幹細胞論壇

北卡羅來納州的杜克大學教授Dr.Joanne Kurtzberg長期致力於臍帶血幹細胞對腦性麻痺的臨床試驗,並有近20例的成功移植案例,已開始影響許多腦性麻痺的病患與家庭.

腦性麻痺是因為大腦運動控制區的細胞壞死,無法藉由運動神經的傳遞來調控骨骼肌,目前沒有有效的治療方式.

Savanna出生三個月時,透過電腦斷層掃描(MRI)發現腦部有黑影,原因為腦部缺氧導致組織壞死,近而影響腦部的灰質使運動神經受損.Savanna現已兩歲,希望利用弟弟的臍帶血幹細胞進行移植,來達到治療.

幹細胞的治療不僅是改善病童的生活,更是造福全家人的生活,因此Savanna的母親願意帶著女兒來到加州,託付當地的移植醫師,利用弟弟的臍帶血來治療姐姐的腦性麻痺疾病.手術於下個月進行,希望一切能順利成功.

相關影片請見http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110226/family-seeks-unproven-cerebral-palsy-treatment-110226/

Cerebral Palsy May Be Treated Using Stem-Cells

A new, controversial stem-cell treatment may be the answer to treating cerebral palsy.

Being born three months prematurely, a now two-year-old girl, Savanna, will receive stem cells from her baby brother’s umbilical cord in attempts to treat her condition.

Stem-cell research has been an object of a lot of press, and this may be a situation where it can improve the lives of not only the young children, but the entire families as well.

At Duke University if North Carolina, scientists have performed successful clinical studies using stem-cells and believe this may be a time when their research can help.

Researching further, the mother discovered doctors were treating cerebral palsy in California using stem-cells.

Analyzing an MRI of Savanna’s brain, doctors noticed a black spot on her brain. Lack of oxygen at birth may have caused this, as it should be grey matter.

Researchers explain that stem-cells can be used to treat a variety of conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, since the cells arrive at the ‘dead’ spot and effectively take-over and start growing.

The family is working to raise additional money for the treatment, and hope to be able to treat Savanna as early as next month.

http://www.dailyhealthreport.org/cerebral-palsy-may-be-treated-using-stem-cells/810/