|
=============================================
THE MAGNIFIER Issue #18, February 4, 2004
Newsletter from the Macular Degeneration Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 531313 Henderson, NV 89053
http://www.eyesight.org
=============================================
DO YOU HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE NOT ON THE WEB?
If you have friends or loved ones who would like a copy of "The Magnifier" sent to their physical address, please have them call toll-free 888-633-3937. They can leave mailing
information on the answer machine. To talk with a MDF representative, they may leave a phone number and a representative will call them.
=============================
STEROID TREATMENT FOR AMD
The
American Academy of Ophthalmology in their November 18, 2003 public release stated, " William F. Mieler, MD, professor of ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine, reported on the promising result of Phase II/III clinical trials
of anecortave acetate, a steroid analog injected into the eye that significantly reduces loss of vision. 'The 24-month results show this is a safe and effective treatment for AMD,' said Dr. Mieler. "Future studies will
assess a depot delivery system that does not require injections into the eye."
Independent Safety Committee identified no clinically relevant treatment-related safety issues.
=============================
WHAT IS LUTEIN?
From Newsday.com, Charles Choi
"Lutein is a yellow pigment found in egg yolks and dark leafy vegetables such as spinach, as well as broccoli, corn, kale, red grapes, yellow squash, cucumbers, peas and collard
greens. It is taken to protect vision against degenerative eye conditions such as macular degeneration."
Lutein supplements often contain zeaxanthin, a related chemical. Foods high in zeaxanthin include oranges,
honeydew, orange bell peppers, and mangos. Lutein and zeaxanthin function as antioxidants in the retina, the light-sensitive layer in the back of the eye, and neutralize the damaging components of sunlight, "functioning kind
of like internal sunglasses, said Dr. John Swartzberg, editor of the University of California at Berkeley.
A study appearing in 2000 in the journal Optometry conducted by Dagnelie and colleagues found daily lutein
supplementation over six months helped 12 of 16 volunteers with degenerative eye conditions. The National Eye Institute found in the AREDS (Age-Related-Eye-Disease-Study) seven-year study that a combination of vitamin C,
vitamin E, zinc, copper, and beta carotene could reduce the risk of vision loss from macular degeneration. However, recent studies have shown a strong link between the use of beta-carotene supplements and lung cancer among
both smokers and ex-smokers.
An MD Foundation approved vitamin formula is available that does not contain beta carotene.
Link:
http://www.optogon.com/html/optotabs.html
AOL Users: <a href="http://www.optogon.com/html/optotabs.html">OPTOTABS.</a>
============================
IMT TECHNOLOGY The Implantable Miniature Telescope
A Press Release of VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies, INC, January 7, 2003
This is an investigational device limited by federal law to investigational use.
A Micro-sized telescopic eye implant is being developed to aid
those affected by dysfunction of the macula – a specialized area of the retina that is responsible for the central part of our vision. AMD causes the center of the retina to deteriorate, producing a dark spot in the middle of
the victim's visual field. The IMT, invented by Dr. Isaac Lipshitz, is a micro-sized precision telescope, about the size of a pea, which is implanted in one eye in an outpatient surgical procedure conducted under local
anesthesia. The IMT provides magnification of 3.0X or 2.2X, depending on the IMT model used. The IMT is implanted in one eye, which provides central vision, while the non-implanted eye provides peripheral vision.
After the brain and eye adjust to the change the blind spot shrinks and central vision is markedly improved (at a slight expense to peripheral vision). The telescope is in the final stages of clinical testing. For
information on the clinical trial, refer to www.visioncareinc.net or call (408) 872-0526.
============================
SQUALAMINE BLOCKS VEGF
Taken from www.genaera.com
This drug is currently in phase I/II clinical trial.
Squalamine was discovered in 1993 in the stomach and liver of the dogfish, a type of shark. Its name is a compound of amine with squalus, the name of the dogfish genus,
which derives from the Latin squalum for a type of fish. The compound is believed to act by preventing blood vessels in the human body from obeying commands from cancer cells to link to them, so starving them of the blood supply
that is essential for growth.
Plymouth Meeting, PA, October 7, 2003 /PRNewswire/ - Genaera Corporation (NASDAQ: GENR) announced today updated strong clinical results, including improved vision, for the Phase I/II clinical
trial of its systemically administered anti-angiogenic drug, squalamine, for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), also known as "wet" AMD.
Of patients treated
with squalamine, 100% had preserved or improved vision four months after initiation of therapy. Ten patients (26%) had three lines or greater improvement in visual acuity, and 29 patients (74%) had preserved vision. The greatest
degree of improvement was eight lines, from 20/125 to 20/20 vision. Squalamine dosing in the study consisted of four weekly doses of squalamine, with no further maintenance therapy, and follow up evaluations at two and four months.
There were no withdrawals from therapy or drug related serious adverse events in the trial. Updated data slides available in PDF format, which include the 4 month timepoint data, are available on Genaera's website at
www.genaera.com.
While other drugs in development are injected into the eyeball, squalamine is administered intravenously, eliminating the risks of eye infection or injury.
============================
MDF was founded in 1992 by Edmund J. Aleksandrovich (a victim of macular degeneration). It provides MD patients and their families with the information necessary to understand the disease, the latest news concerning ways to
cope with the disease, and supports the efforts of researchers to find a cure.
Contributions are appreciated and may be sent in care of the Macular Degeneration Research Fund, P.O. Box 531313, Henderson, NV 89053
or by visiting our website.
http://www.eyesight.org/Donations/donations.html
AOL Users: <a href="http://www.eyesight.org/Donations/donations.html">Donations</a>
============================
Subscribers who wish to cancel their subscription or change their email address may visit: http://www.eyesight.org/Newsletter/newsletter.html .
==============================================
============================================== |
|
