Future Hi: Stem Cell Breakthrough: Paralysis Cured

November 27, 2004

Stem Cell Breakthrough: Paralysis Cured

According to this story on the Korean Times, a women who has not stood up for 19 years was able to walk because of stem-cell therapy.

A team of Korean researchers claimed Thursday they had performed a miracle by enabling a patient, who could not even stand up for the last 19 years, to walk with stem cell therapy.
During a press conference, the scientists said they had last month transplanted multi-potent stem cells from umbilical cord blood to the 37-year-old female patient suffering from a spinal cord injury and she can now walk on her own.

The team was co-headed by Chosun University professor Song Chang-hun, Seoul National University professor Kang Kyung-sun and Han Hoon, Ph.D, from the Seoul Cord Blood Bank (SCB).

``The stem cell transplantation was performed on Oct. 12 this year and in just three weeks she started to walk with the help of a walker,¡¯¡¯ Song said.

The patient¡¯s lower limbs were paralyzed after an accident in 1985 damaged her lower back and hips. Afterward she spent her life in bed or in a wheelchair.

For the unprecedented clinical test, the scientists isolated stem cells from umbilical cord blood and then injected them into the damaged part of the spinal cord.

The sensory and motor nerves of the patient started to improve 15 days after the operation and she could move her hips. After 25 days, her feet responded to stimulation.

If only Christopher Reeve had lived a few more months he may have been cured too, and in turn lived a long longer without the delibating condition that permaturely ended his life.

And yet the Bush administration and his right-wing cohorts want to make this illegal worldwide.

Here is the video of the story.

Posted by paul at November 27, 2004 11:02 PM | TrackBack

Comments

...what happens when political agendas of greed and corruption carries the stench of ignorance far enough to deny progress:

current u.s. policies have been geared towards keeping the populace fat and stupid -- give the populace their limp stories about dale earnhardt via the disney owned espn movie of the month '3' and the populace sits happy in ignorance and soft of mind to what un-folds around them and throughout the global connectivity that brings together minds willing to push forth past the mind-numbing shite of media manipulations and media machinations --

...as far as christopher reeves goes: do not martyr the man but understood that he represents the ability to see beyond one's nose to embrace the possibilities that life and death do offer to the spirit willing to endure and willing to become more than that gnostic spark trapped within the tomb of dead intent ---

Posted by: .0sa at November 29, 2004 06:39 AM

Unbelievable. Let the world know of this stem cell accomplishment with this young woman!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Thomas g. Boyd at November 30, 2004 12:43 PM

I'm no fan of the Bush administration, but I think they were mostly against harvesting fertilized embryos.

Probably getting stem cells in the manner mentioned by this artical wouldn't cause concern for Bush.

However, due to ignorance, I'm sure the majority of his supporters won't understand, and will still be against it.

Posted by: Daniel at December 2, 2004 11:19 AM

No Daniel, Bush isn't against taking stem cells from umbilical cord blood AFAIK, but he decided to close his mind to the fact that research into adult and embryonic stem cells is complementary and mutually beneficial. Those cell types have different strengths and weaknesses both in therapy and basic research, and hampering embryonic stem cell research will slow down all other stem cell research as well.

Posted by: Zoeific at December 4, 2004 05:04 AM

I'm all for medical research. I'm a stroke survivor, but am paralyzed on the left side. The people that are against this research, obviously don't know what it's like to have something thi devasting happen to them or someone they love. Keep up the research.

Posted by: Terry Quinn at December 6, 2004 08:14 AM

I'm actually doing a paper on the possible benefits of stem cells for people with SCI (spinal cord injury). This happen to be one of the links that popped up when I did a search. This is amazing news and a wonderful break through. It's pretty sad that the US doesn't take advange of the benefits of stem cell research, we're falling behind in this area. I'm for the research and I think it can give people that have these problems a chance to live and live a normal life for that matter.

Posted by: scropitarius at December 9, 2004 10:20 AM

You people just don't get it! President Bush and people of faith who value life are all in FAVOR and do support (with United States tax payer $) adult and umbilical cord stem cell research! You see these two forms of stem cell research have provided ALL THE CURES (over 70) TO DATE!!!! It is the Embryonic stem cell research that has given us absolutely NO CURES and are a waste of time, effort and precious $. Do you get it? Bush is absolutely on the medically successful side of this debate. Those of you who support Embronic stem cell research are on the side that is wrong and have given us ZERO CURES. Now it is those of you that must get EDUCATED!!!!

Posted by: Steve R at December 13, 2004 09:48 AM