StemCell Therapy

A study discovered that diabetes may have an adverse impact on the labor market due to work absence, unemployment, and disability pension. Danish national registers were queried to identify patients with type 1 (n=431) and type 2 (n=4,047) diabetes between 1994 and 2011; patients with diabetes were compared with non-diabetic controls (n=101,295). The authors employed multi-state Cox proportional hazards analyses to calculate hazards ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for transitions between work, sickness absence, unemployment, and disability pension. Compared with non-diabetics, those in both diabetes cohorts were significantly more likely to sustain sickness absence (type 1 diabetes women, HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.12-1.62; type 1 diabetes men, HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.01-2.03 vs. type 2 diabetes women, HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.35-1.58; type 2 diabetes men, HR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.46-1.85). Unemployment HRs were higher among males with type 1 diabetes (1.25; 95% CI, 1.01-1.53) and both sexes with type 2 diabetes (women, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.03-1.16; men, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.08-1.27). Between the sexes, both diabetes cohorts had higher HRs of disability pension (type 1 diabetes women, HR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.46-2.46; type 2 diabetes men, HR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.38-3.18 vs. type 2 diabetes women, HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.62-1.96; type 2 diabetes men, HR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.86-2.40). Women with type 2 diabetes were the only patients less likely to return to work from sickness absence (HR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.86-0.98) or unemployment (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.85-0.94). HRs for diabetes in terms of unemployment, sickness absence while unemployed, and disability pension were much higher for men compared with women. The study authors called for future research to take into account comorbidity and social gradient.

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The Effect of Diabetes on the Labor Market - DocWire News

Maternal diabetes before or during pregnancy is associated with increased risks of metabolic syndromeand congenital heart disease in offspring. Research has shown that the children of mothers with elevated blood sugar that is shy of level that would categorize them as havingof gestational diabetes are, nonetheless,more likely to be obese. But less is known about the associations between prenatal exposure to maternal diabetesand early-onset CVD in infants. So researchers from Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, and University of California, Los Angeles, looked at data from nearly 2.5 million births to find out more. They reported their results on Dec. 4, 2019, on the BMJ website,

During up to 40 years of follow-up, 1,153 offspring of mothers with diabetes were diagnosed with CVD, as were 91,311 children of mothers without diabetes. The offspring of mothers with diabetes had a 29% increased overall rate of early-onset CVD.

Children of mothers with diabetes were also more likely to have diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and chronic kidney diseases, and to be obese. The rates of specific types of CVD were increased for heart failure, and close to doubled for hypertensive disease, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. A mother with diabetes and CVD herself also nearly doubled the offsprings chances of early-onset CVD.

The diabetic intrauterine environment could have a programming effect on the development of CVD in children, the researchers say. They note that during pregnancies complicated by diabetes, large amounts of maternal glucose freely cross the placenta, which could lead to increased secretion of fetal insulin. Exposure to hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia could have long-lasting effects, they say, and result in changes in vascular function. Their findings underscore the importance of screening for diabetes risks, especially in pregnant women, to avoid multigenerational hits to heart health.

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Mothers With Diabetes, Kids With Heart Disease - P&T Community

Studies have evaluated the adverse impacts of non-adherence to medication among adults with type 2 diabetes, including poor outcomes and increased healthcare costs. However, data are limited on adolescent patients. The Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth (TODAY) study examined whether additional oral medications or insulin impacted adherence to primary study medication. The TODAY study included 699 patients aged 10 to 17 years who were recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Patients were classified as adherent (80% taken by pill count) or non-adherent (<80%); adherence rates were compared by patients who did and did not have additional medications. At 36 months, just less than half of patients (46.3%) were taking additional oral medications, and 31.9% were on insulin. Study medication adherence did not differ with additional oral medications: zero additional medications prescribed, 55.1%; one, 67.1%; and two or more, 56.7% (P=0.16). Female patients taking oral contraceptives had higher 36-month adherence (65.2% vs. 55.8%; P=0.0054), and patients on insulin had lower 36-month adherence (39.7% vs. 59.3%; P<0.0001). Patients with depression at baseline had lower adherence (P=0.008). The researchers called for future studies to explore potentially modifiable risk factors associated with medication adherence.

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The Effect of Adding Medications to Type 2 Diabetes Regimen on Adherence in Adolescents - DocWire News

Two piglets recently born in China look like average swine on the outside, but on the inside, they are (a very small) part monkey.

A team of researchers generated the pig-primate creatures by injecting monkey stem cells into fertilized pig embryos and then implanting them into surrogate sows, according to a piece by New Scientist. Two of the resulting piglets developed into interspecies animals known as chimeras, meaning that they contained DNA from two distinct individuals in this case, a pig and a monkey.

"This is the first report of full-term pig-monkey chimeras," co-author Tang Hai, a researcher at the State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology in Beijing, told New Scientist. Eventually, Hai and his colleagues aim to grow human organs in animals for use in transplant procedures. For now, the team plans to stick with monkey cells, as developing human-animal chimeras presents a slew of "ethical issues," the authors noted in a report published Nov. 28 in the journal Protein & Cell.

To create pig-primate chimeras, Hai and his co-authors first grew cells from cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) in lab dishes. The team then altered the cells' DNA by inserting instructions to build a fluorescent protein, which caused the cells to glow a bright green. These luminescent cells gave rise to equally radiant embryonic stem cells, which the researchers then injected into prepared pig embryos. These glowing spots allowed the researchers to track the monkey cells as the embryos grew into piglets.

Related: The 9 Most Interesting Transplants

In total, 4,000 embryos received an injection of monkey cells and were implanted in surrogate sows. The pigs bore 10 piglets as a result of the procedure, but only two of the offspring grew both pig and monkey cells. By scanning for spots of fluorescent green, the team found monkey cells scattered throughout multiple organs, including the heart, liver, spleen, lungs and skin.

In each organ, between one in 1,000 and one in 10,000 cells turned out to be a monkey cells in other words, the interspecies chimeras were more than 99% pig.

Although low, the ratio of monkey to pig cells still outnumbered the maximum amount of human cells ever grown in a human-animal chimera. In 2017, scientists created human-pig chimeras that grew only one human cell for every 100,000 pig cells. The interspecies embryos were only allowed to develop for a month for ethical reasons, including the concern that humans cells might grow in the chimera's brain and grant the animal human-like consciousness, according to New Scientist.

Despite these ethical qualms, the same team of researchers went on to create human-monkey chimeras earlier this year, according to a July report from the Spanish newspaper El Pas. The results of the controversial experiment have not yet been reported, but the scientists said that no human-primate embryos were allowed to develop for more than a few weeks, the paper reported.

Hai and his co-authors may have avoided the ethical issues involved with human-animal chimeras, but one expert wasn't impressed with their interspecies piglets. Stem-cell biologist Paul Knoepfler of the University of California, Davis, told New Scientist that the low ratio of monkey to pig cells seems "fairly discouraging." Additionally, the two chimeras and all eight other piglets died shortly after being born, he noted.

The exact reason for the piglets' death remains "unclear," Hai told New Scientist, but he said that he suspects the deaths are linked to the in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure rather than the injection of monkey DNA. Other scientists have also found that IVF doesn't consistently work in pigs, according to a 2019 report in the journal Theriogenology.

In the immediate future, Hai and his colleagues aim to increase the proportion of monkey cells to pig cells in future chimeras, and eventually, grow entire monkey organs in their pigs, Hai told New Scientist. In their paper, the authors noted that their work in pigs could help "pave the way" toward the "ultimate goal of human organ reconstruction in a large animal."

Originally published on Live Science.

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First Pig-Monkey Chimeras Were Just Created in China - Livescience.com

This article highlights some of the most recent drug target discoveries that could be used to develop and design a treatment for pancreatic cancer.

Scientists investigating pancreatic cancer have identified new targets which, with further research, could be the basis for developing future therapies. Listed below are five of the most recent target discoveries, in order of their journal publication dates, with the newest first.

Scientists at the Queen Mary University of London, UK and Zhengzhou University, China have developed a personalised vaccine system that may be able to delay the onset of pancreatic cancer.

