Posted on 12/06/2004 10:17:48 PM PST by Coleus
DOCTORS IN RUSSIA PROVE STEM CELLS CAN BE USED IN TREATING SPINE INJURIES
MOSCOW, December 6 (RIA Novosti) - It has been widely believed until recently that nerve cells cannot reproduce themselves, especially those of the spinal cord. But doctors at the Neurology Clinic of Russia's Blokhin Oncology Research Center have now challenged this belief by performing six successful surgical operations on patients with spine injuries. The patients, thought before the surgery to be bedridden for the rest of their lives, are now learning to walk again, the Trud newspaper reports.
It was Andrei Bryukhovetsky, Director General of the Neurology Clinic, who suggested performing the unprecedented operations, involving the transplantation of stem cells to the spinal cord. At first he was not sure where stem cells for nerve tissues should be taken from, but it soon occurred to him that the mucous membrane of the nose, with its many nerve endings, was the best source. Extracted neural stem cells are grown in tissue culture to be then injected into the damaged spine area, restoring the vertebrae one by one.
"No one has done anything like that before us," Bryukhovetsky says. He and his colleagues emphasize that the work is not about experimenting on humans. They have behind them years of experimentation on animals and rigid panel examinations by the Academy of Sciences and the Health Ministry.
On getting a signal about an organ's malfunction from the body's regulating systems, stem cells rush to the damaged area along blood vessels. They can repair almost any damage by transforming themselves into cells of the type needed by the body at this particular point in time and stimulating its inner reserves toward recovery. Their activity is comparable to that of an ambulance.
If implanted into a cardiac patient's body no later than six days after he/she suffered a heart attack, stem cells will fully restore the heart muscle, leaving no scars, says Vladimir Smirnov, Director of the Experimental Cardiology Institute at the Russian Health Ministry.
Stem cells are also effective in treating for diabetes, impaired joints, cancer, and neurological disorders, doctors say. In the future, stem cells could serve as building blocks in growing transplant organs. They are possible to extract from various sources, including the liver, the subcutaneous fat, the skeletal muscles, and the hair follicles.
In the past two years, scientists have been working to create a universal stem cell, one that could be grown in large numbers and transplanted to the human body without the risk of rejection. If such a cell is eventually created, stem cell preparations will be possible to buy at a pharmacy.
Non-Embryonic Stem Cell Testimonial from Russia: Spinal Cord Injuries Reversed
The Russian news agency Novosti reported Monday that Russian scientists have succeeded in treating six individuals bed-ridden with spinal cord damage using non-embryonic stem cells derived from the patient's own nasal tissues. All six are learning to walk again.
Scientists at the Neurology Clinic of Russia's Blokhin Oncology Research Center removed neural stem cells from the lining of the nose, which were then grown in tissue culture. The resulting cells were injected into damaged areas of the spine, re-growing damaged spinal segments one at a time.
"No one has done anything like that before us," Andrei Bryukhovetsky, Director General of the Neurology Clinic said.
Also, when implanted into damaged cardiac muscle after a heart-attack, stem cells can fully restore the muscles of the heart without any scar tissue, according to Vladimir Smirnov, Director of the Experimental Cardiology Institute at the Russian Health Ministry.
This should be front page news all over the country.
Of course, it won't be.
If these claims are true, sure sounds like this is a plus for those researchers that claim "adult stem cells" cannot be used effectively to treat damaged spinal cords and only fetus stem cells offer hope. Imagine if this catches on! So much for the far left libs crying about using aborted babies for stem cells! Which obviously leads to wanted legislation that permits the wholesale killing of babies to get at their stem cells. Sure hope this blossoms into something good!
bump
"At first he was not sure where stem cells for nerve tissues should be taken from, but it soon occurred to him that the mucous membrane of the nose, with its many nerve endings, was the best source. Extracted neural stem cells are grown in tissue culture to be then injected into the damaged spine area, restoring the vertebrae one by one."
This along with their reported 100% cure rate suggest we should take this with a grain of salt.
Paging Mrs Mayor.
This along with their reported 100% cure rate suggest we should take this with a grain of salt.>>
I see your point, I just hope you're wrong.
Here is an example of a different case in Israel which is not as dramatic.
*In 2000, Israeli scientists implanted Melissa Holley's white blood cells into her spinal cord to treat the paraplegia caused when her spinal cord was severed in an auto accident. Melissa, who is 18, has since regained control over her bladder and recovered significant motor function in her limbs - she can now move her legs and toes, although she cannot yet walk.
I have just about zero medical knowledge, so I can't make a judgment on it.
Just am hoping that their claims are true--would be great indeed to stop the debate for using embryonic stem cells.
I'm just curious--why would any doctor lie about this and ruin their reputation? I guess it happens, but why would anyone do it? Any false claims would be exposed pretty quickly, and their professional career would be ruined.
Novosti reported Monday that Russian scientists have succeeded in treating six individuals bed-ridden with spinal cord damage using non-embryonic stem cells derived from the patient's own nasal tissues. All six are learning to walk again.
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So... next time you see me pickin' my nose... just shut the hell up... 'cuz I'll be doing genuinely active hyper snipper snapper booger pickig Stem Cell research !!! ;-))
pickig = picking
Now that's funny!
The case you site is in the year 2000. If this is true they would have had many successful surgeries since then.
Where is your source for this?
"Wishing something is true, doesn't make it true."
Sure didn't mean to imply that. Just am hoping..(like before the election I hoped that Bush would win).
If this doctor proves false, maybe someone else will come up with the real thing one day, as you said.
"I'm just curious--why would any doctor lie about this and ruin their reputation? I guess it happens, but why would anyone do it?"
I can't answer your question. However, I can tell you I've had Russian Doctors tell me they believe German Doctors have found the cure for cancer.
Perhaps the answer lies in the fact their government has, until the last few years, completely shielded them from scientific advancments outside the USSR. They are now seeing impressive medical research outside their country and feel a need to contribute.
Just try to picture the pro life movement if they are able to fix anything, even a hangnail with a dead baby. They will whine and cry about the Neanderthal's holding back progress in science because of their backwards religious superstitions. Stem cell research is fine for adult stems and cord blood stems.
Embyro research is political. It is political! Period!
ping
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