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[JoshuaJSlone]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=sto...fp/health_stemcell_paralysis_skorea&printer=1

SEOUL (AFP) - A South Korean woman paralyzed for 20 years is walking again after scientists say they repaired her damaged spine using stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood.

Hwang Mi-Soon, 37, had been bedridden since damaging her back in an accident two decades ago.

Last week her eyes glistened with tears as she walked again with the help of a walking frame at a press conference where South Korea (news - web sites) researchers went public for the first time with the results of their stem-cell therapy.

They said it was the world's first published case in which a patient with spinal cord injuries had been successfully treated with stem cells from umbilical cord blood.

...

They say that more experiments are required to verify the outcome of the landmark therapy.

"It is just one case and we need more experiments, more data," said Oh Il-Hoon, another researcher.

"I believe experts in other countries have been conducting similar experiments and accumulating data before making the results public."

 

[Escape Goat]

Bad! Stem cells are holy vessels! Bad!

 

[Litigation Manuel]

Yay for umbilical cords! Not only do they give us belly buttons, but they make people walk! More like miracle cords! Eh? Eh?

 

[impirius]

Welp, looks like we don't need dead babies after all, then

Spoiler

unless

 

[cvxfreak]

I'm very glad to hear this. Very.

 

[MIMIC]

As long as it's not embryonic, I'm all for stem cell research.

 

[DJ Sl4m]

As long as it's not embryonic, I'm all for stem cell research.

Even if it's an embryo that doesn't make it during a delivery ?

 

[Cimarron]

]And thus was the Dawning of the Age of when Mankind was stood shoulder to shoulder with He who created him....

 

[jenov4]

But... But... Stem Cells are supposed to be evil, they're made from dead babies!

On a more serious note, this is amazing news and I really hope it gets the ball rolling for more types of this research. It's badly needed.

 

[Ripclawe]

But... But... Stem Cells are supposed to be evil, they're made from dead babies!

No one has a problem with this type of stem cell research.

 

[StoOgE]

No one has a problem with this type of stem cell research.

Im sure there is someone who does. I know people who were against a friend of mine who is deaf having surgery to get part of his hearing back. Dont ask me why, something about him being made that way for a reason.

 

[automagnus]

Im sure there is someone who does.

Actually, there isn't.

 

[MIMIC]

Even if it's an embryo that doesn't make it during a delivery ?

EDIT:

N/M.

 

[Ecrofirt]

Even if it's an embryo that doesn't make it during a delivery ?

I'd imagine that would be against the law. It'd probably break a law about defiling a corpse.

 

[shoplifter]

Im sure there is someone who does. I know people who were against a friend of mine who is deaf having surgery to get part of his hearing back. Dont ask me why, something about him being made that way for a reason.

I read an article on the phenomenon of the deaf attempting to 'keep themselves that way'. It was kind of distubing reading about how a set of deaf parents had a daughter who was also deaf. There was a surgery available that would restore her hearing but they refused to have it done.

If I can dig it up, I'll post it.

 

[shoplifter]

As long as it's not embryonic, I'm all for stem cell research.

Guess we should just throw all those other frozen embryos in the trash then, eh? That'd sure be more respectful of them than in possibly curing currently fatal diseases.

 

[Ecrofirt]

hey shoplifter, it is possible for someone not to have the exact same ideas as you, you know.

 

[Father_Brain]

I read an article on the phenomenon of the deaf attempting to 'keep themselves that way'. It was kind of distubing reading about how a set of deaf parents had a daughter who was also deaf. There was a surgery available that would restore her hearing but they refused to have it done.

If I can dig it up, I'll post it.

My mom works a lot with deaf people, and could explain it better, but the gist of it is that deaf people have established their own culture of a sort, based around sign language. I don't think they see deafness as a handicap like most hearing people do, and they respond to the idea of "correcting" their deafness the way African-Americans would respond to the idea of "correcting" their skin color, if such a thing were possible.

EDIT: I assume you're referring to cochlear implants. In that case, I should add that the extent of their ability to restore hearing is greatly exaggerated. It's hardly a magic bullet.
http://www.zak.co.il/deaf-info/old/ci-facts.html#questions

The _maximum_ outcome is open speech understanding in not too crowded rooms, using the phone without problems and a not-very-good reception of music. This is _possible_ after five years with good patient conditions, with a good implant and a lot of training and motivation. Please don't misunderstand me here: I don't say this is the average result. I don't say this works without a lot of training. I don't say this is possible with all patients. I don't say this works with every implant.

 

[shoplifter]

^^ Yeah

hey shoplifter, it is possible for someone not to have the exact same ideas as you, you know.

You're right, it is. I just don't see how throwing them away (which is what will happen if we don't learn something from them) is any better or more respectful (for the sanctity of life!!!!!) a solution.

 

[Ecrofirt]

My dad's been going deaf due to osteogenesisimperfecti since I've been a kid.

He doesn't have much hearing left, and due to his illness they can't really do the sugery on him that they do to most deaf people.

I wish surgery would help him.

 

[Baron Aloha]

nm

 

[Kon Tiki]

What a waste. I best she goes out an gets paralysed again the first chance she gets. Kids never learn/

 

[Father_Brain]

My dad's been going deaf due to osteogenesisimperfecti since I've been a kid.

He doesn't have much hearing left, and due to his illness they can't really do the sugery on him that they do to most deaf people.

I wish surgery would help him.

I should make clear that I'm not advocating for either side of the debate, but people who aren't born deaf, and thus have never been a part of the deaf community or culture, see things differently, and are understandably more likely to consider implants. Not to mention that implants are more effective on people who weren't born deaf.

