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What's your take on stem cell research?
- Share your point of view. Change someone's mind.
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- ENDS: 10/21/2008 09:00 PM
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Stem Cells Treat Muscular Dystrophy in Mice
Researchers say they turned a mouse with muscular dystrophy into a mighty mouse by injecting stem cells into its muscles. Just a few weeks after injecting the stem cells, which were taken from the muscles of healthy adult mice, the weak and wasting muscles of the ailing mice were almost completely restored to full strength. Researchers say they turned a mouse with muscular dystrophy into a mighty mouse by injecting stem cells into its muscles. Just a few w... more
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Stem cells used on dogs in the US
Maggie Mae is running a lot more these days and even gets on the couch without help.
The 11-year-old Australian shepherd appears to be getting around easier since a Maitland, Florida, veterinarian injected stem cells into her arthritic joints in May.
The novel therapy has been given to 700 dogs throughout the US to ease arthritis. Scientists think the cells can grow into new tissues and may be a treatment for many conditions in the future.
Maggie Mae is helping test the theory. Her owner, Terry Hays of Longwood, Florida, could feel how "crunchy" the dog's hips and other joints had become. She was eager to find relief for the playful and protective shepherd.
Hays was taking Maggie Mae to acupuncture treatments and learned of the stem-cell option during one of those appointments.
"If this is something that works, it could help many people and many animals someday," Hays said. "I'm just thrilled to think (Maggie Mae has) been a part of it."
The stem-cell treatment starts with surgery to remove about 50 grams of fat, typically from the dog's abdomen, explained Dr Jacek de Haan from Affiliated Veterinary Specialists in Maitland.
He said all tissue holds some stem cells, and veterinarians use fat because it's typically plentiful and easy to remove.
The dogs must be healthy enough to have the surgery, which requires the animals to be put under general anaesthesia. Because anaesthesia comes with risks, de Haan said dogs with other major health issues - such as heart disease or kidney failure - are not good candidates.
It's more for dogs that are generally healthy aside from their arthritis.
After the fat is removed, it is sent to the California company that has been using it to help horses recover from tendon and other injuries since 2003.
Vet-Stem began offering the treatment for dogs with arthritis earlier this year. De Haan said the cost is about $2,500.
The company takes the fat sample, isolates the stem cells and returns the solution to the veterinarian, who then injects arthritic joints. There are no guarantees that the dogs will get relief, but many owners report seeing improvements within a month of the treatment, de Haan said.
He has treated seven local dogs so far.
"Usually, activity level improves, they're able to run more and be more active. If they weren't able to jump on furniture before, they are about to do it afterward," he said.
The treatment - because it involves removing and replacing cells from the same animal - is not controversial and not regulated by the government, said Dr Julie Ryan Johnson, a veterinarian and vice-president at Vet-Stem.
That also means it hasn't been tested in large-scale, rigorous studies before it hit the market.
But one study sponsored by the company compared dogs that were given stem cells with those that received placebo injections.
The researchers found that the stem-cell group had significant improvement in their walking and trotting. The animals also had less pain when their joints were manipulated and had greater range of motion.
What exactly are the stem cells doing? Short answer: No one knows.
Johnson said X-rays of the animals' arthritic joints don't show marked differences after treatment, suggesting that the stem cells are working in subtle ways.
"They may be signalling other cells to come in and do different things - to reduce pain and inflammation or build new tissue," Johnson said.
"The X-rays may not look any better, but there's definitely something going on there."
About this articleClose This article was first published on guardian.co.uk on Wednesday June 18 2008. It was last updated at 15:22 on June 18 2008. Maggie Mae is running a lot more these days and even gets on the couch without help. ... more -
Bishops condemn stem cell research
Catholic bishops on Friday condemned the destruction of human embryos for stem cell research as a "gravely immoral act" in the organization's first formal statement on the issue.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops voted 191-1 to adopt the statement, without debate or discussion.
"Harvesting these 'embryonic stem cells' involves the deliberate killing of innocent human beings, a gravely immoral act," the organization said.
The identity of the one dissenter or the reason for his dissent was not made public at the gathering in Orlando.
Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, said ballots are signed but are destroyed after they are counted. Naumann said the reason for the 'no' vote could be as simple as a disagreement with the phrasing in the document.
"I'm assuming the person isn't going against the pope's teaching," Naumann said.
The bishops' vote to adopt the statement, which will be distributed to Catholics in a brochure, came without debate. Catholic bishops on Friday condemned the destruction of human embryos for stem cell research as a "gravely immoral act" in the organiz... more -
Brazil OKs embryonic stem cell research
Brazil's Supreme Court has passed an unprecedented ruling to allow scientists to conduct embryonic stem cell research, which may hold the key to curing Parkinson's disease and diabetes. Advocates say the top court's ruling could make the nation a leader in the field.
