Stem Cell Therapy = walk after 19yrs
Bruce Klein 28 Nov 2004
A patient unable to walk for the past 19 years due to a spinal injury takes steps after receiving stem cell therapy at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, Korea.
http://times.hankook...17575710440.htm
Discussion:
http://carecure.atin...07393#868107393
Bruce Klein 28 Nov 2004
Bruce Klein 28 Nov 2004
Bruce Klein 28 Nov 2004
From correspondents in Seoul
A SOUTH Korean woman paralysed 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.
more: http://www.heraldsun...55E1702,00.html
reason 28 Nov 2004
http://www.longevity...fm?news_id=1340
Reason
Founder, Longevity Meme
reason@longevitymeme.org
http://www.longevitymeme.org
28 Nov 2004
Whilst I couldn't get any information on the scientists who performed the procedure, there is a company associated with their work called Histostem
http://www.histostem...h/english_1.htm
I sincerely wish that this discovery is true for the benefit of all those who so desperately are in need. I am at this stage very skeptical, however. I wish I'm wrong.
kevin 28 Nov 2004
1) There is an attempt to regenerate after spinal cord damage which is thwarted by cells which prevent elongation and myelin sheath development.
2) Differentiation into nerve cell types is not necessary in order to provide some return of function. Experiments with olfactory bulb nerve stem cells which are injected into the injury site itself have shown to increase sensation. The cells themselves don't seem to turn into nerve cells but appear to sidle up to damaged nerves and support them by producing the myelin necessary to complete the communication pathway of the CNS.
There are more than few links which I might be able to put back in here to support this but here is an interesting one I found with some posts from people who have undergone some procedures.
http://www.rideforli...ves/000687.html
Cyto 28 Nov 2004
Course they probably won't tell us anything, if its true that is.
We now know that there are two main obstacles to regeneration after injury: inhibitors within myelin and the formation of a glial scar. The scar is formed by astrocytes, which change their morphology to present a physical barrier to growth and also upregulate several extracellular-matrix-associated inhibitors of regeneration. Before the scar matures, however, myelin seems to be the predominant source of growth inhibition.
.....
Three inhibitors of axonal regeneration have been identified in myelin – Nogo, myelin-associated glycoprotein (Mag) and oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein (Omgp). All of these proteins induce growth cone collapse and inhibit neurite outgrowth.
.....
Two approaches might be used to overcome inhibitors and encourage regeneration. First, the inhibitors and/or their receptors could be blocked with antibodies or peptides. Second, the intrinsic state of the neuron could be changed, such that it no longer recognizes the environment as inhibitory. Elevation of cyclic AMP inside the injured neuron has been shown to overcome inhibition by Mag and myelin.
Link (need subscript)
28 Nov 2004
ocsrazor 29 Nov 2004
Peter
manofsan 29 Nov 2004
Even if at first they don't succeed, try, try again. If this one is just hype, that doesn't mean it won't work the next time. Cold Fusion may not have worked originally either, but the whole flap actually got more people into looking at it, and now they're finding things.
Hopefully at least the international attention that this story is generating will get more people in gear to make it work, and more robustly. I can hear the floodgates starting to creak open.
Mind 29 Nov 2004
I would have to agree about being skeptical. This identical method has been tried many times before with little success.
I am skeptical also, but there is always luck. Maybe injecting stem into the spinal cord is akin to "shaving with a broad axe"....it only works once in a blue moon. Given the right circumstances and the right person maybe the stem cells worked for once. Of course, if it was pure luck and not repeatable, then we aren't getting much closer to a winning therapy. However, the media attention has got to be worth a lot in the long term.
ocsrazor 29 Nov 2004
ddhewitt 30 Nov 2004
The stem cells may not need to totally replace the target tissue in order to have a catalytic role in rejuvenating it.
