I We,..a,.....03WWW/AMOMOV.4505.2WAMMIS UW4,04,7 MARROW page 46 blood withdrawn from the body, and the remaining blood is re- diation to wipe out their immune transfused into the patient. The system and the diseased bone amount of marrow obtained with marrow. Afterwards, they are this method can be seven to 10 given an infusion of marrow, times greater than from the which contains stem cells, pre- bones. In the new BMT protocol, the cursors of all the cells in the blood. In leukemia — a cancer- collected marrow is treated us- like disease characterized by ing a method developed by Pro- blood cell abnormalities — the fessor Reisner some 10 years ago hope is that the transplanted to enable "bubble" children with donor narrow will create a severe combined immunodefi- healthy blood system in the pa- ciency diseases (SCID) to under- tient, thus curing the disease. go BMT. The process — which Marrow transplants from un- was also used in treating sever- matched donors, however, have al victims of the nuclear accident been problematic because despite at Chernobyl — involves the ap- pretreatment, patients can main- plication of soybean-derived tain some residual immunity lectin to the marrow in order to that recognizes the incompatible eliminate certain white blood marrow as "foreign" and rejects cells called T lymphocytes that would otherwise attack the re- it. cipient's tissues, causing a se- vere complication known as graft-versus-host disease. Prior to the transplanta- tion, patients undergo a "con- ditioning" regimen of drug and radiation therapy as in conventional BMT, but with all of its aspects having been "fine-tuned" and specifically adapted to unmatched trans- plants during several years of animal studies at the Weiz- mann and clinical studies in Perugia. Although the Reisner- Martelli method has thus far been tried only in people with leukemia, in the future it may be modified to treat non- cancerous blood disorders, such as sickle-cell anemia. At present, the need to deliver high doses of radiation prior to BMT rules out the use of this procedure for nonlethal diseases. However, since ex- Professor Yair Reisner periments in mice suggest that radiation "conditioning" Professors Reisner and can be reduced thanks to the use Martelli have now overcome this of the "megadose" marrow infu- problem by means of "megados- sions, it is hoped that BMT may es" of donor marrow, which had become a viable option for such been shown in Professor Reis- disorders. Moreover, the mega- ner's earlier animal studies to dose approach may also be used reduce donor-recipient incom- in the future to facilitate organ patibility. Such doses appear to transplantation, as successful be effective because they give BMT performed prior to the pro- donor cells an edge in their com- cedure induces tolerance towards petition with recipient cells, thus transplanted organs. ❑ minimizing the risk of rejection. However, the amount of mar- row obtained via the usual method — aspiration from the Do you have an item for "Hot spinal cord — is limited. There- Shots"? "Hot Shots" is a period- fore, to obtain megadoses of mar- row cells the researchers ic column recognizing medical borrowed a technique used in au- profesSionals for achievements in tologous BMT, in which a patient their field. Please send items to receives a transplant of his or her Ruth Littmann at The Jewish own marrow. It consists of giv- News, 27676 Franklin, Southfield, ing the person hormonal drugs MI 48034. A picture would be ap- called cytokines, which increase the number of stem cells in the preciated. It can be color or black- blood by mobilizing them from and-white, but it must be in focus. the bone marrow. These cells can If you wish to have the picture re- then be collected from peripher- turned, you must enclose a self- al blood by leukapheresis — a addressed, stamped envelope. procedure in which certain cells are selectively removed from lethal. In this treatment, patients receive powerful drugs and ra- A PREMIERE RENTAL RETIREMENT COMMUNITY 24111 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE • SOUTHFIELD 810-352-0208 Traditional Toys Emphasizing Quality and Play Value WO& • • Personal Care • Nursing Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) Home Health Aide (HHA) Companion/Sitter Registered Nurses (RN) Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) • JCAHO Accredited • 24 Hour/ 7 Day Per Week Service • Foreign Language & Hearing Impaired lntrepreters Available Abcare's HomeHealth Exchange A Division Of Exchange Services, Inc. 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