Rather than live with brittle bones, a scientist has developed a new treatment which gives us the power to protect our wellness from bone conditions. The pioneering technique involves harvesting our stem cells and changing them so they produce new tissue that helps the healing process.
Gene therapy
Clinicians have been aware of the impact some genes have on our wellbeing. The gene BMP-2 has been linked with the production of new bone cells. In some health conditions like osteoporosis we can suffer a drop in bone mineral density (BMD) that could prove fatal if we also experience fractures. Increasing our BMD is possible with the use of medications but these can have some side effects. Now researcher Martina Hauser-Schinhan from the Harvard Medical School has managed to use this gene to alter stem cells so they continue to create bone cells, potentially providing another treatment condition for those of us who suffer from brittle bones.
Mind the gap
The researcher explains that when bones fracture gaps are left between tissues that may take up to six weeks or longer to heal. When breakages are combined with other health conditions, such as osteoporosis or bone cancers, then complete amputations are sometimes performed to try and preserve our wellness. In the study, the stem cells modified by the BMP-2 gene were added to a gel that was placed in the gap between fractures. Scientists working on the project found that the stem cells were successfully adapted by the gene, so they carried on pumping out healing bone cells. Fractures were resolved within a few weeks rather than the usual six weeks using traditional treatment methods. Although medication and bolstering of bone density via diet and exercise can have a positive impact on our bone health, this new technique could prove an invaluable way of upping our BMD and aiding recovering following breakages if we suffer from osteoporosis.
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