Once More, WHY Do We Need Embryonic Stem Cell Research?
Posted 4 March, 2009 in Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
Cord Blood Stem Cells Give Spinal Cord Injury patient feeling
In yet another triumph for Stem Cell research, cord blood stem cells (Adult Stem Cells) have helped give Spinal Cord Injury patient, Bradley Koenning a better quality of life after being totally paralyzed from a dirt bike accident.
Bradley, 21, from Westhoff, Texas, was paralyzed from the neck down following the accident and traveled to Lima, Peru to receive stem cells taken from the umbilical cord blood of new born babies. These cord blood stem cells are NOT to be confused with the fetal stem cells (stem cells removed from an aborted fetus) recently in the news for causing tumors.
Before the Adult Stem Cells:
- No feeling from the neck down
- No feeling in bladder, didn’t know when he would have to use the restroom
- Low blood pressure, Bradley would often pass out because it was so low
After the umbilical cord blood stem cells were implanted:
- Can feel from the chest up
- Can feel his bladder too, knows when to use the bathroom
- Blood pressure equalized, doesn’t pass out anymore
Key quotes from the stem cell news article:
The treatment shots cost about $25,000. Because they are not yet approved in the United States, he has to travel overseas to receive them, his mother said. This April, he is going to Tijuana for another treatment.
“Our hope is he will be able to walk again with this treatment. I think it should be available in the U.S.,” she said. “There are so many people with spinal cord injuries that need these shots but can’t afford them. Since they aren’t approved, insurance won’t cover them.”
Look at that quote directly above. Don’t take it from me, take it from the mother of a Spinal Cord Injury patient. Think how many millions could be helped if we had Adult Stem Cells available here in the good old USA.
Here is the full stem cell article
Additional Adult Stem Cell Research Information:
See our Spinal Cord Injury archives for more good stem cell success stories and information on stem cell treatment for the treatment of spinal cord injuries (SCI).
Federal funds for embryonic stem-cell research was prohibited until August 2001, when former president George W. Bush approved spending for research using only already-existing cell lines, only about a dozen of which were useful for research. In late January of this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a human embryonic stem cell study, which will test whether the cells are safe to use in spinal injury patients.
"Our objective in this study was to demonstrate that multiple route administration of BMCs for SCI is safe and feasible," said corresponding author Dr. Francisco Silva. "To date, we have administered BMCs into 52 patients with SCI and have had no tumor formations, no cases of infection or increased pain, and few instances of minor adverse events. We also found that patient quality of life improved."
According to Dr. Silva, presently there is no cure or effective treatment for spinal cord injury, a disorder affecting millions globally. Tissue loss from the primary injury and the complexity of cell types required for functional recovery lead the list of considerations. Once more, to be considered successful, any treatment should ultimately help to improve patient quality of life and demonstrate functional improvements.
"Autologous stem cell transplantation of BMCs can promote the growth of blood vessels and, therefore, represent an alternative therapy," said Dr. Silva.
Following primary trauma to the adult spinal cord there is evidence of hemorrhage and blood flow is attenuated, he explained. The disruption of blood flow leads to spinal cord infarction, the disruption of the blood-spinal cord injury barrier, swelling and the release of molecules influencing spinal cord perfusion and ischemia, a restriction in blood supply.
"BMCs are well known for their ability to grow blood vessels," explained Dr. Silva. "This angiogenesis is necessary for wound healing and establishing a growth permissive environment. We hypothesized that improved blood flow and oxygen supply could contribute to functional improvements for SCI transplanted with autologous BMCs."
In eight patients who received BMC transplants through various routes and followed for two years, the scientists reported several functional improvements, perhaps the most important of which was improved bladder control.
Finally, the researchers noted that one of their cases suffered a gunshot wound and that their study marked the first time a gunshot wound victim had received BMC transplants through multiple routes.
"It is important to note," concluded Dr. Silva," that all of our patients with acute injuries improved significantly with no signs of deterioration or impediment of presumed spontaneous recovery."
According to Dr. Svitlana Garbuzova-Davis, a spinal cord researcher at the University of South Florida, the study highlights the value of using several different simultaneous routes for the administration of stem cells, as well as the benefit of the cells themselves.
"While it would be interesting to know the respective contribution of each route of administration, this study does appear to support the need to move to carry out double blind clinical trials of BMCs in SCI, especially if a non-invasive route could be used."
Labels: Stem Cell Research
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