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Lab-Grown Bladder Transplanted

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the bet-that's-a-relief dept.

JaJ_D writes "The BBC is reporting a story about the successful transplant of a lab grown bladder into a patient. From the article: 'US scientists have successfully implanted bladders grown in the lab from patients' own cells into people with bladder disease ... They took a bladder biopsy from each patient and isolated muscle cells and special bladder cells called urothelial cells, which they grew in the lab. The cells were then placed onto a specially designed bladder-shaped scaffold and left to grow for seven to eight weeks.'"

20 of 73 comments (clear)

  1. Cool! by FrontalLobe · · Score: 5, Funny

    Can I get a bigger one?!

    *runs to the bathroom*

    --
    -FL
    1. Re:Cool! by tinkertim · · Score: 3, Informative

      You mean they don't already? The last company I worked for actually employed a pee break nazi and demanded up to 7 20 hour shifts. The wording in the employment agreement was really specific, if you take ownership of an issue you don't leave your desk until its solved. This meant lunch, dinner, etc - and pee / smoke breaks. If you didn't pick up the phone when the Nazi called to check the status, for any reason - you got written up. Didn't matter where you were. Their theory "Don't drink anything when working on issues"

      I left before they started handing out cortical implants.

      Reminds me of school days ... :

      Teacher "TIM, where are you going?!"

      Tim : "To the bathroom ... "

      Teacher "You need to raise your hand to go to the bathroom"

      Tim : "No ya don't .. watch.."

  2. Re:I read about this... by xsarpedonx · · Score: 2, Interesting

    NPR had the story this morning, can't find a link to anything but I believe critics said the results didn't show definite improvement in the patients.

  3. Good to see application by DorkusMasterus · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We've been hearing forever about the possibility and marvel of lab-grown organs for transplants. It's good to see actual results from one.

    However, the true test will now be seeing if the patient rejects the new organ, or if the organ functions as long as a healthy new organ would behave. Either way, even if just comparable to standard transplants, this is an amazing step forward. But can you imagine the possibilities if the organ lasts as long as a freshly made natural organ? Lifespans would shoot upward, and terminal organ diseases would disappear quickly. Good to see we're headed that way.

    1. Re:Good to see application by lbmouse · · Score: 4, Informative

      "...the true test will now be seeing if the patient rejects the new organ..."

      The article states that they are using the patient's own cells. IANAD but it would seem that the rejection rate would be about nil.

      My step-father is right now in the hospital recovering from surgery to re-construct his bladder after having it removed because of cancer. This is a major break-through that will hopefully help millions of people.

    2. Re:Good to see application by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Since they've been grown from the patients own cells, unless they've been treated to reset the cellular clock (with teleomerase or some such thing,) the new organ will still have the same cellular age as the patient. It might not have the current ravages of disease as the old organ but it will still be the same age.

      Something like what happened to Dolly the sheep but it will happen to the organ.

    3. Re:Good to see application by BewireNomali · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I can imagine rejection wouldn't be much of an issue - it's the patient's own cells. I think it's more an issue of functionality, i.e. how well such an organ will work relative to the original.

      This is great stuff. Great stuff.

      What would also be interesting is the cottage industries that arise. When my kid is born, am I going to take a bunch of his stem cells and place them in a bank for and future unforseen circumstances? Is he going to surrender cells during physicals so organs can be grown for him on cue. Will we all have deposits in bio-banks?

      --
      un burrito me trampeó.
    4. Re:Good to see application by belg4mit · · Score: 2, Interesting

      So you gain no edge, but you don't end up behind the game. Dolly is a bad
      analogy because you're creating a baby with this "40 year old" bladder.
      Furthermore, it's not cellular age (most cells are quite short-lived) but
      rather chromosomal age.

      --
      Were that I say, pancakes?
    5. Re:Good to see application by quarterbrain · · Score: 2, Interesting

      From TFA:

      "The researchers, from North Carolina's Wake Forest University, have carried out seven transplants, and in some the organ is working well years later."

      It appears that "some" of the patients bodies have accepted the organ and seem to be doing well years after the transplant. Of course, some could be two, and the other five could have turned inside out.

  4. A wonderful step. by jcr · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Today, it's possible to replace noses, ears, and bladders. Someday it will be hearts, major blood vessels, livers, and lungs.

    If you know any medical researchers, biologists, surgeons, or anyone else who works in the medical field today, drop them a note and thank them. They're making a better world.

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
    1. Re:A wonderful step. by NewWorldDan · · Score: 3, Funny

      I'm waiting until they can grow a replacement brain. I think one could really help my wife.

    2. Re:A wonderful step. by Pentavirate · · Score: 2, Funny

      I-gor, is that you?

      --
      www.joshferguson.org
  5. Re:I read about this... by jcr · · Score: 3, Funny

    how long does it take Slashdot to post something?

    The first time, you mean? ;-)

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  6. Liver option? by merc · · Score: 2, Funny

    It would be nice to drink that beer without worrying about my liver -- I guess that's why God gave us two of them.

    --
    It's true no man is an island, but if you take a bunch of dead guys and tie 'em together, they make a good raft.
    1. Re:Liver option? by chuckster100 · · Score: 2, Informative

      only one problem with that statement: you only have one liver. it does slowly grow back if you cut part of it off, that's why people can donate "a liver". it's only a portion (usually about half) of a liver.

  7. Next up... BREAST IMPLANTS! by gnovos · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It will be a matter of very very little time, once this bladder has shown to be functional, before one of the scientists who worked on this says to himself, hey, why not make a boob shaped scaffold, implant breast cells, and make a NATURAL breast implant that will NOT have any of the complicatons of silicone (Breastfeeding will still be possible, natual shape, size and feel, indistinguishable, basically, from the real thing), and thus finds himself a billionaire surrounded by huge breasted yet rail-thin women.

    --
    "Your superior intellect is no match for our puny weapons!"
  8. Hey! Am I the only one here by blueZ3 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    who married a girl smarter than me?

    My wife was a math major and all-around genius (prefect grades on every assignment in every class), and has been a teacher and librarian. She keeps our financial books in order (thank goodness) and has excellent insight into big financial decisions; when we've followed her preferred course of action, we've always done well, I'm batting about 80%. She's not a gadget freak like me, but she definitely knows more about Word and Excel than I do. The computer is more of a tool than a hobby in her case, but she is very on top of the tools that she does use.

    For those on Slashdot who aren't married, my advice is to find a woman who is at least as smart as you are. If you can find a girl who has more knowledge than you in particular areas (like my wife with math) you'll be doing well. It's cool to have a relationship where your areas of interest overlap, but it's really cool when your different expertise allows you to learn from each other.

    And make sure she never reads /. if you're going to mock her :o)

    --
    Interested in a Flash-based MAME front end? Visit mame.danzbb.com
    1. Re:Hey! Am I the only one here by ErikZ · · Score: 2, Insightful


      Oh yeah, that's on my list "Find and marry a female super genius."

      I'd love to marry a smart girl, but frankly they've been absolute bitches or completely uninterested in any male or female companionship.

      --
      Democrats or Republicans. They are both taking us to the same place and they are not afraid of us anymore.
  9. I have one of the Intestine bladders mentioned by nooblet · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I have one of the "older" artificial bladders made from intestine. Mine was installed in 1988 when I was 13. This would have made my life SOOO much easier than what I deal with now. GO SCIENCE

  10. It's like they say.... by balaam's+ass · · Score: 3, Funny

    This development has been a long time coming...

    "Bladder late than never."