New nasal stem cells successful in transplantation study
Researchers in Portugal and Wayne State University In Detroit, Michigan have finished a study of 20 patients with spinal cord injuries. All of the patients were at least paraplegic with one being tetraplegic were given the treatment which consisted of removal of scar tissue at the damage point in the spine and introduction of stem cells from their nasal passages. Using nasal stem cells reduce the chances of rejection the tumor formation because the cells are from the host rather than a foreign cell group. The study was unique because the patients all had their injuries for at least 18 months all the way up to 15 years. Typically no changes are seen in a patient with a spinal cord injury after 15 months. The changes were amazing and show that there is great promise in what the researchers have found. Out of the 20 patients that were in the study 13 patients improved based on standard measurements from rehabilitation. Ten patients now are able to move around using their legs with the help of walkers. One man now gets around using a knee braces and crutches. Another man gets around with knee braces and some help from a in home nurse. This procedure was performed in Europe as it has not been given the green light by the FDA. The researchers are now working with the FDA to make this procedure available to Americans who are disabled.(Source: WWJ Radio)
We are not sure if it is just a good year but we are reporting on major medical advances that are bringing dramatic increase in life to those with spinal cord injuries. We will be watching for information on these 20 patients as their become stronger and are able to do more because of rehabilitation. A real bonus is that the stem cells used are from the patient themselves, without the need of stem cells from donors like umbilical cord cells. By dramatically decreasing the chances of cancer or rejection and working hard on the rehab side these researchers have created a procedure that may get a large number of people out of their wheelchair. Many researchers have said that they were working toward getting to this point, but this is the first using heir own stem cells to actually get there.
For more information take a look at the journal Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair where the research was reported. Note that the researchers are still looking for possible problems or issues with the procedure and are continually sending out questionnaires to those involved with the study. Since there is no long term study of this procedure there is no way to tell if there will be problems years in the future. That is the problem with research, you may get a major increase in functionality now but end up with problems in the future. This is one of the reasons why the FDA takes such a long time to finally give their ok to procedures started in Europe or Asia. They like to see several studies across many years that proves that the procedure is both safe and reliable. One of the last things you want to do is pay to put yourself through this just to find out that it either does nothing or creates a cancer that has it’s own issues.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Loading ...
User Comments
No comments yet.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.