Sounds quite useful for stroke damage also. When is your doctor going to start a clinical trial to prove what the stroke protocol should be for this? Or is he/she one of the lazy ones? Waiting around for somebody else to solve the problem?
http://neurosciencenews.com/neuroregeneration-epothilone-neurology-1852/
Damage to the spinal cord rarely heals because the injured
nerve cells fail to regenerate. The regrowth of their long nerve fibers
is hindered by scar tissue and molecular processes inside the nerves. An
international team of researchers led by DZNE scientists in Bonn now
reports in Science that help might be on the way from an
unexpected quarter: in animal studies, the cancer drug epothilone
reduced the formation of scar tissue in injuries to the spinal cord and
stimulated growth in damaged nerve cells. Both promoted neuronal
regeneration and improved the animals’ motor skills.
Nerve cells are wire-like conductors that transmit and receive
signals in the form of electrical impulses. This function can be
impaired by accidents or disease. Whether or not the affected nerves can
recover largely depends on their location: for instance nerve cells in
the limbs, torso and nose can regenerate to some degree and regain some
or all of their function.
In contrast, the neurons in the brain and spinal cord do not have
this ability. If they are damaged by accident or disease, the patient is
likely to suffer long-term paralysis or other disabilities. But why is
regeneration of these neurons and their long nerve fibers impeded? It is
already known that inhibiting factors in newly formed scar tissue and
other cellular processes block axon regrowth.
Seeking the ideal treatment
“The ideal treatment for promoting axon regeneration after spinal
cord injury would inhibit the formation of scar tissue,” says Professor
Frank Bradke, who leads a working group at the DZNE’s site in Bonn and
who conducted the study. “However, it is also important that the
growth-inhibiting factors are neutralized while reactivating the poor
axons’ regenerative potential.” A feasible administration of a potential
treatment is also essential for clinical application.
More at link.
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