Lab-Grown Bladder Transplanted

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.'"

Comments

Cool!

[FrontalLobe]

Can I get a bigger one?!

*runs to the bathroom*

Good to see application

[DorkusMasterus]

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.

Re:Good to see application

[lbmouse]

"...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.

Next up... BREAST IMPLANTS!

[gnovos]

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.