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Photoswitch Therapy Restores Vision To Blind Lab Animals
Zothecula writes: A new genetic therapy that helped blind mice and dogs respond to light stimulus could restore sight to people who suffer from diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (a gradual loss of vision from periphery inwards). The therapy uses chemicals known as photoswitches, which change shape when hit with light, to open the channels that activate retinal cells. Treated mice can distinguish between steady and flashing light (abstract), while dogs with late-stage retinal degeneration also regain some sensitivity to light.
See how they run ...to the light.
what does this mean? https://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AwrBJR7XcIhUkgMAM7nQtDMD?p=princeton+cananda+anthropogenic&fr2=piv-news&fr=yfp-t-901
But, but, it's not *me* being tortured, what are you trying to get at??
He notes that the therapy works only for about a week after a single “charging” with the photoswitch, because the protein and attached chemical get recycled by the cell. While the modified receptors are replaced continually, since the new gene remains forever in the DNA, the chemical photoswitch – maleimide-azobenzene-glutamate, or MAG – must be resupplied by injection into the eyeball. Right now this means injection every week or so, with the future development of a slow release formulation less often.
You can't do weekly injections into the human eyeball over for the rest of the patients' life.
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
Imagine if it were YOU being tortured... having your eyes destroyed for an 'experiment'... Oh, wait! I'm on Slashdot! Most people here are sociopaths, who can't feel the suffering of others... and have to spend their entire lives PRETENDING to give a toss about other human beings, let alone animals...
The dogs were already suffering from the same disease. No dogs eyes were "destroyed for an experiment." FTFA:
The dogs were chosen because they have inherited a genetic disease caused by the same gene defect as some people with retinitis pigmentosa. Several of them at PennVet were treated and are currently undergoing tests to determine what degree of light sensitivity they now have.
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
You can't do weekly injections into the human eyeball over for the rest of the patients' life.
Eye catheters would be a bit annoying, I imagine.
As terrifying as that sounds, I'd choose a needle to the eye every week over being blind.
Do injections in the eyball cause sigificant damage that would prevent them being used on a regular basis or are you just talking about the "what the patient will put up with" factor?
I would think that if the alternative was blindness patients would put up with weekly injections into the eyeball. From some googling it seems there are already eyeball injected drugs that are given every two months.
note: i'm known as plugwash most places but i screwd up registering that here somehow in the past and now can't register
Perhaps, but every needle injection increases the risk of infection of the eyeball. My grandfather recently had a fake eye inserted after a single eye injection resulted in a streptococcus infection in that eye.
All my liberal friends think I'm a conservative, all my conservative friends think I'm a liberal.
There's a huge difference between "every 2-3 months for 2 years" and "every week forever".
I asked about the possibility of AVGF injections into my eyes to slow down the growth of blood vessels on the surface of the retina, and was told "that would be insane. You'd need them every month in both eyes, and even that wouldn't be enough. The risk is too high." I'll trust my retinal specialists over any "googling." And honestly, hospital visits for injections in both eyes every week for some sort of "pseudo-vision" that, with every injection, raises the chance that they'll have to take the whole eye out - no thanks.
I'd rather be blind until such time as they have something better to try out. At least that way, I preserve my option (and no, this is not just talk. I was warned almost 4 years ago that I will eventually go blind. I'm more or less ok with that - I'll take however much time I can still see, and if by then they don't have something better, I'll get a guide dog).
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
The thing is, this is just another step in progression. I don't think they are recommending this same procedure for humans. Sensitivity to light is a huge leap forward into restoring partial, then full sight. Conventional wisdom today says that if your retinas stop responding to light, you are done. This procedure allows them to begin responding to light via another mechanism. Sure, it's not sight at this point, but that is what further research will produce.
Exactly. Sorry about your grandfather. Every procedure carries a risk. The infection rate is about 1 in 1,000. So, given 2 eyes, that brings it down to 1 in 500. 52 weeks a year, brings it down to more than 1 in 10 per year - or a 50% chance you'll get a serious infection within 5 years. And then there are all the other complications, such as cataract formation, other side effects of the drug, tear in the retina, detached retina, etc.
When I asked about using injections of AVGF (anti-venous growth factor) in the eyes, I was told that in my case even every month wouldn't be enough, and that I would be insane to take that risk.
They were right - it wouldn't have prevented this. (warning - needles in the eyeball).
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
That is a pretty bad infection for the eye. Sounds like your grandfather may have a lawsuit on his hands, sue to improper sterilization or storage of needles.
More likely IMHO is that some sort of implantable slow-release reservoir system will be developed. Now you're down to surgery maybe once a year if all goes well.
https://app.box.com/WitthoftResume Code: https://github.com/cellocgw