By Sharen Marteny - Kelowna Capital News
Published: August 27, 2010
The CNIB (formerly known as the Canadian National Institute for the Blind) is one of the most under-used resources available to seniors.
In addition to making accessible various products for partially sighted seniors, it provides programs that are free of charge to assist seniors to keep their independence.
Vision impairment often contributes to injuries and may lead to mortality in older people.
Timely intervention can delay the effects of age-related blinding conditions.
In Canada there are 800,000 people who self-identify as being blind or partially sighted.
Yet only 100,000 clients are registered with CNIB. Of those, 17,500 live in British Columbia.
More than 50 per cent of the CNIB clients are 65 years old and over.
It is estimated that in the next 20 years there will be 1.6 million blind or partially sighted people in Canada with the largest percentage being over the age of 80 years, yet Canada is the only G8 country that does not have a vision health plan in place.
Seniors are most prone to four eye diseases—age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy. AMD and glaucoma can begin without any symptoms and most seniors do not know they have it.
Cataracts can be removed and vision restored.
To help prevent eye diseases seniors should wear sunglasses with 98 per cent UV protection during both the summer and winter. Eye exams should be done on a yearly basis.
Being blind or partially sighted can lead to depression and isolation.
Seniors who are blind or partially sighted believe that they can no longer participate in life.
The CNIB can show them that this is not true and that enjoyment can be added to their lives.
It offers four key services—orientation and mobility, independent living skills and counselling and vision assessment. All of these services are free of charge.
An instructor will work with each senior individually to ensure the techniques used are what is required.
The orientation and mobility program teaches seniors how to move about the community on their own.
One of the techniques taught to accomplish this is caning.
Through the independent living skills, seniors will be taught how to accomplish the tasks required for daily living which includes getting dressed and cooking meals.
Counselling is offered on a one-to-one and group basis for the seniors and the families to give everyone the opportunity to address their fears, worries and frustrations.
The adjustment to vision loss course is available to support seniors who are in the process of losing their sight.
Vision assessment allows seniors to maximize their capabilities with their current level of vision such as adjusting the placement of a lamp to make reading easier.
Earlier this month, the CNIB held its inaugural Walter Gretzky CNIB Golf Classic in Kelowna to raise funds to be able to continue to provide its services.
The fifth annual Walter Gretzky CNIB Golf Classic was held in Victoria.
The organization’s main purpose is to promote independence.
For more information call 1-800-563-2642.
An assessment will be scheduled through your nearest CNIB office and the programs that you require will be planned.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Taligen gets $10m cash injection for rare disease programs
| By John Carroll
Taligen Therapeutics has hit another milestone on its journey in search of new therapies for a broad array of inflammatory and immune diseases. The Cambridge, MA-based developer has snagged a $10 million tranche in its $65 million Series B, earmarking much of the money for early clinical stage development work for its lead candidate - TT30.
Taligen set out to prove its drug platform could regulate the "complement system," a pathway in the human immune system. And it has initially zeroed in on rare diseases like paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, CEO Abbie Celniker tells FierceBiotech, in part because a small biotech acting alone can mount the kind of tightly-focused clinical trials that can generate significant proof of concept data.
Taligen's strategy, she adds, is to strike partnership deals for ophthalmology-related conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and later, after it achieves the proof of concept stage, plan on collaborative programs for major market diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis. The CEO says she hopes to announce the developer's first partnership in the next six months.
"This round of funding demonstrates the significant progress we have made over the last several years related to the development of our proprietary tissue targeting platform technology and our lead drug candidate, TT30," said Celniker. Existing investors including Clarus Ventures, Alta Partners, Sanderling Ventures and High Country Venture proffered the new injection of cash. Taligen was founded in 2004 and has a staff of 17 fulltime equivalents. Celniker says the staff will likely top out at about 20.
Taligen Therapeutics has hit another milestone on its journey in search of new therapies for a broad array of inflammatory and immune diseases. The Cambridge, MA-based developer has snagged a $10 million tranche in its $65 million Series B, earmarking much of the money for early clinical stage development work for its lead candidate - TT30.
