Roger D. "Skip" Slates Technology and Science Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Seashells Could Hold Key to Spinal Cord Injury Treatment

Monday, April 19, 2010 by Roger D. "Skip" Slates

Researchers in Indiana have seen some success using altered sugars from seashells to repair damaged spine cells. The study found that these altered sugars could help repair damaged nerve cells, and could thus restore the transmission of electrical signals between the brain and the limbs.

The studies were conducted at the Center for Paralysis Research at the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine in Indiana, and the findings have been published in the Journal of Experimental Biology. The researchers found that certain types of sugars called chitin that are present in shells, were able to target damaged membrane cells in the spinal cord. They then injected these sugars into the spinal cords of guinea pigs. The sugars plugged the holes in the damaged membrane cells. Barely 30 minutes after the holes had been plugged, scientists began to notice the movement of electrical signals between the brain and the limbs. These electrical signals are important for movement and sensation.

So far, the studies have been restricted to guinea pigs. Further studies will be conducted on human beings to see if these therapeutic results can be replicated on humans too. California spinal cord injury lawyers have been pleased to see a number of studies into spinal cord injury treatment having varying degrees of success recently. Most of these studies are still in the nascent stages, and have been restricted to animals. It will be years before these tests can be conducted on human beings to see if the successful results in animals can be replicated in humans too.

Besides, spinal cord injury patients and California spine injury attorneys are also pinning their hopes on stem cell trials into spinal cord injury treatment. Some of the earliest sponsored studies into stem cell therapy are being conducted in California, and there are high hopes for the success of these trials.

Spinal cord injuries are frequently seen in auto, truck and motorcycle accidents. Motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians may be at a higher risk for such injuries, because they do not have the protective steel armor of an automobile shielding them from injury.

Posted at 19:55 PM

Topic: Technology and Science