December 26, 2006 by
Cancer Patient Prepares for Adult Stem Cell Treatment
For the past three years, 36 year old Sabrina has been suffering from cancer that has invaded her lymph nodes, a condition that is better known as non-Hodgkin
December 24, 2006 by
Stem Cell Therapy Effective in Targeting Metastatic Cancer
Since they would be unable to bear the doses of treatment they would need to eliminate the tumors, patients with advanced cancer that has spread to many different sites often do not have many treatment options.
A technique to treat cancers that have spread throughout the body more effectively may have been discovered be researchers at City of Hope and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. So that normal tissue neighboring the tumor and throughout the body remain relatively unharmed, they used modified neural stem cells to activate and concentrate chemotherapeutic drugs predominately at tumor sites.
“This approach could significantly improve future treatment options for patients with metastatic cancer,” said Dr. Karen, M.D., assistant professor of Hematology/Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and Neurosciences at City of Hope. “It not only has the potential to destroy residual tumor cells, but it should also improve patients’ quality of life by minimizing toxic side effects such as nausea, diarrhea or bone marrow suppression.”
The study will be published Dec. 20th in PLoS ONE. A second paper with comprehensive results from the study has been accepted for publication in the January issue of Cancer Research.
Toxic to naturally fast-growing cells in the body such as intestinal cells and hair follicles, most chemotherapy drugs affect both normal and cancerous tissue. However, Dr. Karen and her colleagues have developed a way to localize the drug
December 24, 2006 by
Stem Cells Cure MS, Woman Dances and Walks Down the Aisle at Her Wedding
Suffering from MS, Jennifer didn
December 23, 2006 by
Thanks to Stem Cells, MS Patient has Best Six Months in 33 Years
Great-grandmother Julia has just had her best six months in 33 years even though she suffers from multiple sclerosis.
After going to have revolutionary stem cell treatment in Holland, Julia, 64, is experiencing an extraordinary turnaround from her degenerative illness. Since the therapy is banned in Britain, traveling was unavoidable.
Julia had been afflicted with multiple sclerosis for 33 years, and in July, the York Press reported on her already improving state since being treated in May.
To find out whether the stem cells in her body were still causing her condition to improve, the Press caught up with her for Christmas.
“I’ve had the best six months I’ve had in 33 years,” said Julia, of Bishophill, York. “My spine is stronger. I can move my body better.”
She was already experiencing welcome relief from the painful nerve endings – once so sore they kept her in bed for three months – when the Press reported on her condition just two months after treatment.
A feat she could only manage beforehand by supporting it with her other hand, she was once again able to put on her own make-up because she could lift up her left arm.
The ability to enjoy a hot cup of coffee is another life improvement Julia can enjoy again, in fact, she is enjoying it today.
Since disease meant her body could not cope with the heat, she would have to wait until hot drinks became cold.
Remarkably, her brunette hair has also started to grow back, where before it was grey.
Julia remains hopeful the stem cell treatment might improve her condition so much she could even walk again. She lost the use of her legs seven years ago.
“I’m still hopeful,” she said. “It’s probably wishful thinking, but I’m hopeful of it.”
When she was just 31, Julia was diagnosed with MS in 1973. She was ultimately restricted to a wheelchair as her condition progressively got worse.
In May, she decided to have stem cells injected into the navel, scalp, and spine. Her treatment was conducted using stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood, a treatment which is not available in Britain.
December 21, 2006 by
No More Root Canals for Kids? Stem Cells at Work
Scientists report that kids may be able to say goodbye to the dreaded root canal thanks to the promise of stem cells.
Allowing the young tooth
December 20, 2006 by
FDA Approves Australian Spinal Disease Adult Stem Cell Trial
A world-first Australian medical therapy that uses stem cells to treat degenerative spinal disease has been approved for testing on patients in the U.S.
Using the treatment to replace painful bone grafts is the goal and hope of researchers.
The U.S. government awarded approval to an Australian biotechnology company for its adult stem cell treatment to be used in a major trial.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration allowed it to bypass the small phase-one human safety trial and move directly into a larger phase-two trial since the preliminary animal trials were so promising.
This marks the first time that adult stem cells will be used to treat spinal disc disease in a genetically unrelated patient
December 20, 2006 by
Stem Cells and Old Age Memory Loss Explained
A shortage of neural stem cells in the brain was formerly thought to be the reason that older people exhibited a reduced capacity to learn and remember. However, new research reveals that the reduced ability may be caused by stem cells in brain dividing less frequently instead.
The findings suggest that by stimulating the stem cells’ ability to divide and produce new nerve cells, it may be possible to treat degenerative disorders, including dementia, depression, and Alzheimer
December 13, 2006 by
Hope for Acute Kidney Failure Found with Stem Cells
Earlier therapies for the potentially life-threatening condition, acute kidney failure, have been generally ineffective in treating the disease. But stem cell applications could help improve and protect kidney function in patients as new research reveals.
When kidneys concentrate urine and are unable to remove waste, acute renal failure is the consequence. The outlook for survival in patients is particularly grave when the kidney failure is caused by trauma or surgery.
“Acute renal failure is a common condition that affects up to 7 percent of hospitalized patients,” lead author Dr. Lorenza, Ph.D., of the Fondazione Policlinico in Milano, Italy, told Ivanhoe. “In intensive care units, mortality rate of the disease can be higher than 50 percent of patients.”
Stem cells obtained from full-term umbilical cord blood have characteristics that can stimulate tissue repair and the development of bone and cartilage. New research reveals that these mesenchymal stem cells can help patients recuperate more rapidly and avoid long-term kidney complications associated with tissue damage.
Researchers in Italy used a control solution of intravenous saline or cord blood mesenchymal stem cells to treat mice with acute renal failure. Evaluations were conducted on the mice prior to transplant in order to determine histology and renal function. When blood urea nitrogen, a waste by product that indicates kidney malfunction was measured in the rats, those that received stem cell treatment had much lower levels. A reduction in renal tissue damage was also observed in the mice that were treated with stem cells.
“We observed several renal parameters and saw we have less severe complications,” Dr. Lorenza said. “The tubular renal structure of the animals treated with mesenchymal stem cells is comparable to normal ones [animals].”
Researchers think these preliminary results are promising for future treatment of patients with acute renal failure.
“One of our conclusions is we believe one of the possible clinical treatments for this disease could be cord blood mesenchymal stem cells,” Dr. Lorenza said.
Although further research is still needed, Dr. Lorenza believes that mesenchymal stem cells would offer similar benefits to humans. It would be a safer and more effective treatment for renal failure.
December 13, 2006 by
Stem Cells Proving to be Worthy in PAD Treatment
Peripheral artery disease, or PAD, is a painful circulatory problem in the legs affecting almost 10 million Americans. A doctor from Indiana University School of Medicine is using adult stem cells to treat this disease, with the hope of helping millions.
According to IU sources, as part of an early-phase clinical trial, Dr. Martin has injected 15 PAD patients with stem cells extracted from their own bone marrow.