The decision is likely to receive condemnation from Brazil's Roman Catholic Church, which has slammed embryonic stem cell research, saying life begins at conception and that by destroying the embryo scientists destroy human life. Brazil's Supreme Court has passed an unprecedented ruling to allow scientists to conduct embryonic stem cell research, which may hold ... more -
A story of a little boy's fight against brain cancer
This blog tells the courageous battle of Mason Leach, a five year old boy who lost his fight with brain cancer 7months ago. It details from diagnosis,his treatment, his struggles to survive,his incredible drive to be a normal little boy and his death. It also tells of his brother's and family's attempts to keep his spirit alive at home, in his school and community. Please take a look....
If there is ever a reason to have stem cell research, Mason losing his life to a disease that can be cured by stem cell research and its technology is it. Although there are those that believe stem cell research uses or kills a life, I argue we are losing lives daily from cancer and other diseases without this research. As the mother of this little boy, it infuriates me that there is the technology and tools out there to push cancer reserach forward, especially in brain tumors, that is being held up by politics. Meanwhile, kids are dying every day from brain tumors. STOP the madness and use the science GOD GAVE US to help heal these people. This blog tells the courageous battle of Mason Leach, a five year old boy who lost his fight with brain cancer 7months ago. It details... more -
Tissue of dead humans to be cloned
Scientists are to be permitted to use tissue from dead people to create cloned human stem cells for research, under a legal change put forward by the government.
Health ministers have proposed that laboratories should be allowed to use stored human tissue to create cloned embryonic stem cells without the explicit consent of the tissue donor. This would allow research to be done on tissue donated for medical research as long as 30 years ago. Scientists would also be able to use cells from people who have died since they donated their tissue or who cannot be contacted.
Scientists are to be permitted to use tissue from dead people to create cloned human stem cells for research, under a legal change put... more -
MPs to vote on hybrid embryo laws
MPs are voting later today on whether to allow scientists to continue to carry out controversial stem cell research using hybrid human-animal embryos.
Gordon Brown has urged MPs to back the work, saying it is a "moral endeavour" that could save thousands of lives.
The Roman Catholic Church has branded the use of hybrid embryos as "monstrous" and says tinkering with life in this way is immoral. MPs are voting later today on whether to allow scientists to continue to carry out controversial stem cell research using hybrid human... more -
Living jacket made up of embryonic stem cells dies
A small jacket made up of embryonic stem cells taken from mice, had to be euthanized because it was growing too quickly for it's own support system. Why grow a jacket?... It was art and the director at the art show is feeling pretty guilty about her mercy killing. A small jacket made up of embryonic stem cells taken from mice, had to be euthanized because it was growing too quickly for it's own s... more
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The Traveler
Stem cell research could potentially cure numerous diseases, provide new ways of healing serious injuries and even extend our life spans.
But does it depend on unethical medical practices to succeed?
Stem cell research could potentially cure numerous diseases, provide new ways of healing serious injuries and even extend our life spa... more -
Man regenerates lost fingertip using magic stem cell powder
All it took was a sprinkling of powder and four weeks. The man was able to regrow not only his skin, but also the nail and the bone. The powder contains an extracellular matrix made from pig bladders that tells the body to regenerate, summoning up even adult stem cells. All it took was a sprinkling of powder and four weeks. The man was able to regrow not only his skin, but also the nail and the bone. T... more
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UK's first human-cow embryos created
Scientists at Newcastle University have successfully created human-cow hybrid embryos that grew for three days. This achievement, they believe, forms a crucial first step towards being able to supply stem cells for research into untreatable conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The embryos are 99.9% human and 0/1% cow. Their goal is to grow such embryos for six days and then extract stem cells for research. They used cow eggs because of the scarcity of human eggs for research, and they insist that the embryos would never be implanted in a woman.
This achievement comes just days after fierce condemnation from religious groups that forced Gordon Brown to give MPs a vote on the human fertilization and embryology bill. Scientists at Newcastle University have successfully created human-cow hybrid embryos that grew for three days. This achievement, they... more -
Embryo voting allowed by Brown
Gordon Brown today revealed Labour MPs will be allowed a free vote on some controversial aspects of new embryology laws, even though he had been under increasing pressure from
church leaders opposed to the proposals to allow MPs to follow their consciences.
Mr. Brown also insisted that MPs would be expected to support the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill as a whole and not block its progress:
"The Bill itself cannot be subject to a free vote because there are so many other changes we believe are necessary as part of building up the research framework in our country."
