Stem cell treatment

[Jiro]

Hmm, I should ask my Dad and my niece Amanda about this. My dad is a former MD and my niece is a biologist.

Or better yet my doctor.. :P

they'll say same thing.

the way it is right now - stem cell research is nothing but a false hope. I wouldn't be surprised if they came up with something in near future that will replace stem cell idea.

 

[jillio]

Hmm, I should ask my Dad and my niece Amanda about this. My dad is a former MD and my niece is a biologist.

Yeah, see what they have to say. They no doubt will not have the unrealistic expectations we see from some people in the general public.

 

[deafskeptic]

Yeah, see what they have to say. They no doubt will not have the unrealistic expectations we see from some people in the general public.

I have no doubt about that. I wish I had seen this before I saw my doctor today but i will see my wound doctor next week so I'll make a note and pop him that question.

 

[GrendelQ]

I think hair cell regeneration will be amazing -- someday. Our ci surgeon was deeply involved in research into hair cell regeneration and very positive about its benefits in 10+ years. He said that the timetable is very hard to nail down, and just his guess based on what he knew at the time. He explained to us -- almost 4 years ago -- that they thought the first rounds of treatment for hearing loss would be available to those talking part in trials in about 4-5 years (so, this year and next), and it's expected that initial efforts will provide some access to sound that approximates the early, relatively primitive CIs, and in another 5-10 years researchers should be able to at least match contemporary CI technology.

Stem cell research has been around since the '60's, with amazing leaps in the past decade. There's been a great deal of excitement about its uses for so many treatments, and I hope that hair cell regeneration becomes widely successful and possible for those who want it someday. If all goes well, no more CI surgery for many people with the type of hearing loss this addresses, and we very much hope our child will benefit form the work being done. But, he also said, there's no telling what kind of complexities they'll encounter as they learn more about stem cell biology.

 

[posts from hell]

Eugenics...............

 

[Jiro]

I think hair cell regeneration will be amazing -- someday. Our ci surgeon was deeply involved in research into hair cell regeneration and very positive about its benefits in 10+ years. He said that the timetable is very hard to nail down, and just his guess based on what he knew at the time. He explained to us -- almost 4 years ago -- that they thought the first rounds of treatment for hearing loss would be available to those talking part in trials in about 4-5 years (so, this year and next), and it's expected that initial efforts will provide some access to sound that approximates the early, relatively primitive CIs, and in another 5-10 years researchers should be able to at least match contemporary CI technology.

Stem cell research has been around since the '60's, with amazing leaps in the past decade. There's been a great deal of excitement about its uses for so many treatments, and I hope that hair cell regeneration becomes widely successful and possible for those who want it someday. If all goes well, no more CI surgery for many people with the type of hearing loss this addresses, and we very much hope our child will benefit form the work being done. But, he also said, there's no telling what kind of complexities they'll encounter as they learn more about stem cell biology.

Stem Cell Research's success is as progressive as AIDS Cure Research. There might be vaccination for AIDS in another 5-10 years but the timetable is very hard to nail down too.

 

[jillio]

Stem Cell Research's success is as progressive as AIDS Cure Research. There might be vaccination for AIDS in another 5-10 years but the timetable is very hard to nail down too.

Exactly. Because as the research progresses, problems and variables are discovered that weren't known prior. Then it's back to square one, so to speak.

 

[Beach girl]

Well, not square one, exactly. Knowing what doesn't work is useful.

Like the paraphrase about Edison and the lightbulb. After trying thousands of ways to create a filament that would work, his associate became discouraged. Edison said (in substance): "I haven't failed; I've found 10,000 ways that won't work."

 

[jillio]

It lets them know that there are variables that they didn't consider that need to be accounted for. But it means starting over with a whole new research design, and being back at square one as far as getting closer to clinical trials. They have to go through all the same preliminaries and safety issues each time the design is changed.

 

[Beach girl]

Sure, new research protocols every time and all that.

Eventually, though, I'm pretty sure they'll get there. How long did it take researchers to figure out how to do heart transplants, artificial insemination, genetic screening of embryos in the womb, development of the so-called "AIDS cocktail" that really slows down the progression of AIDS, etc., etc. It's amazing what things we have in the medical field now that are almost commonplace that were cutting-edge just 10 or 20 years ago.

There are some pretty smart people working in this area, and I'm sure more smart people will come along.

You and I might not see it in our useful lifetimes. Younger people probably will.

 

[Jiro]

Well, not square one, exactly. Knowing what doesn't work is useful.

Like the paraphrase about Edison and the lightbulb. After trying thousands of ways to create a filament that would work, his associate became discouraged. Edison said (in substance): "I haven't failed; I've found 10,000 ways that won't work."

Edison wouldn't say same if he tried stem cell research.

Let's not compare biology with engineering. It doesn't work like that.

 

[Frisky Feline]

engineering do not change while biology is alive and changeable.

