Severed spinal cord repaired

[FredClogs]

MrOrange said:

I think autologous cell therapy could be a massive game changer, it's likely to take a while but many common diseases could be treated in due course. Getting at good cells is the tricky bit if you're no longer a child (cord blood & dental cells) so it might not be practical for us, but certainly viable for the next generation.

Autologous repair

Autologous replace.

[fathomfive]

FredClogs said:

Autologous repair

Autologous replace.

Paging Dr Gavin.

[Quattromaster]

I've an incomplete SCI, oct 2003.

This is awesome news for all concerned, though to be fair I think, if it trials successfully and becomes standard medical procedure then it will be many many yrs before long term injured like myself are sorted.

I'm 45 next month and I think I'll be drawing my pension before this is on offer to myself,however for newly injured SCIs it really is exciting times.

[Killer2005]

Panorama covering this story tonight was amazing.

[TvrJohn]

Fantastic coverage on Panorama, very interesting the future is looking promising for this pioneering medical procedure

[Mobile Chicane]

Tremendously exciting, however as the scientist concerned stated on R4 this morning, the results need to be replicated in other patients.

[Saddle bum]

Do they need nose donors?

As long one does not the Millipede's hooter, it should be OK.

[GCH]

Saw this on panorama - Amazing

[BoRED S2upid]

Mr GrimNasty said:

The results don't look like much of a cure to me, so far. And it's only one patient, there might have been the same result from doing nothing, or just opening him up and doing nothing.

I personally think the future of spine repair is more likely to be in some sort of artificial electronic bridge.

I'm guessing your not into science much?

Looked pretty impressive to me. This could be massive in the future.

[Thankyou4calling]

The pace of medical progress really dissapoints me.

Thirty years ago I left school and my teachers and others led me to expect some amazing stuff in the not too distant, things like being able to grow new limbs and organs, living to over 100 being the normal, cancer would be no more.

I thought we would be able to bring back extinct animals and freezing people with illnesses only to bring them back when theres a cure or transplant their brain would be the norm.

[WinstonWolf]

What has been done here is pretty fking amazing IMO. Did you see the size of the gap in his spinal cord?

[Mr GrimNasty]

BoRED S2upid said:

Mr GrimNasty said:

The results don't look like much of a cure to me, so far. And it's only one patient, there might have been the same result from doing nothing, or just opening him up and doing nothing.

I personally think the future of spine repair is more likely to be in some sort of artificial electronic bridge.

I'm guessing your not into science much?

Looked pretty impressive to me. This could be massive in the future.

Massively wrong. I'm highly scientifically qualified (and no I'm not going to identify myself by being specific). Clearly you did not understand the limitations of what was shown. We are not just a few years away from some 'miracle' biological cure. Clearly the researchers want funding, like all scientists. Say no more.

[BlackLabel]

Finally got a chance to watch this on Panorama.

The actual research paper is available here if anyone is interested.

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cog/ct/pre-p...

Lots of hype about the olfactory cells however the paraplegic in question actually had 5 different interventions:

1 - the olfactory cells;
2 - resection of the glial scar;
3 - peripheral nerve grafts;
4 - methylprednisolone (a steroid) administration and;
5 - untethering of the cord.

Which begs the question, what was the specific mechanism of the repair of the cord?

Looking forward to seeing how this develops in years to come.

[Mr GrimNasty]

As I said, not new/not a massive break through, no miracle cure, no proof of success.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2816990/...