Lab-made "mini organs" helping doctors treat cystic fibrosis

[Judi Lynn]

Maria Cheng, Ap Medical Writer
 Updated 3:12 am, Wednesday, August 23, 2017


UTRECHT, Netherlands (AP) — Els van der Heijden, who has cystic fibrosis, was finding it ever harder to breathe as her lungs filled with thick, sticky mucus. Despite taking more than a dozen pills and inhalers a day, the 53-year-old had to stop working and scale back doing the thing she loved best, horseback riding.

Doctors saw no sense in trying an expensive new drug because it hasn't been proven to work in people with the rare type of cystic fibrosis that van der Heijden had.
 
Instead, they scraped a few cells from van der Heijden and used them to grow a mini version of her large intestine in a petri dish. When van der Heijden's "mini gut" responded to treatment, doctors knew it would help her too.

"I really felt, physically, like a different person," van der Heijden said after taking a drug — and getting back in the saddle.

More:
http://www.chron.com/news/medical/article/Lab-made-mini-organs-helping-doctors-treat-11951823.php

[trotsky]

1. That she is 53 is a testament to the amazing progress we've made against CF.

It is fantastic that progress continues.

[forgotmylogin]

2. At first, I thought it said "Lab-made 'mini orgasms'..."

And read the story eagerly with my credit card ready to donate to the cause.

[ret5hd]

4. Amazon.com can handle your needs overnight if need be:

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media/vc/fbcf11e5-5e4a-4997-a4ec-c9251bcf10ab._SR970,300_.jpg

[forgotmylogin]

5. I appreciate the link.

My female friends say that thing is the best!

And with all seriousness, the concept of testing medication on patient's regrown tissue is an amazing advancement, and I hope it helps a lot of people in the future!

[Duppers]

3. Fantastic news!!

People need all the help they can get with his horrible disease.