Paralyzed woman walks after stem cell treatment

Perinquus · Post by **Perinquus** » 2004-11-29 01:11pm

Paralyzed woman walks again after stem cell therapy

How tragic that this sort of thing should have come so close upon the heels of poor Christopher Reeve's death. Whether this would have worked for him as well is something we'll never know, but it's certainly cause for some hope.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-11-29 01:14pm

Ah, I do love science.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-11-29 01:16pm

A South Korean woman paralyzed for 20 years is walking again after scientists say they repaired her damaged spine using stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood.

Wait, wait, I thought that only stem cells taken from embryos could work?

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-11-29 01:24pm

A can of worms I don't intend to get stuck into, but the debate over which source is best for therapeutic stem cell research is still ongoing. I, personally, couldn't care less, though some get into heated arguments over the right to use embryos while others favour adult stem cell lines.

EDIT: I don't see why progenitor cells in adults can't be used, most are multipotnet at least and that is usually all that's needed for now.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-11-29 01:37pm

Why did this breakthrough happen in South Korea rather than America, which has the world's largest medical research budget?

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-11-29 01:39pm

Darth Wong wrote:Why did this breakthrough happen in South Korea rather than America, which has the world's largest medical research budget?

In case that wasn't a rhetorical question (in which case it could be seen as part of the argument against Bush limiting funds to embryonic stem cells), it's because SK has a sizeable biotech industry that can rival the US, UK and Japan quite well in most areas.

Plus, they may have had less hassle with the ethics of this research, embryonic or otherwise, it's taken time for us to get to grips with it.

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2004-11-29 02:03pm

I will hazard a guess that the value of Stem Cell research will always be vodoo genetics for our pal Bush.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2004-11-29 02:04pm

Darth Wong wrote:Why did this breakthrough happen in South Korea rather than America, which has the world's largest medical research budget?

Because South Korea has an enormous medical research establishment in its own right. They were first past the post, that's all, barring evidence that bad US policy is hindering our own research (which I wouldn't be surprised to discover).

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2004-11-29 02:06pm

Stravo wrote:I will hazard a guess that the value of Stem Cell research will always be vodoo genetics for our pal Bush.

He's come out in favor of adult and umbillical stem cell research, if I recall correctly.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-11-29 02:11pm

RedImperator wrote:
He's come out in favor of adult and umbillical stem cell research, if I recall correctly.

Correct, including placental cells too. Federal funding can't go to embryonic. but that doesn't stop private firms (though if the US is anything like the UK, most funding for firms even is gov't subsidised and thus falls under this umbrella).

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2004-11-29 02:11pm

thats awesome. hope some of the tech goes to the iraq war vets.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-11-29 02:11pm

RedImperator wrote:
Stravo wrote:I will hazard a guess that the value of Stem Cell research will always be vodoo genetics for our pal Bush.
He's come out in favor of adult and umbillical stem cell research, if I recall correctly.

True, although there's something to be said for the "general chilling effect" argument. Uncertainty can make managers just swear off the whole thing until they're sure what's going on.

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2004-11-29 02:12pm

RedImperator wrote:
Stravo wrote:I will hazard a guess that the value of Stem Cell research will always be vodoo genetics for our pal Bush.
He's come out in favor of adult and umbillical stem cell research, if I recall correctly.

His opposition to embryonic stem cell research however is based mostly on his 'moral' objections and as such his view of morality is standing in the way of good medical research. (Unless its proven bad research but we can never know until we try) I just find it troubling that other nations might get a leg up on us medically because some born again feels that its just wrong.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-11-29 02:14pm

So is there anything preventing private firms from just creating their own embryos/acquiring them from elsewhere and going to work? I'm not opposed to federal funding of stem cell research per se, but I just don't understand why people act like this whole field is going to sink or swim based on whether or not the government subsidizes it.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-11-29 02:14pm

Of course, the ethics of that argument lie in the abortion debate at heart. It's the same pro-life or pro-choice crowd but with different placards of protest. Only stem cells are far more beneficial than any single abortion in the grand scheme of things.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-11-29 02:14pm

Stravo wrote:His opposition to embryonic stem cell research however is based mostly on his 'moral' objections and as such his view of morality is standing in the way of good medical research.

Actually no. He's allowed Embryonic stem cell research. It just has to
come from the 31~ or so "lines" that were created before his ban.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-11-29 02:16pm

MKSheppard wrote: Actually no. He's allowed Embryonic stem cell research. It just has to
come from the 31~ or so "lines" that were created before his ban.

Which are all about as useful as an anvil to a skydiver.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-11-29 02:18pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:Which are all about as useful as an anvil to a skydiver.

How so? I was under the impression that those things could be reproduced
indefinitely.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-11-29 02:20pm

MKSheppard wrote:
How so? I was under the impression that those things could be reproduced
indefinitely.

Of the 70 or so lines made eligible for federal funding, only around 11 types showed any real potential and I can't even remember the last time I read anything beneficial about those. In short, if you're going to do this, don't do it half-assed. Go the whole hog and allow them unlimited use of tissue samples within reason. At least then you won't be throwing stuff away for another useless test.

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2004-11-29 02:33pm

for corrolary, the swiss are legalizing stem cell treatment

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=s ... _stem_cell

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2004-11-29 02:33pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:
MKSheppard wrote:
How so? I was under the impression that those things could be reproduced
indefinitely.
Of the 70 or so lines made eligible for federal funding, only around 11 types showed any real potential and I can't even remember the last time I read anything beneficial about those. In short, if you're going to do this, don't do it half-assed. Go the whole hog and allow them unlimited use of tissue samples within reason. At least then you won't be throwing stuff away for another useless test.

any problem for using bits from abortions for it wholesale? scientificaly, I mean, not ethically or legally

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-11-29 02:37pm

Enforcer Talen wrote:
any problem for using bits from abortions for it wholesale? scientificaly, I mean, not ethically or legally

You mean using aborted foetuses for research? They actually can do that and likely do a lot, but embryos are the best, though umbilical are indeed useful.

That Swiss link is also good news. I love the comparison to Nazi concentration camp commandants and so forth. It's like rational thought just left those people. And why the hell do laws take so long to pass? I've seen how these guys work, surely it can't take over a year given the lack of real objection to the bill.

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2004-11-29 10:43pm

http://www.betterhumans.com/News/news.a ... 04-11-29-2

*more* uses for stemcells.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-11-29 11:03pm

I'd only just found that myself too, though on New Scientist's website.

Yes, stem cells really can cure all that ails you. There's not much you can't do with the things.

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2004-11-29 11:48pm

Im so glad california is researching them

go ahnold