 

[Babyblue]

The doctors are very skeptical and reserved when it comes to stem cells. They know that it is speculation and experimental. Only the ill informed public gets so excited every time they see something about stem cells mentioned. The medical research community have been researching and experimenting for decades, and the progress has been extremely slow and many, many failures have existed.

My boyfriend and I was talking about this and he said what if it back fires and they end up with excessive hairs.

Geez, I just visualized 10 babies with hairs coming out of their ears.

 

[Jiro]

Sure, new research protocols every time and all that.

Eventually, though, I'm pretty sure they'll get there. How long did it take researchers to figure out how to do heart transplants, artificial insemination, genetic screening of embryos in the womb, development of the so-called "AIDS cocktail" that really slows down the progression of AIDS, etc., etc. It's amazing what things we have in the medical field now that are almost commonplace that were cutting-edge just 10 or 20 years ago.

There are some pretty smart people working in this area, and I'm sure more smart people will come along.

You and I might not see it in our useful lifetimes. Younger people probably will.

those things are nowhere close to level of stem cell. If you wanna compare to stem cell... then try "baby designer" research. Both researches have gone nowhere nor provide any viable result despite of billions of dollars and amount of time poured into it.

I wouldn't be surprised that stem cell procedure would be completely abandoned and replaced with a completely different technique..... just like treating mental patients. Lobotomy... oh my.

I'm pretty sure our stem cell research would be considered barbaric and ridiculous by future scientists.

 

[Frisky Feline]

^^^^^ babyblue

 

[Beach girl]

Edison wouldn't say same if he tried stem cell research.

Let's not compare biology with engineering. It doesn't work like that.

Hmm.... It takes experimentation and a devotion to figuring out possible answers. A lot of bio-medical research and invention is very similar to engineering these days. For instance, look at mechanical arms and legs. Medical science, physical mechanics of the body, and engineering all work together in that field.

Just as an example.

My basic point is that so long as there are dedicated researchers involved in this field, we are likely to see continued progress. How long it takes to get anywhere usable - well, Grendel quoted someone saying "about 10 years." There is a researcher out at Stanford who said the same thing, about a year or two ago.

Mark your calendars for 10 years from now, and see where we are.

 

[jillio]

Sure, new research protocols every time and all that.

Eventually, though, I'm pretty sure they'll get there. How long did it take researchers to figure out how to do heart transplants, artificial insemination, genetic screening of embryos in the womb, development of the so-called "AIDS cocktail" that really slows down the progression of AIDS, etc., etc. It's amazing what things we have in the medical field now that are almost commonplace that were cutting-edge just 10 or 20 years ago.

There are some pretty smart people working in this area, and I'm sure more smart people will come along.

You and I might not see it in our useful lifetimes. Younger people probably will.

Oh, yeah. They will get there eventually, I'm certain. I'm just not looking for it to become commonly used in my lifetime. And I plan on living another 20-25 years! I have to in order to pay off all my student loans!

 

[Jiro]

Hmm.... It takes experimentation and a devotion to figuring out possible answers. A lot of bio-medical research and invention is very similar to engineering these days. For instance, look at mechanical arms and legs. Medical science, physical mechanics of the body, and engineering all work together in that field.

Just as an example.

My basic point is that so long as there are dedicated researchers involved in this field, we are likely to see continued progress. How long it takes to get anywhere usable - well, Grendel quoted someone saying "about 10 years." There is a researcher out at Stanford who said the same thing, about a year or two ago.

Mark your calendars for 10 years from now, and see where we are.

again... engineering and stem cell are not the same thing. there is no engineering involved in stem cell. What you're talking about is a bionic concept.

CI is a bionic ear.
Prosthetic arm is a bionic arm.

It's easy to advance bionic body part technology but stem cell is not for bionic purpose. What they're trying to do is basically like trying to develop a mutant power - to regenerate our broken/missing body part.

How in the world can we "create" a nerve? Impossible. If humans cannot recreate a brain other than thru natural procreation.... then stem cell research is futile. It's possible to create "bionic" nerve but to create a natural nerve? Not likely.

 

[jillio]

again... engineering and stem cell are not the same thing. there is no engineering involved in stem cell. What you're talking about is a bionic concept.

CI is a bionic ear.
Prosthetic arm is a bionic arm.

It's easy to advance bionic body part technology but stem cell is not for bionic purpose. What they're trying to do is basically like trying to develop a mutant power - to regenerate our broken/missing body part.

How in the world can we "create" a nerve? Impossible. If humans cannot recreate a brain other than thru natural procreation.... then stem cell research is futile. It's possible to create "bionic" nerve but to create a natural nerve? Not likely.

Right. It progresses faster because you do not have all of the clinical trials and longevity studies that have to be done with medical research.

 

[Jiro]

Right. It progresses faster because you do not have all of the clinical trials and longevity studies that have to be done with medical research.

every scientist should have a Moby Dick book in their pocket