Americans Back Stem Cell Research

[Guest guest]

Daily News2010-10-07 -- Americans overwhelmingly support embryonic stem

cell research, and that backing stretches across a broad range of demographic

groups, including Republicans, Catholics and born-again Christians, according to

a new poll. Almost three-quarters (72 percent) of the adults surveyed believe

that scientists should be allowed to use embryonic stem cells left over from in

vitro fertilization procedures to search for potential treatments or ways to

prevent diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, diabetes and other

conditions. Only 12 percent oppose using stem cells for biomedical research,

numbers...

http://tinyurl.com/2bcddg6

___________________

Embryonic Stem Cells Mature Before Injection

" Before being given to patients, the embryonic cells are matured into " precursor

cells " destined to become oligodendrocytes. These are the cells that make up the

myelin sheaths that protect nerves in the spinal cord. It's hoped that the

GRNOPC1 cells will restore spinal function by replacing lost myelin and by

giving off chemical signals that promote new nerve growth. The cells are

injected directly into the site of the spinal injury using a syringe positioning

device that attaches to the frame of the operating room table.

" Patients in the study must undergo short-term immune-suppressing therapy to

ensure that their bodies do not reject the new cells. The Atlanta patient, and

nine more patients to be enrolled in the first phase of the clinical trial, get

only small doses of the GRNOPC1 cells. It's the human equivalent of the smallest

dose to show benefit in animal studies. If the treatment proves safe, the next

phase of the study will use up to tenfold larger doses of the cells.

" Key questions are whether the stem cells will spur growth of tumors called

teratomas, whether the cells will be rejected by the immune system, and whether

there will be unintended consequences such as nerve pain.

http://tinyurl.com/26tquqz

_________________________________

FYI,

Lottie Duthu