John Conley將在星期三(10/18)成為美國Emory大學第七位利用幹細胞移植的漸凍人(Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis:ALS)臨床試驗者.
Conley在2009/09被診斷出[肌萎縮性側索硬化症],俗稱漸凍人(ALS),當時非常震驚與恐懼.在歷經數個月後,Conley願意接受Emory大學醫學中心的幹細胞臨床試驗治療,希望就此可結束13個月癱瘓的生涯.
Emory大學醫學中心的移植醫師Dr. Jonathan Glass將胚胎幹細胞在體外培養成神經細胞,再移植到病患的脊髓當中,最終的目標希望可以延長與減緩病患神經癱瘓的發生.
這項手術內容請看http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/health-watch-stem-cell-trial-101810
Health Watch: Stem Cell Trial
ATLANTA - A Georgia man battling Lou Gehrig's Disease or ALS, is gearing up for an experimental, risky surgery this week. On Wednesday, John Conley will become the seventh person in the U.S. to undergo a stem cell transplant for ALS.
When Conley was diagnosed with ALS in September of 2009, he said it was terrifying.
A few months later, Conley said he heard about research at Emory University where doctors were taking fetal stem cells derived from a fetus and directly injecting them into the spinal cord for the first time.
Conley said he signed up for because the procedure offered him hope.
If it's possible to be blessed, and cursed at the same time, Conley says that about sums up the last 13 months of his life.
At 58, Conley has a wife, two sons, and an incurable disease, known as ALS. The disease will gradually take away Conley's ability to walk and move his body.
Conley intends to allow Emory University surgeons to transplant hundreds of thousands of neural stem cells, derived from a fetus and grown in a lab, directly into his spinal cord. The procedure is high risk, and no promises.
Emory neurologist Dr. Jonathan Glass, who's heading up the stem cell study says the ultimate goal is to see if stem cells can actually slow down or stop the progression of ALS. First, researchers have to find out if the surgery and the stem cells are safe.
Conley, who gets massages to help him deal with the pain and spasms in his arms and legs, says in just the last month his leg muscles have markedly weakened.
"As ALS patients we only have hope, a renewed sense of hope," said Conley.
Conley says he knows the procedure may not help him win his battle, but, he hopes it will help others who follow in his footsteps.
Conley's surgery will take about four and half hours.
Dr. Glass says he knows this surgery is controversial because it involves the use of fetal stem cells. Controversy aside, the team feels there is tremendous potential to treat the fatal disease.
http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/inside-the-or-for-a-stem-cell-transplant-102810
