Stem cells reverse blindness caused by burns

[Modbert]

Stem cells reverse blindness caused by burns - KansasCity.com

Dozens of people who were blinded or otherwise suffered severe eye damage when they were splashed with caustic chemicals had their sight restored with transplants of their own stem cells - a stunning success for the burgeoning cell-therapy field, Italian researchers reported Wednesday.

The treatment worked completely in 82 of 107 eyes and partially in 14 others, with benefits lasting up to a decade so far. One man whose eyes were severely damaged more than 60 years ago now has near-normal vision.

This is a roaring success," said ophthalmologist Dr. Ivan Schwab of the University of California, Davis, who had no role in the study - the longest and largest of its kind.

Stem cell transplants offer hope to the thousands of people worldwide every year who suffer chemical burns on their corneas from heavy-duty cleansers or other substances at work or at home.

Since the stem cells are from their own bodies, the patients do not need to take anti-rejection drugs.

Adult stem cells have been used for decades to cure blood cancers such as leukemia and diseases like sickle cell anemia. But fixing a problem like damaged eyes is a relatively new use. Researchers have been studying cell therapy for a host of other diseases, including diabetes and heart failure, with limited success.

Schwab of UC Davis said stem cell transplants would not help those blinded by burns in both eyes because doctors need stem cells to do the procedure.

Well this is certainly a giant step forward and great news to hear definitely.

 

[Mr.Fitnah]

+1

 

[Nate]

If theres one thing I can tip my hat to with Obama's presidency it's lifting the strict limits on stem cell research.

 

[Modbert]

If theres one thing I can tip my hat to with Obama's presidency it's lifting the strict limits on stem cell research.

Hopefully even more progress can be made in the coming future. Though I think this will start up a interesting discussion about "stem cell banks". I'm sure they have these somewhere, but a place where you can store stem cells of say from your retinas or whatever in case you ever need them.

Like here, if you have both eyes blinded, they can't do anything. However, if you had these stem cells, you would be able to.

Not sure if it's feasible, possible, or have been done already, but it does sound like a good idea if both of those things.

 

[strollingbones]

they already have cord blood banks....stem cell banks dont seem that different....i am amazed at the repression of this research by the gop...i think we should be going full speed..medically advances should be pursued at all costs...hell we all want to live forever it does seem

"pay for the dead and fight like hell for the living" mother jones

 

[geauxtohell]

Good news for sure.

 

[blu]

If theres one thing I can tip my hat to with Obama's presidency it's lifting the strict limits on stem cell research.

indeed! been saying this a long time!