StemCell Therapy

Established in 1996, Centre for Sight is a leading eye care provider in India. Since its inception, Centre for Sight has been guided by patient centric values of efficiency, precision, compassion and integrity.

Centre for Sight won the prestigious Frost & Sullivan award as the Eye care provider company of the year 2010 & 2014, an affirmation of its values. Centre for Sight was awarded the prestigious FICCI Healthcare Excellence award for Operational Excellence in 2012.

ET Now Leaders of tomorrow national award for Business Excellence in 2014. Awarded Best Single Specialty Hospital Chain 2016 at Businessworld 3rd Healthcare Summit & Awards. Dr. Mahipal S Sachdev, chairman & MD CFS group of hospitals receives lifetime achievement Award at Times Health achiever Delhi NCR 2017.

Also the hospital was awarded best single specialty hospital in the same conclave. These awards are recognition of our committed efforts to make eye care a super specialty in India.

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Centers across 32 cities

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Super Specialities 2016

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Centre For Sight - Eye Care Centre | Top Eye Hospital In India

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'Ahimsa meat' is the latest type of meat in the Indian market which researchers claim do not need the rearing and slaughter of animals. The meat, which was synthesised from stem cells, was created in Hyderabad in a joint effort by Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and National Research Centre on Meat (NRCM), reports The Times of India.

The researchers said that the synthetic meat will look, taste and feel the same. Different types of meat can be produced, including chicken and mutton. They added that the nutritional content of the meat will be the same as the natural ones.

However, this meat will be boneless and fat-free. By producing this type of meat, the scientists hope that there would be a reduction in the carbon footprint and they will contribute to animal welfare.

The laboratories were given a budget of Rs 4.5 crore to develop the meat. Maneka Gandhi, a known animal rights activist, had asked to start producing synthetic meat on a commercial scale in five years.

Humane Society of India, which is one of the top promoters of synthetic meat, claimed that the government's investment in the project is the largest compared to any other country.

What do international meat suppliers have to say?

Peter Verstrate, the CEO of Dutch company Mosa Meat, told Labiotech that by moving towards synthetic meat, methane emissionswould reduce. Along with this, 95 per cent of water spent on rearing the farm animals could be saved.

"We have billions of animals that are being raised and are being eaten. If you can just reduce that 10 per cent, 20 per cent it would be massive on the environment, but we don't expect that to be done within 10 years. The only thing that is now on our horizon is just stopping the growth of animal consumption. If we can just do that it will be a huge win," said Daan Luining, the CTO of Meatable, cultured meat company in Denmark.

Study suggests ultra-processed foods could increase risk of cancer

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What is ahimsa meat? Scientists create fat-free, boneless ...

Why havent you heard about this before?

In the grand scheme of things, stem cell therapy is still relatively new. More importantly, its still rapidly evolving.

While its been used by practitioners for roughly 50 years now, it was mostly blood cancer cases that seemed to have a positive response to stem cell treatment.

It wasnt until recently that practitioners have proved how universally effective stem cells can be in regenerating tissue after injuries or restoring the effects of natural wear-and-tear.

Our bodies are made of cells.

Muscle cells construct the muscle tissue. Nerve cells are the building blocks for the nervous system. In other words, all of the cells in our body have a specific set of functions.

Except stem cells. Their job is to regenerate other types of cells, should the need occur.

Stem cells are the silent hero that continuously repairs and regenerates all of our body parts. They act as the source that generates new, specialized cells, which can quickly adapt to an injury or natural wear-and-tear. The firemen who also happen to rebuild the house.

It can be a bit of a confusing subject, so why dont we kick things off with an analogy?

For example, think of a stem cell as a young human being.

As a child, you have complete freedom over what you can become. You can choose to be a physics teacher, play in a professional soccer team, or to head a successful business.

Over time, you make choices based on your decision. Young professors will read a lot of books, aspiring athletes will enroll to their local soccer team, and the entrepreneurs will open lemonade stands.

Enough time passes, and each of these kids will no longer have the same freedom of choicethey will be specialized.

The teacher could never learn to kick the ball as well as the soccer player, who could never build a multi-million dollar business. Each of them would be effective in their own areas, but they would have lost their ability to change function.

Stem cells behave very similarly.

One of the main properties of a stem cell is that they can transform into any other type of cell, taking on its functions and properties.

Namely, there are 7 main types of body cells:

A stem cell can become any one of these cells. Once they do, they reach maturity and function as the designated cell type.

In fact, this regenerative process happens all the time without us knowing.

One of the common myths we hear is that stem cells are some new invention that scientists have mixed in their laboratories, and are now looking to inject them into poor test subjects as a part of their grand experiment with the human race.

While some stem cells used in therapy do come from external sources (read: not from your own body), wed like to emphasize that stem cells are a natural building block of our bodies. Theyve always been therewe just werent aware of what they do and how to use them in therapy.

Current practical and academic research shows that stem cells are present in the:

Given that stem cells are spread all over our body, you might sense that theyre there for a reason.

The reason is that our bodies regenerate all the time without us knowing. Us and lizards, it turns out, were not so different after all.

Skin, for example, we regenerate fully within 2-3 weeks. As in, every month we get a new set of skin. We shed our skin seamlessly throughout the day.

Some of our inner organs also have amazing regenerative capabilities.

Liver, for example, is known to be extremely good at regenerating. So good, in fact, that it could regenerate fully from just a quarter (25%)[7] of the full organ mass.

The inner lining of our intestines, called the epithelium, regenerates fully every 5-7 days, too.

The point ismost of our body parts have innate regenerative abilities, powered by stem cells.

However, were not on par with the reptiles yet in the regeneration game.

Most of our body parts they need help to regenerate properly.

Thats where stem cell therapy comes in.

We wont go all technical about the mechanics of stem cells, but a couple of core things you should know before you read anything else:

In fact, it is three distinctive properties[8] that set stem cells apart from the rest:

If youve heard stories about stem cells, they were probably about how they are harvested.

Namely, you might have heard a notion that in order to get stem cells, you have to kill an embryo.

Let us shed some light on the topic.

What you need to know:

Embryonicor omnipotentstem cells are at the very core of the controversy surrounding the entire area of stem cell therapy.

As their name suggests, they are gathered from embryos in the early stages of growth. They develop in eggs fertilized in in vitro fertilization[9]clinics, and are subsequently donated for research after receiving consent from the donor herself.

Scientists take particular interest in embryonic stem cells because of their vast potential. In theory, they have the ability to transform into most any type of body cell, in unlimited quantities. Ethical or not, it can at least be understood why academics are so fascinated with embryonic stem cells.

In practice, however, these cells are not used.

For one, its illegal to do so[10] in the US and many other countries. Only closely monitored and highly regulated research projects can use specified amounts of embryonic stem cells for experimentation.

But then, you should also know that we have not yet figured out how to use embryonic stem cells in therapy safely. Once that day comes, however, societies across the world will have important ethical questions to solve.

What you need to know:

Adult stem cellsalso known as pluripotent stem cellshave been used in therapy since 1956.

Pluripotent stem cells are more limited in their differentiative and multiplicative abilities. That is, they cannot multiply an infinite amount of times, or transform into any other type of cells. There are limitations.

Major advancements in stem cell therapy are closely linked to these limitations. As we learn more about different sources of adult stem cells and about how to use them in therapy, we find new practical applications to treat diseases and injuries.

At first, scientists and practitioners have operated under the notion that adult stem cells could mostly be found in the bone marrowa soft, spongy tissue inside our bones, responsible for generation of new blood cells.

For this reason, the first stem cell transplants addressed various blood diseasessuch as leukemia. They did so successfully. (Yes, bone marrow transplant is also a stem cell transplant procedure.)

It wasnt until 2010 that adult stem cell therapy was acknowledged as a possible solution to many of our musculoskeletal problems and a viable alternative to surgical orthopaedic treatments. Once the first person received a stem cell transplant[11] to treat spinal injury, the orthopaedic world has changed for good.

What you need to know:

First things first: the ethical question.

Youve got this rightthere are stem cells in the umbilical cord of every newborn, and they can be used in therapy.

Since umbilical cord is no longer needed by the parents after birth, some of them choose to donate the cord for research and therapy purposes.

Certified clinic partners, such as ourselves, receive pre-specified doses of umbilical cord stem cells (in amounts of 5, 15 or 30 million) to be used in therapy.

Why would we want to use umbilical cord stem cells? Arent our own bone marrow and adipose tissue enough?

Well, in some cases, theyre not. This highly varies on a case-by-case basis, but some major considerations may include:

Can umbilical cord stem cells be rejected by your body, given their foreign nature?

While properly tested and securely harvested umbilical stem cells do not pose direct threat to the patients healththey do come in pre-specified amounts from a partner FDA approved clinic. Which means, we do not control the entire process from start to finish.

For this reason, we often steer patients towards autologousor your ownstem cells, since these pose no risk at all.

For now, its safe to say that umbilical cord stem cells are a good alternative to stem cells of your own, when, for some reason, the latter cant be used for therapy.

The science behind stem cells is as complicated as is it exciting.

The therapy itself, however, is remarkably simple. That is one of its major appeals.

