"Stem Cell transplant cures HIV in Berlin patient"

[hachikid]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/14/hiv-cure-berlin-patient_n_796521.html

OH. MY. GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :headbang: :guitarplayer2: :headbang1: :icon_biggrin: :blob7: :toothy10: :laughing7: :icon_smile: :guitaristgif: arty07: :cool01: :rock-on:

this article should be read with this playing in the background:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLuW-GBaJ8k

 

[AutoBat]

Neat!



*edited out controversial material*

 

[Rouse]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/14/hiv-cure-berlin-patient_n_796521.html
OH. MY. GOD SCIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :headbang: :guitarplayer2: :headbang1: :icon_biggrin: :blob7: :toothy10: :laughing7: :icon_smile: :guitaristgif: arty07: :cool01: :rock-on:

FTFY

Please don't make this a science vs God debate :sad1:

 

[line6man]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/14/hiv-cure-berlin-patient_n_796521.html
OH. MY. GOD SCIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :headbang: :guitarplayer2: :headbang1: :icon_biggrin: :blob7: :toothy10: :laughing7: :icon_smile: :guitaristgif: arty07: :cool01: :rock-on:

FTFY

Please don't make this a science vs God debate :sad1:

Yes.

I saw "Stem cell" and the first thing that came to mind was: Oh shit! Here we go again... :sad:

 

[hachikid]

that's hilarious. while I'm agnostic, do NOT turn this into a religious debate. if someone does, I hope the mods smash them with the banhammer. this is the first case of HIV being cured. this is a landmark event. I really thought this would happen long after I was dead. I'm in shock, and I'm overjoyed this happened.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

The article was quick to point out that "cured" might be a rush to conclusion.  Also a stem cell transplant?  Did they remove his and put new ones in?  Was it more like an injection or a stem cell infused blood transfusion?  Also, does he still have leukemia?

But, overall...WOOHOO!

 

[m4rk0]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/14/hiv-cure-berlin-patient_n_796521.html
OH. MY. GOD SCIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :headbang: :guitarplayer2: :headbang1: :icon_biggrin: :blob7: :toothy10: :laughing7: :icon_smile: :guitaristgif: arty07: :cool01: :rock-on:

FTFY

Please don't make this a science vs God debate :sad1:

how about a great debate ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bHV8Y6Rm1s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKCBAmrLt68

 

[bagman67]

Color me "guardedly optimistic.". Wonderful news but far from universally applicable given the current state of the research. 

 

[exaN]

Yay for the biomolecular revolution! :headbang:

 

[kboman]

Well, if anything has ever been worthy of a "WOW" this has to be it! :headbang1:

 

[AprioriMark]

I'm not holding my breath to see this confirmed.  Huffington and all.

edit: upon further armchair research, this seems legit

-Mark

 

[Mor Paul]

Those were my initial thoughts too.
Chemo killed the white blood cells, stem cells replaced them, I think. I hope none of the infected HIV WB cells survived to reproduce.

 

[OzziePete]

Those were my initial thoughts too.
Chemo killed the white blood cells, stem cells replaced them, I think. I hope none of the infected HIV WB cells survived to reproduce.

This "Berlin Patient" had both Leukemia and HIV? THAT is some bad luck. Stem cell research is beyong my comprehension but if it doing some good work like this example seems to highlight, then there is some positivity to be drawn from the controversy that surrounds this research. I would be hesitant to say the Patient has been cured of HIV, but if he tests negative for a very long time, you'd have to admit he's gone into deep remission. Having seen people with full blown AIDS and also some folks HIV + and struggling with the illness, you would hope there would soon be some cure.

I think they also hold some hope for curing babies of HIV infected women, seems the infants have a more adaptive immune system (not being fully developed at birth) and can receive treatment that can eliminate the risk of them catching HIV from their mother.

 

[MikeW]

I hate to burst any bubbles, but... http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/15/why-hiv-advance-is-not-a-universal-cure/?hpt=Sbin

 

[Mor Paul]

I hate to burst any bubbles, but... http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/15/why-hiv-advance-is-not-a-universal-cure/?hpt=Sbin

I almost feel bad saying that.... But I totally called all of those points, with the exception of the special bone marrow, didn't catch that in the article.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

The word "transplant" is in a better context now when reading it was a bone marrow transplant with stemcells.  More may need be made out of the marrow from an HIV resistive patient.  I only remember hearing about this once.  There was a guy in mid 80s, when AIDS finally had a name, who had several partners that had contracted and died of AIDS, but he hadn't.  Doctors were not interested in research about him because he didn't have AIDS.  It now appears that he has a genetic annomaly.  I'm no medical expert, but I play one on the internet, lol.  Something like his T cells were smaller or larger than the virus, so his body never even acknowledges the virus.  He can't get infected!  ...or something like that.

 

[pabloman]

Transplant only means to transfer from one place to another. You seem to be confusing that with the organ transplant process where you have to remove something first.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I guess so, but the latter article went into more detail.  The first said "stem cell transplant."  The 2nd said "bone marrow transplant."  I guess technically, bone marrow is a tissue and not an organ.  Who cares?  The semantics of what a transplant or organ is does nothing but expose that I don't know what I'm talking about, which everybody already knows.  It buries the lead of a guy who was HIV positive is now HIV negative...so far.