According to a team of researchers, stem cells may help repair damaged tissue after a heart attack.

Stem cells played a significant role in repairing damaged hearts in a study that was conducted using mice. But whether it is cells from elsewhere in the body or actual heart cells that are doing the repair is a continuing point of investigation.

So that their heart muscle cells could be stained with a fluorescent protein, Richard Lee of the Harvard Medical School in Boston and colleagues genetically engineered mice.

Around 80 per cent of the heart muscle cells in young mice picked up the stain. Demonstrating that heart muscle cells are not normally replaced in life, the stain level remained the same as the mice aged stated researchers. But, suggesting that new muscle cells are formed in response to injury was a drop to 70% in stained cell count when heart attacks were induced in the mice.

Lee thinks that a limited ability to self-heal would characterize the adult mouse heart and align it with the study results.

“The mechanism to activate cardiac regeneration is present, but it’s inadequate,” he says. “Could that be because mammals don’t have enough [heart] stem cells? There are other theories as well. We need to understand what is holding the system back, so that we can devise a strategy to turn that brake off.”

But Kenneth Chien of the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston is not yet convinced that Lee’s team has identified heart stem cells in the mice. Heart stem cells were only first discovered last year, and although the paper provides many answers, Chien thinks it also raises several questions.

“The evidence is circumstantial because the data is not related to finding the pool of new cells and tagging it, but simply showing that the existing pool changes,” Chien says. “The most important question now is: can you identify that new pool? Are they pre-existing immature cardiac muscle cells? Or are they [stem cells] from the heart or elsewhere in the body?”

Cornea stem cell growth was demonstrated by a new technique at the Area of Cellular Therapy of the University Clinic (University of Navarra). Researchers demonstrated the efficacy of adult stem cells in this capacity.

70 rabbits, which served as test animals, were treated for diseases of the cornea using stem cells. The technique was developed by Dr. Ana Fern

The scientific community’s brief obsession with cloning experiments for stem cell research is about to end if the speculations surrounding the headlines from the June 7 journals Nature and Stem Cell are indeed the major breakthrough they seem to be. The published findings reveal that Japanese researchers have produced embryo-like stem cells from the somatic cells of mice.

“Neither eggs nor embryos are necessary. I’ve never worked with either,” said the papers author Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University in an interview with the London Times. At a conference on stem cell research at the University of Manchester, Yamanaka presented his findings this week.

The cells were made to have the same qualities as a stem cell taken from a very early-stage embryo. The pluripotency was achieved by introducing four proteins which “reprogram” the nuclear DNA in mouse skin cells.

In order to renew and replace tissues in the body, stem cells are used. Thus, healing injuries and curing diseases have become a focus of researchers who are trying to develop new medical applications by using stem cells. Success in experimental treatments of Parkinson’s disease and diabetes, as well as many other conditions has been accomplished with adult stem cells. These cells are now commonly used in some forms of cancer treatment.

Stem cells found in the body are limited in the different types of tissues they can produce. Many researchers support this assessment, especially those who focus on embryonic stem cells research. The pluripotency of embryonic stem cells is an attractive characteristic.

However, the “holy grail” of stem cell research, the equivalent of “transforming lead into gold” could accurately describe the Japanese team’s findings if they are indeed accurate. The discovery of a method of creating pluripotent stem cells exactly matched to the patient without killing an embryonic human being would be one of the most significant discoveries in stem cell research.

Numerous false alarms have transpired over the years with scientists claiming to have discovered a way to work with embryonic stem cells without actually destroying or harming the embryo itself. None of the potential breakthrough’s were a true departure from harming embryos but it seems that the Japanese research team has made this leap.

When asked if whether he thought the Japanese research was another false alarm, Dr. John Shea answered that the paper appeared to present a legitimate breakthrough. Shea said he was still being cautious, but that the research could lead to an ethical solution to the embryo and cloning debate.

Shea, who is a medical ethics consultant to Canada’s pro-life lobby, Campaign Life Coalition said that, “the Japanese team has produced pluripotent embryo-like stem cells similar to blastomeres, those cells found in the earliest stages of embryonic life, but have not created embryos.”

To treat their 20-year-old son, a Monmouthshire couple is planning to use the stem cells derived from the umbilical cord blood of their expected child.

Julian and Joanna are expecting their baby in September, their soon to be newborn son is already named Rhys, and his cord blood will be a match for the 20-year-old Michael.

