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Stem cell?

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Posted 6/14/2013 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
Just trying to think outside the box.....what about stem cell to repair les or damage to esophagus (barretts, etc.)? Has anyone ever seen anything on this?
Posted 6/15/2013 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
In theory, stem cells probably could offer something for GERD and Barretts, but I don't think that the biotechnology has advanced enough for that to become a reality. Next thing you know, they'll be offering an esophagus transplant.
Posted 6/15/2013 4:25 AM (GMT 0)
I can say that biotechnology is advanced enough to be capable of making this a possibility, but I do not think it is currently available. I am studying biomedical engineering in the hopes of creating just this, but I am quite a few years away from starting my own lab/company.

This is an article about a recent breakthrough in bioengineering that is worth some attention. It is the first time a bioengineered vein has been implanted into a patient, proving that we are entirely capable of making this. happen.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130606110026.htm
Posted 6/15/2013 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
ECM scaffolds are now being increasingly used in all types of surgery, from vascular repairs to skin grafts, heart valves and soon to start clinical trials of replacement meniscus.

Look at some of the work being done in the US by one of the pioneers of ECM's. [Stephen Badylak]

http://www.mirm.pitt.edu/badylak/projects/Esophageal_Tissue_Engineering.asp

There are biotechnology co's in the UK and US looking to commercialise these applications in the near term. ECM's are classified as medical devices and as such have a very short time from concept to market.

In the UK the company Tissue Regenix has a world beating process for the preparation of ECM's

http://www.tissueregenix.com/

The benefit of this technology is that it relies on the bodies natural repair mechanisms, to cause a kind of stem-cell homing, that over a short time replaces the scaffold. This means that there is little chance of infection and no need for anti-rejection medicines.
Posted 6/17/2013 3:38 AM (GMT 0)
Ian-

In a round about way they can replace the esophagus. I was scheduled twice to have mine removed and my stomach used as an esophagus when mine tore during and EGD. They even had me prep my colon just in case my stomach wasn't viable and they would have to use it instead.
I think I read somewhere they have tried esophagus transplants, but not sure how well it worked.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 6/17/2013 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I think stem cell is promising. There has been some researches in progress on treating GERD using stem cells of mouse.
Posted 6/17/2013 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
hopegood,

It would get great if you could post a link, I'd really like to read. It seems the UK are the front runners of any stem cell research from what I've seen.

To all,

They do esophagus transplants but not alot from what I've read and I'm not sure how successful the surgerys are.

Posted 6/17/2013 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
Dogbones,

I was interested in esophagus transplants, so I searched to see how common they were. This is an article I found for the first esophagus transplant dated February 2012, so they haven't been doing them for very long.
http://www.worldrecordacademy.com/medical/first_esophagus_transplant_Alannah_Shevenell_sets_world_record_112706.html

I can keep looking for stem cell research on GERD, but research is a little harder to find than published, successful transplants, because those get publicized more.
Posted 6/17/2013 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Awesome story, to bad they didn't detail any surgery info. Anyways with the first being done only a year ago, I don't think thats anything any of us would push for.
Posted 6/18/2013 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
As far as I know, there has been some research in China to use stem cell to treat Gerd. Here is a link

http://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTotal-ZHHX200602012.htm

The article is in Chinese, published in 2006. The main idea is to implant mouse's stem cells (sc) and Mesenchymal stem cells (msc) into LES of mouses. And the results showed stronger LES functions.

(In a news I read, this method has even been used in clinic trials in Shanghai, China. But no good results yet. Maybe stopped now.)

This research is still in very earlier stage but there is a potential. I believe if US and US can go further in this direction, it could be very promising.
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