Posted on 11/28/2004 1:49:27 AM PST by LibWhacker
A South Korean woman paralyzed for 20 years is walking again after scientists say they repaired her damaged spine using stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood.
Hwang Mi-Soon, 37, had been bedridden since damaging her back in an accident two decades ago.
Last week her eyes glistened with tears as she walked again with the help of a walking frame at a press conference where South Korea researchers went public for the first time with the results of their stem-cell therapy.
They said it was the world's first published case in which a patient with spinal cord injuries had been successfully treated with stem cells from umbilical cord blood.
Though they cautioned that more research was needed and verification from international experts was required, the South Korean researchers said Hwang's case could signal a leap forward in the treatment of spinal cord injuries.
The use of stem cells from cord blood could also point to a way to side-step the ethical dispute over the controversial use of embryos in embryonic stem-cell research.
"We have glimpsed at a silver lining over the horizon," said Song Chang-Hoon, a member of the research team and a professor at Chosun University's medical school in the southwestern city of Kwangju.
"We were all surprised at the fast improvements in the patient."
Under TV lights and flashing cameras, Hwang stood up from her wheelchair and shuffled forward and back a few paces with the help of the frame at the press conference here on Thursday.
"This is already a miracle for me," she said. "I never dreamed of getting to my feet again."
Medical research has shown stem cells can develop into replacement cells for damaged organs or body parts. Unlocking that potential could see cures for diseases that are at present incurable, or even see the body generate new organs to replace damaged or failing ones.
So-called "multipotent" stem cells -- those found in cord blood -- are capable of forming a limited number of specialised cell types, unlike the more versatile "undifferentiated" cells that are derived from embroyos.
However, these stem cells isolated from umbilical cord blood have emerged as an ethical and safe alternative to embryonic stem cells.
Clinical trials with embryonic stem cells are believed to be years away because of the risks and ethical problems involved in the production of embryos -- regarded as living humans by some people -- for scientific use.
In contrast, there is no ethical dimension when stem cells from umbilical cord blood are obtained, according to researchers.
Additionally, umbilical cord blood stem cells trigger little immune response in the recipient as embryonic stem cells have a tendency to form tumors when injected into animals or human beings.
For the therapy, multipotent stem cells were isolated from umbilical cord blood, which had been frozen immediately after the birth of a baby and cultured for a period of time.
Then these cells were directly injected to the damaged part of the spinal cord.
"Technical difficulties exist in isolating stem cells from frozen umbilical cord blood, finding cells with genes matching those of the recipient and selecting the right place of the body to deliver the cells," said Han Hoon, president of Histostem, a government-backed umbilical cord blood bank in Seoul.
Han teamed up with Song and other experts for the experiment.
They say that more experiments are required to verify the outcome of the landmark therapy.
"It is just one case and we need more experiments, more data," said Oh Il-Hoon, another researcher.
"I believe experts in other countries have been conducting similar experiments and accumulating data before making the results public."
"I'm a T-6 complete para, "
I was a complete C-5 quad after a rugby injury, but recovered about 75% functionality. It was a neck break 35 years ago, and I'm still slowly getting better, so I know the nervous system does heal.
The "Walking frame."
This is total nonsense. There is no known stem cell therapy to regenerate nerve tissue, let alone allow someone to walk again. There is a big difference between being placed in a "walking frame" and be forced to ambulate, and walking unaided in a normal gait. I suggest this woman be followed for the next year to authenticate her "continued" improvement. When she wins the Olympic gold for the 100 Meters, call me!
You also see it in hilarious trade restrictions--remember when the Japanese would not accept American beef because it was not suitable for Japanese stomachs and digestion. All so different, you see.
Watch how the North Korean refugees who move south, or even seek to locate in Japan, are treated. South Korea seriously insists that the US should be taking in most of them, because Korea is too "crowded."
In Japan, you have to have been there for multiple generations before you can apply for citizenship.
Highly insular, clannish, xenophobic, racist and just plain selfish.
We adopted our beautiful son from Korea so I know a little about this issue ;^)
Domestic adoption in Korea is on the rise, thanks to organizations such a mpak(mission to promote adoption in Korea www.mpak.com)
I know that the bloodline thing is very strong but it is getting better. As Christianity spreads in Korea, many of the Confucian ideas are slowly fading away.
I hope it happens for you, too, corlorde. I'll be praying for it.
Lol, good one! I'm gonna memorize it just in case this story ends up having any merit to it!
Let's see, the biggest story since the invention of the Salk vaccine and it only appears on Yahoo news? Excuse me if I am very skeptical.
Thank God John Kerry was elected. This never would have happened under a Bush Administration.
/sarcasm
I also wonder about brittle bones after 19 years. With all the muscular atrophy, she should be in considerable pain too.
anti-christ "miracles"
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