Dear Editor:

I recall that at one SCS conference a couple years ago, there was much optimism that the cure was likely within reach...possibly a matter of months. One kept hearing 18 months. The anticipated procedure would go something like this.

Dr. W.O. Geislerís antibody was to break up the scar, by insertion with hypodermic needle. The inhibitors in the RNA were to be shut down by liposomes filled with some kind of anti-sense. In other words, the liposomes filled with the appropriate antigen and vascularized matrix were to be injected into the cavity(ies). The matrix must be friendly to the scar tissue and axon, and the antigens were to be released ever so slowly.

Later, newly grown neurons (cultured and cloned from the patient were to be inserted into the spinal cord. The axons were to grow through the scar tissue and cavity to the other side of the scar until they reach their respective targets. The blockage represented by the scar tissue was to have been neutralized by the appropriately delivered antigens. Dr. Juetterís (from Tennessee) had been working on an RES unit (PRS) which may be needed to stimulate neuronal growth.

Human trials were expected to begin in 1994. I missed the follow-up articles and would be interested in learning of their progress.

Tommy Harrington

Dear Editor,

An American high-level chronic quadriplegic apparently went to Japan a year ago for spinal cord treatment not authorized in the U.S. I'm very interested to know of any other similar treatment and the subsequent results. For Quad X, he apparently received substantial return of function and the "return" seems to be progressive. Although I was not there during the 17-hour surgery, and do not have all the details, my understanding is that it went something like this:

1. Vascularized tissue taken from the patient's stomach (not a Dr.Goldsmith modality) to be used to vascularize a neural implant.

2. The injured area of the cord was entered via holes drilled through the patient's cervical vertebrae.

3. Scar tissue was removed from the injury site (chronic).

4. Peripheral nerves taken from patient's gastrocnemius muscles were implanted as a "bridge" between the two healthy ends of the patient's cord.

5. Vascularized omental tissue was positioned to best provide sufficient blood flow to the implanted neural tissue.

6. Patient was placed on intravenous GM-1 (Sygen), lazaroids, antioxidants, neurotrophins, and methylprednizolone.

7. Before and after surgery, hyperbaric oxygenation utilized in conjunction with hypothermia of the cord.

8. Post surgery regimen: electrical stimulation in association with gradually increasingly intense physical therapy.

Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 18:45:04 -0700
From: (Tatiana A Covington)
To:
Subject: K

I once read that a simple way to force neurons to start dividing (even adult, fully differentiated ones) is to just make the membrane sodium, potassium ion pumps start working at 5--6 times normal speed. These in any case pump sodium out and potassium in, making the cell's inside negative with respect to the outside. So, spike that physiological saline with say 0.4 to 0.5% potassium chloride instead of the usual 0.1%, and that should force it. Recent work on telomerase shows that it repairs chromosomes' ends to proper length after mitosis. Once telomeres become too short the cells can no longer divide and become senescent, with the chromosomes themselves becoming mechanically unstable. Telomerase, is often found in cancer and is thought to drive, or at least enable, infinite growth.Telomeraseis also found in perfectly normal tissue such as testis and marrow. You might try exposing neurons in vivo and in vitro to telomerase and see what happens. If all else fails,just brute-force it by growing spinal tissue in cultures and then reimplanting it in plugs, like hair grafts.

Tatiana Covington