Taligen set out to prove its drug platform could regulate the "complement system," a pathway in the human immune system. And it has initially zeroed in on rare diseases like paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, CEO Abbie Celniker tells FierceBiotech, in part because a small biotech acting alone can mount the kind of tightly-focused clinical trials that can generate significant proof of concept data.
Taligen's strategy, she adds, is to strike partnership deals for ophthalmology-related conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and later, after it achieves the proof of concept stage, plan on collaborative programs for major market diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis. The CEO says she hopes to announce the developer's first partnership in the next six months.
"This round of funding demonstrates the significant progress we have made over the last several years related to the development of our proprietary tissue targeting platform technology and our lead drug candidate, TT30," said Celniker. Existing investors including Clarus Ventures, Alta Partners, Sanderling Ventures and High Country Venture proffered the new injection of cash. Taligen was founded in 2004 and has a staff of 17 fulltime equivalents. Celniker says the staff will likely top out at about 20.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Moorfields Eye Hospital Researchers detail data on AMD
Investigators publish new data in the report 'Increased fundus autofluorescence associated with outer segment shortening in macular translocation model of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.' Researchers in London, the United Kingdom conducted a study "To report the frequency and origins of increased fundus autofluorescence (AF) in age-related macular degeneration using the model of macular translocation. In this retrospective observational case series, postoperative serial fundus AF images from 40 consecutive patients were examined."
"The origin of well-delineated increased AF changes was explored by examining simultaneous spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) scans and coregistered microperimetry. AF images were taken between a mean of 13 and 36 months. Seven patients were excluded from analysis because of lack of postoperative AF imaging or extensive macular RPE atrophy. Of the remaining patients, 9 had masking pattern of foveal AF, 21 had small, round increased AF lesions in the fovea, and 3 had a near normal pattern of foveal hypo-AF. Parafoveal increased AF was seen in all 33 patients in 1 of 3 patterns: well-delineated homogenous increased AF patches (17), curvilinear increased AF bands (4), and speckled increased AF (12). Simultaneous SD-OCT showed loss of signal from the interface of the inner and outer segments of the photoreceptor cell layer with variable loss of outer nuclear layer thickness. Microperimetry showed subnormal retinal sensitivity in regions with increased AF. Parafoveal increased AF size remained stable for 2 to 5 years of follow-up. SD-OCT and microperimetry changes observed after translocation may be attributed to shortening of the outer segments. A corresponding reduction of visual pigment in the shortened outer segments may lead to an unmasking effect," wrote F.K. Chen and colleagues, Moorfields Eye Hospital (see also Age-Related Macular Degeneration).
The researchers concluded: "Increased AF in some macular diseases may be attributed to unmasking of AF rather than to increased fluorophores within abnormal retina."
Chen and colleagues published the results of their research in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (Increased fundus autofluorescence associated with outer segment shortening in macular translocation model of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 2010;51(8):4207-12).
"The origin of well-delineated increased AF changes was explored by examining simultaneous spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) scans and coregistered microperimetry. AF images were taken between a mean of 13 and 36 months. Seven patients were excluded from analysis because of lack of postoperative AF imaging or extensive macular RPE atrophy. Of the remaining patients, 9 had masking pattern of foveal AF, 21 had small, round increased AF lesions in the fovea, and 3 had a near normal pattern of foveal hypo-AF. Parafoveal increased AF was seen in all 33 patients in 1 of 3 patterns: well-delineated homogenous increased AF patches (17), curvilinear increased AF bands (4), and speckled increased AF (12). Simultaneous SD-OCT showed loss of signal from the interface of the inner and outer segments of the photoreceptor cell layer with variable loss of outer nuclear layer thickness. Microperimetry showed subnormal retinal sensitivity in regions with increased AF. Parafoveal increased AF size remained stable for 2 to 5 years of follow-up. SD-OCT and microperimetry changes observed after translocation may be attributed to shortening of the outer segments. A corresponding reduction of visual pigment in the shortened outer segments may lead to an unmasking effect," wrote F.K. Chen and colleagues, Moorfields Eye Hospital (see also Age-Related Macular Degeneration).
The researchers concluded: "Increased AF in some macular diseases may be attributed to unmasking of AF rather than to increased fluorophores within abnormal retina."
Chen and colleagues published the results of their research in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (Increased fundus autofluorescence associated with outer segment shortening in macular translocation model of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 2010;51(8):4207-12).
