| Study finds patients with lower preop VA benefit more from non-AMD ...
Patients with worse baseline visual acuities particularly benefit from surgical excision of choroidal neovascular membranes not associated with age-related macular degeneration, according to a retrospective study. G. William Aylward, FRCOphth, and colleagues at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, and at University College London, reviewed outcomes for 52 eyes treated for non-AMD-related CNV between November 1997 and March 2003. Of these eyes, CNV was related to punctate inner choroidopathy in 21 eyes (40%), idiopathic causes in eight (15%), pathologic myopia in six eyes (12%), ocular histoplasmosis syndrome in one eye (2%) and other causes in 16 eyes (31%), according to the study. Patients averaged 41 years of age. Of the 52 eyes initially treated, 41 (80%) had 24-month follow-up data available.
Art performance held to mark Vietnam Disabled Day
VietNamNet Bridge - A grand art performance was held in Hanoi on April 15 to raise funds marking the annual Vietnam Disabled Day which falls on April 18. Entitled ‘One Heart, One World,' the show, the fourth of its kind so far, aims at raising people's awareness on caring and protecting the disabled and orphaned children, while encouraging them to further integrate into the community. The show is also a chance for people to raise funds to help disadvantaged children and people. The total donation from the April 15 show amounted to VND 4 billion. The money will be used to provide vocational training, free eye surgery and functional rehabilitation, as well as presenting them with facilities for everyday life. The show was jointly organised by the Vietnam Association for the Disabled and Orphaned children.
Sharing A Vision With Those Who Need It Most
Newtown Bee readers were introduced to Jennifer Staple last September, when she was one of 30 young leaders profiled in the book Our Time Is Now: Young People Changing the World. The Newtown native is also the founder, CEO, and president of Unite For Sight, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that addresses preventable blindness. Unite For Sight (UFS) has already helped more than 400,000 people in 25 countries since being formed in Ms Staple's dorm while she was studying at Yale University. Now Ms Staple has been selected for a Brick Award, which comes with a $10,000 award for her organization. Jennifer and the 11 other 2007 Brick Awards winners will be honored during an awards ceremony in New York City next week. The Brick Awards honor young leaders who identified a problem in their community and then "got up off the couch and did something about it," say organizers at Do Something, the group that gives out the awards.
China's rich are giving it away
In a world of fast-expanding human desire and greed, giving away one's wealth is a rare virtue. In fact, many billionaires in China are now making huge donations for education, social welfare and healthcare. According to the 2007 Hurun Report's Chinese Philanthropists List, compiled by Briton Rupert Hoogewerf, 30 of the China's 100 richest were among the 100 most generous in 2006, up from 20 the previous year. "Almost all the top 100 rich Chinese are considering the concept of charity. With a good policy environment, more and more wealthy people are setting up their own charitable funds," Hoogewerf reported. Of the total 10 billion yuan ($1.23 billion) donated last year, the amount given by the 100 was 3.9 billion yuan compared with 3.75 billion yuan the previous year. Shenzhen hotel entrepreneur Yu Pengnian topped the list of 100 philanthropists last year with 2 billion yuan ($258 million).
Kidney Failure Can Result From Iodine Dye Used For X-Rays Data Shows
Performing x-rays using iodine dye places patients with impaired kidney function at increased risk for kidney failure. Known as Contrast-Induced Nephropathy (ne-FROPP-a- thee) or ''CIN,'' this complication is the third most common cause of hospital-acquired kidney failure in the United States and Europe, accounting for 10-12 percent of all such cases.
Since June 2004, the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System (PA- PSRS) has received more than 70 reports showing the negative effects the iodine dye has on patients' kidneys when administered. Patients who develop CIN have more complications, a worse prognosis, more serious long-term outcomes and prolonged hospital stays which result in increased medical costs. While less than 2 percent of patients who develop CIN require dialysis, 30 percent of these patients experience chronic kidney problems.
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