Posted on 05/02/2005 9:45:13 PM PDT by Founding Father
Stem cells used to restore vision
A hospital in West Sussex is pioneering the use of stem cells to restore the eyesight of patients. The trial, being carried out at the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, has already helped 40 people see again.
The surgery at the hospital has been developed over the past five years.
Stem cells from the patient or a donor are used to redevelop the cornea, the transparent film at the front of the eye which lets in light.
Opthalmic surgeon Sheraz Daya said: "Many people who've had injuries to their eyes, or even people born with congenital deficiencies of stem cells, land up having a problem with the top layer of their cornea.
Eyesight restored
"Even if we do a corneal transplant, that will not stay clear, it'll cloud over and fail.
"So what we need to do is replace those stem cells that are missing."
Among the 40 people who have already had their eyesight restored is Deborah Catlyn.
She was blind in one eye from the age of seven and then became partially-sighted in the other eye after an acid attack in a nightclub.
The treatment at Queen Victoria Hospital meant Ms Catlyn could see her daughter properly for the first time.
"I thought, 'My God, is that really my baby, look at her she's beautiful'," she said.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/southern_counties/4495419.stm
Published: 2005/04/28 19:11:10 GMT
It's cool, with all the talk of embryonic stem cells I can see how you can make the mistake.
And thanks, I can see now with glasses.
Apology accepted. I fear I may you an apology as well: it was the wicked and fools who advocate the murder of innocents to produces 'cures' that I was referring to, but I realized too late you might have mistaken my intent as suggestion your confusion was due to either.
Autodonation is ideal (unless one is trying to treat a gentic defect) for the reasons I elucidated, and this should be pointed out whenever the culture of death tries to justify the dismemberment of unborn children in the public's mind by tying it to the will-o'-the-wisp of hypothetical miracle cures.
(Incidentally your reference to the Antichrist is quite a propos: there is a prophecy known in the Orthodox Church (I forget which saint it is due to) that 'in the days of the Antichrist, all the miracles of Christ will be reproduced, except that the dead will not be raised'. Note the subtlety of the wording--the reproduction of the miracles is not by the Antichrist, but a sign of the end-times.)
Absolutely accepted and glad to know another fervent believer against abortion. FF
excellent.
I am convinced that most people don't understand this issue at all. Here is the gist of a radio commercial I heard earlier today. A newsperson says, "Some people are against stem cell research....are they still against it when the stem cells used are your own?"
Well, of friggin course not!! IF the people writing the commercial understood the issue AT ALL, then they would KNOW that this isn't an issue. It was ridiculous.
They couldn't bring themselves to say ADULT stem cells.
Would it be possible for doctors at a parents request to extract foetal stem cells from a developing foetus in utero and then preserve and store them for the unborn childs own use later in life if necessary...a 'bank your own stem cells' approach?
While this wouldnt be of help to older generations could it not be helpful to the newborn through their lifetimes to have their own foetal stem cells being available to them WITHOUT any recourse to ethically problematic sources like abortion?
"IF the people writing the commercial understood the issue AT ALL, then they would KNOW that this isn't an issue"
The people writing the commercial DO UNDERSTAND the issue. The people writing...want to confuse and brainwash the mass to thinking their way. Their way and satan's is one in the same.
Yes it is possible, and I do not agree with this practice. As I mentioned synthesis techniques are being researched I am in favour of this approach.
Why are you not in favour with this approach? Is there harm to the foetus? If not and the foetal stem cells are only for their own use I dont see the problem...enlighten me?
thanks for the info.
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