Luke Masella was born with spina bifida, and after 10 years it was getting the best of him. The congenital disorder affects the development of the nerves and vertebrae along the spinal cord, and can result in paralysis, neurological complications and organ damage.
In Masella's case, his bladder was failing and he spent much of his early childhood in the hospital. He was plagued by aches and pains, and often was too tired and lethargic to get out of bed. Because his bladder didn't work properly, his kidneys were shutting down.
"I remember being really scared," said Masella, a native of Madison, Conn. "I thought I was going to die."
Masella was gravely ill and needed a new bladder. This was 2001, and conventional treatment would have been to use a portion of Masella's intestine to make a new bladder. But because the intestine is designed to absorb nutrients and a bladder is designed to excrete, it's a risky procedure, especially with young patients who often develop kidney stones and cancer.
So Masella was referred to Dr. Anthony Atala, who was then at Children's Hospital Boston. Atala is a pioneer in regenerative medicine, a cutting-edge field of study in which a patient's own cells are used to grow healthy tissue and organs. He's been director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine since 2004.
To engineer a new bladder for Masella, Atala first took samples of muscle cells from his bladder and grew them in a petri dish. Once he had grown enough, he attached the cells to a bladder-shaped framework or scaffolding he created using collagen, the primary biological material found in skin and connective tissue.
The biological structure was placed inside an incubator, where it continued to grow for about two months.
"It's like cooking a layered cake," Atala said.
Finally, the engineered bladder was sutured to Masella's original bladder. The biodegradable scaffolding dissolved, and as the new bladder integrated with the body, it grew its own blood supply and nerves.
Masella soon made a full recovery and went on to captain his high school wrestling team. He's now a healthy 21-year-old junior at the University of Connecticut.
Masella was one of the country's first patients to receive a regenerated organ grown from his own cells. Atala has since performed similar procedures many times, growing and implanting everything from urethras and skin to cartilage.
Atala and his team at Wake Forest are now working on more than 30 different replacement tissues and organs for future trials, such as the kidney, liver and even the heart.
Next step: 'Bioprinting'
Part of this groundbreaking research includes a technique called "bioprinting." While it may sound like science fiction, Atala said that in the last decade great strides have been made with this technology, in which modified inkjet printers are used to create biological molds of organs.
Rather than ink, the jury-rigged printers spray cells and heat-sensitive gel that fuse together to form tissue and organs. As 3-D printers have gotten more sophisticated over the years - they essentially lay down alternating, successive layers of material - so too has the potential of using this technology to create complex organs.
Atala said he's made a number of organs and tissue prototypes using this technique, but none that are suitable to be placed inside a human patient. Nonetheless, as the technology continues to advance, it stands to revolutionize how science treats diseased and injured tissues and organs.
One potential application of this technology is the bioprinting of skin for soldiers with life-threatening burns. Using this still-developing technology, skin cells could one day be printed directly on the soldier's wound.
And because regenerative medicine uses a patient's own cells to create organs and tissue, it eliminates much of the risk that the patient's body will reject a donor organ. It also provides a potential solution to the shortage of donor organs for those who need transplants.
2011年11月28日星期一
2011年5月22日星期日
'Our little piece of heaven': Swansea couple's backyard goes with the flow
A visit to a neighbor's pond led Tim and Cindy Hammond to build theirs.
"We were just taking a walk in the neighborhood," said Cindy. "We saw a neighbor who had a pond. He invited us back to look at it. I said, 'That's really pretty. I'd like one of those one day,' and he was off like a shot."
That was about seven years ago.
Their pond -- with waterfall and stream -- is now the focal point of the Swansea yard. From the second-story deck, you can hear water tumbling over rocks and see clumps of yellow irises with their feet stuck in the 18-by-12-by-3-foot pool. Impatiens and hostas dot the landscape.
Mulched paths wind through woods that stretch across the back of the yard. It's kind of like the English woodlands garden at Missouri Botanical Garden, which the Hammonds visited for inspiration.
"I love it," said Cindy, 59, sitting on the deck after work. "It turned out way better than I imagined. I think it's great. We sit out in the evenings. In the morning, we drink coffee. It's very peaceful. We hear the stream. The back reminds me of the Missouri Ozarks. It's just very, very peaceful."
Hostas, fern and wildflowers such as Virginia bluebells, trillium, Solomon's seal and mayapples do well in the shady setting.
"We let nature take its course," Tim said. "It's a lot easier than fighting it."
