Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Drug {maybe} 'aids albino people's sight' (BBC) {VERY preliminary -- even more than usual}

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Health Donate to DU
 
eppur_se_muova Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-11 02:08 PM
Original message
Drug {maybe} 'aids albino people's sight' (BBC) {VERY preliminary -- even more than usual}
Edited on Tue Sep-27-11 02:10 PM by eppur_se_muova
A drug which is already licensed for use could be used to treat sight problems in some albino people, say US researchers.
***
People with a type of albinism - OCA1 - have light skin, white hair and light irises caused by defective tyrosinase genes which mean they struggle to produce melanin.

Mice tests

Scientists at the National Eye Institute, Maryland, were investigating a drug - nitisinone - which is used to treat a blood condition, but is also known to increase hair and eye pigmentation
***
The researchers also do not know what would happen in human patients.

"A significant unanswered question is whether improving pigmentation in patients with albinism would improve visual function," the report said.
***
more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15061797

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitisinone

When I started reading this, I thought it would be Latisse® -- see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bimatoprost#Cosmetic_use http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bimatoprost#Side_effects -- which is also known to cause darkening of the iris.

It may cause unexpected growth of hair if applied inappropriately, on the cheek, for example.

And no one's tried treating baldness with it yet ???
Refresh | 0 Recommendations Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Health Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC