Posted on 10/22/2011 9:29:06 PM PDT by fight_truth_decay
Two scientists at the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute at the University of Pittsburgh discussed the state of xenotransplantation--the use of cells, organs, or tissue from one animal in another--in a review in The Lancet. In that review, they touch on the history of one particular subject: pig-to-human transplants. Their conclusion? Clinical trials of pig-to-human transplants could begin in just a few years.
Pigs that are genetically modified with genes to protect their organs and other inside bits from attack by the human immune system are capable of all kinds of potentially life-saving effects. Research has been conducted until now with non-human primates, and while these primates have not been able to survive for all that long with pig organs--at best, a pig heart-implanted primate survives for around eight months--that could be enough time to serve as temporary lifesavers. Cells and tissue could be used to counteract human diseases like diabetes (as in this example) and Parkinson's, and have actually shown more success than complete organs.
The paper concludes by saying:
(Excerpt) Read more at popsci.com ...
The reason would be that a pig valve does not require the use of blood thinners that a mechanical valve does.
Sorry to burst the bubble, but we have been transplanting ‘pig parts’ into humans for forty years
Paging Henry Waxman, Rep. Waxman please pick up the pink courtesy phone.
It brings new meaning to the phrase, "That's a real porker!"
haha, oh yes. I’ll go looking for something online and get sidetracked by other interesting things and before I know it I have a dozen windows open and still haven’t found what I was originally looking for! lol
Looks like the top pig went to the surgeon and asked for a jaw like O’Donnel.
Ohhh, ok. Thanks for the info. :)
That was addressed earlier..thanks
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