41-year-old Julian is the biological father of Michael. Joanna, who is 27, is Julian’s current partner. Despite Joanna not being Michael’s biological mother, the cord blood from Rhys will still be compatible.

Since the treatment is illegal in the UK, the family will travel to the United States instead.

Since the illness was diagnosed, Michael has suffered from muscle wastage and experts believe the cells could reverse the damage.

The plan is to fly stem cells to Newcastle University in Boston after they have been extracted and frozen from baby Rhys’ umbilical cord blood. Once in the Boston, the cells will be implanted into Michael’s spinal cord.

Without treatment Michael would not live to see his 21st birthday the doctors said.

The knowledge that stem cells could be used to treat motor neuron disease came to Joanna’s attention when she was researching on the internet while she was six-weeks pregnant.

She said: “Mike’s best chance is to have cells from a donor who is a close genetic match. The best he is going to get is from his own brother even though he is not born yet.”

“To get a match otherwise could take three or four years and Michael doesn’t have years, he only has months.”

“It’s a race against time but Rhys will have a DNA link. We know it’s a long shot and we are all hoping against hope.”

Julian said: “This disease is meant to affect old people. Not my young and healthy son.”

Michael suffers from extreme fatigue and is losing mobility in his hands as well as the rest of his limbs.

The Motor Neuron Disease Association (MNDA) say most sufferers die within two to five years of diagnosis – with half dying within 14 months.

Julian said: “When doctors first diagnosed Mike, none of us knew what it was.”

“Then when we did some research, we couldn’t get our heads round it. This disease is meant to affect old people. Not my young and healthy son.”

“It would be just amazing if little Rhys saved Michael. Rhys will be our miracle baby.”

Motor neuron disease tends to affect men slightly more than women and is most common among people aged 50 to 70. In the UK, the condition affects about 5,000 individuals.

The nerve cells which control muscle activity begin to breakdown causing the progressive disorder.

Symptoms of the disease include difficulties breathing, swallowing, and speaking, as well as the loss of mobility and muscle-wasting.

In the U.S. and Canada, motor neuron disease is being treated with stem cell therapy.

Since doctors are split on its effectiveness, it has yet to be approved by UK health authorities.

A spokeswoman for the MNDA said: “We are not for or against the treatment but it is at very early stages and not proven that it can have any effect on motor neuron disease.”

After Chris Chandler won a celebrity golf tournament, the first thing he did was give his father-in-law, 49ers legend John Brodie, a great big hug.

Chris, the former 49ers quarterback, dedicated his American Century Celebrity Championship golf tournament victory to John, who also played quarterback for the 49ers during his time in San Francisco.

Seven years ago, Brodie suffered a near-fatal stroke. But after two stem-cell treatments in Russia, he has made remarkable improvement over the recent months, with his ability to move his right leg substantially improved and his speech less impaired. Today, he was in the gallery to watch Chris win the tournament.

“From the night it happened to where he is now, it’s a small miracle,” said Chandler, who is married to Brodie’s daughter Diane. “I’m sure there is a level of frustration that he fights every day. But I think as time goes on, he’s showing his strength as a person to hang in there and enjoy life as he can. He’s as tough as nails.”

Another stem-cell treatment is already in the works for the 71-year-old Brodie according to Chris. Brodie no longer has the right arm that led the 49ers to three consecutive division titles in the 1970s, but he is hoping to add the limited mobility he has, and erase even more of the residual effects left from his stroke.

Tyler thought leukemia had gotten the best of him when no suitable bone-marrow donor worldwide could be found. He thought his days were numbered when doctors told him the news last winter.

He wondered how his friends would spend their lives. He had studies in Japan for a year, and his dream of a return trip was now out of the question. Slowly fading to black, were hid goals of becoming a filmmaker.

“I was pretty depressed. I thought a lot about what I had been able to do in life,” said Tyler, 22, of Spokane.

But the umbilical cord blood stem cells from 2 babies were compatible and could help cure him. Tyler felt like he was given a second chance.

Capable of replacing the cancerous cells of leukemia by producing new healthy blood cells; the stem cells a more commonly taken from bone marrow as opposed to cord blood.

Tyler learned that at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, his odds could be further improved by new stem-cell technology.

“It was pretty amazing. I thought, ‘How did you find that?’ ” said Colosimo, now recovering from a cord-blood stem-cell transplant he received May 24.

Finding a biologically matched bone-marrow donor is not the easiest, and Tyler was one of nearly 13,000 people each year who have difficulty finding a match. Despite the 9 million people on donor registries, other family members, and even sibling; there is no help.

