This book discusses the pathology of the retina, and reviews current research on the use of cell replacement therapy and short peptides to restore functional activity in retinal neurons. As the book describes, pathologies of the retina, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinitis pigmentosa, present a long-standing challenge in the practice of clinical ophthalmology. Modern treatment for these conditions, which lead to irreversible blindness, includes laser exposure, surgical intervention, and drugs. These treatments aim to reduce the risk of new complications in the eye; pathogenetic therapy of degenerative diseases of the retina is practically absent in current ophthalmic practice.
The first section of the book reviews the molecular mechanisms of age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinitis pigmentosa, and reports on methods of treatment. The second section presents the results of recent experimental studies of the effects of short peptides on pluripotent embryonic cells; on proliferative activity in retinal cells and pigment epithelium; on expression of markers of differentiation or retinal neurons and pigment epithelium; and on the course of hereditary retinal pigmentation in Campbell rats. The third section offers results of clinical studies on the effectiveness of short peptides in patients with macular degeneration, and in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.
The author concludes that the regular use of peptides in the treatment of degenerative diseases of the retina can slow the progression of the pathological process and preserve the patient's vision for some 10-15 years. In addition, in 80 percent of patients, it is possible to increase visual function by increasing visual acuity, improving the boundaries of the visual field and the fundus.
About the Author: Svetlana Trofimova (born February 2, 1970) - Doctor of Medical Science, Professor, Deputy Director for scientific and clinical work of the Saint Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, General Director of Tree of life predictive medicine clinic at the Saint Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, President of the Russian society for anti-aging medicine since 2012, Vice-President of the European society for preventive, regenerative and anti-aging medicine (ESAAM) since 2019, Secretary General of the World society for preventive, regenerative and anti-aging medicine (WOCPM) since 2016.
Graduated from the Leningrad Pediatric Medical Institute as a pediatrician in 1994.
In 1999 defended her PhD thesis on the topic: "The use of peptide bioregulators in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy".
In 2003 defended her doctoral dissertation on the topic: "Age-related peculiarities of peptide bioregulators regulatory effect on the retinitis pigmentosa".
Today Svetlana Trofimova is one of the leading specialists in the field of ophthalmology and regenerative medicine.
Svetlana Trofimova is the author of more than 160 scientific papers (monographs, guidelines, articles) and 4 patents. Under her leadership, 5 PhD dissertations were defended. She is the author of a series of popular science books about healthy longevity. "Immortality tomorrow?", successfully presented first in Monaco in 2015, and then in Singapore in 2016, and got admirers among the intellectual elite of Europe and Southeast Asia. In 2018, the book "What prevents us from living to 100 years?" was published, and in 2020, the book "Secrets of a long life" was published.
Svetlana Trofimova has made numerous presentations and lectures at the world conferences on ophthalmology, gerontology and anti-aging medicine.
Svetlana Trofimova is a member of the editorial Board of the Russian scientific journal "Doctor".
Since 2017, she has been the host of a weekly scientific-journalistic program about health and longevity "About the most important thing" on the Federal TV channel Russia 1.
