John R. Martinelli, OD, FAAO

Sabbatical

2010-08-16T21:18:00.002-04:00

Hello patients and friends:

Currently I am away on extended sabbatical at St. George's University School of Medicine but will be returning to see patients in December. Of course, my associates Drs. Molina and my father are always available so you will continue to be under the best of care. However, if you would like to contact me, email is best: jrm@martinellieyecare.com. Thank you!

Dr. Martinelli, Jr.

Iris Recognition & Medical Records

2010-03-15T10:37:00.002-04:00

The future is here...

At Bronx clinic, the eyes are windows to medical records - CNN.com

Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy and Stem Cell Treatment

2010-03-07T05:39:00.000-05:00

Advanced Cell Technology‘s RPE Cells Granted Orphan Drug Status from FDA for Treatment of Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy

First-Ever Designation for Treatment Using Embryonic Stem Cells

WORCESTER—Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (OTCBB: ACTC – News), a biotechnology company applying cellular technology in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation for the company’s MA09-hRPE cells for use in the treatment of Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy (SMD). As a result, the company is eligible to receive a number of benefits, including tax credits, access to grant funding for clinical trials, accelerated FDA approval and allowance for marketing exclusivity after drug approval for a period of as long as seven years.

“We are pleased that the FDA has, for the first time, granted orphan drug status for the use of an embryonic stem cell derived therapy in treating an unmet medical need,” said Edmund Mickunas, Vice President Regulatory. “We believe that our terminally differentiated RPE cells represent a promising treatment for patients with SMD and expect to be in a position to accelerate clinical development and hopefully make RPE cellular therapy available to the majority of patients sooner.”

US orphan drug designation is granted to companies with products aimed at treatment of a rare disease or condition that affects fewer than 200,000 Americans. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently proposed broadening the definition of a human embryonic stem cell to include ACT’s “single blastomere technology platform” which was used to derive ACT’s MA09-hRPE cells. The Company believes that the SMD program should be eligible for federal funding once the change is published in the Federal Register.

Degenerative diseases of the retina are among the most common causes of untreatable blindness in the world, and as many as ten million people in the United States have photoreceptor degenerative disease. While most of these patients have Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), a smaller number have Stargardt’s, an Orphan disease and to date an untreatable form of juvenile macular degeneration leading to blindness in a much younger group of patients than are affected by AMD. ACT’s treatment for eye disease uses stem cells to re-create a type of cell in the retina that supports the photoreceptors needed for vision. These cells, called retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), are often the first to die off in SMD and AMD, which in turn leads to loss of vision.

While there is currently no treatment for SMD, several years ago ACT and its collaborators discovered that human embryonic stem cells could be a source of RPE cells. Subsequent studies found that the cells could restore vision in animal models of macular degeneration. In a Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat model, implantation of RPE cells resulted in 100% improvement in visual performance over untreated controls, without any adverse effects. The cells survived for more than 220 days and sustained extensive photoreceptor rescue. Functional rescue was also achieved in the ‘Stargardt’s’ mouse with near-normal functional measurements recorded at more than 70 days.

About Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. is a biotechnology company applying cellular technology in the field of regenerative medicine. For more information, visit http://www.advancedcell.com.

Glaucoma Meds Linked to Lower Mortality Risk

2010-02-10T08:38:00.002-05:00

Surprising study...

Medical News: Glaucoma Meds Linked to Lower Mortality Risk - in Ophthalmology, Glaucoma from MedPage Today

Photoreceptors generated from adult human skin cells

2010-02-04T08:39:00.000-05:00

Fascinating!

Crafting Light-Sensing Cells from Human Skin

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/24457/

Light and Migraines

2010-01-11T08:17:00.002-05:00

Very interesting research...

Scientists shed new light on migraines, pain - BostonHerald.com

Pet tarantulas pose risk to owners' eyes, say doctors

2010-01-04T09:07:00.002-05:00

For those of you with pet tarantulas - just in case!

BBC News - Pet tarantulas pose risk to owners' eyes, say doctors

Laser Deemed Best Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy

2010-01-04T09:01:00.003-05:00

Standard therapy still recommended over steroid injections, researchers say

HealthDay

Dr. Edward Kondrot, Homeopathic Ophthalmologist: Pittsburgh Seminar - December 6. Three Day Treatment Program - December 7 - 9

2009-11-15T20:55:00.014-05:00

I'd like to welcome home my long-time associate and friend, Dr. Edward Kondrot.

Dr. Kondrot will be returning to Pittsburgh from December 6 - 9, 2009 and will hold a 1 day informational seminar on Sunday, December 6, followed by a 3 day treatment program beginning Monday, December 7.

