Grateful patient donates $6.5M to Shiley Eye Center

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Doctors perform eye surgery in an operating room at Shiley Eye Center Wednesday. The center recently received a $6.5 million gift to help establish a new stem cell research laboratory.

A $6.5 million donation from an unnamed patient will help the Shiley Eye Center at UC San Diego strengthen its focus on stem cells, which hold the promise of repairing damage done by diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Dr. Robert Weinreb, the centers director and a widely-published glaucoma researcher, said hes conducting a worldwide search for stem cell scientists to come to Shiley, which last year ranked fourth in National Institutes of Health funding among ophthalmology research centers nationwide.

Stem cells are known for their ability to transform themselves into nearly any other type of cell in the body, and scientists are exploring ways to use this Rosetta stone of biology to repair damage caused by cancer, diabetes and a range of other diseases.

Theres also huge potential for stem cells and the human eye.

Were going to use the stem cells to treat retinal diseases including macular degeneration, to rescue the optic nerve in glaucoma, as well as to replace the diseased layers of the cornea in patients with blinding corneal diseases, Weinreb said.

Vision loss is a growing problem as more and more baby boomers reach retirement age.

Paul Kelly, 83, undergoes a test that measures the curvature of his corneas Wednesday at Shiley Eye Center in La Jolla.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said about 1.8 million Americans have advanced age-related macular degeneration and projects that number to soar to 2.9 million by 2020. In addition, the incidence of glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy is expected to grow significantly in the same time frame.

But theres hope.

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Grateful patient donates $6.5M to Shiley Eye Center

Global Stem Cells Group and Revita Life Sciences Announce Joint Venture to Establish a Stem Cell Training Course in …

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Miami (PRWEB) April 11, 2014

GlobalStemCellsGroup.com and Revita Life Sciences have announced plans to present the adipose and bone marrow stem cells course hosted by Himanshu Bansal, M.D., May 22-23 in Delhi.

Revita Life Sciences is a biotech company based in Dehli that specializes in stem cell research, training and clinical applications protocol development in regenerative medicine. Stem Cell specialists from both Global Stem Cells Group and Revita will participate in the two-day training program designed to help medical professionals bring stem cell therapies to the physicians office.

The adipose-derived harvesting, isolation and re-integration training course for the advancement of stem cell procedures is a two-day, hands-on intensive training course developed for physicians and high-level practitioners to learn techniques in harvesting and reintegrating stem cells derived from adipose (fat) tissue and bone marrow. The objective of the training is to bridge the gap between bench science in the laboratory and the doctors office by teaching effective in office regenerative medicine techniques.

For more information, visit the Global Stem Cells Group website, email bnovas(at)regenestem(dot)com, or call 305-224-1858.

About the Global Stem Cell Group: Global Stem Cells Group, Inc. is the parent company of six wholly owned operating companies dedicated entirely to stem cell research, training, products and solutions. Founded in 2012, the company combines dedicated researchers, physician and patient educators and solution providers with the shared goal of meeting the growing worldwide need for leading edge stem cell treatments and solutions. With a singular focus on this exciting new area of medical research, Global Stem Cells Group and its subsidiaries are uniquely positioned to become global leaders in cellular medicine.

Global Stem Cells Groups corporate mission is to make the promise of stem cell medicine a reality for patients around the world. With each of GSCGs six operating companies focused on a separate research-based mission, the result is a global network of state-of-the-art stem cell treatments.

About Revita Life Science:

Revita Life Sciences is a biotechnology company that provides complete support to patients from their first inquiry through stem cell therapy performed by a Revita Life Science specialized physician.

Revitas primary objective is the development of stem cell therapies that target areas of significant unmet or poorly met medical need. Years of research and experience have resulted in substantial improvements in the health and condition of patients suffering from a variety of illnesses through stem cell therapy, even where other treatments have failed.

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Global Stem Cells Group and Revita Life Sciences Announce Joint Venture to Establish a Stem Cell Training Course in ...

