After the first successful stem cell treatment in India for spinal cord injuries, a 23-year-old man who was paralyzed from the waist down was able to walk. After only two months of adult stem cell therapy, he has regained the ability to walk. Doctor

It is almost definite that a presidential veto will obstruct the democratic controlled house and their recent effort to drive embryonic stem-cell research forward by expanding federal funding. The decision to boost funding won by a 253-174 vote, but fell under the 290 required to take precedence over any potential, and in this case expected, executive branch intervention.

Proponents of the bill say a veto would obstruct scientific efforts that could guide the way to prospective breakthroughs for the treatment of many diseases. But contrary to what many have been led to believe, that is not the case.

Adult stem cells, an ethical alternative to those that are derived from embryos, have proven themselves to be more effective thus far and have accomplished astonishing breakthroughs far beyond anything managed by their embryonic counterparts.

Almost 1,300 clinical trials are presently underway involving adult stem cells, and they are responsible for the treatment and cures for more than 70 diseases. A wider assortment of mature stem cells can be created using adult stem cells as science persistently proves. The January issue of Nature Biotechnology highlighted perhaps the most promising of these results.

Stem cells derived from the amniotic fluid that fills sacs surrounding the fetus emerged as an equal rival to embryonic stem cells. While preserving the imperative advantage of verified success over embryonic stem cells, they are also equivalent in terms of versatility compared to embryo derived cells. The discovery was reported by Anthony who is the director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Since there are no realistic applications for embryonic stem cells at the moment, those on the hunt for more embryonic stem cell funding from taxpayer dollars have felt distraught with the discovery. At least 10 years stand in the way of approved embryonic stem cell treatments according to researchers, and not even one single clinical trial has been performed using embryo derived cells thus far.

An advantage once held by embryonic cells was their capacity to replicate. Outside the body, adult stem cells cannot be multiplied for extended periods of time, where embryonic cells can expand indefinitely. However, with the ability to double every 36 hours, amniotic stem cells grow just as rapidly as embryonic cells. Without any indication of slowing, they have now been expanding the same amniotic stem cell line for two years at Wake Forest University.

Perhaps, one advantage still holds true for embryonic stem cells, and that is their potential to possibly develop into all 220 varieties of human cells. They can differentiate into all three subtypes of cells, or

Swinging his legs in an airport chair while waiting, five-year old Brendan is becoming impatient.

His sister Tori and both of his parents have been gone for over a month and he is excited to see them.

With the hope that it would bring back the girl everyone used to know, Tori was accompanied by her parents on a journey to China to undergo stem cell therapy.

Brendan tackled his family with hugs and kisses as soon as he saw them walk off the jet ramp.

“It’s been a long trip,” said Tim, Tori’s father, tearing up. “But hopefully we’ll see some improvements.”

Now they are glad to reunite with family and friends even though they may be worn out from the 44 hours of traveling.

In an effort to reduce some of the effects of Tori’s brain damage, her treatment on the 20th floor of the Chinese clinic was composed of electronic muscle treatment, acupuncture, aggressive physical therapy, and of course stem cells.

After being trapped in a submerged vehicle that flipped into a canal in a car accident, Tori was deprived of oxygen for more than 25 minutes. It was on that day, June 19th, 2005, that Tori and her entire family’s lives completely changed. Tori’s ability to eat, speak, and her mobility were all taken away that day due to the anoxic brain injury she suffered.

Improvements in eating, better control of her body, and more successful communication were results that the family hoped for more than a month ago when discussing the stem cell treatment and trip to China. And Tori’s circumstances have already begun to improve.

“Tori’s flexibility and joint range is greatly improved,” her father Tim said in an e-mail interview from China. “Whether that is purely a result of the physical therapy or a combination of physical therapy and the stem cells is really unknown.”

She has gained greater control of her arms, particularly her right one. And other improvements include her increased mobility and ability to eat food by mouth.

“She even held a cookie and brought it to her own mouth for a bite. She definitely could not do that prior to this trip,” Tim said, adding that his wife Maria believes Tori is also more responsive and quicker to react.

Before the journey to China, that is what Maria hoped she would see.

“I hope it helps,” she said in a Jan. 5 interview. “I don’t expect a miracle. Even just something little, like eating better or communicating more.”

In the two to six-month period following the stem-cell treatment, they are hoping for even more development. Most patients see the most results during that time explained Tim.

“We want to hear meaning from her voice, perhaps a definitive ‘Mom’ or ‘Dad,’ ‘yeah’ or ‘no’,” he said. Improved muscle control is also a hope he added.

Tim said they may try a second round of hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatment, and will continue the electronic muscle and acupuncture treatment, emphasizing that they wouldn’t just be waiting around for results to manifest themselves.

And if they see positive results from the first stem cell treatment, a second trip could appear on the agenda as well.

“Whether it is for the stem-cell treatment she received this time (adult stem cells taken from an umbilical cord) or for some other types that are becoming available now and that I am researching, I don’t know,” Tim said.

Maria was grateful that Tori at the very least had the opportunity to undergo the procedure.

“It was a privilege that she was able to go there and get this treatment,” she said. “There are so many people that can benefit from it. It was fortunate she was able to go.”

Yesterday, a ground-breaking stem cell treatment allowed women to create their own breast implants.

Encouraging stem cells to form breast tissue, scientists were able to initially harvest the cells from the women’s own fat.

Unlike the synthetic implants that are used by Hollywood stars, the outcome from the stem cells produce in a more natural appearance.

Women who have undergone the procedure say they have had no problems, and the Japanese research team responsible has carried out trials on dozens of women.

Plastic surgeons should be able to use the treatment within the next five years.

The method proved to be convincing for British surgeons. They called the procedure an “appealing” new technique.

The procedure involves extracting stem cells from fat, which can develop into many diverse tissues in the body.

The stem cells are combined with common fat cells and then injected back into the a patient’s breasts by Dr. Yoshimura and his team at the University of Tokyo.

The hope is the stem cells will lead to the development of new fat cells and persuade blood vessels to grow into new breast tissue and nourish it.

Without suffering any adverse side effects, 38 women have been treated with the technique since 2004 when it was first used.

Further tests are still considered necessary since the long-term efficacy has not been entirely demonstrated.

Current obstacles include the fact that slender patients may not have an adequate amount of fat to spare, but this could potentially be remedied in the future by using donor fat cells that have been tested for immune compatibility. But more pressing may be that compared to existing synthetic implants, the technique can increase breast size by only half as much.

However, the stem cell enhanced breasts avoid problems that plagued older silicone implants such as leaking. The effect is also more natural looking believes Dr. Yoshimura.

“Natural implants” can already be made using fat. But doctors say that since they lack a blood supply, they can shrink over time.

The stem cell enhancement would not be susceptible to this problem.

Dr. Yoshimura said: “I believe that within five years my procedure will be available as plastic surgery and that it will prove very popular.”

Proclaiming that stem cells can produce longer-lasting and shapelier implants as well as eliminate the need for extra surgery is Dr. Jeremy. He is a scientist at the University of Illinois.

In 2005, the U.S. doctor presented his work in Washington at that American Association for the Advancement of Science conference.

In order to generate varying sizes and shapes of implants, Dr. Jeremy changed stem cells into fat producing, or adipose cells in his tests.

These were cultivated in the laboratory and then injected beneath the skin of laboratory mice.

Upon observation, they were the same size and shape after being removed four weeks later.

An interest for patient use has risen among several British plastic surgeons.