More & More Evidence There is No Need For Embryonic Stem Cell Research
2 more success stories using adult stem cells that offer hope now, rather than the pie-in-the-sky hope embryonic stem cell research proponants offer somewhere in the distant future. Successes that offer life without sacrificing the lives of innocent unborn children. The 1st story is a press release from StemSave about using adult stem cells from teeth. The fact that it was an Italiano research team makes me proud. But also angry that we are wasting our tax dollars in the USA on embryonic stem cell research that is immoral as well as unneeded.
In a statement today, StemSave : (TM), Inc., the market leader in the field of stem cell recovery and cryo-preservation lauds research : published in the November issue of the European Cells and Materials Journal citing the reconstruction of the human mandible bone with autologous dental pulp stem cells. StemSave commends Italian researchers from the 2nd University of Naples for their groundbreaking work.
This marks the first time dental stem cell research has moved from the laboratory to human clinical trials. The repair and regeneration of bone is particularly significant for the oral maxillofacial field because the repair of these bones, which aid in orofacial functions like speech, chewing, swallowing and facial expressions are extremely intricate and complex.
According to Dr. David Matzilevich, M.D., Ph.D., Science Advisor to StemSave, “These clinical studies are so significant because autologous dental stem cells were expanded in vitro and for the purpose of oro-maxillofacial bone repair. These cells also facilitated the graft, eliminating immunologic complications such as rejection or excessive inflammation. This is compelling because it creates an environment which proves to be more favorable and successful for new mandibular bone to grow. This approach also appears superior to current methodologies utilizing cadaverous tissue or grafting tissue from another part of the body. I am very excited that dental stem cells have emerged as critical players in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine now that they have been proven to differentiate into multiple lineages.”
“This breakthrough clinical study, which uses the patient’s own stem cells harvested from their teeth to repair bone, is the first of what we believe will be an expanding number of applications to treat a broad array of disease, trauma and injury. And because dental stem cells are easy to recover as part of routine dental procedures, this represents the first of many upcoming uses in the field of personal and regenerative medicine and supports the wisdom of banking your own stem cells from your teeth,” said Art Greco, CEO of StemSave, Inc.
StemSave : provides an affordable and non-invasive method for the recovery and cryo-preservation of the powerful Adult Stem Cells found in teeth by teaming up with dentists to harvest stem cells during routine dental procedures. For more information, visit http://www.stemsave.com/
Then there is this bit of good news for adults who are suffering from sickle cell anemia:
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 9 -- Researchers say that a new method of bone marrow transplantation cured nine out of 10 adult patients with sickle cell disease, an inherited condition that causes bouts of severe pain, organ damage and sharply limits life expectancy.
Adults have typically not been candidates because they were thought to be too sick to handle the high doses of chemotherapy and radiation necessary to prep the body for the procedure, explained senior study author Dr. John Tisdale, a senior investigator in the molecular and clinical hematology branch at the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Until now, transplantation was generally reserved for more resilient children, whose bodies had not yet suffered as much damage from sickle cell disease.
Until now, transplantation was generally reserved for more resilient children, whose bodies had not yet suffered as much damage from sickle cell disease.
But the new method allows for a less grueling pre-transplantation routine, one that even adults with severe sickle cell can tolerate.
. . . . .
In the new study, Tisdale and his colleagues gave 10 patients ages 16 to 45 with severe sickle cell disease alemtuzumab, a drug used to suppress immune system T-cells; relatively low doses of radiation; and sirolimus, an immune suppressant to fight rejection. Marrow donors were siblings with matched HLA (human leukocyte antigen) markers in their blood.
None of the patients experienced graft-versus-host disease, one of the most common and potentially fatal complications of bone marrow transplants, in which the body rejects the new bone marrow.
After 30 months, all of them are alive, and nine of the patients had successful grafts and are considered cured of sickle cell disease, according to the study.
"It's been transforming for these patients," Tisdale said. "These were the sickest of the sick patients. Some were in the hospital every other week for pain or other crises. Today, some have gone back to school and to work. One patient had a baby."
The last item is important, because in conventional bone marrow transplants, high doses of chemotherapy drugs and radiation typically destroy fertility. However, the lower level of radiation used in the new method does not seem to do this.
