Could Your Dog's Broken Bone Help Yours to Heal Faster?

In a recent issue of Nature Medicine, researchers at the University of Michigan Medical School reported that they had found a way to genetically speed the process of bone fracture repair in dogs. They placed a sponge-like device impregnated with bone growth genes into the damaged area. The genetic material is called a plasmid. The plasmid causes the cell to produce a hormone, parathyroid. When the bone cells at the fracture site grow into the sponge, the parathyroid hormone turns them into local bioreactors, forming more bone than would be expected otherwise.

Clinical trials in humans could come as early as next year. Lead investigator, Dr. Jeffrey Bonadio hopes that the procedure will help thousands of elderly Americans who suffer fractures every year.

Just another way in which man's best friend is helping mankind.