Posted on 02/20/2008 8:28:41 PM PST by FocusNexus
Transplanting brain cells produced from human embryonic stem cells helped fix stroke damage in the brains of rats, according to scientists who hope to test the same thing in people within about five years.
Researchers have been looking for ways to repair the brain damage from a stroke, which can cause permanent disability. In a study published on Tuesday, researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine in California reported that treatment involving human embryonic stem cells may be a solution.
The transplanted cells helped repair the stroke damage and enabled the rats to recover lost function in front legs weakened as a result of the stroke, they added.
"It was not quite back to normal but, at least in the rat, it looks like it's going to be close to normal -- very impressive," Steinberg said.
Some people oppose the use of human embryonic stem cells on ethical grounds because creating the reservoirs of these cells for use in research involves the destruction of human embryos.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Link to article at ABC News (in my main link, I gave the link to the print version, so it's all on one page)
Here is the other article about use of stem cells to cure diabetes (rather than post a separate thread):
Researchers Use Embryonic Stem Cells to Treat Diabetes
Doctors may be one step closer to using stem cells to cure diabetes, according to a new study by researchers at the stem cell engineering company Novacell, Inc. in San Diego who report that they managed to convert human embryonic stem cells into insulin-producing cells.
Insulin is the chemical produced in the pancreas that allows the body to regulate blood-sugar levels — and it is precisely the substance that many of those with diabetes lack.
The researchers, who reported their findings in the journal Nature Biotechnology, found that when they injected these human cells into diabetic mice, the treatment alleviated diabetes in the rodents.
Good for the critters. It’s the Year of the Rat, after all.
Great advance! For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of this country! [/rat]
Fund it! Think of all the people who can be employed rounding up and injecting the rats in NYC alone!
“Some people oppose the use of human embryonic stem cells on ethical grounds because creating the reservoirs of these cells for use in research involves the destruction of human embryos.”
Bad news for HUMAN LIFE!
This only works in Rats?? No hope for Republicans or other conservatives?
I know you were just kidding — but “who hope to test the same thing in people within about five years. “
“Some people oppose the use of human embryonic stem cells on ethical grounds because creating the reservoirs of these cells for use in research involves the destruction of human embryos.”
In the days of Antichrist, all of Christ’s miracles will be reproduced, save that the dead will not be raised.
There are no brain cells in embryonic stem cells. ESCs are pluripotent (or whatever) and havent developed in any specific organ yet.
This is very good news though. I hope it works.
I’ve had a disability for ten years, and had to quit a job I loved because of it, but, if I could, WOULD NOT ALLOW AN EMBRYO TO BE KILLED to benefit my life.
Regards,
Sun
(former embryo)
“human embryonic stem cells helped fix stroke damage in the brains of rats”
So why can’t we try using the embryonic stem cells of rats (or say dolphins) in HUMANS?
Since this seems to work across species...
The sooner Republicans die, the sooner the DNC can have them vote for Democrats.
ping
We are entering a new medical age that will see what will seem like miracles when many lifes are saved and or improved with gene therapies. It’s quite exciting.
There’s now, and finally, a Cleveland hospital using the patient’s own stem cells to use in healing his own cardiac conditions. Before this, the procedure was performed in Bangkok, making it a very long trip for American cardiac patients to take.
With this procedure occurring now, it’s only a matter of time before other organs can be repaired in the same manner. Good news indeed.
I agree with your comments. Did you read that article the other day here, where they addressed the tip of a finger (about 1/4 inch) being induced to grow back? The fingernail and all came back. The article went on to address other tissues that could be helped in this manner including heart tissue and other areas of interest.
It was a great read, providing a lot of hope for the future.
Stem cell transplants 'may benefit stroke victims' Monday, 28 Jan 2008 12:56
Stroke victims could see their condition improve after receiving stem cell transplants, two separate studies have concluded today.MultiStem for StrokeBoth studies saw transplanted stem cells successfully migrate and one noted significant reductions in cell death.
They are published today in the journal Cell Transplantation [snip]
Commenting on the findings, Cell Transplantation associated editor De Cesar Borlongan said: "Both studies lend important support to a growing body of laboratory evidence that bone marrow is a remarkable adult stem cell source for transplant therapy following stroke.
MultiStem is a biologic product that consists of undifferentiated human stem cells obtained from adult bone marrow or other non-embryonic tissue sources. The cells may be produced on a large scale for future clinical use and stored in frozen form until needed. Material from a single qualified donor may be used to produce hundreds of thousand or even millions of clinical doses of MultiStem, which are extensively characterized to ensure product consistency and safety.
"Moreover, one of the biggest concerns about injecting patients with embryonic stem cells is that these cells have the potential to develop into cancerous tumors."The study does show that these [human embryonic stem cells] might have developed to a point where they appear to be no longer [tumor-forming]," said Dr. Bryon Petersen, associate professor in the department of pathology at the University of Florida College of Medicine. "This is a good thing, but what needs to follow is just how long will these cells stay fully differentiated — to make these cells no longer a threat to the patient's long-term health."
Seems that I've heard the issue of tumors once or twice before...with other "prospective" therapies that have since been abandoned. Seems the tumor issue hasn't come up with cord-blood stem cells or adult stem cells, though.
All too true ... the DNC death-vote!!
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