During the seminar, a wide range of ocular conditions will be discussed along with alternative and homeopathic treatment strategies. Learn how vision threatening conditions such as Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, and Diabetic Retinopathy can often be successfully treated and managed incorporating Dr. Kondrot's unique non-invasive holistic therapies.

More about Dr. Kondrot:

Has practiced ophthalmology for over 18 years and classical homeopathy for 10 years
Received his MD in 1977 from Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Completed his residency in Ophthalmology at the Scheie Eye Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and at St. Francis General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, becoming a board certified Ophthalmologist in 1981
Received his diploma from the Hahnemann Homeopathic College in Albany, California in 1995
Became certified by the Council of Homeopathic Certification in 2000
Became Doctor of Homeopathic therapeutics (DHt) in 2002
Dr. Kondrot has an active medical license in Arizona and Pennsylvania

If you would like to learn even more or register for this exciting seminar and/or treatment program, please follow this link: http://www.healingtheeye.com/seminars.html

You may also contact me directly either by email or phone. I will promptly reply to all inquiries.

I will be joining Dr. Kondrot for his Sunday seminar and I look forward to seeing many of you there!

Keep Online Health Information in Perspective

2009-11-10T08:22:00.002-05:00

A reminder!...

Googling can mislead people seeking health information - washingtonpost.com

Myopia (Nearsightedness) and Diabetic Retinopathy

2009-10-29T06:57:00.003-04:00

Medical News: AAO: Myopia May Minimize Diabetic Eye Damage - in Meeting Coverage, AAO from MedPage Today

Gene Therapy and Leber's Congenital Amaurosis

2009-10-26T09:43:00.002-04:00

Medical News: AAO: Gene Therapy Restores Partial Vision - in Meeting Coverage, AAO from MedPage Today

Improved Stem Cell Creation Developing

2009-10-19T12:34:00.002-04:00

BBC NEWS | Health | 'Ethical' stem cell crop boosted

Heart Disease Linked to Macular Degeneration

2009-10-02T08:19:00.002-04:00

Large study reveals association between Age Related Macular Degeneration and Heart Disease:

Medical News: Heart Disease Linked to Macular Degeneration - in Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology from MedPage Today

Retinal Implants Show Promise In Visually Handicapped

2009-09-29T08:22:00.003-04:00

Technology Review: A Brighter Future for Retinal Implants

Amazing research from the University of California - Berkeley

2009-09-26T23:14:00.002-04:00

Brain scans reveal what you've seen - CNN.com

'Radical' surgery uses patient's tooth to restore sight

2009-09-17T11:37:00.002-04:00

An example of true medical ingenuity! Wonderful story...

'Radical' surgery uses patient's tooth to restore her sight - USATODAY.com

Retinal Implant Produces "Vision" in RP Patient

2009-09-08T08:24:00.002-04:00

Implant gives new hope to the blind | Philadelphia Inquirer | 09/08/2009

Gene Therapy and Leber's Amaurosis

2009-09-02T23:29:00.001-04:00

Great news for my recent patient with probable Leber's...creation of a "pseudo-fovea" via gene therapy:

Medical News: Gene Therapy Improves Vision in Leber's Amaurosis - in Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology from MedPage Today

Possible Future Stem Cell Treatment and Type I Diabetes

2009-09-02T07:36:00.002-04:00

Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy is a leading cause of vision loss. News of creating stem cells from skin cells - a possible future treatment for Type I Diabetes:

A Stem Cell Discovery Could Help Diabetics - TIME

Treatment for Trachoma also Life Saving

2009-09-02T07:20:00.002-04:00

Exciting trend seen with Zithromax treatment for this vision threatening condition:

Fighting blindness may prevent deaths in Ethiopia - Forbes.com

Back to School Eye Exams

2009-09-01T07:11:00.002-04:00

Nice article from Healthday.com stressing the importance of yearly eye examinations for school age children:

HealthDay

Reversing the damage of Glaucoma possibly on the horizon.

2009-08-05T09:14:00.001-04:00

Follow the link describing this promising Italian study:

HealthDay

Stem Cells and the Retina

2009-08-02T09:49:00.002-04:00

Stem cell treatment continues to become closer to reality!

University of Florida Health News -- UF scientists program blood stem cells to become vision cells

Leber's Optic Neuropathy

2009-07-27T17:19:00.002-04:00

My patient earlier this year exhibited all the signs and symptoms of Leber's although his genetic testing returned negative. Recent article below:

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy can cause rapid deterioration of vision