Step made toward swine herd for human transplants

WASHINGTON -- In a step toward creating herds of pigs that could provide organs for transplanting into humans, Italian researchers manipulated swine sperm to make an animal strain that carries human genes in the heart, liver and kidneys.

Researchers at the University of Milan mixed swine sperm with the DNA of a human gene called decay accelerating factor, or DAF, and then used the modified sperm to fertilize pig eggs. The eggs were implanted into sows to produce litters of pigs that carried the human gene.

"What we obtain at high efficiency and low cost is genetically modified pigs expressing the human protein," said Dr. Marialuisa Lavitrano, a University of Milan researcher and first author of the study appearing today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Lavitrano said that 205 piglets in 20 litters were produced using the modified sperm technique and the human genes were present in 20 to 50 percent of the young. Tests showed that the human genes were present in the animals' central organs and that the human genes would be passed along to later generations of pigs.

Organs from the test animals are not ready for transplantation into humans because there are still pig genes that would cause the organs to be quickly rejected, said Lavitrano. But she said the technique shows that by adding human genes to pig sperm it is possible to develop animals with organs that will not be rejected by the human immune system.

Medical scientists have been working to change swine genes so that modified animals could be used to make organs that would be tolerated by the human body. The goal is to create a special strain of pigs that could make organs that could be used to replace ailing livers, kidneys and hearts in humans. It's hoped that the use of pig organs would relieve the shortage of human organs available for transplant. It has been estimated that about 4,000 people die each year while awaiting donor organs.

One of the concerns about xenotransplantation is the possibility that unrecognized swine viruses could be transferred into human patients along with the transplanted organ, experts say.

FDA cracks down on cosmetic lenses

WASHINGTON -- The government is cracking down on decorative contact lenses -- from the wild-eyed Halloween look to lenses imprinted with sports logos -- that are sold without a prescription, calling them illegal products that could cause blindness.

The Food and Drug Administration began stopping imports of the decorative lenses at U.S. borders Monday and said it will seize unapproved lenses sold in convenience stores, flea markets and other spots.

The FDA cites dozens of reports of corneal ulcers -- cuts that can rapidly lead to vision-threatening infections -- and other eye injuries linked to the products. The agency said that in some cases corneal transplants were required to save eyesight.

Consumers should not wear decorative contact lenses unless they are properly prescribed and fitted by an eye care professional, the FDA said in a warning issued late Monday.

The FDA urged consumers who have had problems with decorative contact lenses to notify agency offices in their state or call 1-800-332-1088.

Study: New designs reduce whiplash

WASHINGTON -- New vehicle head restraints and seat back designs are reducing whiplash, the most commonly reported injury in auto accidents, according to an insurance industry study being released today.

Traditionally, head restraints have been too low and far from a motorist's head to protect against whiplash in rear-end crashes. But recently many vehicle models have redesigned head restraints and seat backs to keep the motorist's head and torso moving together when the vehicle is hit from behind.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety examined injury claims for those models before and after the improved head restraints and seat backs were installed and found whiplash claims were cut by as much as one-half.

Whiplash is caused when muscles, ligaments and nerves in the head and neck are jerked suddenly, most commonly in rear-end collisions. Pain can last for as little as a few hours, but sometimes persists for years or even permanently.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates more than 800,000 people get whiplash every year, and related costs total $5.2-billion.

Brian O'Neill, president of the institute, said many manufacturers ignored whiplash injuries for a long time, assuming many were bogus claims to get insurance money.

The study examined 2,641 claims from Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm insurance companies for new designs in Saab, Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable, Volvo's S70 and Toyota.

Some vehicles made by General Motors and Nissan also have the active restraints, which reduced whiplash claims by 43 percent.

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