Cells taken from mice, mutated chemically into pancreatic cancer cells and then infected with Adenovirus (AdV) as a prime or Vaccinia virus (VV) as a boost, create a vaccine product. The virus kills the cancerous cells in such a way that their antigens are released and are therefore able to prime the immune system to prevent pancreatic cancer returning.

Injection of the virus-infected cells into mice destined to develop pancreatic cancer doubled their survival rate, compared to their unvaccinated counterparts. The vaccine also delayed the onset of the condition in these mice.

Using cells from the recipient of the vaccine enables the immune system to respond to the exact antigens seen in tumour cells of the individual, resulting in a vaccine regime tailored to them.

Through this international collaboration, we have made progress towards the development of a prophylactic cancer vaccine against pancreatic cancer, said Professor Yaohe Wang, leader of the study, from Queen Mary University of London and the Sino-British Research Centre at Zhengzhou University in China.

Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in the US have identified that a combination of two anti-cancer compounds, already approved for use to treat other cancers, shrank pancreatic tumours in mice.

Our study identifies a potential treatment combination that can immediately be tested against these aggressive tumours. We are already meeting with oncologists at Oregon Health & Science University, US to discuss how to advance this discovery into clinical evaluation, explained Dr Zeev Ronai, a professor in Sanford Burnham Prebys Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, also senior author of the study.

Scientists used L-asparaginase to starve pancreatic tumours of asparagine, an amino acid required by cells for protein synthesis. However, the tumour cells did not die, instead switching on a stress response pathway whereby they could produce asparagine themselves. Scientists then used an MEK inhibitor to block the stress response pathway, causing the pancreatic tumour to shrink.

L-asparaginase is already US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved to treat leukaemias and similarly the MEK inhibitor is approved for the treatment of solid tumours, including melanoma skin cancer.

This research lays the basis for the inhibition of pancreatic tumour growth by a combined synergistic attack based on asparagine restriction and MAPK signalling inhibition, says Dr Eytan Ruppin, chief of the Cancer Data Science Library at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and co-author of the study.

Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Germany have identified that YME1L, a protease in the membrane of mitochondria, is activated when a cell uses glycolysis to produce energy anaerobically.

scientists were able to reduce tumour growth by switching off the glycolysis signalling pathway in the mitochondria

Cells adapt to oxygen deficiency by switching their energy supply to glycolysis, which ferments sugar without oxygen. This switch is often necessary in old age, as the cells in the body become poorly supplied with oxygen and nutrients.

Cancer cells can also face this problem; prior to angiogenesis, tumours are poorly perfused and so the tissue is deprived of oxygen. Oxidative stress in tumours drives the switch-on of multiple pathways. This includes the glycolysis pathway that alters the behaviour of the mitochondria to provide tumour cells with energy despite being starved of oxygen.

Scientists found that the YME1L protease is activated during the conversion to glycolysis. YME1L appears altered and breaks down various proteins in the organelles, preventing the formation of new mitochondria and causing the remaining organelles to change their metabolism. This process eventually stops as YME1L begins to degrade itself at high activity.

Researchers examined cancer cells originating from patients with pancreatic tumours and were able to reduce tumour growth by switching off the glycolysis signalling pathway in the mitochondria, with reproducible results both in the petri dish and in pancreatic tumours in mice.

There is currently no treatment available for pancreatic cancer. I believe that this protease can be a very interesting therapeutic target because we have seen that the signalling pathway is also active in human patients with pancreatic cancer, explained Thomas Langer, the Max Planck Director, continuing: However, there are no known substances that have an effect on this protease.

Researchers at the Crick Institute have identified cancer stem cells as a driver of pancreatic cancer growth. These cells can metastasise and differentiate into different tumour types to continue the spread of cancer.

Cancer stem cells appear at all stages of cancer growth so being able to identify where they are present could be vital in both targeting cancer and developing new treatments, according to the researchers. Analysis of gene expression in the cancer stem cells identified a protein, CD9, is present on tumour surfaces during development and when it is more established. This protein could therefore be used as a marker to help locate these cells.

A further development of the study established that this protein is not just a marker of cancer stem cells, but also promotes their malignant behaviour. By altering the amount of CD9 in tumour cells in mice, researchers found that reduced levels of this protein caused smaller tumours to form and increasing levels of CD9 created more aggressive cells able to form large tumours quickly.

These cells are vital to pancreatic cancer and if even just a few of them survive chemotherapy, the cancer is able to bounce back. We need to find effective ways to remove these cells and so stop them from fuelling cancer growth. However, we need more experiments to validate the importance of CD9 in human pancreatic cancer, says Victoria Wang, lead author and member of the Adult Stem Cell Laboratory at the Crick Institute.

A look into cancer stem cell metabolism also revealed CD9 increases the rate tumour cells take up glutamine, an amino acid which helps provide energy for cancer growth.

Now we know this protein is both linked to cancer stem cells and helps cancer growth, this could guide the development of new treatments that are targeted at the protein and so cut off the supply of glutamine to cancer stem cells, effectively starving the cancer, says Axel Behrens, corresponding author and group leader in the Adult Stem Cell Laboratory at the Crick Institute.

Scientists at Tel Aviv University, Israel have found that PJ34, a small molecule, causes human pancreatic cancer cells to self-destruct. The researchers tested PJ34 on xenografts (transplants) of human pancreatic tumours in mice.

this mechanism also exists in other types of cancer and therefore the treatment could be valuable for use on those resistant to current therapies

The mice were treated with a molecule called PJ34, which is permeable in the cell membrane but affects human cancer cells exclusively. This molecule causes an anomaly during the duplication of human cancer cells, provoking their rapid cell death. Thus, cell multiplication itself resulted in cell death in the treated cancer cells, explains Professor Malca Cohen-Armon, project lead at Tel Aviv Universitys Sackler Faculty of Medicine.

The treatment consisted of daily PJ34 injections for 14 days and four weeks later there was a relative drop of 90 percent in the number of cancer cells within the tumours of the mice. Cohen-Armon also noted there were no adverse side-effects observed in the mice.

This mechanism similarly exists in other types of cancer and therefore the treatment could be valuable for use on those resistant to current therapies. The molecule PJ34 is being tested in pre-clinical trials according to FDA regulations before clinical trials begin.

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Five recent drug target discoveries for pancreatic cancer - Drug Target Review

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CurePSP, the foundation for prime of life neurodegeneration, has issued four Venture Grants totaling $300,000 for research in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and the related disease, corticobasal degeneration (CBD). The studies will investigate the mechanisms of toxic tau protein aggregation in the brain.

Tau is a normal brain protein that, when folded on itself in an abnormal way, forms clumps called neurofibrillary tangles that are toxic to some types of brain cells. In the cases of PSP and CBD, the brain cells involved are important in the control of movement, behavior, and thinking. Unlike many other disorders of tau aggregation, PSP and CBD are pure tauopathies, which means that no other proteins are clumping along with tau. This makes these disorders good subjects for studying the pathology involved in many other and often more common neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimers disease, which afflicts some six million people in the U.S. alone.

Lawrence I Golbe, MD, CurePSP Director of Scientific Affairs, said, We are pleased to be able to fund these talented investigators whose studies will advance our understanding of the key role that tau protein aggregation plays in neurodegeneration.

The grants will fund the following studies:

Lukasz Joachimiak, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas

The Mary Jane Semcer Legacy Study

Structural basis for tau strain conformation in CBD and PSP

In the brain, the tau protein can form an altered shape that clumps together in an aggregated form. This study will isolate the tau protein from healthy PSP and CBD patient brain tissues. Specialized research tools will be applied to determine how the abnormally folded shape of tau differs from the tau from healthy brains. Understanding the fine details of how the tau protein changes from a normal shape to the different bad forms found in disease will provide the blueprint for designing new methods to detect and prevent these devastating diseases in patients.

David Butler, Neural Stem Cell Institute, Rensselaer, NY

Bifunctional intrabodies to lower tau

The goal of this project is to develop therapeutic agents that will prevent tau accumulation and associated death of brain cells with novel antibody-based reagents (termed intrabodies). Intrabodies are antibodies expressed within brain cells, while antibodies produced by the immune system or administered by vein do not penetrate brain cells. These antibodies are highly selective for tau, and they have been engineered to target tau for degradation using the cells normal clearing process. The studys central hypothesis is that targeted degradation of tau protein will reduce the amount of tau available to misfold and thus reduce cell death.