The wood-chip pathways are lined with fallen limbs. The Hammonds replace the chips every three years because they either sink, wash away or rot.
"It's low maintenance," said Cindy. "There aren't a lot of weeds. We do put mulch out by the pond."
The Hammonds have lived on the partially wooded lot for 30 years. Cindy grew up in Belleville. Tim, born in Toronto, grew up in southern California, and came to the Midwest because of a job. He's a retired civilian contracting officer from Scott Air Force Base. They have three grown daughters, two grandsons and a granddaughter on the way.
Tim built the lower deck during his first year of retirement.
"He's very goal-oriented," said his wife.
The pond project came next.
"The girls' playhouse used to be there," said Tim, 68. "When they grew up, we took the playhouse down."
The spot was just right for the pond project. He started by laying out a hose in a kidney shape.
"I had nothing to do with it," said Cindy. "I have no sense of creativity. He would tell me and talk about it. I was clueless."
"It wouldn't be something for someone not an engineering type," said Cindy.
"I enjoy the challenge," said Tim.
Shortly after, he began digging the 3-foot deep pond, he hired two teen neighbors to help.
"I knew their work ethic," said Tim. "They were happy to have the job. I fed them sandwiches and made them take breaks. The boys did the heavy work and moved stone."
The dirt piled from the hole became the stream bed.
"It grew into something much larger ... When I had to do engineering, I started looking at books, going to pond stores, talking to people to determine the best type of equipment."
For the pond, he purchased an Aquascape system that included a heavy rubber liner, bio falls, the skimmer and filtering system that's rated for 8,000 gallons an hour. The 3,500-gallon pond turns over a couple times an hour, he said.
Costs escalated.
"He told me a certain amount," said Cindy, a information technology business manager for AT&T. "It was three times that amount."
Tim estimates he spent $3,000 initially, not including landscaping and rock, pathways and shrubs.
"I probably have $10,000 to $15,000 in it," he said. "I am in the wrong business. Rock is expensive. I hand-picked boulders and rocks. I was afraid to tell Cindy how much it cost.
"I got a little (rock) at a time so she wouldn't notice, and I pay the bills."
But looking out from the upper-level eck onto the pretty, parklike setting makes it all worthwhile.
"We spend hours out here," said Tim. "It's peaceful. It's our little piece of heaven."
"We had the family over," said Cindy. "Both grandsons are almost 2. They came a month ago and had an absolute ball.
"They played king of the mountain, and had fun throwing rocks into the pond. They never got tired of throwing rocks in the pond."
Critters have discovered the water project, too. Blue heron, raccoons and "something like a weasel" visit and take a swipe at the goldfish. A few frogs moved in to let them know they have a healthy set-up.
In the evening, timers turn on landscape lights around the water. Tiki torches add atmosphere.
"It's kind of like 'Survivor' island," said Cindy, "and we are right behind Schnuck's."
Tim's water feature advice:
-- Don't skimp on the liner. Get the best you can afford. "I bought very heavy, top-of-the-line stuff. At the time, Aquascape was pretty much premiere."
-- Roots can be a problem. Cut them back so they don't pierece the liner. It was hot, heavy work, but worthwhile, said Tim.
-- Cantilever edges of the pond. When the rock rims over the edges, fish can swim underneath. That way, cats and other critters can't get them.
-- Consider upkeep and maintenance. "There is some upkeep work," said Tim. "I think it's a little understated. Ours is in a forest. There are lots of leaves. I spend an hour a week tops, cleaning little things such as the filter basket."
-- Tim recommends emptying and cleaning the falls and pond every two or three years. He uses a powerwasher to clean it.
-- "If I run the pump 24/7, it costs $75 a month," Tim said. "We turn it off in the winter and put in a pond heater so there's oxygen (for the fish). Several go down and hide. It's about three feet deep. They go to sleep and we don't see them at all."
-- Watch your water level and the ground around the waterfall and pond. Theirs settled in places and had to be built up.
"We were just taking a walk in the neighborhood," said Cindy. "We saw a neighbor who had a pond. He invited us back to look at it. I said, 'That's really pretty. I'd like one of those one day,' and he was off like a shot."
That was about seven years ago.
Their pond -- with waterfall and stream -- is now the focal point of the Swansea yard. From the second-story deck, you can hear water tumbling over rocks and see clumps of yellow irises with their feet stuck in the 18-by-12-by-3-foot pool. Impatiens and hostas dot the landscape.
Mulched paths wind through woods that stretch across the back of the yard. It's kind of like the English woodlands garden at Missouri Botanical Garden, which the Hammonds visited for inspiration.
