Prospects to treat some diseases with stem cells

Along with the continuous development of biotechnology, scientists around the world have made much progress in research and development of stem cell therapy, opening up the prospect of treating some dangerous diseases in people like chronic back pain, diabetes and stroke . in the near future.

Soon, the patient's own stem cells may be used to treat chronic back pain. New therapy developed by Dr. Stephen Richardson of Manchester University (UK) developed using mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from adult human bone marrow to create a spinal disc. This is a class of stem cells that can develop into different types of cells such as bone, cartilage, fat and muscle. Stephen's group succeeded in turning MSC into solid tissue-forming cells

Extracted stem cells from fetal miscarriage.
(Photo: Baocantho)

display division vertebrae. Because it is extracted from the body of the patient, this stem cell is not eliminated by the immune system. The team plans to begin the pre-clinical trial phase of this therapy next year.

Currently, for the treatment of low back pain, doctors combine painkillers, physiotherapy or surgery. Some severe cases require surgery to remove tissue to help patients with pain. However, the level of success is limited and these techniques do not solve the cause of the cause of the disease.

Biotechnology company ReNeuron (UK) recently announced that it has successfully extracted stem cells from the developing 12-week-old embryonic brain and these cells then specialized into brain cells and capable of rapidly regenerating damaged brain tissue due to stroke. Transplanting these stem cells into a rat's brain with a stroke, the results show that the blood circulation and brain activity in the damaged brain area have been restored. ReNeuron is seeking permission from the US Food and Drug Administration to conduct an experiment to transplant these stem cells to 12 stroke patients in early 2007.

Not only that, stem cell therapy can also bring a new way to treat diabetes, killing 3.8 million people a year and potentially affecting 380 million people in the next 20 years. At the international conference on diabetes that took place in Cape Town (South Africa) last week, experts from the University of Brighton (UK) said they are studying the transfer of mature stem cells and embryos into Beta cells produce insulin in the pancreas. Diabetes expert and stem cell researcher Wendy Macfarlane said: 'What we have achieved in the past 2-3 years has shown that the therapies we pursue are applicable to cell replacement. beta - what American colleagues have achieved and they are preparing to test animals in the late decade. '

THAI AN