by Leigh Matthews on May 16, 2012
The discovery of stem cells only in the larger salivary gland ducts could revolutionize head and neck cancer treatment.
Radiotherapy for
head and neck cancer can destroy salivary glands, with radiotoxic damage to the parotid gland causing 200,000 cases of xerostomia annually.
Stem cells found in the ducts in the salivary gland may offer an answer to the problem of xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients with Spanish scientists reporting on a possible breakthrough in
stem cell research at the ESTRO 31: European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology 2012 Annual Conference this month.
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by Leigh Matthews on May 9, 2012
Radbod Darabi, MD, PhD. and Rita Perlingeiro, PhD. Stem cell researchers at the University of Minnesota.
A
stem cell treatment for muscular dystrophy is a step closer thanks to stem cell researchers at the University of Minnesota’s Lillehei Heart Institute. Using human
stem cells to treat
muscular dystrophy in mice, the scientists found that a newly developed process to produce muscle cells from stem cells was effective and efficient, offering hope for millions of sufferers of this progressive degenerative disease.
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by Leigh Matthews on May 7, 2012
Stem cell-derived fibroids grew ten times bigger than those from main cell populations
A
stem cell mutation that causes fibroid uterine tumors has been identified by researchers who hope that it can help in the search for effective therapies. An estimated 15 million women in the United States suffer from fibroid uterine tumors that can cause irregular bleeding, anaemia, pain, and fertility problems. The tumors occur in around 60% of women by the age of forty-five but, until now, the cause of the fibroid tumors remained unknown. It appears that a single stem cell grows uncontrollably after developing a mutation and that this stem cell then activates nearby cells to also expand the growing tumor. Understanding more about the nature of the genetic mutation arising in the stem cell can help scientists in their pursuit of effective
stem cell treatments, or other therapies for uterine fibroids.
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by Leigh Matthews on April 27, 2012
A quite peculiar use of embryonic stem cells has led some religious groups to urge a boycott of Pepsi, Coca Cola, and Campbell’s Soups products in recent months. Whilst rumors of there being embryonic stem cells in Pepsi remain unfounded it is being reported that these companies had employed a research group called Senomyx to conduct flavor-testing studies using cells derived from embryonic stem cell lines, thus angering pro-life groups and providing further fodder for those opposing stem cell research. [click to continue…]
by Leigh Matthews on April 24, 2012
Stem cells could slow down or even reverse the degenerative processes of osteoarthritis in the knee.
A study looking at the effect of
stem cell injections for osteoarthritis in the knees is recruiting participants currently; unfortunately, this is yet another stem cell study taking place in Iran, making it extremely unlikely that most will be able to get involved.
The Royan Institute’s clinical trial (NCT01504464) into intra-articular injections of mesenchymal stem cells into the knee joints hopes to demonstrate the safety, and effectiveness, of stem cell treatment for arthritis of the knee, one of the most common causes of disability amongst the elderly. [click to continue…]
by Leigh Matthews on April 23, 2012
Could bone marrow stem cells repair lost myelin in Multiple Sclerosis?
A study into the use of
autologous stem cell treatment for Multiple Sclerosis is currently recruiting patients and hopes to establish the safety and incidence of side-effects for this novel therapy using patients’ own cells to treat their condition. Based at the Royan Institute in Iran, the study’s directors aim to recruit thirty patients, all with the relapsing-remitting form of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
Stem cells will be harvested from the patients’ bone marrow, filtered, and then transplanted by intravenous injection into half of the patients, with the others acting as a control group during the trial. Although this Phase I clinical trial (NCT01377870) is focused on safety, there is anticipation amongst patients of a cure or effective
stem cell treatment for MS, especially following the preliminary results published by Connick, et al, in January this year.
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by Leigh Matthews on April 23, 2012
For many years it was thought that stem cells were found only in embryos and bone marrow but restrictions on research and scientific enthusiasm means that answering the question ‘where can you find stem cells?’ gives a vastly different response to just a decade ago. Stem cells are found in all multicellular organisms and are cells that can divide and differentiate into a variety of specialized cell-types. Stem cells can self-renew to produce further stem cells and are sometimes referred to as master cells. There are different types of stem cells, found in different tissues of the body, and the type of stem cell determines the degree to which the cells it creates can differ. The ‘potency’ of the stem cells can now be improved in the laboratory but in the body adult stem cells have a finite number of cell types that they can create, whereas embryonic stem cells are able to produce every type of cell needed to produce a living, functional being. [click to continue…]
by Leigh Matthews on April 17, 2012
Identifying stem cells has become easier as stem cell technologies have been developed over recent years. Answering the question ‘what is a stem cell?’ involves an understanding of the way that cells behave in the body, the laboratory, and after medical procedures. Simply, a stem cell is a cell with the potential to regenerate tissue over the course of a lifetime, be this new blood, bone, liver cells, neural cells, or other cell type, although the type of stem cell will define the spectrum of tissue types it can give rise to. [click to continue…]
by Leigh Matthews on April 10, 2012
Trauma at birth, infection, or medications can cause hearing loss in children.
A study using
stem cell therapy for hearing loss was given approval in February this year by the US Food and Drug Administration, prompting hope in parents of children with sudden loss of hearing caused by illness or injury. The
Phase I trial will use cord blood
stem cells to treat ten infants with sensorineural hearing loss and will be carried out at the Cord Blood Registry in Houston, Texas, and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital. Those with hearing loss at birth, due to genetic disorders, will not be eligible for the study as the proof of principle only extends as far as using
stem cells to restore hearing, not to achieve hearing in those deaf from birth. The main purpose of this type of Phase I study is to determine the safety of the stem cell procedure, although it is certain that the researchers will be keeping a watchful eye on any improvements in hearing in those treated.
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by Leigh Matthews on April 3, 2012
Could Pluristem Therapeutics win the stem cell race to heart disease cure?
Pluristem reported success last month in their research into
stem cell heart attack treatment. News of the pre-clinical trial results have prompted suggestions that the
stem cell treatment could be approved for a full clinical trial using human patients. The biotechnology company induced heart attacks in mice before treating half with placental
stem cells and half with a cell-free medium as a control. Tests carried out after four weeks revealed more significant improvements in cardiac muscle function in the mice treated with stem cells than in the control group, but researchers stress that there is still a considerable way to go before
stem cell therapy for heart disease is standard treatment.
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A quite peculiar use of embryonic stem cells has led some religious groups to urge a boycott of Pepsi, Coca Cola, and Campbell’s Soups products in recent months. Whilst rumors of there being embryonic stem cells in Pepsi remain unfounded it is being reported that these companies had employed a research group called Senomyx to conduct flavor-testing studies using cells derived from embryonic stem cell lines, thus angering pro-life groups and providing further fodder for those opposing stem cell research. [click to continue…]
Identifying stem cells has become easier as stem cell technologies have been developed over recent years. Answering the question ‘what is a stem cell?’ involves an understanding of the way that cells behave in the body, the laboratory, and after medical procedures. Simply, a stem cell is a cell with the potential to regenerate tissue over the course of a lifetime, be this new blood, bone, liver cells, neural cells, or other cell type, although the type of stem cell will define the spectrum of tissue types it can give rise to. [click to continue…]
