[Apparelyzed]

Spinal injury 'bypassed' by nerve

Doctors hope to use the body's own nerves to bridge the gap in the spinal cord left by paralysing injuries.

Marie Filbin, from the City University of New York, took a nerve leaving the spine just above an injury, and reattached it below.

New Scientist magazine reports that rats used in the experiment showed some signs of renewed movement.

A UK expert said the injury location could govern whether a suitable nerve was available for surgery.

More: http://news.bbc.co.u...lth/7231226.stm

[kewlcatkez]

Hi Simon,

Thanks for posting this, I was just about to since I saw them covering it on Breakfast this am (whilst looking at the Broadsheets!)
Its, of course, promising, but at the same time I did appreciate one of the proff's opinions, featured:

""Professor Giorgio Terenghi, from the University of Manchester, said that the approach was very interesting, and avoided some of the pitfalls of other nerve grafting techniques.

"It's a very good idea, but the key thing is how much function they will be able to restore using this technique."

He said that another issue was that while the position of the spinal cord injury in the rats suited the use of the abdominal nerve, if the injury was elsewhere, higher or lower, there might not be a nerve that could be readily "sacrificed" to form the link without creating other problems.

"You don't want to rob Peter to pay Paul," he said.""


Looking at this selfishly - In my case, I have other 'issues' ( my dislocations of hips, well all joints) which would make it tricky to get me out of my chair, and with others - older injuries, perhaps it will be too difficult to 'glue' with the other Nerves, sue to scar tissue. Another thing which sprang to my mind was that those with a high Cervical SCI may not have many other nerves to choose from in order to do it the way described above..Interestingly, Lower injuries would be hampered by the same..So perhaps it would be of use to New, mid thoracics??

It is very interesting..and if nothing else, shows that work is being done/continued...

Take care,

K

[Apparelyzed]

kewlcatkez, on Feb 7 2008, 09:59 AM, said:

It is very interesting..and if nothing else, shows that work is being done/continued...

I was thinking it would be nice to get a 6 pack back again, never mind walking!

Simon

[nomis]

I recall excitement over some similar research about 25 years ago using wires to link nerves with some breed of monkey. Presumably today's research is much more advanced. But to be on the safe side I'll keep a six pack in the fridge.

[Apparelyzed]

nomis, on Feb 7 2008, 10:36 AM, said:

to be on the safe side I'll keep a six pack in the fridge.

Maybe I should just stick with my "Keg"!

Simon

[Becca82]

similar/same article on MSN today too!
http://news.uk.msn.c...umentid=7472556


Nerve bypass 'may end paralysis'
Thousands of people could regain the use of paralysed limbs thanks to a pioneering technique, scientists claim.

The technique uses the body's nerves to bypass spinal injuries and US researchers believe the treatment could help thousands of people to regain feeling, and possibly even the use of paralysed limbs.

The researchers have shown that nerves can be used to circumvent spinal damage and reconnect the brain to the body, according to a report in New Scientist.

The procedure, successfully used in experiments with rats, worked on similar principles to heart bypass surgery, where veins from a patient's leg are used to get around an artery blockage.

It raised the prospect of the first human trials within five years, offering hope to the 40,000-plus people in the UK with spinal cord injuries.

John Martin, a neuroscientist at Columbia University in New York, cut away a nerve in rats from just above the injury that normally stretches into the body to control abdominal muscles and reattached it to the spine below the injury.

When the team examined the nerve under a microscope two weeks later, they found it had sprouted new extensions which had begun to form connections, or synapses, with the motor nerves in the isolated lower spine.

Zapping the spinal cord above the injury made the lower limbs of the rats twitch, showing that motor signals had begun once again to pass along the entire length of the spine.

Patrick Anderson, professor of experimental neuroscience at University College London, said the findings were exciting, but said there was still much research to be done before the technique could be tried in humans. He added: "It's quite an exciting response, it's novel and no one's achieved quite that before."

Mr Martin said the technique needed much more development, but if all went well trials in humans could start in as little as five years.

[RaginTurtleHead]

At least promising research is being done in such a way that those who strongly appose stem cell research can not cry murder....

The only question.... How long before they are able to start human trials???

[kewlcatkez]

RaginTurtleHead, on Feb 7 2008, 05:18 PM, said:

At least promising research is being done in such a way that those who strongly appose stem cell research can not cry murder....

The only question.... How long before they are able to start human trials???

Hiya,

The breakfast show on the BBC this am, had them quoting 5-7 years, but I don't know on what authority they said that...

HTH

Take care,

K

[Apparelyzed]

kewlcatkez, on Feb 7 2008, 05:34 PM, said:

The breakfast show on the BBC this am, had them quoting 5-7 years, but I don't know on what authority they said that...

In other words, they don't know!

5-7 years is a time period researchers tend to pluck out of the air everytime they're asked for a time period!

When I had my accident in 1992, researchers were saying it'd be 5-7 years when a cure would be available for curing a spinal cord injury. It's a bit like saying "we're really close to finding a cure, but without extra funds, the cure will slip through our fingers".

It's a bit like a carrot and stick routine to secure funding.

Simon.

[hondat]

This sounds similar
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/health...ord-injury.htmlNew Scientist
I have heard "5 years" quoted many times to.....