Slashdot Mirror


Dye Used In Blue M&Ms Can Lessen Spinal Injury

SydShamino writes "Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center have found that the dye used in blue M&Ms and other foods can, when given intravenously to a lab rat shortly after a spinal injury, minimize secondary damage caused by the body when it kills off nearby healthy cells. The dye is called BBG or Brilliant Blue G. Given that 85% of spinal injury patients are currently untreated (and some doctors don't trust the treatment given to the other 15%), a relatively safe treatment like this could help preserve some function for thousands of patients. The best part is that in lab rats the subjects given the treatment turn blue." The researchers are "pulling together an application to be lodged with the FDA to stage the first clinical trials of BBG on human patients."

4 of 324 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Mobsters, the new clinical trialists. by VxMorpheusxV · · Score: 5, Informative

    That is the nature of research with animals. There is regulation (here in the U.S) that attempts to minimize pain when possible and guidelines that must be followed to acquire animals for research, but there has been substantial progress made through animal research. If you've got a viable alternative I'm sure it would be considered. Take a look at the wiki page for more info.

  2. Re:85% are untreated!!??? by Carnildo · · Score: 3, Informative

    We can fix the mechanical damage to the bones and ligaments, but the current best-practice treatment for the nerve damage consists of waiting to see how bad it is, followed by physical therapy. After hundreds of years of research, we haven't found anything more effective, which is what makes this such big news.

    --
    "They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
  3. Re:Sound Methods? by linzeal · · Score: 3, Informative

    As far as I know almost all organic labels make no mention of killing "critters" with guns. Almost all farmers out here shoot deer, rabbits and the like so vegans indirectly contribute to untold numbers of animal deaths.

  4. Re:Sound Methods? by Jedi+Alec · · Score: 3, Informative

    Tell me how animal fighting is illegal, but underground fighting is not (only the gambling is).

    If you don't understand the difference between two consenting adults getting into a ring and beating the crap out of each other or 2 animals being driven into a fury and then placed in a small enclosement I very much doubt you'll be able to grasp any answer you'll get.

    --

    People replying to my sig annoy me. That's why I change it all the time.