J. Mark Cooper, University Hospital, London

The influence of TRIM11 on tau, aggregation, release, and propagation

This study will investigate the effects of a protein known as TRIM11 on toxic tau protein aggregation in the brain. TRIM11 is believed to play a role in regulating the levels of some proteins within the cell, in particular proteins that may form aggregates. To identify how changes to TRIM11 may influence PSP, the study will use models of brain cells grown in the laboratory to focus on how changes to TRIM11 influence tau protein regulation, in particular, its tendency to aggregate. These findings may help to identify potential therapeutic targets to modify PSP disease progression.

K. Matthew Scaglione, Duke University, Durham, NC

Small-molecule regulation of a protein quality-control E3 to treat PSP

The protein Hsc70, or CHIP, accelerates the removal of tau from the brain. This project intends to identify compounds that stimulate CHIP functions. One important such function is as an E3 enzyme, which is an important part of one of the brain cells garbage disposal mechanisms called the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). E3 allows the UPS to recognize specific proteins for appropriate disposal. Finding new compounds to stimulate this function is an important first step toward developing small (that is, orally dosable) molecules to slow or prevent the progression of PSP and CBD.

CurePSPs Venture Grants program provides seed funding for early-career investigators who want to test their innovative ideas. Grant applications are reviewed by CurePSPs eminent international Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) chaired by Dr. Golbe. CurePSPs Venture Grants program is one of the few sources of funding for early stage research into PSP and CBD.

About CurePSP

CurePSP is the nonprofit organization for prime of life neurodegenerative diseases, a spectrum of fatal brain disorders that often strike during a person's most productive and rewarding years. Since it was founded in 1990, CurePSP has funded more than 180 research studies and is a leading source of support and advocacy for patients, families, and other caregivers and education and information for doctors and allied healthcare professionals. CurePSP is based in New York City. Please visit http://www.curepsp.org for more information.

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CurePSP Funds Four Venture Grants for the Study of Neurodegenerative Diseases - Business Wire

KENILWORTH, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced that KEYTRUDA, Mercks anti-PD-1 therapy, showed improvements in overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) as monotherapy for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors expressed PD-L1 (tumor proportion score [TPS] 1%), regardless of KRAS mutational status. These findings, which are based on an exploratory analysis of the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-042 trial, were presented today in a proffered paper presentation (Abstract #LBA4) at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Immuno-Oncology Congress 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland.

KRAS mutations occur in approximately 20% of people with non-small cell lung cancer, and some previous studies have suggested that these mutations are associated with a poorer response to treatment, said Dr. Jonathan Cheng, vice president, oncology clinical research, Merck Research Laboratories. It was therefore encouraging to see in this exploratory analysis that KEYTRUDA monotherapy was associated with a survival benefit in certain patients with metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer, regardless of KRAS mutational status.

The objective of the exploratory analysis was to assess the prevalence of KRAS mutations and their association with efficacy in the KEYNOTE-042 trial. Of the 1,274 untreated patients with metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC whose tumors expressed PD-L1 (TPS 1%) enrolled in KEYNOTE-042, 301 patients had KRAS evaluable data (n=232 without any KRAS mutation; n=69 with any KRAS mutation, including n=29 with the KRAS G12C mutation). Tissue tumor mutational burden (tTMB) and KRAS mutational status were determined by whole-exome sequencing (WES) of tumor tissue and matched normal DNA (blood). Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive KEYTRUDA 200 mg intravenously every three weeks (Q3W) (n=637) or investigators choice of chemotherapy (pemetrexed or paclitaxel) (n=637). Treatment continued until progression of disease or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was OS with a TPS of 50%, 20% and 1%, which were assessed sequentially. The secondary endpoints were PFS and ORR.

Findings from this exploratory analysis showed that KEYTRUDA monotherapy was associated with improved clinical outcomes, regardless of KRAS mutational status, in patients with metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC versus chemotherapy. In this analysis, KEYTRUDA reduced the risk of death by 58% (HR=0.42 [95% CI, 0.22-0.81]) in patients with any KRAS mutation and by 72% (HR=0.28 [95% CI, 0.09-0.86]) in patients with the KRAS G12C mutation compared to chemotherapy. The safety profile of KEYTRUDA was consistent with what has been seen in previously reported studies among patients with metastatic NSCLC.

Additional efficacy results from this exploratory analysis showed:

With Any KRASMutation

With KRAS G12CMutation

Without Any KRAS Mutation

KEYTRUDA Mono-therapy

(N = 30)

Chemo-therapy

(N = 39)

KEYTRUDA Mono-therapy(N = 12)

Chemo-therapy(N = 17)

KEYTRUDA Mono-therapy

(N = 127)

Chemo-therapy(N = 105)

OS, median, mo(95% CI)

28 (23-NR)

11 (7-25)

NR (23-NR)

8 (5-NR)

15 (12-24)

12 (11-18)

OS, HR(95% CI)

0.42 (0.22-0.81)

0.28 (0.09-0.86)

0.86 (0.63-1.18)

ORR, %(95% CI)

56.7

18.0

66.7

23.5

29.1

21.0

PFS, median, mo(95% CI)

12 (8-NR)

6 (4-9)

15 (10-NR)

6 (4-8)

6 (4-7)

6 (6-8)

PFS, HR(95% CI)

0.51 (0.29-0.87)

0.27 (0.10-0.71)

1.00 (0.75-1.34)

Data from an exploratory analysis of KEYNOTE-189 (Abstract #LBA5), which evaluated KRAS mutations and their association with efficacy outcomes for KEYTRUDA in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy, were also presented in a mini-oral session today at the ESMO Immuno-Oncology Congress 2019. KEYNOTE-189 was conducted in collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company, the makers of pemetrexed (ALIMTA).

About Lung Cancer

Lung cancer, which forms in the tissues of the lungs, usually within cells lining the air passages, is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than die of colon and breast cancers combined. The two main types of lung cancer are non-small cell and small cell. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 85% of all cases. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for about 10 to 15% of all lung cancers. Lung cancer can also be characterized by the presence of different biomarkers, including PD-L1, KRAS, ALK, EGFR and ROS1. KRAS mutations occur in about 20% of NSCLC cases. Between 2008 and 2014, the five-year survival rate for patients diagnosed in the U.S. with advanced NSCLC was only 5%.

About KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) Injection, 100mg

KEYTRUDA is an anti-PD-1 therapy that works by increasing the ability of the bodys immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. KEYTRUDA is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells.

Merck has the industrys largest immuno-oncology clinical research program. There are currently more than 1,000 trials studying KEYTRUDA across a wide variety of cancers and treatment settings. The KEYTRUDA clinical program seeks to understand the role of KEYTRUDA across cancers and the factors that may predict a patients likelihood of benefitting from treatment with KEYTRUDA, including exploring several different biomarkers.

Selected KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) Indications

Melanoma

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of patients with melanoma with involvement of lymph node(s) following complete resection.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

KEYTRUDA, in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.

KEYTRUDA, in combination with carboplatin and either paclitaxel or paclitaxel protein-bound, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic squamous NSCLC.

KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with NSCLC expressing PD-L1 [tumor proportion score (TPS) 1%] as determined by an FDA-approved test, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations, and is stage III where patients are not candidates for surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation, or metastatic.

KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC whose tumors express PD-L1 (TPS 1%) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving KEYTRUDA.

Small Cell Lung Cancer

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy and at least one other prior line of therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer

KEYTRUDA, in combination with platinum and fluorouracil (FU), is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent HNSCC whose tumors express PD-L1 [combined positive score (CPS) 1] as determined by an FDA-approved test.

KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy.

Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), or who have relapsed after 3 or more prior lines of therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.

Primary Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with refractory primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL), or who have relapsed after 2 or more prior lines of therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. KEYTRUDA is not recommended for the treatment of patients with PMBCL who require urgent cytoreductive therapy.

