Blue Dye Might Help Paralysis In The Future

Paralysis is one of those injuries that can be disheartening to a person. His body will not be able to function properly anymore if he has such condition. Normal or daily activities are lessened because of this.

Paralysis can be caused by serious brain or nervous system damage. Several conditions like trauma, stroke, botulism, multiple sclerosis to name a few may also cause paralysis. Even poison can trigger it because it interferes with nerve function in the body.

Recently, according to CBS news medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton, there is a new treatment that might become a possible cure for acute spinal injuries. Each year in America, there are about 12,000 new paralysis cases.

Surprisingly she said during CBS The Early Show that the coating used by blue M&Ms and, yes, the blue Gatorade might be it. The University of Rochester researchers said the non-toxic blue food dye (or BBG) can stop the cascade of molecular events that causes secondary damage to the spinal cord in the hours following an injuryand the interruption could prevent paralysis.

It can also help reduce secondary injuries around the primary spinal cord injury. With spinal cord injury, the swelling is the major cause of the problem. And according to Rochester Universitys research, it can cause less waste and less zone of injury on the spinal cord.

When a patient has a spinal cord injury, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is highly produced. It binds to receptors thus triggering irreversible cell death. And as a result leads to swelling.

But the research showed the dyes temporary side effect. When it was injected on the rats, they had slight bluish tints on their white fur and paws. Although they were able to recover most of their limb functions and even began walking againalbeit limping.

It might bring hope to patients in the future once it is perfected. Another limit is it should be done within hours of the injury.


Paralysis injury claim

Paralysis injury claims usually involve accidents such as slip and fall, elevator accidents or a car crash. What are the legal steps or way to claim compensation for paralysis?

1.Injury should be diagnosed by a qualified doctor (MRI or CT scan)

2.Know if the paralysis injury is:

Contusion

Compression

Direct injury / Laceration

Loss of sensation

Loss of reflex

Sensitivity to touch

Pain

3.Undergo a physical or occupational injury; respiratory therapy; have a speech language pathologist and a nutritionist; talk to a psychologist or a psychiatrist.