The bones of diabetic patients are more fragile than those of healthy people and their fusion is slower. In addition, patients are more likely to suffer fractures from falls, as they often suffer from visual impairment and reduced sensation in the feet.
Red bone marrow stem cells injected into the damaged bones of diabetic patients enhance repair and increase bone strength, according to a study presented at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Dublin (Ireland).
A team of researchers from the National University of Galway, Ireland, intends to use the repair properties of stem cells to improve fracture repair in diabetic patients.
In preclinical studies, scientists injected bone marrow stem cells from a healthy donor into a broken bone. The researchers found that stem cells contributed to more efficient bone repair compared to a control group of patients who did not receive cell therapy. In addition, it was found that as a result of stem cell treatment, the restored bones were significantly stronger and could withstand more stress compared to the control group.
Dr. Coleman and her team developed a sensitivity test to determine the location and number of stem cells after injection. The researchers report that stem cells do not permanently integrate into the host tissue, but instead generate signals to help repair more efficiently from the host's own cells.
"This groundbreaking research allows us to better understand the role of stem cells in fracture repair and their potential use in the treatment of diabetic patients", – says Dr. Coleman.
In the course of further work, the scientists plan to investigate the role of stem cells in recovery processes in order to further apply them in the clinic.
"Stem cells have amazing potential to advance treatments and reduce pain and discomfort in diabetic patients suffering from fractures", – notes the researcher.
According to the European Society of Endocrinology
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