Is Glaucoma an Autoimmune Condition?
The consensus on the progressive blindness of glaucoma is that the primary cause is rising pressure in the eye, resulting from an age-related failure of fluid flow in surrounding structures. Medications that reduce pressure in the eye, such as by reducing the pace of creation of new fluid, slows down the loss of sight associated with glaucoma, but even after successful treatment the condition can still progresses towards blindness. Researchers may now have identified why this is the case, and here present evidence to suggest that a form of autoimmunity is the process that causes loss of vision.
One of the biggest ...
Source: Fight Aging! - August 14, 2018 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
Curcumin eye drops
I’ve been reading and researching curcumin for almost 13 years now, but I am still amazed at all the things it can do…
A new study shows that it might be able to treat the early stages of glaucoma: goo.gl/W98w8x
That’s music to my ears, since glaucoma runs in my family…hmmmm, my eye pressure happens to be normal…I wonder if my high intake of curcumin might have something to do with that?
Excerpt from the above-mentioned Science Daily article: “‘Curcumin is an exciting compound that has shown promise at detecting and treating the neurodegeneration implicated in numerous eye and bra...
Source: Margaret's Corner - July 30, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Margaret Tags: Blogroll curcumin glaucoma Source Type: blogs
Glaukos iStent Inject Implant FDA Approved to Treat Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
Glaukos, based in San Clemente, California, won FDA approval to introduce its iStent inject Trabecular Micro-Bypass System in the United States. The device, designed to treat mild to moderate primary open-angle glaucoma, is implanted alongside cataract surgeries to reduce intraocular pressure.
The implant is tiny, measuring only 0.23 mm x 0.36 mm, and Glaukos believes it is the smallest device ever approved by the FDA. It’s positioned to allow for fluid to move through the trabecular meshwork, producing flow in both direction within the Schlemm’s canal.
Some details about the study that led to the approva...
Source: Medgadget - July 17, 2018 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Editors Tags: Ophthalmology Source Type: blogs
A patient is left with a choice: financial devastation or blindness
That statement from a recent patient was a summary to me of what is bad in our health care “system.” It’s a terrible summary of what is seen all over this country with people who must make the choice between financial solvency and health.
Here’s what happened: It was a new patient I saw, who is a veteran who owns two businesses. He went out on his own when he “kept getting laid off.” He has largely been successful in what he’s doing, but as is the case with many these days, he couldn’t afford health insurance. This was especially bad because he had a heart attack last year, which required stenting...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - June 29, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/rob-lamberts" rel="tag" > Rob Lamberts, MD < /a > Tags: Physician Primary Care Public Health & Policy Source Type: blogs
Fight Aging! Newsletter, June 11th 2018
Fight Aging! provides a weekly digest of news and commentary for thousands of subscribers interested in the latest longevity science: progress towards the medical control of aging in order to prevent age-related frailty, suffering, and disease, as well as improvements in the present understanding of what works and what doesn't work when it comes to extending healthy life. Expect to see summaries of recent advances in medical research, news from the scientific community, advocacy and fundraising initiatives to help speed work on the repair and reversal of aging, links to online resources, and much more.
This content is...
Source: Fight Aging! - June 10, 2018 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs
A Recent Profile of Unity Biotechnology and its Work on Senolytic Therapies
It was only partially in jest that I recently noted Unity Biotechnology as a financial institution with a sideline in rejuvenation research, specifically the targeted destruction of senescent cells. The principals have raised a truly enormous amount of funding in the past year and a half, and recently filed for IPO. They have not yet presented even preliminary human data. Typically the ordering of these matters tends to be at least a little different; there are some raised eyebrows in the community. But if the Unity Biotechnology founders can raise the funds and use them well to advance the state of the art, then more powe...
Source: Fight Aging! - June 6, 2018 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Healthy Life Extension Community Source Type: blogs
FDA Approves CustomFlex Artificial Iris
The FDA approved the first artificial iris implant for patients with congenital aniridia (absence of an iris) or eye damage, called the CustomFlex from HumanOptics AG, a German firm. The CustomFlex is a flexible silicone membrane that is folded and inserted through a small incision in the eye, then unfolded in place.
In a non-randomized clinical trial of 389 adult and pediatric patients with iris defects, the treated persons reported “decrease in severe sensitivity to light and glare post-procedure, health-related quality of life, and satisfaction with the cosmetic improvement or appearance of the prosthesis”, ...