Bruce Klein 03 Jan 2005
Asia As Stem Cell Central (December 30 2004)
http://www.businessw...02/b3915052.htm
BusinessWeek takes a high-level look at funding and progress in stem cell
research in Asia: "The progress the Asians have made is 'astonishing,' says
Robert A. Goldstein, chief scientific officer at New York-based Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation International, which has teamed up with
Singapore in funding ES Cell's efforts to find a cure for the disease." The
authors views this as a competition - as do most of the participants and
principles, no doubt
- but a rising tide in medical science raises all boats. Successes in any
country (and even business or competitive failures) in stem cell research
still advance knowledge, capabilities and the potential for healthy
longevity worldwide.
Bruce Klein 17 Jan 2005
SCIENTISTS have successfully grown human brain cells in the laboratory for the first time and used them to repair the damaged brains of head-injury victims.
The breakthrough brings new hope in the search for therapies not only for accident victims but also for those suffering the effects of strokes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and a range of other degenerative conditions
http://www.timesonli...1442445,00.html
John Schloendorn 17 Jan 2005
John Schloendorn 17 Jan 2005
Matt 17 Jan 2005
Hopefuly it will be a good year for biotech and nanotech :D
godsend 31 Jan 2005
Chip 31 Jan 2005
Bruce Klein 01 Feb 2005
"Late last year, South Korean scientists used stems cells to treat a woman who had been paralyzed for 20 years as a result of a back injury. To the amazement of many, she is now able to move about using a walker. Christopher Reeve would have delighted..."
http://www.technewsw...tory/40103.html
Bruce Klein 02 Mar 2005
Scientists Apply for More Stem Cell Therapy
http://times.hankook...17511911800.htm
By Kim Tae-gyu
Staff Reporter - 12-24-2004 17:53
A team of South Korean scientists aim to duplicate the ``miracle’’ of enabling patients with spinal cord damage to walk again through stem cell therapy.
Chosun University professor Song Chang-hun said Friday his team asked the government to permit stem cell trials on four paralyzed patients.
``We applied for the go-ahead of the government today (Friday) on our second-round of clinical tests using stem cells from umbilical cord blood,’’ the 49-year-old said.
The Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) will decide if the agency will give the approval for the breakthrough therapy, which has drawn attention from around the world.
``We will conduct operations on two paralyzed patients as soon as the KFDA gives us the green light while the remaining two will also undergo stem cell therapy soon,’’ Song said.
During a press conference late last month, Song surprised the world by announcing his team successfully treated a female patient with a spinal cord injury via stem cells from umbilical cord blood.
Hwang Mi-soon, whose lower limbs had been paralyzed for the last 19 years due to a back injury, stood up from her wheelchair and took a few steps with the help of a walker.
Song’s six-member team transplanted multi-potent stem cells into Hwang’s spine on Oct. 12 this year and in just three weeks, she was able to walk, aided by a walker.
Some billed the cure as the start of a new-concept treatment for spinal cord injuries, but many are skeptical as the operation has not yet been replicated.
In response, Song has readily conceded the success should be repeated and validated by a report in an international journal. To do this, his team has prepared follow-up clinical tests.
Originally, Song planned to stage clinical trials this month, but the scheme was delayed as Chosun University’s ethics board approved the operation on Dec. 13 later than expected.
``The ethics board seems to consider enhanced attention on our therapy. I am wary of the possibility the government approval will also be delayed,’’ Song said.
For now, all is set for the second-round of tests, excluding the nod from the government as Song’s team already secured matched umbilical cord blood stem cells for the patients and cultured them.
Song predicts the world will know next year whether Hwang’s case is just a one-time miracle or represents genuine medical innovation to treat spinal cord disorders.
spiritus 27 Nov 2005
Perhaps Bush's restrictive policy has gained us more than we think. If the US had taken a strong lead from the beginning, the Asians might never have found the courage to try and take the field. Due to the head start the Asians have got, and the investments they've made, they are compelled to keep fighting for the lead. Our bioconservative friends may have unwittingly kickstarted a competitive atmosphere here, which may pay off in terms of our goals in the long run.
i just have to comment on this intelligent view, nice incite and it's true. wait until after Bush, unless the US get an extreamly conservitive president we should see a huge ammount of progress. Bush is as you know extreamly relegious. Perhaps if an athiest or agnostic got in for once, this would skyrocket.