The article explained the growth process, noting
that research scientists took approximately one month to grow a
half-inch piece of cartilage using stem cells, which are, according to
experts, “self-renewing and have the ability to grow into blood, bones
or organs.”
More importantly, the cells were taken from the bone marrow of
pensioners undergoing National Health Service (NHS) replacement surgery
due to this crippling disease that affects a large percentage of
seniors. That also means such surgeries will have a lower rate of
rejection because the patient’s own cells will be used to produce the
cartilage. Also, doctors will be able to avoid the highly
politically-charged debate over using stem cells from human embryos.
Professor Anthony Hollander of the Southmead Hospital in Bristol notes
that he’ll grow several pieces of cartilage from the same patient,
resulting in enough material for a successful transplant.
In a person who has osteoarthritis, notes the article, “cartilage
--which acts as a shock absorber wherever bone meets bone -- becomes
damaged and erodes away, and the underlying bone becomes thicker.”
With a record number of baby boomers heading towards retirement age,
scientists and doctors expect to see the number of arthritis sufferers
double in the next 20 years, prompting them to step up their efforts to
find a cure for the disease or a way to make sufferers more comfortable.
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