Guest guest Posted October 20, 2005 Report Share Posted October 20, 2005 At least they acknowledged that some women are getting sick and are sensitive to silicone. In fact, I was amazed at the wording: " it was established! " They know! " It was established that certain women are really > sensitive to silicone, " Puskas said. This leakage has > been linked to health problems such as lupus and > immune system difficulties. > > Yet another idea for " new, improved " breast implants! > . . . Rogene > ----------------------------- > > http://www.buchtelite.com/2005/1020/news_01.shtml > > Implants anyone? > > Breast technology ready to go when prof finds funding > > by Kopec > News Editor > news@b... > > University of Akron polymer science professor Judit > Puskas holds the silicone gel implant that is not > approved by the FDA. She wants to use a polymer > material to make them safe. > > You don't need to remind Judit Puskas that October > marks the 15th annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month. > > The University of Akron polymer science professor has > done more than her part for the cause. Puskas > developed a polymer material to prevent leakage in > breast implants. She received FDA approval last year. > > Puskas said 75 percent of women who suffer from breast > cancer choose to have reconstructive surgery or breast > implants. > > The problem, she said, is safety. > > In an implant filled with silicone gel, the gel leaks > out of its shell over time and spreads throughout the > body. > > " It was established that certain women are really > sensitive to silicone, " Puskas said. This leakage has > been linked to health problems such as lupus and > immune system difficulties. > > " There is no direct evidence that even though the > silicone might leak to all kinds of places, it was the > cause of those illnesses, " Puskas said. This > controversy led to class action lawsuits against Dow > Corning, the company that produced the silicone gel > implants. The lawsuit caused Dow Corning to go > bankrupt and the FDA to ban the silicone gel. > > Currently, the only implant filling approved by the > FDA is saline, a saltwater solution. This solution > also leaks, and eventually needs to be refilled. > Clients also complain that the saline is not as > authentic as the gel. > > " It is water inside and they say that it is very > unnatural; the gel is more like the human tissue, " > Puskas said. " The women must sign up for a clinical > trial if they want the silicone gel implant. " > > Despite the health problems that have been linked to > implants, the demand is on the rise. In 2000, the > demand for cosmetic implants increased six-fold. > > " I was shocked because I thought, oh my God, why is > this? How come no one is researching another material > to replace silicone, " Puskas said. > > Puskas said her polymer material may be the solution. > > The material currently has applications in cardiology. > It coats a wire mesh that is inserted into the artery, > then blown up like a balloon. Puskas' material > prevents the artery from closing up. Before this > technology, patients had to have open-heart surgery. > > Puskas believes this same material can be used to coat > silicone gel to prevent breakage and leakage. > > " It looks like the silicone but it is very impermeable > so nothing would go through it, " she said. " We already > know from previous studies that it is bio-compatible. " > > > With the proper funding, Puskas said she could have an > implant ready for clinical trial in about two years. > > " The surgeons I have talked to at the Cleveland Clinic > said they are ready to try it if it gets approval, " > she said. > > The only thing holding her back is funding. Puskas has > written a half dozen funding proposals, but she said > breast implants are not a top priority to most > sponsors. > > " The funding agencies establish their own priorities > based on input from a lot of advisory groups and their > own planning, " said Kelley, dean of the polymer > science department. " Nonprofit foundations also have > set criteria and lots of competitive proposals. " > > Puskas said she gets a positive response whenever she > talks to women's groups about her proposal. > > " They say, 'Why don't we do this,' " Puskas said. " It's > because I have no money. " Until her project receives > funding, the breast implant situation will remain in > limbo. " It deserves a chance, " Puskas said. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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