Friday, August 19, 2005
FETAL SKIN GRAFTS USED FOR BURN VICTIMS
From ABC News:
Genetically engineered tissue dressings derived from foetal skin cells have been used to treat children's second- and third-degree burns without scarring, researchers in Switzerland report.
Using foetal tissue to repair wounds could avoid difficulties of tissue engineering such as immune rejection, small growth capacity and incompatibility, Dr Lee Ann Laurent-Applegate and colleagues write in the Lancet journal.
"The main advantage was that we could avoid a [skin graft] procedure in all cases," study co-author Dr Patrick Hohlfeld said.
The research team, based at University Hospital of Lausanne, obtained a four- centimetre skin donation from a 14-week aborted male foetus.
Cells were grown in culture and used to seed collagen sheets. They were then grown for two more days before the sheets were applied to the burn wounds.
The foetal cells were used to treat eight children considered to be candidates for traditional skin grafting, about 10 days after their injury.
As the cells biodegraded, they were replaced every three to four days.
"These cells stimulate spontaneous healing of the wound through secretion of multiple growth factors," Dr Hohlfeld said.
Continue reading...
How many babies will die as a result of this discovery?
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!
