Embryonic stem cells used to regrow heart tissue [University of Washington]

Seattle Times ^

[SoldierMedic]

Human embryonic stem cells have been used to regrow the heart muscles of rats that had survived lab-induced heart attacks, scientists from the University of Washington and a private biotechnology company reported today.

Because the rebuilt heart muscle halted the progression of heart failure, the findings offer encouragement that treatments based on embryonic stem cells someday might be used to help people who suffer heart attacks, a leading cause of death in the U.S, said Chuck Murry, a UW researcher and an author of the study.

Unlike many tissues in the body, heart muscle cells don't regenerate. So when heart attacks cause the heart cells to die, they are replaced by scar tissue, which doesn't beat. Often, that leads to outright heart failure and death.

[SoldierMedic]

University of Washington, Woof Woof!

[Grizzled Bear]

So when heart attacks cause the heart cells to die, they are replaced by scar tissue, which doesn’t beat. Often, that leads to outright heart failure and death.

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And when the embryonic stem cells turn cancerous do the tumors beat? They’ve already done the same thing with Adult Stem Cells and it’s much safer!

[SoldierMedic]

They’ve already done the same thing with Adult Stem Cells and it’s much safer!

Murry, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Biology at the UW's Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, has long struggled to use adult stem cells to recreate heart muscle. He and UW colleague Michael Laflamme, the lead researcher on this study, knew from other studies that human embryonic stem cells could become heart muscle cells in rats — an encouraging first step.

To make the breakthrough, Murry and his colleagues used the so-called "presidential lines" of stem cells. Those cells are generated from a group of embryos that had already been destroyed before the Bush administration limited research on embryonic stem cells.

"We're pleased to be able to provide an example of something that can be done with embryonic cells that can't be done with adult stem cells," Murry said.

[Aria]

There was an article here the other day about a woman whose own stem cells were used to regenerate her heart. And it was cheap!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1885160/posts

[CindyDawg]

Let’s see...kill a young healthy life with his future and tax revenue ability ahead of him to save the life of a diseased older person, probably on disability?

[VeritatisSplendor]

It’s been done with adult stem cells, in human beings.

But they just have to try it with rats because embryonic stem cells will be better.

Mrs VS

[Grizzled Bear]

Sorry. Not true.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1885160/posts

Carron, a 58-year-old Alabama mother, was in bad shape last year after suffering four heart attacks. The right side of her heart was functioning at less than 50 percent. Carron needed a new heart—but 100,000 people were ahead of her on the transplant list.

(Snip)

In October, surgeons removed 500ccs of bone marrow from Carron’s left hip. The cells were cultivated, and four hours later, 30 million stem cells were injected into the right side of Carron’s heart.

(Snip)

As Carron put it: “The doctor calls and says, ‘Ma’am, the right side of your heart is normal.’ I was in la-la land for several days.” The procedure cost just $600. Not a bad price for what amounts to a brand-new heart.

When Carron came down to earth, she had a question for her doctor: “I don’t understand,” she said, “why we have this huge political mess going on about stem cells. I’m living proof that adult stem cells work far better than embryonic.” And she adds: “Why should embryonic [stem-cells] even be in the discussion?” Good question.

[LibFreeOrDie]

Research done with stem cells derived from adult heart tissue:

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2005/11_14_05.html

[cryptical]

Let’s see...kill a young healthy life with his future and tax revenue ability ahead of him to save the life of a diseased older person, probably on disability?

I'll play that game. Kill a potential life that may never exist to save the life of a human being?

[Petronski]

Thank God for those fine doctors and researchers and for such amazing ingenuity! That’s a dazzling story.

[SoldierMedic]

to save the life of a diseased older person, probably on disability?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20450427/

SEVILLA, Spain - Sevilla defender Antonio Puerta was in “very serious” condition Sunday after two cardiac arrests during his team’s 4-1 win over Getafe a day earlier.

The 22-year-old Spain defender lost consciousness and fell near his own goal Saturday in the 31st minute, but walked off minutes later after being treated by team doctors. He again lost consciousness in the dressing room and was rushed to the hospital.

[Grizzled Bear]

I’ll play that game. Kill a potential life that may never exist to save the life of a human being?

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How about let’s not kill anybody and use the treatment that has gotten results, the patients own adult stem cells.

[Grizzled Bear]

It’s really amazing what can be done while maintaining Moral integrity! Regardless of political beliefs; how can the MSM and the liberal community ignore Adult Stem Cells? It makes no sense at all.

[CindyDawg]

If this was about naturally aborted babies (miscarriages) that might be different but we know this isn’t what is going on here. I know people that have heart problems that are open for different treatments but I don’t know of any that would want another life killed to live.

[CindyDawg]

Reading my post, I came across harsher than I intended. I’m all for improving and extending lives. We need to look at other options though. When we start having to look at who should die so others can live, something is very wrong.

[SoldierMedic]

When we start having to look at who should die so others can live, something is very wrong.

Try looking at it as "Who has died, how can society benefit?". Abortions won't stop a year from now, and if it ever is outlawed, that probably won't be for decades. Why not try to find a benefit?

[Wonder Warthog]

"....knew from other studies that human embryonic stem cells could become heart muscle cells in rats — an encouraging first step."

So, does this mean that they can use RAT embryonic stem cells to treat human hearts??? Sometimes these articles pushing HESC (aka "dead babies") research surpass absolute stupidity.

[Grizzled Bear]

Try looking at it as “Who has died, how can society benefit?”. Abortions won’t stop a year from now, and if it ever is outlawed, that probably won’t be for decades. Why not try to find a benefit?

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Since the Chinese are not going to outlaw selling the organs of political prisoners why not try to find a benefit?

Enjoy riding the slippery slope. But watch out for that abrupt stop at the bottom. It’s hell!

[CindyDawg]

GB did this. He said they could use the ones already killed. That wasn’t good enough. Society can greatly benefit IMO by respecting the life of the unborn. All kinds of research is happening from adult stem cell. If you want to live longer and healthier that’s the way to look IMO.

[Brilliant]

Oh great... Now they are using HUMAN embryonic stem cells to grow rat tissue.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Why not try to find a benefit?

That's Mengele logic.