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Pioneering new glaucoma treatment could eliminate need for surgery

A new treatment for glaucoma that promises to control the debilitating eye condition for years without many of the ill-effects of surgery is being introduced in the UK.

The pioneering method involves implanting a tiny strip of sponge into the corner of the eye to soak away excess fluid that causes the condition.

About 700,000 people in Britain have glaucoma, which is caused when the optic nerve is damaged by pressure built up by the trapped fluid. Restoring lost vision is not yet possible. 

Doctors have a range of treatments to prevent it getting worse, though each has drawbacks.

Provided by Daily Mail New treatment which involves implanting a tiny strip of sponge into the corner of the eye to soak away excess fluid could tackle glaucoma (file photo)

Patients with primary open angle glaucoma – the most common form of the condition which leads to progressive loss of peripheral vision – are usually given eye-drop drugs to start with.

If these fail, laser surgery is used to widen the natural channels that drain fluid from the eye. But the benefits of laser surgery can be modest, or wane over time, at which point many sufferers go for traditional surgery. This often involves drainage channels being opened further and the creation of an artificial reservoir for the excess fluid.

But recovery can take more than a month, with some patients suffering debilitating side effects that include dry, gritty eyes.  

The new method involves implanting a 5mm strip of high-density sponge, which is less than a millimetre thick, called a MINIject. It collects and then drains the excess eye fluid into a natural chamber called the supraciliary space, from where it is absorbed by the body.

Chrys Dimitriou, a consultant eye surgeon at the Colchester Eye Centre, recently implanted MINIject devices into eight NHS patients – the first to receive them.

He said: 'It's working with the natural structure of the eye. With some patients they can even go swimming a week after having it implanted.'

Provided by Daily Mail About 700,000 people in Britain have glaucoma, which is caused when the optic nerve is damaged by pressure built up by the trapped fluid (file photo)

Recent trial data indicates that the procedure has a long-lasting effect, with eye pressure, on average, more than a third lower after two years compared with before implantation of the sponge. There was also no sign of damage to the back of the cornea – an issue with previous implants of this type.

Mr Dimitriou said MINIject could also be used for patients whose glaucoma had not been controlled by traditional surgery, holding out hope of retaining good vision for longer.

The sponge was designed by iSTAR Medical, a Belgian firm which specialises in 'minimally invasive glaucoma surgery'. 

World’s first lab-grown lion meat as climate-friendly ‘cultivated’ food arrives in UK

Food producers are encouraging climate-conscious consumers to make the switch from plant-based alternatives to lab-grown exotic meats in a bid to preserve the planet.

‘Cultivated’ lion burgers, tiger steaks and zebra sushi rolls are among the products being pitched by a food-tech startup, that it hopes will eventually be made widely available for purchase.

Once the products have passed regulatory approvals, Primeval Foods said Michelin-starred restaurants in London will be among the first to sample its dishes, with further plans to expand on a larger scale, even to local supermarkets.

Cultivated meat is a production method that allows companies to produce food from any species without slaughtering animals.

It is produced by cultivating animal cells directly, which allows producers to replicate the sensory and nutritional profiles of conventional meat.

The idea behind the method is that it eliminates the need to raise and farm animals for food and is broadly regarded as a means of conserving land and water, preserving habitat, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and preventing manure pollution and antibiotic overuse.

Provided by The Independent A sample ‘New Age Menu’ (Primeval Foods)

Since cultivated meat is not yet produced on an industrial scale, there is still relative uncertainty around its benefits in preserving the planet.

But scientists extensively conclude that the overall environmental impacts of cultured meat production are substantially lower than those of conventionally produced meat.

According to a study on its environmental impacts, production of cultivated meat involves approximately 7–45 per cent less energy use than conventionally produced European meat.

Greenhouse gas emissions were also found to be 78–96 per cent lower, while land use was cut by 99 per cent and water use by 82–96 per cent.

Provided by The Independent A ‘Tiger Steak' sample (Primeval Foods)

In February, the Financial Times reported a slump in plant-based sales after Beyond Meat’s stock dropped 11 per cent. In the last three months of 2021, the company reported losses of $80.4m — more than triple the year before.

It comes after US sales of plant-based meat overall dropped by 0.5 percent in 2021 after seeing a 46 per cent increase in 2020, according to data provider Spins.

Primeval Foods has taken this recent drop as an opportunity to “double down on innovative ideas”. As well as offering a new climate-friendly alternative to conventional meat, it hopes exotic alternatives will also allow people to explore novel culinary experiences.

Provided by The Independent 100% cultivated ‘Zebra Sushi Rolls' (Primeval Foods)

“People are constantly seeking to discover new foods, new restaurants, new culinary experiences, but the traditional species have reached their limitation on meeting this demand,” said Yilmaz Bora, managing partner of Ace Ventures, the London-based venture studio that created Primeval Foods.

