Friday, October 24, 2014

OECs - Olfactory Ensheathing Cells Help Paralyzed Man Walk

Removing one of the patient's olfactory bulbs before transplanting cultured cells into the spinal cord ...

Specialist olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs), which form part of the sense of smell, were used in the treatment as they are pathway cells, enabling nearby nerve fibres to be continually regenerated.     
Source: AFP

Darek Fidyka was paralysed from the chest down following a knife attack in 2010, but can now walk using a frame after receiving treatment in which nerve cells from his nose were transplanted into his severed spinal column, according to research published in the journal Cell Transplantation on Tuesday.
  
"When there's nothing, you can't feel almost half of your body. You're helpless, lost," the patient, who is now recovering at the Akron Neuro-Rehabilitation Center in Wroclaw, told BBC's Panorama programme.
  
"When it begins to come back, you feel you've started your life all over again, as if you are reborn. It's an incredible feeling, difficult to describe," he said.
  
Specialist olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs), which form part of the sense of smell, were used in the treatment as they are pathway cells, enabling nearby nerve fibres to be continually regenerated.
  
Pawel Tabakow, consultant neurosurgeon at Wroclaw University, led a team of surgeons in removing one of the patient's olfactory bulbs before transplanting cultured cells into the spinal cord.
  
Scientists think that the cells, implanted above and below the injury, enabled damaged fibres to reconnect.
  
"What we've done is establish a principle, nerve fibres can grow back and restore function, provided we give them a bridge," explained Geoff Raisman, chair of neural regeneration at University College London's Institute of Neurology, who led the British research team working on the joint project.
  
"To me, this is more impressive than a man walking on the moon. I believe this is the moment when paralysis can be reversed."
  
Tabakow said it was "amazing to see how regeneration of the spinal cord, something that was thought impossible for many years, is becoming a reality".
  
Scientists now plan to hold clinical trials on 10 patients in Britain and Poland.

Friday, August 8, 2014

Fan and Lace





I receive a gift of a fan and lace from someone moving out of town, reminded of lace fans while watching Gran Hotel with its evocative soundtrack and beautiful lace pieces in the costuming of 1905-7 Spain.

Rubbed oils of coffee and neroli into the fan - stay cool in scented style.


Photo: Fan and Lace Lura Astor

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

ambrosia



Anoint your nasal brain/nostrils with ambrosia

which will it be















Illustration:  Lura Astor Bottle Series

Friday, July 18, 2014



I liked to call him Sean, his Irish name. It's a very masculine name, like him. He drank a lot and his pipe was part of him.

It reminded me of the way Father's jacket smelled. He was one of the extraordinary people my career gave me the opportunity to meet and know.

- Katharine Hepburn on director John Ford

I Know Where I'm Going: Katharine Hepburn, A Personal Biography by Charlotte Chandler

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Flowers of Sleep

Flowers of Sleep

a phrase in Bali

meaning

Dreams







photo: Garden Eels in Water haplochromis

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

cook up something artful


Martin smiled. “Yes, well, life is short and art is long. Perhaps we can cook up something artful.”

The Orchid Thief, Susan Orlean


Salepi, sahlep, sahlab is a powder made from the root of an orchid plant, used in this Pagoto Kaimaki recipe, an orchid ice cream using gum mastic click here

That Smell - Can You Smell Your Self? The Peptides are Turning











 








Science shows that people recognize their own scent based on their combination of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins. While we may not be able to pick our fingerprints out, our brain knows what we smell like.

Studies also reveal that individuals prefer different smells on others than they prefer on themselves, distinguishing between self and non-self.

Magnetic resonance imaging measures changes in our brains responding to smells of self and non-self peptides and scents amplify the natural aromas of different MHC types.

The Turning of the PepTides

So it seems that we choose scents that amplify our own MHC peptides and favor perfumes/scents on another that amplify a non-self MHC type. 

Research continues to identify which receptors in the nose sense MHC proteins. And the physiology of our complete smell package, including our microbiomes, the collection of microbes living in and on us, will help identify body odor preferences.

Can You Smell Yourself? Sarah C. P. Williams, 22 January 2013 click here for link

That Smell    - Lynard Skynard

Whiskey bottles, and brand new cars
Oak tree you're in my way
There's too much coke and too much smoke
Look what's going on inside you
Ooooh that smell
Can't you smell that smell
Ooooh that smell
The smell of death surrounds you

Angel of darkness is upon you
Stuck a needle in your arm
So take another toke, have a blow for your nose
One more drink fool, will drown you
Ooooh that smell
Can't you smell that smell
Ooooh that smell
The smell of death surrounds you

Now they call you Prince Charming
Can't speak a word when you're full of 'ludes
Say you'll be all right come tomorrow
But tomorrow might not be here for you
Ooooh that smell
Can't you smell that smell
Ooooh that smell
The smell of death surrounds you

Hey, you're a fool you
Stick them needles in your arm
I know I been there before

One little problem that confronts you
Got a monkey on your back
Just one more fix, Lord might do the trick
One hell of a price for you to get your kicks
Ooooh that smell
Can't you smell that smell
Ooooh that smell
The smell of death surrounds you
Ooooh that smell
Can't you smell that smell
Ooooh that smell
The smell of death surrounds you