OECs act as pathway cells that enable nerve fibres in the olfactory system to be continually renewed. In the first of two operations, surgeons removed one of the patient's olfactory bulbs and grew the cells in culture. Two weeks later they transplanted the OECs into the spinal cord, which had been cut through in the knife attack apart from a thin strip of scar tissue on the right. They had just a drop of material to work with - about 500,000 cells....
Six months after surgery, Mr Fidyka was able to take his first tentative steps along parallel bars, using leg braces and the support of a physiotherapist.
October 22, 2014
Reversing paralysis with a transplant of cells from inside the nose.
"The treatment used olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) — specialist cells that form part of the sense of smell."
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9 comments:
The obvious comparison
Of course, the really important question is could they take cells from your spinal column and implant them in your nose to restore your sense of smell?
Here is something along that line.
A total of 15 patients (12 men, 3 women; age range, 18-56 years; mean age, 40) were admitted for obsolete spinal injuries. Spinal functions of the 15 patients were observed and followed postoperatively for a period ranging from 2 weeks to 1 month. All the 15 patients exhibited improvements in spinal function, and the improvement tendencies continued. Twelve patients had obvious spinal function improvement, and three had slight improvement according to the ASIA scale, with an obvious difference between preoperation and postoperation measures (P < 0.05). No fevers, infections, functional deteriorations, or deaths were seen. Thus, transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells promoted spinal and neurofunctional recovery in patients with malignant spinal injuries, and this therapeutic method was safe.
(Link fixed. Thanks for the heads-up.)
I was waiting for the miracles promised with unborn baby parts, you know, when Saint Swaggy re-introduced SCIENCE. Now they tell me gross schnoz parts are gonna fix the infirm?
I guess eight years of Dark Ages was more harmful than I thought. Will unborn baby parts ever be a cure? Maybe we haven't spent enough money.
jacksonjay:
The problem seems to stem from a misunderstanding of morphogenesis. In a baby, embryonic and fetal stem cells evolve to become a nose, an eye, a brain, etc. However, when harvested and transplanted, they become cancerous masses. The real breakthroughs -- at least those publicized -- have been achieved with adult stem cells.
The abortion industry would be reeling if not for squeamish, ambitious women contracting for relief from their "burden". Perhaps the renewed interest in painting males as rapists reflects an effort to overcome increasing moral apprehension among Americans. Rape or allegations of rape leading to pregnancy still represents a morally ambiguous situation that may rationalize elective abortion.
jacksonjay:
Part of the growing moral apprehension is the realization that reducing human life to a commodity, including through premeditated abortion, has consequences. It does not contribute to the positive progress of human dignity. In fact, it ensures that human life, throughout its evolution, remains interchangeable and disposable. This is fitness of a minority, not humanity or even society.
This is going to be huge.
The fact that the researches don't want a dime for this discovery is humbling.
The radio article I heard pointed out that the transplanted cells were not pluripotent stem cells, but were specific to assisting regrowth of (nasal) sensory nerves following die-back during an infection. Infections are so common in the nasal area that I suppose this makes excellent evolutionary sense.
Still, given the large incidence of spinal damage paralysis cases, this is great great news.
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