Monday, August 9, 2010
Lighting your Condo at any age
However, interestingly this housing lifestyle also appeals to the older generations. This includes early retirees, ready to take life a little easier. It also includes the elderly who can no longer manage steps or may not be able to drive.
To help build some bridges between them, in this article I will cover condo lighting as it affects the age groups a little differently. Some of the tips can apply to anyone.
20-SOMETHINGS For many young people, the notion of home lighting is invisible. The “Millennial” generation currently has the great luxury of taking light for granted. Natural, task, ambient, accent lighting—the young may not know or be interested in the differences because they can see fine with any amount of light. They should enjoy and appreciate this! Over the months and years, they could save considerable energy costs if they learn how to consume the amount of light they need, and only that amount.
On the other hand, plenty of young people are near-sighted. The National Eye Institute (NEI) reports that the prevalence of myopia (nearsightedness) has increased 66 percent between 1972 and 2004. Currently, 33.1 percent of Americans are nearsighted, irrespective of age.
At this point, condo dwellers become affected because they typically only have windows and natural light along one, or at most two, sides of their home. In one practical example, they may not be able to get away with using only a laptop computer because they will need larger screens to view text accurately. This when space is at a premium!
Tip: if you are nearsighted, check the power settings on your computer. Computer manufacturers often set default settings to balance power conservation and performance. However, if you are using your laptop at home, it makes sense to change this to “high power” so that your screen always will be as bright as possible.
SENIORS The fact of the matter is, older people need much more light than younger ones. Therefore, the natural-lighting limitations of a condo will present more challenges. One exception to this is loft condos where one huge floor-to-ceiling window can fill a home with ambient light. If you are a senior and can navigate steps comfortably, you may want to consider this option.
Farsightedness, or the ability to focus up close, often affects seniors. For the farsighted, desk lamps are preferable to table lamps with open shades because all of the light can be directed to the reading material or other item requiring scrutiny.
Sometimes age-related vision loss can become more severe. Seniors over 60 become more susceptible to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease characterized by increasingly blurry vision. The NEI predicts that by 2020, there will be nearly 3 million Americans with AMD compared to 2 million today. This is attributable to the aging of the American population. The same trend also signals future increased demand for condos, which in most ways are much more accessible than other homes.
For additional general tips, I recommend the lighting chapter in Cheryl Mendelson’s book Home Comforts.
Author Resource:- Andy Asbury has a unique team of lofts and condos REALTORs® specializing inMinneapolis condos and lofts offering sound advice to clients. His team shares in-depth information onMinneapolis condos and lofts online at www.MinnesotaLoftsandCondos.com. Andy's team specializes in luxury condominum high rises likethe Carlyle Minneapolis and Grant Park Condominiums.
To help build some bridges between them, in this article I will cover condo lighting as it affects the age groups a little differently. Some of the tips can apply to anyone.
20-SOMETHINGS For many young people, the notion of home lighting is invisible. The “Millennial” generation currently has the great luxury of taking light for granted. Natural, task, ambient, accent lighting—the young may not know or be interested in the differences because they can see fine with any amount of light. They should enjoy and appreciate this! Over the months and years, they could save considerable energy costs if they learn how to consume the amount of light they need, and only that amount.
On the other hand, plenty of young people are near-sighted. The National Eye Institute (NEI) reports that the prevalence of myopia (nearsightedness) has increased 66 percent between 1972 and 2004. Currently, 33.1 percent of Americans are nearsighted, irrespective of age.
At this point, condo dwellers become affected because they typically only have windows and natural light along one, or at most two, sides of their home. In one practical example, they may not be able to get away with using only a laptop computer because they will need larger screens to view text accurately. This when space is at a premium!
Tip: if you are nearsighted, check the power settings on your computer. Computer manufacturers often set default settings to balance power conservation and performance. However, if you are using your laptop at home, it makes sense to change this to “high power” so that your screen always will be as bright as possible.
SENIORS The fact of the matter is, older people need much more light than younger ones. Therefore, the natural-lighting limitations of a condo will present more challenges. One exception to this is loft condos where one huge floor-to-ceiling window can fill a home with ambient light. If you are a senior and can navigate steps comfortably, you may want to consider this option.
