Single shot of gene therapy could make kids with congenital blindness see.Byline: ANI London, Oct 25 (ANI): A single jab of genes that produce light-sensitive pigments can make children with congenital blindness see, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a new study. Taking the next step towards using gene therapy to cure disease, the study conducted by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine The University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine, presently located in the University City section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was the United States's first school of medicine, founded at the College of Philadelphia, as the University was then called. and the Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is one of the largest and oldest children's hospitals in the world. "CHOP" has been ranked as the best children's hospital in the United States by U.S. News & World Report and Child Magazine in recent years. , showed notable improvement in children with congenital blindness. For the study, the researchers used gene therapy to safely improve vision in five children and seven adults with Leber's congenital amaurosis Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a rare inherited eye disease that appears at birth or in the first few months of life It was first described by Theodore Leber in the 19th century. (LCA LCA Life Cycle Assessment LCA Saint Lucia (ISO Country code) LCA Life Cycle Analysis LCA Linux.conf.au (Australian Linux conference) LCA Labor Condition Application LCA Light Combat Aircraft ). The greatest improvements occurred in the children, all of whom are now able to navigate a low-light obstacle course-a result that the researchers call "spectacular." "This result is an exciting one for the entire field of gene therapy. This study reports dramatic results in restoring vision to patients who previously had no options for treatment. These findings may expedite development of gene therapy for more common retinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) Degeneration of the macula (the central part of the retina where the rods and cones are most dense) that leads to loss of central vision in people over 60. ," The Lancet quoted Dr. Katherine A. High, co-first author of the study as saying. Although the patients did not attain normal eyesight, half of them (six of 12) improved enough that they might no longer be classified as legally blind. "The clinical benefits have persisted for nearly two years since the first subjects were treated with injections of therapeutic genes into their retinas," said senior author Dr. Jean Bennett. For Bennett, the results build on nearly 20 years of gene studies on hereditary blindness, starting with pioneering work in mice and dogs. "These remarkable results have laid a foundation for applying gene therapy not only to other forms of childhood-onset retinal disease, but also to more common retinal degenerations," she added. "Children who were treated with gene therapy are now able to walk and play just like any normally sighted child. They can also carry out classroom activities without visual aids," said co-first author Dr. Albert M. Maguire. The study was published in The Lancet. (ANI) Copyright 2009 Asian News International The Asian News International (ANI) agency provides multimedia news to China and 50 bureaus in India. It covers virtually all of South Asia since its foundation and presently claims, on its official website, to be the leading South Asia-wide news agency. (ANI) - All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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