room (assuming that this is where it's for), a 40-inch model shouldn't look any bigger as a piece of furniture than a 29-inch or 32-inch set. And for those who still have an even older 'fat' CRT television (with a large rear end), it will be even less disruptive as you don't have to place it in a corner.

Most new tellies sold are closer to 50 inches, which is a good size for someone with a medium- to large-sized sitting room. It is also good for someone whose eyesight isn't great anymore (like large-screen smartphones or large-print books).

If you look around, you'll see that most 40-inch TVs now range in price from around 250 to 800. The main differences between the cheaper sets and the more expensive ones are the quality of the picture, the sound, the physical design and the connections. All of these are worth considering.

You'll also hear a lot about '4K'. It's good but, for a 32-inch or 40-inch set, not essential. For a 40-inch set, a bigger consideration is high dynamic range (HDR), which separates shades and colours better, meaning that you see much more detail in a night-time scene. There's little in home electronics more disappointing than buying a new telly only to find the blacks washed out in shades of grey.

Related to this are differences in the way the screen is physically illuminated from within the set. I won't get into the technicalities, but it's safe to say that for each 50 to 100 you go up in price, you'll get better picture quality. A good example is the difference between, say, Panasonic's TX43GX550b (370) and Samsung's Q60R (779). The cheaper set does most of what the dearer one does, but the image quality is unquestionably brighter and more vivid on the Samsung. You'll see this if you walk into any of the big electronics superstores (Harvey Norman, Curry's, DID, Power City, Expert).

The other important feature that is often overlooked when shopping for a new TV is the sound quality. Ever since televisions all moved to a flat-screen format, the audio has suffered a lot due to thinner speakers. The result is often tinny sound, leaving you wanting an additional sound bar (which is a pain to set up and usually costs over 100).

Also, most new TVs now have wifi and direct links to Netflix, Amazon Prime Movies or YouTube built in- but there are still one or two that don't. These built-in smart apps are very handy.

Irish Independent

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Size really does matter with sound and vision - Independent.ie

Optometrists back call to make regular eye tests mandatory for drivers

More than 130 drivers a week have their driving licence revoked by the DVLA because their eyesight doesnt meet the minimum standard.

Figures from the DVLA reveal that an average of 7,000 people a year lose their licence due to failing eyesight but it is feared there could be many more with unsafe vision still on the roads.

The data was obtained by Direct Line Motor Insurance which also found that an average of 12 learners each week are refused a licence before even getting behind the wheel because their vision isnt up to scratch.

The DVLA requires drivers to be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses if necessary) a car number plate from 20 metres, have accurate vision to at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale and an adequate field of vision.

Failure to meet these standards means drivers face having their licence taken away and between January 2017 to September 2019 19,644 drivers fell foul of the rules.

Separate research suggests as many as 8.9 million drivers havent had their eyes tested in the last two years, meaning many more could be suffering from deteriorating vision without realising.

Worryingly, the research found that as many as a quarter of motorists would continue to drive even if they knew their eyesight wasnt up to the legal minimum standard, putting themselves and other road users at risk.

It also found that more than three-quarters of optometrists (81 per cent) supported changing the law to make annual eye tests mandatory for drivers.

Failing to inform the DVLA of a medical condition which affects you ability to drive carries a fine of 1,000 and if defective vision is found to have contributed to a crash you could be prosecuted.

Steve Barrett, head of motor insurance at Direct Line, commented: If people do not have regular eye tests, they may not even realise their vision is impaired when they get behind the wheel, which leaves them a danger to themselves and other road users.

A simple eye test, that takes a moment in time, can ensure drivers have the appropriate corrective glasses or contact lenses so that their vision is adequate to drive.

Dr Nigel Best, clinical spokesperson for Specsavers said: Our vision can deteriorate slowly, meaning it is sometimes difficult to detect a change ourselves but subtle variations can increasingly affect both perception and reaction time when driving. We welcome this research and hope it will make more road users aware of the risks they run by not having regular eye tests, whether it is potentially losing your driving license or worse, causing a collision on the road.

It takes around 25 minutes for an optician to conduct a thorough vision and eye health check. To take this simple step every two years or more, if recommended by your optician, isnt an arduous task, particularly when you weigh up the potentially negative consequences of driving with impaired vision.

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Over 7,000 motorists a year stripped of their driving licence because they cant see - Lancashire Post

People in the United States say someone is "blind as a bat" to mean that person has poor vision. James Hager/Robert Harding World Imagery/Getty Images hide caption

People in the United States say someone is "blind as a bat" to mean that person has poor vision.

Animals' abilities are often used to describe people's personality traits or attributes. If you're stubborn, you might be called "pig-headed." Is your room at home a mess? A parent might call it a "pigsty." If you're being rude, someone might call you a "jacka**" you get the drift.

But what validity is there to these statements?

That's the question we're tackling here at Short Wave as part of a series called "Animal Slander."

We're starting with the phrases "blind as a bat" and "memory of a goldfish" because they are problematic, for multiple reasons. For one, the phrases are often used in a derogatory manner and it is not cool to make fun of people based on their physical or mental abilities.

And second, the phrases aren't even true.

1. Blind as a bat: a compliment of your ability to see ultraviolet.

People in the U.S. use the phrase "blind as a bat" to rib someone for not being able to see well.

We put this phrase to Johan Eklf, who wrote his Ph.D. thesis on bat vision at Gothenburg University in Sweden. According to Eklf, there are over 1,300 species of bats and none is truly blind.

Different species rely on their eyesight to varying degrees often in combination with their sense of smell and echolocation. For example, some Emballonuridae bats that rely heavily on echolocation can still see centimeter-sized objects from about a meter away.

That being said, Eklf notes that, "They don't need their eyes to look up close. They need their eyes to figure out where they are, look at the horizon, see the trees and skyline."

Fruits bats are able to see even better than this, Eklf says. In fact, most fruit bats don't use echolocation at all. They have big eyes that allow them to primarily rely on vision and sense of smell to find fruit.

There is a myth that goldfish have a memory of only three seconds. Classen Rafael/EyeEm/Getty Images hide caption

There is a myth that goldfish have a memory of only three seconds.

2. Memory of a goldfish? Maybe you're not so forgetful after all.

The myth is that a goldfish's memory lasts about three seconds. This has been repeatedly debunked.

Ryan Wong, an assistant professor of biology at The University of Nebraska Omaha, helped us out with this one. He researches fish behavior, learning and memory.

"There are definitely lots of different studies out there and many different species of fish that show that fish have really complex learning abilities and also have the ability to remember this information for long periods of time," Wong says.

He says goldfishes' memory can last for weeks.

In one experiment, goldfish were conditioned to push a lever at a certain time of day to obtain food. That means the fish had to remember both that pushing the lever meant food and in which window of time this food would be accessible.

Some studies have also shown that goldfish are even have the kind of memory that allows them to solve mazes.

So, the verdict on the bats and the goldfish is...

Slander.

We welcome your thoughts on phrases you think are slanderous to animals to shortwave@npr.org!

This episode was produced by Rebecca Ramirez and edited by Viet Le.

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Myth Busting 'Blind As A Bat' And 'Memory Of A Goldfish' - NPR