Brain–machine interfaces: Back in control

sea-maid submitted, created time 1 month 2 weeks (www.nature.com)

Spinal cord injury disrupts the pathway between brain and muscle, causing paralysis. One potential strategy for treatment is to use a brain–machine interface to route control signals from the brain directly to the muscles, bypassing the site of injury. For the first time, Moritz and colleagues have shown that an artificial device can compensate for paralysis in monkeys

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Stem cell therapy clinical trial halted by the FDA

Darkfrog submitted, created time 7 months 2 weeks (www.nature.com)

The FDA has put the brakes on a clinical trial, mentioned on DiscoveR8 a few months ago: Geron company in California wants to inject the spines of spinal injury patients with oligodendroglial progenitor cells grown from embryonic stem cells.

At first I thought, "Good, a little caution never hurt anyone," but then I read that this trial has been in the works for four years. You know what? That four-year delay probably has hurt someone.

The FDA has NOT STATED ITS REASONS for the delay

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Scientists Help Mice Paralyzed by Spinal Injuries Walk Again

Sue Wu submitted, created time 1 year 1 day (www.nature.com)

Scientists said they've learned more about the natural mechanisms that enable mice, humans and other animals regain spinal function after paralyzing spinal cord injuries, according to a study published in this week's edition of the journal Nature Medicine. There was also a writeup in Fox News

(http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,320537,00.html)

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Researchers use MRI to predict recovery after spinal cord injury

medal submitted, created time 1 year 7 months (www.biologynews.net)

"Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), radiologists can better predict the likelihood of full or partial recovery of patients with acute spinal cord injuries (SCI), according to a study published in the June issue of the journal Radiology. "

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Nanotechnology offers hope for treating spinal cord injuries, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease

Dolly submitted, created time 1 year 8 months (www.eurekalert.org)

Science of tomorrow promises to alleviate suffering from intractable ailments of today. Imagine a world where damaged organs in your body kidneys, liver, heart an be stimulated to heal themselves. Envision people tragically paralyzed whose injured spinal cords can be repaired. Think about individuals suffering from the debilitating effects of Parkinson or Alzheimer relieved of their symptoms � completely and permanently.

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Elderly spinal cord injuries increase five-fold in 30 years, Jefferson neurosurgeons find

BIOBOSS submitted, created time 1 year 9 months (www.biologynews.net)

The number of spinal cord injuries among senior citizens (age 70 and above) has increased five times in the past 30 years, as compared with younger spinal cord injury patients, researchers at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Jefferson's Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center of the Delaware Valley recently reported.

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