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Tag: "blindness" at biology news

New angiogenesis finding may help fight cancer growth

...lood vessels in diabetes, it is the major cause of blindness in older adults. But the "holy grail" of angiogenesis inhibition concerns cancer treatment. Before solid tumors start to grow, they must create a new blood supply, and since adults need angiogenesis only during pregnancy and to heal wounds, blockin...

Study shows how herpes infects cornea, evades immune cells

.... Ocular herpes is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the United States, with 50,000 new or recurring cases each year. In about one quarter of cases, the virus penetrates the first layer of the cornea to infect an inner layer, the stroma, making the disease much more difficult to treat. Effective ...

Why Popeye only has eyes for spinach

... could protect your eyes from the leading cause of blindness in western society, say experts at The University of Manchester. With the aid of a new eye instrument, they have launched a study to see if the vegetable that endows Popeye with his super-human strength could also explain why the 77-year-old sailor...

High levels of blindness in southern Sudan following years of war

...t there ended in 2004, found much higher levels of blindness than anticipated. The results, published in PLoS M...s were not included in survey. A very high rate of blindness was found?%. This is more than twice the level that would be expected, given what is known about the...

Public Library of Science to launch new, open access journal on neglected tropical diseases

...r of the World Health Organization's African river blindness control program, Uche Amazigo. Dr. Amazigo said: "PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases will play a crucial role in boosting the efforts of neglected tropical disease researchers, health professionals, teachers, and advocacy groups in developing countri...

An artificial cornea is in sight, thanks to biomimetic hydrogels

...battlefield, and rehydrated," Frank says. Beyond blindness Other ocular applications of the hydrogel include more comfortable contact lenses. Onlays of hydrogel lenses on the surface of the cornea could serve as extended-wear contact lenses. Inlays are also possible. The cornea contains layers--a top la...

Replacing insulin is top-ranked breakthrough foreseen for health in developing world

...as of over 125 blind patients; an estimated 60% of blindness in poor communities is treatable. Regenerative medicine holds the promise of more affordable treatments than corneal grafts and of offsetting shortages of donor material. The study, the first of its kind: Identifies and prioritizes applications o...

Research project tackles 'regeneration' gap

... ago as well as scientists who are trying to treat blindness by influencing the activity of stem cells in the human eye. In terms of brain diseases, scientists may look at ways to mobilize and reinforce the body’s own supply of adult stem cells to protect against or fight Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, ...

Fruit fly gene research may shed light on human disease processes

...he same numbers as men from such ailments as color blindness or hemophilia, since their double dose of X genetic material helps compensate for 'defective' genes on one of their chromosomes. Men, with just one X chromosome, have less protection. Understanding the role of the X chromosome and the mechanism of ...

New study challenges 'critical period' in childhood vision development

...this study provide an argument for even late-stage blindness treatments and guide researchers towards an improved understanding of the complexities of the brain. ...

First clinical trial of gene therapy for childhood blindness

...inical trial to test a revolutionary treatment for blindness in children has been announced by researchers at UCL (University College London). The trial, funded by the Department of Health, is the first of its kind and could have a significant impact on future treatments for eye disease. The trial involves ...

UCF nanoparticle offers promise for treating glaucoma

...r treating glaucoma, an eye disease that can cause blindness and affects millions of people worldwide. “The nanoparticle can safely get past the blood-brain barrier making it an effective non-toxic tool for drug delivery,” said Sudipta Seal, an engineering professor with appointments in UCF’s Advanced Materia...

'Lucky 13' as new gene discovery offers further hope for childhood blindness

..., causes one of the most common forms of inherited blindness in babies. Scientists at the University of Leeds, ... to carry a mutation in the LCA5 gene, the risk of blindness in their children and grandchildren is still virtually zero as long as the other parent does not car...

Discovery in orange cauliflower may lead to more nutritious crops

...romised immune systems and is the leading cause of blindness in children. "A large percentage of the human population depends on staple crops for nutrition," said Li, an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics and a scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture -- Agric...

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