There are many cultural references to what stem cell therapy might one day become. The cure-all; an injection of cells that could treat any disease and heal any injury, for anyone.

Heres how it goes in real life.

Depending on the chosen source of stem cellswhether its the patients bone marrow, adipose tissue (fat) or an umbilical cordthe first stage of stem cell therapy is to actually collect them.

With bone marrow stem cells:

With adipose tissue stem cells:

With umbilical cord stem cells:

This part is another source of controversy.

There is a big myth (mouthfed by marketers) that stem cells are somehow modified before transplantation.

Not only is this incorrect, it is also illegal. FDA has a clear policy[53] that only minimal manipulation[12] can be allowed in stem cell transplantation.

What exactly is minimal manipulation? Here is the answer:

This is very important, because chemically or otherwise manipulating stem cells before transplantation means its virtually impossible to predict how these cells would predict once in the patients body.

Its also important to emphasize that we do not multiply stem cells in the lab through manipulation.

All stem cells are naturally pre-programmed to divide a specific number of times:

The multiplication itself can happen in lab conditions or in the patients bodybut we have nothing to do with that. The cells themselves do the work.

So, then, what do we do before transplantation? Here is a quick rundown:

And thats basically it! We dont do any chemical or biological manipulation. Since stem cells already know what to do, theres no reason to interfere with their biological structure without compromising safety.

This is where the true magic happens.

A concentrated sample of activated stem cells is transplanted right into where theyre needed most: the injury site or chronic illness area. This is what has proven transformative in chronic and acute musculoskeletal diseases, such as arthritis and spinal injury.

Once again, the procedure is really simple:

Since theres no surgical incision (stem cell therapy is a non-invasive procedure), patients usually do not experience any serious side effects. Some soreness and pain are witnessed at times.

Its really that simple.

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Stem cell therapy isnt just a radical improvement in medicine; its a much needed one, too.

See, for the longest time, patients acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries were faced with two groups of treatment options:

The downsides of surgery are the main reason why stem cell therapy has gained so much attention recently.

Due to the invasive nature of surgical intervention, these types of treatments always put patients at a serious risk.

From catching an infection at the incision site to the formation of blood clots which could lead to a heart attack, surgical intervention poses an entire array of health hazards[13].

Hip surgery, in particular, is an extremely dangerous endeavour.

One 2012 study found that as many as 35% of patients report unfavorable long-term pain[14] within a 5 year period after the surgery.

A more recent 2018 Finnish review discovered that as many as 4.6% of all hip surgery patients and 10% of all hip replacement patients[15] experience significant post-operational complications.

It also concluded that a number of conditionsincluding Parkinsons, osteoarthritis, rheumatic diseases, and a number of mental illnessesincrease the chance of a complication.

What is more, there is an up to 3% chance for nerve damage[16] during hip replacement, and an estimated 18% chance of fracturing one of your musculoskeletal components. Still think its worth the risk?

Spinal surgery also deserves a hall-of-fame spot in the area of surgical complications.

During a 2015 study of 95 test subjects who underwent a lower spine surgery, 23% of them experienced significant complications[17] including infections, blood clot formation and nerve injury.

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Stem Cell Therapy - Cellaxys

If you still wonder about your next medical appointment, and are not certain whom to call for your basic medical care and needs, stop here. Analyze your choices. Look at what medicine has for you to offer. Look back and study the history of medicine. Study how medicine is practiced in various nations and cultures.

Wondering about choices in medical treatment? Should it be Allopathic? Ayurveda? Acupuncture? Conventional? Alternative and Complementary? European Botanical Medicine? Naturopathic Medicine? Homeopathic? Chiropractic? Chinese Herbal Medicine? Light therapy? Gene therapy? Balneotherapy? Krenotherapy? Hydrotherapy? Psychotherapy?

New medical research methods, utilizing the best of scientific discoveries, explain the scientific basics of the healing power of vitamins, herbs and other natral cures. At the same time millions of people are discovering gentler and kinder treatment options, ones that tap the enormous therapeutic power of nature and natural remedies.

Numerous attempts to create synthetic alternatives to potent herbal remedies often fail, as natural remedies are often too complex to be re-created in the best of pharmaceutical laboratories. On the other hand, some semi-synthetic alternatives of botanical products have become prescription drugs. Many of these have side effects, however, and so are available by prescription only.

In the meantime, the art and science of growing high quality botanical products and manufacturing natural remedies has been perfected, assuring a steady supply of premium quality natural supplements and treatments. Of the great importance to me is also the fact that botanical medicines are based on naturally growing plants that have no negative environmental impact, unless someone will wander into poorly charted territory of genetically engineered foods and plants. Those may bring on biological disasters by contamination by cross-pollination of native and valuable agricultural plants.

Botanical medicines are in general very safe and most of them have absolutely no known side effects. While they may be available as nonprescription products, they should still be used with respect and complete knowledge, as many of them are potent drugs.

European and Chinese medical practices do not recognize an "alternative medicine": there, the acupuncture, the use of botanical products and vitamins are considered to be an integral part of their conventional medicine. European countries (in example) have vast scientific and clinical experience with the use of botanical medicines that spans over several centuries. Meditation, yoga, drinking various mineral waters (krenotherapy), microclimate therapy, sanatoriums and preventoriums are all effectively used by physicians in many countries to help their patients heal, recover, or at least get much better. This must be combined, when appropriate, with carefully selected allopathic treatments.

I agree. In my opinion, botanical medicine and vitamin use, based on good science is not alternative or alien, but a basic and integral part of Medicine, and it always has been.

On the other hand unsafe treatments modalities, natural or synthetic, should be rejected after careful scrutiny and without prejudice.

Our goal at the Oregon Center for Integrative Medicine is to empower you. We will help you identify your individual problems and needs through a careful history review, detailed medical examination, and any appropriate tests. We combine the best possible preventive measures and the power of clinical nutrition with the most effective and also the gentlest possible treatment modalities.

Our mission is to help you to maintain or achieve, safely, optimum health.

Curious to know what is or what is not Primary Prevention in regards to breast cancer?

Mammogram, as well as thermography (frequently used in Europe), is excellent for detecting small or large tumors that are already present. Instead, a diet low in animal and saturated fats, and rich in fruits and especially cruciferous vegetables, whole grains, and soy products would be considered primary prevention.

Breast cancer presently affects one out of nine women. Exercise, weight control, drinking plenty of pesticide-free water, and supplementation of vitamin E, selenium, and certain other potent and extremely safe nutrients qualify as excellent prevention of this condition.

In addition to the above, I urge you to perform monthly breast self-examinations. Yearly mammograms (or thermograms, used in Europe and recently available in the US) are valuable methods of early detection.

According to a Swedish study recently presented in Neurology journal, elderly people with low levels of folic acid and vitamin B-12 have an increased risk of developing Alzheimers disease.

Other conditions are also implicated in compromising mental status. Those are: untreated hypothyroidism, head trauma and cerebrovascular accidents.

Elevated homocysteine level, which I find frequently in patients with extensive coronary heart disease, is another culprit. This genetic lack of a certain enzyme allowing conversion of the amino acid methionine into a harmless substance, with consequent accumulation of homocysteine, is also considered a significant risk factor for diabetes and hypertension. Homocysteine level is also found to be elevated in people with Alzheimers disease, vascular dementia, so-called age-related memory loss, ulcerative colitis, Crohns disease, and depression. Further studies will better explain this relationship.

Meanwhile, homocysteine level may be corrected through dietary changes, especially by adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet and taking folic acid, vitamin B-12, B-6 and in some resistant cases, additional supplements. It is also prudent to avoid substances and drugs that are known to lower the bodys ability to absorb vitamin B-12.

Be proactive. Detect and correct vitamin and mineral deficiencies. There is no point in enduring premature graceful aging when a condition may be preventable or reversible.

According to the studies of 30,000 U.S. men conducted by Ascherio A et al and published in November of 1992, men (this particular study involved men) who consumed more than 24 gm of fiber per day had a 57% lower incidence of hypertension, as compared to those who consumed less than 12 gm per day.

Men who consumed more than 400 mg of magnesium per day had a 49% lower incidence of hypertension, as compared to those with intakes of less than 250 mg per day.

Men who consumed more than 3.6 gm of potassium per day had a 54% lower incidence of hypertension compared to those with intakes of less than 2.4 gm per day.

Calcium consumption of over 1100 mg per day resulted in a 17% lower incidence of hypertension than consumption of less than 500 mg per day. Patients were followed for 4 years to observe long term effects.

Good sources of fiber and magnesium are whole grains, fruits, nuts and vegetables. One of the best sources of calcium are dark green vegetables. Among dairy products, yogurt delivers the most calcium.

Magnesium deficiency in the U.S.A. is of epidemic proportions. This condition affects about 70 percent of people of all ages. The cause? We consume extensively processed foods that are nutrient and magnesium-poor. It is the lack of magnesium that is contributing to deadly forms of arrhythmias, severe agitation, atrial fibrillation-related strokes, painful muscle spasms, devastating blood clots, chronic migraines not responding well to treatment, and many more. It is pitty that hypomagnesemia, the condition so easy to diagnose and correct contributes to so much disability, misery and death.

