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| www.smw.ch |
| Andres RH, Meyer M, Ducray AD, Widmer HR. |
Swiss Med Wkly 2008;138:155–172
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| Review article Peer reviewed article |
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| Summary There is increasing interest in the search for therapeutic options for diseases and injuries of the central nervous system (CNS), for which currently no effective treatment strategies are available. Replacement of damaged cells and restoration of function can be accomplished by transplantation of cells derived from different sources, such as human foetal tissue, genetically modified cell lines, embryonic or somatic stem cells. Preclinical and clinical trials have shown promising results in neurodegenerative disorders, like Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease, but also ischaemic stroke, intracerebral haemorrhage, demyelinating disorders, epilepsy and traumatic lesions of the brain and spinal cord. Other studies have focused on finding new ways to activate and direct endogenous repair mechanisms in the CNS, eg, by exposure to specific neuronal growth factors or by inactivating inhibitory molecules. Neuroprotective drugs may offer an additional tool for improving neuronal survival in acute or chronic CNS diseases. Importantly however, a number of scientific issues need to be addressed in order to permit the introduction of these experimental techniques in the wider clinical setting. |
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Berne, Inselspital, Berne, Switzerland Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Institute of Medical Biology, University of Southern Denmark, DK-Odense, Denmark |
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Copyright © 2008 EMH Swiss Medical Publishers Ltd. |
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