Tag

Spina Bifida

All articles tagged with #spina bifida

world10 hours ago•9 min saved

Hopeful week: breakthrough fetal therapy, cancer immunotherapy, and Amazon river victories

A Positive News roundup highlights breakthroughs across medicine and conservation this week: a fetal stem-cell therapy for spina bifida shows mobility and quality-of-life gains, a new immunotherapy for advanced prostate cancer yields tumor shrinkage in early trials, Chile is verified leprosy-free, Indigenous river defenders win against Amazon river privatization plans on the Tapajós, and Ukraine’s Danube Delta restoration boosts Lake Kartal’s ecosystem.

via Positive News|

#fetal-stem-cell-therapy #indigenous-river-defenders #leprosy-elimination

science7 days ago•3 min saved

First-in-utero stem cell treatment appears safe and may enhance spina bifida repair

In six pregnancies with fetal spina bifida, researchers applied donor placental stem cells during prenatal spinal repair. The phase I CuRe trial found no stem-cell-related adverse events or infections, and newborns showed signs the surgery worked (hindbrain herniation reversal) with no hydrocephalus shunts at birth; long-term benefits remain unknown, and a larger Phase I/IIa trial is underway.

via Gizmodo|

#in-utero #placental-stem-cells #prenatal-surgery

science7 days ago•6 min saved

Womb-based stem cells show early promise for spina bifida treatment

A small Nature-backed trial (CuRE) tested placenta-derived stem cells applied to fetuses’ exposed spinal cords at 24–25 weeks to treat myelomeningocele, a severe form of spina bifida. The six participants had safe surgeries; the babies were born around 34 weeks with no infections, cerebrospinal fluid leaks, or tumours, and hindbrain herniation was reversed in all cases. While encouraging, it is far too early to know whether benefits will persist in larger populations, and longer studies are needed to assess long-term outcomes compared with current fetal surgery.

via Nature|

#cure-trial #hindbrain-herniation #in-utero-therapy

health8 days ago•2 min saved

In‑utero stem cell therapy boosts spina bifida outcomes

A small US trial treated six fetuses with open spina bifida using placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells during in‑utero repair. The procedure appeared safe, reversed hindbrain herniation in all cases, and was associated with improved mobility and quality of life after birth, with no tumours or wound-healing issues observed. If reproduced, this approach could become part of standard fetal surgery for spina bifida, marking a potential major step forward in birth defect treatment.

via The Guardian|

#fetal-surgery #health #myelomeningocele

science2 years ago•4 min saved

"The Genetic Mutation That Led to Human Tail Loss 25 Million Years Ago"

A new study suggests that a single genetic tweak 25 million years ago caused humans to lose their tails, allowing for upright walking but also leading to birth defects like spina bifida. The tweak involved the insertion of Alu elements near the TBXT gene, preventing tail growth. While the loss of the tail may have provided evolutionary advantages, it also resulted in neural tube defects. The study sheds light on the genetic basis of tail loss in humans and its potential consequences.

via Business Insider|

#alu-element #evolution #genetics

human-interest2 years ago•3 min saved

"Georgia Girl with Spina Bifida Bonds with Turtle with Similar Condition"

A 12-year-old girl with spina bifida, Kendall Barfield, virtually adopted a sea turtle named Bandit who shares a similar condition, and finally got to meet her in person at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Bandit, a juvenile green sea turtle, was injured in a boat accident, leaving her partially paralyzed, but she is thriving with the center's care. Kendall's mother, Danielle, praised the center's work and runs an online group for people affected by spina bifida. Kendall aspires to work with animals in the future and hopes to be seen for who she is on the inside, not just her condition.

via USA TODAY|

#adoption #georgia-sea-turtle-center #human-interest

health2 years ago•7 min saved

"Parents' Experiences: Fetal Surgery While Pregnant"

Two families share their emotional experiences of undergoing fetal surgery while pregnant to treat conditions such as spina bifida, twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, and hydrops fetalis. Fetal surgery is a procedure performed on an unborn baby in utero and can be lifesaving in certain cases. The surgery varies depending on the condition, ranging from minimally invasive procedures to more complex open repairs. While there are risks involved, such as preterm birth, the families express gratitude for the surgeries that have given their children a chance at a better quality of life.

via Yahoo Life|

#fetal-surgery #health #hydrops-fetalis