He also claimed the government planned to ban so-called "designer babies," as well as beginning "to ban in a large number of instances, experimentation with animal embryos".
What's your thoughts on MPs being allowed a free vote on the proposals?
Gordon Brown today revealed Labour MPs will be allowed a free vote on some controversial aspects of new embryology laws, even though h... more -
Cloning breakthrough used to treat Parkinsons
Therapeutic cloning has been successfully used to treat Parkinson's disease in mice, US researchers say. The study provides the best evidence so far that the controversial technique could one day help people with the condition.
Parkinson's disease is a condition where nerve cells in the part of the brain that controls muscle movement either die or become impaired. In therapeutic cloning, the nucleus of a cell is inserted into an egg with the nucleus removed. This cell then develops into an embryo from which stem cells can be harvested and used as a treatment.
In this study, stem cells were developed into dopamine-producing neurons the missing nerve cells in Parkinson's disease. Scientists are pursuing the use of stem cell therapy for Parkinson's disease because it would allow the replacement of the dead dopamine-producing nerve cells with new, healthy cells.
Therapeutic cloning has been successfully used to treat Parkinson's disease in mice, US researchers say. The study provides the best e... more -
Cloned cells bring hope to sufferers of Parkinsons
Cloned embryonic stem cells have been used to treat animals with Parkinsons disease for the first time, in an important step towards developing the therapy for human patients. It's the first time the technique has been used to reverse the effect of Parkinsons in animals, using cloned stem cells to replace cells in the brain damaged by the disease.
The stem cells could soon be harvested from embryo's within the patients own body eliminating the chances of rejection since the cells have the same immune system and blood type. Is this yet more evidence that embryonic stem cell research is something that needs to go ahead? Cloned embryonic stem cells have been used to treat animals with Parkinsons disease for the first time, in an important step towards d... more -
The Nose Knows....How to cure Spinal injuries.
This is a somewhat dated article from the Guardian detailing a new procedure also covered on the Science Chanel's Beyond tomorrow this week where stem cells found in the nose are transplanted in spinal tissue to generate recovery. Though not a complete cure with the aid of two years of intense therapy it has produced results. Allowing those treated to regain simple bodily functions we all take for granted like bowel movements and sexual function as well as regaining the ability to walk in some. This is a case of the nose knowing a great deal more than we thought. Scientists describe the procedure as straightforward, the nasal tissue is hard tissue and needs only be implanted in such a way that it will never be exposed again and then it goes to work. Stem cell research is often controversial in America. I am sad to say this procedure does not exist in the United States and only one American has recieved the procedure in Lisbon, Portugal. I hope for a day when the political climate changes enough for us to take the lead on such promising research. ... more -
are you fuckin kiddin??
are you kiddin? I am going to die..
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Stems of hope for treating incurable diseases
Two Professors at the Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem have succeeded in improving the condition of MS and ALS patients by using stem cells transplants. The researchers extracted stem cells from each patient's bone marrow, cultured them, and then injected them into the patients' spine. The encouraging results of this small clinical study may give hope to those who suffer from these incurable diseases, as well as to researchers developing stem cells techniques for treatment of other diseases. Two Professors at the Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem have succeeded in improving the condition of MS and ALS patients by us... more
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Why men are obsolete
British scientists have concluded a round of messing around with inner body parts with creating sperm from female bone marrow, causing considerable distress to those cheeky chaps at the Daily Mail. Any children born using this method would be female (due to the lack of Y chromosomes), and there is high chance of birth defects. Researchers in Brazil, meanwhile, claim to have turned embryonic stem cells from male mice into both sperm and eggs. They are now working on skin cells. British scientists have concluded a round of messing around with inner body parts with creating sperm from female bone marrow, causing... more
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Man gets new jaw grown from his own stem cells
Scientists in Finland said they had replaced a 65-year-old patient's upper jaw with a bone transplant cultivated from stem cells isolated from his own fatty tissue and grown inside his abdomen.
Researchers said on Friday the breakthrough opened up new ways to treat severe tissue damage and made the prospect of custom-made living spares parts for humans a step closer to reality.
This is an absolutely amazing new procedure. Its a shame that our moral-based policies are keeping us from being at the cutting edge of this medical technology. Scientists in Finland said they had replaced a 65-year-old patient's upper jaw with a bone transplant cultivated from stem cells isola... more -
Finnish patient gets new jaw from own stem cells
Scientists in Finland said they had replaced a 65-year-old patient's upper jaw with a bone transplant cultivated from stem cells isolated from his own fatty tissue and grown inside his abdomen. Scientists in Finland said they had replaced a 65-year-old patient's upper jaw with a bone transplant cultivated from stem cells isola... more
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Stem Cells
