Growing Body Parts/auto Immune Diseases, Ones own stem cells used

Breaking news from London!! A woman received a transplant of donor windpipe stripped of all inner and outer lining cells and then with the use of her own bone marrow stem cells were used to replace the inner and outer lining with her own tissue. The need for immune suppressant drugs was thus eliminated. It appears to have been successful. It has worked on other select areas. One that comes to mind is a replacement "outer ear."

These procedures may soon cure Parkinsons, MS and other auto immune diseases! We can only hope.

Slàinte,

Patch

Yes, the 'Ghost Heart' was the first of these procedures to succeed. I remember reading a good Popular Science article on this. They essentially 'wash' all of the cells out of an organ with a solution that won't harm the tenuous 'latticework' of the organ. Then they somehow bond the stems cells, which mimic the tissue taken from the donor, to the empty organ frame. I guess it was a pretty big even when the heart started beating.

Now that we know stem cells can be harvested without needing a foetus, I'm getting pretty hopeful about the ramifications. I like the idea of having my own OEM replacement parts available if anything packs it in.

It's been about a year ago now since a doctor at Bowman Gray School of Medicine (Wake Forest U) grew a new bladder for a woman using some of her own tissue. I feel like we're on the cusp of being able to manipulate a person's own body parts to correct problems. If we can just make it another ten years, we may be able to make use of this amazing research.

I really hope this is the good news that it appears to be. They are now working on what I consider critical organs I hope the money is there to continue the research. Now that you mention it I do remember the bladder, I would be interested in reading more about the "Ghost Heart."

Slàinte,   

 Patch    

http://www.popsci.com/elizabeth-svoboda/ar...-09/ghost-heart

And for those, like me, who still have a difficult time reading the words 'embryonic stem cells', here is a promising article about making stem cells from adult tissue.

http://www.popsci.com/node/23907

That is an interesting link. Thank you!!

Slàinte,    

Patch    

http://www.popsci.com/elizabeth-svoboda/ar...-09/ghost-heart

And for those, like me, who still have a difficult time reading the words 'embryonic stem cells', here is a promising article about making stem cells from adult tissue.

http://www.popsci.com/node/23907

It was always a matter of time before they figured out how to increase the pluripotency of adult stem cells so that embryonic cells would not be the only solution. Now it's getting closer -- this is indeed good news! The really good part is that it will turn undoubtedly some of the emphasis on prevention or treatment of more, and more diverse, problems before they are at the life threatening stage. That's going to make a huge difference eventually in the cost of medical care, including strategies for making it universally affordable.

Ghost Heart -- what an evocative, haunting image. Like Ghost Dance.