Gene Therapy Makes People See Again

Many of the gene therapy research studies were halted few years back due to the death of Jesse Gelsinger. He was the first patient to die from Gene therapy two days after the beginning of the clinical trial. But many scientists believe that gene therapy is actually a promising way to cure many rare and chronic diseases.

The treatment using Gene therapy basically means that a “normal” gene is inserted into the genome to replace an “abnormal,” disease-causing gene. A carrier molecule called a vector must be used to deliver the therapeutic gene to the patient’s target cells. Currently, the most common vector is a virus that has been genetically altered to carry normal human DNA.

Scientist are continuing their studies to find ways to cure disease using gene therapy. The last successful clinical trial was conducted by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. They used gene therapy treatment on five children and seven adults with retinal disease called Leber’s congenital amaurosis (LCA). All of the patients showed great improvement in their sight.

One of the patients used to sit in the back of the classroom, relying on the large print on an electronic screen and assisted by teacher aides. But now, after a small injection that produce light-sensitive pigments in the back of his eye, he sits in front with classmates. Watch this miracle

“This study reports dramatic results in restoring vision to patients who previously had no options for treatment,” said Katherine A. High, M.D., co-first author of the study and the director of the Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, the facility that sponsored the clinical trial at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “These findings may expedite development of gene therapy for more common retinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration.”

Researchers in England also successfully restored eyesight for six patients with genetic diseases.

Via – ScienceDaily

MythBusters: Just the Facts

Moira Gunn – Moira Gunn is host of the radio programs “Tech Nation” and “BioTech Nation,” aired by National Public Radio. “Tech Nation” episodes are normally based on an interview with the author of a science- or technology-related book. “BioTech Nation” is based on interviews with significant figures in the field of bio-technology, as well as regular discussions with science journalist David Ewing Duncan.

“Tech Nation” and “BioTech Nation” programs are also published as podcasts by IT Conversations.

Gunn’s early career included work at NASA on large-scale scientific computation and global communications, with special emphasis in infrared satellite image processing, computational fluid dynamics, and global climate and weather modeling. She also did work in robotics engineering at IBM, Morton Thiokol, United Technologies/Pratt and Whitney, Lockheed-Martin, Rolls-Royce, and the US Navy.

Gunn has a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and an M.A. in computer science.
Jamie Hyneman – Hailing from Indiana farm country, Jamie Hyneman is a multifaceted man: wilderness survival expert, boat captain, diver, linguist, animal wrangler, machinist and cook, to name a few. His career has been as equally diverse: Hyneman earned a degree in Russian languages and ran a sailing/diving charter business in the Caribbean for several years before he moved over to the visual-effects industry.

Once he had joined that field and had worked for several special-effects companies, Hyneman found his way to Colossal Pictures’ model shop, where he managed the production of models and special effects for hundreds of commercials and movies. Then, 16 years ago, Hyneman took over the shop and created M5 Industries Inc.

Hyneman has worked on over 800 commercials for major automobile manufacturers, soft-drink companies, athletic shoe companies and numerous other products. And in the midst of all this activity, Hyneman’s company diversified into toy prototyping and research and development in a variety of other areas as well.

The holder of several patents and the winner of numerous industry awards, Hyneman is also a long-standing Screen Actors Guild member.

Today, while “MythBusters” occupies the majority of Hyneman’s professional activity, M5 is active with developing cutting-edge technologies for a variety of industries ranging from defense to green vehicle design. In Hyneman’s own words, “At this point, with over 130 episodes under our belts, I feel that we have evolved into different people than we were when we started Mythbusters. You can’t go through all the mayhem we have been into on the show without it changing you. I feel like we are just getting warmed up.”
Adam Savage – Adam Savage has spent his life gathering skills that allow him to take what’s in his brain and make it real. He’s built everything from ancient Buddhas to futuristic weapons, from spaceships to dancing vegetables, from fine art sculptures to animated chocolate and just about anything else you can think of.

The son of a filmmaker/painter and psychotherapist, Savage has been making his own toys since he was allowed to hold scissors. Having held positions as a projectionist, animator, graphic designer, carpenter, interior and stage designer, toy designer, welder, and scenic painter, he’s worked with every material and process he could get his hands on – metal, paper, glass, plastic, rubber, foam, plaster, pneumatics, hydraulics, animatronics, neon, glassblowing, mold making and injection molding, to name just a few.

Since 1993, Savage has concentrated on the special-effects industry, honing his skills through more than 100 television commercials and a dozen feature films, including Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Galaxy Quest, Terminator 3, A.I. and the Matrix sequels. He’s also designed props and sets for Coca-Cola, Hershey’s, Lexus and a host of New York and San Francisco theater companies.

Not only has he worked and consulted in the research and development division for toy companies and made several short films, but Savage has also acted in several films and commercials – including a Charmin ad, in which he played Mr. Whipple’s stock boy, and a Billy Joel music video, “Second Wind,” in which he drowns.

Today, in addition to co-hosting Discovery Channel’s “MythBusters,” Savage teaches advanced model making, most recently in the industrial design department at the San Francisco Academy of Art. Somehow, he also finds time to devote to his own art – his sculptures have been showcased in over 40 shows in San Francisco, New York and Charleston, W.Va.

Small telescope in the eye improves vision

A new tiny small telescope implanted in patient’s eye to improve their vision dramatically. The new device was designed specifically for people who have sever damaged retinas or “macular degeneration“. The telescope magnifies images on the retina, extending them so they fall on healthy cells outside the damaged macula, said Allen W. Hill, chief executive of VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies in Saratoga, Calif., the implant’s maker.

Magnifying images make patient unbalanced during walking or driving, so once the patients does the surgery he/she requires to practice before facing the new world.

Patients say “that’s fine we will practice, but we want to be able to see again”. This invention would allow people to see relatives that never recognized clearly before, or restore their physical activities such as hiking and biking etc..

According to the inventor, the tiny telescope doesn’t cure people from blindness, but it improves their vision in a way that makes them see better by eliminating blurry images. Not everyone is qualified for the outpatient procedure; maybe only 20 out of 100 candidates will be qualified for it. Also, the price range is not yet revealed, but we know that it will be available in the United States after the FDA approval by the end of this year 2009.

Via – NYT

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