How to cure blindness, concussions and baldness

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Mauro Fermariello/Science Photo Library

Ouch, be gone

Doctors at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto have identified two proteins that could form the basis of a test to diagnose male infertility by identifying whether sperm is present in seminal fluid. This would be a drastic improvement over current methods: expensive genetic tests or sperm retrieval procedures and biopsies that require inserting needles into the testicles, which can be uncomfortable and unsuccessful. The new test could be available within two years.

The Arugs II (Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.)

Bionic eyes

Retinitis pigmentosa is a genetic eye disorder that compromises a persons ability to respond to light, and leads to blindness. For years, researchers have failed to find a cure for the one in 4,000 people affected. But a new device called the Argus II has been approved by the FDA for use in adults, and promises to improve vision. Patients receive a retinal implant that contains 60 electrodes. They wear eyeglasses that have a miniature video camera inside. The camera captures what the patient views, and sends that information wirelessly to the retinal implant. The electrodes stimulate the retina, which moves visual information along the optic nerve to the brain. The result: patterns of light are perceived by the patient. In fact, Argus II allowed people with retinitis pigmentosa to see outlined objects with 41.4 per cent accuracy compared to just 9.4 per cent without it.

Understanding concussions

Among the most frustrating aspects of concussion is the fact that theres no way of knowing how long symptoms will last. They can range in type and intensity, and some patients, unbeknownst to them, wind up more vulnerable to future concussions. Up to 30 per cent of patients have long-term difficulty with processing information, memory and multi-tasking. Now, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and the University of Pittsburgh believe a blood test could identify whether certain individuals have a greater chance of persistent cognitive problems and other brain damage once they resume risky activities such as playing sports or conducting particular military work. They have found that the blood levels of a protein called SNTF were twice as high in some concussion patients on the day they were injured. High levels of SNTF correlated to significant white matter damage that showed up on brain scans.

The use of blood tests to determine the severity of a concussion would be an objective measurecurrently, doctors rely on a patients description of symptoms, as well as neuropsychological and cognitive tests. This can be most challenging when it comes to children, who may not be able to accurately communicate their symptoms, and for whom the long-term consequences of concussion can be especially devastating, socially and academically. Thats why the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and other organizations have invested $7.5 million to help fund 19 research projects on concussions, especially those involving youth.

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How to cure blindness, concussions and baldness