We've all seen the pictures, at least: soldiers and marines coming home with legs and arms gone. It's a long shot, but maybe this could help: "A newly created form of protein known as 'elastin' may one day be used to build replacement body parts," according to National Defense magazine.
"This technology would allow surgeons to 'build a person from the molecular level,' says Kenton Gregory, chief cardiologist at the Oregon Medical Laser Center, in Portland, Ore. [He's the guy who founded HemCon Inc., which makes a controversial bandage for the Army designed to stop bleeding in a hurry. -- ed.]
The U.S. Army Combat Casualty Care program so far has funded $20 million worth of research work at the medical laser center...
Elastin is being studied as a possible means to “put injured soldiers back together,” Gregory explains. After nearly a decade worth of research, his lab has found the human gene for elastin, he says. Elastin is a durable, stable protein that makes up human tissue. The thinking is that the body won’t reject replacement parts that have the patient’s own DNA.
“Based on natural protein, we developed a whole series of tissue-repair parts for the stomach, esophagus, skin, arteries,” Gregory says. “We are developing cell therapy program to help regenerate tissue.”
Good Morning Folks,
As a combat amputee myself, I'm in favor of anything that can bring the wounded back to where they were. In the past thirtynine years since I joined the club great progress has been made and more hopefuly will happen and soon.
One issue related here is the way the Millitary is currently dealing with the seriously combat wounded with there "Mc Drive Thru Healthcare". In the interest of turning over beds at Walter Reed in Ward 57 the wounded are being processed out way to quickly.
Amputations and serious head wounds takes time to heal, the in and out in three months is not the best treatment. Healing is different for all but a year is not unreasonable and rehab. is a life time project.
Haveing leg amputees doing Triathlons, Marathons and Rock Climbing just a few months after there injury, I don't think is in the patients best long term interest. These Soldiers Marines, Sailors and Airmen will be dealing with their injuries for a lifetime long after there propaganda value for suppoert of the GWOT is over.
Care for these special Veterans has come a very long way since Vietnam but there is still a lot more that a grateful country can do for the most serious of there fallen warriors.
ALLONS,
Byron Skinner
Posted by: Byron Skinner at December 8, 2005 02:18 PM