Deficiency of magnesium plays a role in numerous conditions, among them: atrial fibrillation, other arrhythmias, atherosclerosis (plaque formation), myocardial infarction, stroke, migraines, hypertension, kidney stones, fibromyalgia, and osteoporosis. Magnesium deficiency is very common in people who use diuretics--the commonly prescribed blood pressure medications.

Increasing magnesium intake (correction of magnesium deficiency) also improves or relieves conditions such as: anxiety, insomnia, Alzheimers disease, dementia, asthma, coronary artery spasm, chronic fatigue syndrome, leg cramps, painful myalgias including fibromyalgia, chronic lower back pain, restless leg syndrome, delirium tremens, psychosis, seizures, diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, mitral valve prolapse, PMS, and vertigo.

You can assure a good dietary supply of magnesium by consuming whole grains and apples. When blood magnesium level is too low, consider supplements in the form of highly bio-available chelates, such as magnesium citrate. Supplements in the form of micronized powder in vegetable capsules will have highest absorption rates. In the presence of magnesium (and vitamin D in sufficient amounts), calcium will be deposited where we want it to be--in the bones. However, supplementing calcium and vitamin D without enough magnesium may actually be damaging, promoting deposition of calcium in the blood vessels!

(Toronto) Low bone mineral density at the spine, but not at the hips, is associated with a high degree of coronary artery calcification. These findings were reported by Dr. Douglas P. Kiel at the annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. Women with the highest bone mineral density index had the least coronary calcification.

Comment: Dr. Kiels report gives us another good reason to enjoy a daily serving of salad or other green leafy vegetables, as well as to take adequate amounts of calcium, magnesium and vitamin D. For significant bone mass loss I advise use of enhanced calcium products.

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Integrative Medicine Oregon Whole Health

Code of Medical Ethics Opinion 7.3.8

Human stem cells are widely seen as offering a source of potential treatment for a range of diseases and are thus the subject of much research. Clinical studies have validated the use of adult stem cells in a limited number of therapies, but have yet to confirm the utility of embryonic stem cells.

Physicians who conduct research using stem cells obtained from any source (established tissue, umbilical cord blood, or embryos) must, at a minimum:

(a) Adhere to institutional review board (IRB) requirements.

(b) Ensure that the research is carried out with appropriate oversight and monitoring.

(c) Ensure that the research is carried out with appropriate informed consent. In addition to disclosure of research risks and potential benefits, at minimum, the consent disclosure should address:

a. The process by which stem cells will be obtained

b. What specifically will be done with the stem cells

c. Whether an immortal cell line will result

d. The primary and anticipated secondary uses of donated embryos and/or derived stem cells, including potential commercial uses

2. For a recipient of stem cells in clinical research

a. The types of tissue from which the stem cells derive (e.g., established tissue, umbilical cord blood, or embryos)

b. Unique risks posed by investigational stem cell products (when applicable), such as tumorigenesis, immunological reactions, unpredictable behavior of cells, and unknown long-term health effects

The professional community as well as the public remains divided about the use of embryonic stem cells for either research or therapeutic purposes. The conflict regarding research with embryonic stem cells centers on the moral status of embryos, a question that divides ethical opinion and that cannot be resolved by medical science. Regardless whether they are obtained from embryos donated by individuals or couples undergoing in vitro fertilization, or from cloned embryos created by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), use of embryonic stem cells currently requires the destruction of the human embryo from which the stem cells derive.

The pluralism of moral visions that underlies this debate must be respected. Participation in research involving embryonic stem cells requires respect for embryos, research participants, donors, and recipients. Embryonic stem cell research does not violate the ethical standards of the profession. Every physician remains free to decide whether to participate in stem cell research or to use its products. Physicians should continue to be guided by their commitment to the welfare of patients and the advancement of medical science.

Physicians who conduct research using embryonic stem cells should be able to justify greater risks for subjects, and the greater respect due embryos than stem cells from other sources, based on expectations that the research offers substantial promise of contributing significantly to scientific or therapeutic knowledge.

Code of Medical Ethics: Special issues in research

Visit theEthics main pageto access additional Opinions, the Principles of Medical Ethics and more information about the Code of Medical Ethics.

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Research With Stem Cells | American Medical Association

South Korean biotechnology firm Nature Cell said Tuesday that its stem cell therapy for Alzheimers disease has been formally approved for use at Fukuoka Trinity Clinic, one of its partner hospitals in Japan.

The Seoul-based biotech firm says this is the first time for a stem cell therapy for treating Alzheimers to be commercialized anywhere in the world.

Despite the news, shares of Nature Cell early Tuesday continued a plunge initiated by recent news that the Korean Drug Ministry had rejected Nature Cells request for conditional approval for a separate osteoarthritis stem cell drug.

Shares of Nature Cell initially fellabout 18 percent in morning trading hours, but later recovered to close at 43,700 won ($40.90) on Tuesday, up 0.23 percent from the previous day.

As a result, the hospital -- a partner of the Biostar Research Institute jointly run by Nature Cell and R Bio -- will be able to start offering the firms stem cell therapies to patients within this month, it said.

In Japan, stem cell therapies are not considered drugs, but fall under therapeutic technology.

To begin providing stem cell therapies, a hospital must obtain the approval of a board of regenerative medicine specialists who review the drugs efficacy and safety, as well as patient risks and benefits.

Once approval is granted, it is delivered to the Japanese Drug Ministry for recordkeeping. Then, the hospital can begin commercially offering the stem cell treatments to patients at the facility.

Stem cells -- progenitor cells able to develop into various types of tissue -- are viewed as key to the field of regenerative medicine, which helps the body repair itself.

Stem cell therapies are engineered by extracting stem cells from the patients tissue, incubating the cells, then administering them intravenously to the patient.

So far, Nature Cell has developed stem cell therapies including Joint Stem, targeting osteoarthritis, and Astro Stem for Alzheimers disease, both of which have concluded phase 2 clinical trials in the US.

In Korea, the drugmaker finished phase 2 trials for Joint Stem and sought to obtain sales approval from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, based on a fast-track approval procedures that allows drugs targeting rare or severe irreversible diseases to be commercialized early, before conducting phase 3 trials.

However, the Korean drug regulator rejected Nature Cells submission, citing insufficient clinical evidence -- the firm had tested out its drug on only 13 patients in the US -- to prove the drugs efficacy and safety.

By Sohn Ji-young (jys@heraldcorp.com)

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Nature Cells stem cell treatment for Alzheimers approved ...

Color blindness occurs when you are unable to see colors in a normal way. It is also known as color deficiency. Color blindness often happens when someone cannot distinguish between certain colors. This usually happens between greens and reds, and occasionally blues.

In the retina, there are two types of cells that detect light. They are called rods and cones. Rods detect only light and dark and are very sensitive to low light levels. Cone cells detect color and are concentrated near the center of your vision. There are three types of cones that see color: red, green and blue. The brain uses input from these cone cells to determine our color perception.

Color blindness can happen when one or more of the color cone cells are absent, not working, or detect a different color than normal. Severe color blindness occurs when all three cone cells are absent. Mild color blindness happens when all three cone cells are present but one cone cell does not work right. It detects a different color than normal.

There are different degrees of color blindness. Some people with mild color deficiencies can see colors normally in good light but have difficulty in dim light. Others cannot distinguish certain colors in any light. The most severe form of color blindness, in which everything is seen in shades of gray, is uncommon. Color blindness usually affects both eyes equally and remains stable throughout life.

Color blindness is usually something that you have from birth but you can also get it later in life. Change in color vision can signify a more serious condition. Anyone who experiences a significant change in color perception should see an ophthalmologist.

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What Is Color Blindness? - American Academy of Ophthalmology

Future ReflectionsSpecial Issue: Low Vision and Blindness 2005

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by Kenneth Jernigan

Kenneth Jernigan

Editor's Note: It may seem odd to begin a special issue about low vision with a definition of blindness, but sometimes the fastest route to a destination is not the most direct. As you read this issue, you will find the words low vision, visually impaired, partially sighted, legally blind (and maybe a few others) used interchangeably with the word blind. Over the decades professionals have often attempted to establish definitions for these terms based on a hierarchy of degree of vision loss; all of those attempts failed. In other words, there is no one accepted definition of, for example, "low vision" or "visually impaired." But the National Federation of the Blind does not view this as a problem. Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, president of the NFB from 1968 to 1986 and an active leader of the organization right up to his death in 1998, explained it this way:

Before we can talk intelligently about the problems of blindness or the potentialities of blind people, we must have a workable definition of blindness. Most of us are likely familiar with the generally accepted legal definition: visual acuity of not greater than 20/200 in the better eye with correction or a field not subtending an angle greater than 20 degrees. But this is not really a satisfactory definition. It is, rather, a way of recognizing in medical and measurable terms something which must be defined not medically or physically but functionally.

