Artificial Liver Grown

Mon Oct 30 16:31:48 -0800 2006
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Collaborative research using umbilical cord derived stem cells has lead to what is claimed is the first artificial liver.


..."Described as a 'Eureka moment' by the Newcastle University researchers, the tissue was created from blood taken from babies' umbilical cords just a few minutes after birth."...more there

ed: this is the same research center from this earlier liver disease treatment article. Sounds like this group is doing some good work.

Artificial Liver Grown
Mon Oct 30 23:55:31 -0800 2006
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From the article:  "So far, tiny pieces of tissue, less than an inch in diameter have been created."

So.... not really a whole liver then.
Artificial Liver Grown
Tue Oct 31 00:52:46 -0800 2006
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But the good thing about liver tissue, given it's healthy, is its tendency to grow and renew itself.  So, a small section of healthy liver implanted to replace damaged tissue would grow to replace the old section and restore complete liver functions.
Artificial Liver Grown
Tue Oct 31 00:52:52 -0800 2006
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But the good thing about liver tissue, given it's healthy, is its tendency to grow and renew itself.  So, a small section of healthy liver implanted to replace damaged tissue would grow to replace the old section and restore complete liver functions.
Artificial Liver Grown
Tue Oct 31 06:49:57 -0800 2006
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More likely the real issue is that the tissue isn't vascularized appropriatly (or at all) for implantation in a patient.

However the artical points out that  even in that form, it could be used for a liver dialysis treatment to either be a bridge to liver transplant or even allow enough time for the patient's own damaged liver to recover.
Artificial Liver Grown
Tue Oct 31 06:19:45 -0800 2006
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Interesting ... now they should start working on the brain. There are thousands of politicians out there that desperately need brain implants.