From: Brett Paatsch (paatschb@optusnet.com.au)
Date: Thu Jul 03 2003 - 03:43:48 MDT
This reproduced result with mice with spinal cord problems
regaining use of hind legs is promising. But I remember seeing
advertisements on Australian TV from one of the spinal
groups about appealing for donations and claiming they were
targeting throwing away wheel chairs in five years.
Less spectacular results are likely to happen somewhat later
than that. But "the get up and walk" demonstrations of therapies
traditionally had pretty good PR splash value and this may serve
as a strong political fillip for Embryonic Stem Cell based therapies
and research gaining wider community and political acceptance.
- Brett Paatsch
------
Embryonic hope for damaged spines
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-07/ns-ehf070203.php
"NERVE cells derived from human embryonic stem cells and
transplanted into paralysed rats have enabled the animals to
walk again. The findings add to a growing number of studies
that suggest embryonic stem cells could have a valuable role
to play in treating spinal injuries.
The researchers, whose work was funded by stem cell giant
Geron of Menlo Park, California, say trials on people could
start in just two years. But the first trials are likely to involve
patients with recent spinal cord injuries and localised damage.
Treating people who have been paralysed for years or suffer
from degenerative nerve diseases would be far more difficult.
Ways will also have to be found to prevent people rejecting
the stem cells. One possible alternative to immunosuppressant
drugs, Geron president Thomas Okarma told the meeting last
week, would be to first give patients bone marrow stem cells
from the same source as the nerve cells. This might trick the
patients' immune system into developing tolerance."
etc
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