Putting to one side for a moment the medical terminology, what is blindness? Once I asked a group of high school students this question, and one of them replied--apparently believing that she was making a rather obvious statement--that a person is blind if she "can't see." When the laughter subsided, I asked the student if she really meant what she said. She replied that she did. I then asked her whether she would consider a person blind who could see light but who could not see objects--a person who would bump into things unless she used a cane, a dog, or some other travel aid and who would, if she depended solely on the use of her eyesight, walk directly into a telephone pole or fire plug. After some little hesitation the student said that she would consider such a person to be blind. I agreed with her and then went on to point out the obvious-that she literally did not mean that the definition of blindness was to be unable to see.

I next told this student of a man I had known who had normal (20/20) visual acuity in both eyes but who had such an extreme case of sensitivity to light that he literally could not keep his eyes open at all. The slightest amount of light caused such excruciating pain that the only way he could open his eyes was by prying them open with his fingers. Nevertheless, this person, despite the excruciating pain he felt while doing it, could read the eye chart without difficulty. The readings showed that he had "normal sight." This individual applied to the local Welfare Department for Public Assistance to the Blind and was duly examined by their ophthalmologist. The question I put to the student was this: "If you had been the ophthalmologist, would you have granted the aid or not?"

Her answer was, "Yes."

"Remember," I told her, "under the law you are forbidden to give aid to any person who is not actually blind. Would you still have granted the assistance?" The student said that she would. Again, I agreed with her, but I pointed out that, far from her first facetious statement, what she was saying was this: It is possible for one to have "perfect sight" and still in the physical, literal sense of the word be blind.

I then put a final question to the student. I asked her whether if a sighted person were put into a vault which was absolutely dark so that he could see nothing whatever, it would be accurate to refer to that sighted person as a blind man. After some hesitation and equivocation the student said, "No." For a third time I agreed with her. Then I asked her to examine what we had established.

1. To be blind does not mean that one cannot see. (Here again I must interrupt to say that I am not speaking in spiritual or figurative terms but in the most literal sense of the word.) 2. It is possible for an individual to have "perfect sight" and yet be physically and literally blind. 3. It is possible for an individual not to be able to see at all and still be a sighted person.

What, then, in light of these seeming contradictions is the definition of blindness? In my way of thinking it is this: One is blind to the extent that the individual must devise alternative techniques to do efficiently those things which he would do if he had normal vision. An individual may properly be said to be "blind" or a "blind person" when he has to devise so many alternative techniques--that is, if he is to function efficiently--that his pattern of daily living is substantially altered. It will be observed that I say alternative not substitute techniques, for the word substitute connotes inferiority, and the alternative techniques employed by the blind person need not be inferior to visual techniques. In fact, some of them are superior. The usually accepted legal definition of blindness already given (that is, visual acuity of less than 20/200 with correction or a field of less than 20 degrees) is simply one medical way of measuring and recognizing that anyone with better vision than the amount mentioned in the definition will (although he may have to devise some alternative techniques) likely not have to devise so many such techniques as to alter substantially his patterns of daily living. On the other hand, anyone with less vision than that mentioned in the legal definition will usually (I emphasize the word usually, for such is not always the case) need to devise so many such alternative techniques as to alter quite substantially his patterns of daily living.

It may be of some interest to apply this standard to the three cases already discussed:

First, what of the person who has light perception but sees little or nothing else? In at least one situation he can function as a sighted person. If, before going to bed, he wished to know whether the lights are out in his home, he can simply walk through the house and "see." If he did not have light perception, he would have to use some alternative technique--touch the bulb, tell by the position of the switch, have some sighted person give him the information, or devise some other method. However, this person is still quite properly referred to as a blind person. This one visual technique which he uses is such a small part of his overall pattern of daily living as to be negligible in the total picture. The patterns of his daily living are substantially altered. In the main he employs alternative techniques to do those things which he would do with sight if he had normal vision--that is, he does if he functions efficiently.

Next, let us consider the person who has normal visual acuity but cannot hold his eyes open because of his sensitivity to light. He must devise alternative techniques to do anything which he would do with sight if he had normal vision. He is quite properly considered to be a "blind person."

Finally, what of the sighted person who is put into a vault which has no light? Even though she can see nothing at all, she is still quite properly considered to be a "sighted person." She uses the same techniques that any other sighted person would use in a similar situation. There are no visual techniques which can be used in such circumstances. In fact, if a blind person found herself in such a situation, she might very well have a variety of techniques to use.

I repeat that, in my opinion, blindness can best be defined not physically or medically but functionally or sociologically. The alternative techniques which must be learned are the same for those born blind as for those who become blind as adults. They are quite similar (or should be) for those who are totally blind or nearly so and those who are "partially sighted" and yet are blind in the terms of the usually accepted legal definition. In other words, I believe that the complex distinctions which are often made between those who have partial sight and those who are totally blind, between those who have been blind from childhood and those who have become blind as adults are largely meaningless. In fact, they are often harmful since they place the wrong emphasis on blindness and its problems. Perhaps the greatest danger in the field of work for the blind today is the tendency to be hypnotized by jargon.

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A Definition of Blindness - National Federation of the Blind

It takes a while to know who you really are. And when you lose your way, sometimes its hard to find it again.

Charlie Hudson was on the verge of figuring that out when her dadthe only parent and friend she ever haddied suddenly. She was barely 18, and she was alone. So she went for easyplaying life safe, running away from a home that harbored nothing but bad memories an

Charlie Hudson was on the verge of figuring that out when her dadthe only parent and friend she ever haddied suddenly. She was barely 18, and she was alone. So she went for easyplaying life safe, running away from a home that harbored nothing but bad memories and challenges and loving a man who would take her away from it all forever.

Its funny how chance takes over when you need it most. And thats exactly what brought Cody Carmichael into her life. A former motocross super star, Cody was now happy to be living the blue collar life, spending his days finishing up school and his nights under the hood of some classic car, just trying to keep everything his father taught him alive. Cody and Charlie were living parallel lives, until they finally collided. And the moment he smiled at her, Charlie knew he was the one who would change everything. But was she willing to take the risk?

Cody saw through it all. He saw herall of her. But would letting him in be too much to take? And if Charlie let herself love himreally love himcould he love her back?

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Blindness by Ginger Scott

NLM ID: 101562615SJR H Index:16SJR 2017: 0.35ICDS 2017: 3.8

Nanomedicine is the application of nanotechnology which made its debut with greatly increased possibilities in the field of medicine. Nanomedicine desires to deliver research tools and clinically reformative devices in the near future.

Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology covers wide varieties of topics such as molecular nanotechnology, nanosensors, nanoparticles, nanodrugs, Nanomaterials, nanobiotechnology, nanobiopharmaceutics, nanoelectronics, nanorobotics, etc.. The journal includes a wide range of fields in its discipline to create a platform for the authors to make their contribution towards the journal and the editorial office promises a peer review process for the submitted manuscripts for the quality of publishing.

The journal is using Editorial Manager System for quality peer review process. Editorial Manager is an online manuscript submission, review and tracking systems. Review processing is performed by the editorial board members of Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology or outside experts; at least two independent reviewers approval followed by editor approval is required for acceptance of any citable manuscript. Authors may submit manuscripts and track their progress through the system, hopefully to publication. Reviewers can download manuscripts and submit their opinions to the editor. Editors can manage the whole submission/review/revise/publish process.

The Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology is a scientific journal which provides an opportunity to share the information among the medical scientists and researchers. The main function of open access publishing platforms is to present the content online, making it available to all, and link this information with useful scientific data.The Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology aims to publish articles bimonthly and is one of the best open access journals of scholarly publishing.

Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology is anacademic journal which aims to publish most complete and reliable source of information on the discoveries and current developments in the mode of Research articles, Review articles, Case reports, Short communications, etc. in all areas of the field and making them freely available through online without any restrictions or any other subscriptions to researchers worldwide.

You can find a clear view of peer review process by clicking here.

Material Science Research: Material Science and NanotechnoMaterials are crucial to the performance and reliability of virtually every technology and the vitality and health of any living organism. The central theme of materials science and engineering is that the process by which a material comes into being determines its structure, which in turn controls its properties and ultimately its functional performance.

Nanotechnology is the engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale. It is the study and application of extremely small things and can be used across all the other science fields, such as chemistry, biology, physics, materials science, and engineering.

Related Journals of NanotechnologyNanoscience and Nanotechnology, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Letters, Journal of Nanomedicine & Biotherapeutic Discovery, IEEE Transactions on Nanobioscience, Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology, Photonics and Nanostructures - Fundamentals and Applications

Nanobiotechnology is the application of nanotechnology to the life sciences: The technology encompasses precision engineering as well as electronics, and electromechanical systems as well as mainstream biomedical applications in areas as diverse as gene therapy, drug delivery and novel drug discovery techniques.

Related Journals of NanobiotechnologyJournal of Biomedical Nanotechnology, Research Journal of Nanoscience and nanotechnology, Nature Nanotechnology Journal, Nanomaterials & Molecular Nanotechnology, Nature Nanotechnology, Nano Letters, Advanced Materials, Nano Today

A Nanocomposite is a multiphase solid material where one of the phases has one, two or three dimensions of less than 100nm, or structure having nano-scale repeat distance between the different phases that make up the material.

