The S&A Health Report: THE "EYES" HAVE IT

Sebaceous cell carcinoma. This is a deadly disease. It attacks the skin, eyes, and eyelids – especially the upper eyelids – of people typically 60-70 years old. It kills 25% of the people that get it. It turns out that COX-2 inhibitor drugs can almost completely cure these lesions. But remember, the FDA recently restricted COX-2 inhibitor drugs – think Celebrex and Vioxx – because of questions about the risk-reward profiles for people with arthritis. Very interesting science.

LENSES to replace your cataracts. Ask your doctor about this one if you are considering cataract surgery. Doctors have implanted two different brands of lenses that allow for near, intermediate, and distant vision. Ironically, each brand's side effects are cured by the other's positive qualities. This means that your brain and these new lenses can work together to almost mimic the vision we had as a child.

SUPER DUPER SUPER GLUE. Researchers have created a new glue that uses branching polymers (repeating sets of molecules) called dendrimers. The potential is huge. Wounds that do not close easily and bones that need scaffolding to grow healthier love this glue. For example, star-shaped wounds to the eye do not close easily without destroying the surface of the cornea (the clear part of the eye) and thus preventing good vision after surgery. Now these wounds can be closed more cleanly. And it seems that other wounds heal and seal even better with these glues, too.

Curcumin. I wrote about this Indian spice used in curry months back. It's one powerful molecule. The spice is antitumor, anti-inflammation, antioxidant, anti-Alzheimer's… and now anti-VEGF. On one small obscure poster at the end of a row, I found research done out of India. Amazingly, curcumin has similar properties to the "miracle" drugs for eye disease that are now becoming the standard of care for diabetic eye disease, age-related macular degeneration problems, and so on… all diseases where the body up-regulates growth factors for blood vessels (the so-called Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors, or VEGFs). Each injection of these drugs can run in the thousands of dollars, and some of the drugs require monthly injections. What a breakthrough, if all we need is to eat curry regularly.

siRNA. This new technology takes gene therapy to a new level. These molecules can block proteins and pathways of regulation in a unique way. Researchers have found that siRNA can modulate glaucoma as well as current drugs. The only difference is that these siRNA drugs last for weeks with one dose, as opposed to some regimens that require three times a day dosing. (Phase 1 editor Rob Fannon wrote last year about a company developing siRNA technology.)

Green Tea phenols. This is simple. Chemicals in green tea inhibit immune molecules such as CD4 + T-cells. In low doses, they act similarly to the inhibitor cyclosporine. But they don't cause apoptosis (sort of a cellular suicide ritual that can lead to unwanted side effects). Cyclosporine drops are essentially a last resort for people with dry eyes. Tea anyone?

The sun and melanoma. Once again… research is showing the benefit of sun when it comes to melanomas of the eye. Remember, the sun is natural and your body uses it to produce Vitamin D… Be careful to avoid the sunscreen hype and enjoy the sun this summer.