Urothelial Carcinoma

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who are not eligible for cisplatin-containing chemotherapy and whose tumors express PD-L1 [CPS 10] as determined by an FDA-approved test, or in patients who are not eligible for any platinum-containing chemotherapy regardless of PD-L1 status. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy.

Microsatellite Instability-High (MSI-H) Cancer

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR).

This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. The safety and effectiveness of KEYTRUDA in pediatric patients with MSI-H central nervous system cancers have not been established.

Gastric Cancer

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS 1) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression on or after two or more prior lines of therapy including fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy and if appropriate, HER2/neu-targeted therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.

Esophageal Cancer

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS 10) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression after one or more prior lines of systemic therapy.

Cervical Cancer

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer with disease progression on or after chemotherapy whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS 1) as determined by an FDA-approved test. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with sorafenib. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.

Merkel Cell Carcinoma

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.

Renal Cell Carcinoma

KEYTRUDA, in combination with axitinib, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Selected Important Safety Information for KEYTRUDA

Immune-Mediated Pneumonitis

KEYTRUDA can cause immune-mediated pneumonitis, including fatal cases. Pneumonitis occurred in 3.4% (94/2799) of patients with various cancers receiving KEYTRUDA, including Grade 1 (0.8%), 2 (1.3%), 3 (0.9%), 4 (0.3%), and 5 (0.1%). Pneumonitis occurred in 8.2% (65/790) of NSCLC patients receiving KEYTRUDA as a single agent, including Grades 3-4 in 3.2% of patients, and occurred more frequently in patients with a history of prior thoracic radiation (17%) compared to those without (7.7%). Pneumonitis occurred in 6% (18/300) of HNSCC patients receiving KEYTRUDA as a single agent, including Grades 3-5 in 1.6% of patients, and occurred in 5.4% (15/276) of patients receiving KEYTRUDA in combination with platinum and FU as first-line therapy for advanced disease, including Grade 3-5 in 1.5% of patients.

Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of pneumonitis. Evaluate suspected pneumonitis with radiographic imaging. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater pneumonitis. Withhold KEYTRUDA for Grade 2; permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA for Grade 3 or 4 or recurrent Grade 2 pneumonitis.

Immune-Mediated Colitis

KEYTRUDA can cause immune-mediated colitis. Colitis occurred in 1.7% (48/2799) of patients receiving KEYTRUDA, including Grade 2 (0.4%), 3 (1.1%), and 4 (<0.1%). Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of colitis. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater colitis. Withhold KEYTRUDA for Grade 2 or 3; permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA for Grade 4 colitis.

Immune-Mediated Hepatitis (KEYTRUDA) and Hepatotoxicity (KEYTRUDA in Combination With Axitinib)

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Data from Exploratory Analysis Show Merck's KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) Improved Overall Survival as Monotherapy for the First-Line Treatment of...

On Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2018, Baylor University announced that Lady, one of the Universitys two American Black Bear mascots, is undergoing an innovative, noninvasive radiation treatment for a benign mass, or thymoma, in her chest. The asymptomatic tumor was found during a routine wellness examination with veterinarians at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

Lady has received treatment at Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital with a low-dose TomoTherapy System, a state-of-the-art treatment system that targets tumors while minimizing exposure of radiation to surrounding healthy tissues and causing fewer side effects compared to conventional forms of radiation therapy. Veterinarians continue to closely monitor the tumor, which has not grown since it was discovered. Lady is resting comfortably at her campus home the Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat along with her older sister, Joy.

Additional Media Resources

Dec. 11, 2019 Letter to the Baylor Family from President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.

Dec. 11, 2019 News Release: Baylor Bear Mascot Lady Undergoing Treatment for Benign Thymoma

2019 Bear Mascot Program Fact Sheet about the program, daily and medical/health care, and Ladys diagnosis and treatment.

Photos, b-roll and video interview clips: https://baylor.box.com/v/BaylorBearsMascots

Thisfolder includes photos and b-roll of Lady and Joy in the Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat on campus, at their off-campus enrichment facility and at Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, where Lady is being treated. In addition, the folder includes interview clips with J. Jill Heatley, DVM, zoological medicine specialist at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. Please credit the photos to Matthew Minard/Baylor University and the video courtesy of Baylor University.

Baylor Bear Program website: http://www.baylor.edu/bear

See the article here:
2019 Baylor Bear Mascots | Media and Public Relations - Baylor University

Veterinary Medicine Market Overview:

The Veterinary Medicine Market is expected to grow at a significant pace, reports Verified Market Research. Its latest research report, titled [Veterinary Medicine Market Size and Forecast to 2026, Breakdown Data by Manufacturers, Key Regions, Types and Application], offers a unique point of view about the global market. Analysts believe that the changing consumption patterns are expected to have a great influence on the overall market. For a brief overview of the Veterinary Medicine Market, the research report provides an executive summary. It explains the various factors that form an important element of the market. It includes the definition and the scope of the market with a detailed explanation of the market drivers, opportunities, restraints, and threats.

Request a Sample Copy of this report @ https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/download-sample/?rid=21894&utm_source=DNI&utm_medium=005

Key Players Mentioned in the Veterinary Medicine Market Research Report:

Veterinary Medicine Market: Segmentation

Segmental analysis is one of the key sections of this report. The authors of the report have segregated the Veterinary Medicine market into product type, application, end user, and region. All the segments are studied on the basis of their CAGR, market share, and growth potential. In the regional analysis, the report highlights the regional markets having high growth potential. This clear and thorough assessment of the segments would help the players to focus on revenue generating areas of the Veterinary Medicine market.

Veterinary Medicine Market: Regional Segmentation

For a deeper understanding, the research report includes geographical segmentation of the Veterinary Medicine Market. It provides an evaluation of the volatility of the political scenarios and amends likely to be made to the regulatory structures. This assessment gives an accurate analysis of the regional-wise growth of the Veterinary Medicine Market.

Veterinary Medicine Market: Research Methodology

The research methodologies used by the analysts play an integral role in the way the publication has been collated. Analysts have used primary and secondary research methodologies to create a comprehensive analysis. For an accurate and precise analysis of the Veterinary Medicine Market, analysts have bottom-up and top-down approaches.

Ask for Discount @https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/ask-for-discount/?rid=21894&utm_source=DNI&utm_medium=005

Table of Content

1 Introduction of Veterinary Medicine Market

1.1 Overview of the Market 1.2 Scope of Report 1.3 Assumptions

2 Executive Summary

3 Research Methodology of Verified Market Research

3.1 Data Mining 3.2 Validation 3.3 Primary Interviews 3.4 List of Data Sources

4 Veterinary Medicine Market Outlook

4.1 Overview 4.2 Market Dynamics 4.2.1 Drivers 4.2.2 Restraints 4.2.3 Opportunities 4.3 Porters Five Force Model 4.4 Value Chain Analysis

5 Veterinary Medicine Market, By Deployment Model

5.1 Overview

6 Veterinary Medicine Market, By Solution 6.1 Overview

7 Veterinary Medicine Market, By Vertical

7.1 Overview

8 Veterinary Medicine Market, By Geography 8.1 Overview 8.2 North America 8.2.1 U.S. 8.2.2 Canada 8.2.3 Mexico 8.3 Europe 8.3.1 Germany 8.3.2 U.K. 8.3.3 France 8.3.4 Rest of Europe 8.4 Asia Pacific 8.4.1 China 8.4.2 Japan 8.4.3 India 8.4.4 Rest of Asia Pacific 8.5 Rest of the World 8.5.1 Latin America 8.5.2 Middle East

9 Veterinary Medicine Market Competitive Landscape

9.1 Overview 9.2 Company Market Ranking 9.3 Key Development Strategies

10 Company Profiles

10.1.1 Overview 10.1.2 Financial Performance 10.1.3 Product Outlook 10.1.4 Key Developments

11 Appendix

11.1 Related Research

Complete Report is Available @ https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/Veterinary-Medicine-Market/?utm_source=DNI&utm_medium=005

We also offer customization on reports based on specific client requirement:

1-Free country level analysis forany 5 countries of your choice.

2-Free Competitive analysis of any market players.

