E.A.R.S .
FOR EYES
PHASE
II HUMAN CLINICAL TRIALS ANNOUNCED FOR PROMISING RETINAL DISEASE
TREATMENT
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E.A.R.S . FOR EYES (Enrichment Audio Resource Services, Inc.) 1-800-843-6816 FREE Instructional Audio Tapes for Seniors with Low Vision HAVING TROUBLE? • Dialing the telephone • Setting stove controls • Identifying medications Learn simple techniques for dealing with low vision. FREE AUDIO CASSETTE LESSONS . ( KT1) The Kitchen Environment � Utilizing light and contrast, kitchen safety tips, getting �plugged in.� . ( KT2) Marking the Stove & Microwave � Tactile marking systems for safe and reliable control settings. . (KT3) Basic Kitchen Skills � Organizing your kitchen, pouring, measuring, and slicing confidently. . ( KT5) Advanced Cooking Techniques � Cooking techniques from peeling, grating and chopping to boiling, frying and baking. . (KT4) Eating without Embarrassment � Navigating the place setting, and tips for dining out and at home. . (1M1) Indoor Mobility � Trailing techniques for safely and accurately getting from here to there. . (OM1) Using a Sighted Guide � Techniques for getting out and about with the help of a sighted friend. . (MD1) Managing Medications � Taking the right dose at the right time and useful talking devices. . (PC1) Personal Grooming � Use of magnifiers and lighting, bathroom organization and tactile marking. . (PC2) Doing the Laundry � Sorting clothing, measuring detergent, going up and down stairways safely. . (DA1) Using the Telephone � Finger touch patterns for accurately dialing any telephone. . (DA2) Adaptive Devices & Techniques � Describes video magnifiers, talking devices, handling money, clothing identification. All services are free. We do not require any designation of legal blindness, and your call is strictly confidential. 1-800-843-6816 E.A.R.S. FOR EYES |
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| PHASE II HUMAN CLINICAL TRIALS ANNOUNCED FOR PROMISING RETINAL DISEASE TREATMENT By Ben A. Shaberman Neurotech, a biotechnology company with operations in the U.S. and France, has announced that it is initiating a Phase II human clinical trial of its Encapsulated Cell Technology (ECT) for the treatment of vision loss due to the dry form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Two Phase II studies of the ECT for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) are also planned for the second quarter of this year, once the dry AMD trials are underway. The forthcoming trials for dry AMD will be conducted at the National Eye Institute (NEI) in Bethesda , Maryland . The ECT is a tiny device � six millimeters in length � that contains cells that produce a vision-preserving protein called Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor (CNTF). In a Phase I clinical trial of the ECT with CNTF at the NEI, the device was well-tolerated, and some patients also showed improvements in their visual acuity. The Foundation Fighting Blindness funded critical, pre-clinical studies of the ECT to demonstrate its potential efficacy and suitability for study in humans. The Foundation continues to work with Neurotech to facilitate forthcoming human clinical trials. �We are very encouraged by the initiation of a Phase II clinical trial of a treatment for both dry AMD and many forms of RP, says Stephen Rose, Ph.D., Chief Research Officer, Foundation Fighting Blindness. �It is one of the first Phase II trials both for RP and the dry form of AMD. Not only has it shown to slow or halt vision loss, it has restored some vision for some Phase I participants.� Rose adds, �A key benefit of the ECT is that it may be effective in treating many forms of RP. RP is actually a group of diseases, which can be caused by any one of a large number of genetic variations. We believe the ECT has the potential to preserve or restore vision in many forms of RP, independent of the genetic abnormality. Furthermore, it is one of the few emerging treatments for dry AMD.� More than 9 million people in the U.S. are affected by retinal degenerative diseases such as AMD and RP. AMD is the leading cause of blindness in people 55 and older. Foundation Fighting Blindness Spring 2006
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Traveling by Air, Train or Bus Toll-Free Hotline for Air Travelers with Disablilities � Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) (800) 778-4838 (voice) or (800) 455-9880 (TTY) daily Amtrak ( United States ) (800) 872-7245 - Ask to be transferred to a Customer Service Agent for assistance or accommodation for a disability. Greyhound Lines, Inc. Call the Customers with Disabilities Travel Assistance line at (800) 752-4841 at least 48 hours in advance of your departure to advise personnel of your travel needs and schedule.
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