Since the vast majority of bone-marrow donors are Caucasian, minorities are disproportionately affected because stem-cell matches are linked to race.

For Tyler, surviving acute myelogenous leukemia would have been unlikely without the suitable cells. Certain kinds of anemia, other types of leukemia, and other potentially fatal diseases can be treated using stem cell transplants.

For children who can’t find an optimal match, stem cells from umbilical cords work well. These cells have been around for almost 20 years.

The donated cells are transplanted and begin producing new cells, but the patient’s blood cells — including the diseased ones — must first be killed off by chemotherapy and radiation prior to transplant.

In contrast to bone marrow which requires a close match, cord-blood stem cells do not need to be as compatible. Additionally, 45 cord-blood banks around the world already have blood available for use.

Since children are smaller in size, they need far fewer cells than adults to quickly replace those killed off by the pre-treatment protocol. To protect against disease and infection, this includes white cells.

While the cells reproduce and build a new immune system adult must be closely monitored since they are vulnerable to potentially fatal infections for about 25 days after such a transplant.

However, there now may be a way around the problem thanks to the efforts of Dr. Colleen Delaney, a Hutchinson Center oncologist and researcher. Quick reproduction of the cord-blood stem cells is stimulated by placing them in a special culture prior to transplant.

The technique draws on the research of Dr. Irwin Bernstein, a Hutchinson Center pioneer in learning how stem cells develop.

In only 17 days, Delaney has expanded the number of blood stem cells 150-fold. The amount of time a patient is most vulnerable to infection is subsequently reduced to about 15 days. Only yielding about a fourfold increase in cells, scientists at other institutions have attempted similar techniques without so much success.

“This can open up a whole new donor pool for people who can’t find donors,” Delaney said.

The treatment is experimental and Tyler is only the third patient to experience it. A 30-year-old woman and a 42-year old San Francisco man both fared well after transplant. The man is battling a viral infection at the present time a year after his treatment, but the woman is now healthy six months following her initial treatment.

Safety of treatment is the primary concern at this point, and it is only in the first phase of research. Over the next two years, this particular phase will involve approximately 12 more patients. Other medical centers will become involved with more trials with more patients if this initial phase proves promising.

“It’s very early in the research now,” Delaney said. “We have to have more patients to see where this is going.”

Since he was diagnosed in November, Tyler has had a rough six months like all leukemia patients do.

Tyler was physically active in various sports including rowing and karate. This made his early symptoms; the terrific aching in his legs, back, and wrists, quite perplexing. He developed difficulty breathing and fever while his test results were pending. Then two days after Thanksgiving, he was diagnosed with leukemia.

To prepare for his transplant, Tyler began his chemotherapy soon so he could put his leukemia into remission. A suitable bone-marrow match could not be found after months of searching. Compatibility issues arose even when checking his brother for a match.

Cord-blood was a welcome alternative, especially with their network of banks. Looking for the very best donors became the luxury of the doctors since patients have a 95% chance of finding a suitable donor with cord blood.

He needed a double dose of stem cells and when two matching donors were found, Tyler was ready.

“I got pretty excited, when Dr. Delaney told me,” he said.

In preparation for the transplant, Tyler decided to go through the harsh treatment.

To make room for the new, healthy cells, total body radiation and chemotherapy were used to destroy all his blood cells as well as the cancerous ones. The process left Tyler exhausted and nauseas.

Dripping into Tyler’s body was a deep red colored solution of stem cells, as Tyler’s parents, Lynn and Tom, and brother Ben gathered in his hospital room on May 24th; the day of the transplant.

“We really looked forward to that Day Zero, as they called it,” said Lynn. “Now we count the days since the transplant.”

Headaches and diarrhea racked his body for two weeks and he developed terrible fevers and mouth sores. These were part of the rough days Tyler had to endure after the transplant.

He was able to retreat to a South Lake Union apartment near the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (where he received outpatient treatment and tests) and Hutchinson Center on June 14th. He will continue his three months of initial recovery there.

Provided that everything goes well, he should be able to recover completely in about a year, but he is exhausted right now. In 2008, he hopes to resume his studies at the University of Idaho, where he would be a senior.

His dreams of becoming a filmmaker have returned, and traveling and perhaps even working in Japan are among his resurrected goals.

“So far, I’m happy with the treatment,” he said. “It seems like it’s working.”