Forums » Off duty » News & media » Dede Kosawa, a.k.a. "Tree Man"
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Dede Kosawa, a.k.a. "Tree Man"
posted at 1/12/2009 9:15 PM GMT
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Posts: 8
First: 24/11/2009 Last: 6/12/2009 |
"Dede Kosawa (a.k.a. "Tree Man") lives in a remote village in Indonesia and has an incredible skin condition. Root-like structures grow out of his body; branches that can grow up to 5cm a year which protrude from his hands and feet, and welts covering his whole body." Dede feared he could be killed by the Epidermodysplasia verruciformis covering his body, but "has been given hope of recovery by an American doctor - and Vitamin A" according to the Telegraph (see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1569156/Tree-man-who-grew-roots-may-be-cured.html). The article in the Telegraph says that after having tested samples of Dede's blood, Dr Anthony Gaspari (University of Maryland) concluded that his affliction is caused by the HPV, which is a fairly common infection, but as Dede seems to have a genetic fault that basically stops his immune system from functioning properly. He was suspected to have AIDS due to his incredibly low amount of WBCs, but tests showed he did not. The virus was able to 'order' his skin cells to produce high amounts of the substance that causes the tree-like growths on the surface of the skin of his hands, feet, face and chest. Dr. Gaspari believes that Dede's conditions can "be largely cleared up by a daily doses of a synthetic form of Vitamin A, which has been shown to arrest the growth of warts in severe cases of HPV". The most resilient warts could then be frozen off and the growths on his hands and feet surgically removed.
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Re: Dede Kosawa, a.k.a. "Tree Man"
posted at 2/12/2009 11:15 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 181
First: 15/11/2009 Last: 6/3/2013 |
Very interesting story, thanks for making me aware of it. I too hope that he's cured and that if/when he goes to the US for tests he's not paraded in front of the media and his treatment is kept low key, as you get the feeling he's been the centre of attention for the wrong reasons for long enough. |
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Re: Dede Kosawa, a.k.a. "Tree Man"
posted at 3/12/2009 12:03 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1593
First: 24/12/2008 Last: 14/5/2013 |
They are massive warts! That's causing a lot of problem to that individual and we could see in video. If that's true "be largely cleared up by a daily doses of a synthetic form of Vitamin A, which has been shown to arrest the growth of warts in severe cases of HPV". It will be good for the treeman! He says he wants to get rid of. Hoepfully, he will be treated and it will be amazing to see how much he will improve from the treatment. |
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Re: Dede Kosawa, a.k.a. "Tree Man"
posted at 4/12/2009 7:46 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 9
First: 3/12/2009 Last: 27/5/2012 |
I feel sorry for the guy but if it is such a easy thing as to give tablets of Vit A then we should check the degrees of his doctors.. why not diagnose it early and treat it saving the man going through such an ordeal... its not his fault but his doctors! null
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Re: Dede Kosawa, a.k.a. "Tree Man"
posted at 6/12/2009 5:30 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 8
First: 24/11/2009 Last: 6/12/2009 |
I agree, but I'm guessing - and this is a complete guess - that at this stage of the disease, not that much can be cured by taking supplementary vitamin A... He'll probably have to go through a lot of really painful wart-freezing and surgical processes. ON THE BRIGHT SIDE I might be completely wrong because I'm really not familiar with the disease & treatment... But from what I've seen and read, that's what it seems like to me. |
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