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| Mar. 19 - Jewish and Arab youth took part in an international workshop on stem cells in Jerusalem this week. The youth, from Jerusalem and Abu Ghosh, heard lectures from senior researchers in the field and learned of the ethical and religious issues involved in stem cell research. They also engaged in Internet discussions with German students on the topic. The event was organized by the Joseph Meyerhoff Youth Center for Advanced Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It was the initiative of TELESCOPE, the educational arm of ESTOOLS, which is the largest grouping of human embryonic stem cell researchers in Europe. Dr. Devora Lang, director of the Youth Center for Advanced Studies, said that the “uniqueness of the workshop was its providing an opportunity for students of different religions who are living in Israel to participate in joint discussions and to relate to the religious and ethical aspects of stem cell research.” | |
Archive for March 20th, 2009|Daily archive page
Jewish, Arab youth take part in stem cell workshop in Jerusalem, IsraelStem cell surgery – Spinal Cord Injury
In ALL ARTICLES, STEM CELLS IN THE NEWS on March 20, 2009 at 10:45 am
Stem cell surgery
After a freak accident left him paralysed from the chest down 20 years ago, Michael Flounders (53) is now hoping to walk again after pioneering adult stem cell surgery in Ecuador.
Searching on the internet, Michael came across the groundbreaking surgery involving stem cells, being tried at the Luis Vernaza hospital in Ecuador. Michael said; “It was really bizarre, as I was reading about it I knew it was what I had to do.”
Dr. Luis Geffner had just completed an adult stem cell research study of implanting the patient’s own stem cells from their bone marrow back into their spinal cord.
In May 2007 Michael emailed Dr Geffner; “I never thought that he’d reply but he did and we began talking through the surgery.”
Michael travelled to Luis Vernaza hospital in Ecuador in November 2007 for the operation; he was the first person from Europe to undergo the four hour procedure which was carried out by Dr Luis Geffner.
A year on, he has regained strength in his legs, back and stomach, can control his upper body movements and walk with parallel bars, although he is still in a wheelchair.
Michael says: “It has changed my life. Now I believe that I may be able to walk again. Every day things are changing, the feelings in my legs are becoming a lot more powerful. I feel now that I have a future.”
via This Morning | Health | Stem cell surgery – ITV Lifestyle.
Shame on you! American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) challenges cord blood banking based on small survey from 2004
In ALL ARTICLES, STEM CELLS IN THE NEWS on March 20, 2009 at 10:35 am
In an age where the last hours article and published paper is yesterday’s news, the AAP has been challenging the value of storing cord blood banking based on information from 2004. There have been 0ver 32,000 articles on cord blood since 2004. Was there nothing new in them? Let’s try to instill some confidence in your members and readers by familiarizing your organization and taking a slightly more cutting edge mind set to current events in medicine. I’m not expecting an adherence to Carlson’s Curve…but a slight nod to the concept of Moore’s Law would go a long way. As Don Ameche stated so profoundly in the movie by the same name: “Things Change” – dg
What’s Old is New Again? Not in This Case!
Posted: Mar 18, 2009
You may have seen recent news coverage this month generated by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) challenging the value of private cord blood banking as a result of a small survey conducted with transplant physicians.
What wasn’t covered in these stories is the crucial fact that the survey, which was published in this month’s issue of the journal, Pediatrics, is not new. It’s outdated. The data was collected in 2004 – five years ago! A lot has changed since then.
Most importantly, stem cell science itself has changed. This survey data fails to reflect the pace of breakthrough progress researchers have made evaluating the benefits of infusing newborn stem cells from umbilical cord blood for therapeutic uses far beyond cancers and blood disorders. By releasing the old survey data now, the AAP has fundamentally ignored the changes taking place in stem cell medicine – as well as the important role of private cord blood banks in the process.
The use of a child’s own (autologous) cord blood stem cells has emerged as an important research focus for regenerative medicine – the ability to repair or regrow specific tissue in the body, such as nerve tissue in the brain or insulin-generating cells in the pancreas. Because autologous cord blood stem cells are safe and won’t be rejected by the body – and because they have unique characteristics compared to other sources of stem cells – they are an increasing focus of regenerative medicine research.
Today, private banking remains the only way to ensure a family has access to autologous cord blood stem cells or those of a sibling. It’s also important to know that there is up to a 75 percent chance that a sibling’s cord blood stem cells can be a suitable match for traditional transplant therapies. In addition, a child’s own cord blood may be the preferred option even for certain types of cancers. Since this survey was fielded, numerous autologous stem cell transplants have been performed for specific cases of leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and solid tumors.
Another important change since 2004 is the number and types of physician specialists who are using autologous stem cells – including newborn stem cells from cord blood – for medical therapies. This survey reflects only the perspectives from hematologists and oncologists who have used stem cells for the treatment of many blood diseases and cancers. However, the past five years have brought many other physician specialists and some of the most clinically challenging unmet medical needs to the forefront of stem cell medicine. Neurologists, endocrinologists and others are actively evaluating autologous cord blood to treat conditions such as brain injury, and type 1 diabetes, to name a few.
What a difference five years makes.
While concerning, it’s not surprising that the AAP published this survey. The academy’s current cord blood policy discourages family banking except in cases where a family member has a known medical condition that could potentially benefit from stem cell transplantation.
However, while family history and existing medical conditions are excellent reasons to bank cord blood, many diseases treatable by cord blood stem cells occur in the absence of any family history and without an affected family member. Anyone’s health situation can change at anytime – sometimes unexpectedly. This is another key reason we believe the current AAP policy on cord blood banking is flawed. Our perspective was first published more than a year ago in an issue of The Journal of Life Sciences.
