Scientists make nerve stem cells

[alarcojon]

The world's first pure batch of nerve stem cells made from human stem cells has been created at Edinburgh University, scientists have reported.

It is hoped the newly-created cells will eventually help scientists find new treatments for diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

...snip...

Our correspondent said the long-term aim of the Edinburgh research is for cells to be used to build replacement neural tissue for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's sufferers.

But he said the more immediate use for the artificially-created cells is to test out the effectiveness of new drugs.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4155016.stm

[Conservativesux]

1. Great news, this is !!!

[Spinzonner]

2. OTOH, some stem cells may be responsible for brain cancers

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8963665/

[aquart]

3. What about MS?

[Alpharetta]

4. I hope this is progress for spinal cord injuries too

Wouldn't it be wonderful if they could regenerate spinal cord nerve cells?

Then the fundies will be sending their paralyzed kids overseas to less repressive countries for treatment.

[HuckleB]

5. Good news!

And the US gets further behind the rest of the world...

[Liberty Belle]

6. Wow, great news! I've had nerve damage since a car accident in '96;

paralysis of the long thoracic nerve, which leaves my shoulder unstable and causes chronic back/neck/shoulder pain. I've always hoped they'd come up with a way to regenerate damaged nerves. This could be the answer I've been waiting for!

[DrBloodmoney]

7. Long thoracic nerve

Winged scapula is something we always heard about in medical school, but I've never seen in a real patient. The long thoracic nerve is actually the most fascinating nerve of the body. It runs superficial to the muscle that it innervates (the serratus anterior) while all the other motor nerves are deep to the muscles that they innervate.

[alarcojon]

8. Welcome to DU, DrBloodMoney

We welocome your thoughts, medical or otherwise!

[Liberty Belle]

9. Go to the head of the class, doc.

Yep, I've got the classic winging scapula characteristic of a paralyzed serratus anterior muscie; makes me show-and-tell when I go to a new doctor's office as this is an unusual injury.