Manipulated: The rise of behavioral finance

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Its hard to find a place today where concepts of behavioral finance arent being applied to real-world situations. From London to Washington to Sydney, governments are experimenting with the psychology of decision-making and trying to nudge citizens toward better behaviors, whether that means saving more for retirement or signing an organ donation card. Meanwhile, businesses see opportunities for higher profits. To grab more attention and dollars from consumers, companies as far afield as banks and fitness-app makers carefully design their offerings with consumers decision-making quirks in mind.

Many behavioral interventions work, whether at reducing litter and power use or boosting savings rates. Yet these successes arent the whole story. Even after rigorous experimentation and data analysis, the best-intentioned nudges can fall flat or backfire. Some may be behavioral bandages that dont address deeper structural problems such as stagnating wages. Nevertheless, consumers have jumped on the bandwagon, eager to be manipulated into the best version of themselves, and businesses are rushing to meet the demand.

(Cristiana Couceiro/For The Washington Post)

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Heres a round-up of apps that could help manage your finances.

Ben Steverman

Companies as far afield as banks and fitness-app makers keep consumers decision-making quirks in mind.

Where many people need the biggest nudge, if not a shove, is with making financial decisions. The effect of emotion on investment decisions is usually negative good old fear and greed, as well as paralysis from being overwhelmed by choice. At the same time, even if someone wants to build an emergency fund or open an IRA, bad spending and saving habits are hard to break. To help users follow through on good intentions, a raft of financial apps and online investing Web sites use a mix of encouragement, nagging, incentives and design.

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Manipulated: The rise of behavioral finance

The booming business in behavioral finance

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Its hard to find a place today where concepts of behavioral finance arent being applied to real-world situations.

From London to Washington to Sydney, governments are experimenting with the psychology nudge citizens toward better behaviors, whether that means saving more for retirement or signing an organ donation card.

Meanwhile, businesses see opportunities for higher profits. To grab more attention and dollars from consumers, companies as far afield as banks and fitness-app makers carefully design their offerings with consumers decision-making quirks in mind.

Many behavioral interventions work, whether at reducing litter and power usage or boosting savings rates and organ donations. Yet these successes arent the whole story. Even after rigorous experimentation and data analysis, the best-intentioned nudges can fall flat or backfire.

Some may be behavioral band-aids that dont address deeper structural problems such as stagnating wages.

Nevertheless, consumers have jumped on the bandwagon, eager to be manipulated into the best version of themselves, and businesses are rushing to meet the demand.

Where many people need the biggest nudge, if not a shove, is with making financial decisions. The effect of emotion on investment decisions is usually negative good old fear and greed, as well as paralysis from being overwhelmed by choice.

At the same time, even if someone wants to build an emergency fund or open an IRA, bad spending and saving habits are hard to break. To help users follow through on their good intentions, a raft of financial apps and online investing websites use a mix of encouragement, nagging, incentives and design.

Emotional triggers

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The booming business in behavioral finance

Former Workington Comet flies high for Edinburgh Monarchs

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Last updated at 09:39, Saturday, 12 April 2014

Workington Comets slumped to defeat away to Edinburgh Monarchs in the League Cup. Former Comet Craig Cook was in scintillating form as he scored 14 points from five rides to give the Monarchs a 55-38 victory.

Craig Cook: Scored 14 points from five rides

The result means that Comets came away with no points and it leaves Monarchs top of the Border Division with nine points from their three League Cup matches.

Comets team manager Tony Jackson said: I am disappointed. Its the same old story in Edinburgh we just dont seem to do it. A few things went wrong on the night that changed the match.

There were two harsh refereeing decisions when Rene Bach was excluded in heat nine and Mason Campton was excluded in heat 11. I thought they were unfairly excluded.

We only won three races at the end of the day and you cant do anything only winning three races.

We didnt get the rub of the green. We are not going to get down about it. I am sure we will make amends on Saturday night.

Comets started the evening a rider down with reserve Chris Mills arriving late following an arduous journey from his home in Essex.

He arrived 40 minutes after the match had started. His van broke down and he got stuck in traffic on his way to Edinburgh.

