Medical Breakthrough - Man with HIV Cured through Stem Cell

[b.Lee]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40662122

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2010/12/14/doctors-claim-hiv-positive-man-cured-stem-cell-transplant/

[Tin]

The possibilities in the medical field with stem cells are endless, even with the non-embryonic cells. They are also making huge progress with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and others using stem-cells. It's all only a matter of time.

Where is the bio boy wonder Hookem'?

[Hookemdown.]

Bio boy wonder just finished his Organic final.  :-/

This "cure" was a very isolated case, but it's definitely a step in the right direction.  Stem cell research is absolutely amazing. 

[farmpond1]

Not to be a fly in the ointment but the article was pretty clear that this isn't a "medical breakthrough."  It was more of a "one off".  However, knowledge leads to more knowledge so maybe something practical may come of it.

[BASSclary]

My Biology teacher was talking about this this morning,

too bad I wasn't paying attention  :-/

[South FLA]

Interesting articles, too bad its totally impractical according to the first article.

[Tin]

Interesting articles, too bad its totally impractical according to the first article.

Impractical because of greed...

[South FLA]

Interesting articles, too bad its totally impractical according to the first article.

Impractical because of greed...

I was just going by the doctor's opinion.  See quote below:

The transplant appeared to wipe out both diseases, giving hope to doctors, but Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who has been studying HIV/AIDS for almost 30 years, said while this is an interesting proof of concept, it's absurdly impractical.

It's hard enough to get a good compatible match for a transplant like this, Fauci , But you also have to find compatible donor that has this genetic defect, and this defect is only found in 1 percent of the Caucasian population and zero percent of the black population. This is very rare.

Not really sure where greed plays a part?

[farmpond1]

Interesting articles, too bad its totally impractical according to the first article.

Impractical because of greed...

I was just going by the doctor's opinion. See quote below:

The transplant appeared to wipe out both diseases, giving hope to doctors, but Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who has been studying HIV/AIDS for almost 30 years, said while this is an interesting proof of concept, it's absurdly impractical.

It's hard enough to get a good compatible match for a transplant like this, Fauci , But you also have to find compatible donor that has this genetic defect, and this defect is only found in 1 percent of the Caucasian population and zero percent of the black population. This is very rare.

Not really sure where greed plays a part?

Well put.

[Tin]

It is impractical, in my opinion,for us to see cures of certain diseases that effect a lot of the population (specifically cancer because AIDS is more relevant in poorer nations) because more money can be made off treating diseases rather than curing them. Most companies care more about the dollar-sign more than human lives. And that is all I'm going to say about that.

[Hookemdown.]

I totally agree with you Tin.

The medical field revolves around money (some could argue that's a good thing...as the hope of profit=advances in technology).  Healthcare is a business.

[Tin]

Therefore life is a commodity. 

[farmpond1]

Therefore life is a commodity.

Yes, it's one big conspiracy.