3-Free 40 analyst hours to cover any other data points

About Us:

Verified Market Research has been providing Research Reports, with up to date information, and in-depth analysis, for several years now, to individuals and companies alike that are looking for accurate Research Data. Our aim is to save your Time and Resources, providing you with the required Research Data, so you can only concentrate on Progress and Growth. Our Data includes research from various industries, along with all necessary statistics like Market Trends, or Forecasts from reliable sources.

Contact Us:

Mr. Edwyne Fernandes Call: +1 (650) 781 4080 Email: [emailprotected]

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Veterinary Medicine Market Size 2019 Focuses on Top Companies, Research Methodology, Drivers and Forecast to 2026 - Drnewsindustry

The CSU Employee Appreciation Board had the privilege of recognizing the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Finance and Research Office for their exemplary service on Oct. 21.

Nominated by Dana Schwartz, the group continuously goes above and beyond by assisting with tasks and providing customer service beyond their normal scope of duties. When an accountant in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital suddenly left, an employee in the Finance and Research Office offered to take on PCard reallocation for the VTH during the stressful year-end time frame.

In another instance, when a complicated research training grant was awarded to a department outside of CVMBS, this group volunteered to take over the administration of it because of their expertise on these types of awards and the outside department was unfamiliar with it.

Schwartz also shared another example of how this group embodies the true spirit of customer service. The Dish Network office was previously located where the finance office is now, and they still get people coming in wanting help with Dish issues. Recently, a gentleman in his 80s who couldnt get his TV to work came in. One of the employees helped him call the number on the bill to help get it fixed.

This group deserved to be recognized for making CSU a great place to work, and ultimately giving individuals positive experiences with CSU, Schwaartz said. The CSUEAB agrees! Congratulations on a job well done!

To nominate a department or office, visit the EAB website.

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CVMBS Finance and Research Office recognized by the Employee Appreciation Board - Source

PETA Will Call for End to School's Cruel Muscular Dystrophy Tests

For Immediate Release:December 12, 2019

Contact:Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382

College Station, Texas As veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences students graduate and their families arrive for Texas A&M Universitys (TAMU) commencement on Friday, PETA supporters will be on the scene with signs proclaiming, TAMU Lied: Dogs Were Bred to Die. The protesters will call on TAMU to stop cruel muscular dystrophy (MD) experiments, for which dogs were deliberately bred to develop a crippling and painful form of canine MD that leaves them struggling to walk, swallow, and even breathe.

When: Friday, December 13, 6 p.m.

Where: North entrance of Reed Arena, 730 Olsen Blvd. (at the intersection with Recreation Center Drive), College Station

As Texas A&M students head out into the world, sick, suffering dogs are still locked up in the schools barren laboratory, says PETA Vice President of Laboratory Investigations Dr. Alka Chandna, Ph.D. PETA is calling for these experiments to end and for all surviving dogs to be released for adoption into loving homes.

PETA has released eyewitness video footage showing dogs inside TAMUs laboratory struggling to walk, swallow, and even breathe. The school has recently come under fire for claiming that it didnt breed dogs for experimentationdespite records showing that since PETA launched its campaign in December 2016, as many as 100 puppies had been born in the laboratory. Many of these puppies died shortly after birth, others were left to endure a lifetime with painful, debilitating symptoms, and other puppieswho carried the MD gene but did not exhibit symptomswere condemned to life in a barren cage devoid of the companionship and love that dogs desire.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Read more from the original source:
Texas A&M Graduation to Face Protest Over Dog Experiments - PETA

It started with scientific astonishment. Why is there a green glow when looking at an infrared emitting device? "Such a strange phenomenon was observed by my colleagues when they installed an imaging device at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun," says Prof. Wojtkowski. "They came to me sharing this interesting observation that although they use infrared, which should no longer be visible, they still see something; such a weak, greenish light. And why did they look into the assembled device? "Well," laughs the professor, "such human nature and curiosity. Every time you assemble something, you look inside. It's true that it's always risky to look in such device, because the infrared source is the laser, but it's safe to do so while maintaining the laser's power in accordance with the standards.

The scientists' first thought was that the laser was broken and, in addition to infrared (light wavelength similar to that used in old TV remote controls) generated green light. So, they dismantled the laser and meticulously checked what could have broken down. They found nothing. Then someone came up with the simple but ingenious idea to put a filter in front of the eye of the observer, which would cut off visible light. They found the correct filters, put them between the laser and the eye and to their surprise the effect remained. "Our jaws dropped a little because that meant that the device was fine, but something strange was happening in the eye," says the professor. "Fortunately, there was another, very good laser at hand that generated ultra-short pulses of light and could be used to adjust the wavelength, of course in the infrared range. We started to change this length and it turned out that each one evoked a different color effect in the eye - we could perceive various colors! What's more, not weakly, but very clearly." As it happens with such discoveries, it turned out that people had observed it before, but nobody had any idea how to explain it, or they couldn't interpret it correctly.

This unexpected color vision turned out to be two-photon vision. "Luckily, at that time we were being visited by Professor Krzysztof Palczewski, who is a biochemist working in the USA and dealing with vision processes," recalls Professor Wojtkowski. "He was very interested in our discovery. So much so, that he organized a group of experts in various fields (including our team) to explain the mechanism of this vision. Tests were performed on mice, including genetically modified ones. Kasia Komar and Patryk Stremplewski from my team carried out tests on people, because our main expertise is in measurements on living eyes," explains the professor. "After collecting all the results, it turned out that we were dealing with two-photon vision."

This involves the retina receiving a portion of energy half as low as the minimum required for the reaction of photosensitive cells, but very concentrated in time and space; and if the impulse is delivered, then the subject, e.g. a human, sees it as if it were twice as high. It's a bit like throwing small plasticine balls onto a board twice, in the same place and time. The imprint of both balls merges on the board into a larger, visible one. You can also imagine being hit on the head with these sorts of balls. We wouldn't feel any one of them singly, but a double portion could give us a bruise.

This is what happens in the quantum world, the condition being that you have to throw these balls close enough to themselves and appropriately close to one another in time - so that they basically stick together into larger blobs. Physicists call this the optical non-linear effect. Such effects are known for many materials, but it is not obvious that they can occur in doses that are safe, e.g. for the eye. "Until we'd dealt with this ourselves, I myself had thought that two-photon absorption in the eye could occur only once (in principle, once in one eye, once in the fellow eye)," laughs the professor, "After which it wouldn't be possible to see anything. Fortunately, I was wrong."

On the other hand, in the eye there are a lot of intermediaries between what absorbs photon energy (i.e. retinal cells) and what introduces the image in our brain. Photon absorption in itself does not guarantee that we see something. A number of proteins must react. However, it turns out that this process called phototransduction does take place.

And what can it be useful for? For instance, to check if the eye breaks down. With age or at the outset of a disease, say, macular degeneration (AMD), the effect is poorer. Hence the idea for a new generation of machines for microperimetry, i.e. checking whether we see and what we see at various points on the retina. Researchers thought that perhaps thanks to the two-photon effect, the sensitivity of such devices could be improved, or the threshold of infrared light could be measured. "Thanks to AM2M - a company that is a spinout from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toru, we have already started to produce new microperimetry machines," the professor says with pride. "There are three in the world right now, and the fourth and fifth and sixth in our country.

What speaks in favor of the new discovery and the devices based on it is also that with age, the human eye becomes more and more turbid and disperses light waves more. Meanwhile, the principle of physics says that the longer the wave, the less it disperses. Infrared will therefore allow for a more thorough examination of the fundus also in people with advanced cataracts or vitreous floaters. Scientists hope that thanks to their device we will detect functional retinal changes, mainly AMD earlier on, but also better understand the process of vision. Indeed, these are the goals of the new MAB (International Research Agenda) working to improve the eyesight of older people.

"As part of our MAB we will try to objectify this process, i.e. move from a little subjective perimetry to objective ophthalmoscopy," the professor advances to the future, "Using holographic optical tomography. We will analyze functional signals on a principle similar as in tympanometry. This will allow us to determine whether the patient sees and what he sees, without feedback from him, even when he is unconscious or unable to communicate, e.g. after a stroke."

