United Brachial Plexus Network

Very interesting stuff going on here!

-viable nerve cells being derived from stem cells within fat tissue (plenty source material available here!)

-artificial biodegradable polymer nerve structure/guide for nerve growth, loaded with growth factors and molecules to enhance/support neural regeneration. (anything to help speed up nerve regeneration/growth is essential)

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U of Manchester press release
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/new ... ?id=125737

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 094047.htm
'Bionic' Nerve To Bring Damaged Limbs And Organs Back To Life

Source: University of Manchester
Date: October 18, 2007

Science Daily — University of Manchester researchers have transformed fat tissue stem cells into nerve cells - and now plan to develop an artificial nerve that will bring damaged limbs and organs back to life.

In a study published in October's Experimental Neurology, Dr Paul Kingham and his team at the UK Centre for Tissue Regeneration (UKCTR) isolated the stem cells from the fat tissue of adult animals and differentiated them into nerve cells to be used for repair and regeneration of injured nerves. They are now about to start a trial extracting stem cells from fat tissue of volunteer adult patients, in order to compare in the laboratory human and animal stem cells.

Following that, they will develop an artificial nerve constructed from a biodegradable polymer to transplant the differentiated stem cells. The biomaterial will be rolled up into a tube-like structure and inserted between the two ends of the cut nerve so that the regrowing nerve fibre can go through it from one end to the other.

This 'bionic' nerve could also be used in people who have suffered trauma injuries to their limbs or organs, cancer patients whose tumour surgery has affected a nearby nerve trunk and people who have had organ transplants.

With a clinical trial on the biomaterial about to be completed, the researchers hope the treatment could be ready for use in four or five years.

Dr Kingham said: "The differentiated stem cells have great potential for future clinical use, initially for treatment of patients with traumatic injuries of nerves in the arms and legs.

"This work will also help to develop a similar surgical approach for organ transplant, to give full functional recuperation to the transplanted tissue.

"Furthermore, the technique of artificial nerve grafting could also be applicable when tumour mass has involved a nearby nerve trunk, which consequently has to be excised together with the tumour, such as the removal of a prostate tumour where damage to the nerve leads to male impotence."

Director of the UKCTR, Professor Giorgio Terenghi said: "This new research is a very exciting development with many future clinical applications that will improve the lives of many different types of patients and therefore many, many people.

"The frequency of nerve injury is one in every 1,000 of the population - or 50,000 cases in the UK - every year.

"The current repair method - a patient donating their own nerve graft to span the gap at the injury site - is far from optimal because of the poor functional outcome, the extra damage and the possibility of forming scars and tumours at the donor site. Tissue engineering using a combination of biomaterials and cell-based therapies, while at an early stage, promises a great improvement on that. Artificial nerve guides provide mechanical support, protect the re-growing nerve and contain growth factor and molecules favourable to regeneration. The patient will not be able to tell that they had ever 'lost' their limb and will be able carry on exactly as they did before."

He added: "The facilities available at the UKCTR have been developed jointly by the University of Manchester and the North West Development Agency, with exactly this aim - to provide the transition from experimental research to new clinical treatment."

Note: This story has been adapted from material provided by University of Manchester.

This is AMAZING!

Thanks for posting it.

Kath Robpi/adult

Well then let's get on with it!

Chris,
You find the best articles. With all you have read, do you think amputation would be a good idea? My son (27) wants to do that. He had his accident July 2005. I think he should wait to see what develops medically in the future. What are your thoughts, since you are well read on the stem cell research? But it is his decision to make. It justs scares me that if he amputates, it's over.
Frank's mom

The patient will not be able to tell that they had ever 'lost' their limb and will be able carry on exactly as they did before."

I find this an interesting statement to make! Surely this could be the case IF the patient was teated and cured immediately! However, I can't see that as very likely. I mean to say that it didn't take very long at all before the muscle in my arm wasted away to virtually nothing. And the way it looks and feels now I'd be very surprised, well actually amazed if it got anywhere near back to normal.

Even if this is a possible cure it could be years down the road.

I don't mean to be all negative. It's fantstic what these doctors are coming up with and i'm sure in the future our type of injury may not be so serious if they're able to treat it.

However, as for me I'm seeing my consultant on Thursday and I'll be having a serious chat with him about amputation as I believe it's the only way forward for me. I understand Franks mom having her doubts but think of the positive. I am convinced it will be a huge relief to get rid of this useless weight I call an arm!

Anyway, whatever people decide to do, to wait or go for amputation I wish you all the best.

Mike

Now I'm really messed up. I recently saw a photo of one of 'us' and could not believe my eyes. I'm guessing all of our limbs look the same? Scrawny, fleshy, hook hand and bones? I began the serious soul search of voluntary amputation. I'm like okay if it were cut off while I was unconscious that's one thing but to walk in, lay it down and say cut it off...that's a whole nother thing I can't quite get a grip on. Then you Chris, in your infinite wisdom and admirably daunting and relentless research reveal this very serious and very likely(in some other country) procedure that once amputation has been performed is very moot. In other words I'll be wallowing back down to my depths and wondering just what in hell am I supposed to do, what am I going to do and why do anything at all? I don't have a support group. I have UBPN (I know it seems sad) and when I'm down and blue I just log on now and in wonder and amazement read how others keep up their good fight and worry how our numbers are ever increasing. I hope that one day when someone suffers this injury or is born with this condition that the procedure to correct this blight will be as easy as casting a broken bone or straightening legs as when children are born with crooked legs.
God bless us all and God bless the researchers. May they be quick enough to avoid certain non reverable decisions.
Peace out,
Scott

4 to 5 years is really very less time for such a great thing to come in practice.


Thanks for posting... great news.