Parents with children suffering from ailments such as brain injury, cerebral palsy, or diabetes AND who have stored their child’s cord blood in a family bank now have an option they didn’t have five years ago: they have the opportunity to participate in groundbreaking medical research that is showing encouraging potential to treat conditions that have no cure today.
The bottom line its this: as clinical research continues to advance – and as more expectant parents choose to bank their newborn’s cord blood stem cells – physicians will have the option of using these privately banked cord blood stem cells more often. It’s happening already. In the last four years, the number of autologous cord blood units released by CBR for medical use has increased 140 percent – a strong indication of the emerging acceptance and use of autologous cord blood stem cells in regenerative medicine.
A different survey fielded today would most likely offer a very different outcome.
Fundraiser for Spinal Cord Injury Patient for Stem Cell Treatment
In ALL ARTICLES, STEM CELLS IN THE NEWS on March 20, 2009 at 8:37 amStem Cell Research Information and Events
By Don Margolis, March 19, 2009
Fundraiser for Spinal Cord Injury Patient for Stem Cell Treatment
Friends and family of Chuck Melton are holding a “Chuck Melton Benefit Raffle” on March 28th, 2009. Chuck was paralyzed in 2002 in a diving accident and went to China for Adult Stem Cells in January 2007. The stem cell research and resulting treatment gave Chuck a better quality of life- so much so that he is trying to raise money so he can return to China for more stem cell therapy (Adult Stem Cells of course) in hopes for even more improvement.
I featured Chuck Melton here last month focusing on the benefits of his first stem cell treatment which gave him the ability to sweat again, better bladder control, easier breathing and more feeling in his legs. Chuck and his doctors feel that another treatment with the cord blood stem cells (Adult Stem Cells) would help him improve even more…
Stem Cell Research Talks and Events This Weekend
In ALL ARTICLES, STEM CELLS IN THE NEWS on March 20, 2009 at 8:23 am
Punta Gorda, Florida, March 22, 2009- There will be an Adult Stem Cell rally this Sunday at Gilchrist Park on Charlotte Harbor in Punta Gorda from 1pm- 5pm. The goal is to raise awareness of how Adult Stem Cells are helping people in the other parts of the world and to help bring Adult Stem Cell therapy to the United States. Attendance is FREE.
This rally will also act as an “Optic Nerve Hypoplasia Family Reunion” as well. It will unite ONH patients in the United States who traveled to China for Adult stem cell research and therapy. Until the stem cell therapy in China, these children had no options for treatment and were destined to a life of blindness. However, thanks to the Adult Stem Cells, these children can now see better and have a better quality of life. You can find their individual stem cell stories here
This is from Carol Petersen’s Stem Cell Aware website, one of the organizers of this talk:
The words “Adult Stem Cell” are no longer ‘dirty’ words. Adult stem cell therapy, with roots tracing back to bone marrow transplants in the ’50s, is coming into its own. Available outside the USA for several years now, an ever-growing body of US residents travel to distant locations to receive these treatments.
We are a body of patients who have chosen to make this journey and receive these treatments. We have not been scammed by hucksters in foreign lands and we were not subjected to bizarre treatments. For many of us our only option given was to sit at home and suffer. Adult stem cell therapy has offered us the chance to see some improvement in our condition.
We recognize that this is no cure. But improvements in quality of life are valuable nonetheless.
If you are an adult stem cell patient and wish to join our organization please submit an email to us.
Everybody is welcome. The doctors from China responsible for this treatment will also be there. Some of the older children helped by the stem cell treatment will give speeches. Therefore, if you are in the Florida area and wish to learn something new and meet some great people, get down to Punta Gorda on Sunday. You can contact Carol Petersen for more information or if you want to join their group at carolptrsn@msn.com
Stem Cell Treatment and Therapy Talk in Dallas
Dallas/Ft. Worth Area, March 21, 2009- Preston Walker wanted everyone to know that Dr. Neil Riordan, Ph.D.,the CEO of Cell Medicine in Costa Rica, will be giving a talk in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas this Saturday, March 21 between 3pm and 6 pm at the Westin Hotel.
Preston Walker and Richard Humphries (who will both be in attendance at the Westin) were the two (now famous) Multiple Sclerosis patients who made the trek from the United States to Costa Rica for the Adult Stem Cell research and treatment last year.
Here is the latest update from Preston Walker himself:
“Richard Humphries and I went to Costa Rica in May 2008 with relapsing-remitting MS (Richard had secondary progressive MS) . At the time I suffered from fatigue, depression, a cognitive “cloud” and a staggered walk.
Since the treatment, I’ve had one poor day with the depression returning with a vengeance!! That was ONE time.
I recently found this site and have been reading feverishly.
The only thing still lingering is an occasional “cloud” moment. the cognitive cloud. I want to say it doesn’t exist because it is normally just a faint memory, but it’s still there. I have RRMS. Richard had SPMS. Dr. Riordan believes his MS may have been reduced to RRMS because of this (stem cell) treatment.”
Since Richard and Preston went to Costa Rica, many others, particularly MS patients from Texas have followed in their footsteps to reap the benefits of Adult Stem Cell research outside of the United States.
Both Preston and Richard will be attending the talk at the Westin Hotel. For more information on the event at the Westin, or if you are not in the area and wish to correspond with Preston and Richard you can email Preston at pwalker2644@sbcglobal.net You can also email Richard at rdhforegolf@hotmail.com