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Journal of Nanomaterial and Nanotechnology, International Journal of Nanotechnology Impact Factor, Journal of Nanomedicine & Biotherapeutic Discovery, Scripta Materialia, Nanoscale, Lab on a Chip - Miniaturisation for Chemistry and Biology, Materials Science & Engineering A: Structural Materials: Properties, Microstructure and Processing

The Integrated Project Nanobiopharmaceutics aims at the development of innovative multidisciplinary approaches for the design, synthesis and evaluation of functionalised nano-carriers and nano-particle-based micro-carriers for the treatment of various diseases based on targeted, controlled delivery of therapeutic peptides and proteins (biopharmaceutics).

Related Journals of NanobiopharmaceuticsJournal of Nanomedicine & Biotherapeutic Discovery, Journal of Nanobiomedical Impact Factor, Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, Journal of Homotopy and Related Structures, Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases

Nanoelectronics is one of the major technologies of Nanotechnology. It plays vital role in the field of engineering and electronics.

Related Journals of Nanoelectronics Journal of Nanotechnology and Electrophysics, Nano Research & Applications, ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, International Journal of Nanotechnology Applications, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Journal of Physical Chemistry C, Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine

Nanomedicine is the medical application of nanotechnology. Nanomedicine ranges from the medical applications of nanomaterials, to nanoelectronic biosensors, and even possible future applications of molecular nanotechnology.

Related Journals of Nanomedicine Nanomaterials & Molecular Nanotechnology, Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology, International Journal of Nanomedicine, Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, Journal of Nanomedicine Research, European Journal of Nanomedicine

Nanotoxicology is a branch of toxicology concerned with the study of the toxicity of nanomaterials, which can be divided into those derived from combustion processes (like diesel soot), manufacturing processes (such as spray drying or grinding) and naturally occurring processes (such as volcanic eruptions or atmospheric reactions).

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Nanoengineering is the practice of engineering on the nanoscale. It derives its name from the nanometre, a unit of measurement equalling one billionth of a meter. Nanoengineering is largely a synonym for nanotechnology, but emphasizes the engineering rather than the pure science aspects of the field.

Related Journals of NanoengineeringJournal of Nanoresearch, Review in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Nature Nanotechnology Journal, Research & Reviews: Journal of Pharmaceutics and Nanotechnology, Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology, Nanotoxicology, Precision Engineering, Nanomedicine, Nanotechnology

The spontaneous association of molecules under equilibrium conditions into stable, structurally well-defined aggregates.

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Nanofluidics is often defined as the study and application of fluid flow in and around nanosized objects.

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Nanohedron aims to exhibit scientific images, with a focus on images depicting nanoscale objects. The work ranges from electron microscopy images of nanoscale materials to graphical renderings of molecules. Scientific images lying outside the realm of nanoscience such as algorithmic art or confocal microscopy images of cells will also be considered.

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Nano Cars Into the robotics is new technology which is useful for designing robots. Difference in exisiting robotics and nano cars is this system works as nervous system where as in existing system stepper motors are used.

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A sequence of nanoscale C60 atoms arranged in a long thin cylindrical structure. Nanotubes are extremely strong mechanically and very pure conductors of electric current. Applications of the nanotube in nanotechnology include resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes and transistors.

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Having an organization more complex than that of a molecule.

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Nanolithography is the branch of nanotechnology concerned with the study and application of fabricating nanometer-scale structures, meaning patterns with at least one lateral dimension between 1 and 100 nm.

Related Journals of NanolithographyInternational Journal of Nanotechnology, Journal of Nanotechnology Impact Factor, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Letters, Nano Research, Scripta Materialia, Nanoscale, Lab on a Chip - Miniaturisation for Chemistry and Biology

Nanoparticles are particles between 1 and 100 nanometers in size. In nanotechnology, a particle is defined as a small object that behaves as a whole unit with respect to its transport and properties. Particles are further classified according to diameter.

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Exploitation of biomaterials, devices or methodologies on the nanoscale.

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Patient from Portugal, 44 years old. Diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis.

In December 2012 his condition exacerbated. He started using wheelchairs. His disease progressed. He was not able to walk. He was not able to see. Nine months of usual treatments for MS accompanied by chemotherapy did not help. Then he found Swiss Medica Stem Cell Clinic. Stem celltreatment started immediately. One month later he was able to walk again.

See whole story about J Paul >>>

Patient from Uk, 51 years old. Diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis.

After having a stem cell treatment in Moscow his condition, in his words, got 80% better. Before the life changing treatment he was unable to walk long distances without the NHS support. Now he feels much healthier, has more energy and moves without significant difficulties. He is able to regularly go to the gym, he spends time with his two daughters and lives his life to the fullest.

See whole story about Shaun Lawrence >>>

Holistic medicine considers a person to be a functional unit. The disease symptoms are signs of disruption in the system of the body. By activating the bodys ability of self-regulation we can eliminate this disruption. In Swiss Medica XXI Century S.A. we seek the cause of the disease, and provide a setting: to allow the body to use its own powers of self-healing to overcome the disease.

Our primary task is to make your own cells treat your own body. We use advanced technology to activate mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue, bone marrow, etc. Donated cells can also be used. Introduced to the patients body, these cells help to regenerate damaged tissue. Symptoms become less obvious and/or disappear.

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Swiss Medica XXI - Stem Cells Treatment Clinic

Dr. Hufnagel's Biography Dr. Hufnagel is a cornea-trained, board-certified ophthalmologist. He is a graduate of UCLA, Yale and Johns Hopkins Universities. Dr. Hufnagel has been recognized as a VISX STAR, an award granted only to the leading excimer laser surgeons in the United States. Dr. Hufnagel has participated in an FDA-sponsored investigation for LASIK surgery. His pioneering involvement with excimer lasers dates back to 1987 with published studies on the pathological aspects of laser surgery applied to the cornea. To date, he has performed several thousand laser vision correction procedures and tailors all surgeries to each patients individual needs. He is an instructor in IntraLASE bladeless LASIK surgical technique and actively teaches LASIK to other surgeons. After getting to know Dr. Marc Werner, we thought you might want to meet Dr. Thierry Hufnagel. If you still have questions for Dr. Hufnagel, like his opinions on the iFS laser or what his Ben and Jerrys ice cream flavor would be, let us know in the comments below. Where are you originally from? I hail from Paris (France, not Texas!) What is your favorite memory from your years at Johns Hopkins? My fondest memory about Hopkins? People were referred there from all over the world for advice and treatment. I once examined this very famous Chicago lawyer who came in for cataract surgery. He was referred to me by my mentor, Dr. Walter Stark. After the lawyer came in for surgery, I told Dr. Stark that I thought he shouldnt operate on the patient. I didnt think that patient had a cataract! After further testing, we found that the patients visual loss was actually from a brain tumor, not a cataract. From that day on, they all thought I was pretty smartvery funny! How many years have you been practicing laser surgery? I opened my first LASIK center in New York City at the Trump Tower in 1995 called Insight Vision. What made you pick ophthalmology, particularly LASIK, as a specialty? When you ask patients about LASIK, most of them will tell you its the best thing they ever did! Not getting married, not having children, but having LASIK done! Lots of people see their need for glasses or contacts as a serious disability. Providing people with the gift of sight is very rewarding. My first rotation in medical school was in a hospice with end-of-life cancer patients. I couldnt do anything to help except pushing the morphine. I felt pretty useless. I looked for the field where I thought I could be the most helpful. Obstetrics and bringing babies to life or ophthalmology and providing the gift of sight were the two options I looked into. Then by chance, I landed in the eye business, not the maternity ward! Where do you teach LASIK to other surgeons? We do all of the teaching in our office where we have a state-of-the-art facility. Your favorite thing about New York? Melting pot, for sure.

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Ophthalmologists near Brooklyn, NY - Eye Surgeon

The Center for Beta Cell Therapy in Diabetes andViaCyte, Inc., announced that a human stem cell-derived product candidate has been implanted in type 1 diabetes patients at a subtherapeutic dose.

These are the first patients inEuropeto receive PEC-Direct, an encapsulated pancreatic progenitor cell product candidate designed to replace lost insulin-producing beta cells and restore blood glucose control for type 1 diabetes patients who fulfill entry criteria for a beta cell replacement therapy.

In preclinical models, implants of PEC-Direct (also known as VC-02) are capable of forming a functional beta cell mass that controls blood glucose levels.

This potential is now being examined in the first European clinical trial with type 1 diabetes patients who have lost blood glucose control due to beta cell loss in the pancreas.

For this patient population, a beta cell replacement therapy, like PEC-Direct, can potentially provide a functional cure.

This work complements clinical evaluation of PEC-Direct that is underway inNorth America.

During the first phase of the European trial, implants will be evaluated for their ability to form beta cells; the second phase will examine their capacity to produce systemic levels of insulin that establish glucose control.

The implantation in these first European patients is a major step in the development of cell therapy for type 1 diabetes.

The implantation was performed at UZ Brussel, the University Hospital of Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) with the PEC-Direct product candidate from ViaCyte.

The clinical trial and associated preclinical studies inEurope are undertaken by the Beta Cell Therapy Consortium, with the support of a Horizon 2020 grant from the European Commission.