"Thanks to the work of Dr. Katarzyna Komar, we have noticed something that we cannot yet explain," adds Professor Wojtkowski. "Namely, infrared vision is different from normal vision. Cones appear to react differently to rods - they seem to be more sensitive. Now we are trying to understand what this results from." We, the potential patients, can only support the researchers, so that thanks to their discoveries our eyes serve us better and for longer.

Reference

Ruminski et al. (2019) Two-photon microperimetry: sensitivity of human photoreceptors to infrared light. Biomedical Optics Express. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000524

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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"Invisible Sight" Reveals Secrets of Vision - Technology Networks

Before you went for a sight test, had you experienced any symptoms?

Donald Broughton (DB): My main symptoms were that my eye became tired and painful due to the amount of concentration required for the work that I was doing as a hairdresser.

DB: I knew I had shrapnel in my eye from previous eye examinations. However, Deepak was the first person to consider referring me to have it removed as it was causing a cataract. When I was 16-years-old, I was hunting in Tatton Park in Cheshire and one of the pellets ricocheted from my friends gun and entered my eye.

DB: I was quite unsure if anything could be done. However, I was happy to go along with having it removed. The optometrist was confident and I had nothing to lose.

DB: We are still working on certain aspects of the treatment, but Im pleased with the progress. The surgeon left the pellet in the eye because it had been there for over 60 years but he removed the cataract caused by the pellet. I am awaiting surgery on my other eye because of anisometropia. I have intermittent double vision that I hope will be resolved with surgery.

DB: I have always had regular eye tests. Its important to look after the gift of sight. You dont value what you have until its gone.

DB: After post-operative challenges have settled theres been a dramatic improvement in my vision.

I knew I had shrapnel in my eye from previous eye examinations

Deepak Oberai (DO): Mr Broughton had a dense cataract that was obstructing his vision as a result of a pellet that was stuck in his eye. If removed, it would significantly improve his eyesight. After conducting an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan it was clear to me that I could help him.

I was very interested in the nature of Mr Broughtons injury and why no treatment or further investigation had been offered in the past. I had to be persistent but referred to him a local eye surgeon. The consultant found the shot gun pellet that was embedded in his lens and was causing a cataract.

DO: We are fortunate enough to have an OCT device, which identified that his retina was still intact. With this information, I was confident that a cataract removal was possible.

DO: My colleague, Claire, took a message saying that the procedure had been successful and how shocked the patient was that the treatment was successful. Since then I have been in contact with both the surgeon and the patient to make sure things are working well.

DO:

Pictured is Mr Oberai and Mr Broughton.

Read more here:
It's important to look after the gift of sight - AOP

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A woman surnamed Peng began leaking from her eyes after working too much at her job. However, she wasnt leaking tears but fluid that had built up under her retina.

According to China Press, the woman from Guangdong, China had frequently worked overtime which resulted in the deterioration of her eyesight.

When she went for medical treatment, she told the doctor that her eyesight was worsening and everything she looked at was blurry. She also said that tears often flowed out.

However, the doctor said this eye-leakage was due to the build-up of fluid under the retina, which is a condition called central serous chorioretinopath.

According to Medical News Today, the retina is responsible for translating light taken into the eye as images the brain can understand. The build-up of liquid can cause the retina to detach, and this can cause vision problems.

In this case, the doctor told the woman that the fluid build-up was caused by overwork of her eye, causing her retina to detach. This condition often happens to people in their mid-40s and is one of the most common retinal diseases.

No treatment is actually required for this condition. Patients only need to rest while the fluid drains out on its own.

In the case where the fluid does not drain out, medication, thermal laser treatment and lifestyle changes are some of the options a patients can consider to treat the condition.

Some lifestyle changes include reducing overall stress levels, sleeping for at least seven hours every night and avoiding alcoholic drinks.

Dont overwork yourself and remember to sleep early, guys! Your health is more important than your job.

Also read: 36yo Collapses & Dies During Job Interview As He Always Work OT in Previous Office

More:
Woman Has Vision Problems & Starts Leaking Fluid From Eye After Overworking at Her Job - WORLD OF BUZZ

A new international study involving the University of Liverpool reveals how the evolution of powerful vision was shaped by an improved oxygen supply to the eyes.

Keen eyesight in vertebrates from fish to birds and mammals relies on large eyes and thick retinas. Yet the visual process is energetically costly and the high oxygen demand of thick retinas is difficult to meet by the conventional oxygen supply mechanism through blood vessels just behind the retina.

In a study published in eLife, a team of researchers from 15 institutions led by the University of Aarhus and the University of Liverpool has explored the physiological requirements for the evolution of improved eyesight. Their findings uncover a fascinating pattern of mechanisms to improve retinal oxygen supply that evolved in concert with enhanced retinal morphology to improve vision.

The study took advantage of the diversity in form and function among eyes from 87 animal species. By mapping the characteristics of their eyes onto the species tree of life, the researchers unravelled the evolutionary history of the eye from a 425 million-year-old extinct ancestor of modern vertebrates to current day animals. They identified three distinct physiological mechanisms for retinal oxygen supply that are always associated with improved vision.

The first mechanism is present in many fishes and involves mutations in haemoglobin that were associated with the ability to deliver oxygen to the retina at exceptionally high concentrations to overcome the long diffusion distance to the retinal cells. This mechanism was subsequently lost several times, possibly to avoid oxidative damage and gas bubble formation in the eye. Secondly, oxygen delivery could be improved by blood vessels supplying oxygen from the front of the retina or, thirdly, even directly from within the retina, which, however, can obstruct the light path to the retinal photoreceptor cells.

These different trade-offs to retinal oxygen supply appear to be acceptable in the presence of the improved visual power available when the thickness of the retina was allowed to increase.

The study applied state-of-the-art high-frequency ultrasound, micro-computerised tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques used in medical research, to unravel the blood supply mechanisms in some very small eyes or in exceptional museum specimens, such as the eye of the living fossil old fourlegs or coealacanth (Latimeria chalumnae).

It was particularly rewarding to be able to collaborate with this team of comparative animal physiologists and medics and help them to reconstruct the evolution of physiological characteristics on the vertebrate family tree, says Liverpools Dr Michael Berenbrink, one of the three senior authors of the study.

Our conclusions are supported by some natural knockouts, such as Antarctic icefishes, which have lost haemoglobin in their blood and evolved a supplemental retinal oxygen supply mechanism of pre-retinal capillaries, or Mexican cavefishes, which have rudimentary eyes and consequently get by with haemoglobins that are less efficient for retinal oxygen supply, Dr Berenbrink continues.

Overall, the study shows that adaptations to ensure oxygen delivery to the retina were a physiological prerequisite for the functional evolution of the eye, illustrating the importance of a thorough knowledge of physiological mechanisms for understanding the evolution of complex structures.

Research reference

The study Retinal oxygen supply shaped the functional evolution of the vertebrate eye is published in eLife. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.52153

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How oxygen shaped evolution of better eyesight - Mirage News

After Today Show anchor Savannah Guthries eye injury last week, during which her young son accidentally hit her in the eye with a toy, the anchor is slowly getting better. But it couldve been much worse.

Find out how the 47-year-old is doing and what she has to go through for her treatments to her injury.

According to Guthrie, she was at home with her son when he accidentally jammed her in the eye with one of his toys. The result was a torn retina.

After the incident last week, Guthrie spoke by phone to Today to describe what happened to cause her to stay away from her duties on the morning show.

I got hit Charleythrew a toy train right at my eye and it tore my retina, Guthrieexplained.

It happened last week, actually, and then I lost my vision in my right eye about 24 hours later and then it turned outto be kind of serious. They were afraid my retina was detached.

The vision is getting better every day, but Im still blurry, Guthrie told her co-anchors on Today last week. Right now its like having one contact (lens) in and (one) out. When it first started though, it was like a complete blur. I couldnt have seen anything.

Thankfully, Guthrie was able to avoid surgery on her eye. Shes had five laser treatment sessions to help heal her retina, and especially in order to not have surgery, which can be risky.

The first laser I actually did I had to go under for, it was kind of an emergency, like they rushed me in there, they shot me up with the big laser, and they were actually not sure it had worked at all, and they thought I was going to have to have this surgery, the mom of twoexplained this week.

