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THE MAGNIFIER Issue #36, October 25, 2005
Newsletter from the Macular Degeneration Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 531313 Henderson, NV 89053
http://www.eyesight.org
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NEW DRUG THERAPIES ON THE HORIZON
In addition to the two compounds (Macugen, by Eyetech and Lucentis, by Genentech) we have previously reported on, there are more such therapies on the horizon. Stay tuned for more
information on Sirna-027 by Sirna Therapeutics in Phase 1 FDA clinical trial; Retaane developed by Alcon, Inc.; Evizon (formerly squalamine) from Genaera; and TG 100801 from TargeGen, Inc. as they progress through FDA
trials. The difference in new drug therapies will include the strength of the compound with the ability to s t r e t c h out the frequency of injections and the ability to develop the new drug into a less invasive "eye
drop" type of drug delivery system.
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AIDE FOR VISUAL NEEDS
Braille Institute of America, Inc.
741 North Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(213) 663-1111
The Braille Institute provides financial subsidies for electronic equipment. These funds are limited to those who are employed or have a hire date for employment, and are residents of Southern California.
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THE EYES HAVE IT
John Dziekan/Chicago Tribune
Honeydew melons are mostly water and are not nutritional powerhouses. However, honeydew is a good source of the carotenoids that
scientists believe prevent macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in older adults. When it comes to selecting a honeydew, think big. The bigger, the better. That's because the bigger the melon, the
longer it's been on the vine. And the longer it's been on the vine, the sweeter it is.
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ABOUT VITAMINS
We frequently get questions about the value of supplements and more directly
eye supplements. In this article, "Vitamins are more than A,B,C,", Sandra Ben-Joseph of Natural Solutions Etc., in El Paso, Texas, notes that "there are both natural and synthetic forms of vitamins. In
combinations, vitamins and herbs can be very powerful. When visiting a vitamin store, there are some things that you should know. You need to look at the purity of the vitamin; some are pharmaceutical grade and some are
not. What you eat and drink is a key. If a person is not willing to change his/her nutritional habits, then that person will not see any benefits from using herbs and vitamins. If you start with a healthy plan for
your diet, then supplements are going to do the best they can for your body."
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MCS THERAPY RESULTS
Ralph Lewis from Utah reports, "I have been using microcurrent stimulation
for about two years. My last eye appointment confirmed, once again, that my condition has stabilized. I have also noticed significant visual acuity benefits, for example, I can now read the measuring tape that I couldn't see
before. I am still driving (with a restricted driver's license) and I'm currently very busy overhauling my car motor! I have learned to use my peripheral vision since my central vision is limited. No, I don't feel
sorry myself - I really don't have time!"
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PROMISING MEDICAL RESEARCH INITIATIVES
Robert D'Amato,M.D., Ph.D., Macular Degeneration
"Because so many millions of people
suffer from macular degeneration, and because the disease is affecting an ever-larger proportion of the U.S. population, there are many different treatment initiatives being pursued in diversified areas of health care. As a
medical researcher, I am always most impressed by methodologies that have been rigorously tested and can be scientifically substantiated. But I am also sympathetic to the urgency many patients feel, and to their willingness to try
almost anything to improve their failing sight."
"While the standards of "proof" may be higher in the medical community than in the general patient population, I do not feel compelled to dissuade patients
from trying "unproven" treatments except in three situations:
1. If there may actually exist a health risk in experimenting with an unproven "cure."
2. If, after asking questions and
reading the materials presented, you suspect you're being misled from a medical standpoint and you're needlessly depleting your financial resources.
3. If scientific rigor is insufficient to really measure the results with
accuracy, that is, the setting is not a bona fide clinical trial at an academic center but rather an experiment in an uncontrolled program."
"When agents are tested in a clinical trial, there is a high level of
quality control and consistency. Your results will be evaluated carefully, and it can be determined whether you are improving more dramatically than you might otherwise, had you not received any treatment. Additionally,
the results of your experience can be made as effective as possible for others in need of similar therapies. In the context of an FDA-approved trial, not only are the intended results rigorously cataloged, side effects are
recorded as well, even those that might not be instantly recognizable to a patient. Both your health and safety are protected, as well as those of future patients. A list of clinical eye trials sponsored by the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) can be found at the following Web site: http://www.nei.nih.gov/neitrials/index.aspx "
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MAGNIFIER NEWSLETTER - AUDIO VERSION
An audio version of the
current Magnifier is now available online from the Foundation's "Newsletter" web page. Look for a gray arrow next to the archives. Most browsers able to show a FLASH video will stream and play the
audio file.
http://www.eyesight.org/Newsletter/newsletter.html
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CONTACTING MDF
To speak to a support representative directly, you may call 1-888-633-3937. If
you reach our voice mail, please speak slowly and distinctly.
ORDERING BOOKS & TAPES
When purchasing items from Amazon.com, please remember to use the MDF search box located at
http://www.eyesight.org/Books/books.html . By simply originating your search from our website, Amazon rewards the Foundation with a small commission from each product you order. Thank you.
MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS:
Please make checks payable to Macular Degeneration Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 531313, Henderson, Nevada 89053, or you may use your credit card on our web site http://www.eyesight.org/Donations/donations.html . Your
contributions make our services available as a support system for macular degeneration patients in the following ways:
1. We provide toll-free lines for personal contact assistance.
2. We mail brochures and other printed materials upon request.
3. We support an award-winning web site that provides the latest up-to-date information.
4. We fund research proposal grants to provide therapies for both the wet
and dry form of AMD. Contributions marked "research" are used 100% for research.
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MDF was founded in 1992 by Edmund J. Aleksandrovich Ph.D (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.
Subscribers who wish to cancel their subscription or change their email address may visit: http://www.eyesight.org/Newsletter/newsletter.html .
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