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Stem Cell Transplant Helps Hawaii Professor Live

video chat w/ Turkish doctor

University of Hawaii associate professor, Cristy Kessler, was suffering from a rare combination of three different autoimmune diseases: Vasculitis, Scleroderma, and Akylosing Spondyliitis. The pain was so bad, that, in her own words, she was “preparing to die.” She was constantly on a combination of prescription pain medications including morphine and vicadin, and could barely walk down the street.

Stem cell transplant looked like the only viable option for Cristy, but because the procedure is not approved by the FDA or covered by insurance, she would have to look overseas for options.

Eventually, she did find an option: the Anadolou Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. Because her disease was still in the early phase, doctors were optimistic about her prognosis. In March 2010, Dr. Zafer Gulbas led the taxing two month long procedure consisting of chemotherapy, frequent blood tests, and isolation.

Although long term results won’t be measured for some time, the stem cell transplant seems to have been a success. Kessler is now off the prescription pain medications that she previously depended on just to function, and has a new life. Her immune system is fragile and she is dependent on antibiotics, but says she now wants to enjoy music and “dance like a fool” without being in pain. Watch the video from KITV Honolulu

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Geron Halts Stem Cell Research

in stem cell news,stem cell research

Geron Corporation

Geron Quits Stem Cell Research – A leader in the field of stem cell research, and in the midst of the world’s first clinical trial using embryonic stem cells, Geron Corporation abruptly announced that it is leaving the stem cell business entirely.

This bombshell comes in the midst of a terrible year for the California-based biopharmaceutical company in which the company stock has dropped about 70%. In the wake of the announcement, the stock dropped to another 52 week low today of $1.58 per share.

The decision to cease stem cell trial, which held promise for those with spinal cord injuries, was reportedly a financial decision, as the company said it would focus on more lucrative projects including cancer treatments.

However, critics wonder if this decision was really based primarily on money. “This company would not walk away from this trial in the absence of an unexpected complication or safety concern, if there was any evidence that it was working,” said Dr. Daniel Salomon of the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego.

Many are left to wonder whether embryonic stem cell research has been abandoned entirely in the U.S. Read the story from ABC News

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Researchers Create New Organ From Stem Cells

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mouse stem cells

Functioning Organ Created From Stem Cells

Japanese researchers from the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology have successfully created a fully functioning pituitary gland from the embryonic stem cells of a mouse.

The cultured pituitary gland was then successfully implanted into a mouse, (replacing the animal’s non-functioning organ) where it worked flawlessly.

The significance of this can’t be overstated, as what they have successfully created a functioning organ from a group of stem cells. Although the procedure was done with a mouse, this is an important step in the effort to reproduce human organs, which researchers say is still years away. Read this story

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Scientists Find Solution for Stem Cell Therapy Side Effects

in stem cell news,stem cell research,stem cell therapy

pluripotent stem cells

Pluripotent stem cells are the key to many of the most promising developments in regenerative medicine. Why is that? Because these are the cells (including the well known and controversial embronic stem cells) that can develop into just about any kind of cell in the human body. (i.e. the same stem cells that are used to treat a burn victim can also be used to help prevent a heart attack)

Until now, the main side effect in using these pluripotent stem cells is the chance that the cells won’t change into the appropriate type of cell needed during therapy. These unchanged stem cells are called “undifferentiated,” and can be lethal; possibly even turning into a dangerous tumor called a teratoma.

Recently, scientists at Stanford have developed an antibody to directly identify and destroy these undifferentiated stem cells, potentially eliminating this dangerous side effect… read full article

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Stem Cell Treatment for Heart Attacks Approved in South Korea

in stem cell research

South Korean Scientist

South Korean Stem Cell Program Scores a Victory - Five years have already passed since scandal rocked the South Korean stem cell research program. (This, of course, when professor Hwang Woo-Suk was publicly disgraced after being found guilt of fraud and embezzlement after fabricating the results of his stem cell research.)

And on this five year anniversary, South Korea has not only secured the 2018 Winter Olympics, but has also gained approval from their Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) for a stem cell medication intended for heart attack victims.

Heart Stem Cells

The approval is significant not only for this peticular medication, but according to Oh Il-hwan (professor of molecular biology at the Catholic University School of Medicine in Seoul) represents “the government opening the road for progressive development in stem cell research.”

The Korean Food & Drug Administration said that it had completed the procedures needed to authorize the sale of Hearticellgram-AMI, a stem cell medication for acute myocardial infarction. read full article

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Jon Huntsman & Tim Pawlenty Oppose Embryonic Stem Cell Research

in stem cell news,stem cell quotes

jon huntsman and tim pawlenty

Jon Huntsman & Tim Pawlenty Oppose Embryonic Stem Cell Research – Two Republican presidential candidates Jon Huntsman and Tim Pawlenty confirmed recently that they maintain a position against embryonic stem cell research.

Comments by Huntsman made in 2004 seemed to show his support for embryonic stem cell research, as he was quoted in a newspaper as saying that the stem cell issue was one in which he the pro-life group Eagle Forum disagreed, saying of the conservative group, “Stem cell research would be another issue on which we part company.”

Though previously the governor of a conservative state, and looking to win the support of the conservative (and often anti-stem cell research) Republican Party, Huntsman finds him self in an interesting position, as his father founded the Huntsman Cancer Institute, which publicly advocates the use of embryonic stem cells in cancer research.

Former Minnesota Governor and Republican presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty also confirmed his pro-life, anti embryonic stem cell research (irony?) position during the first Republican debate.

Here is Pawlenty’s full quote from the Republican debate: “As to stem cell research it holds great promise and I support stem cell research. I think it should be adult derived… most of the therapies and breakthroughs that we are seeing interms of treatment are coming from adult derived stem cell research. I strongly support that.

As for embryonic stem cell research, I don’t think we should pursue although President Bush when he was in office said he would allow and authorize the use of research on certain stem cell lines for which the embryo had already previously been destroyed before the issue came to his desk or came to his attention. I did support his approach for that limited window of stem cell research on those existing lines for which the embryo had already been destroyed.”

Most of the other candidates have focused their talking points to Planned Parenthood and abortion, and have yet to directly address their position on the use of embryonic stem cells.

Jon Huntsman Stem Cells – Tim Pawlenty Stem Cells

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Can Stem Cells Heal a Broken Heart?

June 10, 2011

Can Stem Cells Heal a Broken Heart? At University College in London, scientists are optimistic about a new procedure that could help the heart heal itself after a heart attack. The discover focuses on a newly identified source of dormant stem cells in the epicardium, a layer of the sac surrounding the heart. They found [...]

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Cord blood Stem Cells

May 11, 2011

Stem Cells from Cord Blood – In the New Scientist, the question was posed: “should parents pay to have their child’s cord blood stored or instead donate it to a public cord blood bank?” My answer: “If the couple already has a child with a life-threatening blood cancer, then banking the cord blood of a [...]

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