Medical breakthrough of the century : Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:04 am  

Surgeons in Poland (in co-operation with English specialists) have succeeded in regenerating the spinal cord of a man to the extent that he can now walk with support from a frame and continues to improve. The procedure involved using nasal cells and nerve tissue to construct a "bridge" in the severed spjnal cord and it seems this has gradually repaired itself resuming nerve messages. It must be the story of the century though sadly the BBC thinks Pistorius's sentence is more important. It is also saddening (but sadly expected) that the comments section has developed into a flame war populated largely by religious zealots who think God did it. The story is remarkable for all sorts of reasons and one of the best is that nobody is looking to make any money whatsoever from the discovery of the technique but want it to simply be freely available to anyone who needs it.

Surgeons in Poland (in co-operation with English specialists) have succeeded in regenerating the spinal cord of a man to the extent that he can now walk with support from a frame and continues to improve. The procedure involved using nasal cells and nerve tissue to construct a "bridge" in the severed spjnal cord and it seems this has gradually repaired itself resuming nerve messages. It must be the story of the century though sadly the BBC thinks Pistorius's sentence is more important. It is also saddening (but sadly expected) that the comments section has developed into a flame war populated largely by religious zealots who think God did it. The story is remarkable for all sorts of reasons and one of the best is that nobody is looking to make any money whatsoever from the discovery of the technique but want it to simply be freely available to anyone who needs it.

Re: Medical breakthrough of the century : Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:03 pm  

Agree that if it proves repeatable that it is an amazing break through. Uplifting.

[Kosh]

Re: Medical breakthrough of the century : Tue Oct 21, 2014 2:06 pm  

Couple this with recent advances in using wireless tech to bridge spinal breaks and the future for treating spinal injuries looks bright indeed.

Re: Medical breakthrough of the century : Tue Oct 21, 2014 4:52 pm  

If nasal cells can get him walking again, if he catches a cold will he start running?

Re: Medical breakthrough of the century : Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:59 pm  

cod'ead wrote:

If nasal cells can get him walking again, if he catches a cold will he start running?

What happens if his nose runs?



I'm here all week.

Re: Medical breakthrough of the century : Thu Oct 23, 2014 9:31 am  

cod'ead wrote:

If nasal cells can get him walking again, if he catches a cold will he start running?

That snot the way it works

Re: Medical breakthrough of the century : Thu Oct 23, 2014 10:31 am  

A very balanced view on the subject. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/spinal-cord-injuries-and-the-reality-of-medical-breakthroughs-9809310.html

A very balanced view on the subject. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/spinal-cord-injuries-and-the-reality-of-medical-breakthroughs-9809310.html

Re: Medical breakthrough of the century : Thu Oct 23, 2014 10:36 am  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

That snot the way it works

you obviously nose sumfing I don't

Re: Medical breakthrough of the century : Sun Oct 26, 2014 1:44 am  

I heard about this on the Jeremy Vine show the other day. Fascinating stuff. It must feel terrible to have normal bodily functions one day and then lose them the next. Hopefully this treatment gets the funding that it deserves.

Re: Medical breakthrough of the century : Sun Oct 26, 2014 10:57 am  

wigan_rlfc wrote:

It must feel terrible to have normal bodily functions one day and then lose them the next.

Do you think so?