Its been a traumatizing week for the anchor, with doctors not being completely sure if she would need high-risk retinal surgery. But in the end, it appears the laser treatments have thankfully done the trick.

Basically the eye jiggles, and the retina is like saran wrap, so when you get hit, saran wrap can very easily tear, can get a hole in it, and thats not a good thing, she said. Laser, if you have a small enough tear . . . can basically weld down the outside of the tear to prevent . . . more of the retina detaching. . . you dont actually have to go to the operating room.

Despite the discomfort and pain she was in, the mother of two still managed to power through it all and co-host the Thanksgiving Day Parade with a big smile on her face.

Im actuallystill hoping I can do the parade tomorrow.Im not supposed to, like, jump up and down or anything because itskind of like literally hanging by a thread, Guthrie said. But Imvery positivebecause I think its going to be OK.

As it turned out, she was in wonderful spirits and did a great job with her Today co-hosts at fronting the parade. Guthrie clearly isnt going to let a little thing like a torn retina stop her from celebrating the holidays!

Read more: Al Roker Reveals What Used To Cause Him to Overeat and Why Hes Never Going Back to Fat

See more here:
Savannah Guthrie Has to Go Through This Treatment After Her Scary Eye Injury - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Dec. 11, 2019 06:30 UTC

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191210006078/en/

Figure 1. LHON Natural History from Interim Analysis of REALITY vs. Time Course of Visual Acuity from REVERSE and RESCUE - Note: BCVA = best-corrected visual acuity. The LOWESS line for REALITY (n=15 subjects) is based on a series of polynomial regressions around each data point. The regressions use a limited look back and look forward and give distant points less weight. The time course of BCVA for REVERSE and RESCUE uses the least-squares mean based on a mixed model ANCOVA analysis. The starting points of the curves are set to the average time from onset to time of treatment (16 weeks for RESCUE, 39 weeks for REVERSE). (Photo: Business Wire)

GenSight Biologics (Paris:SIGHT) (Euronext: SIGHT, ISIN: FR0013183985, PEA-PME eligible), a biopharma company focused on discovering and developing innovative gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system disorders, today reported results from the REALITY registry study and an analysis of REVERSE and RESCUE Phase III data, which further highlight the poor prognosis for patients with loss of vision due to Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) associated with the ND4 mutation. The results confirm LHON experts observations from their clinical practice and contrast sharply against the bilateral improvement observed in LUMEVOQ (GS010)s Phase III studies.

Natural history studies in LHON have been difficult to conduct, so these results add to the body of knowledge and firm up the conventional wisdom that with rare exceptions, LHON is marked by precipitous loss of vision with little chance of improvement in the first few years, commented Mark Moster, MD, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Wills Eye Hospital and Professor of Neurology and Ophthalmology at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, United-States, and investigator in the REVERSE and RESCUE trials. The lack of improvement in the REALITY subjects is in stark contrast to the improvements seen in our REVERSE and RESCUE patients.

REALITY is a retrospective and cross-sectional observational study of subjects with LHON, conducted in centers across Spain, Italy, France, United Kingdom, and the United States. The objective is to generate insights about the natural history of the disease based on an approach that would facilitate comparisons with REVERSE and RESCUE. The study seeks to enroll 50 subjects by the second quarter of 2020.

Interim analysis of REALITY, based on the fifteen subjects with the ND4 mutation who were at least 15 years old at onset and who had enrolled in the study as of September 2019, shows the dramatic and usually irreversible decline in visual acuity that is the typical outcome for ND4 LHON patients. Unlike in subjects enrolled in REVERSE and RESCUE, who all received a unilateral injection of LUMEVOQ, mean visual acuity in REALITY subjects did not recover after the initial decline.

These findings highlight just how remarkable the visual trends in REVERSE and RESCUE are, commented Bernard Gilly, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of GenSight. The findings will support our effort to provide regulatory authorities with the most robust insights about the natural history of the disease, so that we can convincingly demonstrate the therapeutic benefit delivered by LUMEVOQ.

A second set of results, derived from a pooled dataset of baseline readings from the REVERSE and RESCUE patient populations, shows that eyes farther along the progression of the disease, as measured by time since onset, had worse visual acuity.

The picture of visual decline is based on cross-sectional data, yet remains consistent with the pattern revealed by the interim analysis for REALITY.

About GenSight Biologics

GenSight Biologics S.A. is a clinical-stage biopharma company focused on discovering and developing innovative gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system disorders. GenSight Biologics pipeline leverages two core technology platforms, the Mitochondrial Targeting Sequence (MTS) and optogenetics, to help preserve or restore vision in patients suffering from blinding retinal diseases. GenSight Biologics lead product candidate, GS010, is in Phase III trials in Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a rare mitochondrial disease that leads to irreversible blindness in teens and young adults. Using its gene therapy-based approach, GenSight Biologics product candidates are designed to be administered in a single treatment to each eye by intravitreal injection to offer patients a sustainable functional visual recovery.

About LUMEVOQ (GS010)

LUMEVOQ (GS010) targets Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) by leveraging a mitochondrial targeting sequence (MTS) proprietary technology platform, arising from research conducted at the Institut de la Vision in Paris, which, when associated with the gene of interest, allows the platform to specifically address defects inside the mitochondria using an AAV vector (Adeno-Associated Virus). The gene of interest is transferred into the cell to be expressed and produces the functional protein, which will then be shuttled to the mitochondria through specific nucleotidic sequences in order to restore the missing or deficient mitochondrial function. LUMEVOQ was accepted as the invented name for GS010 (lenadogene nolparvovec) by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in October 2018.

About Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON)

Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) is a rare maternally inherited mitochondrial genetic disease, characterized by the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells that results in brutal and irreversible vision loss that can lead to legal blindness, and mainly affects adolescents and young adults. LHON is associated with painless, sudden loss of central vision in the 1st eye, with the 2nd eye sequentially impaired. It is a symmetric disease with poor functional visual recovery. 97% of patients have bilateral involvement at less than one year of onset of vision loss, and in 25% of cases, vision loss occurs in both eyes simultaneously. The estimated incidence of LHON is approximately 1,400 to 1,500 new patients who lose their sight every year in the United States and Europe.

About RESCUE and REVERSE

RESCUE and REVERSE are two separate randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled Phase III trials designed to evaluate the efficacy of a single intravitreal injection of GS010 (rAAV2/2-ND4) in subjects affected by LHON due to the G11778A mutation in the mitochondrial ND4 gene.

The primary endpoint will measure the difference in efficacy of GS010 in treated eyes compared to sham-treated eyes based on BestCorrected Visual Acuity (BCVA), as measured with the ETDRS at 48 weeks post-injection. The patients LogMAR (Logarithm of the Minimal Angle of Resolution) scores, which are derived from the number of letters patients read on the ETDRS chart, will be used for statistical purposes. Both trials have been adequately powered to evaluate a clinically relevant difference of at least 15 ETDRS letters between treated and untreated eyes adjusted to baseline.

The secondary endpoints will involve the application of the primary analysis to bestseeing eyes that received GS010 compared to those receiving sham, and to worseseeing eyes that received GS010 compared to those that received sham. Additionally, a categorical evaluation with a responder analysis will be evaluated, including the proportion of patients who maintain vision (< ETDRS 15L loss), the proportion of patients who gain 15 ETDRS letters from baseline and the proportion of patients with Snellen acuity of >20/200. Complementary vision metrics will include automated visual fields, optical coherence tomography, and color and contrast sensitivity, in addition to quality of life scales, biodissemination and the time course of immune response. Readouts for these endpoints are at 48, 72 and 96 weeks after injection.

The trials are conducted in parallel, in 37 subjects for REVERSE and 39 subjects for RESCUE, in 7 centers across the United States, the UK, France, Germany and Italy. Week 96 results were reported in 2019 for both trials, after which patients were transferred to a long-term follow-up study that will last for three years.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: REVERSE: NCT02652780RESCUE: NCT02652767

About REFLECT

REFLECT is a multi-center, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of bilateral injections of GS010 in subjects with LHON due to the NADH dehydrogenase 4 (ND4) mutation.

The trial planned to enroll 90 patients with vision loss up to 1 year in duration and will be conducted in multiple centers in Europe and in the US.

