Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: ukmicky on 22/09/2005 01:15:58
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No your not getting rid of me.
Something much better
The university college London has today announced that they have now found a way to cure people who have damaged or severed their spinal cord, allowing people who have become paralyzed to regain the use of their limbs again.
Normally there's no way of repairing a severed spinal cord but doctors from university college London will use nasal stem cells. They have found that if they implant them around the damage part of the spinal cord, the transplanted cells will grow forming a bridge across the damaged part of the spine allowing new nerve fibers to grow reconnecting the damaged cord.
The adult stem cells in the nose are used for our sense of smell and are the only cells in the human body which constantly regenerate and its this ability which is being exploited.
The doctors said that within two years they will be using the procedure on patients.
Michael (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi11.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa186%2Fukmicky%2Frofl.gif&hash=481319b762ee9d57cda15e90d2e83ee6)
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But how do those buggers (sorry for the pun) know which strands to connect? Try to move one thing and something else moves. Also there are different kinds of nerves: motor function, heat/cold, pressure, pain, etc (my memory is failing me).
But I do agree, it is great news.
David