The consortium is composed of clinical, industrial, and research teams at VUB, ViaCyte, San Raffaele Hospital Diabetes Research Institute inMilan, Nestl Institute of Health Sciences in Lausanne, the University Medical Center in Leiden, and Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinire inParis.

Each contributes complementary expertise to the objective of developing a cell therapy with the potential to cure type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes can appear at any age but is the major form of diabetes diagnosed under age 40. Patients with type 1 disease can no longer produce insulin and therefore become life-long dependent on daily insulin administration.

Treatment with such exogenous insulin does not eliminate the risks for complications, some potentially life-threatening. The disease also has a significant impact on quality of life.

Beta cell implants prepared from human donor pancreases can restore endogenous insulin production and glucose control, but the shortage of human donor organs limits the implementation of this form of cell therapy.

Human pluripotent stem cells may overcome these limitations as they represent a potential large-scale cell source that can be differentiated into pancreatic cells in the laboratory under highly controlled conditions.

The Center for Beta Cell Therapy in Diabetes is a coordination core for studies and interventions that aim the development of prevention and cure of type 1 diabetes. For more information, please visitwww.betacelltherapy.org.

ViaCyte is a privately-held regenerative medicine company developing novel cell replacement therapies as potential long-term diabetes treatments to achieve glucose control targets and reduce the risk of hypoglycemia and diabetes-related complications. The Company is funded in part by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and JDRF. For more information, please visitwww.viacyte.com.

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First Human Trial of Stem Cell-derived Implants Underway ...

After practicing medicine for many years, Ive come to a very straightforwardconclusion: prevention is the key to a long, healthy life. The era of reactive medicine is giving way to health care that is now preventive and collaborative.

The most common causes of death and disabilityheart disease and cancer begin at a stage when early detection can lead to prevention or cure. Through the use of contemporary genetics, advanced blood tests and medical imaging, the risk for most life-threatening diseases can be detected in time to take action. Im fully convinced that the marriage of technologyand medicine will be one of historys most powerful unions.

Contemporary health care should also be collaborative. No one will ever caremore about your health than you. Your own research and thoughts mustalways be respected and incorporated in your care. In order to make optimalhealth decisions, however, everyone needs reliable information and a trustedphysician for guidancea physician who is knowledgeable,accessible andwilling to help coordinate your health care.

Your experience at Colorado Preventive Medicine should be likenone other youve had inhealth care. When youre hereyou are our singular focus.No interruptions. No distractions.

Please take a moment to review our web site or call us to learnmore about Colorado Preventive Medicine.

Stay healthy.Richard Abrams, M.D.Colorado Preventive Medicine

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Loma Linda University Medical Centers Department of Preventive Medicine has been training preventive medicine residents since 1979, and we are one of the largest programs in the country. We work closely with the LLU School of Public Health to provide residents with an integrated learning experience, completing an MPH concurrently with their training. Our special areas of interest are lifestyle medicine, global health and whole-person care. Thank you for stopping by and learning about the variety of residency programs that we offer. We invite you to join us as we start a worldwide health epidemic!

The combined preventive medicine and family medicine residency is a four-year program that emphasizes global health and lifestyle medicine. After successful completion, residents are board-eligible for both preventive medicine and family medicine.

Loma Linda University Health is proud to announce a new opportunity in lifestyle medicine training a 1 year Lifestyle Medicine Fellowship. This Fellowship will provide in-depth and practical knowledge that will transform the way you practice medicine.

The Addiction Medicine Fellowship was founded in the mid 1990s by addiction specialist Mihran Ask, and has since graduated over 20 fellows. This fellowship offers clinical training at a variety of rotation sites. Fellows will learn to treat acute withdrawal, as well as managing substance use disorders in the outpatient setting.

The categorical preventive medicine residency is a two-year program that focuses on general preventive medicine and public health. We also accept PGY-1 applicants who will complete a transitional year at Loma Linda University prior to the start of our program. All residents earn a free Masters in Public Health from the Loma Linda University School of Public Health.

The combined preventive medicine and family medicine residency is a four-year program that emphasizes global health and lifestyle medicine. After successful completion, residents are board-eligible for both preventive medicine and family medicine.

The categorical occupational medicine residency is a two-year program that emphasizes workplace and environmental health. We also accept PGY-1 applicants who will complete a transitional year at Loma Linda University prior to the start of our program. All residents earn a free Masters in Public Health from the Loma Linda University School of Public Health.

Loma Linda University Health is proud to announce a new opportunity in lifestyle medicine training a 1 year Lifestyle Medicine Fellowship. This Fellowship will provide in-depth and practical knowledge that will transform the way you practice medicine.

The Addiction Medicine Fellowship was founded in the mid 1990s by addiction specialist Mihran Ask, and has since graduated over 20 fellows. This fellowship offers clinical training at a variety of rotation sites. Fellows will learn to treat acute withdrawal, as well as managing substance use disorders in the outpatient setting.

Read more here:
Preventive Medicine Residency Programs - LLUMC

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Ruzankina, Y. et al. Deletion of the developmentally essential gene Atr in adult mice leads to age-related phenotypes and stem cell loss. Cell Stem Cell 1, 113126 (2007).

Sohal, D.S. et al. Temporally regulated and tissue-specific gene manipulations in the adult and embryonic heart using a tamoxifen-inducible Cre protein. Circ. Res. 89, 2025 (2001).

Liu, Q. et al. c-Kit+ cells adopt vascular endothelial but not epithelial cell fates during lung maintenance and repair. Nat. Med. 21, 866868 (2015).

Madisen, L. et al. A robust and high-throughput Cre reporting and characterization system for the whole mouse brain. Nat. Neurosci. 13, 133140 (2010).

Zhang, H. et al. Endocardium contributes to cardiac fat. Circ. Res. 118, 254265 (2016).

Zhang, H. et al. Endocardium minimally contributes to coronary endothelium in the embryonic ventricular free walls. Circ. Res. 118, 18801893 (2016).

Zhang, H. et al. Genetic lineage tracing identifies endocardial origin of liver vasculature. Nat. Genet. 48, 537543 (2016).

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Tian, X. et al. Sub-epicardial endothelial cells invade the embryonic ventricle wall to form coronary arteries. Cell Res. 23, 10751090 (2013).

He, L. et al. Genetic lineage tracing discloses arteriogenesis as the main mechanism for collateral growth in the mouse heart. Cardiovasc. Res. 109, 419430 (2016).

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The Stem Cells Transplant Institute is a Government Regulated Facility

Costa Rica implemented legislation that legalized stem cell therapy but requires adherence to strict regulations. The Stem Cells Transplant Institute has met all of the formal regulations ensuring strict quality control, safety and excellent patient care.

Due to provision in legislation passed in 2014, the Costa Rican Secretary of Health considered stem cell therapy/regenerative medicine illegal. The bill failed to include any direction around stem cell therapy using adult stem cells but new legislation passed in 2016, Regulation No. 39986 provided authorization and guidance for regenerative therapy using adult stem cells.

Any party that would like to perform stem cell therapy must submit an application to the local Health Controller. The clinic must meet the following formal requirements:

(i) Evidence that the therapy has completed preclinical studies that, as in the case of medications, demonstrate that they are effective and safe for use in clinical practice;

(ii) The complete characterization of the cell types that will be transplanted and their characteristics, cellular processing and production;

(iii) The description of the cells and how they will be administered, including assistive drugs, agents, and surgical procedures;

(iv) A clinical follow-up plan and data records to ensure that the cellular therapy is effective and has no adverse effects; and

(v) Credentials substantiating training in stem cell therapy for the staff who will carry out the procedure.

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Although much has occurred in this field since this article was written in 2000, the questions addressed by Dr. Bohlin are still timely and relevant. Is manipulating our genetic code simply a tool or does it deal with deeper issues? Dealing with genetic engineering must be done within the context of the broader ethical and theological issues involved. In the article, Dr. Bohlin provides an excellent summary driven from his biblical worldview perspective.

Genetic technology harbors the potential to change the human species forever. The soon to be completed Human Genome Project will empower genetic scientists with a human biological instruction book. The genes in all our cells contain the code for proteins that provide the structure and function to all our tissues and organs. Knowing this complete code will open new horizons for treating and perhaps curing diseases that have remained mysteries for millennia. But along with the commendable and compassionate use of genetic technology comes the specter of both shadowy purposes and malevolent aims.

For some, the potential for misuse is reason enough for closing the door completelythe benefits just arent worth the risks. In this article, Id like to explore the application of genetic technology to human beings and apply biblical wisdom to the eventual ethical quagmires that are not very far away. In this section well investigate the various ways humans can be engineered.

Since we have introduced foreign genes into the embryos of mice, cows, sheep, and pigs for years, theres no technological reason to suggest that it cant be done in humans too. Currently, there are two ways of pursuing gene transfer. One is simply to attempt to alleviate the symptoms of a genetic disease. This entails gene therapy, attempting to transfer the normal gene into only those tissues most affected by the disease. For instance, bronchial infections are the major cause of early death for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The lungs of CF patients produce thick mucus that provides a great growth medium for bacteria and viruses. If the normal gene can be inserted in to the cells of the lungs, perhaps both the quality and quantity of their life can be enhanced. But this is not a complete cure and they will still pass the CF gene on to their children.