Source: Medgadget - May 31, 2018 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Ben Ouyang Tags: Ophthalmology Source Type: blogs
Disopyramide in HCM – Cardiology MCQ – Answer
Disopyramide is a class Ia antiarrhythmic agent which can be used in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy when beta blockers alone are ineffective. Pick out the WRONG statement regarding disopyramide in this context:
Correct answer: c) Should not be combined with verapamil
Disopyramide has a negative inotropic action and is useful in reducing left ventricular outflow tract gradients in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and does not increase the risk of sudden cardiac death. Dose reduction is recommended when QTc exceeds 480 ms. It should be avoided in those with glaucoma and men with prostatic symptoms in view of ...
Source: Cardiophile MD - April 24, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Prof. Dr. Johnson Francis, MD, DM, FACC, FRCP Edin, FRCP London Tags: Cardiology MCQ DM / DNB Cardiology Entrance Source Type: blogs
Designing for the Whole Patient Journey: Lumeon Enters the US Health Provider Market
Lots of companies strive to unshackle health IT’s potential to make the health care industry more engaging, more adaptable, and more efficient. Lumeon intrigues me in this space because they have a holistic approach that seems to be producing good results in the UK and Europe–and recently they have entered the US market.
Superficially, the elements of the Lumeon platform echo advances made by many other health IT applications. Alerts and reminders? Check. Workflow automation? Check. Integration with a variety of EHRs? Of course! But there is something more to Lumeon’s approach to design that makes it a si...
Source: EMR and HIPAA - April 23, 2018 Category: Information Technology Authors: Andy Oram Tags: Health Care Healthcare Healthcare Interoperability HealthCare IT Medical Economics Automating Processes Care Team Collaboration Clinical Workflow Design EHR Data Sharing Health Care Communications Health Data Sharing Longitudinal A Source Type: blogs
What is the birthmark in “Ready Player One?”
“Ready Player One,” Steven Spielberg’s take on our pop- and video-game obsessed culture, features something rarely seen in movies: A heroic character with a facial birthmark. Usually, birthmarks are used in movies toID villains. “The Phantom of the Opera” is a classic example of a benign birthmark used as a sign of/reason for evil. Yet Art3mis / Samantha, the kickass video-playing rebel, has a large red blotch over her forehead, temple and eye visible in both real life and on eventually her avatar. FYI, actress Olivia Cooke was not born with a scarlet spot, the mar...
Source: Skinema, dermatology in the media blog - April 8, 2018 Category: Dermatology Authors: vail reese Tags: Film Health Source Type: blogs
The future of primary care is as bright as we choose to make it
I decided to become a doctor at the tender age of eight when I met my first patient — my grandmother, Grandma Sylvia. After spending two years in the midst of the Liberian civil war, she arrived in the United States with diabetes, hypertension, obesity and nearly blind due to glaucoma. One of my new chores was helping administer her daily insulin injection.
I also had the privilege of accompanying Grandma Sylvia to her doctor’s appointments during which she saw a different doctor every visit. Each office visit she had to retell portions of her medical history to the often hurried young physicians (who I know now were p...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - April 3, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/sylvia-gonsahn-bollie" rel="tag" > Sylvia Gonsahn-Bollie, MD < /a > Tags: Physician Primary Care Source Type: blogs
IrisVision for Low Vision: Interview with Ammad Khan, CEO and Frank Werblin, Chief Scientist and Inventor
IrisVision, a medtech company based in California, have developed a low-cost visual aid system for people with low vision. The system currently harnesses the power of a Samsung Galaxy smartphone mounted in a Samsung Gear VR headset. The phone captures the scene using the smartphone’s camera, then remaps the scene to enhance its visibility for those with low vision. This scene enhancement is performed using multiple algorithms developed for various eye conditions.
The system allows for a wide field of view and users can vary the color contrast and brightness of the image. One function allows users to telescopically zoom i...
Source: Medgadget - March 27, 2018 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Exclusive Neurology Ophthalmology Rehab Source Type: blogs
Which Direct-To-Consumer Genetic Test to Choose?
Due to the collapse of the price of genetic testing and the FDA’s gradual ease of the regulatory environment, direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing companies are booming. You can inquire your deoxyribonucleic acid about your ancestry, health risks, metabolism, and some start-ups even promise you to find true love or your kids’ talents. As the jungle of DTC companies is getting denser, more and more people ask me which genetic tests are worth the try. They love the possibility of getting access to their DNA but don’t know where to start. Here’s the DTC genetic testing kick-starter package!
Navigating through...
Source: The Medical Futurist - March 20, 2018 Category: Information Technology Authors: nora Tags: Genomics 23andme ancestry DNA DTC future genetic test Genetic testing genetics Genome genome sequencing Health 2.0 Source Type: blogs
