Stem cells may help cure one of my ailments

[davidfcooper]

As many of you know I am afflicted with primary bilateral lower limb lymphedema which causes chronic swelling of my left ankle and right lower shin. Now there is hope that stem cells may provide a cure:

Earlier research revealed the growth factors responsible for lymph angiogenesis:
http://lymphaticresearch.org/main.php?menu=research&content=news&id=39
Now scientists are finding out how to direct stem cells to develop into lymph vessels.

Science nerds see also:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16690875

Comments

[bethr.livejournal.com]

mmm...injectable embryos...

[No, really. I'm all for stem cell research, and God bless stem cells if they help you. I just have a hard time forgetting where they came from. That's all.]

[davidfcooper.livejournal.com]

See my reply to hurleygurly215 below.

[bethr.livejournal.com]

I absolutely agree with you there. I believe fully in stem-cell treatment, and if you need embryos, there are thousands upon thousands just left in cryation until whenever.

My opinion of stem cell treatment is vastly higher than fertility treatment, believe me. [But that just shows my biases: that adoption is a great societal good; and doesn't everybody get pregnant if breathed on wrong?]

[davidfcooper.livejournal.com]

Adoption is a great societal good, but may people want kids with their own DNA. If everybody were as fecund as you there would be no need for fertility clinics.

No fertility treatment no left over embryos; no left over embryos no stem cells to treat disease.

ok, let's stop talking about me now.

[bethr.livejournal.com]

I didn't see in that piece how many years out treatment would be available. Do you know, and would you do clinical trials?

Re: ok, let's stop talking about me now.

[davidfcooper.livejournal.com]

My guess is 10-15 years (I would be delighted if it's sooner). I would do a stage 2 or stage 3 trial (which measures efficacy) but not a stage 1 trial (which measures safety). Some years ago I went to the NIH website and registered for such lymphedema clinical trials as may become available. I'm also interested in the outcome of ongoing clinical trials of gene therapy for lymphedema in Finland.

[hurleygurly215.livejournal.com]

this is the first time i ever considered changing my opinion about stem cell ... i guess i am not nearly as informed as i thought - given i didnt know this was possible.

good luck buddy <3

[davidfcooper.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hurleygurly215 :)

When you consider all the good that stem cells may be able to do, and the fact that fertility clinics have millions of left over embryos that will never be implanted and will be discarded anyway it's hard to justify not using embryonic stem cells to alleviate suffering.

[anamacha.livejournal.com]

good for you! an end in sight.

does the condition really bother you? Or is it merely a localised swelling?

(( and btw, for the record, I'm for the research, especially if they can utilise material that would be discarded anyway. ))

[davidfcooper.livejournal.com]

I manage and contain the condition with a time consuming therapeutic regimen of exercise, bathing, a special very gentle massage, and donning compression garments, all of which kills about half my waking hours. It will be a relief to eventually be free of the above.