It will happen... it's just of matter of when and... money
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id ... _article=1
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Researchers cure mice with damaged spines using human iPS cells
Feb 4 09:39 AM US/Eastern
TOKYO, Feb. 4 (AP) - (Kyodo)—A research team at Keio University has succeeded in curing mice whose hind legs are paralyzed due to damage to the spinal cord by transplanting neural stem cells grown from human iPS cells, researchers reported Wednesday at a symposium held at the university in Tokyo.
Hideyuki Okano, professor of physiology at the university and leader of the team, said it is the first case in the world in which the curative effects of human iPS cells, or induced pluripotent stem cells, have been confirmed.
Currently, there is no effective treatment for spinal cord injuries that damage the nerves in the spine, often caused by traffic accidents and sports injuries, and treatment using iPS cell gives hope of a cure.
Okano said, "It is valuable that treatment using human iPS cells has proved effective. We want to apply (the results) in a clinical setting as soon as possible."
The research team generated neural stem cells, which will grow into nerve cells, from human iPS cells produced under a scheme that Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University developed.
The team then transplanted some 500,000 neural stem cells into the damaged spines of 40 mice nine days after their injuries, which is believed to be the most effective time for transplant, according to Okano.
The team used special kinds of mice that develop no immunological rejections in the transplants.
About a month later, all 29 surviving mice had become able to walk or run. The other 11 mice died of diseases not related to the experiment.
Although some people had previously pointed out that the cells could turn malignant during the treatment using iPS cells, no cancer has been found among the mice, according to Okano.
The research team will check whether the nerve tissues were regenerated in the damaged organs of the mice by dissecting them later.
The team is also planning to tackle cancer issues associated with the treatment involving iPS cells and aims to start the same kind of experiment on monkeys by spring next year.
Researchers cure mice with damaged spines using human iPS cells
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Christopher
- Posts: 845
- Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2003 10:09 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: Date of Injury: 12/15/02
Level of Injury:
-dominant side C5, C6, & C7 avulsed. C8 & T1 stretched & crushed
BPI Related Surgeries:
-2 Intercostal nerves grafted to Biceps muscle,
-Free-Gracilis muscle transfer to Biceps Region innervated with 2 Intercostal nerves grafts.
-2 Sural nerves harvested from both Calves for nerve grafting.
-Partial Ulnar nerve grafted to Long Triceps.
-Uninjured C7 Hemi-Contralateral cross-over to Deltoid muscle.
-Wrist flexor tendon transfer to middle, ring, & pinky finger extensors.
Surgical medical facility:
Brachial Plexus Clinic at The Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN
(all surgeries successful)
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
~Theodore Roosevelt - Location: Los Angeles, California USA