In order to cure a genetic illness, the defective gene must be replaced throughout the body. If the genetic defect is detected in an early embryo, its possible to add the gene at this stage, allowing the normal gene to be present in all tissues including reproductive tissues. This technique has been used to add foreign genes to mice, sheep, pigs, and cows.

However, at present, no laboratory is known to be attempting this well-developed technology in humans. Princeton molecular biologist Lee Silver offers two reasons.{1} First, even in animals, it only works 50% of the time. Second, even when successful, about 5% of the time, the new gene gets placed in the middle of an existing gene, creating a new mutation. Currently these odds are not acceptable to scientists and especially potential clients hoping for genetic engineering of their offspring. But these are only problems of technique. Its reasonable to assume that these difficulties can be overcome with further research.

The primary use for human genetic engineering concerns the curing of genetic disease. But even this should be approached cautiously. Certainly within a Christian worldview, relieving suffering wherever possible is to walk in Jesus footsteps. But what diseases? How far should our ability to interfere in life be allowed to go? So far gene therapy is primarily tested for debilitating and ultimately fatal diseases such as cystic fibrosis.

The first gene therapy trial in humans corrected a life-threatening immune disorder in a two-year-old girl who, now ten years later, is doing well. The gene therapy required dozens of applications but has saved the family from a $60,000 per year bill for necessary drug treatment without the gene therapy.{2} Recently, sixteen heart disease patients, who were literally waiting for death, received a solution containing copies of a gene that triggers blood vessel growth by injection straight into the heart. By growing new blood vessels around clogged arteries, all sixteen showed improvement and six were completely relieved of pain.

In each of these cases, gene therapy was performed as a last resort for a fatal condition. This seems to easily fall within the medical boundaries of seeking to cure while at the same time causing no harm. The problem will arise when gene therapy will be sought to alleviate a condition that is less than life-threatening and perhaps considered by some to simply be one of lifes inconveniences, such as a gene that may offer resistance to AIDS or may enhance memory. Such genes are known now and many are suggesting that these goals will and should be available for gene therapy.

The most troublesome aspect of gene therapy has been determining the best method of delivering the gene to the right cells and enticing them to incorporate the gene into the cells chromosomes. Most researchers have used crippled forms of viruses that naturally incorporate their genes into cells. The entire field of gene therapy was dealt a severe setback in September 1999 upon the death of Jesse Gelsinger who had undergone gene therapy for an inherited enzyme deficiency at the University of Pennsylvania.{3} Jesse apparently suffered a severe immune reaction and died four days after being injected with the engineered virus.

The same virus vector had been used safely in thousands of other trials, but in this case, after releasing stacks of clinical data and answering questions for two days, the researchers didnt fully understand what had gone wrong.{4} Other institutions were also found to have failed to file immediate reports as required of serious adverse events in their trials, prompting a congressional review.{5} All this should indicate that the answers to the technical problems of gene therapy have not been answered and progress will be slowed as guidelines and reporting procedures are studied and reevaluated.

The simple answer is no, at least for the foreseeable future. Gene therapy currently targets existing tissue in a existing child or adult. This may alleviate or eliminate symptoms in that individual, but will not affect future children. To accomplish a correction for future generations, gene therapy would need to target the germ cells, the sperm and egg. This poses numerous technical problems at the present time. There is also a very real concern about making genetic decisions for future generations without their consent.

Some would seek to get around these difficulties by performing gene therapy in early embryos before tissue differentiation has taken place. This would allow the new gene to be incorporated into all tissues, including reproductive organs. However, this process does nothing to alleviate the condition of those already suffering from genetic disease. Also, as mentioned earlier this week, this procedure would put embryos at unacceptable risk due to the inherent rate of failure and potential damage to the embryo.

Another way to affect germ line gene therapy would involve a combination of gene therapy and cloning.{6} An embryo, fertilized in vitro, from the sperm and egg of a couple at risk for sickle-cell anemia, for example, could be tested for the sickle-cell gene. If the embryo tests positive, cells could be removed from this early embryo and grown in culture. Then the normal hemoglobin gene would be added to these cultured cells.

If the technique for human cloning could be perfected, then one of these cells could be cloned to create a new individual. If the cloning were successful, the resulting baby would be an identical twin of the original embryo, only with the sickle-cell gene replaced with the normal hemoglobin gene. This would result in a normal healthy baby. Unfortunately, the initial embryo was sacrificed to allow the engineering of its identical twin, an ethically unacceptable trade-off.

So what we have seen, is that even human gene therapy is not a long-term solution, but a temporary and individual one. But even in condoning the use of gene therapy for therapeutic ends, we need to be careful that those for whom gene therapy is unavailable either for ethical or monetary reasons, dont get pushed aside. It would be easy to shun those with uncorrected defects as less than desirable or even less than human. There is, indeed, much to think about.

The possibility of someone or some government utilizing the new tools of genetic engineering to create a superior race of humans must at least be considered. We need to emphasize, however, that we simply do not know what genetic factors determine popularly desired traits such as athletic ability, intelligence, appearance and personality. For sure, each of these has a significant component that may be available for genetic manipulation, but its safe to say that our knowledge of each of these traits is in its infancy.

Even as knowledge of these areas grows, other genetic qualities may prevent their engineering. So far, few genes have only a single application in the body. Most genes are found to have multiple effects, sometimes in different tissues. Therefore, to engineer a gene for enhancement of a particular traitsay memorymay inadvertently cause increased susceptibility to drug addiction.

But what if in the next 50 to 100 years, many of these unknowns can be anticipated and engineering for advantageous traits becomes possible. What can we expect? Our concern is that without a redirection of the worldview of the culture, there will be a growing propensity to want to take over the evolution of the human species. The many people see it, we are simply upright, large-brained apes. There is no such thing as an independent mind. Our mind becomes simply a physical construct of the brain. While the brain is certainly complicated and our level of understanding of its intricate machinery grows daily, some hope that in the future we may comprehend enough to change who and what we are as a species in order to meet the future demands of survival.

Edward O. Wilson, a Harvard entomologist, believes that we will soon be faced with difficult genetic dilemmas. Because of expected advances in gene therapy, we will not only be able to eliminate or at least alleviate genetic disease, we may be able to enhance certain human abilities such as mathematics or verbal ability. He says, Soon we must look deep within ourselves and decide what we wish to become.{7} As early as 1978, Wilson reflected on our eventual need to decide how human we wish to remain.{8}

Surprisingly, Wilson predicts that future generations will opt only for repair of disabling disease and stop short of genetic enhancements. His only rationale however, is a question. Why should a species give up the defining core of its existence, built by millions of years of biological trial and error?{9} Wilson is naively optimistic. There are loud voices already claiming that man can intentionally engineer our evolutionary future better than chance mutations and natural selection. The time to change the course of this slow train to destruction is now, not later.

Many of the questions surrounding the ethical use of genetic engineering practices are difficult to answer with a simple yes or no. This is one of them. The answer revolves around the method used to determine the sex selection and the timing of the selection itself.

For instance, if the sex of a fetus is determined and deemed undesirable, it can only be rectified by termination of the embryo or fetus, either in the lab or in the womb by abortion. There is every reason to prohibit this process. First, an innocent life has been sacrificed. The principle of the sanctity of human life demands that a new innocent life not be killed for any reason apart from saving the life of the mother. Second, even in this country where abortion is legal, one would hope that restrictions would be put in place to prevent the taking of a life simply because its the wrong sex.

However, procedures do exist that can separate sperm that carry the Y chromosome from those that carry the X chromosome. Eggs fertilized by sperm carrying the Y will be male, and eggs fertilized by sperm carrying the X will be female. If the sperm sample used to fertilize an egg has been selected for the Y chromosome, you simply increase the odds of having a boy (~90%) over a girl. So long as the couple is willing to accept either a boy or girl and will not discard the embryo or abort the baby if its the wrong sex, its difficult to say that such a procedure should be prohibited.

One reason to utilize this procedure is to reduce the risk of a sex-linked genetic disease. Color-blindness, hemophilia, and fragile X syndrome can be due to mutations on the X chromosome. Therefore, males (with only one X chromosome) are much more likely to suffer from these traits when either the mother is a carrier or the father is affected. (In females, the second X chromosome will usually carry the normal gene, masking the mutated gene on the other X chromosome.) Selecting for a girl by sperm selection greatly reduces the possibility of having a child with either of these genetic diseases. Again, its difficult to argue against the desire to reduce suffering when a life has not been forfeited.

But we must ask, is sex determination by sperm selection wise? A couple that already has a boy and simply wants a girl to balance their family, seems innocent enough. But why is this important? What fuels this desire? Its dangerous to take more and more control over our lives and leave the sovereignty of God far behind. This isnt a situation of life and death or even reducing suffering.

But while it may be difficult to find anything seriously wrong with sex selection, its also difficult to find anything good about it. Even when the purpose may be to avoid a sex-linked disease, we run the risk of communicating to others affected by these diseases that because they could have been avoided, their life is somehow less valuable. So while it may not be prudent to prohibit such practices, it certainly should not be approached casually either.