"I love it," said Cindy, 59, sitting on the deck after work. "It turned out way better than I imagined. I think it's great. We sit out in the evenings. In the morning, we drink coffee. It's very peaceful. We hear the stream. The back reminds me of the Missouri Ozarks. It's just very, very peaceful."
Hostas, fern and wildflowers such as Virginia bluebells, trillium, Solomon's seal and mayapples do well in the shady setting.
"We let nature take its course," Tim said. "It's a lot easier than fighting it."
The wood-chip pathways are lined with fallen limbs. The Hammonds replace the chips every three years because they either sink, wash away or rot.
"It's low maintenance," said Cindy. "There aren't a lot of weeds. We do put mulch out by the pond."
The Hammonds have lived on the partially wooded lot for 30 years. Cindy grew up in Belleville. Tim, born in Toronto, grew up in southern California, and came to the Midwest because of a job. He's a retired civilian contracting officer from Scott Air Force Base. They have three grown daughters, two grandsons and a granddaughter on the way.
Tim built the lower deck during his first year of retirement.
"He's very goal-oriented," said his wife.
The pond project came next.
"The girls' playhouse used to be there," said Tim, 68. "When they grew up, we took the playhouse down."
The spot was just right for the pond project. He started by laying out a hose in a kidney shape.
"I had nothing to do with it," said Cindy. "I have no sense of creativity. He would tell me and talk about it. I was clueless."
"It wouldn't be something for someone not an engineering type," said Cindy.
"I enjoy the challenge," said Tim.
Shortly after, he began digging the 3-foot deep pond, he hired two teen neighbors to help.
"I knew their work ethic," said Tim. "They were happy to have the job. I fed them sandwiches and made them take breaks. The boys did the heavy work and moved stone."
The dirt piled from the hole became the stream bed.
"It grew into something much larger ... When I had to do engineering, I started looking at books, going to pond stores, talking to people to determine the best type of equipment."
For the pond, he purchased an Aquascape system that included a heavy rubber liner, bio falls, the skimmer and filtering system that's rated for 8,000 gallons an hour. The 3,500-gallon pond turns over a couple times an hour, he said.
Costs escalated.
"He told me a certain amount," said Cindy, a information technology business manager for AT&T. "It was three times that amount."
Tim estimates he spent $3,000 initially, not including landscaping and rock, pathways and shrubs.
"I probably have $10,000 to $15,000 in it," he said. "I am in the wrong business. Rock is expensive. I hand-picked boulders and rocks. I was afraid to tell Cindy how much it cost.
"I got a little (rock) at a time so she wouldn't notice, and I pay the bills."
But looking out from the upper-level eck onto the pretty, parklike setting makes it all worthwhile.
"We spend hours out here," said Tim. "It's peaceful. It's our little piece of heaven."
"We had the family over," said Cindy. "Both grandsons are almost 2. They came a month ago and had an absolute ball.
"They played king of the mountain, and had fun throwing rocks into the pond. They never got tired of throwing rocks in the pond."
Critters have discovered the water project, too. Blue heron, raccoons and "something like a weasel" visit and take a swipe at the goldfish. A few frogs moved in to let them know they have a healthy set-up.
In the evening, timers turn on landscape lights around the water. Tiki torches add atmosphere.
"It's kind of like 'Survivor' island," said Cindy, "and we are right behind Schnuck's."
Tim's water feature advice:
-- Don't skimp on the liner. Get the best you can afford. "I bought very heavy, top-of-the-line stuff. At the time, Aquascape was pretty much premiere."
-- Roots can be a problem. Cut them back so they don't pierece the liner. It was hot, heavy work, but worthwhile, said Tim.
-- Cantilever edges of the pond. When the rock rims over the edges, fish can swim underneath. That way, cats and other critters can't get them.
-- Consider upkeep and maintenance. "There is some upkeep work," said Tim. "I think it's a little understated. Ours is in a forest. There are lots of leaves. I spend an hour a week tops, cleaning little things such as the filter basket."
-- Tim recommends emptying and cleaning the falls and pond every two or three years. He uses a powerwasher to clean it.
-- "If I run the pump 24/7, it costs $75 a month," Tim said. "We turn it off in the winter and put in a pond heater so there's oxygen (for the fish). Several go down and hide. It's about three feet deep. They go to sleep and we don't see them at all."
-- Watch your water level and the ground around the waterfall and pond. Theirs settled in places and had to be built up.
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