 

[Ecrofirt]

yea.

I guess it just boggles my mind when I think about how they wouldn't want sugery, and then you've got my dad who can't even have the sugery due to his disease.

 

[Litigation Manuel]

What a waste. I best she goes out an gets paralysed again the first chance she gets. Kids never learn/

:lol :lol :lol

 

[MIMIC]

Guess we should just throw all those other frozen embryos in the trash then, eh? That'd sure be more respectful of them than in possibly curing currently fatal diseases.

That would be a really great idea. We could just replace them with cryopreserved infants to ensure that the cells are fully developed.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

My mom works a lot with deaf people, and could explain it better, but the gist of it is that deaf people have established their own culture of a sort, based around sign language. I don't think they see deafness as a handicap like most hearing people do, and they respond to the idea of "correcting" their deafness the way African-Americans would respond to the idea of "correcting" their skin color, if such a thing were possible.

EDIT: I assume you're referring to cochlear implants. In that case, I should add that the extent of their ability to restore hearing is greatly exaggerated. It's hardly a magic bullet.

I guess I can understand why some feel that way. If there was some surgery that could give me even a weak sixth sense, that would seem awesome. I'm sure others would consider it "playing god" however.

That would be a really great idea. We could just replace them with cryopreserved infants to ensure that the cells are fully developed.

Could you reword this? Not sure what you're trying to say.

 

[Vormund]

Umbilical cord blood is supposed to be useful for giving blood transfusions as well since it doesn't matter what blood type you are.

Apparently.

I don't understand why anyone would have a problem using an umbilical cord for stem cell research, it would normally just be disposed of anyway.

 

[fart]

BUT YOUNG DEVIL WORSHIPPING HARLOTS WILL GET PREGNANT AND ABORT THEIR DEVELOPING EMBRYOS TO CASH IN ON THE STEM-CELL CRAZE!!!!

WE MUST PROTECT THE CHILDREN!!!

 

[Fatghost]

This is good news.

This is very good news. Hopefully the public will start to realize the promise of stem cells and force governments to get rid of the barriers.

 

[firex]

As long as it's not embryonic, I'm all for stem cell research.

You should be aware of embryonic stem cells from fertility clinics. There are many, many embryos created in these clinics that can't make it full-term, and could (and are) being used for stem cell harvesting after the couples visiting these clinics get the embryo they need.

 

[fart]

You should be aware of embryonic stem cells from fertility clinics. There are many, many embryos created in these clinics that can't make it full-term, and could (and are) being used for stem cell harvesting after the couples visiting these clinics get the embryo they need.

BUT YOUNG DEVIL WORSHIPPING HARLOTS WILL GET PREGNANT AND ABORT THEIR DEVELOPING EMBRYOS TO CASH IN ON THE STEM-CELL CRAZE!!!!

 

[DJ Sl4m]

True, but a fertility clinic \= an abortion clininc.

 

[Phoenix]

]And thus was the Dawning of the Age of when Mankind was stood shoulder to shoulder with He who created him....

Heh... not even close.

 

[Phoenix]

But... But... Stem Cells are supposed to be evil, they're made from dead babies!

On a more serious note, this is amazing news and I really hope it gets the ball rolling for more types of this research. It's badly needed.

One day the world will get its head out its collective ass and realize that we create a large number of unused embryos (that we destroy) during fertility clinic trials at pregnancy - but oh no, we can't be against people getting pregnant.....

 

[videogamer]

One day the world will get its head out its collective ass and realize that we create a large number of unused embryos (that we destroy) during fertility clinic trials at pregnancy - but oh no, we can't be against people getting pregnant.....

Why can't you be against people getting pregnant via these methods?

 

[Phoenix]

Why can't you be against people getting pregnant via these methods?

Because the country doesn't want to be against "pregnancy".

 

[videogamer]

Because the country doesn't want to be against "pregnancy".

You can still be against it, but you might not find many supporters. There's a difference between espousing unpopular ideas and being unable to hold those ideas at all.

 

[Phoenix]

You can still be against it, but you might not find many supporters. There's a difference between espousing unpopular ideas and being unable to hold those ideas at all.

One day the world will get its head out its collective ass

That's why I used the word collective.

 

[videogamer]

Alright, why can't the country be against pregnancy? If you worked hard enough, maybe you could change opinions.

 

[Zaptruder]

You'd have an easier time shitting anti matter than convincing America of stuff like that.

 

[videogamer]

You'd have an easier time shitting anti matter than convincing America of stuff like that.

America believes/believed in all sorts of things like prohibition and other things I rather not mention so I can avoid a nasty firestorm.

 

[Phoenix]

Alright, why can't the country be against pregnancy? If you worked hard enough, maybe you could change opinions.

Being against procreation and survival of the species? Outside of having a shorter Christmas List, I don't see why anyone would agree to that.

 

[fart]

don't sell yourself short phoenix. i'm already with you. we can call ourselves the anti-pregnancy brigade, march on washington, and burn little baby effigies to show our passion for not having them

 

[videogamer]

Being against procreation and survival of the species? Outside of having a shorter Christmas List, I don't see why anyone would agree to that.

Considering that sterilzation pushes of the past around the world, perhaps the right situation could let your movement through. It looks like there are already two supporters on this forum, not counting the posters who call for forced sterilzations.

 

[Warm Machine]

What if someone was deaf for a reason...and then got the surgery to fix the problem.

Then 2 weeks after being able to hear he saves a kid who ran into the street after a soccer ball from being hit by a car. Everyone would pull down their pants and call it a fucking miracle.

 

[Beezy]

...he saves a kid who ran into the street after a soccer ball from being hit by a car.

Yuyu Hakusho?