Notes

1. Lee Silver, Remaking Eden: Cloning and Beyond in a Brave New World, New York, NY: Avon Books, p. 230-231. 2. Leon Jaroff, Success stories, Time, 11 January 1999, p. 72-73. 3. Sally Lehrman, Virus treatment questioned after gene therapy death, Nature Vol. 401 (7 October 1999): 517-518. 4. Eliot Marshall, Gene therapy death prompts review of adenovirus vector, Science Vol. 286 (17 December 1999): 2244-2245. 5. Meredith Wadman, NIH under fire over gene-therapy trials, Nature Vol. 403 (20 January 1999): 237. 6. Steve Mirsky and John Rennie, What cloning means for gene therapy, Scientific American, June 1997, p. 122-123. 7. Ibid., p. 277. 8. Edward Wilson, On Human Nature, Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, p. 6. 9. E. Wilson, Consilience, p. 277.

2000 Probe Ministries

On January 8, 2007, the Associated Press reported that scientists from Wake Forest University and Harvard University discovered a new type of stem cell found in the amniotic fluid within

Genetic Diseases The age of genetics has arrived. Society is in the midst of a genetic revolution that some futurists predict will have a greater impact on the culture than

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Human Genetic Engineering - Probe Ministries

Over the past few years, the field of biotechnology has advanced at a very high rate that scientists can now edit plants and animals at the genomic level. Different genetic engineering or genome-editing techniques such aszinc fingernucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), meganucleases and theCRISPR/Cas9 system have aided scientists to alter genomes to create modified organisms.

Like in plants and animals, could genome-editing be performed in humans? Yes. But a bigger question arises here, should genome editing techniques be used to create designer babies, to remove heritable diseases or to enhance the human capabilities? It is one of the most controversial topics among scientists and hence it all comes down to ethics.

In a recent research, Shoukhrat Mitalipov of Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland reported successfully repairing a genetic mutation in human embryos bringing the idea of genetic engineering in humans closer to reality.

To understand the ethical implications of genetic engineering in humans, it is important to first understand the basics.

Genetic engineering is basically manipulating or changing the DNA to alter the organisms appearance in a particular way. The human body cells contain encoded information compiled into a form called genes, which are responsible for the bodys growth, structure and functioning. Human genetic engineering decodes this information and applies it to the welfare of mankind.

For example, all over the world, several scientists have reported the singing in mice. However, the frequencies at which they sing is not audible to humans. The Alstons brown mouse or Alstons singing mouse is a famous example. It would be interesting to hear these songs too.

Japanese geneticists at the University of Osaka were conducting a research to study the mutagenic effects in a strain of mice that were genetically engineered. Among many effects, the mutation may have caused the alteration in the vocalization in the mice giving birth to an offspring which could sing at a frequency audible to humans.This genetic modification (which was actually an accident) may help in studying the communication patterns in mice as well as in comparing of similarities and differences with other mammals. Some other examples of genetic engineering are GloFish, drug-producing chickens, cows that make human-like milk, diesel-producing bacteria, banana vaccines and disease-preventing mosquitoes.

Based on their type of cell, there are two types of genetic engineering;

Human genetic engineering can further be classified into two types;

In human genetic engineering, the genes or the DNA of a person is changed. This can be used to bring about structural changes in human beings. More importantly, it can be used to introduce the genes for certain positive and desirable traits in embryos. Genetic engineering in humans can result in finding a permanent cure for many diseases.

Some people are born with or acquire exceptional qualities. If the genes responsible for these qualities can be identified, they can be introduced in the early embryos. The embryo develops into a baby called Designer baby or customized baby. Human genetic engineering is advancing at an increasing rate and might evolve to such an extent discovering new genes and implanting them into human embryos will be possible.

Let us take an example of bacteria to understand how genetic engineering works. Insulin is aprotein produced in the pancreasthat helps in the regulation of the sugar levels in our blood. People with type 1diabetes eithercannot produce insulin or produce insufficient insulin in the body. They have to acquire insulin from external sources to control their blood sugar levels. In 1982, Genetic engineering was used to produce a type of insulin which is similar to the human insulin, called the Humulin frombacteria which was then approved and licensed for human use.

An illustration showing how genetic engineering is used to produce insulin in bacteriaCourtesy: Genome Research Limited

Using this process, Chinese scientists have edited the genome of the human embryo for the first time. According to Nature News report, Researchers at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, were partially successful in using a genetic engineering technique to modify a gene in non-viable human embryos which was responsible for the fatal blood disorder.

The technique used, called CRISPR (short for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) technology involves an enzyme complex known as CRISPR/Cas9, originating in bacteria as a defence system. CRISPR is a short, repeated DNA sequence that matches the genetic sequence of interest to be modified by the researchers. CRISPR works along with the Cas9 enzyme that acts like molecular scissors and cuts the DNA at a specific site.

As explained by John Reidhaar-Olson, a biochemist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York First, in a simple explanation, the CRISPR/Cas9 complex navigates through the cells DNA, searching for the sequence that matches the CRISPR and binds to the sequence once found. The Cas9 then cuts the DNA which, in this case, is repaired by inserting a piece of DNA desired by the researcher.

Since 2013, CRISPR system has been to edit genes in adult human cells and animal embryos but for the first time has been used for modification in human embryos.

Junjiu Huang, a genetics researcher at Sun Yat-sen University, injected the CRISPR/Cas9 complex into human embryos with the aim of repairing a gene responsible for Beta thalassaemia which is a fatal blood disorder that reduces the production of haemoglobin. The non-viable embryos were obtained from local fertility clinics. These embryos would have been unable to survive independently after birth or develop properly as they had been fertilized by two sperms. The procedure was performed on 86 embryos and gene editing was allowed to take place in four days. Out of 86, 71 of the embryos survived and 54 of them were tested.

Splicing (removal of introns and joining of exonsineukaryotic mRNA) only occurred in 28 embryos successfully indicating the removal of faulty gene and the incorporation of the healthy gene in its place. However, in order for the technique to be used in viable human embryos, the success rate would need to be closer to 100%.

While partial success was achieved, certain worrisome mutations responsible for the detrimental effect on cells during gene-editing were also observed and at a much higher rate in mouse embryos or adult human cells undergoing the same procedure.

One of the most beneficial applications of genetic engineering is gene therapy. Gene therapy is one of the most important benefits of human genetic engineering. Over the last few years, gene therapy has successfully treated certain heart diseases. Driven by this success, researchers are working to find cures for all the genetic diseases. This will eventually lead to a healthier and more evolved human race.Inspired by the recent success of gene therapy trialsin human children and infants, researchers are now moving towards the treatment of genetic disorders before birth. The idea of using fetal gene therapy to treat genetic disorders that cant be treated after birth has generated hype among some of the scientists. Parents will be able to look forward to a healthy baby. Genetic engineering can be done in embryos prior to implantation into the mother.However, some are also questioning the feasibility and practicality of the therapy in humans.

While genetic engineering or modification may seem easy to cure diseases, it may produce certain side effects. While focusing on and treating one defect, there is a possibility it may cause another. A cell is responsible for various functions in the body and manipulating its genes without any counter effect or side effect may not be that easy.

Other than side effects, Cloning, for instance, can lead to an ethical disturbance among the humans risking the individuality and the diversity of human beings. Ironically, man will become just another man-made thing!

Among the social aspects of human genetic engineering, it can impose a heavy financial burden on the society, which may cause a rift between the rich and the poor in the society. Its feasibility and most importantly its affordability will also be a determinant of its popularity.

Human genetic engineering is a widely and rapidly advancing field. It can lead to miracles. But when assessing its benefits, its threats need to be assessed carefully too. Human genetic engineering can be beneficial to human beings and its potential advantages can come into reality only if it is handled with responsibility.

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Specialty Eye Care in Norfolk, Virginia

In practice for over 35 years, our mission at Virginia Ophthalmology Associates is to provide our patients with top quality eye care in a warm and comfortable environment. Our skill set covers the spectrum from routine eye care for newborns, children, and adults, to the surgical management of complex eye diseases requiring fellowship-level subspecialty training.

We offer comprehensive eye examinations, evaluation and treatment of cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy as well as state of the art ophthalmic surgery.

Dr. Joel Lall-Trail is fellowship trained in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus and performs all aspects of pediatric eye care. He performs surgery on children and adults with eye muscle (strabismus) problems.

Dr. Mark Fernandez is a fellowship trained cornea specialist who performs cataract surgery, laser vision correction, corneal transplantation, pterygium surgery and repair of intraocular lens-related complications.

Dr. Arielle Spitze is fellowship trained in both glaucoma surgery and neuro-ophthalmology. She performs cataract surgery and surgical and laser treatment of glaucoma, as well as the diagnosis of diseases involving both the eye and brain.

Dr. Giovanni DiSandro is fellowship trained in surgery of the eyelids and orbit (Oculoplastics).

Dr. Peter Mitrev is fellowship trained in glaucoma surgery. He performs cataract surgery as well as surgical and laser treatment of glaucoma.

Our Ophthalmologists are all certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Our optometrist, Dr. Ayesha Rahman, is experienced in fitting both soft and hard contact lenses as well as providing medical eye exams.

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