Image courtesy of OTT LAB, MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
It was not long ago when KidneyBuzz.com reported the development of a, "New Bioengineered Kidney Derived from One's Cells." At the time, Researchers said that they had bioengineered a kidney and transplanted it into rats which marked a very large step forward in a quest to help Chronic Kidney Disease patients suffering from Kidney Failure and those on Dialysis. Well, now the Chronic Kidney Disease Community is met with more great news and progress!
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While at the time, the implantable and functioning kidney was not able to process substances as well as a Cadaver Kidney (kidney from a Deceased Donor), a new report announced that by building on these findings, advanced technology was able to develop a fully functioning limb. The lab grown rodent limb which is formally called a Prosthesis, "contains all the tissue typically found in a rodent’s leg, including bone, cartilage, blood vessels, tendons, ligaments and nerves." This could be very promising for Transplantable Bioengineered Kidneys.
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Using the technique that was trail-blazed by Scientists creating organs such as kidneys, Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital used Decellularization, and stripped living cells from donor tissue with a detergent solution and then repopulated the remaining tissue with the same type of cells. After two (2) weeks and the use of Electric Stimulation to encourage growth, the bioengineered limb was transplanted to the animal host, filled with blood, and began moving.
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Lead Researcher, Harald Ott, and his team may have opened the door to an entirely novel medical practice which may help further the development of Lab Grown Kidneys ready for transplant. Still, Scientists are cautiously optimistic about what this suggests for the future of human medicine.
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If successful, the breakthrough could end the five (5) to seven (7) year wait times for the over 100,000 patients on the Kidney Transplant Waiting List, and could save more than 4,500 lives of Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients who die annually while waiting for their "second chance at life."
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This is exciting news friends! Progress is continually being made in the medical field to develop alternatives to lifelong traditional Dialysis Treatments. Recently, the KidneyBuzz.com Team reported, "New Discoveries Leap Forward The Progress Of Building Replacement Kidneys Ready For Transplant," which discussed how Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center are developing an exciting new treatment to reuse 2,600 kidneys that would otherwise be thrown away due to damage.
What's more, Scientists at the University of Washington are developing the Artificial Wearable Kidney and have already begun Human Trials (sign up). While Human Trials are not expected to commence at the University of California San Francisco until 2017, the Artificial Implantable Kidney is well on its way to be a viable possible option for those with Chronic Kidney Disease who currently conduct Dialysis. If you would like to be considered for the Artificial Implantable Kidney Human Trials click here.
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Far too often in the Chronic Kidney Disease Community, happenings are difficult and depressing. Therefore, when promising news such as new progress moving closer to a real-life Transplantable Bioengineered Kidney is presented, the Community should collectively cheer efforts, share the news with others, and use it as a point of inspiration and light for the spirit to keep going and overcome the day-to-day challenges of Chronic Kidney Disease, Kidney Failure, and Dialysis.
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Inspiration and motivation of individuals in the Chronic Kidney Disease Community was one of the pillars on which KidneyBuzz.com was founded - it is a part of the mission. Join us by sharing this great news with others on Facebook, Twitter, via Email and verbally. For the Latest Breaking News and Information which teaches those with Chronic Kidney Disease, Dialysis and Diabetes how to better manage their lives, visit KidneyBuzz.com every day. Also, be one of the over 22,700 Friends who Like us on Facebook and the 2,400 who Follow the KidneyBuzz.com Twitter Page.
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