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News, Links and Commentary

Friday, February 24, 2006

Australian Research Shows Nerve Cells Make New Connections 

University of Newcastle PhD student Robert Sullivan has discovered that nerve cells in the retina will make new connections in response to damage caused by macular degeneration. His research has also shown that eyes affected by macular degeneration show changes over the whole retina, not just the macula.

More information is available in The Adelaide Advertiser (' Human nerve cells 'can reconnect', 23 February 2006) and in a University of Newcastle media release ('Student has eye on research discovery', 23 February 2006).

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Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Play Su Doku By Ear 

AudioGames.net offer the number puzzle Su Doku in an accessible format online. Sudo-San is a Macromedia Flash game that gives the numbers via audio, as well as on the screen, and is played via the keyboard.

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Goji Berries Source of Protective Carotenoid 

The Hawaii Channel reports that goji berries, used by Chinese herbalists, have the highest concentration of zeaxanthin, a caratenoid known to protect the macula from light damage ('Study Finds Chinese Herb Protects Eyes', 20 February 2006).

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SCIfEyes - Stem Cell and Eye Disease Research 

Dennis Rickman, a researcher from Duke University in North Carolina is working towards future research into stem cells and eye disease through an organisation called SCIfEyes. From North Carolina's Herald Sun:

Glaucoma, macular degeneration and the effects of diabetes destroy photoreceptors and other neurons in the retina, the inner lining of the back of the eyeball. Unlike other cells in our bodies, neurons don't naturally regenerate. Once they're damaged, they -- and the eyesight of people with those diseases -- are gone for good.

Early findings by Duke University ophthalmology researcher Dennis Rickman and others indicate that stem cells indeed restore damaged retinas.

"The cells migrate to the area of injury, and in many cases appear to integrate into the tissue and differentiate into those cells," Rickman said.

'Researcher uses stem cells on eye disease', 19 February 2006.

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Saturday, February 18, 2006

Keynote Performer Lives in Light of Laughter 

Estelle Condra is a keynote performer who talks about how humour has helped her through the loss of her vision due to retinitis pignemtosa. Ms Condra is based in the United States and her current performances include 'Blind People Shouldn't Vacuum--Laughter is the best medicine' and 'Living in the light of laughter--a keynote unlike any other.'

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Wednesday, February 15, 2006

RP Social 2006 in Los Angeles 

People affected by RP from all over the world will meet at the RP Social in Los Angeles, USA, from Thursday 13 July to Monday 17 July 2006. For more details, visit RP & Usher Social.

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Thursday, February 09, 2006

Ibuprofen (Nurofen) Warning 

Lee Pearce, a photographer who has macular degeneration, appeared on ABCTV's The 7.30 Report last night to warn others about the possible effects of ibuprofen in people who have wet MD. Mr Pearce experienced bleeding in both eyes two days after taking an ibuprofen-based drug. His case was used to illustrate why some professionals believe ibuprofen, currently available in Australian supermarkets and sold under the names Nurofen, Actfree and Advil, should only be available in pharmacies. See '?Wonder drug? side effects prompt calls for restrictions' (8 February 2006) for details.

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Friday, February 03, 2006

PEDF Gene Therapy for Wet MD - Phase I Trial Results 

The results of a Phase I trial of PEDF, a gene therapy for a specific type of the wet form of macular degeneration, are reported in the current issue of Human Gene Therapy. The research involved 28 patients from the United States and took place at several research centres.


Researchers took a gene, the pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) gene, and placed it in an adenovirus then injected it directly into the eye. While the virus is unable to replicate, it acts as a vehicle to incorporate the gene into the diseased eye. The gene produces PEDF protein, which inhibits formation of abnormal blood vessels.

"It is encouraging that this method of delivering therapy to the eye can be safely carried out," said Michael Klein, M.D., director of the Macular Degeneration Center at OHSU's Casey Eye Institute and co-principal investigator of the OHSU portion of the trial.

'Researchers Find Gene Therapy May Halt Progression Of Macular Degeneration', Oregon Health & Science University media release, 1 February 2006.

The research abstract and article, 'Adenoviral Vector-Delivered Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Results of a Phase I Clinical Trial' (February 2006, Volume 17, Number 2, pages 167-176), is available online.

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Thursday, February 02, 2006

Sight Exchange For Adaptive Equipment and Technology 

The Sight Exchange Network is a new grassroots group that's open to anyone who wants to share, donate or recycle items of use to people who have a vision impairment - from computers to small assistive technology devices. The main rule is that all items posted for exchange must be free.

The group shares information about items available for exchange through the Sight Exchange Yahoo! Group. Individuals and non-profit groups are invited to join.

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Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Drusen Hold Clues to AMD's Progression 

Two recent discoveries that will affect future research and treatment of macular degeneration have both involved University of Kentucky researcher Jayakrishna Ambati.

Firstly, research published in the current issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (1 February 2006, online) shows how drusen may give clues about the likelihood of dry MD progressing to wet MD.


Drusen in patients with AMD contain components known as complement C3 and C5. Ambati's lab has identified that bioactive fragments of these components, known as C3a and C5a, are present in patients whose AMD progresses beyond the early dry stage and into the later wet stage.

Ambati's research concludes that the presence of the C3a and C5a components in drusen are not only markers of AMD that will develop into the late-stage form of the disease, but that they are in fact causal. The presence of these components stimulates the progression of AMD. In the future, patients with early-stage AMD may be screened to determine if these effectors exist in their drusen. If they are present, then these patients could be considered at "high risk" for progression to advanced AMD.

'Researcher Identifies Key to Macular Degeneration Progression' (University of Kentucky media release, 1 February 2006).

In separate research, Ambati and colleagues report differences in the way VEGF affects new blood vessel growth:


Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a substance that promotes angiogenesis - the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels. In macular degeneration, vessels grow through angiogenesis, destroying the cells that are required for vision. Scientists have long believed that turning off the source of VEGF would lead to halting angiogenesis and disease progression.

Ambati's lab found that while withdrawing VEGF could halt angiogenesis in some areas, it actually encouraged it in others. Upon further investigation Ambati found that this previously undiscovered anti-angiogenic effect of VEGF was mediated via activating VEGFR-1 (VEGF receptor 1) and deactivating VEGFR-2 (VEGF receptor 2). Additionally, his lab found that a compound known as SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine) could influence and switch the routing of VEGF away from VEGFR-1. Thus, controlling SPARC levels appears to be key to controlling angiogenesis in macular degeneration.

'Researcher Finds "Switching" Compound for Angiogenesis' (University of Kentucky media release, 2 February 2006)

This research is published in the current issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation and is available online. See 'Loss of SPARC-mediated VEGFR-1 suppression after injury reveals a novel antiangiogenic activity of VEGF-A.'

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