SafeHomeDIY
  • Home
  • Health
    • Health Today
    • Women’s Health
    • Safety
    • Health & Fitness
    • Weight Loss
  • Nutrition
    • Diet
    • Food & Recipe
    • Skin Care
  • Allergies & Diseases
    • Autism
    • Remedies
  • Pets
  • News
  • #COVID-19
  • Guest Post
SafeHomeDIY
Subscribe
SafeHomeDIY
  • Home
  • Health
    • Health Today
    • Women’s Health
    • Safety
    • Health & Fitness
    • Weight Loss
  • Nutrition
    • Diet
    • Food & Recipe
    • Skin Care
  • Allergies & Diseases
    • Autism
    • Remedies
  • Pets
  • News
  • #COVID-19
  • Guest Post
  • Health
  • News

British scientists say they’re on the cusp of curing blindness with stem cell treatment

  • May 7, 2020
  • SafeHomeDIY

Victims of a devastating form of blindness have been given hope by a new stem-cell treatment that rejuvenates the eyes.

There is no cure for retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited condition that slowly constricts vision, but a British firm has reported early success with a revolutionary procedure that helps to repair a damaged retina.

The treatment involves growing billions of ‘progenitor’ stem cells in a laboratory. These have the ability to transform themselves into other types of cell depending on where they are placed in the body.

A million stem cells are injected into the back of the patient’s eyeball. Once there, they transform themselves into new light-sensitive cells called rods and cones which replace those lost prematurely to genetic flaws.

Tests on three patients – two men and a woman – who were legally blind produced ‘exciting’ results, according to Olav Hellebo, chief executive of UK biotech firm ReNeuron.

Before the procedure, the three could read only the largest group of letters on a special eye test chart, but 18 days after being injected with the cells, their sight had improved to the point where they could read three letter sizes smaller.

One patient achieved sufficient progress to no longer be classified as legally blind and another told her doctor that she was able to see the food on her plate for the first time in years.

Mr Hellebo told The Mail on Sunday: ‘We are obviously very excited. We have to bear in mind all the caveats – that these are results in only three patients and it is early days – but the reaction from ophthalmologists has been very encouraging.’

The three patients are all American but the development of the technology has been led by experts at ReNeuron in Bridgend, Wales. Nine more patients have been enrolled to test the procedure.

Mr Hellebo said the woman, who had been ‘sceptical’ before the procedure, went from being able to see just nine letters on the eye test chart to 29. People are considered legally blind if they can read fewer than 36 letters on the 100-letter chart. ‘She said she could now see the food on her plate, which is really motivating for us to hear,’ he added.

A million stem cells are injected into the back of the patient’s eyeball. Once there, they transform themselves into new light-sensitive cells (file image)

A million stem cells are injected into the back of the patient’s eyeball. Once there, they transform themselves into new light-sensitive cells (file image)

A million stem cells are injected into the back of the patient’s eyeball. Once there, they transform themselves into new light-sensitive cells (file image)

The two men improved from nine to 24 letters and from 31 to 45.

RP, which affects up to 25,000 people in Britain, is caused by about 100 inherited genetic defects, sometimes alone and sometimes in combination.

Loss of vision can begin in childhood, adolescence or adulthood and starts with deteriorating night vision and peripheral vision which gradually narrows so only hazy tunnel vision eventually remains. Total blindness usually ensues.

Mr Hellebo, whose company will present further information about the trial at the annual Retinal Cell and Gene Therapy Innovation Summit in Vancouver, Canada, this month, said: ‘It’s a horrible diagnosis because you know where it’s headed and there’s nothing you can do about it.’

Tina Houlihan, of the Retina UK charity which supports people with inherited sight loss, said: ‘These early results are encouraging and will provide hope to those living with retinitis pigmentosa. However, while the trial is at this very early stage, with only a very small number of patients involved, we are cautious in our optimism.’

SafeHomeDIY

Health - Relationships - Lifestyle Related matters. It's All About your Safety First - It's All About You

Previous Article
  • Health
  • News

Being obese may DOUBLE the risk of needing hospital treatment for the life-threatening coronavirus

  • May 7, 2020
  • SafeHomeDIY
View Post
Next Article
  • Health
  • News

Don’t blame the baby – stretch marks are in your genes!

  • May 7, 2020
  • SafeHomeDIY
View Post
You May Also Like
Scientists have developed a new internet addiction spectrum that reveals just how reliant you are on having a strong connection
View Post
  • News

Scientists develop a new internet addiction spectrum – so, where do YOU fall on the scale?

  • SafeHomeDIY
  • October 4, 2023
6 Ways Hot and Cold Food Affects Our Body
View Post
  • Health & Fitness

6 Ways Hot and Cold Food Affects Our Body

  • SafeHomeDIY
  • October 4, 2023
Candid: Carol Vorderman, 62, recalled feeling suicidal as she discussed her struggle with 'severe depression ' during the menopause
View Post
  • News

Carol Vorderman, 62, recalls feeling suicidal amid struggle with 'severe depression' during the menopause

  • SafeHomeDIY
  • October 4, 2023
View Post
  • Health Today

The bicibús: how Barcelona got kids cycling safely to school – and loving it!

  • SafeHomeDIY
  • October 4, 2023
Already figures show that 3.7million people have received their flu jabs since the start of the campaign on September 11
View Post
  • News

Who is eligible for the flu jab this winter? And how do you book it? All you need to know

  • SafeHomeDIY
  • October 4, 2023
‘Im a nutritional therapist - here are six dietary tweaks to extend your life’
View Post
  • News

‘Im a nutritional therapist – here are six dietary tweaks to extend your life’

  • SafeHomeDIY
  • October 4, 2023
WATCH: Nancy Pelosi Goes Pants on Fire When Confronted on Her Handling of Trump Impeachment Inquiry
View Post
  • News

Nancy Pelosi Ordered to Vacate Her Office by New Acting Speaker, and the Tears Start Immediately

  • SafeHomeDIY
  • October 4, 2023
The graph shows malaria case incidence, or cases per 1,000 persons at risk, over time. Malaria case incidence declined from 82.3 per 1,000 in 2000 to 57.2 in 2019, before increasing by about four percent in 2020
View Post
  • News

New malaria vaccine is only the 2nd to win an endorsement from the World Health Organization – and this shot is more effective and less expensive

  • SafeHomeDIY
  • October 4, 2023
Recent Posts
  • Scientists develop a new internet addiction spectrum – so, where do YOU fall on the scale?
  • 6 Ways Hot and Cold Food Affects Our Body
  • Eva Longoria, 48, shows off her fit figure in a pink bikini on the beach in Spain for unedited photos
  • Body Language Expert Tells Us Donna Kelce Already Approves Of Taylor Swift
  • Nick Hogan Height, Weight, Age, Net Worth, Family
Safe Home DIY
  • Guest Post
  • Disclaimer and Disclosure
  • Term of Use
Health - Relationships - Lifestyle Related matters. It's All About your Safety First - It's All About You

Input your search keywords and press Enter.