“It has to go beyond the current beef, chicken, and pork dishes, and it has to come without the expense of nature.”

He added: “In the coming months, we are planning to have a tasting event in London with one of our cultivated exotic meats, to give the world a taste of what the next chapter of food would look like.” 

Venom from sea snails could hold key to future painkillers

Unlocking the secrets of the deadly venom produced by a poisonous sea snail could hold the key to developing better, less addictive painkillers.

PA Media A cone snail

The cone snail’s venom contains chemicals called conotoxins, which the creature uses to paralyse its prey by blocking parts of their nervous system.

Scientists believe a modified version of the poison could form the basis of future drugs capable of blocking pain receptors in the human body.

Led by a team from the University of Glasgow, scientists are setting out to learn more about the unique venom produced by the sea creatures.

Andrew Jamison, the project’s principal investigator, said while the “cone snail might seem like an unlikely prospect for breakthroughs in drug discovery”, the conotoxins it produces “have a lot of intriguing properties which have already shown promise in medicine”.

He said researchers at the university, alongside those at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), will work to investigate how conotoxin peptides are structured at the molecular level.

Once researchers have unlocked the secrets, new drugs based on their findings will be developed and investigated.

Dr Jamison said: “Those new molecules’ ability to interact with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors could lead to new forms of muscle relaxants for anaesthesia, or painkillers which are just as effective as opioids but don’t have the same associated potential for addiction.

“It’s an exciting project and we’re looking forward to getting started.”

Humans are rarely seriously injured by cone snails but there have been cases where their stings have killed people.

There is no anti-toxin available at the moment, meaning serious stings cannot be treated, but the researchers hope their project could also lead to the development of the first ever treatment for conotoxin poisoning.

As well as researchers in Glasgow and at the DSTL, machine learning and artificial intelligence researchers from the University of Southampton will be used to better understand how the cone snail’s venom works to affect human muscles.

Reference: Dan Barker: Evening Standard: 

Wisdom teeth - the signs that you need them removed

A top dentist has revealed the real truth behind our wisdom teeth - and the tell-tale signs you probably need to go under the knife to have them removed. Many people begin to see their last molars come through in their late teens or early 20s, while for others they never come through at all.

Getty Images Wisdom teeth can cause problems

But problems with wisdom teeth can lead to a whole host of unpleasant side effects, such as infection, overcrowded teeth and intense pain, that can make it necessary to have them removed completely. Dr Baresh Eyrumlu, of private dental firm Banning Dental Group, said: “The arrival of wisdom teeth is a normal part of life and for most people they shouldn’t cause any problems.

“However, for some they can cause a range of issues such as overcrowding of existing teeth, infection of the tooth and gum and even damage to surrounding teeth. They can trigger intense pain and swelling if the tooth is impacted or infected, and it then becomes necessary to have them removed.

“The eruption of wisdom teeth doesn’t have to become a big problem if action is taken early, but it’s important to look out for the warning signs that something is not quite right.”

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that come through later in life, and while it’s common for people to see them come through between 18 and 25, some people experience it later in life or even never at all. In some cases, they can take years to fully erupt through the gum, and when they get trapped they can cause problems.

It is still a little unclear exactly why we have them, but some experts believe it’s because our ancestors needed them to survive on a diet which heavily featured hard items such as roots and nuts. Historically, our jaws were wider back then and that allowed wisdom teeth to erupt easily.

The eruption of wisdom teeth can bring a range of painful problems if they emerge at a strange angle and put pressure on surrounding teeth. This can happen when there is insufficient space in the mouth and often leads to surgical removal.

Signs that an immediate trip to the dentist may be needed include swelling around the jaw, pain or bleeding in the gums or ulcers in the cheeks. Some people will also experience an unpleasant taste in the mouth and even bad breath if the tooth shows signs of an infection.

The clinician will x-ray the gum to determine how the teeth are growing and it may become necessary to have a short surgical procedure to have them removed. In some cases it is necessary to have them removed in hospital with sedation, but often a trained dentist is able to carry out the treatment.

This often involves an injection of local anaesthetic and a small cut to the gums to gain access to the tooth and its roots with local anaesthetics. The dentist may then break the tooth down into smaller parts to remove it completely and in many cases the whole procedure will be over in as little as 20 minutes.

Experts always advise that you should make an appointment with your dentist if you begin to experience problems with your wisdom teeth coming through so that some x-rays can be taken. Banning Dental Group was established by specialists Dr Azad Eyrumlu and Dr Honar Shakir to offer affordable treatment to private patients after noticing a chronic shortage of accessible dental care.

Reference: Hull Live: Steven Smith