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[Bruce Klein]

-- Looks like this improvement is only from physical theorpy... Have any of you seen the experiments scientist have done with mice lately with stem cells? (Story below)


Paralyzed Christopher Reeve makes slight gains
September 10, 2002 Posted: 9:06 PM EDT (0106 GMT)




ST. LOUIS, Missouri (CNN) -- Actor Christopher Reeve -- paralyzed since 1995 -- is experiencing slight movement in his fingers and toes, his doctor told CNN on Tuesday.

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"To be able to feel just the lightest touch," he said, "is really a gift."

He can feel hugs from his wife and children, he told People magazine in the issue that will be available on newsstands Friday.


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Reeve, who has undergone intensive physical therapy since his accident, spends about $500,000 a year on his treatment, he told Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's medical correspondent. But McDonald said it will take awhile before it's determined whether his therapy alone is responsible for the improvement.

[Bruce Klein]

Stem cells provide partial cure for paralysis in mice

Monday, November 6, 2000
By JANET McCONNAUGHEY
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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NEW ORLEANS -- Mice paralyzed by a virus were able to move their feet -- and a few were even able to stand again -- after versatile stem cells were injected into the fluid around their spinal cords in a medical study.

Any studies in people are years away, but the work offers some hope for spinal motor atrophy -- the most common inherited cause of infant death -- and for Lou Gehrig's disease.

The study was the first time researchers had restored some function when the entire spinal cord was damaged, said Dr. Douglas Kerr, an assistant professor of neurology and lead researcher for the project at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.

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Twelve of the 18 mice injected with the stem cells were able to at least twitch their hind legs.