Posted on 03/04/2007 5:19:08 PM PST by Coleus
A 23-year-old man, who was paralysed from below the waist, is now able to walk after the first successful stem cell therapy in India for spinal cord injuries was conducted at a hospital here. According to Dr J.S. Rajkumar, chairman, Lifeline Hospitals, the young man, Akbar Ali, suffered serious injuries in his spinal cord when he fell from the fourth floor of a building last October. He was then working at a construction site in Abu Dhabi.
Though he underwent a surgery to stabilise his spinal cord, it was not successful. After he returned to India a month later, he lost sensation in his legs and was paralysed below the waist. He could not control his urine and bowel movements and was thus admitted to Lifeline Hospitals. The doctors there diagnosed him as a patient for autologous stem cell therapy wherein the stem cells from the patient's body are taken and used at the injured spot.
The technology, which is available at the hospital in collaboration from the Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Japan, was applied to Ali’s body. Nearly 100 ml of his bone marrow was removed, harvested and isolated before the stem cells were injected near the injured spot in his spinal cord. The stem cells emit trophic factors, which enable neurons and vessels to grow; a part of them becomes integral to the region, another component becomes part of the growing nerves.
Two months into the therapy, Ali has now regained 50 per cent sensation below his waist. He can control his urine for up to two hours and can also walk. Lifeline doctors said this treatment could be used for paraplegics, but usually worked better on younger people with more recent injuries. The hospital is presently examining the use of this therapy in treating cardiac problems, liver failure, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.
Of the various sources of stem cells, the autologous stem cell therapy was used by the hospital as there was no risk of rejection nor was there any concern of medical ethics. Doctors say that preserving stem cells is a kind of bio-insurance for an entire family as the stem cells could help in the treatment of the person’s siblings, parents and even grandparents. While preserved cord blood stem cells are a perfect match for the child from whose umbilical cord it was collected, there is only a 25 per cent chance of it being a perfect match for other family members.
bttt
I think that should drive a stake through the heart of fetal stem cell research.
WHY oh WHY don't they say FETAL CELLS in the headline!@!!!
Fetal cells were not used. They took the stem cells from the patient's own body.
No baby was murdered. The patient walks again.
I'd say that this is a good thing.
Sorry....I MEANT to say THAT, but my brain was focused on the FETAL cell issue...thanks for the correction.
Hehe, you are welcome.
I got Iraq and Iran mixed up the other day and made myself look and absolute fool.
I certainly hope so, but I doubt it.
Even the slimmest, smallest, tiniest ray of hope the murdering unborn babies can and will be finally found to jusify their blood lust will be left out there as proof we are wrong to hold them accountable for their actions
what a break through maybe some day we may be able to understand what Jesse Jackson is saying, what a revalation!
Please FreepMail me if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.
It seems Americans are becoming even more gullable than ever, and MSM and shady Democrat politicians are taking good advantage of that.
bump & a stem cell ping
btt- sent to liberal Doc I work with and argue about source of stem cells all the time- his wife and kids are Catholic and he is disrespectful to her to promote use of embryonic cells - also his staff are Catholics as well. Good job and hopes for others. thank you God
I hear Geron in Menlo Park is starting something like this.
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I agree; don't rule out the possibility of this being a real achievement, but be very skeptical. Especially of stories like this coming out of developing countries. If it is real, good for India. But a healthy dose of skepticism is in order.
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