None of the patients experienced graft-versus-host disease, one of the most common and potentially fatal complications of bone marrow transplants, in which the body rejects the new bone marrow.
After 30 months, all of them are alive, and nine of the patients had successful grafts and are considered cured of sickle cell disease, according to the study.
"It's been transforming for these patients," Tisdale said. "These were the sickest of the sick patients. Some were in the hospital every other week for pain or other crises. Today, some have gone back to school and to work. One patient had a baby."
The last item is important, because in conventional bone marrow transplants, high doses of chemotherapy drugs and radiation typically destroy fertility. However, the lower level of radiation used in the new method does not seem to do this.
. . . . .
Conventional bone marrow transplants cure sickle cell disease by first using chemotherapy and radiation to wipe out the person's own marrow, which makes the faulty red blood cells. The marrow is replaced with stem cells from a donor's marrow, which then takes over and begins to produce new, healthy red blood cells.
But when doing the new bone marrow transplants, the researchers noted that not all of the patient's own marrow was wiped out. Some remained and seemed to co-exist with the donor marrow without causing problems, Tisdale said.
"That meant we didn't necessarily have to kill the entire bone marrow of the patient to make this work," Tisdale said, opening the possibility of using an even less toxic means of preparing the body for transplant.
Though most patients in the study are still taking immune-suppressant drugs, researchers hope to eventually wean them off the medications.
Dr. Miguel Abboud, a pediatric hematology/oncology specialist and a professor of pediatrics at the American University of Beirut Medial Center, in Lebanon, said the new protocol is promising, especially since it could eventually include those who don't have an HLA-matched sibling.
"The findings are very significant because adults with very severe sickle cell disease have decreased life expectancy and multiple morbidities but have limited therapeutic options," said Abboud, who wrote an accompanying editorial. "In the past these patients were excluded from transplant studies as they are very poor candidates for high dose chemotherapy regimens. This study makes it possible to offer this subset of patients with severe sickle cell disease stem cell transplants."
But when doing the new bone marrow transplants, the researchers noted that not all of the patient's own marrow was wiped out. Some remained and seemed to co-exist with the donor marrow without causing problems, Tisdale said.
"That meant we didn't necessarily have to kill the entire bone marrow of the patient to make this work," Tisdale said, opening the possibility of using an even less toxic means of preparing the body for transplant.
Though most patients in the study are still taking immune-suppressant drugs, researchers hope to eventually wean them off the medications.
Dr. Miguel Abboud, a pediatric hematology/oncology specialist and a professor of pediatrics at the American University of Beirut Medial Center, in Lebanon, said the new protocol is promising, especially since it could eventually include those who don't have an HLA-matched sibling.
"The findings are very significant because adults with very severe sickle cell disease have decreased life expectancy and multiple morbidities but have limited therapeutic options," said Abboud, who wrote an accompanying editorial. "In the past these patients were excluded from transplant studies as they are very poor candidates for high dose chemotherapy regimens. This study makes it possible to offer this subset of patients with severe sickle cell disease stem cell transplants."
. . . . .
"This is an important paper and a big step forward for the field," Krishnamurti said. "Now we are able to say, 'OK, young adults or not so young adults can be transplanted successfully.' That is a very big deal."
Adult stem cells are saving lives now, they are improving the quality of life now. They are successful now. They are where the money should be going. & is being directed by those who provide private funding. The reality is simple. Those people are going to invest the money where the success is most likely to bring about a return on their money. that is why the big push for embryonic stem cell research funding from our tax dollars. Investors see no short or long term return, just failure after failure.
So the next time someone says embryonic stem cells are the only hope, & that there is nothing out there now, ask them to explain these or the 70-80 plus other treatments out there already offering hope.
Also, be careful of those who try & lump all stem cells together & again say there is nothing out their now. they are usually trying to use that as a back door way to make it sound like those who oppose embryonic research as being opposed to all stem cell research. We aren't, just the research that requires you to murder an unborn child to do it.
(For more info check out any of my 3 links to Ethical Stem Cell Research in the right hand column.)
Labels: Stem Cell Research
posted by Al @ 12:12 AM
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