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Former Workington Comet flies high for Edinburgh Monarchs

Monsters Fall to Comets in Shootout, 3-2

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April 11, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL) Lake Erie Monsters A two-goal third period lead disappeared and the Lake Erie Monsters (29-32-1-10) fell 3-2 in a shootout to the Utica Comets (33-30-5-4) before a crowd of 12,386 fans at Quicken Loans Arena. With the shootout loss, the Monsters are officially eliminated from playoff contention. Michael Schumacher and Guillaume Desbiens scored for the Monsters, who are winless in their last five games. Of the eight games between the Monsters and Comets this season, the last seven were decided by 3-2 final scores. The Monsters host Rochester in the third game of their four-game homestand on Sunday at 5:00 PM.

Schumacher gave the Monsters a 1-0 lead at 6:05 of the first period when he tapped in a bouncing puck in front of the Utica net after a centering feed from Colin Smith. The goal was the 12th of the season for Schumacher, and was assisted by Smith and Stefan Elliott. The Monsters held their 1-0 lead until Guillaume Desbiens extended the Monsters lead to 2-0 at 7:22 of the third period, with assists to Elliott and Mitchell Heard.

Utica scored twice between the 12:09 and 18:02 marks of the third period to tie the game at 2-2. First Jeremy Welsh, then Cal O'Reilly scored for the Comets, who forced overtime.

In overtime, the Monsters had 56 seconds of total power play time, but were unable to convert. In overtime, the Comets held a 5-4 shot advantage.

Alex Friesen and Brandon DeFazio scored in the shootout for Utica, while the Monsters were 0-4 on shootout attempts; with the shootout edge, the Comets secured the 3-2 win.

Calvin Pickard stopped 34 of 36 shots and one of Utica's three shootout attempts in the shootout loss; he is 15-17-7 on the season. Joe Cannata is 10-12-1 after the shootout win for the Comets; he stopped 28 of 30 Monsters shots and all four shootout attempts.

The Monsters host Rochester Sunday at 5:00 PM.

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Monsters Fall to Comets in Shootout, 3-2

Fatima drops pair in Invitational

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In their first game, the Fatima Comets could muster little offense. In their second, they put some runs on the board.

But in both games, they did accomplish one of their biggest goals.

Were here to compete, were here to make us better, Fatima coach Scott Kilgore said after the Comets went 0-2 in Fridays opening day of the Capital City Invitational at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.

Thats the most important thing for us right now. We didnt get a win, that would have been great. But we walk away stronger after today.

The Comets opened with a 2-0 loss Friday afternoon to the Hickman Kepwies. Fatima had baserunners in five of the seven innings, but only two got as far as second base.

We just couldnt string any hits together, Kilgore said. Its not like we struck out that much, we put the ball in play, we just hit it right at them. But thats baseball.

Hickman scored both of its runs in the fourth inning on four singles and two walks off Fatima senior starter Reid Kesel.

Kesel went six innings for the Comets, giving up just one other hit while he struck out six on 82 pitches.

That was six innings of good solid pitching, Kilgore said.

Will Robertson struck out three in one inning of relief for the Comets.

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Fatima drops pair in Invitational

Comets top Baldwin

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By Marc Vieau

BALDWIN Northern Michigan Christian picked up its first win of the season, beating Baldwin 13-6 in a non-league baseball game.

Kade Ellens got the win after setting down in the middle innings.

Jon Dracht, Jager Haan and Jake Shaarda all played solid defensively.

At the plate, Wyatt Lambert had a hit and an RBI; Ryan Pogue two hits and two RBIs; Ellens a double; Dylan Lucas a hit and an RBI; and Jared Eisenga two doubles.

Northern Michigan Christian dropped a pair of games to Pentwater, 7-1 and 15-8, to open its season Thursday.

"Overall, it was a good opener," NMC coach Jason Towers said. "A couple of mental lapses, and some struggles on the mound set us back but it was good to get a couple of games in.

"We are a young team with a bunch of solid athletes."

Shaarda took the loss in the opener for the Comets. At the plate, Lucas had a hit; Eisenga a double; Ellens two hits; and Casey TeBos a hit.

Dracht took the loss in the second game.

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Comets top Baldwin