Posted on 03/13/2006 6:30:48 PM PST by Coleus
Japanese researchers have harvested stem cells from human menstrual blood, a medical conference has heard. The researchers say these stem cells could be coaxed into forming specialised heart cells, which might one-day be used to treat failing or damaged hearts.
At the meeting of the American College of Cardiology, Dr Shunichiro Miyoshi reported that he and his colleagues at Keio University in Tokyo collected menstrual blood from six women and harvested stem cells that originated in the lining of the uterus.
They were able to obtain about 30 times more stem cells from menstrual blood than from bone marrow, Miyoshi says. The stem cells were then cultured in a way to induce them to become heart cells. After five days about half of the cells contracted "spontaneously, rhythmical and synchronously, suggesting the presence of electrical communication" between the cells, Miyoshi says.
That is to say, they behaved like heart cells.
The researcher explains that already stem cells derived from bone marrow have been improved heart function, mainly by producing new blood vessels rather than new heart-muscle tissue. He emphasises that it is important that these cells be obtained from younger patients, because they would have a longer lifespan than cells harvested from older donors.
I'm glad I'm not in medical research....
mmmm...okay.
Yuck!
But I'm not surprised at this at all. Could be a valuable discovery.
Anybody want the rest of my steak?
"Don't trust anything that bleeds for five days but doesn't die."
I don't want to be the first man to get an injection of menstrual blood and brag about it at the gym.
Not if it's rare. eeewwwww
Uhh YUCK!
Ok the result is nice but the method.. Yuck and double yuck!
The blood is the life....Renfield.
Very exciting.
Just read about the use of stem cells and donor corneal cells to repairs a man's eyes, blind from early childhood.
Oh-boy. A thread for the intellectuals.
Somebody go tell nancy reagan.
Yeh - ALWAYS listen to a guy who ate spiders and cackled maniacally.
Only if it's rare, and still bleedin'!
True story - back in high school, taking a tour of the Houston Medical Center with Health Occupations class, we watched some open heart surgery, visited a morgue, and even toured the OR's at St. Joeseph's Hospital.
Afterwards, we went to Pizza Hut, where half of us (at least) asked for extra sauce on the pizza... very yummy!
And there it was..... And a thought, a Bible verse, a prophecy we had not before recognized:
Mark 12:10
Haven't you even read this Scripture:'The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner. (WEB)
Have ye not read even this scripture: The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; (ASV)
Have you not seen this which is in the Writings: The stone which the builders put on one side, the same was made the chief stone of the building: (BBE)
Have ye not even read this scripture, The stone which they that builded rejected, this has become the corner-stone: (DBY)
And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: (KJV)
And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: (WBS)
"Have you not read even this passage," He added, "'The stone which the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone: (WEY)
And this Writing did ye not read: A stone that the builders rejected, it did become the head of a corner: (YLT)
*LOL* In my senior year of HS we got to visit the Gross Anatomy Lab at the University of Louisville. After staring at a body that had been preserved for well over a year, listening to the professor do his little speech in front of us and another schools anatomy class, our class turned to look at each other and discuss plans for lunch. McDonald's won, and the look on the other classes face was priceless. Good times, good times...
What's really interesting -- all those women who had bone marrow transplants - or cord blood bone marrow transplants -- from male donors - will have male stem cells in their uterine lining. Even when they're pregnant.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.