Israeli researchers are putting forward a new approach to restore sight to the blind without surgery or implants.

 

Many of the degenerative diseases of the outer retina are characterized by degeneration of photoreceptors, while other cells remain intact. Researchers at Technion University in Haifa, Israel, are attempting to use retinal ganglion cells as photoreceptors by making them sensitive to light with optogenetics. Optogenetics modifies the targeted neurons by making them express photosensitive ion channels normally found in photoreceptors.

 

Then all that needs to be done is to transmit visual information to these cells that they can interpret, since they do not have the multilayer network of cells that normally amplifies and preprocesses these signals for photoreceptors. To achieve this end, the researchers use holographic projections produced by eyeglasses equipped with miniature cameras that transmit the real-time image to holographic projectors mounted on the temples.

 

“Our approach is different and attempts to stimulate the surviving retinal cells without the need for direct implants onto the retina,” pointed out Professor Shy Shoham.

Source:

http://www.bulletins-electroniques.com/actualites/73347.htm

 

New Look Eyewear achieves record sales in the second quarter ended June 29.

 

At $24.0 million, this represents an increase of 12.7% over the corresponding period last year. Net earnings for the quarter were $2.7 million, compared to $2.0 million last year. During this period, New Look increased its network by three stores operating under its banner and concluded affiliations with two independent optical clinics. The chain now has 76 locations, in addition to a laboratory.

 

According to Martial Gagné, New Look’s president, “the second quarter of 2013 surpassed all previous quarterly milestones regarding revenues, EBITDA, net earnings, and cash flows, and represents an outstanding performance by the company and all its management and associates.”

 

Overall, New Look’s sales increased by 7% for the first six months of the year, while net earnings were up 28.6%.

 

New Look will pay a dividend of $0.15 per Class A common shares, payable on September 30, 2013, to the shareholders of record as of September 20, 2013.

 

Source:

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/new-look-eyewear-inc-announces-record-results-second-quarter-2013-announces-its-quarterly-tsx-bci-1818027.htm  

 

The world’s first trial in regenerative medicine will be aimed at treating a form of age-related macular degeneration with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Unlike with stem cells from human embryos, there are no ethical issues involved with this type of cell.

 

The clinical trials will take place in Japan. Japan’s Ministry of Health has signed off on the project put forward by the Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation – a Kobe hospital centre – following approval from a commission of experts in June.

 

The researchers intend to use cells taken from the patient’s body to grow retinal cells and then implant them back into the patient. The cells, which will be returned to a near embryonic state, will be able to recover their immaturity and their ability to differentiate themselves in response to their surrounding environment.

 

This method for reprogramming adult cells to stem cells – a crucial step for regenerative medicine – was developed by the Japanese researcher Shinya Yamanaka and British researcher John Gurdon. This discovery earned them the Nobel Prize in Medicine. In Japan, work involving iPSCs is a research priority receiving highly significant funding from the government.

Source:

http://www.lapresse.ca/sciences/genetique/201307/19/01-4672327-medecine-regenerative-debut-des-premiers-essais-cliniques-mondiaux-sur-lhomme.php

Health Canada warns against the risks of retinal detachment associated with oral fluoroquinolones.

 

Five oral fluoroquinolones are available in Canada: ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin. These are large-spectrum antibiotics prescribed to treat infections caused by sensitive strains of microorganisms.

 

A pharmacoepidemiological study published in 2012 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) identified 445 cases of retinal detachment associated with oral fluoroquinolones in a cohort of 989,591 patients in British Columbia, who consulted an ophthalmologist between January 2000 and December 2007.

 

For its part, Health Canada had only a single reported incident of suspected retinal detachment associated with this type of antibiotic as of December 31, 2012. The difficulty in establishing solid evidence establishing a link between retinal detachment and fluoroquinolones could account for this low level of reported cases.

 

Health Canada invites health-care professionals to be watchful and encourages them to report any adverse reactions suspected of being associated with these antibiotics.

As the result of a licensing agreement with the Canadian Olympic Committee, Oakley Canada will be the official supplier of high-performance eyewear to Canada’s Olympic team from 2013 to 2016.

 

The agreement will cover the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, in Russia, the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, and the Rio 2016 Olympic Summer Games, in Brazil. This fall, Oakley will launch a unique Canadian Olympic Team eyewear collection featuring the same advanced technologies that the Olympic athletes will have.

 

The proceeds from the sales of these officially licensed eyewear products will directly support the training and development of Canadian Olympic and high-performance athletes.

 

“I’m so excited that Oakley is joining forces with the Canadian Olympic Team,” enthused

four-time Olympic medallist and Chair of the COC’s Athletes’ Commission, Adam van Koeverden. “Oakley has been one of my greatest sponsors and supporters on and off the water for over a decade, and I think it’s an amazing opportunity for our athletes. In my opinion, Oakley makes the best eyewear on the planet, and like our world-class athletes, they are just as focused on being number one…”

 

Source:

http://olympic.ca/press/new-vision-for-canadian-olympic-team-with-oakley/