Apr 15
For the first time ever, a whole lab-grown kidney has been successfully transplanted into a rat, where it allowed the creature to process urine like a really kidney would—and it could someday save your life. More »
Apr 14
When it comes to matching organs such as kidneys and livers from donors, that can be quite a tough thing to do, not to mention an extremely short list of donors are available in addition to a super long waiting list of recipients. While 3D printing of compatible body organs are not achievable at this point in time, how about growing an organ in the laboratory? We are heading in the right direction, as scientists have managed to grow a rat kidney in the confines of a laboratory, and when this lab-grown kidney was transplanted into animals, it managed to produce urine.
All right, so similar techniques to churn out simple body parts have already been achieved to date and actually used in human patients, but the achievement of a kidney is stunning to say the least, considering how the kidney is considered to be one of the most complicated organs manufactured, or grown, to date. Of course, it goes without saying that such genetically grown and engineered kidneys are a whole lot less effective than natural kidneys, but this is a good start to the future nonetheless. Could this signal the early days of Repo Men?
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Fujitsu Medical Body Area Network Completes Verification Test, Phone Camera Assists Medical Field Again, 
     |
Oct 22
Renal organoids, implanted in a rat
With 26 million Americans having chronic kidney disease and almost 100,000 waiting for a kidney transplant, the numbers themselves are rather grim. Although the amount of donors and transplants has risen recently, researchers are still looking for ways to build an organic kidney that could replace defective ones. As a temporary solution, other researchers have looked at creating an artificial kidney that would give more time while waiting for a transplant.
The Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research has successfully built kidney “organoids”. They are not like “whole” kidneys, but they perform the same organic functions – mainly blood filtration. This was done by growing kidney tissues and the hard part was to promote enough blood vessels growth in the new areas so that blood filtering could happen. For now, it works in rats.
This is more an “extension” of the kidney than a replacement, but if it helps performing the function, why not? Although this seems very promising, we’re probably years, if not decades, away from any human medical application. What do you think of the idea of growing a kidney in a lab one day?
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: iPad 2 for your kidney?, Electric pants might just prevent bedsores,
Who's in charge here?
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.