In the active arm, GS010 will be administered as a single intravitreal injection to both eyes of each subject. In the placebo arm, GS010 will be administered as a single intravitreal injection to the first affected eye, while the fellow eye will receive a placebo injection.

The primary endpoint for the REFLECT trial is the BCVA reported in LogMAR at 1.5-Year post-treatment in the secondaffected/notyetaffected eye. The change from baseline in secondaffected/notyetaffected eyes receiving GS010 and placebo will be the primary response of interest. The secondary efficacy endpoints include: BCVA reported in LogMAR at 2-Years post-treatment in the secondaffected/notyetaffected eye compared to both placebo and the firstaffected eye receiving GS010, OCT and contrast sensitivity and quality of life scales. The first subject was treated in March 2018, and enrolment was completed in July 2019, ahead of schedule.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: REFLECT: NCT03293524

About REALITY

REALITY is a multi-country retrospective and cross-sectional observational study of affected LHON subjects, based on subjects medical charts and the administration of surveys on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and direct and indirect costs associated with the disease.

The study will recruit at least 50 subjects (both adult and pediatric) chiefly in the following countries: Spain, Italy, France, United Kingdom, and the United States.

The primary objectives for the REALITY study are: to describe the evolution of visual functional and structural changes and other associated symptoms in patients with LHON; understand the impact of LHON-related vision loss on the HRQoL; and understand the economic burden for patients and their families arising from direct and indirect costs associated with the disease. The secondary objective is to describe the relationship between genetic, lifestyle and/or environmental factors and the expression of the LHON phenotype.

The first subject was enrolled on 3 January 2018, and enrollment is targeted to be completed in early Q2 2020.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: REALITY LHON Registry: NCT03295071

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191210006078/en/

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GenSight Biologics reports findings from REALITY study and REVERSE-RESCUE analysis highlighting positive benefits from LUMEVOQ (GS010) compared to...

A SCOTTISH Santa Claus has amazingly had his vision saved - after discovering he couldn't read names of children on his list anymore.

Veteran Father Christmas James Marshall couldn't believe he wasn't on the nice list after discovering he was struggling to see the names of the kids visiting his grotto.

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The 55-year-old from Bellshill, Lanarkshire, has been warming the hearts of many for the past ten years by attending events across Scotland as Santa and raising money for charity.

But he was stunned when he was diagnosed with Glaucoma after he decided to pay the opticians a visit - which could've resulted in him losing his sight.

The Scot booked his Specsavers appointment after thinking he would need a new pair of glasses because of his struggles to carry out his Santa duties.

It was during the visit, that optometrist director Douglas Waugh spotted something unusual during Mr Marshalls sight test and referred him to University Hospital Wishaw where he was diagnosed with an advanced form of Glaucoma in both eyes.

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James said: "The whole situation was a shock to the system. Ive worn glasses for more than 30 years but I had no idea there was anything really problematic with my sight.

"I suffered a stroke when I was 32 so whenever Ive experienced a blind spot, Id always put it down to that. There wasnt any symptoms or pain, just an occasional blurriness.

"I only began to notice it more when trying to read the names of children aloud during one of my grotto visits.

"I even remember asking one of my elves to help out at one point so just thought I needed to get a new pair of glasses.

"However, the visit to Specsavers and the test carried out by Douglas just showed me how much sight I had lost due to the condition."

The condition also impacted James other job as a hospital catering manager which he was unable to continue working at due to the potential hazards caused by his reduced sight.

He added: "The whole experience was life-changing and the damage done to my eyes was irreversible.

"I need to regularly take eye drops to prevent the glaucoma from getting any worse and need to visit the hospital so they can monitor the condition, but its a price Im willing to pay.

"Im incredibly grateful to the prompt and professional care I received from the team at Specsavers, things could have been monumentally worse.

"If the condition hadnt been spotted, theres a chance I would have lost sight in both of my eyes."

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In the spirit of the Christmas season, James is now hoping to share his story and give others an opportunity to get their eyes checked to check vision and other health conditions.

Often symptomless in its early stages, glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible sight loss.

Mr Waugh, Store director in Specsavers Bellshill, said: "Jamess case, although rare, is an example of just how vital it is to go for a regular eye test.

"We recommend getting your eyes checked every two years as they can detect various health conditions, not just changes in prescription.

"We are very glad to hear that Jamess is doing well and were thrilled to have invited him along to our big Christmas light switch on to truly make our towns Christmas feel magical."

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Bellshill Santa has his eyesight saved after struggling to read kids names on his list - The Scottish Sun

Liz Bonnin natural history, science and environmental TV presenter has announced Specsavers Carlows investment in hospital-quality equipment that can help detect treatable eye conditions sooner.

Specsavers Carlow has rolled out theOptical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scanner in store - acutting-edgepiece of equipment that allows opticians to view the eye in more detail than ever before.

It is all part of its commitment to providing its customers with access to the very latest optical technology, helping to detect a number of eye conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, sooner.

OCT can also help to detect glaucoma up to four years in advance.

Given that nearly half of all sight loss is preventable, an OCT scanmeans conditions can be managed before they get worse and can help prevent potential sight loss.

An OCT scan, which only takes a few seconds, uses light to take more than 1,000 images of the back of your eye and beyond, looking right back to the optic nerve and creating a cross-section view.

Imagine it like a cake you can see the top of the cake and the icing, but the image produced from an OCT scan slices the cake in half and turns it on its side, so you can see all the layers inside.

It gives your optician an incredibly accurate picture of your eye and its structures.

Speaking at the launch of the OCT campaign, Liz said: "I am short sighted and have always relied on regular eye checks, so I was keen to help raise awareness about their importance, especially as early detection is vital in the fight against preventable sight loss.

"The OCT scan can detect eye health conditions before physical symptoms are presented.

"Specsavers Carlow is leading the way in terms of the advanced technology on offer in store. An OCT scan would have previously required a hospital visit, but now there really is no excuse to not keep on top of our eye health."

Speaking about the state-of-the-art optical technology, store director at Specsavers Carlow, Mary McGinley, said: "This innovative technology gives our opticians the ability to enhance the offering for customersby identifying and helping to detect or manage conditions.

"OCT technology produces such a detailed picture of the structures in the eye that it allows us to identify signs of diseases years earlier than traditional methods.

"Given that 75% of vision impairment and blindness can be prevented, the sooner we can detect these conditions, the sooner we can help manage them or refer people for treatment."

The scan is in addition to a thorough eye test, during which the optometrist uses a range of clinical tests and procedures to measure the quality of someones vision and the health of their eyes.

A customers OCT images are stored on file, so Specsavers optometrists can note any changes over time a real benefit when monitoring someones overall eye health.

OCT is now available in Specsavers Carlow. For more information on the services available or to make an appointment, please visitwww.specsavers.ie/stores/carlow

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Specsavers Carlow taking a deeper look into your eyes with new state-of-the-art tech - Carlow Live

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LAWRENCE, Kan. -- University of Kansas sophomore piano performance major, Luther Fuller doesn't read music like most students, but he doesn't exactly play by ear either.

Instead he relies on memory and Braille to bring his music to life.

"I memorize it as I go," Fuller said. "I learn a few measures of right hand, then get the left hand for that. By the time I finished learning all the notes, I also have it memorized."

Fuller has Retinoschis. It's a genetic disorder that caused him to lose most of his vision at a young age.

"I have a tiny bit of light perception in my left eye. I have no usable vision. So pretty much my whole life, I have no memory of sight," Fuller said.

But Fuller said he doesn't need his sight when he sits down to tickle the ivories. His professor says his talent is amazing.

"He has to just memorize the music right away. I think that's an extraordinary gift and something that's very special," Michael Kirkendoll said.

Fuller said he finds freedom through his music. It's been that way as long as he can remember.

"I needed help with a lot of things. so I liked being able to improvise on that toy piano at first. Then this spinet that we got, being able to improvise on there and do it unassisted, it brought me joy," Fuller said.

Fuller relies on that freedom to get him where he wants to go.

"I think that people, when they first see Luther play or talk to Luther, the first thing that strikes them is that he's a blind pianist," Kirkendoll said. "I think of him first as a pianist, and then he also just happens to be blind,"

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