Farsightedness, or the ability to focus up close, often affects seniors. For the farsighted, desk lamps are preferable to table lamps with open shades because all of the light can be directed to the reading material or other item requiring scrutiny.
Sometimes age-related vision loss can become more severe. Seniors over 60 become more susceptible to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease characterized by increasingly blurry vision. The NEI predicts that by 2020, there will be nearly 3 million Americans with AMD compared to 2 million today. This is attributable to the aging of the American population. The same trend also signals future increased demand for condos, which in most ways are much more accessible than other homes.
For additional general tips, I recommend the lighting chapter in Cheryl Mendelson’s book Home Comforts.
Author Resource:- Andy Asbury has a unique team of lofts and condos REALTORs® specializing inMinneapolis condos and lofts offering sound advice to clients. His team shares in-depth information onMinneapolis condos and lofts online at www.MinnesotaLoftsandCondos.com. Andy's team specializes in luxury condominum high rises likethe Carlyle Minneapolis and Grant Park Condominiums.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Resveratrol May Have Anti-Inflammatory Effect
According to research published in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism resveratrol, a compound found in the skin of red grapes, appears also to suppress inflammation in humans, a finding that may have implications for both inflammatory and degenerative diseases.
Here are some important diseases that have been linked to inflammation:
Age-related macular degeneration, a condition in which the cells in the retina degenerate, has been linked to inflammation. Research has pointed to abnormalities in the complement cascade that create a pro-inflammatory environment. If you have new distortion or central black spot, you should seek immediate medical attention as this may represent the "wet type" of macular degeneration, for which treatments are available.
Diabetes, a condition in which the body's own insulin is not effective or is present in lower amounts, has been linked to inflammation of the tiny insulin producing cells in the pancreas. Diabetes is associated with a higher link of stroke, heart attack, kidney disease and blindness.
Ischemic heart disease, which can cause heart attack, has been linked to inflammation of the inner lining of the coronary arteries. Inflammation associated with plaque can cause sudden cardiac death.
To perform their study, researchers from Kaleida Health's Diabetes-Endocrinology Center of Western New York, gave 10 subjects nutritional supplements containing 40 milligrams of resveratrol. Another then took an identical pill containing no active ingredient. Participants took the pill once a day for six weeks. Fasting blood samples were collected at the start of the trial as well as weeks one, three and six.
The results showed that resveratrol suppressed the generation of free radicals. These are unstable molecules which can cause oxidative stress and release proinflammatory factors into the blood stream. Ultimately these molecules are known to damage to the blood vessels and also promote angiogenesis or the formation of new blood vessels.
Todays research shows that resveratrol can have an effect on inflammation in the body. More research is needed to better understand if this compound can lower the prevalence and incidence
Here are some important diseases that have been linked to inflammation:
Age-related macular degeneration, a condition in which the cells in the retina degenerate, has been linked to inflammation. Research has pointed to abnormalities in the complement cascade that create a pro-inflammatory environment. If you have new distortion or central black spot, you should seek immediate medical attention as this may represent the "wet type" of macular degeneration, for which treatments are available.
Diabetes, a condition in which the body's own insulin is not effective or is present in lower amounts, has been linked to inflammation of the tiny insulin producing cells in the pancreas. Diabetes is associated with a higher link of stroke, heart attack, kidney disease and blindness.
Ischemic heart disease, which can cause heart attack, has been linked to inflammation of the inner lining of the coronary arteries. Inflammation associated with plaque can cause sudden cardiac death.
To perform their study, researchers from Kaleida Health's Diabetes-Endocrinology Center of Western New York, gave 10 subjects nutritional supplements containing 40 milligrams of resveratrol. Another then took an identical pill containing no active ingredient. Participants took the pill once a day for six weeks. Fasting blood samples were collected at the start of the trial as well as weeks one, three and six.
The results showed that resveratrol suppressed the generation of free radicals. These are unstable molecules which can cause oxidative stress and release proinflammatory factors into the blood stream. Ultimately these molecules are known to damage to the blood vessels and also promote angiogenesis or the formation of new blood vessels.
Todays research shows that resveratrol can have an effect on inflammation in the body. More research is needed to better understand if this compound can lower the prevalence and incidence
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